This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 38

The first thing that caught my eye was a chain scattered with a platinum shine.

And seeing something hanging delicately at the end, Yoonseo thought, “It’s pretty.”

What could that round and transparent thing be?

That thought didn’t last long.

After all, a tiny card, presumably written by an aunt, suddenly dropped from the lid of the box that was gaping open.

And what was written inside that card was—

– Yoonseo! Thank you for being close to our Dogun! Please take care of him from now on! The necklace is a gift from me, so don’t decline it and use it well.

It was a message from the aunt.

As I focused on the sentence about taking care of Dogun from now on, I could hear Dogun’s voice as if he had finished reading the letter in that brief moment.

“What’s this? It’s a necklace?”

Hearing that voice ringing in my ears made me feel strangely shy.

In fact, that’s why I hastily shoved the card into my pocket.

Thanks to that, I caught the puzzled gaze from Dogun, but still… it was definitely better than holding it out in my hand.

“Sigh… Generally, a graduation gift should be an electronic device, but… you’ve got another strange obsession.”

“What are you talking about? It’s just pretty.”

“Well… it is pretty. But you don’t wear things like necklaces, do you?”

Listening to the comment that no matter how pretty a necklace is, it serves no purpose, I felt a rebellious urge bubbling up inside me.

So, with my lips slightly pouting, I nonchalantly let slip, “…If you like it, try wearing it once right now.”

“Huh? Yeah?”

To be honest, I was a little taken aback.

Maybe it was because I was flustered, but I could feel my heart pounding.

I hoped that the sound that was starting to ring in my ears wouldn’t reach Dogun standing right next to me, as I carefully picked up the necklace that was placed modestly in the luxurious box.

The changes in the necklace began the moment my hand first touched it.

“Ah…!”

A blue light began to bloom from within the transparent, round object.

It was an alluring blue that reminded one of the deep sea, captivating anyone who looked at it.

I wondered if I was the only one surprised by the sudden change.

When I stole a glance at Dogun, I could see his eyes widening in astonishment while staring at the necklace.

“What’s going on? Suddenly changing colors?”

“Y-yeah…”

I had never heard of a jewel that could change its color like this. Could it be something really expensive?

Maybe it could be.

Thinking back, the aunt had always given off a somewhat… mysterious aura.

My head was filled with thoughts of it possibly being costly, which made it difficult for me to apply pressure to the hand that was touching the necklace.

So I clumsily failed to do what I intended, fumbling around when I heard a voice of reproach from right beside me.

“What are you doing?”

“Uh, well… what if I wear it and lose it accidentally?”

“Then you’re just going to keep it on your desk? It wasn’t given to you for that…”

And what followed that remark was… an unexpected stroke of luck.

“If you can’t do it alone, give it to me. I’ll put it on.”

“Huh? Yeah?”

To be honest, for a moment I thought I had misheard.

It was such an unanticipated offer.

I froze up for a moment, but then realized naturally.

So, there was no need to refuse this after all.

“Or what, you could try doing it by yourself.”

“N-no… um… I’ll ask you for help.”

“Sure.”

A hand extended from outside my view, taking the necklace that had been neatly placed in the box.

Then, a soft clinking sound began to echo softly.

Was he unfastening the ring at the end of the chain?

“Hmm… this is a bit of a hassle… Ah, done.”

“…”

“Hey.”

“…Y-yeah?”

“What about your neck?”

What was he implying about my neck?

Was my head spinning because of the tension, or was I just confused?

“Your hair. Can you move it out of the way a bit?”

“…Oh.”

I realized he meant that.

Once I comprehended, my hand moved to sweep away the hair that was covering the back of my neck.

I hastily moved it aside, but after clearing it away, I felt a sudden sense of unease.

How could I express this feeling?

It was a strange tension causing my heart to thump loudly, and my whole body felt unusually sensitive.

I couldn’t understand it.

Not knowing sent me into a panic.

What made me the most flustered was… the tingling, prickly sensation rising from the back of my neck.

What was this feeling?

Even though it shouldn’t have been, Dogun’s sharp gaze falling on my nape felt incredibly vivid.

I was well aware that a line of sight shouldn’t have a physical form, yet I felt that way.

‘…This is weird.’

The already vivid sensation seemed even clearer at the back of my neck.

No, it was beyond clarity; it was sensitive.

And I could feel Dogun’s touch approaching that sensitive area.

It tickled.

That was initially how it felt.

However, it wasn’t just a simple tickle.

The tiny hairs along my nape stood up on end as the sensation from where Dogun’s hand touched spread warmth throughout my body in an instant.

I couldn’t believe that such an intense sensation originated from a mere tickle.

My tensed body recoiled instinctively.

And just like that, Dogun’s hand touched me again.

The second touch of Dogun’s hand… was slightly trembling.

I realized that the tremor being transmitted through our point of contact was proof of his nervousness.

‘…Ah.’

He was also… nervous.

It wasn’t just me feeling this tension.

However, that realization didn’t help ease my nerves at all.

Rather, a different kind of tension started to build…

‘Phew…’

I came to my senses and discovered that I was unexpectedly taking a deep breath.

While I, Yoonseo, was anxiously taking deep breaths, there was someone nearby doing the same for a different reason… that was Dogun.

‘Ah, shoot…’

Things weren’t going well.

He had overly complicated the hook part…

In reality, it was more because he was slightly nervous, but Dogun had no idea.

Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t admit it.

Anyway, after stumbling around with the hook part for a moment, a delightful sound suddenly burst through my fingers.

“…Done!”

Man, why did they have to make it so small? It’s a hassle for others.

If they had just made it slightly larger to be easier to put on and take off, what’s the harm in that?

“Is it all done…?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Want to check it out?”

Before I could finish that sentence, Yoonseo swiftly pulled out her mobile phone, switched to selfie mode, and began reflecting on her appearance.

Watching that scene from the side made me feel oddly… strange…

“Wow… so pretty…”

“Do you have a princess complex or something? Are you admiring your own face?”

My voice became curt without my will, as if something was pulling it down.

“What are you talking about? I was talking about the necklace!”

Well, I can’t deny that I wasn’t different either.

“Sure, I suppose.”

“It looks expensive… I don’t know if I should accept it…”

“That’s the thing, once you put it on, you can’t return it! So just wear it quietly, okay?”

As I said that, a piercing and fierce gaze shot at my face, prompting me to quickly turn my head and feign concentrating on my own box.

“I wonder if mine is a necklace too?”

Common sense would dictate that it wouldn’t suddenly be a ring when I opened my box, but given the situation, I couldn’t let my guard down.

After all, my mom has earned a reputation for unpredictability.

So, I cautiously opened the box, and whether I should call it a relief or not, what popped out was something that looked exactly like what Yoonseo was wearing.

Yeah, it was truly ‘exactly’ the same.

The thickness of the chain, the round, sparkling piece at the end—everything was identical as if they were produced in the same factory… except for a single detail: hers was blue, and mine was colorless.

Curious whether mine would change color if I touched it, I cautiously reached out, but…

“…It stayed the same.”

It didn’t change.

Wondering if mine was a type that doesn’t change color, I handed it over to Yoonseo, and only then did it change its color.

“What’s this? Is it discriminating against people or something?”

As it turned blue, when I touched it again, it turned colorless again… as I observed this happening, I couldn’t help but mumble in irritation.

Even so, the fact that the color changes based on who touches it was fascinating, so while experimenting, one fact I discovered was…

“They seem to stick together when you bring them closer?”

“Y-yeah, I guess so…”

That was it.

Once they stuck, they didn’t easily come apart, and it took quite some effort to separate them.

If I were to describe the feeling, it was reminiscent of when a fad went around between kids years ago, about “seabear magnets” — that kind of sensation.

Except, unlike then, it made no noise when they stuck together.

“What happens if someone else touches it? Would it change to a color other than blue?”

“Not sure… but I guess so?”

“Seriously, it’s amazing… I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such a gem… where did this come from?”

“Right?”

“What’s the principle behind this?”

“Hey, but you know…”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t we supposed to go to school?”

“…Ah.”