Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 309

A large auditorium filled with all the students.

How often does an event like this take place at school?

Today is the day of the graduation ceremony.

I never imagined I’d be graduating from high school again.

The graduation ceremony was conducted quite briefly.

The teachers responsible for the seniors came up to give short reflections and farewell messages, while the students presented the works they had created for the occasion.

As for me, I didn’t do anything.

I was busy playing Deron while my classmates rushed around with their graduation projects.

“Hayun.”

“Yeah.”

I turned my head at the voice that came from the side.

It was the last day of high school.

Sohee’s chest has grown even larger than before.

Just how long is she going to keep growing?

As I stared blankly at her large chest, Sohee leaned over slightly and took my hand.

A gentle touch slipping between my fingers.

“Did you forget?”

I quietly nodded my head.

On the day of graduation, we promised to go on a date, just the two of us.

I hadn’t forgotten. She had asked me about it repeatedly since a week before graduation, so forgetting was not an option.

Sohee seemed to want to hold onto memories just for the two of us, especially on this last moment as high school students.

After the graduation ceremony, outside the auditorium.

It was a chilly playground with the wind blowing fiercely, but the atmosphere was warmer than ever.

“See you in a bit!”

I released our joined hands and told Sohee.

I figured I’d take a family photo with my relatives who had arrived before meeting up with her again.

Sohee seemed to have the same idea, nodding her head and waving goodbye.

“Pant pant…”

I ran a long way across the playground.

Heading towards the entrance where the parents and guests poured out.

Since the entrance for students and guests was different, I had no choice but to run.

“Mom!”

At the entrance.

I waved my hand and shouted towards a familiar face.

The eyes of the crowd suddenly focused on me, but it didn’t feel burdensome today.

With short legs working hard, I jumped into my mom’s embrace.

“Our Hayun! Congratulations on your graduation~”

A careful hand brushed down my back.

While I rubbed my face against my mom’s belly for a while, I turned to gaze at where a sharp stare was coming from.

There stood Harang.

Just how long is he going to keep growing? He seems to be taller than I was back then.

Harang’s gaze was filled with annoyance.

Considering his personality, he probably preferred to be home napping rather than coming out here.

But he didn’t have that luxury. He must have been dragged out against his will by mom’s nagging.

“Congrats.”

A short remark.

Harang handed me a gigantic bouquet of flowers.

I swayed under its weight, which was almost the size of my torso.

“What…”

I can’t handle something this big.

I passed the bouquet to my mom.

Then, family photo time began.

Everyone gathered and started snapping pictures using their phone cameras.

With each and sound, memories piled up in the camera like data.

I wonder how long it went on.

A familiar voice came from behind.

“Hayun.”

“Ah-”

I turned from my picture-taking posture to greet Sohee.

Did I take too long?

While I thought that, Sohee came closer and greeted my mom and Harang.

“Hello, ma’am.”

“Oh, Sohee! You’ve come! Welcome!”

Mom welcomed Sohee unusually warmly.

Was it just my imagination that the affection in her gaze seemed so intense?

Sohee smiled gently and handed a small shopping bag to my mom.

“This, um…”

“Oh my… what is this…?”

What could the contents of that bag be?

I took a step back, watching mom and Sohee.

Mom didn’t even check the contents of the shopping bag.

She acted like such gifts were familiar.

It was too suspicious.

I watched with my arms crossed for a good while.

Finally, the conversation between mom and Sohee came to an end.

Sohee changed her target and walked over to Harang.

As they got closer, Sohee slightly lowered her head.

Harang must have felt a bit awkward, as he took a step back.

“Hello, Oppa.”

“Uh, um…”

“Congrats on being selected for the national team.”

“Ah, um… thanks…”

That was the end of their conversation.

Sohee turned to me, her smile radiating much brighter than before.

She naturally reached out her hand.

As if she knew I would come closer to take her hand.

I glanced back at mom and Harang and walked towards Sohee.

Having already told them I’d be out late today, they waved goodbye to me.

“Have fun!”

“Are you coming back today?”

Of course, I’m coming back today, not tomorrow!

I stuck out my tongue at Harang, who asked in a sarcastically way and turned away.

“Let’s go.”

While walking out of the playground with Sohee.

I heard the sound of small footsteps approaching from afar.

I didn’t have to turn my head to know. The sound was so familiar.

“Hayun!!! Sohee!!!”

I was wondering why she hadn’t shown up.

She was someone who graduated high school with us.

“It’s Ellie.”

The girl with snowy white hair running over was Ellie.

Wearing a white fur coat, Ellie approached while sniffling.

“I-I came to say hi…!”

With that, she began rummaging in her pockets.

In her tiny hand, she soon pulled out two beautifully wrapped small letters.

They looked high-end, sealed with wax and stamped.

I can’t believe someone would seal a letter like this in this day and age.

I chuckled lightly as I accepted the letter from Ellie.

“Don’t open it now. I want you to read it later at home…!”

If that’s a request…

I nodded and tucked the letters into my pocket.

They were small enough to fit snugly inside.

Sohee also turned the sealed letter around and nodded.

“Got it.”

“Um, um… so where are you two headed?”

“Graduation c…”

“A date for the two of us.”

“Ah… I see… got it. Then, I’ll see you later in Deron!”

Sohee cut in, and Ellie seemed to realize something, nodding swiftly as she made her exit.

I gazed at the direction Ellie disappeared, feeling a bit disappointed.

It would have been nice if everyone could celebrate together, but Sohee seemed to only want to spend time alone with me.

There was no helping it.

Holding Sohee’s hand, I stepped out of school.

Once outside, I started to feel like I had truly become an adult.

My steps grew lighter, and the corners of my mouth began to lift.

Becoming an adult.

That meant a lot of things.

My playtime in Deron would be longer than before, and I could freely enjoy the alcohol I hadn’t been able to drink until now.

Could there be a day happier than this?

Once I was outside school, I looked around.

Whenever I went anywhere with Sohee, a sedan usually came to pick us up.

But what was wrong today? The familiar black sedan was nowhere to be seen.

“This way.”

However, Sohee didn’t seem to mind as she pulled my hand and headed towards a nearby parking lot.

Where we arrived was right in front of a bright red sports car.

It was obvious just from looking at it. This car was extremely expensive.

To prove my thoughts, not a single car was parked beside that red sports car.

Beep beep-!

As Sohee slipped her hand from her pocket, a beeping sound came from inside the sports car.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yep. It’s mine.”

“No way… what about the driver?”

“Not needed anymore.”

Sohee said that and opened the door of the sports car.

The door swung upward, not sideways.

I stared at the scene in a daze.

When did Sohee even get her license?

“Come here.”

“Huh…?”

Sohee, now in the driver’s seat, patted her knee.

Don’t tell me she wants me to sit there?

I hesitated slightly and approached Sohee.

But why would I say no?

Sohee reached out and effortlessly lifted me.

Then she naturally sat me down on her lap.

“Isn’t this dangerous…?”

“It’s okay, it’s self-driving.”

“Ah…”

Self-driving…

That’s when I finally realized that this world was oddly twisted in some unique way.

With a perfect virtual reality game existing, self-driving cars could be a thing too, right?

Sohee took out the seatbelt and secured us both before closing the door.

Then, she reached out to activate the features inside the vehicle.

I opened my mouth to speak.

“But where are we going? Capsule room? Movie theater?”

“Hayun.”

“Yeah?”

“We’re adults now.”

“Um…”

“Do you like… alcohol?”

Alcohol.

Is she suggesting we go drinking?

I nodded vigorously.

Why would I not? I enjoy alcohol quite a bit.

I’m not a heavy drinker, but since I couldn’t drink until now, my thirst for alcohol was immense.

Sohee gently hugged me with a light laugh.

“Shall we get going?”

“Yep!”

I nodded and began scanning the interior of the car.

Could it be that every function was controlled by AI?

The car had the usual steering wheel, gear, and pedals, but Sohee didn’t touch any of those.

I was excited, really excited.

Could it be that I’d be able to drink tonight?

The plan I had in my mind, to stop by and pick up a beer after having fun with Sohee and then heading home was swept away.

With a soft hum-

The quiet sound accompanied the sports car as it smoothly pulled out of the parking lot and sped into the city.

I savored the rapidly passing scenery outside, licking my lips.

What kind of alcohol would I be drinking?

Beer? Naturally, beer goes well with fried chicken.

But it seemed a bit heavy.

Then maybe Soju?

I could go into a street bar and enjoy some spicy stew along with a drink, which would feel just right for today’s chilly weather.

“Hehe…”

Whatever it is, it’s a joyous thought.

I relaxed my body, feeling Sohee’s gentle hand stroking my belly.

The fast-moving sports car came to a stop in front of a sleek building.

Not at all where I had expected.

Not a chicken place, not a street bar.

“What is this…?”

“A drinking place.”

Sohee said that and took my hand, leading me into the building.