The Cat hides its Claws

As Myohan took Yuja’s hand to get up, he could see it was all part of O Shin’s plan. The room was empty and all the teachers and students had left the building for lunch. Now he was all alone with Yuja. In other words, he now had a chance to find out if he was the rooster or not.

He stretched his back as slowly as he could. Yuja scolded him and said he was late for lunch too because of him, but Myohan didn’t care as long as their classmates were not waiting for them.

“Yuja.”

“What?”

“You didn’t come to last year’s school trip, did you?”

Instead of saying yes, Yuja frowned and nodded. Walking with his hands in his pocket, Myohan asked again, “But why did you come this time?”

Asking why he had stayed behind last year was meaningless — Yuja could just say he had his reasons and move on. Yuja snorted.

“Shouldn’t you be asking why I skipped last year’s trip?”

Myohan shrugged. Yuja was sharp.

“I’m the class president, that’s why I’m here.”

Thankfully, Yuja didn’t get more suspicious. He just said that and let out another heavy sigh.

“Chookjae’s not here, so at least I should be here.”

“So you take your responsibility seriously.”

“Of course I do.”

He wasn’t saying he had just come like the others. He had come because he had no choice as Chookjae wasn’t coming and he had his responsibilities. It meant he had planned not to come originally. Instead of asking why he had been reluctant to come, he asked in a slightly different way.

“Chookjae really wanted to be on this trip.”

“He’s like a little boy that way, he likes events.”

“You don’t like events like this?”

“You’re not exactly a fan of events, either.”

Myohan had been so neglectful during the festival and did his least best at the sports competition, so Yuja found the question to be wrong. Myohan had to admit that point, so he just shrugged. Yuja looked at him, thinking he was being strange, and then he started to walk faster.

“I don’t really hate school events. I like doing things with other boys.”

“Yes, you always put your best effort in everything.”

“It’s partly because I’m the class president, but it’s just that being the leader is right for my personality.”

Hmm. Myohan nodded. Now they could see the boys lining up for dinner. He asked, as naturally as he could, “But then why do you hate school trips?”

Yuja stopped immediately. He raised his glasses, which was a habit of his. He seemed a bit confused.

“You’re being strange today.”

Myohan shut his mouth, regretting saying too many things. Yuja’s eyes shined with intelligence. Myohan had been dealing with dumb boys till now. He was supposed to ask casually, but he ended up doing it crudely, thinking Yuja would be easily fooled like the other boys.

“Since when have you been so interested in me?”

Now he was really suspicious of Myohan. His eyes were telling him to confess what he was up to.

“You asked to help Sinsul with his study first.”

Myohan could see O Shin standing among their classmates. He must have spotted Myohan as he was looking at him. He wondered what to do, but Yuja went on with a frown, “And then you followed Chookjae’s example and applied for extra summer classes.”

Myohan didn’t have to bother to say that he didn’t really take those classes. As Yuja must have taken extra classes too, he already knew.

“You had like zero friends, but then you suddenly got close to the boys in other classes.”

“Well…”

“In general, you’ve been acting strange since O Shin transferred to our school.”

Myohan had nothing to add. He was just surprised to find out how Yuja knew so much about him. He bit his lips and thought about it, but then he saw O Shin far away and smiled. Yuja’s eyes widened to see the sudden smile.

“It makes me sad, Yuja.”

Really, whatever Yuja said was all true. Myohan had changed after O Shin came. To be more accurate, it started a little prior to that, but that transfer student was the reason. Myohan wondered if his change had been so obvious. He tried to pull a sad expression on his face.

“Do you think it is wrong of me to have friends?”

“No, of course not.”

“I was just asking because I was worried about you. I didn’t know you would accuse me like this.”

Yuja looked a little startled. He hadn’t expected this. Myohan he knew would just say it was momentary whim and move on, but now he really looked sad. Yuja angrily ruffled his hair.

“No… I didn’t mean to accuse you.”

I’m sorry if you were worried about me. Yuja said so, but he still looked doubtful. You were worried about me? I don’t think so. He clearly wanted to say that and was just holding it back.

“It’s just that you’ve been doing things you never did before.”

“It was you who told me to do my part in the school events.”

“I… Myohan…”

Myohan walked away slowly. Yuja couldn’t follow him. With slouched shoulders, he had to try not to laugh as he said his last line.

“I thought we’d gotten closer by now…”

He glanced back, and Yuja looked guilty. He had been wrong. Asking indirect questions like he had done with the others wasn’t going to work on Yuja; he was just too clever for it. Asking serious questions and stimulating his sympathy to stir his ‘responsibility’ he had as the class president was a much better plan.

“…Hey,”

O Shin was still staring hard at Myohan from afar. Yuja slowly walked over and bumped his shoulder.

“Don’t try to fool me.”

He sounded disgusted. When Myohan looked at Yuja, he seemed to be find him creepy instead of feeling guilty. Myohan sighed and put a hand on his shoulder with a grin.

“You are so clever.”

Using empathy and stimulating responsibility wasn’t a bad plan — it just wasn’t right for Myohan to use it on Yuja.

Yuja pushed his hand away.

“It must be yet another one of your whims. Worried? Wow, I almost got you.”

If it had been Sinsul, he would have believed it. Or if it had been O Shin, whom he didn’t know well yet, it could have worked.

But Yuja had known Myohan for two years and already knew he wasn’t the type of person who would worry about someone else and inquire about it. Yes, his sad face had almost tricked him, but then he waited there instead of going away to see how he would react to it, and that gave it away.

Yuja ran to his classmates after that and told them some instructions. Myohan stretched his back and turned. Then O Shin was in front of him. He looked down at him with twinkling eyes.

“Well?”

“Well…”

Yuja was the perfect class president and managed to always be at the top of their grade. Myohan had underestimated him too much. He narrowed his eyes and grinned. It hadn’t gone as he had planned, but it wasn’t been fruitless either. Yuja was smarter than he had expected, and he wasn’t going to learn anything by talking to him and asking him questions. And there was one more thing.

“I used to think chickens were stupid, but I think it’s time for me to get rid of that prejudice.”

Yuja ended up not telling him why he didn’t like school trips.

***

After dinner, all the boys were gathered for further instructions. Drinking or smoking could get them severe punishments, but the teachers promised to turn a blind eye as long as they didn’t cross the line. It was their last school trip ever, so they were granted a certain freedom.

And then they were given a lot of free time. They went back to their rooms, took showers, and spread their blankets, but still the inspection was hours away.

“Myohan, what are you doing?” Sinsul asked with wide eyes, looking at Myohan lying under a duvet. O Shin was sitting while leaning against a wall. His eyes were closed. Myohan said, “Can’t you see? I’m trying to get some sleep.”

“Sleep?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s free time.”

“It’s free time, why are you sleeping?”

“Because I’m sleepy.”

“But we’re on a trip for fun!”

“I know.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You’re really sleeping?”

“Yeah, be quiet.”

“No way!”

Sinsul yelled and pounced on Myohan. Then he didn’t hesitate to take off his duvet. He immediately got two glaring gazes, one from Myohan, who now didn’t have a duvet, and the other from O Shin. But it didn’t scare him at all, since he got such gazes all the time. He pulled Myohan’s arm.