And the vending machine broke

Chapter 1:Prologue 『2』

-And the vending machine broke-

It’s been two years since that,

and yet I am still here.

The memory of that moment is getting blurry and fading away. I barely hold on to fragments of what remains of the past.

Suddenly, everyone except me disappeared, and I was left alone.

Or that's what I like to say.

But the only thing that disappeared was the vending machine a senior kicked and broke down—poor vending machine…

Unfortunately, not a single remarkable thing happened after that.

Not a single supernatural phenomenon!

Like, come on, some supernatural thing is supposed to happen—like an anomaly in the spacetime continuum due to a dimensional fracture or something like that.

But no!

Fuc—wait, she might be able to hear my internal thoughts… Who knows, she might just randomly decide to delete me from reality.

“And that's it for today.”

The teacher’s voice brought me back to reality. I looked around; others had started to pack their bags.

Wow, I am really spaced out…

I didn't even realize what the teacher was saying.

Is this the consequence of being too sleep-deprived? Probably.

Some stayed behind and walked to their clubs, and some went home.

I was, naturally, part of the ghost-story club(?) for some reason.

Due to a series of misleading accidents, I ended up a member of that freaky club.

I really don't want to go there…

Yep, let’s go home—before that klutz comes and drags me to the clubroom.

I grabbed my bag and quietly walked out of the classroom, but—

“Class rep, the teacher is asking you to print these.”

A boy suddenly came up to me and handed me a bunch of papers.

Yes, you heard that right—for some reason, I became the class representative…

I still remember when someone elected me as a candidate. When I looked at him, he winked at me. I don't even know his name. I'm not even at the top of the class, and yet the others gave up.

Lazy bastards, pushing all their work on me.

Of course, I tried to decline, but no one listened, and I was the male representative of this class.

Who is the female, you may ask?

Well, I’d say she is that klutz I mentioned. Can't even do a single thing right!

Although she is a bit cute, it’s not like I think of her as cute—others do!

Being the irresponsible person I am, I handed those to a random student and ran away.

“You'll never catch me!”

***

I arrived at a park and sat on a bench to catch my breath.

"Ha... Ha... Ha.."

My breathing grew eccentric.

I'm exhausted...

I'm not really the athletic type…

The sunlight is still intense.

Ah, when is summer vacation already?

It’s already July!? No wait, it’s still May.

28th May, to be exact.

The first time I met her was on the day of the entrance ceremony, and I am a second year now.

Hmm? That's two years. Or one. Probably.

But it’s hot.

Like really hot.

“Human life is fragile.”

I think the heat is getting to me, because I somehow hear the voice of a girl.

“...”

I looked beside me, and whoa—there was a kid sitting there who looked sick.

But I'm not moving, okay?

Because the shade here is nice, and I'm tired of running.

She looked pale and frail, like the wind would blow and she would break at any moment.

“What is life?”

That voice came again.

“...”

I chose to stay silent, because I'm philosophically constipated (I'm not).

“To what we call life is nothing but a cruel lie. We live to die anyway. So what's the point of living?”

“...”

“It’s like a fleeting daydream. Nothing makes sense as it goes. You become more exhausted by life itself, hated by it. In the end, you may end up hating it.”

“...”

“For me, I was born sick… I couldn't go to school normally. I would skip quite often. I didn't like going there. There were too many people who hated me…”

“...”

“But I'm sure I know that's not the case… It's just that I am being a coward… I—I am just too afraid to make connections, and get attached to someone…”

“...”

Her voice cracked a bit.

“I don't know what it’s like to have friends, and… I always wanted to…”

“....”

She sniffled as tears came out.

“Life is not fair....”

“Do you hate it?”

I ended up asking her… even though I tried my best to stay silent.

She looked at me for a moment and smiled while she was still weeping.

“No.”

I see… so you don't hate life, but think it's unfair.

Wow, kids these days are sure tough. I mean, look at her—she's suffering so much, yet she says it's not that bad.

“Does it hurt?”

It's not my business to get involved in anyone's life, but… hey, I can at least do this much.

“...”

She stayed silent.

“You know, you can speak all you want. This oji-san will listen to it all.”

Throw a bit of Japanese there to lighten the mood.

She looked at me like I was strange.

A sudden wave of embarrassment washed over me.

“I-It’s not like I'm doing this for you or anything, I'm doing this because I—I want to. Hmpf.”

I blurted out, pouting.

“Hah...”

She chuckled.

Soon that chuckle turned into bright laughter.

Jinhwan felt a bit hurt with the girl next to him laughing at him, but he smiled as he started laughing too.

The girl laughed for the first time in a while.

After laughing for a while, the girl stood up.

Jinhwan noticed that she was wearing a patient's outfit.

As Jinhwan pondered her attire, the girl suddenly blushed and said,

“Am I that beautiful?”

Hearing that remark, Jinhwan almost instinctively said “no.” As he tried to keep his mouth shut, he ended up saying it.

“No.”

“Oh...”

She gasped, taken aback at his blunt reply.

“You are.”

He added.

“I se—Uh... what!?”

She became flustered as she stumbled over her words and dropped her head to hide her bright red face.

“I have to go, bye!”

Suddenly she rushed off.

“....?”

And just like that, she was gone.

I don't get why she was flustered. I mean, she is beautiful…

She had long, lustrous black hair with a shade of blue reaching below her waist, ruffled, casting a shadow on her face, as if she didn't care much about of her appearance—and serene midnight-blue eyes that gave a feeling of melancholic.

She looked fragile, like someone you'd want to protect.

I suppose she’s a tsundere.

Anyways, it sure is hot.

I should probably go home…

I stood up and started walking.

※※

As soon as I reached home, my mom greeted me.

“Welcome back.”

“Mmmm...”

I took my shoes off and walked into my room.

Then, I started playing Fallen—which, for your information, is the hardest game in the world.

Unfortunately, I'm not close to beating it, and of course, I'm not a tryhard like others. I’ve only gotten 37 endings: 30 bad endings, three neutral, and four good endings. Not a single true ending yet.

I suppose the top player gets abducted to the game world and is forced to save that world.

That sounds like a drag, so… let’s not do that.

-

Before I knew it, it was time for dinner.

I walked down the stairs and sat on the chair.

I opened my phone, checking the latest webtoons and web novels.

"…?"

But I suddenly got a call from that klutz… obviously, I declined in a heartbeat.

Oh… there are a lot of messages from her.

\*\*

Klutz – 4:56

Why didn't you come to the clubroom?

Klutz – 4:57

Hey\~

Klutz – 4:58

Tell me!!!

Klutz – 4:59

Ughh… (>_<)

Klutz – 4:59

I see, so you’re going to be like that!

Klutz – 5:00

Reply!!!

Klutz – 5:00

Don't you ignore me!

…

…

…

**

500 messages!?

What the hell is wrong with her?

**

You –

  Shut up!

Klutz –

Finally…  

You –

  What do you want?

Klutz –

Why didn't you come to the clubroom? 

You –

  …

Klutz –

Say something! 

You –

  Say one more thing, and I’ll block you.

Klutz –

lol ㅇ-ㅇ

–You have blocked this contact–

**

"Way to ruin my mood."

"Jinhwan, put down your phone while eating."

I turned off my phone as I started eating.

"Was that your girlfriend?"

My sister remarked.

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her blankly.

"Look at you—you’re in university and still haven’t gotten a boyfriend."

I said as I quietly ate my food.

"You—"

She got mad and said something else.

"Well, I’m at least not schizophrenic."

"At least I don’t hug a pillow thinking of my own sibling."

I flatly said, and she closed her mouth and never spoke again.

Awkward.

That was the only way to describe the atmosphere. No one said a thing, and we all ate silently.

Was it my fault?

Yes, but she said the most atrocious thing she could have ever said.

Her being my girlfriend?

Never in my life have I ever felt this reluctant about something. She is the definition of ‘cute but annoying’ type.

Okay, I admit it—she isn’t that annoying, but I don’t like… just anyone!

Hmph.

"Jinhwan, have you decided on a career path?"

Dad said in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

"Yes."

My reply actually shocked them.

"What is it then?"

He said enthusiastically.

"World domination."

I said as if it was nothing.

"I see…."

He said as he quickly realized what I said and made a fuss about it.

"Then, how about a housewife?"

The most ideal one—

"Denied."

Mom said instead of Dad.

—Or not...

Oh, come on—normally, I’d have said something like ‘Demon King’ or ‘enslavement of mankind,’ but I held myself back.

"Why?"

I was genuinely puzzled, or at least I pretended to play innocent as I already knew how absurd I sounded.

"Sigh… how about something like a doctor?"

He sighed and said.

Doctor, you say?

"Dad, do you honestly think I would do well as a doctor?"

Like, seriously.

"…."

He was silent; he didn’t say anything and just awkwardly smiled.

Ouch… at least deny it.

Mmm… this is getting out of hand. I don’t like this attention.

"Noona, I heard you were hanging with a boy."

So I directed the question toward my sister.

She looked at me like I was trash.

Well, can’t blame me.

After eating my food, I walked away.

Or I tried to, however…

"Jinhwan, you said you needed help with your homework."

She got up and dragged me upstairs into my room.

Yeah… this one is on me.

Hyun and Song-ah looked at the two siblings bickering back and forth as they walked away. It put a warm smile on both of their faces.

Jinhwan was a strange kid, to say the least, but he was honest and kind.

Puting aside his eccentric behavior, he was a good kid.

Seeing both of the siblings grow up almost feels like a dream—they remember, like it was yesterday, the day Min-yuri and Jinhwan were born.

Though it’s a bit concerning that they both get along a bit too well…

But they decided to ignore reality and hope for the best.

※※※

The next day, when I headed to school, I suddenly remembered something.

The street I was walking on felt serene; a feeling of slight uneasiness crept over me.

"I feel like I'm forgetting something…"

Eh, maybe it’s nothing much.

I wish I had acted on my hunch, because when I arrived at school, I was met by the enraged klutz, looking at me.

Her face carried a gentle smile, but it gave off a cold aura.

Yep, I don’t see anything.

However, that was a foolish mistake—later, when it was time for club activities, I was dragged to the clubroom against my will and faced with the enraged club members.

The strangest thing was the rumor of a transfer student appearing tomorrow...

Apparently, she was discharged from the hospital....

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Footnotes:Oji-san (おじさん):

A Japanese term meaning “uncle” or “middle-aged man.” Often used to address people older than you, I think. Although most media include younger characters who playfully or mockingly refer to someone older—though Jinhwan is definitely not that old. (-San is honorific.)

Tsundere (ツンデレ):

A character archetype commonly found in anime/manga/light novels. “Tsun” refers to being cold, hostile, or aloof, while “dere” represents their soft, affectionate side. A tsundere typically swings between acting annoyed and secretly caring. Basically, a tsundere hides their true feelings while pretending not to care—or sometimes using violence...