Chapter 118 – Retreat (5)

Many games filled the air in the ripe atmosphere of the retreat. The cadets, who hadn’t been able to enjoy a few drinks due to their rigorous training during the semester, found it hard to let the excitement fade.

-…What is that?
-You don’t know? It’s a washing machine, man, a washing machine!
-How are we supposed to know when you’re just flailing your arms like that!

Thanks to the cadets constantly creating embarrassing moments, the laughter of the newcomers was unstoppable.

Recreation might not seem fun just by listening, but watching people make a racket or play games offered a certain charm.

The long-forgotten sense of peace brought warmth to their hearts. No matter how tired they were, a pleasantly drowsy yawn made its way out, signifying an improvement in the quality of life.

“Now then… those with the highest cadet numbers in the group! Please come forward!”

This game appeared to be a solo challenge.

It’s a daunting task if you must step forward and perform a spontaneous dance, or if you can’t endure the embarrassment.

“What’s your cadet number?”
“Anyone who starts with a three? I’m a two.”
“I’m a four.”

Taking into account that the first digits of the male cadet numbers are 1 and 2, it seems they targeted women. Upon comparison, this game was now in Azalea’s hands.

“Do I really have to go out?”
“Go for it. Sweep them away.”
“Uh, alright.”

Azalea, still haunted by the dark history of guessing the previous movie, eventually stepped forward, fanning her flushed face.

The auditorium was filled with fairly attractive cadets.
It stands to reason that most of them were women, except for those who came from the male bath group.

Gu-seul surveyed the cadets who had come up to the auditorium, brought a large piece of newspaper, and gently shook it.

“Now, the leading team has 2100 points in Group 4! And Group 10 is closely catching up with 1,900 points! Other groups have a good chance to turn the tables. Because 500 points are at stake in this game!”

It is inevitable that a large number of points are awarded in the second half of the game to increase motivation. Gu-seul began to lay newspapers on the floor one by one, explaining the game.

“This game is simple. Like this, you just have to hold on for exactly 10 seconds, 10 seconds. You understood, right?”

Hanging on a newspaper. The students in the auditorium nodded in agreement to Gu-seul’s reconfirmation.

“But!”

It’s not fun like this. One condition followed.

“The team that lasts the longest on this newspaper with two people, not alone, wins. With whom? Phee-hee. I’ll tell you now.”

Gu-seul continued to squeak to herself as if she was having fun while talking.

“Bring up the person of the opposite sex you’re most attracted to!”

-Oh!

The seated cadets erupt in excitement. Some female cadets on stage voice their complaints, but it’s not their business. After all, others’ embarrassing moments and love stories are always the most entertaining.

“Quickly go down and fetch them! You have 10 seconds. You’ll lose points if you’re late!”

In this heated atmosphere, it’s the perfect time for such a game. The female cadets reluctantly descend and begin to ascend again, each holding someone’s hand. The cadets, with only men in their group, hesitantly approach some female cadets, but the cold rejections are too painful to watch with open eyes.

Azalea is also making her way through the seated cadets.

Just as expected. Azalea’s face, her lips quivering, is a ripe red hue, like a persimmon.

“I-I don’t know anyone… Please come with me.”

First an excuse, then the real matter at hand.
Unlike the previous stammering speech, the latter words were laden with determination.

Anxiety and expectation melded within her pink eyes.
Although it was difficult to clearly see her face due to the limited lighting at the front of the auditorium, one could faintly discern her present state of mind.

‘So it has come to this.’

It was a fact already known.
What could be done?
At the very moment of rising from the seat, intending to finish the game quickly—

– Hee-chuck.

From the auditorium, Gu-seul unexpectedly looked my way with a sly smile spread across her face.

Something felt off.
This sensation was instinctual.

“Take care. If you win this time, it’s a drink.”
“Ah, yeah.”

Leaving behind Suyeong’s pressuring words, I stepped up to the front of the auditorium. There, I faced a sea of fellow students.
The gazes piercing my face. Murmurs sprinkled through the air, but their content remained indecipherable due to the low volume.

Guseul, still smirking, held the microphone and playfully jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow.

“Now everyone, remember these people’s faces. Go on, mingle~ Mingle~ Hehehe.”

As she said this, she exchanged a glance with Azalea. Guseul subtly smiled, causing the corners of Azalea’s mouth to lift slightly.

…Could it be that they devised this scheme just to tease me?

Guseul was always a sly and mysterious character, and given Azalea’s current state, it wouldn’t be strange for them to collaborate. As if it were already too late, she turned on the microphone and shouted with all her might.

“Everyone, get into position and climb on top!”

The game began. The first person to step onto the newspaper was none other than Azalea.

She seemed genuinely embarrassed, but curiously, she discreetly tugged at my sleeve, urging me on. I couldn’t tell if the corners of her mouth were rising due to her embarrassment or her delight.

One sheet of newspaper was sufficient, yet physical contact appeared inescapable.

Reluctantly, she stepped forward.

As the distance between them diminished, their bodies brushed against each other over the edge of their clothes. Until now, this had been acceptable. The other cadets seemed to permit this level of intimacy, and they proceeded without issue.

-Shivering.

Azalea’s face, quivering like a soaked cat, was barely visible from my perspective.

“Eight, nine, ten! Now, fold the newspaper in half immediately!”

From this point on, the task became challenging. The half-folded newspaper inevitably brought their bodies into direct contact.

Whether they moved forward or backward, one part of their bodies was invariably pressed down in a subtly suggestive posture.

– Ah, I can’t do this.
– Heh, indeed.

A few cadets merely attempted the task and failed, admitting defeat. If they made a mistake and garnered resentment, they would suffer the consequences within the academy, so opting for this approach was one way to avoid trouble.

Before stepping onto the newspaper, I pointed at the cadets pretending to fall and asked Azalea.

“Should we stop? It seems fine to get eliminated like that.”
“Quickly, come in.”

She was still red… No, her face was more relaxed than before, stretching her arms toward me.

“…We have to win the game.”

I was the one who had to understand the tone, which was a mix of coercion and pleading.

“Come on, hurry up!”

As the excited Gu-seul urged me, I finally managed to step onto the half-sized newspaper.

Our bodies pressed tightly together.
Azalea wrapped both her arms around my waist to keep from falling over.
The snickering cadets in the front row and Gu-seul, who had been shooting sinister glances since earlier, were quite annoying.

“…Whew.”

Our breathing became a little rougher.
A sensation of pressure just above the stomach. Pressing, pressing. I couldn’t help but let out a breath as the soft touch kept pressing down, as if to emphasize itself.

Squirming. The movement of both hands gripping the waist was somewhat sinister.

I slowly lowered my head to gaze at Azalea. For some reason, she should have been looking down, but instead, she was intently staring at my face.

“…Huh.”

Her alluring eyes were a vibrant shade of crimson, shining brightly. Those eyes seemed even more clouded than before, emanating an intense depth.

Her gaze was strange. People often use the expression “flipping a switch” to convey a sudden change in tension, and it seemed as if that switch had indeed been flipped for Azalea at this moment.

*Sigh*

A small, hot breath was exhaled, its warmth washing over my face. The faint scent of flowers carried with it… a fragrance reminiscent of the musk from trees when our bodies had once entwined.

An intoxicating aroma that could drive one mad. Combined with the lascivious demon, it became the greatest threat to my sanity and something I needed to be most cautious of. As I subtly lowered my head to create some distance between our bodies, I found myself embraced even more tightly.

“Please, don’t let go.”

“Has he always spoken like this? He doesn’t even stutter now.”

The hand moved near the shoulder blade, hesitantly touching before finally burying its face without reservation.

“Ten! Stop, stop, stop! Let go of me!”

As Gu-seul, who had been silently observing, quickly finished the slow dripping count, Azalea fell from the embrace. Despite being teased, Azalea’s face, which came into view, was worryingly flushed.

“…Are you alright?”

A face reddened as if intoxicated by something.

“I’m fine. Next, let’s move on.”

Obsession.

I had thought that since there hadn’t been any issues until now, everything would be fine. But I now realized that this was a far too comfortable assumption.

It had already been over a week since I first saw Azalea’s obsession in her fondness for him.

Zodiac had shown an immediate reaction, but Azalea had endured a lot during that time.

Now, I couldn’t utter a word as I watched Dal-rae actively folding newspapers.

“Alright, we’ll start! Please step up!”

Even Gu-seul called out with a hesitant expression. The remaining cadets climbed onto the newspaper.

Among them, some had already become couples, so they sat down with unabashed intimacy.

Out of the four remaining teams, two were couples. The other team that had come up with us, in a more antagonistic manner, was also a contender for the championship.

“What are you waiting for…?”

Let’s do this.
If I don’t, I feel like I’ll face some sort of misfortune.

As before, I take a step forward. It’s evident that the space has gotten tighter.
My frame is by no means small, so it’s difficult for all four of my limbs to fit on the folded newspaper.

Under normal circumstances, it would be expected to be eliminated at this stage.

“…”

If it were normal.

“Should I step on your foot? Or do you want to step on mine?”

“… Step on my feet.”
“Fine.”

Azalea wore a somewhat disgruntled expression, climbed onto my feet, and embraced me tightly once again.
The balance was precarious but bearable. With Azalea stepping on my feet and standing taller, a more burdensome scene unfolded compared to earlier.

The torturous time had returned.

“Lee Il~ Lee Yi~ Sa~am”

Those damn 10 seconds, no, actually 30 seconds. It was all due to Gu-seul’s wicked teasing.

-Ah!
-Kyaaak!

A few cadets crumbled to the side.
Since the dating rumors had become inevitable, they gritted their teeth and managed to maintain their balance.

“Are you okay…?”
“No, I’m not.”
“I’ll hold you closer.”

As she pressed her face to my collarbone, my body shuddered, almost causing us to topple over. Essentially, our posture had evolved into a passionate embrace. The cadets cheered boisterously, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle.

“Who will emerge victorious? Only two teams remain! In fact, the team that wins here will be the champion!”

As Guseul excitedly broadcasts the event live, the atmosphere grows increasingly heated.

In this charged, pink-tinged environment, some unnecessary force seems to have stirred within Azalea. Concealed from view, she utters a word so faint, even she cannot hear it.

– ………

It goes unheard.

Her voice is too soft, and the surrounding noise is far too loud.

“Ah, ugh…”

The issue is that this one word appears to be a critical point for Azalea.

– Flick.

Just above her left temple, there’s a quiet pop—so faint only I can hear it.

A pink flower.

Delicate yet vibrant petals bloom, their hue reminiscent of Azalea’s hair color, signifying her joy.

– Wobble!

Suddenly sprouting a flower, Azalea loses her balance and tumbles backward.

“Ah!”

For some inexplicable reason, it evoked an image of fruit, prompting the thought that it shouldn’t be seen by others. I reached out and pulled her closer.

It was a somewhat rough approach, but it had the desired effect. I regained my composure and covered one side of my head with my hand.

‘Why are there flowers blooming on the hair?’

Baffled by the inexplicable phenomenon for a moment, I found myself gazing into Azalea’s eyes, her face now much closer to mine.

“…”

Her eyes had become hazier than before.

And ever so slightly… more dangerous.