Chapter 23 – Rule 12. The Leader Receives Top Marks (2)

 

Oh Baek-seo began tying her hair back with the hair tie she always wore around her wrist. It was a pretty tie with a small butterfly decoration.

 

Baek-seo’s hair was shoulder-length, so the ponytail was short.

 

‘What are we even doing here…?’

 

This was a private training room within the school.

 

The fact that boys and girls could be in the same room was due to the presence of CCTV. Whether it was romantic antics or school violence, any behavior against the school rules would be detected by AI, and a student on duty would be sent immediately to intervene.

 

Not that there was any chance of Baek-seo and me doing anything like that.

 

“Shall we start?”

 

Baek-seo said as she finished tying her hair.

 

After that, we sat side by side at the desk in the training room and began studying.

 

“……”

 

The training room was designed for practicing combat techniques, so there were various training tools around.

 

Why did we come here to study…?

 

“Are you wondering why we’re studying here instead of a study room?”

 

Baek-seo asked as if it was the most obvious thing. It wasn’t surprising that she could read my thoughts by now.

 

There was a partition between our desks. To be precise, we had used a rolling board as a makeshift partition to avoid distracting each other.

 

“So, why are we here? I can understand not wanting to be in the study room where everyone can see, but why come to the training room to study?”

 

The office wasn’t suitable for long study sessions because it didn’t have proper desks.

 

Baek-seo peeked out from behind the partition and looked at me.

 

“Empty classrooms are off-limits at night, and there aren’t many other places to study. I thought of your house, but…”

 

“I hadn’t thought of that, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

 

Baek-seo would be welcome to come to my house anytime.

 

We could unfold a table and study there.

 

Those scenes are common in school romance dramas, where friends study at each other’s houses. It’s a classic trope.

 

“…I’m against that idea.”

 

But Baek-seo turned back to her book and answered firmly.

 

Why?

 

This time, I peeked out from behind the partition and looked at Baek-seo.

 

“Why?”

 

“Today isn’t a good day. I might get… distracted.”

 

Baek-seo subtly touched one of her ears—the one I had whispered into earlier today. She didn’t elaborate further.

 

“?”

 

What does she mean?

 

‘She’s usually so articulate, why is she being vague now…?’

 

This was the first time I had seen Baek-seo act like this since she joined the Disciplinary Committee. I picked up on it sharply.

 

Was there another reason?

 

Nothing special came to mind.

 

‘…Ah.’

 

‘Today’ and ‘might get distracted’—two clues.

 

I prided myself on being perceptive, and I quickly realized why Baek-seo was being vague.

 

‘Could it be that time of the month…?’

 

The ‘magic time’ women experience every month.

 

It made sense. She probably didn’t want to use my house’s bathroom during that time. Even someone as saintly as Baek-seo could feel irritable during that period.

 

It’s well-known that women can get particularly temperamental during that time.

 

‘That must be it.’

 

Women typically avoid mentioning it. That’s basic etiquette.

 

I understood that much.

 

In any case, it was a topic best left unsaid. I respected Baek-seo even more for maintaining her usual gentle demeanor despite ‘that time.’

 

“Yeah…. I guess it can’t be helped.”

 

“Can’t be helped?”

 

“?”

 

Baek-seo looked at me again, tilting her head in confusion.

 

What now?

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

Baek-seo turned back to her book, seemingly satisfied with my response.

 

Was she embarrassed that I had guessed it was ‘that time’?

 

It had to be. Even a perfect girl like Baek-seo is still human.

 

‘I should be considerate.’

 

Time passed as my pen scratched on the paper, summarizing my study notes.

 

But.

 

‘Why don’t I hear anything from her side?’

 

There was no sound of a pen from Baek-seo’s side.

 

Maybe her study method didn’t involve writing.

 

All I could see was the partition. I leaned back slightly to get a faint glimpse of Baek-seo.

 

She was sitting upright, studying in a model posture.

 

I wondered how Baek-seo studied.

 

Today’s purpose was to uncover the study method of the top student.

 

I glanced over at Baek-seo.

 

“……!”

 

Our eyes met immediately.

 

Baek-seo was looking at me, seemingly knowing this would happen.

 

The unexpected encounter made my heart pound. Was she watching to see if I was concentrating on my studies?

 

“Why are you looking at me?”

 

Feeling embarrassed, I glared at Baek-seo.

 

I pretended that I had known she was watching me from the beginning.

 

I couldn’t be accused of anything since I wasn’t caught off guard while studying.

 

“Hmm. I just couldn’t look away.”

 

Baek-seo responded with a soft laugh.

 

“Why?”

 

“Who knows?”

 

Was she waiting for a chance to tease me? Or did she find my studying amusing or impressive?