Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 222

Anonymou7

“Are you really just going to leave it like that?”

Yuarin, having sighed deeply, asked again.

I answered nonchalantly while drinking the chocolate milk I just bought from the convenience store:

“What can I do about it? They say they want to fight.”

“Haah, fighting as college students isn’t really great.”

“…You’re saying that?”

As far as I know, Yuarin was always hitting me relentlessly under the guise of playing around because she learned Taekwondo.

“It’s just play with you. Besides, wouldn’t Bamboo Forest be in trouble if they really start fighting?”

“So what? They’re just hitting and beating each other up among themselves. Honestly, I’m quite curious to see 407’s face.”

Taking another sip of my chocolate milk and clicking my tongue,

While Yuarin seemed quite worried, honestly speaking about confrontations in person left me rather skeptical.

“Do you really think they’ll fight? Anonymous7 is still just hoping for an apology. They haven’t even suggested meeting up to sort things out.”

“That’s… well.”

Surprisingly, despite the situation, Anonymous7 maintained the same stance on other forums.

Apology.

Just apologize and it will be over.

If meeting in person is necessary to apologize, then they would meet to receive it.

“It does seem like a deep scratch. Probably because of that nasty comment about parents?”

I agreed with Yoo Arin’s remark. It wasn’t typical for Anonymous7 to post often, but things escalated when Anonymous407 made that offensive comment about parents.

“Seriously, why bring someone’s parents into this?”

There should be some lines that just aren’t crossed. At 20 years old, blaming poor upbringing feels a bit far-fetched too.

“Ah, I’m actually worried this might turn into a real fight.”

“You worry unexpectedly? I thought you’d just let them fight it out? Or were you planning on dressing up as a round girl?”

“Are you crazy? If this spills over into an all-out brawl in the bamboo grove forum, it won’t end well.”

Administrator No.1 is working hard. It’s about time we recruited No.2 as well – if only there was someone available.

Ideally, we’d unblock Anonymous287 under Choi Yi Seo and ask for help.

Choi Yi Seo is too busy to take on administrator duties anyway.

‘Seo Ye Rin would… probably struggle.’

The moment I assign Administrator No.2 to Anonymous69, the whole bamboo grove will probably turn upside down.

They’ll complain about using someone who just spams and messes around online for such tasks.

“Ah forget it; let them handle their own fights. As long as their real names don’t get dragged through the bamboo grove forum they’ll probably come asking for your help anyway.”

As an administrator myself, they’d likely go through me to exchange personal information or coordinate meeting places.

That is if they ever actually decide to meet.

“I bet they won’t meet.”

“That would be best.”

Yoo Arin pouted her lips at my comment and inserted a straw into her ChocoMong drink she was holding.

* * *

Evening time.

Since it was a weekday and I was stuck at my part-time job with nothing much else going on; naturally I found myself looking at my phone again.

The bamboo grove forum was still actively refreshing posts

– Anonymous69: I wanna have s*x!

– Anonymous149: But wouldn’t it be really fun if we actually met?

– Anonymous62: I wish Popo would broadcast it. Are we really meeting tomorrow to do it?

– Anonymous332: Has there been any talk between 407 and 7 yet? From what I’ve seen, 407 has bailed.

Neither of the anonymous subjects in question had posted anything.

Well, one can’t cling to the bamboo forest forever.

If he hasn’t run away, perhaps it’s time for Anonymous407 to step forward.

Since Anonymous7 has always been consistent in their responses.

It seems they wouldn’t back out even if they agreed to meet in person.

The door opens and a cold breeze enters.

“Welcome.”

I greeted the arriving guest with a smile, but the guest responded with an awkward smile and a slight wave of their hand.

“Ah, hello.”

“…Joo-hee senior?”

We came together since I was working part-time at the cafe today, but what brings her here this time?

It should be past her quitting time already.

Glancing around nervously, Senior Joo-hee approached the counter and whispered softly,

“Could you recommend just one thing?”

“You could just buy anything… I’m no expert.”

As I scratched my head while responding, Senior Joo-hee clenched her fist tightly and rattled off her reply like a machine gun,

“I heard you give a lot of relationship advice to the kids. That’s why I thought you’d know about this stuff well enough to ask for help. There’s no other weird reason or anything—”

“I get it. Yes, don’t worry about being awkward. We’re all adults here; these things are natural.”

I shared with a laugh how lately guys from the male dormitory rate their own fleshlights and bring me reviews as if boasting about them.

“Not only that but girls often come too. There was even one who asked me if I knew how big her crush from the dormitory was.”

“…Why would she ask that?”

“She wants to buy one of similar size before going ahead with him.”

But how would I know that?

Of course, my response was that I didn’t know.

“Yeah right,”

“It’s normal stuff. Just normal stuff. Humans naturally have s*xual desires.”

Only now did Senior Juhee seem a bit more at ease, taking a deep breath and nodding. After recommending a popular item among the girls, I smiled and processed her payment.

I thought she would just leave, but hesitatingly, Senior Juhee quietly asked,

“When do you get off work? There’s something… I’d like to discuss.”

“…”

It struck me that this might have been her main concern from the start. It was probably best to keep my distance from Senior Juhee.

“I’ll be done soon. Will it take long?”

After all, it wasn’t often that Senior Juhee needed my help.

If it was going to take a while, I planned on calling someone else over.

Being alone together for too long wouldn’t be ideal.

“No, it won’t take long. We can talk while walking back.”

“Then please wait a little. I’ll be off work soon too.”

A few minutes later.

The boss arrived and we said our goodbyes as we left.

Outside, waiting Senior handed me a warm soy milk she had been holding.

“Here you go. Thought coffee might not be great since it’s nighttime.”

“Thank you.”

Although an unusual choice, the soy milk oddly seemed fitting for Senior Juhee.

“Aren’t you riding your bike today?”

“No, there isn’t really a good place to lock it up here. Last time someone stole it and I barely got it back.”

“Oh… Really?”

Senior Juhee tilted her head in confusion.

As she seemed about to recall something else amidst our conversation,

“What is bothering you?”

While waiting for her earlier on my own accord ,I had speculated that perhaps this was about romance.

There used to be many who came to me for relationship advice after all.

However unexpectedly senior continued with an entirely different topic,

“Both of my parents are no longer around.”

“Oh…”

Her sudden revelation nearly took my breath away.

As I made an awkward face,Senior Juhee nonchalantly responded as if nothing major had happened.

“I have twin siblings, a brother and a sister. They’re also preparing to enter college. Not at Gahyun University, though.”

“I see.”

I try my best to act nonchalant.

From noble mtl dot come

Personally, I’ve never liked pitying or consoling others about their family matters too hastily.

Indeed, this response seemed right as Senior Juhee continued more comfortably.

“My mother was never around, but my father passed away when I was in high school and he was working at the factory.”

“Mm.”

Now I began to understand why Senior Juhee worked so hard for scholarships.

I had suspected there was a story there.

“With the insurance money from my father and what I’ve saved up from working, we managed to get the opportunity for college education.”

I thought it would be about romance but it turned out to be a much heavier topic.

Feeling slightly deceived by Senior Juhee who said it would be quick, but surprisingly she got straight to the point soon after.

“Recently, someone wrote an insulting post about our parents online.”

Someone wrote insults about her parents?

A similar story flashed through my mind and involuntarily made me shudder.

“I personally really want an apology from that person. But I don’t know how to go about it.”

“Ah, I see. Uh… do you know where this post was made?”

“That… I can’t tell you that.”

I see.

My palms started sweating.

This situation seemed eerily familiar to someone else’s situation that I knew of very well.

‘Now that I think of it,’ Anonymous7 wrote something like ‘loser daughter’ or something.’

Understanding why Senior Juhee might feel too embarrassed to speak because of such posts became clear now.

“Oh no.”

If handled poorly, this could lead into serious trouble. And very likely by Anonymous407.

“Since you mentioned seeing the post somewhere; isn’t it on some community site? Like our school’s Bamboo Grove?”

“Is… is that so?”

Should I play along with this?

With everything being so obvious now what am supposed to do?

“I don’t use Bamboo Grove! There used to be lots of targeting posts back then.”

Laughing awkwardly as I added an explanation, relief finally appeared on Senior Juhee’s face.

“I only used it recently myself. There were things I wanted to ask without others knowing.”

I remember Anonymous7 was quite eager with their questions, though I hadn’t memorized the content.

“Anyway. If it’s that kind of community, there must be someone managing it. Maybe you could ask them for help?”

“Ah, right! I just need to ask the administrator!”

Senior really hasn’t experienced communities like this before.

The Bamboo Forest was a rather harsh place for someone as naive as her.

“Yes, give it a try. The administrator will probably explain kindly.”

At those words, Senior immediately said she would inquire with the administrator.

Watching her, a smile quietly formed on my face.

Thank you for using Bamboo Forest today too, Senior.

* * *

Good news and bad news.

There were both.

The good news was that I found out who Anonymous7 was.

I never guessed it would be Senior Juhee but upon receiving her inquiry, I contacted Anonymous407 directly through a one-on-one inquiry chat.

The bad news was that in moments when Senior Juhee lost control, there was absolutely no stopping her.

The moment she said she didn’t want to apologize meant certain doom for Anonymous407.

“Honestly speaking, the most likely scenario is no response at all.”

Despite Bamboo Forest being abuzz lately due to incidents involving Anonymous7 and 407,

Anonymous407 hadn’t posted anything new.

Most believed they had chickened out and fled; everyone declared victory for Anonymous7,

But that wasn’t what Senior Juhee wanted.

She would definitely secure an apology somehow.

That’s just who she is.

“Sigh… Just reply.”

While waiting in the classroom for my next lecture, I looked at my one-on-one chat room with Anonymous407:

– Administrator: Hello Anonymous407. Recently there have been many posts about you in Bamboo Forest.

– Administrator: You had a conflict with Anonymous7 who has met me directly and insists on receiving an apology without fail.

– Administrator: No need for disputes. Just meet and apologize simply.

– Administrator: Please reply.

My own version of a polite expression, drawn out at length.

“I’m saving your life here, so just reply.”

“Woojina, do you not have armpit hair?”

Seo Yerin asks me this abruptly while leaning against me.

When I stare at her wondering why she would ask that, Seo Yerin chuckles back as if to challenge my gaze.

“Come to think of it… I don’t think I’ve ever seen it?”

Choi Eseo, sitting opposite and resting her legs on my thighs, chimes in.

I thought she usually didn’t join in these kinds of conversations. Maybe she’s had a change of heart since last time.

“Why should I have to explain that?”

“I heard if you don’t have armpit hair, there’s less odor.”

“…I don’t smell bad.”

I almost sniffed myself without realizing it.

“It’s kind of like an armpit fetish. I wanted to check if I had one.”

I don’t ask Seo Yerin why she wants to check for my armpit hair so confidently.

“Ugh, Kim Woojin.”

Choi Eseo grumbles and slaps her forehead before thumping her leg down on my thigh as if remembering the previous night when she licked around the armpit area during foreplay and feeling goosebumps from the memory.

“You seemed to like it though.”

“It was just ticklish?”

Was it?

Doesn’t seem right.

Let’s try again later.

Then Yu Arin enters the classroom carrying loads of coffee bags.

“Ah man, now it’s summer. It’s freaking hot.”

She points at Yu Arin who lost rock-paper-scissors and had to go get coffee.

“She feels like summer with those armpits. Spring is more my style.”

“How can you say something that makes me want to throw coffee in your face as soon as you walk in?”

Then she hands me a ginseng latte.

“…Do you want to die?”