Bamboo Forest Manager

Mental Stability

As I entered the classroom, several gazes turned towards me.

Everyone either avoided eye contact or awkwardly continued their conversations among themselves.

Sweat dripping profusely and breathing heavily; their expressions looked as if they might explode at any moment.

Clearly they seemed upset, but frankly, I felt no inclination to hide it.

I saw Choi Yiseo who had saved me a seat earlier. She also startled when she saw me and began rummaging through her bag. As soon as I sat down next to her, she pulled out a wet wipe perfectly timed.

“Wipe off some sweat.”

She even carries wet wipes in her bag.

“Thanks.”

While wiping off my sweat, I checked the classroom clock. Thankfully running here at full speed paid off; otherwise I would have been late.

“You ran here? What about your bike?”

Feeling as if my heart was being crushed by Choi Yiseo’s question about where I had left the bicycle I had boasted about so much.

“Someone stole it.”

As I clenched my fists, burning with hatred, Choi Yiseo let out a sigh of disbelief.

“Again? At this point, it’s just utterly frustrating.”

“Right? These damn bike thieves. I’m definitely going to catch them.”

Though that’s what I said, it seemed like it wouldn’t be easy.

When middle schoolers at the PC room stole it, there was CCTV so we could easily catch them.

But the dormitory bike storage is somewhat secluded and seemed to have no separate CCTV coverage.

And there’s no way I could just freely access and search through all the university’s CCTV footage on my own.

The online community “Bamboo Forest” was still bustling with activity.

When they heard I lost my bike, some just laughed and mocked me mercilessly.

Yet even amidst that mockery, there were those who empathized with me.

↳ Anonymous92: Someone stole my bike too;

↳ Anonymous124: Look! We absolutely must catch them! Still haven’t found mine either! Went to see the CCTV with police but they were wearing caps, masks, hoods – everything covered up.

↳ Anonymous481: Is this really one person stealing? From what I saw someone steals a bike then another does too; seems like a never-ending cycle?

↳ Anonymous282: LOL Bike spiral LOL

Especially someone like Anonymous124 who has been grumbling about losing their bicycle since before appeared quite serious about finding it having tried various methods already.

“I’m really going to catch this b*stard.”

Do you think this is just any ordinary bicycle?

I spent so much money on this bicycle.

“Just report it to the police first.”

“That’s right.”

Just then Professor entered into the classroom. Honestly speaking, concentrating on lecture seemed impossible now.

‘Ah, should I just leave?’

My mind was already outside of the classroom; how could one concentrate?

I felt sorry for Choi Yiseo but thought maybe leaving soon would be better when,

“Even if you can’t concentrate at least stay for now. This professor remembers those who leave early and marks them absent later,” he warned quickly catching onto my mood and began persuading me to stay.

“Huh? Woojin-ah. It doesn’t matter if you don’t listen now; can show you organized notes later but attendance

“Do you know how much money I just lost…”

“We’ll find it all. So, okay? Woojin. Let’s listen to the lecture. No, don’t listen, just play a mobile game or something.”

“…”

“Stop looking at the bamboo forest too. It only makes you keep thinking about the bicycle.”

He bit his lip hard.

His body trembled with anger from losing his bicycle.

But he managed to compose himself in response to Choi Iseo’s sharp yet genuinely concerned tone.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Nodding, he pulled out a book.

Honestly feeling unable to concentrate on studying, he turned on a mobile game instead.

“…Iseo, but later on you’d be good at parenting.”

“Suddenly I feel like hitting someone so shut up.”

– Sensei!

The children in the game greeted me as their teacher—a collectible RPG called Black Academy that Yerin and I had been playing since old times.

Although the lecture had started, my focus was on the game. My heart still felt uneasy but watching these cute characters fawning over made me feel somewhat better.

Is this why people play games with cute girls?

Finding some comfort and stability in it all,

Thump.

A kick came flying under the desk.

My calf stung with pain; turning to look beside me—Choi Iseo pretended not to notice and continued listening to the lecture

“…Why?”

“What is it?”

Even when asked, she only responded curtly

As I resumed playing my game which occasionally displayed provocative scenes,

Thump.

Thump.

Each time Choi Iseo would hit me once more.

‘At this rate aren’t we practically playing together?’

I wondered if she was even listening to the lecture while her notes were neatly taken down.

Hmm.

Now I’m a bit curious.

There’s a gallery feature in the game.

It allows you to revisit previously seen CGs, and I turned on the most suggestive scene available.

A character whose skirt flutters as if it might reveal what’s underneath.

I blatantly tilted my phone screen, pretending to peek under the skirt-.

Thud.

* * *

“…Huh?”

My head throbs with both shock and fatigue.

Students are getting up from their seats and leaving, apparently the lecture has ended.

Lifting my head and looking around, there’s Choi Yiseo, chin propped on her hand, looking indifferently at my phone game.

Thump.

– Ahh!

Thump.

– Ahh! Sensei!

Thump

– No! Sensei!

“Yerin Seo recommended it to me.”

She’s always good for taking the blame in these situations.

Though I said it immediately, Choi Yiseo sighed deeply and handed back my phone.

“Try to moderate your gaming. It’s because of stuff like this that people start rumors about us being in a threesome or something.”

Why hit where it hurts all of a sudden?

“Since it’s lunchtime, let’s go eat.”

“Okay… but why did I fall asleep just now?”

“…You must have been sleepy.”

I followed Choi Yiseo who was avoiding eye contact for no reason.

Today’s lunch is homemade burgers.

Now that Choi Yiseo isn’t fussing over choices anymore, there are no reservations about picking items from the menu; even though losing my bike makes buying food quite burdensome financially for me alone.

I offered to pay but Choi Yiseo refused saying she would cover mine too.

“Did you report the bicycle theft?”

“I did.”

I had reported it on my way here.

“The police station has already received several reports of bicycle thefts in Gahyeon. They said they’re conducting a full investigation, so don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Ah, if I catch that guy, he won’t get away with it.”

While we were waiting for our hamburgers, a shadow loomed over us.

We were sitting by the window, and one whole side of the wall was glass, providing a clear view outside.

Seo Yerin’s face was pressed against it as she stared intently at us.

“Gosh, you scared me.”

Unlike Choi Iseo who was startled, I stuck out my tongue as I looked at Seo Yerin.

“This is the first time I’ve seen her looking ugly.”

I wonder if she heard that.

Seo Yerin shouted something and then came inside immediately.

Rolling up her sleeves and clenching her fists was Seo Yerin.

“What did you say, Kim Woojin?”

“You’re so pretty it scared me!”

“I don’t think that’s what you said.”

“You’re so pretty it even scared my dick!”

Seo Yerin glanced at my trouser hem and nodded her head.

“Pass.”

I’m not sure what passed but thankfully we moved on from that topic.

“He said this is the first time he saw how ugly you are.”

Thanks to Choi Iseo snitching right away, I got caught in a headlock briefly struggling to breathe.

But since Seo Yerin has large breasts, being in a headlock wasn’t too unpleasant.

You could say it’s a win-win situation.

“Are both of your classes over? I planned to meet some friends but do you want to hang out together?”

Despite Seo Yerin often doing bizarre things normally when people see her they think she’s an innocent beauty.

It’s easy to forget how rare days without plans are for me.

“I have another lecture next.”

Hermione has another lecture. At this rate, she must really love the university.

“I don’t have a lecture. But I don’t think your friends would like me joining.”

I didn’t particularly want to join either.

“What about Arin? With Bom and Seo-ah. You know them all.”

“I do know them all…”

They are the party from Gold One where we used to work together.

“Should I ask the kids if it’s okay for you to come?”

Seo Yerin immediately pulls out her phone.

I wanted to discourage her because I didn’t want to go, but Choi Eseo, sitting opposite me, intervenes.

“Go ahead.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Surprised that Choi Eseo was pushing us to hang out with others, we both stared at him simultaneously.

“Go clear your head.”

“Oh…”

Telling me not to worry about bicycles and just keep having fun continuously felt awkwardly considerate, making me scratch my cheek.

From noble mtl dot come

But he wasn’t wrong either.

Alone, I’d probably kick my blankets multiple times thinking of bicycles anyway.

“Yeah, ask if it’s okay for us both.”

I nodded and decided to join Seo Yerin’s group.

* * *

“Hey, you’ll finish that before the movie even starts.”

As Yu Arin hugs a large popcorn bucket and munches away, I comment; she feeds me a popcorn in response.

“You came to watch a movie despite struggling with bicycle thoughts?”

“Ah, don’t talk about that. I came here trying to forget.”

“Heh.”

She smirks slyly as if teasing subtly.

“You know what movie we’re watching?”

“It’s Crime Village. I’ve seen all its prequels.”

It’s just one of those movies filled with fighting, smashing, and brawling. It was the perfect film to watch without much thought.

“Just my kind of movie.”

Look at Yuarin humming in excitement while eating popcorn.

“It’s exactly the kind of movie you’d like.”

I nod, thinking it’s definitely something Yuarin would enjoy.

While we wait, other kids head off to places like arcades or photo booths.

Here comes Seoyerin, holding just a drink.

“Sweet and sugary Woojini, Kimujin.”

She hums some bizarre song.

“What is she saying?”

“How should I know? Hey, weren’t you supposed to buy snacks for during the movie?”

When Yuarin asks, Seoyerin glances at me and smiles.

“I wanted something sweet like Woojini Kimujin.”

Yuarin looks back and forth between Seoyerin and me before issuing a clear warning:

“You two better not pull any weird stunts during the movie or I’m kicking you out right away.”

Do they even see Seoyerin as a person?

“I wouldn’t dare! Are you crazy?”

With this being such a popular movie, it’s bound to be crowded. What can we do?

Seoyerin laughs and responds,

“I won’t either. Just kidding around.”

I immediately agree with her,

“Yeah, even so doing that sort of thing in a cinema is not okay.”

“But…”

Just as Yuarin seems relieved but then turns to me with an icy glare,

“Zip up before you embarrass yourself.”

“…”

Ziiip.

I zip up my pants again.