Kim Taehyung said no. He stormed out, saying he had no further conversation with a boy who had already written down Nam Do-il as his future dream and had been prostrated to Hak-ju. Yeo-ju must have heard that at least twenty times this year. Doesn't he know that we've known each other since birth? So, no matter how much he's been pissed, Kim Taehyung ultimately can't voluntarily break free from Yeo-ju's shackles.
The proposal, rejected even after 18 years, was as follows: "Let's start a club!" The eyes of the person who spoke those words were terribly dazzling. Taehyung was astonished to find himself playing Conan even in a PC room. "Are you really going to ruin your appetite... no, your enjoyment of games?" At any rate, while his initial refusal was firmly expressed, his soft heart was willing to go along with the idea of a club. Kim Taehyung, a second-year student at Yeonhwa High School, wasn't that stubborn.
But what Jang Yeo-ju said next to me was,
"I've even given it a name, Mystery Class 3. Kim Taehyung, you just need to come with your body."
"Deduction... what?"
"Chu, Lee, 3, and a half."
"Hey, Miss. I didn't hear you, so I asked. It's really annoying..."
Taehyung's one-liner. He doesn't know the level. I didn't ask what kind of club it was, but I could tell something just by the name. What would a mystery nerd obsessed with Conan form a club for? Taehyung left the building, but since he didn't have anything else to do, he went back to the PC room and sat down. Then, slightly watching Taehyung's expression, the female protagonist spoke.
"Okay. If you don't like the name, tell me what you think. I'll consider it. No, I'll actively listen to it.
"......"
Taehyung groans, “Ahhhhh,” and bangs his head on the keyboard.
Yeonhwa High School Mystery Class 3
ep1. Yeonhwa High School Mystery Class 3
As for why it's Mystery Class 3? It's nothing special. Jang Yeo-ju's class is Class 3, Year 2. The only difference is that Kim Tae-hyung is also in Class 3, like Jang Yeo-ju. Because of this, Tae-hyung had no choice but to unconditionally grant Yeo-ju's request, which wasn't a request. Otherwise, that crazy author would have played the Conan intro in his ears all day long. If Tae-hyung hadn't stepped forward and said, "Okay, let's do that. Go ahead," I guess Yeo-ju's auditory torture would have already been carried out.
She handed over an application form, handwritten in neat handwriting. Taehyung, who had no choice but to follow behind, scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. Meanwhile, Yeoju, with unwavering confidence, exclaimed, "Club opening!" Thanks to this, all eyes in the staff room were focused on her. Only Seokjin, the Korean history teacher and homeroom teacher for Class 3, Grade 2, chuckled awkwardly. The application form fluttered in the air conditioning breeze.
"Uh... yeah, heroine. Are you planning to start a club?"
"Yes, yes. Two people, including the child. That's the minimum number of people, right?"
Then Seokjin looked back with a puzzled look,
"...Taehyung too?"
"......"
Kim Taehyung remained silent. At any rate, he agreed.
***
I thought this club, with its pointless nature and meaning, would be rejected right away. The fact that National History Teacher Kim Seokjin's number one favorite student was Jang Yeoju turned out to be an unexpected obstacle for Taehyung. Since she's the type to laugh at the mere sight of a falling leaf, she often reacts to Seokjin's dad jokes (and is the only one). From the teacher's perspective, that must have been incredibly touching.
Anyway, somehow, the two of them already managed to secure a clubroom. Even though it's currently a dusty, unused warehouse...
"Hey, come here and help me clean. Don't just stand there."
I caught the broom thrown at me in a daze. Taehyung furrowed his brow. He was also glaring at the back of his friend, who was diligently cleaning.
"Why me."
"Why? Because you're also the founder of the 3rd Detective Team. Don't complain, and clean up with an honorable heart."
"Why don't you just leave it dirty? It has the feel of an old detective agency, and it has a certain sentimentality to it. I like it."
"...what?"
"what."
The problem was that the sarcastic remark pierced Yeoju's ears. "He's so retarded, but... somehow he's so convincing!" she thought, about to actually quit cleaning, but Taehyung quickly stopped her and started cleaning himself. Taehyung wiped the window with a rag and thought, "Jang Yeoju, that guy is out of his mind." I want to give him a round of applause for finally realizing that.
***
The dust that had accumulated in the clubroom itself was neatly wiped away, but this time, flies were flying around. This isn't a literal meaning; it means there haven't been any visitors since that day.
Yeoju stares at the Mystery Class 3 poster, still neatly affixed to the school bulletin board. Then she asks Taehyung, who's walking with her, "Why aren't people coming?" Taehyung is able to answer her question more quickly and clearly than anyone else, but Yeoju Jang's sulks lasted surprisingly long, so she has no choice but to swallow the texts welling up in her throat. She questions Taehyung, who's trying to remain silent, suspiciously.
"Are you... telling the kids not to come?"
"...Is that so? No, think about why you didn't come in the first place."
"I don't know. Is it because the poster is weird?"
Taehyung turns his head and gazes at the colorful poster. It's not like it's completely gone...
"Anyway. This is high school, not elementary school. When I first heard about the mystery club, I thought it was funny, but I never thought about joining. I didn't think it was worth it."
"...So what? What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know, you should go out and rescue people yourself."
"......"
Was Samsung always Samsung? Everything starts out badly—" Taehyung muttered, then passed the dumbfounded Yeoju. Just like the day he'd started the club's first cleanup, his words weren't really uttered with any particular thought in mind.
***
And after a while.
"Um... guys. That's why..."
"......"
"...hi?"
The long-awaited client has arrived.