Chick SS7
by Cristae7
Whether out of fear of further exposure or defeat, President Gong stopped publishing articles, and Nayeon’s scandal died down with surprising speed.
According to Lee Romi, Gong Jinman was now so red-eyed from running around to every famous shaman he could find that he could hardly do his work these days.
‘Case closed!’
With a sense of pride, Groo went to meet—
“Chuu unni, it’s all sorted.”
Chuen.
“Thank goodness…”
A bit of color returned to Chuen’s pale cheeks.
“It really is, right? Isn’t that so, Yurian?”
At her feet, the Maltese she had on a leash trembled while glaring at Groo.
It was Yurian.
Groo had been worried when the dog disappeared, but it turned out Chuen had found and taken her in.
“Arrrrrrrr—”
“My sisters said they’re grateful. They want to eat out with you next time, too.”
“Sure, let’s do that.”
Chuen was surprisingly fond of hunting down good restaurants, and she nodded without hesitation.
“Yurian, you come too.”
“Arrrrrrrr—”
“So cute.”
Groo patted Yurian’s head.
Then she whispered quietly in the dog’s ear,
“Groo’s getting stronger in both body and heart these days. Yurian, I’ll make sure to turn you back into a person someday.”
Yurian let out a soft, resigned sigh and just sat down on the ground.
That seemed like pretty good news to her.
“Well, Groo’s off to kindergarten. Bye-bye!”
“Bye-bye.”
After saying goodbye to Chuen, Groo headed for Justitia.
While saying hello to friends, a familiar face walked past.
“Huh?”
A tall, neatly dressed man with glasses.
Meeting someone so unexpected here—it was Jin Siwon.
He was heading toward the back of the building.
Side Story 4: Older Brother
Mom
Was Uncle Hong also in a tough spot once?
‘What’s he up to?’
Groo watched Jin Siwon from her hiding place behind the building.
Jin Siwon was skulking more suspiciously than anyone: hiding behind a tree, peeking about.
‘What’s he looking at?’
Groo followed his gaze.
There, standing not far off, was Kang Jei, a first-year student in Justitia High School.
Opposite her, Ku Hiyeon stood, hands on hips, glaring at her.
Groo’s mouth dropped open.
‘No way, are they getting into a real-life fight over a game again?’
Her premonition proved true.
“Hey. How many times do I have to tell you, Gidan is over the hill?”
“Sergey’s the washed-up one. You ought to start acting your age, too.”
It was the second showdown between ‘Sergey-slap = Kang Jei’ and ‘Gidanimirada = Ku Hiyeon.’
“Holy…”
Ha! For real! Ha! Kang Jei snorted incredulously at Ku Hiyeon.
“Weren’t you going to bring friends today? I already told you, I give it my all even if I’m up against kindergartners.”
With a smile of victory, Ku Hiyeon replied,
“Expecting an easy fight? Too bad for you—I’m not alone. Come on, sisters!”
At that, a small group of girls in elementary school uniforms came out of nowhere to rally behind Ku Hiyeon.
There were at least five of them; Kang Jei hesitated, startled, as Ku Hiyeon declared victory.
“They’re fifth graders.”
Elementary schoolers?
Kang Jei clenched her fists as the little girls eyed her, whispering, “Is that the one?”
“You think you’re the only one with friends? I’ve got friends, too!”
She had actually tried calling Ham Honggi beforehand, but that responsible kid claimed he was busy sorting the recycling and wouldn’t help.
Instead, she had come up with another plan.
‘Are they not here yet?’
Kang Jei glanced around, then started to make a call on her phone.
She was calling ‘Squirrel Dad’ from the Orchestra Supporters, known for cheering Sergey.
Tr-tr-tr—
Meanwhile, Jin Siwon, clutching his phone close to his chest to hide the sound, was experiencing what true embarrassment felt like.
He’d come out here clueless, thinking he had to help with a real-life showdown for Sergey’s sake after ‘Sergey-slap’ asked for help through the community.
A former #2 on the Hunter rankings, Jin Siwon gazed solemnly at these kids staging their ‘showdown.’
He couldn’t do it.
He couldn’t…
What was he supposed to do in front of these kids?
Lecture them not to post slander about Sergey on online forums?
Just imagining it made his face flush hot.
No way.
Just as Jin Siwon was furtively trying to slip away from this farcical scene—
“Uncle Hong!”
“Groo?”
What is Groo doing here? Surely she’s not here to duel too?
If so, this could get dangerous.
Jin Siwon rushed forward, searching for Groo. But the child was nowhere in sight.
“are you Squirrel Dad?”
Kang Jei approached him.
“No, I’m not!”
Jin Siwon shook his head desperately. Getting caught here would be the end.
But—
Tr-tr-tr—
Brrr—
His phone vibrated.
“Knew it!”
Kang Jei checked the caller and grabbed Jin Siwon’s wrist. She turned to the kids and announced proudly,
“Hey. I brought a friend, too. You think you can overpower me with numbers?”
“How can you bring an adult, sis? Not fair!”
Boo—
Several of the elementary schoolers behind Ku Hiyeon jeered.
Jin Siwon bowed his head, face ashen.
At that moment.
Groo, dragged by Sergey to the rooftop, looked down below.
She could clearly see Jin Siwon’s head among the ring of kids.
“Sergey oppa! Your older brother is fighting my friend for real down there!”
“Don’t say that so loudly. It’s embarrassing.”
“A-hahahahahaha!”
Sergey covered his face with one hand while Gidan doubled over laughing.
“What are you guys doing up here?”
“The weather’s nice, so we came up to the roof. Then I heard someone say our names and saw Siwon hyung down there freaking out.”
“Ah, so you saw the fight too, huh?”
Sergey buried his face in his hands again, while Gidan looked on, arms crossed and snickering.
“Your brother’s here—shouldn’t you go down and say hi?”
“You go down.”
Sergey grumbled with a triangular frown, then paused as something occurred to him.
“Hey, have you contacted your brother lately?”
“…Ah.”
Gidan abruptly clamored up like a clam, and Groo found a question mark flickering above her head.
‘Older brother?’
Wasn’t Gidan an only child? He had a brother?
“Even you have a brother, Dani oppa?”
Sergey, spotting an opportunity, smirked slyly.
“It’s his cousin. Aunt’s son, whatever. Lately he talks with him almost every day.”
“I see!”
Eyes wide, Groo clapped her hands.
“Why don’t you call your brother?”
“Um… Well…”
Gidan trailed off, scratching the back of his head.
He shot Sergey a look as if to blame him for bringing this up, but Sergey, content that the subject had shifted away from his own brother, just smiled and stretched lazily.
At that moment, Gidan’s phone buzzed.
“Why? Are you not on good terms with your brother?”
“It’s not that, it’s…”
Gidan stared at the name on his screen for a moment.
It was a bit embarrassing, but not something he needed to hide. With a sudden sense of resolve, he spoke up.
“My brother always asks to borrow money, so I’ve been dodging his calls on purpose.”
He smiled, relieved to have said it aloud.
“Does that make me a bad guy?”