[2019, May 23rd | Thursday,, 07:30 AM]
[Lee Joon: Number of Attempts - 2]
[Ghost Story Points: 781]
[Causality Rate: 32%]
[D-4 until the Science Exhibition Preliminary Round]
7:30 in the morning.
We gathered in the club room 30 minutes earlier than the usual school start time at 8 o'clock.
"Where's Dukhun?"
"He overslept, so he's taking a taxi here."
"Again?"
I let out a sigh at Gyeongwon, who answered while looking at the group chat.
Sunah, who used to be a habitual latecomer, surprisingly showed up on time these days since I declared we were preparing for the competition.
Once we actually started, it turned out that Dukhun, who normally wasn't late to school, kept showing up late.
Of course, that was based on club activity standards, it's not like he was actually late for school.
But he always made it to the classroom right at 8, before school started.
'…Which means.'
In other words, Dukhun was just coming to school at his usual time.
Typical of his laid-back personality.
"Haa, whatever. Let's just start without him. When he gets here, we'll make him go on a bread run. Alright, Gyeongwon. You're up."
"Got it."
Gyeongwon soon got up from his seat and walked to the whiteboard, explaining the progress we've made so far.
"So, up until now, we were the only ones who knew about the school science fair preliminaries. But maybe on the Principal's orders, an official notice was posted on the notice board yesterday. Everyone, check out the photo I'm uploading in the group chat."
We took out our phones, opened the group chat, and checked the photo Gyeongwon had taken of the notice on the notice board.
KakaoTalk~
[Ahn Gyeongwon: [Attached picture]]
『Nakseong High School Science Fair Preliminary Round』
Our school will be holding internal preliminaries as follows to select outstanding teams to participate in the Clover Science Exhibition, which will be held this fall. In this regard, we ask all homeroom teachers to promote and support the event so that many students can participate.
Date: 2019.05.27 (Monday) 17:00
Location: 4th Floor Music Room
Eligible Participants: All students who wish to participate
[Award Details]
Gold Prize (1 individual/team): 200,000 won and qualification to advance to the Clover Science Exhibition
Silver Prize (1 individual/team): 100,000 won
Bronze Prize (1 individual/team): 50,000 won
Honorable Mention (3 individuals/teams): 10,000 won
Application: Submit a project summary to Teacher Choi Jungim at the 2nd floor faculty office.
Application Period: May 23, 2019 (Thu) – May 27, 2019 (Mon)
Application Deadline: Until lunchtime on the day of the competition
Additional Information: For inquiries, please contact your homeroom teacher or the head of the competition, Teacher Choi Jungim, 3rd-year science teacher.
Principal of Nakseong High School
"It's the school preliminaries for the competition we're going to participate in. Starting today, students who are interested will probably start applying."
We carefully read the captured image of the notice that Gyeongwon had uploaded.
"I thought it was just us and the seniors..."
Sunah's face looked a bit discouraged as she read the official notice.
But I waved my hand as if to say it was no big deal.
"It's fine. Even if a few kids start preparing and jump in now, they won't be able to beat us."
They were just regular students who weren't interested in the main science exhibition in the first place, and just gathered around hearing something interesting was going to happen.
"Anyone applying now is just our backup dancers, so don't worry."
At that, Hayoon let out a small laugh.
But it was true.
Either way, the top contenders for the championship were just the two teams that had been preparing all along.
It was still just a battle between the senior team led by Teacher Choi Jungim and our Ghost Story Club.
Competing for the qualification to advance to the city tournament is granted only to the first-place team.
Only by winning this time and being selected as the school representative could we participate in the city tournament, and only by winning there could we finally advance to the national tournament.
So altogether, we have to go through a total of three competitions.
"We're all going to submit the application together by the end of today, and the information we need to fill out is as follows."
This time, Gyeongwon sent the application form to the group chat.
"Read it. Don't just assume Club Prez and I will take care of it for you all. Everyone needs to know what's in it."
『Nakseong High School Science Exploration Contest Application Form』
Team Name: Ghost Story Club
Team Members: 10311 Ahn Gyeongwon, 10312 Oh Dukhun, 10313 Yoon Sunah, 10314 Lee Joon, 10315 Lee Jinhee, 10317 In Hayoon
Instructor: Jang Hwaeun
① Write down which topic you have chosen to explore. (※ It must be a topic that allows you to exhibit results in the form of a project. However, it is not necessary to bring the actual item.)
② Write down the reason for choosing that topic.
③ Describe the problems related to the chosen topic and roughly outline possible solutions.
④ Describe a rough plan of what kind of experiments you need to conduct to explore the chosen topic.
"Why are the words so informal?"
Jinhee frowned after reading it.
"Shouldn't it end with 'please' instead of 'do it~'?"
"The one who just talked nonsense, please call it a quit."
Jinhee pouted at my objection and put her phone away.
But since I was the President, Jinhee couldn't treat me carelessly.
"Are you really going to quit?"
"Nope. I'm staying."
She pouted and nodded her head.
Of course, our relationship wasn't like this at all in the beginning.
The Jinhee now in front of me used to grab me by the collar if she thought I was acting even a little weird or doing something strange.
Still, after spending time together and perhaps sensing a bit of my authority, now she was a little submissive to my authority as the President.
Gyeongwon continued explaining after making sure that everyone had read it.
"Everyone read the application form, right? We have to finish writing all of this and submit it by today. If we start now and keep gathering during breaks to work on it bit by bit, I think we'll have it all done by lunchtime."
"Lunchtime? That's longer than I expec—"
Just then, the door slid open with a rattle and Dukhun walked in.
"OWO~ Sorry for being lateee~"
"Are you f*cking crazy? OWO? Can't you read the room?"
Jinhee turned to the door and snapped sharply at Dukhun.
She was probably taking out the frustration she had toward me on Dukhun instead.
"Go to the back and kneel down, late comer."
"Tch…."
Following Jinhee's order, Dukhun put down his bag and went to the back to kneel on the floor.
Soon, Gyeongwon let out a muffled groaning sound and pushed up his glasses.
"I really wish everyone would stick to the time we agreed on. Honestly, I kept quiet because Club Prez didn't say anything, but still, try not to be late. It's best to be here when everyone gathers and listens to the explanation. The judges might suddenly pick someone at random and throw out a question."
"Really...?"
At those words, Sunah hesitated with a frightened expression on her face.
I nodded along with Gyeongwon.
It was my first time at the Clover Science Exhibition too, but I've been to a few school competitions in my past life.
"Stuff like this where you do some science project and enter a competition is usually like that. After seeing all the presentations, the judges typically pick someone and ask about the details."
Things like why did you approach this part that way or why is that aspect like this etc.
"The judges might also point out problems that seem new or unexpected to them. You have to be able to answer those well too if you want to win the prize."
"Like on audition shows, when they start asking questions right after it ends?"
"Yeah, pretty similar."
"No way. That's f*cking crazy."
Jinhee opened her eyes wide and mumbled with a groan.
"I wasn't actually listening to any of it, to be honest."
"..."
Gyeongwon let out a sigh.
Then he turned to me and asked,
"Prez, what do we do? Are you really planning to take all six of us to participate?"
"Yeah. I'm going to take you all in."
I answered him without a moment's hesitation.
I had already decided from the moment I first saw the poster for this competition.
"Well, if you say so..."
Gyeongwon glanced at the three morons who weren't good at studying, then continued with his explanation.
He was probably worried.
Jinhee who didn't focus at all.
Dukhun who was always late for activities.
Sunah who tried hard but was lacking.
'If the teachers from Void cult plan to weed us out, they'll probably relentlessly target those three with persistent questions.'
But it was something I was prepared for.
Of course, it would be easier to participate with just Hayoon and Gyeongwon, those who had a bit of brain, and leave the three others out, but that would be putting the cart before the horse.
Our goal in this competition wasn't simply to win a prize.
What's important was winning first place on the national stage, getting the Presidential Award, and the chance to visit the company headquarters.
Also, aiming for the opportunity to meet the chairman, Chun Seungjae, at the awards ceremony.
Our goals for entering the competition were those two.
That's why everyone in the Ghost Story Club must participate together.
The purpose is not the prize, but to dig up information about Clover Corp. behind the prize.
'And if I just take a few people to make things easier for myself, the group will split, and the club's atmosphere will turn gloomy.'
Even back then, it was difficult to pull together people who had completely different personalities from each other for the sake of the club, so there should be no one who felt left out.
Unity!
That's what I was focusing on the most in managing the club.
'Anyway, even if they keep bombarding Sunah with questions and she stumbles, I can just go back in time and tell her the questions in advance.'
My aim was to remove any shortcomings for taking everyone along by my regression ability.
'So let's all go together.'
To uncover the truth behind Clover.
"…So, for question 1 on the application form, what topic we chose to explore, we explain it like this… And for question 2, why we chose that topic, it's because, like I said earlier, Korea is such and such… did everyone understand?"
"Yeah."
"I understand."
"No one's bluffing, right?"
The club members nodded shamelessly with straight faces.
From my observation, Jinhee and Sunah definitely needed some extra explanation, but they were nodding confidently and shamelessly as if they understood.
But since the morning activity was nearly over anyway, I decided to wrap things up for now.
"Alright, let's give a round of applause to Gyeongwon for his wonderful lecture."
"Wooooow..."
"Clap clap clap....."
"Since it's almost time for morning assembly, we'll stop here for now."
With a word of thanks to Gyeongwon for his effort, I took the baton and stepped in front of the club members.
"This takes care of questions 1 and 2 on the application. As for questions 3 and 4, we'll gather during lunch break and work on them together whenever we get the chance. And like Gyeongwon said earlier, if the Void cult teachers end up being the judges, it's obvious they'll throw questions only at the ones who seem least likely to answer well. In other words, you can't just coast along. If there's anything you don't understand, you need to ask right away. Got it? Don't just nod and move on if you're confused."
Jinhee nodded with a pout, while Dukhun, kneeling on the floor, trembled with his arms shaking.
Though my words were meant to call them out, even Sunah, who actually was trying hard, looked scared at my words, so I gently reassured them.
"But don't worry too much. I've already been prepared for this when I first applied for the competition. No matter what those people say or how much they try to sabotage us, if things get too bad, I can just go back in time and warn you about the questions in advance. Those who are working hard, follow along like you're doing now. For those who don't, snap out of it and try to commit to working together."
Some of them reacted differently.
"Got it? No matter what, it's important that we all win the Presidential Award together and uncover the truth behind Clover. There's no avoiding that some people are slower to keep up, but even those who're good shouldn't just stand still. Let's look out for each other and move forward together, okay?"
This time, my words were aimed at Hayoon, who hadn't said a single word while gathered here.
She nodded back with a composed expression.
"All right, that wraps up the morning session! We'll continue again during break time! Disperse~"
"Disperse~"
"Disperse..."
We clapped our hands together and packed our bags.
The Ghost Story Club's preparations for the competition would continue.
* * *
"Now, question number 3 on the application form, 'Describe the problems related to the chosen topic and roughly outline possible solutions'. This is a more detailed part."
During the break after the second period.
We gathered around the long desk at the back of the classroom and discussed things.
Many students in the class curiously glanced at us, wondering what we were up to, but we were so busy preparing for the competition that we didn't even care about those gazes anymore.
Indeed, preparing for a competition holds something that sets the hearts of youth ablaze like nothing else.
Sacrificing even lunchtime to focus, to research, to pour our entire day into something.
'Jealous, Lee Chaerin?'
Vice Class President, Chaerin, who's always obsessed with grades and building her résumé, seemed to be going around subtly asking what we were working on, but I had zero intention of telling her anything.
'If you're curious, join the club.'
Either way, that's how we were spending our days this week.
Even while walking together, the club members keep discussing how we should do this part and that part etc.
Even after school, our group chat stayed active, constantly buzzing with shared ideas and suggestions.
The classic image of students earnestly preparing for a competition.
[③ Describe the problems related to the chosen topic and roughly outline possible solutions.]
"First of all, the Club Prez only knows the outcome of the item, so he doesn't know the specific principles or materials used. Unfortunately, Club Prez's house didn't have this installed. However, in the future, something like this-"
At that moment, Gyeongwon poked Hayoon with his elbow to get her attention.
"…If we only look at the conclusion that this thing appeared in the future. And considering that it was an invention by students like us, there probably weren't any principles that were too difficult. So I wrote down the basic problems that I could think of."
With that, Gyeongwon began writing down the problems of the magnetic hinge that he had thought of on an A4 sheet of paper.
"First, the structure is like this. Here, this part is usually used, but with the magnetic hinge, this section here…"
"…Right."
"You got it?"
Everyone nodded, as if they understood up to this point.
If there was anyone who didn't understand, they waited a little bit.
I would explain everything so that no one would miss it by the time of the competition anyway.
"Now, look at this. The doors and door frames we use at home are usually made of wood. And this is called a magnetic hinge, but will a magnet stick to wood?"
"…It won't."
"This is the first problem. How exactly did they attach this magnetic hinge to a wooden door in the future?"
"Hmm..."
While Gyeongwon was writing that sentence on the application, the club members each thought it over.
And when he finished writing, I asked.
"We have to write a rough estimate of the solution, too, right?"
"What do you all think?"
Rather than answering right away, Gyeongwon threw the question back at them, wanting to make everyone think for themselves first.
After a moment of deep thought, Sunah hesitantly mumbled and answered.
"…Like how magnets stick to a fridge. Maybe if the door and frame were made like that…"
I thought of Sunah's refrigerator, which was covered in Pokémon sticker magnets and various takeout restaurant magnets.
"..."
Whenever I thought of Sunah and that fridge together, for some reason, it always made me sad.
Soon, Gyeongwon pushed his glasses and gently pointed out the flaw in Sunah's idea.
"Good answer. But if we go that route, we'd have to make all doors and door frames out of metal. That would be really inefficient, right? Since most interior doors in regular homes are usually made of wood."
"Right..."
"There's no need to replace the whole door and frame just to attach a magnetic hinge. Now, look. This is probably why in the future it's called a magnetic hinge, but the hinge itself isn't actually a magnet. Here's a structure I came up with. If you look here…"
Gyeongwon had clearly thought a lot about this on his own, guiding us smoothly with confidence.
'As expected of a prospective science high school student.'
The science fair we were preparing for now is the kind of competition that any student who once aimed for a science high school would have dreamed of.
But after failing to get into a specialized high school and ending up at a regular one, he probably thought he would never have a shot at this kind of competition again. Now that he has gotten a second chance, he was working harder than ever, determined to make the most of this unexpected stroke of luck.
Reclaiming a dream once thought lost through a different path was something truly exhilarating.
'I hope he really enjoys this to the fullest.'
And maybe, while he was at it, he could share some of that understanding with the rest of us…
"Did you understand the last part? If not, let me explain it again…"
I smiled in satisfaction and followed along with Gyeongwon's impressive lead.
Anyway, since I generously brought in an invention stolen from the future, my position in the group was already solid.
No one would complain if I just rode along for a bit at this point.
[Special ability 'Lip Reading' has activated.]
Paat-
["What the hell is a magnetic hinge?"]
Chaerin, sitting at a desk in the distance, overheard our conversation and muttered under her breath, but I had no intention of telling her anything.
'Mhm~ If you're that curious, join the competition with us and see for yourself~'
T/N: Finally done with my exams!! Now I can update regularly (maybe).