Having Become a Woman, I Now Live as a Complete Outcast

I'm clearly an idiot.

No, if not an idiot, then a moron, a dimwit, a pushover—take your pick.

One thing’s for sure: my brain is about as useful as a starfish.

Actually, that’s an insult to starfish. Comparing them to someone whose brain is just for decoration? Unfair.

I want to die.

I slumped down at my desk, mumbling the same words I had said earlier when I realized I hadn’t brought my gym clothes.

It’s clear that this is absolutely crazy.

The word I used to teach a lesson to the bullies who call me a loner is “I hate you.”

What kind of high school girl sulks at her boyfriend like this? I wish I could just die.

“Ugh.”

I barely managed to let out a sigh, feeling on the verge of death. I looked at the classroom door through which Park Seoyeon had run out a little while ago.

Was it her last act of consideration not to laugh in front of me?

Actually, from my perspective, it would have been better if she had just laughed it off and moved on.

I don’t know what to do since she disappeared like that.

Park Seoyeon is probably giggling to her friends right now, telling them about what happened.

Just thinking about that makes my face flush.

Why do I even exist?

I tried to make a cool stand, vowing never to hear “loser” again, and ended up worse off than before.

Is this the real version of those posts often uploaded with titles like “The delusions of loner.txt”?

In such despair, I noticed a wide-open pencil case lying on the desk.

Plus, there’s a luxurious-looking pen hidden inside.

Right. Now that I think about it, I have to go to the class next door too.

I feel like melting in the sun and turning into slime, but I still have to return things to their owner.

At first glance, it looks like a pretty expensive pen.

I pushed my chair back slightly, eased myself up, and picked up the pen that the girl I had bumped into earlier had dropped.

Ugh, there’s nothing more awkward than going to a class where you don’t know anyone.

I don’t know why these trials keep coming at me one after another today.

I left the classroom, continuing to curse the god who had cursed me since he made me a woman, and headed to the classroom with the sign that said “2-2.”

She better not be from a different class.

If that’s the case, I’ll have to ask a teacher to track down the owner.

I hid against the wall and barely managed to peek my head out, scanning the classroom of Class 2 with my eyes.

Unlike our quiet class, the class next door was noisy and crowded, as most of the students had returned from lunch. It was very difficult to find the female student I had run into earlier.

I should have looked at her name.

I checked her name tag’s color to confirm her grade, but why didn’t I read the actual name?

If I knew it, I could just grab someone from the class and say, “Hey, could you pass this to her?”

“Hm?”

Finally, as I hesitated, unable to do anything, a female student passed by me and stopped.

I guess she was curious about the unfamiliar face loitering in front of the class.

“Are you looking for someone?”

“Huh? Oh, no… yeah.”

“Who are you looking for? Tell me name, and I’ll call it out.”

An angel?

It seemed as if a halo glowed behind her kind gesture, but unfortunately, I couldn’t accept her offer.

I want to give the name too.

But I don’t know the name. Sob sob.

If only I remembered anything that could be a clue, but I don’t have anything like that.

“Huh? That pen…”

“……?”

As I rolled my eyes, thinking about what to say, the female student who had spoken to me earlier pointed at the fancy-looking pen in my hand.

Pen? What’s wrong with the pen?

“Is that by any chance Eunha’s?”

“Eunha…?”

“Yeah, she’s in our class. It looks just like one she has. Are you here to return it?”

“Uh, yeah.”

When this unexpected lifeline appeared, I nodded slightly, bewildered.

The girl told me to wait a moment and entered the classroom.

“Hey, Eunha! Didn’t you say earlier that you lost your favorite pen?”

Wow, the soft voice from just a moment ago was now so loud it felt jarring.

So, this pen was something she treasured, huh.

It did look kind of special.

I peeked into the classroom again, sticking my head out to see what was going on inside, and saw a female student getting up from her seat with a smile on her face.

It was the girl I saw earlier.

“Huh?! Did you find it?”

“I didn’t find it, but someone came to return it!”

“Really?!”

When the female student who had just entered nodded and pointed toward the entrance where I was, the girl who had bumped into me ran out barefoot, screaming with joy…

“?!”

Suddenly, she saw me and froze in place.

As if she had seen a wild beast.

“I, I… I dropped it when we bumped into each other this morning. This…”

I don’t know why, but since she didn’t say anything, I was the first to state my business.

Then, the female student who had stopped when she saw me looked back and forth between the pen in my hand and my face, then suddenly closed the distance between us… Wait a minute! We’re too close?!

“Thank you so much! This is my favorite pen. It’s hard to find another one…!”

“Oh, really? Thank goodness.”

I couldn’t help but take a step back when I saw her expression, full of emotion, as she covered my hand holding the pen.

Because she was much taller than me, the feeling of intimidation was no joke.

By the way, I know there are expensive pens, but what does it mean that it’s hard to find another one?

It’s not like it’s a luxury watch or a pen made in limited quantities by artisans.

In the first place, there’s no reason for a student to use something like that.

“You’re Seo Harin from the next class, right? My name is Ha Eun-ha. Even if you reverse it, it’s Ha Eun-ha. Nice to meet you.”

“Uh, yeah. Right. Nice to meet you too.”

Her name is Ha Eun-ha.

I thought the girl who called her earlier said “Ha-eun-ah!” so I assumed her name was Ha-eun, but she was actually calling her by her full name, “Ha Eun-ha!”

Ha, Eun. Ha, Eun even when you turn it upside down. It’s fun.

When I thought about that fact again, I felt like laughing, but I tried to hold it in.

I didn’t want to give the impression that I was rude for laughing at someone’s name the first time I heard it.

Anyway, seeing her so happy about getting her pen back made me feel a little guilty.

It seems she was looking for it desperately, and I should have brought it to her earlier during break time, even if it was a bit inconvenient.

“I’m sorry I brought it to you late. I should have given it to you during break time…”

“…Pfft, why are you sorry about something like this? You should be thanked for finding it.”

A smile appeared on Eunha’s lips as she stared at me while I apologized.

It somehow felt like the smile an older sister would give her cute younger sister.

I felt strangely embarrassed by those eyes, but I also felt good because the somewhat uncomfortable feeling in my heart was melting away.

Anyway, I guess I’ve accomplished one mission.

“Well, then I’ll go. Sorry for bumping into you this morning.”

After successfully handing over the pen, I timidly waved my hand and turned around.

No, I tried to turn around.

“Huh? You’re leaving already?”

If it weren’t for the sudden sound of Ha Eunha’s voice behind me.

“No, let’s go to the store together. I’ll treat you to something as a thank you for finding the pen.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay. I just ate some bread…”

At the sudden offer, I strongly declined, shaking my head and hands at the same time.

If only I had found and helped return what Happened Eunha had lost.

But she lost it because of the collision I caused.

If you think about it, it’s a bit strange for the perpetrator to receive compensation.

But Eunha pushed ahead quite stubbornly despite my rejection.

“I feel bad letting you go like this. Otherwise, do you have any favors to ask?”

“A f-favor…?”

I feel like it’s less burdensome to get something from the store.

I can’t ask for a favor just because I found a pen.

Besides, as I said many times before, it was my fault from the beginning.

But if I leave like this, I feel like Eunha will look at me like an abandoned puppy, and that bothers me.

Ugh, even if I asked for a favor, there’s nothing I can think of.

It’s not like I need anything right now, nor do I need a helping hand… Ah!

“That’s right. There was something.”

As I continued my thoughts, a spark suddenly struck my mind, and I opened my eyes.

By the way, the next class is PE.

I’m talking about the class that sent me into a pit of despair the moment I arrived at school today.

Actually, there was nothing wrong with gym class; it was entirely my fault for not bringing gym clothes… but anyway!

“I think it’s shameless, though.”

I bumped into her and made her lose her pen, and now I’m thinking of using this as an excuse to ask for a favor.

Guilt reared its head in my chest, but I shook it off, urging myself.

A person should have a bit of shamelessness!

Besides, it seems like Eunha won’t let me go until I ask for a favor!

In that sense, it’s a win-win situation!

“Um, c-could I ask for one thing… maybe?”

“Of course. Name it.”

When I asked for confirmation one last time, wringing my hands together, Eunha smiled brightly as if she had been waiting for this.

I still feel guilty, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

It’s a hundred or a thousand times better than standing alone in front of the kids in my school uniform.

“If you happen to have a gym uniform, could you lend it to me just this once…?”

Please, God. I’m sorry for cursing you earlier.

Please let Class 2 have physical education today!

---

As the fifth-period physical education class approached, the students in Class 1, Grade 2 lined up in the gymnasium according to the instructions of their physical education teacher, Choi Mijeong.

There were no unfortunate incidents of anyone wearing their school uniform alone, as someone had wished, but for some reason, everyone’s attention was focused on one place.

Right in the middle of the line, at the very front, stood a tiny squirrel.

“…Harin?”

Breaking the awkward silence, Choi Mijeong, the PE teacher, spoke up.

Seo Harin, who had been bowing her head as if she had committed a sin, trembled and raised her head at being called out of nowhere.

“Y-Yes?!”

“That outfit… what’s going on?”

“W-Well, uh…”

At the hesitant remark, Seo Harin rolled her eyes and pursed her lips.

Actually, her outfit didn’t look like much of a problem from a distance.

It was exactly the same navy-blue gym uniform with white stripes worn by the second-year students of Cheongseol Girls’ High School.

There was just one problem…

“Can you move in that condition?”

The clothes were too big.

This was the result of Seo Harin borrowing Eunha’s gym clothes without considering the difference in height and physique between them.

Choi Mijeong frowned at the sight of Seo Harin’s hands hidden inside sleeves that were too long and her trousers folded up twice, almost dragging on the floor.

“Y-Yes! I’ll do my best…!”

“No, effort isn’t the issue here…”

Looking at Seo Harin, who answered like a passionate salaryman, Choi Mijeong wore an expression that said, “What should I do with this?”

If Seo Harin ran around like that and the hem of her pants came down, she could step on it and fall, which would be a big problem.

As a teacher, it was admirable that a student wanted to participate in class, but for safety reasons, Choi Mijeong had no choice but to exclude her today and let her watch the other students play dodgeball.

“For now, Harin, just watch what your friends are doing. It’ll be hard for you to move in those clothes.”

“Huh?! But…”

“It’s okay, you can rest. I won’t deduct any points.”

Normally, students who didn’t bring gym clothes would have points deducted from their attitude evaluations, but since Seo Harin’s effort to borrow clothes that didn’t fit was admirable, Choi Mijeong decided to let it slide today and waved her pen.

Thus, Seo Harin’s small rebellion was thwarted, and the students dispersed to their respective places.

Then, someone approached Seo Harin, who was standing with her shoulders hunched over.

“Hey, loner. Be honest. You borrowed that oversized outfit just to skip class, right?”

It was none other than Park Seoyeon, who was waiting for an opportunity to take revenge for the earlier incident—although Seo Harin, the person involved, had no malicious intentions.

Seo Harin protested with a sense of injustice in response to her accusation.

She hadn’t realized the size issue until class was about to start.

Even if she had, she wouldn’t have had a better solution.

“No, no. I didn’t have anyone else to borrow from.”

“You’re lying.”

Park Seoyeon didn’t believe those words because she had already realized from Seo Harin’s actions that she was quite cunning.

She had no doubt that Seo Harin had intentionally borrowed oversized clothes so she could lean against the wall and nap during class.

“Anyway, she’s a vixen.”

Park Seoyeon, who had been secretly planning to target her, clicked her tongue in regret and turned around when her plan fell through.

She decided that the next time she got the chance, she’d tease Seo Harin to her heart’s content.

At that moment, as Park Seoyeon was about to enter the court…

Hug—

Suddenly, she felt something gently tugging at the hem of her clothes.

Puzzled by this, she turned her head…

“I-I really wanted to play dodgeball…”

There stood Seo Harin, lips pouting in frustration, glaring up at Park Seoyeon with a sulky expression.

(End of Chapter)