1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Top Student of the Whole School Hides Her Regression
Episode 40
The student who received the ballot looked up thoughtfully.
‘This is harder than I thought.’
Who should I vote for?
Park Su-hwan or Kang Da-hye.
If one of them were overwhelmingly superior to the other, it would be clear-cut, but since they’re neck and neck, it’s genuinely tough.
The homeroom teacher, who taught civics, was so earnest about the voting that he’d set up a makeshift voting booth and ballot box using his desk.
Students came up in order of their attendance numbers, signed the roster their teacher had prepared, crouched in the booth, and cast their votes. The teacher had wanted to verify each student’s identity with their school card, but Kang Da-hye said there wasn’t time for that.
This student was next.
So who to vote for?
Honestly, based on pure ability, it’d be Kang Da-hye.
Pretty, good at studying, nice personality.
But “neck and neck” didn’t mean their abilities were actually equal—it meant something else.
‘Kang Da-hye would be fine.’
During the last pop quiz, when this student had forgotten an eraser and panicked, hadn’t Kang Da-hye refused to lend one? She’d said she didn’t need an eraser since she never got problems wrong.
But then again.
‘There’s just… something off about it.’
It was hard to explain exactly why, but there was definitely something.
It wasn’t that Kang Da-hye had any real flaw.
It was just…
‘I wish Seo Jae-gyeom would be class president.’
If Seo Jae-gyeom were president and Kang Da-hye were vice president, wouldn’t that be perfect? He’s smart and meticulous, so she’d just support him from beside him.
But somehow, saying this out loud felt like it would invite backlash.
“The next person should stand up and get in line.”
Unable to make up their mind, the student stood and walked forward.
The homeroom teacher compared the student’s face to the photo on the roster and handed over the ballot.
They crouched inside the flimsy booth.
“…Ah. I don’t know.”
After deliberating, they pressed the stamp.
* * *
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[Ballot Count Results]
Kang Da-hye: ✓✓✓✓✓ (22)
Park Su-hwan: ✓ (6)
Invalid: ✓ (2)
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“Da-hye, congratulations!”
Su-ah, sitting in the front row, turned around and drummed frantically on my desk.
“Ah, I said I wasn’t going to!”
Still, Park Su-hwan, who’d gotten six whole votes, turned beet red and snapped at Do Ha-jun. Do Ha-jun stammered defensively, murmuring something about how Su-hwan had asked him to nominate him.
It wasn’t like Park Su-hwan’s popularity was usually so low.
Lately, after he’d started hanging around with Do-yeon and the other girls and people started mocking him for his “tactical shift toward the female students,” he’d apparently lost a lot of support.
Six votes meant that even among the boys who used to chant Park Su-hwan’s name, some had voted differently.
I felt dazed.
‘Me… class president?’
I mean, I did want it. Honestly, I really wanted it. But it actually happened?
I’d thought I’d lose because everyone was just chanting Park Su-hwan’s name. (And in fact, before the regression, Park Su-hwan had been elected.)
Had offering to share my notes made that much of a difference?
“Why did you vote for me?”
“Because you’re worth voting for!”
Su-ah slapped the back of my hand at my unguarded confession.
“People don’t say it out loud, but everyone’s watching. Ever since you stood up to Song Yeo-reum in the cafeteria, a lot of kids have thought you’re incredible.”
“It wasn’t that big a deal…”
“It was. After you stepped up like that, even the kids from Class 6 said school got easier for them.”
Class 6 is where Song Yeo-reum is.
“Even besides that, you’ve got the makings of a leader. Honestly, who else in our class would make a good president besides you?”
“…Park Su-hwan?”
“Ugh. No way.”
He’s too much of a troublemaker, Su-ah whispered into my ear with disgust.
“And honestly, I prefer having a girl as class president. It’s so much easier to talk about things.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Plus, our country’s president is a woman now anyway.”
“Huh?”
Wait, hold on. That’s… not quite the same thing.
I waved my hands frantically, backing away from the comparison.
The only thing we have in common is the last syllable of our names.
‘Me… actually class president?’
After a moment of bewilderment, my mouth curved upward slowly.
‘I’m allowed to like this, right?’
Of course I am.
“Congratulations, Kang Da-hye!”
“Congrats, Da-hye!”
“…Hehe.”
Yahoo~
This is my first time being class president!
Seo Jae-gyeom was elected vice president.
It was unopposed.
From the moment Seo Jae-gyeom stepped forward offering to be vice president, no one else even bothered to nominate anyone or put themselves forward as a candidate.
Seo Jae-gyeom ran alone, collected affirmative votes, and won.
There was exactly one dissenting vote, and I’m certain it came from Jung Eun-seong.
Here’s why.
The moment it became clear that Seo Jae-gyeom’s affirmative votes exceeded half and his election was assured, Jung Eun-seong folded his arms and just tilted his eyes upward to stare at the ceiling.
And though I’m not sure why, Seo Jae-gyeom also seemed to know the dissenting vote came from Jung Eun-seong.
I know because.
“Jae-gyeom, come here and stand next to Da-hye. Let’s take a photo.”
Seo Jae-gyeom walked to the front of the chalkboard with a smug expression, basking in the cheers, glanced at Jung Eun-seong once, and smirked…….
“Congratulations.”
I spoke to Seo Jae-gyeom while brushing chalk dust from my hands after helping with the vote count. Only then did Seo Jae-gyeom look away from Jung Eun-seong and meet my eyes with a grin.
“Class president?”
“Yeah, vice president.”
“Let’s do our best together?”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Let’s shake on it.”
“Alright.”
I took his enormous hand—large enough to hide my whole face—and gave it a casual shake. I’d intended to end the conversation there, but Seo Jae-gyeom didn’t let it go.
He smiled playfully and made a suggestion.
“Let’s take a photo.”
“A photo…?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m really not interested in that…….”
“Why? I bet our class has the best-looking president and vice president in the whole school.”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Come on. Let’s each make half a heart with our hands and press them together.”
“Are you insane?”
I refused outright, looking disgusted.
“That’s perfect!”
The homeroom teacher clapped like a seal, backing him up.
“Put these on too! I bought them yesterday after work at Daenoso!”
From the shopping bag that had held the ballot box emerged a white Rabbit Headband and a black Cat Headband—price tags still attached.
Seo Jae-gyeom took the headbands from the teacher and asked.
“Rabbit?”
“…Cat.”
At least that one looks slightly better. The ears are smaller.
I resigned myself and extended my hand to receive it, but Seo Jae-gyeom ignored my outstretched palm and placed the headband directly on my head.
Seo Jae-gyeom put on the Rabbit Headband himself and leaned toward me.
“Straighten out my ears for me.”
“…….”
“Come on.”
“Fine….”
Why’s she being so whiny today?
“Come on, let’s take the photo!”
The homeroom teacher pulled out his phone, mentioning he’d use a paid editing app for the pictures. Seo Jae-gyeom, standing next to me, had his arm pressed against mine.
“You two make a heart shape, a heart!”
Ugh.
“Da-hye, you need to smile!”
“^____^”
^___^ A smile frozen stiff as a board ^___^
“Aww, beautiful! It came out so well!”
“So now let’s go inside….”
“Wait! Now you two link arms confidently! Back to back!”
The homeroom teacher’s enthusiasm sparked the whole class. Soon kids were pulling out their own phones and snapping pictures of Seo Jae-gyeom and me.
“Seo Jae-gyeom, look this way~”
“Kang Da-hye, make a heart~”
“Okay, now tiger pose~ Say ‘rawr,’ rawr~ one, two, three, rawr!”
“Rawr….”
“Show us your most confident pose~”
“Give us a kiss, you two~”
“?!”
I felt like I was being made fun of…….
Later, when I checked the class group chat flooded with pictures, Seo Jae-gyeom looked like some K-pop idol while I looked like a politician…….
A conservative politician that people in their fifties and sixties would approve of…….
“This one turned out great.”
Seo Jae-gyeom took his phone back from the homeroom teacher and showed me a picture. It was a shot of me smiling awkwardly, with his profile as he gazed at me.
“This one’s good too, though?”
As we looked at the photo together, our foreheads nearly touched, and a pleasant scent drifted from Seo Jae-gyeom.
He must’ve sprayed cologne again.
“Da-hye, should we make this our profile picture?”
“No.”
“Aw.”
Do you really not understand why? Look at my face in that photo.
“Only fifteen minutes left! Alright, now let’s switch partners!”
The startled homeroom teacher clapped his hands sharply.
“Come over here and draw a new slip for each pair! Hurry, hurry!”
“Jae-gyeom, don’t you dare make that your profile picture.”
I look pathetic in it.
“Tsk.”
I left Seo Jae-gyeom to his mock sulking.
Who was I going to be paired with?
“I hope I get paired with Seo Jae-gyeom.”
“I want Jung Eun-seong.”
“I got the very back row.”
“I got the middle of group four.”
“I got the very front row.”
“Da, if I end up with the front row, want to trade seats with me?”
“Sure.”
I made the promise with Su-ah and unfolded the slip I’d just drawn.
17.
Back row of group one.
‘I would’ve preferred the front.’
Thinking it a shame, I gathered my things and moved to my new seat.
“…You’re sitting here?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“…So you’re my partner?”
“That’s right.”
…….
The guy wearing the annoyingly confident, casual smile flicked the cat ear on the headband I was still wearing.
“Looking forward to working with you, Kang Da-hye.”
…….
Ugh…….

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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