The Cat Hides Its Claws - Chapter 17

“Um, that’s…”

Yuja’s eyes widened. He couldn’t say anything more. He covered his mouth and took a step back.

Myohan put a hand on his forehead, sighing. Dangerous tension filled the room. Everyone was looking at the white rabbit in O Shin’s arms. He looked sad, which wasn’t like him. Then he blurted out, “I wish I could just kill myself.”

The rabbit sniffed at his chest ornament. Its long ears were cute and furry. Then Sinsul said something that broke the silence.

“Hey, you look really great!”

It was festival day. They got their costumes made by using the money they had pulled together. Boys who were good with crafts made the required props, and they also bought what they could buy, like the apple and trees. Now they were all ready and had agreed to go around in their costumes for promotion before the play in the afternoon, so they first checked the princess costume, which was the most important.

Long, black hair that came down to the shoulders, and huge red ribbon on the head. Myohan moaned to see O Shin wearing that fairy tale princess dress.

“I’m so grateful that I’m not the prince…”

One of the boys had brought his rabbit, saying Snow White was all about animals. The princess was going to hold it for as short while before its owner would take it back. Its cute and round eyes reminded Myohan of another rabbit he was supposed to catch. He wished that rabbit could’ve also been nice.

“Hey, don’t yell. It’ll stress the rabbit.”

Well, in conclusion, O Shin looked extremely good while dressed up as a princess. It did look a little awkward as he was really tall and masculine, but it wasn’t a serious problem. Yuja even gave him a thumbs-up, saying his costume was 90 out of 100.

“O Myohan! You should get changed too!”

After seeing O Shin’s princess costume, Myohan was ready to accept anything, so he took the prince costume from Yuja without protesting. Although O Shin’s costume came with a wig and a ribbon, Myohan just had a crown, a cape, and a wooden sword. He didn’t hesitate to get changed, and O Shin gave him a complicated look.

“Well, judging from height, O Myohan would have made a better princess.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“You can’t be the prince if you wanted to now. The dress is way too long for you.”

Sinsul kept joking around, but Myohan just told him to knock it off while he put on his cape and crown with Yuja’s help. His costume suited him nicely. He tried touching the sword on his belt, and O Shin’s lips curled up.

“You look good, prince.”

Normally, it would have made Myohan angry, but not today. He had to try really hard not to laugh while looking at O Shin as he was even in a worse state.

“You look even better, you know.”

“Now, now, as you are all dressed up, go out, get around, and enjoy the festival. I want promotion, okay?”

But Myohan would rather walk around naked than go out wearing that costume. O Shin seemed to be thinking the same, but Yuja show them no mercy. He pushed them out of the classroom and slammed the door shut right in front of their faces, yelling at them to hold hands. Everyone turned to see a prince and a princess suddenly show up in the hallway.

“You heard him. Should we hold hands?”

“Shut up, princess.”

O Shin must have gotten used to it already, as he offered a hand. Of course, Myohan turned him down flatly.

Getting around in costumes wasn’t as bad as they thought. The whole grade knew Myohan’s class was about to do a play, and as they were saying among themselves that ‘the princess defeated the prince with a kiss’, there was no reason to be more embarrassed now. He knew Yuja wanted advertising, but he also knew he could find a desolate place and get some rest instead.

“What the- it’s him!”

But things got worse really quickly. Since it was festival day and everyone was busy, no one was going to be at the garden. They could rest there. Myohan shouldn’t have taken O Shin’s opinion.

“But what is he wearing?”

One, two, three, four buff guys, and a small boy in the middle of them. Myo Cheong, who had been standing there somewhat bored, frowned hard. Myohan sighed. O Shin was quite amused.

“It’s time to draw your sword, prince.”

He must have predicted this. Myohan thought so. He knew it was impossible, but it didn’t surprise him either. Should I turn back and leave? No, that didn’t sound right. Then, should I do what I did last time? No, that was an even worse idea. Those guys were not fools. Why would they fall twice to the same trick?

“Why? You’ve come to save this mute again?”

“And why have you brought a crossdresser?”

Myohan looked up at him. He still looked unconcerned. It was two of us then, but now there’s three of us. Shouldn’t it be possible? But the moment he thought so, O Shin faked a pitiful look.

“Are you going to make this fragile princess fight?”

“Shit.”

Myohan instinctively said that. How could he even say such a thing with his masculine voice? Myo Cheong also frowned, having heard it too.

“What did you just say? Shit?”

One of the buff guys came closer. Myo Cheong angrily stomped a foot.

“You really think you get to pick a fight with us after running away last time?”

Myohan sighed. Actually, he himself could easily run away right now. And as for O Shin, well, he could take care of himself.

The problem was Myo Cheong…

‘Bother, bother….’

Running away was no good. There was no guarantee he would never run into them again, and most of all, he didn’t like them doing bad things so openly. Yes, he had run away once, but his pride didn’t permit him to do it twice. Well then, there was only one option left.

Huh. Myohan smirked.

“Each of you idiots can do nothing alone, that’s why you always go around in packs. So you think you are some kind of cool gangsters?”

The bullies frowned hard to hear the unexpected. Is he crazy? Myo Cheong’s eyes widened and he stomped his feet again. He was biting his lips. But Myohan just shrugged.

“You see, sort like you really are the worst. You pick a quiet and weak kid, bully him, and take his money.”

Myo Cheong shook his head hard to tell him to shut up. Now, all the buff guys were looking at Myohan. One of them laughed.

“Huh, what are you, a bringer of justice?”

“Well, you can do no more than tormenting a kid without any friends.”

“Hey, if you leave now, we’ll let you go.”

“Hah! He says he’ll let me go!”

Myohan laughed out loud, clearly looking down on them. Their faces turned red.

“It’s not like you’ll be able to really punch me…”

Cats have nine lives. Myohan suddenly thought of it, although it wasn’t exactly right for the situation. He laughed again and said another insult.

“You don’t actually know how to punch, do you?”

“Are you crazy or something?”

The guy at the front grabbed him. Myo Cheong flinched and put a foot forward. Myohan thought Yuja wouldn’t like it if his costume got damaged, but that wasn’t going to stop him now. He slowly blinked and invited them in,

“Ugh,” he said with a deep sigh, a bored look, and a mocking gaze.

“Cowards.”

With that last word, they snapped.

“That’s it!”

A fist was swung widely. It was slow enough to dodge, and as it was a huge move, it had many flaws. But Myohan didn’t dodge. Nor did he counterattack. He just kept his eyes on the guy.

“Oh, damn it!”

He could hear a yell. He grinned. One fell to the ground with a huge paf! But, it wasn’t Myohan. Nor was it O Shin, watching quietly from behind. The hand grabbing Myohan fell slowly. He blinked slowly.

“Shit! Shit!”

Myo Cheong knocked him off in no time and went on angrily stomping on his back. The other three, who couldn’t understand what was happening, looked at him in shock. Myohan just calmly brushed his costume.

“They say cats,”

“Have nine lives? I know.”