Esper Story: Jin-hee

Hey Ife! Wanna play some baseball?

No, noooo!

C'mon, we just need one more!

I... I have something I need to do... Sorry!

Okay, if you change your mind, we'll be here!

We'll be at the baseball stadium!

...

(I'll just take a look and then leave.)

(Jin-hee's curve ball is so awesome!)

Hey! Catch!

!!!

Nice catch!

Ife, stop hiding over there and join us!

... I was just passing by...

If you don't join our team, we're probably gonna lose.

C'mon, just one game?

... Okay, just one game.

It's the 9th inning, Ife! Strike these guys out, and it's all over!

No... No problem...!

We won! Awesome! I knew you could do it!

It was nothing... Your pitching won the game...

Jin-hee... Why did you want to invite me to play so bad?

We needed another person, and I heard you were pretty good.

Yeah, but even if I didn't play, you guys probably would've won anyways.

Well... I guess I did have a small motive.

And what would that be?

So a few days ago, I found a diary in the lounge.

Being curious, I flipped through the contents.

...

It was an accident and I was curious! It wasn't like I meant to go through it...

After all, the diary didn't have a cover, or a name on it...

S... So how much did you read?

Just a little bit. The owner seemed like they wanted to make some friends, but didn't know how to go about it.

So I thought I'd help them along.

You didn't know who they were... So how were you gonna help them make friends...?

Heh heh, you're right. So I put the diary in the lost & found. Guess who showed up to claim it?

... Oh man...

That's right! It was you! You took it in the middle of the night!

Stop... Just stop!

"I want to play baseball with friends". You wrote that didn't you?

So I thought, why not invite you to play?

No... I can explain...

Stop denying it. I made your wish come true, didn't I?

!!!

So how about it? Wanna join our baseball team?

...If I have time, sure I guess.

Okay that settles it! I won't take no for an answer!

Hey! What're you guys doing?! Gettin' a little rough aren't we?

What's wrong babe? We're just messin' around with some friends here.

Friend? He doesn't seem like he's enjoying it.

Hey kid! Everything here is all good, isn't it? Heh heh, tell the lady there.

Y... You don't need to worry about me Miss... I'll be okay.

See?

Get outta here kid, lemme handle this.

It's an Ops Chief!

How old are you? Where do you attend school?

I... Why do I have to tell you anything?

Even Ops Chiefs can't bully people around!

Did I bully you? Did I slap you in the face? Did I take your money?

...

Have I blocked your path from going home?

...

What's wrong? Oh, so you only know how to bully kids smaller than you? You lost your tongue in front of an Ops Chief?

*SOB*SOB*

Ugh... So arrogant when you're bullying others... Then so quick to start crying when the tables are turned...

Jin-hee?! What're you doing here?

She bullied us! *SOB* She won't let us go home!

Hey... Why you little...

She was gonna take our money too!

Wow... Really...?

Oh really?

What do you think? Why would I bully anyone?

Jin-hee, you're an Ops Chief of the Esper Union, not a gang leader...

Be more mindful when dealing with others.

Enough! Save your lectures for these kids here!

I have more important matters to handle.

Was I too harsh?

Big bro! That Ops Chief lady didn't do anything wrong!

She wasn't bullying anyone! She was helping me!

It was those guys over there. They were the bullies! They wouldn't let me go home!

Is he telling the truth?

Umm...

There's been a lot of bullying around here recently. Keep a look out.

If you see anything suspicious, stop it immediately.

Yes, Ma'am!

If you can't handle it, come get me.

Don't worry Ms. Jin-hee, we'll guard this area!

Jin-hee, you...

You again.

Outta the way, I don't need another lesson!

No, I came to apologize!

Huh?

Sorry. I misjudged you.

I didn't know you cared for these kids so much.

Bleh... Stop it! I'm gettin' goosebumps...

(Man... Scary...)

Can you forgive me?

Meh, don't worry about it.

Hey, keep your head up... We don't want people thinkin' I'm bullying you.

Wait, where did those kids go just now?

Over there still probably. I was in a rush to catch up to you...

So you left them there alone?!

Let's go back!

Guess a song? I'm good at this game!

I'll wait and see then.

Do, Re, Mi, Do, Re, Do, Mi, Re, Mi, Fa, Fa, Mi, Re, Fa.

I know! I know!

Do a deer, a female deer! Re a drop of golden sun!

Correct! Next song.

Do, Do, So, So, La, La, So, Fa, Fa, Mi, Mi, Re, Re, Do.

Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.

Correct again!

That's right baby! That's how we do it! Wooo!

I love music too. I think we're gonna win!

Okay, your turn to sing.

Roger. But I can only hum...

It's okay, I got this.

Lalala, Lalala, Lalalalala.

Uhh... Sorry, can you sing it again?

Lalala, Lalala, Lalalalala, Lalalalalalala, Lalalala.

Sorry... Was that really the same song you just sang...?

Yes!

Umm... Maybe I didn't hear it right.

It's the same song! Listen!

Lalala, Lalala, Lalalalala.

... I'm sure now... You're singing a different tune every time...

And none of the beats are even close to being the same.

No way!

Am I... Tone-deaf?

Jin-hee, just tell me what song you were singing.

Jingle Bells! This is the Solstice Festival isn't it?! I thought we would win for sure!

I've never heard any of these versions of Jingle Bells... The tunes and beats were all off...

Absurd! Everyone said I had a talent at whistling... It should apply to singing too...

Whistling?

Yeah, when I used to be in a ga... *Cough*Cough* I mean when I used to join in community events...

They all knew my whistle when they heard it.

People responded pretty fast when I whistled.

What kind of whistling?

Like this!

Umm... Definitely unique... Yeah...

I can't tell if you're making fun of me or not...

Uh...

Am I really completely tone-deaf...?

Not necessarily. Sing Jingle Bells again, I'll give you a beat.

Not bad huh?

Sounds awesome! I've never sounded so good!

Next time you wanna jam, all you need to do is ask!

Jin-hee, I heard you were good at making Handbooks.

Why?

The Handbooks I make are too simple. They just end up looking like regular diaries...

Hmm... You can try using different colors and stickers to decorate your cover page.

If you want it even more brilliant, you can add some photos or draw some sketches too.

You made all these?! Wow!

If you like them, I can give these to you.

Really?

Yeah. Not every day I meet someone who likes Handbooks as much as I do.

Jin-hee, how long have you been making Handbooks?

Hmm... Since middle school I guess...

Nice! It's not easy to maintain a hobby that long. I'm learning a lot from you!

Nah, it's nothing. If you have any other questions, lemme know.

We can discuss different ways to make Handbooks.

Alright! I'll show you when I'm done!

What should I do? I don't want Jin-hee to get mad...

Suhua! What brings you here?

Are you here to talk about Handbooks? Come in!

Oh wait! Lemme clean up a little!

You don't need to be so courteous... I won't be long, I'm just here to return your stuff...

This...?

I decided to give up on Handbooks...

Suhua, can I ask you a question?

Why did you suddenly make this decision?

Well... I saw your Handbook. It was really something else...

But as much as I tried, I just couldn't get mine to even come close.

Every time I open up my Handbooks, it just looks cluttered and chaotic.

It started stressing me out, so I don't wanna do it anymore.

I see. Hang on a second.

???

These... You made all these?!

That's right.

This is the first Handbook I ever made. Back then, I didn't know how to decorate either.

All I thought about was how to put my feelings into words and decorations.

Now that I look back on it, my handbook wasn't that great at first. Everyone starts as a beginner.

But I don't have confidence like you do...

Suhua, I think you're overthinking it.

Handbooks don't need to be perfect. It's the process that's fun!

It's like having a conversation with yourself. Enjoy doing it!

A conversation with... Myself?

Yeah! When you're facing a new Handbook, you have an empty template. You can speak to it and design it any way you like.

So in a way, it's like facing a current version of yourself.

You can try relaxing, then recording your mood in the moment.

If you think making the handbook is stressful, then stop.

For me, Handbooks are a great way to chill and relax. But it's different for everyone.

...

Thank you Jin-hee.

I would like to relax and try again...

How 'bout we do one together right now?

Alright!