Chapter 24 (Continued)

 

Before we knew it, it was late at night.

 

We headed to the subway station to catch the last train.

 

On the path lit by streetlights, the familiar sound of insects chirping from the grass beside the sidewalk echoed.

 

Baek-seo carried her bag with her opposite hand.

 

As we walked side by side, our hands occasionally brushed against each other. I didn’t keep my distance because I liked the moment of contact.

 

Meanwhile, Baek-seo spoke up.

 

“Leader, how about a bet?”

 

An unexpected suggestion.

 

“What kind of bet?”

 

“A bet on our exam scores.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

A bet on exam scores.

 

Not a bad idea.

 

It would serve as an additional motivation, stroking my competitive fire.

 

Baek-seo was someone I needed to beat anyway.

 

Might as well go all out.

 

“Sure. Bring it on.”

 

I agreed without hesitation, and Baek-se

 

o covered her mouth with her lightly clenched fist, stifling a laugh.

 

“A simple wish would be fair.”

 

“Fair enough.”

 

“Shall we do that?”

 

“Let’s.”

 

“But no inappropriate wishes, okay?”

 

“Why would I make such a wish?”

 

“Huhu.”

 

Our conversation blended with the insect songs, the night’s stillness, and the dry scent of the earth.

 

What I wished from Baek-seo.

 

Nothing special.

 

Just that she stays by my side.

 

I really liked her.

 

Of course, it could be difficult.

 

But my goal was to ‘live happily.’

 

Naturally, I wanted to be with the person I liked.

 

Though, it wouldn’t be achieved through a wish.

 

I thought of something else.

 

‘What would be good…?’

 

If I beat Baek-seo and win the wish….

 

‘Maybe I’ll ask her to come with me to spend my mileage after midterms.’

 

It would be a light enough wish for her.

 

There would be a clear reason and purpose.

 

And I could disguise it as a date.

 

‘Perfect.’

 

It felt like drinking kimchi soup ahead of time, but….

 

I couldn’t help enjoying the thought.

 

“Leader, watch out for dog poop.”

 

Huh?

 

“Whoa! Damn it…!”

 

In a careless moment, I almost stepped on a dog’s faeces by a street tree.

 

I quickly lifted my leg and jumped to avoid it.

 

“Phew.”

 

That was close.

 

I didn’t step on it.

 

“Pff!”

 

“?

 

Suddenly, Baek-seo burst into laughter.

 

“Hahaha! What was that!”

 

Baek-seo began to laugh uncontrollably.

 

It seemed my reaction was very amusing to her.

 

‘Ah, I messed up.’

 

I lowered the brim of my hat to cover my eyes.

 

‘Ugh….’

 

I clenched my mouth shut.

 

I felt empty.

 

‘What a disgrace….’

 

To show such a pathetic side in front of my vice-leader because of dog poop….

 

It was enough to tarnish my dignity as the Disciplinary Committee Leader.

 

The cool image I’d maintained in front of my vice-leader was crumbling, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me, making my whole body tremble.

 

What was the cleaning robot doing, not even picking up the dog poop? Dereliction of duty.

 

“Hahaha!”

 

“…?”

 

But then.

 

I sensed something off in Baek-seo’s laughter.

 

It was a sight I’d never seen in the game, and I’d only seen it once last year when we were alone.

 

Baek-seo always wore a gentle smile, but she rarely laughed out loud like this.

 

Even when a funny senior performed at last year’s Disciplinary Committee dinner, she didn’t laugh.

 

While everyone else laughed, Baek-seo only smiled softly.

 

In other words, it was a rare scene.

 

“Stop laughing….”

 

I said, frustrated.

 

“Pfft!” Baek-seo laughed even harder.

 

* * *

 

In Neo Seoul, a designated residential area in Academy City, there are many security robots.

 

To ensure the safety of the residents.

 

However, Baek-seo’s residence was located away from the residential area.

 

It also had security robots, though their number was unusually high for a non-residential area.

 

Baek-seo studied quietly at her desk, lit by a lamp.

 

“Huhu….”

 

She couldn’t help but smile as she recalled the time spent with Leader Ahn Woo-jin.

 

Resting her chin on her hand, she drew a simple caricature of Woo-jin’s face in the corner of her textbook.

 

Next to the drawing, she added expressions like “handsome,” “cute,” “cool,” and “I like you” with several hearts.

 

What Baek-seo had harboured in her heart was emptiness.

 

A product of this dreadful silence.

 

Since entering Ahsung High School, only Woo-jin had been able to fill that emptiness, even partially.

 

Thinking of Woo-jin made Baek-seo happy.

 

Happiness stems from fulfilling a lack.

 

However, Baek-seo still wasn’t sure if she could fully enjoy this happiness.

 

Her emotions weren’t easily controlled.

 

Whenever she saw Woo-jin, she wanted to joke around and chat happily.

 

As she thought of Woo-jin’s charm, she raised her head, and her smile faded.

 

On her desk, a dried peony flower stood in a vase in the corner.

 

It was a cherished flower she held in her hand with a pretty pink-haired girl in her childhood.

 

Once, it was a beautiful purple.

 

She could remember the meaning of the purple peony well because the girl had told her.

 

It was her honest sentiment.

 

Back then, Baek-seo had picked a purple peony too, saying their feelings matched and smiling brightly.

 

It was so long ago that she couldn’t remember the girl’s face clearly.

 

“Purple peony….”

 

Baek-seo stared quietly at the dried peony.

 

Peonies are typically used to celebrate, and their flower language generally holds positive meanings.

 

However, “purple” peonies are different.

 

Purple peonies have negative meanings, which is why they’re usually excluded from celebratory bouquets.

 

The flower language of purple peonies.

 

─ “The meaning of purple peonies is ‘anger.’ I read it in a book. Praise my knowledge!”

 

─ “Dalbi, watch out for dog poop….”

 

─ “Eek! I stepped on it…!”

 

─ “Pff!”

 

Baek-seo remembered the words of the pink-haired girl.

 

That girl, who had shared her honest feelings, had disappeared, leaving behind resentment and questions.

 

She was now one of the Six Sinners.

 

If Baek-seo caught her, she had things to ask.

 

Depending on her answers, she would either punish her, imprison her, or help her.

 

That’s why Baek-seo joined the Disciplinary Committee.

 

She couldn’t track her down alone.

 

“More useless thoughts….”

 

Baek-seo’s eyes lowered, feeling the heavy silence weighing down on her. She pushed away the distracting thoughts.

 

She didn’t know who gave Woo-jin the purple peony as a congratulatory gift.

 

But that person must have made a mistake giving him that flower.

 

Baek-seo thought as much and let it go.

 

……

 

Two weeks later.

 

The midterm results came out.