"Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, Seo-A is in quite a state of addiction."

Lee Yoo-Ram said.

"Yes."

"She hasn't just used one type of drug, so it's a bit troublesome, but I believe that with proper care, she can recover."

"Recovery, huh?"

"Recently, there's been a lot of drugs manufactured by Awakened individuals circulating, causing quite a problem. The academy has been putting measures in place. You could say Seo-A is the first beneficiary of those efforts."

To properly nurture the growing students, a lot of care is needed, even to the extent of resolving issues with drugs.

"That's a relief."

"She’s a childhood friend, and since you’ve been together for so long, it feels like family. You can take good care of her at the academy."

Family?

That’s right.

She’s family.

Han Si-Hoo is aware of that fact too.

At the very least, he wanted to keep in touch.

But it’s not easy to leave the academy whenever he wants.

He tried sending a text. There was no response.

He even tried calling. She didn’t pick up at all.

After being continuously rejected, Han Si-Hoo decided to give up on Yu Seo-A.

He hadn't completely forgotten about her.

He had sent a significant amount of his income from the academy to Yu Seo-A.

He told her to use it where needed.

Eat whatever she wanted, do whatever she wanted.

If she wanted, he thought she could rent a decent room to live in.

But it all disappeared on drug costs.

"...Just to reiterate, Seo-A is in a lot of pain."

"Yes."

"She’s feeling a bit better now, but her fever was high, and the drug side effects seem severe..."

Lee Yoo-Ram hesitated before continuing.

"If, by any chance, Seo-A tries to attack you or seems seriously frightened, you can just step back. I have tranquilizers prepared."

"Is that so?"

Han Si-Hoo's tone reveals his desolate feelings.

"Follow me for now."

Lee Yoo-Ram gestures for Han Si-Hoo to follow him.

Where they arrive is the isolation room.

"Okay, she’s in here... do you want to go in and see?"

Lee Yoo-Ram stands in front of the isolation room, speaking.

They can't keep Seo-A here indefinitely.

If misunderstandings need to be cleared up, that’s Han Si-Hoo’s responsibility.

"Yes."

Is it okay to go in?

Han Si-Hoo hesitated briefly before grabbing the doorknob to the isolation room.

He needed to check on Yu Seo-A’s condition.

Clunk.

With a slight noise, the door opened.

Inside was a space surrounded by gray walls.

A brown-haired girl was sitting in the corner of the room.

She was wearing a white patient gown.

"Seo-A...?"

Han Si-Hoo called her name.

She didn't respond at all until he got closer.

"Seo-A."

"Ah?"

As he approached and spoke to her, only then did Yu Seo-A lift her head.

"Are you okay?"

Yu Seo-A's complexion brightens.

"Si-Hoo."

Her expression brightened for a brief moment.

Right after, her face stiffens.

Her gaze wavers.

"I'm... I'm sorry."

Yu Seo-A says this, lowering her eyes.

She seems to want to retreat further into the corner, even though she’s already in one.

They always had a kind demeanor.

Seo-A and Si-Hoo.

They had a good relationship.

Since they had a good relationship, he didn’t want to suffer anymore.

He hated being stabbed in the back.

He hated spilling blood on the dirt floor.

He didn't want to die.

"Um, I'm really sorry..."

He needed to ask for forgiveness quickly.

This shouldn’t happen again.

"Uh?"

Even he finds it infuriating.

Asking for drugs in the middle of a fight and trying to kill him.

She's an obstructive character.

So he understands why the protagonist would want to handle it.

In fact, if he were the protagonist, he would abandon Yu Seo-A.

It’d be better to kill someone who just hinders him.

He understands.

"I’m sorry for attacking you. It was a mistake."

"......"

"It really was a mistake..."

He spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

He hadn’t been in his right mind.

Under normal circumstances, he would just be resting comfortably at home.

He wants to go home.

To get the drugs and lie down comfortably until he falls asleep.

He doesn’t feel at ease here.

Even though there are better beds, he feels uncomfortable.

"Oh, oh yeah. I haven’t spent the money you gave me yet."

It's a relief that the academy provides the drugs for free.

He still has some money left.

"I'll pay you back as soon as I get home."

The money in his bank account.

The money Han Si-Hoo had given him for drug costs.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to spend any money because the doctor provided the drugs for free.

So he hopes he can take back the money and ease the tension.

He wants to go back alive.

"Oh right, I said not to come, but I’m sorry for coming. I just... I just wanted to congratulate you on your graduation... since you’re a high school student now, so... I didn’t mean to attack you..."

He babbled.

He has too much to apologize for.

He feels like he’s done too many things wrong.

He can’t see Han Si-Hoo’s expression.

"-It’s, it’s okay."

What does that even mean?

"Don’t worry. I won’t do anything."

Hearing that made him feel a bit relieved.

No, actually, he’s still scared.

He doesn’t know what she wants.

His mind isn’t working well.

Wasn’t he stabbed?

He was indeed stabbed.

He barely managed to stop his breathing from quickening.

"I'm sorry. Please believe me. You don’t have to be scared."

Scared?

No, I’m not scared.

I have to think that way so my hands don’t tremble.

He looked back up at Han Si-Hoo.

She looked strangely sad.

"The things that happened in the last battle... it was an accident. Seo-A wasn’t trying to attack you. I’m not angry at you."

He explained, trying to clarify.

It doesn’t seem like she’s thinking of attacking him right now.

At least for now, he doesn’t feel any hostility.

"I didn’t hurt you on purpose. It was a mistake because my comrade misunderstood, so there’s no reason to attack you."

Misunderstanding.

It might have been like that.

Then it’s a relief.

Not exactly friends, but not enemies either.

That’s good.

"Last time... I was too harsh with my words. I’m really sorry. When you came looking for me, I mean, I’m just sorry. I’ll apologize."

Han Si-Hoo is struggling to find words.

He hadn’t expected to hear an apology.

It seems he’s not as angry as he thought.

He opens his mouth slightly, only to close it repeatedly.

"...I promised I would always protect you."

He mumbles something.

"Where did it all go wrong?"

He can’t tell if it’s a soliloquy or if he’s talking to him.

The atmosphere isn’t bright like usual.

It’s not like a protagonist.

"The fact that you ended up like this... is because I couldn’t protect you properly."

It’s too grim.

The protagonist shouldn’t have done anything wrong.

Yeah, the protagonist needs to stay strong.

Because that’s what a protagonist does.

If he shines, the world becomes safer.

"I’m fine, I am."

I’m fine.

[4 hours 20 minutes]

As long as there's still time left, he’s fine.

His fever isn’t that high.

Was it 37.8 degrees?

Well, it’s gone down quite a bit.

"I’m, I’m fine."

He’s healthy without any pain.

He just hasn’t gotten over his cold and is taking medicine.

He can live just fine on his own.

"I’m not hurt at all-"

He choked up.

He swallowed again before something could escape his mouth.

The taste of rusty metal.

No, it can’t be blood.

Why is his condition worsening even though he’s taking medicine?

Is he overdoing it?

"Seo-A?"

Well, he was stabbed.

He was stabbed.

So he must be bleeding.

He still doesn’t know.

"-Are you okay?"

Han Si-Hoo reaches out.

Why is he coming closer?

It’s too close.

Time stops.

"Yikes."

He covered his stomach with his hand.

His body leaned slightly forward.

Being stabbed hurts.

He doesn’t want to get hit.

It’s not a conscious action, just a reflex.

"Oh."

He unintentionally became wary of Han Si-Hoo.

Looking back, it doesn’t mean much.

Whether he covers his abdomen or not, it wouldn’t serve as defense.

Damn it.

Why is Yu Seo-A so weak?

"Ah..."

He lowers his hand and waits for his fate.

Is he going to get hit? Is he? Is he?

It’s a relief that he can’t see a knife.

If he gets punched, he thinks he can withstand one hit.

He got hit by an academy student last time.

Yeah. He can take it.

No.

But he doesn’t want to get hit.

He still doesn’t know why he got hit that time.

"No, it’s not like that."

Han Si-Hoo looks flustered and steps back.

It doesn’t seem like he was trying to hit him.

"Oh, okay. I’m sorry."

He finally managed to open his mouth.

He’s clearly overreacting.

It’s just that he can’t think clearly.

His mind feels overheated.

In reality, he’s running a fever too.

"Even if we’re not friends anymore, Si-Hoo, I know you wouldn’t hit me, but, um, so..."

He’s rambling again.

It seems he’s trying to say something to reassure himself.

Has he forgotten how to speak coherently?

"Not friends?"

Han Si-Hoo asks.

"Huh?"

"I... I thought we were still friends. If you don’t want that, I can’t help it, but I still think of you as a friend. Still."

"Oh, we’re still friends?"

If he can remain friends, that would be great.

Yu Seo-A’s friend list has been resurrected.

That’s a relief.

"Yeah. Of course."

Han Si-Hoo says it earnestly.

A reaffirmation of their friendship.

It’s meaningful.

"Oh, so we’re still friends."

He feels immensely relieved.

[2 hours 32 minutes]

But he doesn’t feel at ease.

Wasn’t it just 4 hours ago?

He needs medicine.

He has some leftover at home.

If he has that medicine, he can hold on for a while.

If he runs out of that too, he can just go to the doctor and buy more, right?

But buying medicine will probably require a lot of money.

If he kills Han Si-Hoo, he can get drugs for life.

The doctor said that.

Oh, can I kill him?

He quickly erased the thought that suddenly popped into his mind.

There’s no way he could kill him.

Why would he kill a friend?

Why would he kill someone who’s helping him?

But the doctor is also helping him a lot.

"Then, Si-Hoo."

[2 hours 28 minutes]

He doesn’t know.

Time is flowing too quickly.

Let’s resolve the medicine issue first and think about it later.

"Can I go home now?"

He needs to grab his medicine.