Before leaving the training ground, there’s something I need to do.
I put on my eye patch and wrap the bandages tightly.
This way, I can feel more at ease.
I don’t want to run into the people who used to hit me back then at the academy.
It would be best if they couldn’t recognize me, even if we crossed paths.

The academy is a particularly large building.
It’s where all sorts of training grounds are gathered.
I think it’s unlikely that I’ll run into them, but you never know what life has in store.

“Can I use the training ground anytime?”
“It’s usually fine, but Seo-ah, you need your meds. It’s better if you report to me before you go.”

That seems to be the case.

“I’m temporarily in charge of the special class, so I don’t know if the teachers will change, but until then, just let me know.”

“Yes.”

“Try not to get too involved with other students, alright?”
I nod.
I don’t really want to get involved anyway.
Talking to people is exhausting in itself.

[11 hours 13 minutes]

I can’t waste any time.

“Anyway, morning classes are over. You can come back here after lunch.”
“To the training ground?”
“Yeah.”

The classes have ended.
More specifically, the tests have.

“While you’re out, if you feel like something might go wrong, you know what to do, right? Contact me immediately.”
I don’t think anything will go wrong.
After saying goodbye to Lee Yoo-ram, I leave the training ground.
I feel good walking around alone for the first time in a while.

Or maybe it’s just that the effects of the drugs are still lingering.

[11 hours 5 minutes]

I’m not that hungry.
I’d be satisfied with just a can of tuna.

Now, where should I buy food?
The restaurant district I went to with Han Si-hu last time sounds good.
There are restaurants inside the building, but I’d rather eat outside.
The air outside definitely feels better.

Even though it’s class time, I see a few students out here.
They seem to be upperclassmen.

There’s one person who stands out.
A boy with white hair.

“…Who is that?”

I quickly turn off my path and hide behind a nearby pillar.
Who could that be?
The figure is definitely someone lingering in my memory.
White hair.

-That white-haired brat...

When was that memory from?
Who said that?
I distinctly remember someone saying it.
I’ve never seen someone with white hair before.

-Why did that white-haired brat send so many watchers?

I remember that.
My stomach churns.
The culprit behind the beating I took for something trivial.

How hard did they hit me for me to have gotten bruised like that?
I’m fine now, but it hurt a lot back then.
They hit me while talking about humanoid watchers.
I’m glad the doctor saved me.

But the one who hit me wasn’t the white-haired boy.
So there’s no reason to hide.
I know that logically.
But still, I feel uneasy.

However, standing still behind the pillar feels strange.
I should do something.
I pull out my device.

[Han Si-hu: Let’s have lunch together.]

Eating together?
Right, it’s much better than eating alone.
Maybe I acted a bit too antisocial.
I really don’t have any friends.

It seems my wish to make friends at the academy won’t come true.
Since I’m isolated in the special class.

[Yeah.]

It’s good to eat together.

[I’ll be at the restaurant district.]

I should go since I need to eat something.
It should be fine.

“You.”

Something unexpected happened.
The white-haired boy speaks to me.
If I answer “What?” it’ll break my character.

“…What is it?”

I quickly adjust my tone.

“Are you a new student?”

The white-haired boy stands up.
Given that he’s asking if I’m a new student, he must be at least in the second year.

“That’s right.”

“I thought you might know me.”

“What do you mean?”

He’s a strange one.
It might have been better to just avoid him.
I didn’t expect him to talk to me.
The warning about how there are many weird people at the academy echoes in my ears.

“Hey, you see that pigeon over there?”

He walks closer and points to the streetlight above.
A pigeon is sitting there.

“That one saw you hiding.”

Is that what a watcher is?
This is why awakened ones are troublesome.
They can do all sorts of unexpected things.
I never imagined they would use pigeons for surveillance.

-…Beware of the watchers?
-But you hit me just enough that it should be fine.
-Who was it that warned me about humanoid watchers?

The conversations from that time come flooding back.
I don’t feel good about it.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s strange for a new student to be wandering around at this time.”

I finished early just because I’m in the special class.

“Hey, with the eye patch and bandages, and your speech...”

He seems to ponder for a moment.

“You’re a pretty pitiful kid.”

He places his hand on my head.
The look on his face is one of pity.
I try to shove him away, but my hand doesn’t move.
Is this for real?

-[You cannot attack a target not designated by a superior.]

Is that what it meant?

“Hang in there.”

Tap, tap.
He pats my head as if to cheer me on.
Does he think it’s okay since I’m just sitting still?

“I heard that girls dislike being patted. You’re not mad, are you?”

That’s not the issue.
I can’t attack.
If I try to swing my arms, it feels like they’re weighed down by heavy metal.

Is it better than going on a rampage and smashing everything?
Still, this seems like a problem.
How long is this going to last?
I’m sure I heard something about it.

-[You cannot attack a target not designated by a superior.]

There was a line that played before this sentence appeared, like an explanation.

-[It only lasts as long as the drug’s effects.]

As long as the drug’s effects last.
Then it’ll be over when the effects wear off.

[10 hours 53 minutes]

The effects need to keep lasting, though?
This isn’t good.
I think I need to find a way.
At this rate, I can’t resist and will just have to endure.

“…What are you doing?”

I really don’t know what he’s doing.
Isn’t it rude to act this way to someone you’ve just met?

“What’s your name? I’m Seol Ha-jin.”

He seems to have become a bit friendlier.

“You don’t need to know mine.”

“The problem is that they bring even sick kids to the academy.”

He seems to think I’m a sick kid, so he’s being a bit lenient.
That’s true.
But it’s not like I’m mentally sick.

“The academy isn’t a place that shows concern for the weak.”

His expression becomes serious.
At this point, it feels like he doesn’t care how I respond.
He’s just saying what he wants.

He clearly sees me as weak.

“Alright.”

He grabs my hand and starts walking towards the restaurant district.

“Ah, um...”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll buy everything, so eat something delicious. What do you want?”

“......”

I don’t even know what to say.
It would have been better to keep my character short, but thinking long just gives me a headache.
I was just planning to chase people away.

Seol Ha-jin seems to feel closer to me instead.
Since this has happened, should I try to be friends?
But that doesn’t seem right either.

“There's no need to refuse. I’m the senior treating you.”

I tried to get up from my seat, but failed.
He grabbed my shoulder.

“Choose. Whatever you want.”

Bad memories start to resurface.
I was originally misunderstood because of this guy.
He wasn’t the one who hit me; it was someone else.

“I really don’t need it. I have someone to eat with...”

I sigh as I say that.

“You don’t have to avoid me that much.”

“Ugh.”

He casually drapes an arm over my shoulder.
What a jerk.
I can’t help but say this is a jerk move.

I recall Lee Yoo-ram’s advice to avoid getting too involved with others.
He probably worried about this happening.

“I’m just trying to help my pitiful junior—”

Thud.

A dull sound.
Seol Ha-jin gets knocked down by a punch.

“What are you doing to someone else's friend? Seol Ha-jin.”

It’s Han Si-hu.
Did they know each other?
It doesn’t seem like they’re close since he immediately threw a punch.

“Han Si-hu? What are you doing…”

He stands up with a pained expression.
Han Si-hu looks angrier than I expected.
He’s not the type to throw punches right away.

“Hey, this is my lunch companion.”

“…Oh, I see.”

Seol Ha-jin looks at Han Si-hu in surprise.

“Is that so?”

He says it like it’s a mere afterthought.

“Did you come from the slums too?”

He says it while looking at me, rather than Han Si-hu.
He seems to smile as if it’s amusing.
I wonder how he found out.

“Yeah, so stop messing around and get lost.”

Before he kills him.
I can hear Han Si-hu grinding his teeth angrily.
He seems to be quite furious.