The next afternoon, I took Ji-Ah's car to the Academy.

The scenery outside blurred by like waves as we drove, and soon we arrived at a curious place where old and new buildings blended together.

“There’s a mix of newer buildings here, huh?”  
“Yeah, they repurposed an old college campus that was abandoned after the Great Shift.”  
“Ah, I see.”  

Reusing things—nothing wrong with that.

Ji-Ah’s car passed through the entrance, driving along roads lined with meticulously arranged trees and flowers. Shady spots created by lush trees drifted past the window until we parked near one of the buildings.

After stepping out of the car, Ji-Ah glanced at me and chuckled.  

“That headband looks nice. It suits you.”  
“Re-really...? Hehe… Si-Yoon gave it to me as a gift!”  

I couldn’t help but grin at the compliment, turning around to show it off more. I could feel my ponytail swinging with the movement.

Ji-Ah stifled a laugh and teased, “So you know how to style your hair, too?”  
“Oh, that? No way—I had Si-Yoon do it for me!”  
“I see. But maybe you should learn, you know? Si-Yoon can’t always do it for you.”  
“…One day, in the future.”  

It looks way too hard to do on my own. Future me will totally know how. For now? Not a chance.

“We arrived a bit early. Want to take a look around the campus? We’re here to get some fresh air, anyway.”  
“Sure.”  

Nodding, I followed Ji-Ah as we strolled through the campus.  

The campus was dotted with buildings dedicated to different fields of study, a wide athletic field, and occasionally, strange sculptures appeared in our view.

Seeing the sights of a university again stirred something nostalgic in me.

“Did you ever finish college, Ji-Ah?”  
“Nope. I took a leave of absence when I awakened, and I eventually withdrew when I decided to go full-time as a Hunter.”  
“Oh…”  

So, she never got her degree either. I guess we’re similar in that way, though for slightly different reasons.

“Why, are you thinking about going back to school?”  
“No, it’s not that… I was just curious.”  
“Hehe, those days were so peaceful and nice.”  

A gentle breeze blew through, lifting Ji-Ah’s hair slightly.

As she tucked her hair behind her ear, I caught a glimpse of her slender neckline. For some reason, my eyes lingered, but I quickly turned my gaze ahead.  

Ji-Ah smiled softly and said, “Beautiful weather, isn’t it?”  
“Yeah, I’m glad I came along.”  
“Thanks for coming with me today. It’d have been a little lonely on my own.”  
“…It’s really nothing.”  

Sometimes, it’s nice to go somewhere without any particular goal in mind. It feels… refreshing.

“Oh, by the way, what’s the reason you came to the Academy today?”  
“Ah, the dean keeps trying to persuade me to teach part-time here, so I’m here to turn him down properly.”  
“Teaching part-time? They have that here?”  
“Of course. Why, are you interested?”  
“…Not really.”  

While it does feel a bit sad that I didn’t get to finish university, jumping straight into teaching would be a bit much, right?  

I don’t even know if I have the qualifications or the skills for it.

“Hehe, it’s similar to a regular university but still quite different. Let me know if you ever get curious.”  
“Sure, I will.”  

After strolling around, we circled back to the parking lot near the building entrance. As we reached the doorway, Ji-Ah turned to me.  

“Since you’re already here, why don’t you come with me? You’ll get bored waiting outside.”  
“…I’m fine, really.”  
“Well, you’ll likely meet him eventually in your Hunter work. It might be better to get acquainted with him now, don’t you think?”  
“You… you’re really good at persuading people.”  
“Hehe.”  

I couldn’t argue with her logic. If I’ll end up meeting him anyway, it’d be easier to do so with Ji-Ah around.

So, I followed her to the dean’s office.

*Knock, knock.*

“Yes, come in.”

As a voice called from within, Ji-Ah opened the door, and I hesitantly followed her inside.

The woman, seemingly in her late 30s, looked up from the documents she’d been examining.

“Ah, Ji-Ah, welcome. And who’s this?”  
“Hello. This is my friend, Si-Hyun, Jeong Si-Hyun.”  
“…Hello.”  
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

We exchanged polite greetings. Well, at least I felt awkward.

The dean stood up and moved over to the seating area, so Ji-Ah took a seat across from her, and I naturally sat next to her.

“If Ji-Ah is introducing me to a lovely friend like you, I take it you’re also a Hunter?”  
“Yes, that’s right.”

Both the dean and Ji-Ah looked at me.

“…I recently awakened as an E-rank Paladin.”  
“A Paladin? That’s a unique class. Awakenings are such mysteries.”  

The dean responded kindly, but I could tell she was setting up her pitch.

“If you’re planning to continue as a Hunter, why not consider enrolling at the Academy?”  
“Well…”  
“If money is a concern, you can make plenty while working as a Hunter. Isn’t that right, Ji-Ah?”

The dean turned to Ji-Ah, who gave a wry smile and answered.

“I’ve explained that already, and she said she’d think about it. Let’s leave it at that for now.”  
“Hm, I see. Well, I hope you’ll give it some thought.”

Seeming satisfied, the dean offered a warm smile.

Nice, Ji-Ah! You’re amazing!

As promised, she redirected the conversation toward herself with ease, allowing me to simply sit and observe.

“Anyway, about the matter we discussed earlier…”  
“Hmm?”

Ji-Ah began discussing something with the dean. Since it didn’t seem relevant to me, I tuned out and let my gaze wander around the office.

Stacks of documents and books filled the room, clearly the office of a very busy person.

“…I’ll be back in a moment.”  
“Okay, see you in a bit.”

Quietly excusing myself, I stood up, gave a small nod to the dean, and slipped out.

The cool air in the hallway was refreshing as I wandered in search of the restroom.

Maybe it was because this building was rarely used outside of term time, but the halls were eerily empty.

It felt strangely nostalgic, somehow. Coming in too early or staying too late often left the campus feeling just as quiet.

University life… I hadn’t experienced it fully, but there were some fun moments. Fun in my own way. Heh, I kind of miss it…

Lost in these thoughts, I absentmindedly headed toward the restroom.

Just before I entered, I came face-to-face with a man stepping out.

“….”  
“Oh…”

The man stared at me in silence.  

With his broad shoulders, strong build, and strikingly handsome face, he looked almost out of place.

I noticed his eyes twitch as he looked at me.  

“…This is… the men’s restroom…”  
“…?”  

I was startled and took a few steps back, glancing at the sign to confirm.

The unmistakable male symbol was posted at the entrance.

…Oh.

I must’ve zoned out and made a mistake.

“Oh, ah! S-sorry!”  
“Ahem…”

I quickly apologized and dashed into the women’s restroom, my cheeks burning from the embarrassment.  
Even as I closed the door, I could feel his gaze piercing through my back.

To the handsome man I startled, I’m so sorry…

Feeling the weight of my embarrassment, I covered my face with my hands while seated in one of the stalls.

I could die from shame…

* * *

The man stood in the hallway, staring at the entrance to the women’s restroom.

The memory of her face, turning as red as an apple after realizing her mistake, lingered vividly in his mind.

Her long, elegantly styled white hair, framed by that cute headband… it was a sight he wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

She seemed to be about his age.

A new student at the Academy, perhaps?

Maybe fate would bring them together again.

With a faint, amused smile, he turned and walked away.

* * *

After finishing up, I cautiously peeked my head out of the restroom.

I glanced left and right.

All clear, no one around.

“Phew…”

With a sigh of relief, I stepped back into the hallway. I couldn’t believe I’d made such a mistake.

…But at least I didn’t go too far in! I’d only barely crossed the entrance!

Self-assuredly justifying myself, I headed back to the dean’s office.

It looked like their conversation was wrapping up; Ji-Ah was standing, saying her goodbyes.

“We’ll be heading out now.”  
“Take care.”  

The dean wore an expression of slight regret as she glanced between Ji-Ah and me.

“Hehe, you too, Si-Hyun. Be safe.”  
“…Thank you, goodbye.”  

Glad she wasn’t overly persistent.

Then again, a busy person like her probably had no reason to cling to me.

After exchanging quick farewells, I followed

 Ji-Ah outside.

“All done with your business?”  
“Yep. It’s the same thing every year—a conversation where we already know the outcome.”  
“I get it.”  

I nodded, understanding the gist. As we chatted, we got into Ji-Ah’s car.

As the car pulled away, I instinctively checked my phone. There was a new message waiting for me.

It was from Han-Gyeol.

We’d exchanged numbers, but he’d never contacted me until now. Curious, I opened the message to see what he wanted.

“Hmm…”  
“What’s up?”  
“Oh, it’s nothing. So, what do you feel like for dinner?”  
“How about we invite Si-Yoon and go out to eat?”  
“Ooh, I like that idea.”  

Having a car was indeed convenient.

But it looked like I’d be meeting with Han-Gyeol tomorrow.