I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Sui**de

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Han Si-hyun?

Why is she here?

I saw her in class today, but she looked pretty from the front.

Is she really not just the main heroine?

Ah, I need to hide the syringe.

I hurriedly shoved it into my bag.

I hope I wasn’t caught?

“What brings you here?”

She’s asking what I was curious about.

Han Si-hyun calmly answered while tossing her hair back.

“I heard it’s a science exploration club, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

How did she know that?

It must be Kim Shinwoo who told her.

It’s probably not the right time for them to be getting close yet.

“By the way, I guess there’s only one person listening.”

“We pursue free activities. Only those who want to come can participate.”

“I see.”

What kind of conversation is this?

I tilted my head and locked eyes with Han Si-hyun.

She continued to stare at me without averting her gaze.

What’s this?

Is she challenging me to a staring contest?

The painkiller’s effect hadn’t worn off yet.

If it were a normal day, I would have looked away, but for some reason, I felt like confronting her.

The staring contest seemed to last about five seconds.

Han Si-hyun suddenly spoke.

“Can I join this club too?”

“Hmmm… The science exploration club, you say?”

“Yes.”

What does that mean?

Did Han Si-hyun take part in science exploration in the original story?

No way.

The science exploration club was something I had concocted on the spot.

And there’s no way Han Si-hyun has any connection with the demon yet.

No.

I can’t let this happen.

The original story is at stake.

At least not until I kill myself.

I desperately shot her a look.

I absolutely couldn’t let her in.

If she did, I would definitely end it all.

Fortunately, he picked up on my gaze and nodded.

What a relief.

“Alright then. New members are always welcome.”

What relief, my foot.

That wicked demon should just die.

“However, today seems like it would be too much.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because the science exploration club hasn’t been officially established yet. You could say it’s a prototype.”

“What about this girl?”

“Oh, Hana is like my assistant.”

Assistant?

Since when did I become your assistant?

His calm lying expression was almost shameless.

“It seems a bit strange, but I understand for now.”

“By the way, that’s surprising. I knew Si-hyun was the top in her grade, but shouldn’t she be in a combat subject club instead?”

The academy focuses on teaching combat as its foundation.

That means combat subjects hold much more weight than non-combat ones.

Han Si-hyun tossed her hair behind her ear again.

That must be a habit.

“I don’t need to join a combat subject club since I’m already first in class. I’m focusing on non-combat subjects instead.”

“······.”

She’s more shameless than I thought.

Even that demon was momentarily at a loss for words.

Han Si-hyun. She’s definitely not someone to take lightly.

“So when does the schedule for today’s prototype science exploration club end? From what I see, it doesn’t look like there’s anything special going on.”

“That’s correct. We have nothing in particular to do today, so we could wrap it up right away.”

“Oh, that’s good to know. In that case, could I possibly borrow Hana?”

Ah, so that’s why she came.

To borrow something.

She was just kidding about joining the club.

But what exactly does Han Si-hyun want to borrow?

“What do you mean?”

“I told you. Hana.”

“…Hana?”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t realize she meant that Hana.

*

I left the science lab and headed to the café.

With Han Si-hyun, of course.

Hmm. How did it end up like this?

Of course, it’s good to be out of the science lab.

It’s certainly nice to be away from that demon.

But being with Han Si-hyun? Just a bit…

By the way, she really is pretty.

I couldn’t help but admire her as she sat across from me.

Yu Hana isn’t ugly, but…

Looking at it, she’s probably pretty too, right?

But that’s not what’s important right now.

Why did Han Si-hyun want to talk to me?

For sure, the two of us aren’t close.

Not now, and probably not later either.

If I had to summarize their relationship in one word?

Unilateral inferiority. That’s all.

Han Si-hyun has everything Yu Hana wants.

Outstanding ability. The hero’s love.

Those two things were everything Yu Hana had wished for.

Maybe the reason I find Han Si-hyun annoying is due to Yu Hana’s influence.

I gulped down the warm milk in my mug.

“Hah…”

This is insane. It’s so delicious.

I’m not someone who particularly likes milk, you know.

Yu Hana’s favorite food is milk.

I felt much happier with a warm glass of milk than with painkillers.

Compared to strawberries, that is…

Let’s just skip that.

Anyway, right now Han Si-hyun and Yu Hana have no connection at all.

Then why did she come all the way to the café to talk to me alone?

Han Si-hyun, who was sipping her espresso, opened her mouth.

“This is our first time talking like this, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I guess?”

“It’s not anything special. I was just curious.”

“What is it?”

“Are you being bullied right now?”

What kind of question is that?

I frowned the moment I heard it.

Now that I think about it, she’s not a normal character either.

She looks perfect on the outside, but she’s actually quite twisted.

She occasionally shows chilling moments here and there during the story.

To put it bluntly, she might have psychopathic tendencies.

Of course, she eventually improves while dating Kim Shinwoo.

“I… don’t really know.”

How many people would admit they’re bullied?

And honestly, I really don’t know.

It seems like Hong Yeonhwa is bullying me, but the rest just feels like it is what it is.

If that’s the case, isn’t it closer to being a voluntary loner rather than being bullied?

“What do you think is the reason you’re being bullied?”

“······.”

I said I don’t know.

Why are you jumping to conclusions?

“It’s probably because you’re incompetent. Isn’t that right?”

“…Maybe.”

“You, the academy’s only incompetent one. Isn’t that strange?”

The one being strange here is your attitude.

Wouldn’t another kid by now be mad or even start crying?

My interest in Han Si-hyun is rapidly dropping.

Yu Hana. You were right. I don’t want to get close to this kind of person.

I’d rather become a villain and just fight it out.

“Do you know what the admission requirements for the academy are?”

“Um. Money?”

“First, you must be a minor under the age of 19. Second, you must be an awakened one.”

Oh, I see.

Does that mean a late-blooming student over 20 can’t attend the academy?

Isn’t that discrimination?

“Most awakened ones are born awakening their abilities immediately. But there are also a few who awaken later under specific conditions.”

“I get that, but why are you suddenly bringing that up?”

Han Si-hyun took another sip of her coffee before responding.

“Every awakened one must awaken to be eligible for entry into the academy. The second admission requirement states that one must be an awakened one.”

“······.”

“So someone like you, who is unawakened, is fundamentally unable to enter the academy.”

Wait a minute.

So, that’s how it is?

But this wasn’t mentioned in the original.

Yu Hana is an unawakened one. That’s why she was bullied at the academy.

That’s all that’s in the original story.

The things Han Si-hyun mentioned have never been stated.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t use any tricks…”

There’s no way Yu Hana would have any connections.

What’s happening here?

It doesn’t seem like Han Si-hyun is lying.

Is it just a computer error?

Did Yu Hana happen to get in by luck?

That doesn’t make sense.

“Right. I didn’t mean it that way either. What I’m saying is that you might not be an unawakened one but rather an awakened one.”

“…You mean I’ve already awakened?”

No way, that’s nonsense.

Yu Hana has no power right now. She has to die to have one.

She said in the original her awakening condition was death.

“If I really had an ability, I should be able to use it.”

Awakened ones instinctively understand and accept the control of their power.

How well they enhance it is up to them, but using abilities is always possible.

“If you’re a constant awakened one, it would be possible.”

“Constant awakened…?”

I understood that concept a few seconds later.

There are various types of abilities, and that’s one of them.

Literally keeping abilities active at all times.

Most commonly seen in physical-related abilities.

Like having strength, speed, or great eyesight.

These abilities don’t disappear and are maintained forever.

“Do you understand now? If you’re not an unawakened one, then you have no reason to be bullied. Let’s find out what your ability is. I’ll help you too, so have a little more confidence…”

“I really don’t have any ability.”

“…You shouldn’t be so certain.”

“There’s not a single outstanding part of my body.”

“Being a constant ability doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be related to the body.”

Why are you ignoring what I’m saying?

Why?

Why?

I’m telling you it’s not true.

There’s no way that could be the case.

If that’s really true, what’s all the stuff I’ve done until now?

What about the struggles and suicide attempts I went through?

What does all that become?

Knowing nothing.

I know everything.

I’ve read the original all the way through.

You’re nothing more than a character from a novel.

“…I’m leaving.”

“Are you trying to run away?”

“What? Run away?”

“Don’t just look for your difficulties only in your abilities. That’s a foolish and stupid thing to do. Instead of giving excuses like a tragic female lead, finding a solution would be much more productive.”

Don’t just look for it in abilities?

Foolish and stupid?

Excuses like a tragic female lead?

Those words snapped the remaining threads of my rationality.

What do you know?

What do you know?

Have you ever felt pain like me?

Knowing nothing.

You don’t know how much I’ve suffered and how hard it’s been.

You know nothing at all.

“Why didn’t you tell that to your sister?”

“…What?”

“Say the same thing to your sister who killed herself.”

Swoosh—!

Warm water streamed down my cheek.

It wasn’t water.

It was blood.

Han Si-hyun was wielding a brilliantly radiant sword.

A drop of blood hung at the tip of the sword and fell.

“Say that again. What did you just say?”

“······.”

I couldn’t say a word.

Overwhelmed by her intense aura, I was just trembling in fear.

Disintegrate.

I’m so annoyed.

I’m so scared…

The gazes of everyone in the café were focused on us.

Then the situation ended with the intervention of a third party.

“What’s going on here?”

“······.”

“Unauthorized use of abilities in the academy and injuring a fellow student. It won’t end with just a penalty.”

A sharp-eyed third-year student said with a chilling expression.

He wore an armband that read “Student Council.”

“At least a serious punishment.”

“Expulsion is also possible.”

My excitement quickly turned cold at those words.

The reason I had regained my sanity was sending up a red flag.

The original was about to collapse.