Ch.8581 – Invitation

“Wooooow!”

“How can you do that with only one year left…!”

“No do-overs! It’s our turn now!”

“Finish them off, Yoo Yu-na! End it! End it!”

“You’re definitely going to mess up! You’ll drop the stone!”

“Trying to distract me won’t work at all!”

Ever since NoName taught them the stone game, it had become the trend during lunch and break times in Class 2A.

Like typical children, they learned quickly. In a short time, they showed such skill that they could easily be called experts.

NoName stood a step away from the group, slowly watching them play.

Yu-na had already earned the children’s trust and was fulfilling her role.

The sound of children laughing was always something that made her feel good.

“Aren’t you going to play?”

Ha-ru, who had just finished brushing her teeth, sat next to NoName and asked.

“Like you said, it’s a bit childish, isn’t it?”

“I thought you created this game.”

“I played it countless times in the past. When I was alone, there wasn’t much else to do besides the stone game. I couldn’t even do cat’s cradle.”

“You really are strange.”

Ha-ru gave her straightforward assessment. NoName nodded in agreement, saying maybe she was.

It was like this again.

It was impossible to tell whether NoName was actually watching the children playing the stone game or just staring into empty space.

When she had that unfocused look in her eyes, she reminded Ha-ru of her great-grandmother who would sit in her massage chair, gazing at distant mountains and the flowing Han River.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Just… memories from the past.”

“You remember things from the past?”

“Yes, I even remember when I was a baby.”

Ha-ru was about to tell her not to lie, but something made her think that if it was NoName, it might actually be possible, so she kept her objection to herself.

“I wonder why I suddenly told you all about my family situation. I was keeping it secret even from Luri, my best friend…”

“I guess you wanted to tell someone, even if it wasn’t me.”

“No… how could I talk about such things…? Just last year, kids teased Yu-na terribly about it. Somehow I felt you wouldn’t do that.”

NoName was already known as the most mature child in the class.

Even Ha-ru, who originally held that role, openly acknowledged it.

Ha-ru suddenly remembered how NoName had healed her before and brought it up.

“How did you do that…?”

“Do what?”

“The other day when I collapsed on the street, you hugged me. Suddenly my headache completely disappeared.”

“Ah, I used some aura. I thought about using magic, but I wasn’t sure exactly what was wrong with your body.”

“Aura…? Isn’t that mana used to strengthen muscles?”

“Its applications are endless. While strengthening the body is the most common use of aura, it can also substitute for psychotropic medications like this.”

“Ugh, I don’t understand any of this…”

While mana could disrupt the body’s balance even momentarily if used incorrectly, aura coexisted within the body’s acceptable limits, so there were no concerns about side effects.

Especially since benzodiazepine anxiolytics or antidepressants aren’t recommended for treating psychological trauma.

So NoName’s purpose at that time was merely to alleviate symptoms, not to cure them.

“So what exactly are your symptoms? Is it just a throbbing headache?”

“No… I hear strange sounds. There’s a ringing noise that makes my head hurt.”

Ha-ru described one of the most common symptoms of auditory hallucinations.

Without knowing the source of her hallucinations, NoName had no way to cure them.

After thinking carefully, NoName suggested one approach.

“Then would you like to make up with Yu-na first?”

“Whaaat? Now?”

Ha-ru’s expression changed dramatically at the unexpected suggestion.

If the symptoms were due to acute stress disorder, starting by filling the subconscious void would be the right direction.

While Ha-ru hesitated and avoided answering, NoName moved closer.

“You said you wanted to apologize to Yu-na.”

Ha-ru touched her long hair lightly.

The way she twisted her hair with her fingers revealed her complicated feelings.

“It’s embarrassing… Yu-na might not even want my apology…”

The words she finally managed to say after much deliberation were filled with deep distrust.

She thought it was impossible to restore a normal relationship with a friend who had declared their friendship over.

“I don’t understand. Why do people continue to hate each other and do things they’ll regret, as if they’ll live forever?”

“…? I don’t really understand what you mean.”

“On that day when Yu-na hit you, what did you wish would happen to her?”

“Can I be honest…?”

“Of course.”

NoName sent a look that suggested she was waiting for Ha-ru’s answer without moving a muscle.

“I thought it would be nice if Yu-na transferred to another class… But I absolutely don’t think that now, don’t misunderstand…!”

It was her true feelings that she didn’t want to reveal, especially to NoName.

She was anxious that NoName might be disappointed in her after hearing this.

“You never thought it would be good if Yu-na died right then and there?”

Ha-ru’s eyebrows twitched.

Though the tone was flat, the content was quite extreme.

“I never thought that, ever!”

“Then why are you putting off apologizing? What if Yu-na died today and could never receive your apology? Would that be okay?”

“That’s…”

“Death comes at unexpected moments. You, me, Yu-na. There’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to face each other and talk like this tomorrow.”

People who fought with their loved ones—partners, parents, children—were among the hardest for NoName to understand.

“I hope you don’t create something to regret.”

* * *

Actually, despite her grand words to Ha-ru…

She couldn’t think of a good way to reconcile these young children.

In her past life, and the life before that, her human relationships had always been in the single digits.

It was a sad reality that she couldn’t argue against being the epitome of an extreme loner.

But seeing Ha-ru’s condition, she looked so precarious that it seemed better to cure whatever mental illness she had as soon as possible, and this was the best she could come up with.

“A pajama party?”

Yu-na asked with wide eyes.

“Yes. How about this weekend?”

“Uh. Ah. Umm… I’d like to, but when will I study…”

“We can do that at my house too. If you’re really worried, I’ll help you with the next performance assessment.”

“Wooow really? I’m so excited! It’ll be my first time staying up all night at a friend’s house!”

“Not just the two of us. Lee Ha-ru will join us too.”

“Why Lee Ha-ru…?”

Yu-na’s demeanor changed coldly, showing clear displeasure.

“It’s more fun when we all play together.”

“Don’t you like hanging out with just me? Am I not fun? You’re my only friend… that’s why I only wrote your name on the survey…”

Yu-na grabbed my collar and whimpered.

“I wrote your name first on mine too.”

“Really?”

Yu-na responded with a much brighter voice.

She was truly a simple child. It was ironic that someone like her was also at the top of the class academically.

“Actually, Ha-ru said she has something to tell you, so I invited her to my house.”

“Then she could just tell me here in the classroom.”

“It seems like it’s something serious.”

“Okay… but I’m still your best friend, right? Don’t ever forget that!”

I answered affirmatively by stretching her cheeks outward.

This kid is just so greedy!

“Hehehe.”

But I’ll let it slide because she’s innocent.

“So what should I bring? Pajamas?”

“Clothes for the next day and toiletries like a toothbrush, I guess?”

“Okay. I’ll ask my mom and pack! Do I need a pillow?”

“We have plenty of pillows and blankets at home, so you’re fine.”

“What about stuffed animals?”

“…If you really want to bring them, go ahead.”

“Hehe, no. Actually, I think I won’t be scared at night if I can hug you instead of Mr. Dolphin…!”

I never gave permission for my body, so why is she already counting her chickens?

If she had bad sleeping habits, I planned to immediately retreat to my own bed.

That would definitely make Yu-na pout the next morning, but I decided to deal with that when the time came.

The real issue was whether Ha-ru’s family would allow it, but she told me not to worry and promised she would definitely come to our house this Saturday.

I should also ask Professor Cheon in advance to prepare some delicious food.

While the menu selection was entirely up to the professor, I couldn’t compromise on dessert. It had to be crepes.

Now I needed to carefully think about how to make Yu-na and Ha-ru become friends.

Finally, I remembered the unavoidable task of internet streaming.

As far as I knew, there was a condition in the terms of service that temporarily prohibited monetization if you didn’t receive donations for four weeks.

Whether I would play games or not remained to be seen, but I thought I should at least show my face on stream sometime soon.