episode_0007

7

“…Thank you. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my head.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s my job.”

The treatment was over.

Lee Jiyoon, who had stayed still the moment I held her head, finally bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

Judging by how excessively polite she was being, it seemed the stress from her headaches had been no small matter.

At least I scored some points this time…

…or so I thought.

“…….”

But the way she immediately got up from the bed and clung to Lee Hayoon the moment the treatment ended made it clear she hadn’t fully opened up to me yet.

Well, it’s a little disappointing, but I wasn’t expecting to win her over completely from the start anyway.

A small bit of gratitude toward me—

For now, that was enough.

“Speaking of which, Jiyoon. Why are you talking so formally with her? You casually drop honorifics with me all the time…”

“…Shut up. Just keep quiet and get out. This is embarrassing.”

“You’re embarrassed?!”

“Yeah. Extremely.”

Lee Hayoon dramatically covered her mouth with both hands, pouting.

Seemingly used to her antics, Jiyoon poked Hayoon’s defenseless waist repeatedly with her fingers—

Hard enough to wrinkle the T-shirt loosely tucked under her uniform. Poke, poke.

Hayoon just squealed in response, but… that had to hurt.

At least she was slightly taller than Jiyoon. If she’d been shorter, I can only imagine how much worse the teasing would’ve been.

“Get out. Hurry up and leave. Not going?”

“Stop, stop! Fine, I’ll go!”

Of course, I would’ve preferred to stay longer, but it seemed she wasn’t comfortable sharing a space with a stranger for too long.

Still, I should be grateful she at least bowed politely before leaving…

“Thank you, Teacher. Ah, no—”

“Just call me whatever’s comfortable. Honestly, I’m a little confused too.”

“…Okay. I’ll get going, then.”

“If anything else hurts, come back anytime. I’ll treat you as much as you need.”

Hurts.

It will happen soon.

“…….”

But Jiyoon just bowed once more without another word.

I accepted her thanks with a light smile as the heavy door closed softly behind her, leaving the room in silence again.

The dimming sunset cast shadows across the infirmary. The corners of my lips, which had been slightly raised, slowly relaxed.

Unlike her sister, who was like an energetic country pup wagging its tail at everyone, Jiyoon was the type to raise her guard and bristle at anyone who got too close.

Pulling out my phone, I checked the date again.

February 19th. About ten days remained until the first-year entrance ceremony in March.

I’d be able to meet Hayoon easily during that time, but whether Jiyoon would visit the academy again was uncertain.

So while I kept Hayoon occupied with supplementary lessons…

I should prepare a few things in advance for the next time I see Jiyoon.

Something she might like… or something like that.

Just then, the infirmary door slid open again.

Did she forget something? Tap, tap. I turned off my phone screen, where I’d been jotting down notes about Jiyoon.

“…Who are you?”

“Huh? Oh, uh. Baek Jiho, Class 3-A.”

But it was a guy.

“…….”

“I saw a door I hadn’t noticed before and got curious… Sorry for barging in like this.”

Since he was a third-year, he wasn’t a teacher.

Judging by the large sword sheath on his back, he was probably an Evolver or a Variant.

The weird bear-shaped keychain dangling from the sheath’s end was probably…

A sign he had a girlfriend? Or just his personal taste?

…Well, whatever.

Heroes aren’t all women, after all.

But I don’t think I need to remember him.

Because he’s a guy.

“So this is the infirmary. Here.”

“Yeah. As you can see.”

“Then you’re…?”

“Correct.”

It was getting late.

Tucking my phone into my padded jacket pocket to head home, I flashed the same smile I’d given Jiyoon earlier.

“Nurse…”

“Health committee member.”

“…Not the school nurse?”

“…….”

This is tricky.

Dinner was tonkotsu curry ramen.

It wasn’t as lavish as during my villain days, but the academy’s promised salary was decent enough to indulge a little.

Money doesn’t follow the rule of “too much is as bad as too little.” There’s only “the more, the better.”

Still, having grown up with nothing, no matter how much I earned, I never fell into overspending.

After tossing the bowl into the recycling bin, I sat at my desk and browsed my computer a bit more.

The newly created folder labeled “Lee Jiyoon” next to “Puppy” on my desktop was obscured by the Chrome window I’d just opened.

Death regression,

Returning to the past,

A transcendent who manipulates time.

No one online was seriously discussing these things.

Posts claiming to know future events were all just attention-seeking nonsense.

Tch.

Maybe I don’t need to look further. Exhausted from searching, I—

Squeak. Leaning back in my chair, I fell into thought.

Was the future I knew really the right one?

“Ugh…”

The company—no, during my villain days—wasn’t it because of me that they could pull off more extreme crimes?

So now, without me, wouldn’t they stick to simpler, less flashy crimes?

In that case, the future changing would be inevitable, right?

Following that train of thought, I retraced past events.

Of course, my old company wasn’t the only villain group out there.

It wasn’t the best, either.

From small-time crooks whose names I barely knew to the Most Wanted—a group packed with single-digit Blacklist villains—plenty existed.

Among them, my company was somewhat famous because of one absolute lunatic: Hato Yozora.

But compared to the Most Wanted terrorists who dominated the morning news, we were pretty tame.

Hmm.

Now that I think about it, wasn’t she also able to run wild because of me?

Lost in thought—

Buzz buzz buzz. My phone on the desk suddenly vibrated.

“…Ugh.”

Almost no one had my number.

A few active villains and the principal I’d met earlier today.

And the name flashing on the screen was—

[Yozora Senpai]

“Tch…”

Of course, I didn’t call her “senpai” out of respect.

I’d later change it to [Psycho Bitch], but at this point, I had no idea just how insane she was.

I’d just been fascinated to see in person a famous villain whose photos circulated online as “real shots.”

And when she saw me, she said, “If you ever need to contact me, use this number,” and input her number herself. That was all.

I had no idea about her personality back then…

…But according to my memory, she shouldn’t have contacted me this early.

It wasn’t until about half a year later that she drunkenly called, saying something like, “I got into a fight while drinking and got scratched up. I’m coming over for treatment, so get rid of any girls at your place.”

“…Ah.”

Should I answer?

I hesitated too long, and the ringing stopped.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

The black screen displayed only the calendar and clock.

Then the red phone icon lit up prettily again.

And—

[Yozora Senpai] reappeared on the green call screen.

“…….”

If only I hadn’t written my real address on that damn job application…

Whatever.

“…Hello?”

“Heeey… Woojin-ah…”

Her voice reeked of alcohol.

It was calm yet slightly slurred—similar to Hayoon’s tone but looser.

“Yes, Senpai.”

“Pfft, ‘Senpai’? What’s with that, Woojin… I heard you ran away.”

“…….”

“Namho asked me to bring you back.”

So that’s what this is about.

I sighed quietly into the phone.

“I’ve decided to live an honest life starting today.”

“Nooo. There’s so much alcohol left hereee…”

“You always say you get drunk after one bottle, yet you love drinking so much.”

“I like getting drunk… My head goes all floaty…”

“Besides, for someone like you, a few bottles are pocket change anyway.”

“Free booze hits different… You’re still twenty, so you wouldn’t get it…”

Was it really right to be lectured about alcohol by a woman barely two years older than me?

If we count my past life, there’s an eight-year gap between us.

Feeling this was about to get annoying, I exhaled lightly through my nose and replied.

“So. Is this a seduction attempt?”

“…Maybe?”

“Sorry. You’re not my type.”

“Eh? That kinda hurts… I didn’t even confess and I’m already rejected…?”

Is it because my chest is too big and makes me look dull?

Is it because my hair reaches my butt and looks messy?

Is it because I’m only 160 cm tall?

So 160 really is short, huh? Guys say they don’t care about height, but they’re all liars. ‘Small is cute, tall is elegant’—why are they so strict with me?

After enduring the drunk’s endless questions with half an ear, I carefully cut in.

“Yeah. So no matter how many times you call, it’s pointless.”

“No way… My Hibiki 30-year…”

Crash. Something toppled over on the other end.

Followed by a tiny “Ugh…” of pain.

Probably tripped and fell.

Not surprising—it happened often.

A woman who’d change her iPhone color every week or so.

“…Woojin-ah.”

“…….”

“Hey. Woojin. Can’t hear me…?”

“…….”

“Hmm… My screen’s cracked a bit too… Oh well…”

“…….”

Click.

The call ended.

The numbers 00:43 stared blankly back at me.

Felt like five minutes, but I guess not.

“Phew…”

I changed [Yozora Senpai] back to [Psycho Bitch], then grabbed the neck warmer hanging on the wall and stood up.

Anyway, with the company’s status uncertain, I needed to consider the movements of other villain groups like the Most Wanted.

I vaguely remembered a minor incident around the time I signed my contract—maybe a robbery or petty theft. Some part-timer was threatened into handing over the cash register.

I’m pretty sure it happened at a convenience store not too far from here.

The cops made a big fuss, blaring their sirens.

Not a major crime, just something to check on.

Not like it concerns me anyway.

Might as well get some light exercise while I’m out.

The ground’s probably still wet from the rain earlier, so I should check the road conditions before running to avoid ending up like Yozora.

A 3km route should be enough to warm up.

Just in case, I mentally excluded streets near bars where I might run into her.

Residential areas. Convenience stores.

With my neck warmer pulled up, even if I did bump into someone, they wouldn’t recognize me.

Having decided, I mapped out the route in my head and left.

“Hey, you live around here? Never seen you before.”

I hadn’t expected to run into Lee Hayoon at a convenience store, chewing—

Pop.—bubblegum.

“Whatever, good timing. Want some gum? It’s soda-flavored.”

Hayoon, drowning in an oversized hoodie, tapped her phone idly.

Somehow, the star-shaped piercing I’d noticed earlier was gone.

And she was wearing a convenience store uniform that looked utterly out of place.

She popped her gum, yelping when it stuck to her lips.

“Agh!”