episode_0025

Kim Noeul looked at Na Yuna, who was about to pick up the tongs to grill the meat, and urged her, “No, just give it to me, senior.”

“Huh? It’s okay. I’ll grill it well.”

“Junior should do it. I don’t like drawing.”

Taking the tongs from Na Yuna, Kim Noeul picked up the meat and placed it on the grill. With a sizzling sound, the meat began to cook. Kim Noeul gazed at the uncomfortable-looking Na Yuna.

“You can grill it a bit more for us seniors. You’re the top member of the counseling department. Just by watching your actions, one might think you’re a newly enrolled junior.”

“…I’ve received a lot of help from you guys. Even with the incident where I got scolded for being late.”

“What? Incident?”

“Oh, yeah. We walked home together last time. Since then, I’ve wanted to repay you guys more.”

Listening to Na Yuna, Kim Noeul fell into thought. It seemed like an incident that occurred during the preparation period for the competition.

“Walking home with Senior Yuna…?”

Until the competition, it had been an everyday occurrence for Kim Maru to walk home with Kim Noeul. It felt somewhat uncomfortable to know that Kim Maru walked home with another girl. However, that wasn’t Kim Maru’s fault. After all, Kim Maru and she were just classmates.

“Just classmates…?”

The word “classmates” didn’t sit well with her. Kim Noeul examined her feelings. What did she really want from Kim Maru? What kind of future did she envision with him?

“Hey, Noeul? The meat is burning.”

“Oh.”

Startled, Kim Noeul quickly flipped the meat. There were quite a few charred spots. She awkwardly scratched her head.

“Sorry, I got distracted for a moment.”

“You can just cut off the burnt parts.”

As Na Yuna cut off the charred portions with scissors, Kim Maru arrived. He took off his school blazer and sat down.

“What, it’s burnt?”

When Kim Maru stuck out his tongue, Na Yuna hurriedly explained, “I should have watched it better and told you to flip it.”

“No need for you to cover for me. I’m the one who burned it.”

“Hey, Kim Noeul. Just give me the tongs. I can’t trust you.”

As Kim Maru ended up grilling the meat instead of Kim Noeul, she watched him silently.

*

*

*

When I left the restaurant, the sun had already set. We had enjoyed our company for quite a while. During the dinner, we had many conversations. From the future action plans of the counseling department, to the upcoming final exams, and even the response strategies for the Ojak Bridge.

The plan was still in its basic stages, but it would eventually take shape. I came to Hukdo with the intention of realizing this plan, so giving up is not an option for me.

“The sunset already.”

Whether it was the sensitivity of the night that stimulated me, I described the sky scenery with a complex expression. Nayeon, who was listening beside me, was surprised and asked, “The sunset? Who, who’s fighting?”

“….”

“The sunset fights really well.”

“No, I mean the sun is setting.”

When I retorted, Nayoung’s face turned red.

“Oh, that sunset….”

“Cute.”

Kim Noeul turned her head, trying to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out. Come to think of it, Kim Noeul was weak when it came to dad jokes.

“In this world, apart from natural phenomena, you shouldn’t lose to the sunset.”

Kim Noeul, who was chuckling at my words, fell silent.

In fact, I don’t know the original work’s ending. Although I binge-watched it until the latter half, the final showdown hadn’t been serialized yet.

No one knows the ending of this world.

That’s why I was anxious. Was the ending of the original work the one I wanted?

There is no replacement for Kim Noeul.

There are no other characters like her in Hukdo.

If she falters, that’s the end of it.

Hukdo will not change, and we must spend our gloomy youth.

It’s a cruel thing to say, but Kim Noeul must move forward even if she’s hurt.

In the end, the only person who can reach Alice’s front is Kim Noeul.

“I have to do my best for that.”

It was dark around us, so I couldn’t see Kim Noeul’s expression clearly, but I could sense what kind of expression she was making.

Kim Noeul smiled confidently.

“Yeah, I won’t lose.”

Her confident answer somewhat eased my anxious heart.

“S-should we hold hands?”

“What?”

I was taken aback by Nayoung’s sudden suggestion to hold hands. She said with a somewhat embarrassed look.

“After something like this, usually we hold hands and raise them together as a gesture of comfort…”

‘What anime is that, Yuna?’

Flustered, I hesitated while Kim Noeul reached out without a second thought. Nayeona slowly placed her hand over Kim Noeul’s.

“You’re really going to do this.”

Feeling bewildered, I extended my hand obediently. Well, this is a “school drama” after all.

Kim Noeul shouted, “Let’s go, Counseling Department, fighting!”

“Cross the Ojak Bridge!”

“…Ojak Bridge.”

After our spirited cheer, we parted ways. I headed towards the boys’ dormitory, while Kim Noeul and Nayeona went towards the girls’ dormitory.

I gazed at the backs of the two girls moving away for a while. It seemed like they had become quite close as Kim Noeul rested her hand on Nayeona’s shoulder.

I headed home, flipping through my Chinese vocabulary book. Originally, I planned to memorize dozens of words on my way back, but today, I just couldn’t concentrate. Eventually, I sighed and closed the vocabulary book.

“If you’re going to tail someone, at least do it properly.”

My words echoed into the empty air. My voice was quickly drowned out by the night breeze rustling through the trees. Nevertheless, she must have heard it.

“Wow, you really are not an ordinary senior.”

A female student appeared quietly from behind the trees. Her short hair gently swayed, reaching just past her shoulders. Overall, she had a foxy charm.

She introduced herself right away, “I’m Haneul Go, a first-year Gumiho. Have you heard of the Student Herald?”

Of course, I had. The most influential school union club among the media clubs.

And under the Student Herald, there were several small unit-type clubs. The girl in front of me was probably a member of “Veritas.”

How did I guess her identity? Well, after defeating Jegal Hwarin in the original work, the first press member to approach was from Veritas.

“Her name was Guryeonho, right?”

Here, the name changed to Gumiho. Naturally, the gender also changed.

“I’m a new member of Veritas, a unit under the Student Herald. Oh, Veritas is a name that embodies our ambition to reveal the truth…”

“Get to the point.”

“I delivered the news that Jegal Hwarin lost in various parts of the club.”

“So what?”

“Was your senior at the scene as well? I’m curious about the circumstances that led to the confrontation with Jegal Hwarin’s faction. Can I come to ask you questions for coverage in the future?”

“There’s nothing that can’t be done.”

Veritas is an unusually nonchalant club at Oak High. It would be a great favor if news of Oak High’s defeat were widely spread.

As I remained silent, Gumiho tilted her head.

“Are you uncomfortable? Of course, I’ll give you a proper reward.”

“What kind of reward?”

“It’s already decided that you’ll be pretending to side with Oak High… So, should I write an article criticizing Oak High? I’m good at being a tabloid journalist.”

“Are you confident? It could be dangerous.”

“If I were afraid, I couldn’t do journalism.”

Her personality was similar to the original. She published articles she wanted without caring about others’ opinions, like a true journalist.

“So, you must have joined Veritas.”

The head of Veritas was as much of a lunatic as Gumiho, which left a strong impression while reading the original work.

She was probably the only person in the entire school who closely covered the private lives of Oak High’s executives. Of course, she didn’t include Alice in her articles.

“Are all the Veritas members from different schools?”

“Yes. I’m the only one from Haneul High. Actually, the head asked me to write an article that would make the students at my school excited for the new recruits test.”

“You for your desires and the test, me to confront Oak High….”

“That’s right. It’s a win-win!”

It was a good suggestion, but I didn’t immediately respond.

“I’ll talk to the members and see. I can’t give a definite answer right now.”

“I thought you’d be more negative, so you’re thinking more positively than I expected.”

“It’s not a bad thing.”

Gumiho handed me Veritas’s business card. It was the second one I had received today alone.

“If you’re interested, please contact me. I’m always ready to listen to the grievances of unjustly treated students.”

Muttering nonsense, Gumiho passed by me. I put the business card in my pocket and changed my steps.

*

*

*

Kim Noeul and Na Yuna arrived near Na Yuna’s dormitory.

“Nothing unusual happened on the way here. I was worried we might be ambushed near the bridge.”

Kim Noeul remained vigilant while walking home from school. Having been attacked several times on this route, she was understandably on edge.

“Maybe it’s because of you, Noeul, that they didn’t bother us. If it were just me, I would have definitely revealed myself…”

It was a speculative tone, but Nayuna was quietly confident.

“…Perhaps learning to fight would be better after all?”

Noeul looked at her cautiously. Nayuna, swallowing her pride as an underclassman, spoke up.

“Um, can you teach me how to fight?”

“Senior…”

Nayuna faltered as Kim Noeul’s expression hardened.

“Am I disappointing you… Am I too weak…”

But Kim Noeul’s response was unexpected.

“You’re in your last year of high school, right?”

“Yes…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to focus on studying or thinking about employment instead of learning to fight?”

Nayuna felt like she had been hit with a hammer. It was a painfully accurate piece of advice. Kim Noeul was being very practical and straightforward.

“Noeul is right. I’ve been acting too immature.”

“I was planning to enroll in an academy for the upcoming final exams. I was going to ask Kim Maru for help again, but I don’t want to owe him another favor. Do you want to look for an academy together?”

“Sure, I’m fine with that.”

Thinking about looking for an academy with a popular underclassman, Nayuna’s steps lightened as they headed towards the dormitory entrance.

As Nayuna was seeing Nayuna off, Kim Noeul said one more thing.

“Senior.”

“Yeah?”

“Have you ever come to the dormitory with Maru?”

“H-how did you…?”

“….”

“He helped me out when I was in trouble with some bullies back then. I just wanted to treat him to show my gratitude. I really had no other intentions!”

“Why are you getting so worked up? I was just curious.”

“Y-your expression was intimidating.”

“….”

“Uh, well…”

“Take care going in.”

“…Yeah.”

Nayuna staggered into the elevator. Kim Noeul gazed at the dormitory’s facade lost in thought.

“The building I saw when I came back from the regional competition… That’s where Kim Maru came from.”

It seems that he visited Nayuna’s dormitory. Today, when eating meat, I heard similar words from Nayuna.

Could it be that there was really nothing between a man and a woman under the same roof?

“It drives people crazy for real….”

With a strange smile on his lips, Kim Noeul turned and headed back to his own dormitory.