episode_0050

Kim Gaeul and I arrived at the rooftop of the hospital. It was a place called Sky Garden, with many sunflowers thriving under the summer sunlight.

Kim Gaeul brushed off the dust from the bench where I was supposed to sit.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

I tried to take out a handkerchief to wipe her spot clean, but Kim Gaeul quickly sat down before I could do so.

“Were you trying to clean the seat with that handkerchief just now?”

“I shouldn’t accept things without giving back.”

“…You’re just like him.”

‘Just like him…?’

Kim Gaeul gazed at the clear sky, devoid of any clouds, and brought up the topic.

“In fact, I had an older brother. His name was Kim Ma-eum.”

“…This is the first time I’m hearing about this.”

I pretended not to know, as I had already read the original and knew that Kim Noeul had a sibling in this world.

However, it wasn’t entirely a lie.

The Kim Ma-eum I knew from the original was a woman. In this world, the gender had changed. I didn’t know there was a ‘male’ Kim Ma-eum.

“Kim Noeul never talked about his family.”

“It’s understandable. He passed away.”

Kim Gaeul’s expression remained unexpectedly calm as she spoke. Perhaps she had grown accustomed to a life without her brother.

“I feel sorry for no reason. Hearing such facts.”

“I’m telling you because I want to. There’s no need for my brother to feel sorry.”

“Why are you telling me about your brother…?”

“Our brother was a victim of bullying.”

“……”

“He wasn’t bullied from the start. He was popular for resembling our sister. But he got targeted by some bad guys while helping other bullying victims.”

It was exactly the same as the original setting. Reading about Kim Noeul’s family episode made me secretly angry.

“So… he fell from the school rooftop. At that time, the rooftop wasn’t a restricted area yet.”

Kim Gaeul’s calm expression gradually twisted.

“Even now, thinking about those perpetrators makes me furious, but what angers me the most is that I couldn’t be a support for my brother. I realized too late…”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, I know. I understand how self-destructive harboring guilt can be. Back then, I couldn’t comprehend people like that. But now that I’ve become the victim myself, it’s really hard not to be like that.”

“…There are quite a few cases like that.”

Take Seo Yoon, for example. She is currently burdened with hospital bills as she feels guilty for not being able to protect Jung So-hye, even though it wasn’t her fault.

“You asked earlier why you were telling me about your brother.”

“Yes.”

“Ma-ru reminds you of him. My brother.”

“Me?”

“Not in looks, but in… aura. When my brother was struggling with bullying, he often wore a look as if he had lost something, and I sense a similar feeling from Ma-ru.”

‘What I lost.’

As I pondered Kim Gaeul’s words, my chest tightened.

It seemed like I was displaying on my face what I had left behind in the past, what I regretted.

Ordinary people may not notice, but those who have experienced similar pain can keenly recognize the sorrowful expression of a kindred spirit.

“I’m sorry. I inadvertently made you into a source of pain for my brother.”

“Don’t worry. It’s not entirely untrue.”

Kim Gaeul stopped looking at the sky and lowered her head to gaze at the ground.

“Your sister probably felt similar emotions when she looked at Ma-ru. Does she often stick around him?”

“…She does.”

“It’s probably because of the reasons I mentioned. Your sister is finding solace in Ma-ru.”

The reason Kim Noeul showed interest in me early on, and the reason she had seizures when I took risky actions, was because of that.

She was afraid of losing someone again.

That trauma tightly gripped Kim Noeul.

“Recently, things seemed to be improving with the plans led by Unni and Maru Oppa, but it feels like that trauma resurfaced after the lottery melee.”

“I understand your intention in saying these words to me. Ultimately, the only way to stabilize Kim Noeul’s mind is…”

“Oppa.”

Kim Gaeul turned her head to look at me. Her gaze bore a striking resemblance to Kim Noeul’s.

“It may sound shameless, but please… help our Unni….”

Kim Gaeul’s expression darkened, seemingly apologetic for burdening me. However, there was no need for Kim Gaeul to worry.

“I’m not sure if Kim Noeul mentioned it, but she and I are kind of… partners? You could say.”

“…Partners?”

“It’s a symbiotic relationship. We’ve come this far, and neither Kim Noeul nor I can betray the other.”

Since we both boarded the same ship of the Ban Ojakgyo faction, we must move forward together.

“And I’ve received help from her as well, so now it’s my turn to help.”

Upon my candid confession, Kim Gaeul half-closed her eyes. Tears began to well up in her eyes.

“You really… resemble him… Oppa….”

Muttering softly, she looked up at me with teary eyes.

Looking into her eyes, I understood.

My existence is not just beneficial to Kim Noeul but also to the girl in front of me.

There is another girl who needs help besides Kim Noeul.

“This might seem strange, but…”

Sniffling, she gently took my hand.

“Could you pinch my cheek once?”

“Cheek…?”

“…Oppa used to do it often.”

It wasn’t a difficult task, so I lightly pinched her soft cheek. It felt tender due to her baby-like skin.

As her cheek slightly reddened, she smiled bashfully.

“…Thank you. You can do it harder if you want.”

“Maybe you’ll cry more if I do.”

After concluding our conversation, we descended to the floor where Kim Noeul’s hospital room was located. Kim Gaeul went to buy drinks, leaving Kim Noeul alone to talk with me.

Returning to the room, I saw Kim Noeul sitting on the bed, nibbling on an apple.

She didn’t notice my arrival and was staring blankly at the wall-mounted TV screen.

When she coughed, she finally turned towards me.

“You’re early.”

Perhaps she wasn’t surprised since I had mentioned visiting her in the counseling chat room. She offered me the apple dish.

“Eat.”

“I’m fine.”

“Did you meet Gaeul?”

“Yeah. She’s out getting drinks now.”

After a brief exchange, we fell silent. Kim Noeul remained quiet, bowing her head and fiddling with the apple.

As I gazed at her, her cheeks slightly flushed, she spoke up.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’ve been through a lot. You’ve taken quite a beating.”

“What… Jega Yeonhwa probably suffered more than me.”

Despite her efforts to show confidence, both she and I knew. Kim Noeul’s confidence was significantly shaken.

“…Maru.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think I can do it?”

For the first time, I heard Kim Noeul’s faint voice, leaving me speechless.

“I’ve come this far working hard… but I’m not sure. I doubt my abilities.”

“You’re incredibly capable. There’s no one else like you in our class.”

I praised her objectively.

Kim Noeul had been severely injured by Jegal Hwaryun not long ago. Yet, within this short period, she had grown enough to face Jegal Yeonhwa.

It wasn’t just about fighting. She was steadily growing in academics and leadership too.

In reality, apart from Alice, there would likely be no one as versatile as her.

However, my words did not comfort her at all.

Even if Kim Noeul had exceptional potential, she still had a long way to go in her current state.

She was anxious.

“In truth, I’m not confident that I can achieve the same outcome if I were to fight Jegal Yeonhwa again today.”

“……”

“Jegal Yeonhwa was lucky to approach me, but will that woman fight me in the same way next time?”

“If that woman has obtained information about you, then you must have obtained information about her as well. There’s no need to be anxious.”

“What about Seoyoon?”

Suddenly, Kim Noeul asks.

“Can I defeat Seoyoon?”

“Of course.”

“And Alice?”

“…Of course.”

For a moment, even I found myself hesitating in my response.

Though I had firmly believed in Kim Noeul, my true feelings were honest.

In the original work, there was no scene of Kim Noeul fighting with Alice. It was still an ongoing webtoon, and I had reincarnated into this world before seeing its conclusion.

“You seem skeptical too.”

“… ”

“Sigh… My pride is hurt. Realizing where I stand has left me feeling bleak. It’s like crossing the peak of ignorance.”

“Well, now all that’s left is to move forward.”

“Thank you. I should exercise during the break. Maybe even learn some martial arts if possible.”

At first glance, the conversation seemed to end smoothly, but the reality remained unchanged. Kim Noeul’s expression was still dark. She needed time alone to sort through her feelings.

“In the original work, time resolved everything.”

Continuing to offer unwarranted encouragement at this point would only wound Kim Noeul’s pride. She needed time to be by herself.

“I should ask Kim Maeum about her feelings during the break. I must face my past properly.”

I had no intention of breaking my promise with Kim Gaeul. Kim Noeul should be different after the break.

“Have you visited Doa senior? You’re from the same hospital.”

I shook my head in response to Kim Noeul’s question.

“No, I came to see you first.”

“…Is that so?”

Her dark complexion brightened slightly.

“Go and freshen up before you go. Doa senior can be quite picky without showing it.”

“That’s true.”

After replying, I left Kim Noeul’s ward. On my way to Han Doa’s ward, I met Kim Gaeul again.

“Oh? I bought drinks, aren’t you going to have any?”

“I’ll drink it. I’m going to visit a friend on the upper floor.”

“Oh, you mean Director Seondo.”

Kim Gaeul handed me a can of drink and spoke.

“How was your conversation with Unni?”

“…She seems to need some time.”

“It must be difficult for her to get up right away.”

“Still, I won’t retract what I said. I will definitely take responsibility for Kim Noeul.”

…”

Kim Gaeul looked at me silently after hearing my words. Then, she muttered so softly that I could barely hear.

“…I envy Unni.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry for holding you back for so long. I’ll support both of you.”

With a somewhat lonely expression, she walked towards Kim Noeul’s ward.

Before I could fully understand Kim Gaeul’s subtle emotional shift, the elevator arrived. I stopped my thoughts and boarded the elevator.

Han Doa’s ward was at the end of the corridor. As I approached her room, two women standing near the ward stopped me.

One was wearing a suit, and the other was dressed in modified hanbok. A notable detail was that both had swords tied around their waists.

“If you’re here to visit?”

“Yes.”

“Your name?”

“I’m Kim Maru, from the same school.”

One of the women asked about my purpose. The other entered Han Doa’s ward and came out shortly after.

“You may enter.”

As I stepped into Han Doa’s ward, I saw Han Doa, her face and arms wrapped in bandages, looking at me.

“Thank you for coming.”

“You fought hard, so of course I had to come. When do you think you’ll be discharged?”

“Probably sometime next week, I suppose.”

“That’s quite a while…. Oh, this is a gift.”

I placed a box of vitamin C drinks on the table next to the bed. Han Doa nodded in gratitude.

“You didn’t have to bring anything; it’s not necessary.”

“If I hadn’t, I would have felt awkward.”

“Did Noeul’s junior seem okay?”

“Yes. If anything, I should be worried about the person who fought against her.”

Her face darkened as she listened to me.

“…I see. Noeul fought well.”

‘Did I touch on a sensitive topic?’

Feeling a pang of guilt, I tried to change the subject, but Handoa spoke first.

“I have no face left. I offered to help, but I ended up showing such disgrace.”

“No one is blaming you. If it wasn’t for the senior, who else would have faced Lee Ji-hye?”

“In the end, it’s true that we lost.”

Handoa clenched her fist with the hand that was not wrapped in bandages. The blanket folded.

“I thought my only area of expertise was fighting, and now I can’t even do that… I feel disqualified as a leader.”

Both Kim Noeul and Handoa had been struggling with self-doubt since the Rotary Taekwondo Tournament.

“It might be better to give up academics and focus on martial arts instead…”

“Senior.”

As I interrupted her, Handoa glanced at me, her body flinching. It seemed like she was startled by my uneasy expression.

“Think about priorities. Of course, the fight with Ojakgyo is important, but ultimately, it’s for the senior to study without worry.”

“….”

“Was my tutoring really that boring?”

“No! I actually wanted to do it every day…!”

Suddenly excited, Handoa blurted out unintended words, her face turning red. With a muffled voice, she bowed her head slightly and muttered softly.

“…So, I want to continue tutoring.”

“That’s good to hear. Your thoughts didn’t stray in a strange direction.”

“I’m sorry.”

Handoa, scratching her nape, seemed uncomfortable with her long hair.

‘She usually ties it in a ponytail, but can’t move one arm now, so she didn’t tie it?’

Looking at her neatly spread-out hair, it accentuated her clean appearance, enhancing an image reminiscent of a noble family like the Yanggajip.

‘In fact, she does come from such a household.’

“Your hair looks quite burdensome.”

“Oh… I was thinking I should cut it soon. It gets in the way during fights.”

Apologies, but cutting Handoa’s hair wouldn’t change her powerlessness. To grow, she needed to resolve her past with Lee Ji-hye properly. At least that’s how it worked in webtoons.

“You don’t necessarily need to cut it just because it’s long.”

“Really?”

Suddenly curious why she asked that, Handoa, unlike usual, seemed intent on hearing my response without diverting the topic, staring at me as if waiting for my answer.

“Long ponytails suit you. Just my personal opinion.”

“Hmm, is that so.”

Suddenly muttering ‘Where’s the hair tie?’ Handoa began searching for it. Once she found it, she attempted to tie her hair with one hand, but it seemed challenging.

“Can I help?”

“If you’d be so kind.”

As if expecting it, she readily handed me the hair tie. She tried to explain how to tie it, but my hands were already skillfully starting to make the ponytail.

“…Maru, you’re quite skilled at this?”

There was a hint of coldness in Handoa’s voice.

“When I was young, I tied the other kids’ hair at the orphanage.”

I had also tied Alice’s hair before.

“Oh, I, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

As I finished tying her hair in the awkward atmosphere, a strange voice from near the entrance of the ward could be heard.

“What a touching scene. Doha entrusting her hair to someone.”

Handoa and I both turned to look where the voice came from simultaneously.

There stood a woman in a quiet image wearing a hanbok with long hair. When Handoa untied her hair, she exuded a vibe very similar to that woman.

Handoa’s voice trembled as she saw her.

“Mother….”