I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 45

Class had ended.

Si woo remained seated, scanning the room around him.

Hana was talking with Valentina. The two seemed to have grown quite close recently, with Valentina usually initiating the conversations.

As soon as the bell rang, Yeonhwa slipped out the back door. Lately, she barely paid attention in class, focusing instead on her training. She hadn’t spoken to Hana since the incident.

Many things had changed.

Si woo felt it too.

Since the conversation he’d had alone with Hana last week, a palpable distance had grown between them. They still talked sometimes and even walked to school together occasionally, but her attitude was definitely different.

He hoped today would bring a chance for change.

The health check for all students had just wrapped up. While it appeared to be a standard medical exam, it was, in reality, a blood test to detect demons.

Both students and teachers had participated.

Today, he would find out once and for all if that science teacher was a demon.

—

After class, Hana moved automatically toward her usual destination. It had become a daily routine.

As soon as school ended, she would head straight to the science lab on the first floor.

It had been about a week since her discharge from the infirmary, and she felt she’d finally adjusted to academy life.

Even if the classes were still challenging, she occasionally asked the class president or Shin Juhyun for help.

It wasn’t for the sake of high grades—she wasn’t interested in that. She had given up on practicals altogether.

Her only goal was to avoid failing. As long as she maintained a passing grade, she wouldn’t risk being held back or expelled.

Keeping up with the lessons was naturally difficult. The disregard and mocking stares that came from being talentless were still there.

But surprisingly, she found it wasn’t as bad as she’d thought.

If only she’d realized this sooner.

If, on that day of the field training, she hadn’t tried to take her own life but instead used the escape device…

Would Sophie still be alive? Could they have enjoyed a peaceful life at the academy together?

There was no sadness, as the effects of the pill hadn’t worn off yet.

Neither was there the dizzying pleasure she sometimes felt—only a quiet sense of longing.

Sophie.

Do you blame me?

There was no answer.

Sophie’s blue eyes had vanished from her sight long ago.

Was that something to be grateful for?

—

She reached her destination and opened the door to the science lab.

Inside was the same man as always—the science teacher, with his calm, intellectual look, wearing a white coat and glasses.

He greeted her with a relaxed smile.

“You’ve come. Please, have a seat.”

She didn’t feel the need to respond, simply plopping down in the chair he gestured to.

“Shall I give you the pill right away?”

“…Did you participate in that thing today too?”

“Hmm? What thing might you be referring to?”

He pulled a vial of pills from his coat, but she quickly lost interest in it and focused on the conversation.

“The health check. I saw they were taking blood.”

“Ah, that.”

Demon blood was a bright black, starkly different from human blood. Originally, this method of identification wasn’t revealed until halfway through the original story, but thanks to Sophie, it had been known for quite some time.

The checkup was clearly designed to weed out demons.

The teacher didn’t seem fazed, answering with the same smugness that could almost be considered annoying.

“Of course. Health management is always important.”

“…Right. Of course.”

She muttered under her breath, feeling a sense of relief.

Wait. Relief?

Why am I relieved?

Well…

If he was in danger, she wouldn’t be able to get the pills.

And without the pills, she couldn’t feel happy.

Yes. That was it.

There couldn’t be any other reason.

She might as well ask for the pill now. It felt like the effects were starting to fade.

“Enough. Just give me the pill.”

“Have you completed the condition I set?”

“…I did. Though I still don’t understand the point of jogging every morning.”

“Very well. Here you are.”

She took the pill he offered, holding it for a moment before swallowing. She paused, staring at the red capsule in her hand.

“Is something the matter?”

“…Mind your own business.”

She popped the pill into her mouth, swallowed, and closed her eyes, waiting for the familiar change.

Nothing.

She opened her eyes, feeling an unsettling calm.

This wasn’t the first time she’d noticed something was off.

The faint, creeping suspicion had been there for a few days, maybe longer.

The effects of the pill were weakening.

The intense euphoria she’d felt when she first took it had long since faded. Now, all she felt was a mild sense of comfort. It was like being slightly full after a meal, rather than deeply satisfied.

There was no irritation; the pill prevented negative emotions.

But she couldn’t help but wonder.

“What did you do with the pill?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been giving me weaker doses, haven’t you?”

He smirked in a way that made her wish she could hit him. She would have, too, if the pill hadn’t muted her anger.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? Are you saying it’s just my imagination?”

“Yes. Though perhaps a similar one, in that the effect is not from the pill.”

“…Speak plainly, will you?”

He always had a way of speaking in riddles. Maybe he took pleasure in confusing people—a truly twisted hobby.

It was clear that pressing him would get her nowhere, so she decided to let it go.

“By the way, what’s today’s condition?”

“Ah, there is none today.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. You have now completed the basic requirements I set for you.”

I completed the basic requirements?

But she hadn’t done anything special today. Thinking back over the past week, nothing stood out.

“Of course, that doesn’t negate the very first condition I set.”

“The first? You mean when you told me to live earnestly?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

She didn’t remember much from their initial encounter. She’d been in a bad state at the time. But he’d reminded her of that first condition repeatedly.

She didn’t know why she’d agreed to the deal in the first place, but his condition seemed absurd. Every subsequent requirement had simply been an extension of that initial condition.

“I was worried you might take longer to fulfill it, but it’s a relief that you haven’t.”

“Yeah, well, whatever it is, good for you.”

Even at her sarcasm, he didn’t lose his smile.

There was no reason to stay here any longer, and she certainly didn’t want to. Nothing good could come from getting close to this man.

All she needed was the pill.

A demon was the most dangerous thing to her.

“Leaving already?”

“What, are you going to try and stop me?”

“Take care.”

“…Hmph.”

Always pretending to be polite.

I’ll never fall for it.

Whatever you’re planning, I won’t go along with it.

Just as she was about to leave, he spoke.

“Be careful.”

“Huh? Be careful of what?”

“This is the last warning I’ll give you.”

He spoke in a tone more serious than she’d ever heard.

“Don’t trust anyone.”

“…”

“That includes me. Trust no one. Suspect everyone.”

“I’ve never trusted you for a second.”

At her response, he chuckled.

“Good.”

—

Si woo headed to the student council room, his heart pounding.

The health check had just finished today, so the results probably weren’t out yet.

But he didn’t care about the results of the checkup itself.

All he needed to know was the color of that man’s blood.

That one piece of information could be learned anytime, thanks to his arrangement with the student council president.

He paused at the door to the student council room and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. His heart felt like it was going to burst from his chest.

Was it any wonder?

Everything would change based on this result.

Should he feel guilty for hoping, deep down, that the man was a demon?

Whatever the result, he would accept it for Hana’s sake.

Si woo placed his hand on the door handle.

As he opened the door, someone stepped out from inside.

“Oh, excuse me.”

He found himself face-to-face with the vice-principal, who looked at him with an unsettling smile.

What was he doing here?

It wasn’t unusual for the vice-principal to be in the student council room, but something about this encounter felt… ominous.

Without a word, the vice-principal walked away.

Si woo focused on his mission and entered the room.

Inside, the president was sitting alone, looking distinctly unwell. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were slightly unfocused.

Without thinking, he asked her how she was feeling.

“Are you okay?”

“…Huh? Oh, it’s you. I’m fine.”

“I saw the vice-principal leaving just now.”

“Ah… yeah. He was here helping with student council work.”

Was that all?

Come to think of it, it wasn’t strange.

But right now, that wasn’t his focus.

Si woo hesitated, then asked his question.

“…Did that man take the health check, too?”

“Yes, he did.”

“And the result?”

Sehee answered.

“It was bright red. He’s human.”

“…”

—

Hana tilted her head.

“…Excuse me? What did you say?”

“The teacher who was here before? He’s gone on a business trip.”

A business trip?

Suddenly?

“Oh

… when will he be back?”

“Not sure. Maybe three days?”

Three days…

Then…

What about the pills?

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