LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 40
Shin Woo headed straight to the hospital room as soon as class ended.
Was it because yesterday’s conversation was so enjoyable?
He could hardly concentrate during class, just waiting for this moment.
Arriving quickly at the hospital room, Shin Woo paused when he heard a small sound from inside just as he was about to open the door.
What’s that sound?
He leaned his ear against the door.
It was small but clearly audible, the sound continued.
This is…
A groan?
He frowned and listened carefully.
However, it was difficult to gather accurate information through the closed door.
In the end, after a long pause of hesitation, he abruptly opened the door without knocking.
A vague feeling of unease just wouldn’t leave him.
The hospital room looked no different from what he had seen yesterday.
Aside from the girl lying in bed, it seemed like no one else was there.
So, that groan came from her?
“Ugh… Ahh…”
Upon entering the same space, it became clear.
A soft, dreamy sigh was coming from the bed.
It felt so out of place.
It felt like oil and water not mixing at all.
Shin Woo slowly approached the bed and called her name.
“…Yu Hana?”
“Ha… Huh… Shin Woo?”
As he got closer, he could see Hana’s condition.
Messy hair.
A flushed face.
Dull, unfocused eyes.
Disheveled clothes.
“……”
Without realizing it, Shin Woo stepped back.
“Are you… okay?”
“Yeah. Ugh… Sorry. I’m just not feeling well…”
“Is it really bad?”
“No, it’s not. I just need to rest a little… Ha…”
Hearing that sigh made his heart race.
Why am I feeling this way?
Despite trying to gather his emotions, it wasn’t working well.
Kim Shin Woo. Stop having strange thoughts.
He chastised himself.
What am I doing here when my friend is sick?
Right. It was strange to expect her to recover in just one day.
Of course, her condition could deteriorate at any time, and he had thought too carelessly.
“Should I call the nurse?”
“Mmhm. No, I’m fine. Just a little rest and… Ugh. I’ll feel better…”
That was pushing it.
Even when he tried to resist, he kept having strange thoughts.
Whiteness peeking through her disheveled clothes.
He quickly looked away, but it had already made a vivid impression in his mind.
Feeling blood rush to his face, Shin Woo hastily spoke.
“Ahem! I’ll be right back! Sorry!”
“Sorry. Because of me… Hah… Take care.”
He hurriedly exited the hospital room as Hana saw him off.
As the fresh wind in the hallway hit him, his senses gradually returned.
Inside the hospital room felt entirely different from the hallway.
The subtle heat in the hospital room seemed to paralyze his mind just by being in it.
Why was it like that?
Could it be that he… viewed Hana as a potential romantic interest?
He had never thought of that before.
Their relationship was much closer to family than anything romantic.
It was true that he felt jealousy when he saw her with Juhyun, but it was a different feeling than possessiveness.
Of course, that was just his perspective.
In reality, he might have unknowingly let his emotions grow.
But still, the thought of dating Hana was hard to imagine.
That just didn’t seem right.
The more he thought about it, the more complex it became.
It wasn’t something that needed to be resolved immediately, so he would set it aside.
At least until Hana was completely healed.
*
“You’re all better.”
Rachel, who carefully checked Hana’s condition, spoke.
“Really?”
“Yeah. At least it looks fine now. You don’t have any pain anywhere, do you?”
Hana nodded as she stretched lightly to check her body.
“I’m fine. No issue at all.”
“I can’t believe it, but it is what it is.”
Rachel asked with a worried expression.
“So, do you really want to get discharged?”
“Of course, if I’m better, it’s natural to get discharged.”
“I heard from your boyfriend. You were groaning yesterday, right? You look fine now, but it’s safest to monitor a bit longer. It’s only been three days after all.”
Hana smiled awkwardly, realizing they had shared more than she expected.
“I’ll let you know right away if anything comes up.”
“Is there a rush to get discharged? You can relax in the hospital and take your time. Your classes will be marked as absences, so your grades won’t be affected.”
After taking in the refreshing air coming through the window, Hana spoke.
“I’ve decided to change. I’ll pay attention in class. Make lots of friends. I’m going to try to be happy at the academy.”
“…Really?”
Rachel looked at her in surprise and then chuckled.
It seemed something had brought about a change in this girl.
“Got it. I’ll support you.”
“Thanks! Oh, and by the way.”
She paused for a moment before continuing.
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
At that moment, perfectly timed, Hana’s phone rang.
“Hello? Oh, Shin Woo!”
The girl chatted happily on the phone.
The conversation flowed endlessly.
At one point, she even broke into cheerful laughter.
Rachel watched the scene, astonished.
It seemed like it wouldn’t be long before she’d have a boyfriend.
After a while, once the phone call ended, Hana spoke to Rachel.
“Well then, I’ll go now!”
“Okay. Be careful.”
The girl was about to leave the hospital room when Rachel called out to her.
“Hana.”
“Yes?”
“…You’re the club president now.”
“……”
A brief silence.
Then, Hana replied brightly.
“Since it’s at least three members, I need to find one more.”
“……”
“I’ll hurry and find someone and let you know!”
After Hana left the hospital room and was left alone, Rachel savored the bright sunlight streaming through the window.
“…Has she grown?”
Or perhaps.
Did she run away completely?
*
Today, the seat that had been empty for a while was filled.
Students in class whispered about its occupant.
Whether it was that they didn’t hear such talks or simply didn’t care, Hana wore a beaming smile.
Suddenly, the girl stood up from her seat and walked boldly.
Then, she approached the quiet boy in the class.
“Juhyun! Hi!”
“Oh, hi… How are you feeling?”
“I’m completely better now! Thanks so much for visiting me in the hospital.”
“Ah, I really didn’t do much…”
“No! The story you told me then was really helpful!”
“Well, that’s good to hear.”
Juhyun, who was smiling shyly, scratched his cheek and cautiously spoke.
“…I might be mistaken, but you seem a bit different.”
“Really? How so?”
“It’s you. How should I say it? You seem a lot brighter than before.”
“Is that so? I can’t really tell.”
“It’s not a bad thing. You actually look much better.”
It wasn’t just Juhyun bringing this up.
While Hana sat and waited for the morning assembly, someone approached her quietly.
A girl with impressive pink roll hair.
Valentina.
“……”
The girl stood before her, unable to say a word.
Fidgeting with her hands, she hesitated for a long moment.
“What’s up?”
Hana tilted her head and asked first, causing Valentina to finally open her mouth hesitantly.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Oh, you’re talking about the last time. It’s fine. I had my share of wrongdoings too.”
“But because of me… Because of me…”
Valentina’s voice began to tremble with emotion.
In that moment, Hana took her hand gently yet firmly.
“No, it’s not your fault.”
“……”
“You don’t need to blame yourself. You already apologized for that earlier. The one who ran away without even apologizing after doing wrong was actually me.”
“But…”
“Stop it. If we keep talking about this, I’ll really get mad.”
“…Okay, thank you.”
When Hana smiled, Valentina quickly returned a smile as well.
Both ended up using this as the opportunity to become fast friends.
Shin Woo watched all of this unfold with a satisfied smile on his face.
Everything felt like it was falling back into place.
Hana had clearly changed since her discharge.
Sophie’s death had certainly been a monumental trial, but perhaps it also spurred her growth even further.
Could he have contributed to that growth in some way?
He hoped so, but it was okay if not.
Now, he understood what truly mattered.
Hana’s transformed self would continue to show itself.
She actively engaged in classes, and during break time, she didn’t just sit still but tried to approach the other kids.
Even when she got scolded by the instructor during practice.
The girl didn’t shrink back at all and rather confidently shouted.
“I’m sorry! I will try harder!”
“Hmm. That’s a good attitude.”
Instructors, who were usually uncomfortable with her lagging skills, quickly wore smiles of satisfaction upon realizing her mindset.
Everything was better than before and seemed perfect.
Yeah. That’s how it appeared.
*
“Hana, want to go to a café together? You’ve been in the hospital for a while.”
At Shin Woo’s suggestion, Hana replied with a troubled expression.
“Ah… Sorry. I think I’ll have a hard time today.”
Surprised by the unexpected rejection, Shin Woo quickly regained his smile.
“No problem. Do you have something else to do?”
“Yeah. Since I just got discharged, the nurse said to have a check-up after school, just in case.”
“Got it. Then it can’t be helped. What about tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow should be fine!”
“Great. Let’s go to the café tomorrow.”
They exchanged farewells and parted ways.
A few minutes later.
As Shin Woo was heading back to the dorm, still feeling regret, he ran into Rachel on the street.
“Oh, teacher?”
“Ah, Shin Woo. Are you heading home?”
“Yeah. What about you, teacher?”
“I have some work to take care of. I’m on my way to the staff room.”
Work to take care of?
Shin Woo asked.
“Hana should be waiting.”
“Wait? Why?”
“…Why would she? The nurse said to come for a check-up.”
“That’s strange. I didn’t arrange any appointment. Are you sure there’s no misconception?”
“……”
Something felt off.
There was an inexplicable sense of discomfort.
An unsettling premonition tightened in his chest.
Suddenly, he recalled a similar experience from before.
Yes. Just like this time, Hana had rejected him when he wanted to walk home together.
It was because of the science club.
“…No way. It can’t be.”
“Hmm. Are you okay?”
Suddenly!
Shin Woo rushed out.
It couldn’t be true.
No way.
Even as he desperately shook off the thought, his feet were leading him towards the first-year science room.
How long had he been running? He walked the hallway without calming his ragged breath.
Finally arriving at the science room.
The door was firmly shut.
Through the small window in the door, he could see some light inside.
Someone was there.
Two people.
His childhood friend… and that man.
The two were close together.