I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Sui**de

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Thud.

Baek Yang stared indifferently at the instructor who collapsed before her.

She had faced numerous enemies on her way here.

Most were no match for her, but occasionally, a few possessed quite threatening skills.

It was peculiar.

Logically, the probability of an academy student being stronger than a hero was low.

After all, they were still inexperienced and likely had little real-world experience.

Yet, the opponents she felt were dangerous were surprisingly students.

Not only that, but there were also cases where some felt unsettling, just like her first opponent.

An alien state that seemed excessively superior to their inherent abilities.

Combining this, one could speculate one thing.

They probably used some unnatural method to rapidly increase their power.

If an ordinary student could become this strong,

how much stronger would someone who was already strong have become?

It seemed there was no time to waste.

She had to recover the Holy Grail as quickly as possible.

The Holy Grail was likely held by the boy she had met the previous time.

Where could he be?

Baek Yang walked across the corridor of the school.

Naturally, the inside was empty. They must have fled to a safer place.

The number of people she encountered continued to dwindle.

That was hardly important. Right now, what the girl was looking for was not the general students but a single boy.

As she walked down the corridor, Baek Yang suddenly halted.

For some unknown reason, her gaze kept wandering.

[2-A]

The view of an empty classroom visible beyond the window.

With a familiar yet affectionate feeling, Baek Yang unknowingly stepped inside.

The outside was quite noisy.

A fierce battle seemed to be unfolding, but the girl paid little attention to it.

Inside the classroom was calm and serene, as if cut off from the outside world.

Sunlight streamed in, and the breeze gently swayed. She wandered around the classroom, brushing her hands over the desks.

Approaching the teacher’s desk, she found the attendance book.

She naturally reached out, then paused for a moment.

However, without any hesitation, she opened the attendance book.

About thirty photos and names, presumably of the children in this class, filled the attendance book.

There, she discovered a familiar face.

Kim Shinwoo and Han Si-hyun. The kids she had met in Japan last time.

She took her time looking through them, wandering through memories that might not even exist.

But then her gaze lingered longer than intended at one spot.

[Sophie] [Yu Hana]

The two names were lined up as if they were close friends.

Yet, unlike the other students, there were no photographs above their names.

Only these words were in place of photographs.

[Expelled (Deceased)]

“······.”

An indescribable emotion stirred inside her.

No matter how much she ran her fingers over the nameplate, the memories did not surface.

Why is there no photo?

I feel like something might change if I confirm this.

Is Yu Hana really me?

And what about my memories of Sophie?

The girl had made a vow.

Even if she regained her memories, she would continue living as Baek Yang.

She didn’t want to betray her teachers and comrades to side with humans.

That sentiment was the same even now.

Still, she was curious.

Did she really live as a girl named Yu Hana in this class?

What kind of life did she lead back then? What was she thinking?

The reason she felt a strange sensation every time she looked at Kim Shinwoo.

Why was her heart aching just from repeating the name Sophie?

She wished someone would tell her the reason.

She wanted to regain her memories.

“I never expected to find you here.”

At the voice coming from the front, Baek Yang immediately went on guard.

The figure who had entered through the back door was the same girl whose face she had just confirmed in the attendance book.

It was Han Si-hyun.

“You are…”

Baek Yang trailed off, recognizing her.

Despite their clear hostile relationship, Han Si-hyun didn’t seem particularly inclined to fight.

When she had seen her last time, she was bandaged, but now she looked as neat as in the picture.

Her beautiful face, though expressionless, did not hide her beauty.

“Seeing that reminds me of something, doesn’t it?”

“······.”

“That’s not it. What a shame.”

Baek Yang hesitated for a moment.

Normally, it would be the right choice to quickly deal with the matter without engaging in conversation.

There was no benefit to Baek Yang from this exchange whatsoever.

Yet, she asked a question simply as one girl to another.

“You know who I am, don’t you?”

“Well, I can’t be sure unless you show your real face beneath that mask.”

“Are you telling me to take off my mask right now?”

At those words, Han Si-hyun held a mysterious smile on her lips.

“I’m not forcing you. It’s your freedom. If you’re curious, take it off; if not, then don’t.”

“······.”

The girl did not respond.

After standing still for a while, she finally moved her hands and silently began to remove the mask.

The girl’s face finally revealed.

Han Si-hyun, who had been watching without a hint of surprise, nodded her head.

“Indeed, you are Yu Hana.”

Her eyes became slightly sharper, yet they remained gentle.

The once bright pumpkin-colored eyes had dulled a bit.

Even the small dot on her left cheek.

Although her impression had changed slightly, there was no question she was unequivocally Yu Hana.

“If you have questions, feel free to ask. I’ll answer as best as I can.”

Questions?

There were so many piled up that she didn’t even know where to start.

However, the most pressing question was one.

“Who is Sophie?”

Sophie.

She wanted to know about the owner of that name.

Kim Shinwoo, Han Si-hyun, Yu Hana.

She had already encountered their names’ owners even in her memory loss.

But she had yet to meet the person named Sophie.

She knew nothing except for the two names; their appearance, age, not even their gender.

Of course, she could guess.

In reality, the girl had always been locked in her room, pondering who Sophie might be.

At least, just by hearing the name, one could assume she was a girl.

As for age, having just checked the attendance book, she presumed she would be the same age as herself.

What might she look like?

Would she have hair like hers, in a bright yellow hue?

Or maybe normal black hair or striking white like a shark’s?

It would be nice if her eyes sparkled in green like emeralds.

As she pondered over the various combinations, it eventually led to one conclusion.

A bright blue that seemed to hold the ocean within it.

Sparkling like the stars in the night sky, she would surely be gazing at her.

With a smile, she would extend her hand towards her.

And then she would say.

“······.”

Her imagination always stopped there.

The girl could not imagine what words she might have said.

No, she couldn’t recall it.

“Sophie… I see. Even now, in your heart, that girl remains settled there.”

Han Si-hyun said that and looked slightly down.

Her expression was heavy. With a calm voice, she spoke.

“Sophie was your roommate in the same class… your best friend.”

As she listened to the explanation, the girl began to sketch an image in her mind.

“She had red hair and blue eyes. A girl with cute freckles. She was as lovely as she looked and had a pleasant, lively personality, always kind to everyone.”

I see.

So she did have blue eyes just like I imagined.

The girl felt a vague happiness in the knowledge that even a tiny bit had been remembered.

But Han Si-hyun fell silent, refraining from elaborating any further.

Feeling puzzled, the girl started pressing for more information.

“So? Where is Sophie now?”

“…That girl was kind and loved you very much. More than herself.”

“Excuse me?”

Taken aback by the strange response, the girl questioned.

Yet, somehow, she pushed aside the creeping unease.

However, Han Si-hyun did not deceive her with lies.

She knew that such reckless kindness could turn lethal later on.

In the end, she revealed the truth.

“Sophie sacrificed her life for you.”

“······.”

A glimmer flickered in Yu Hana’s eyes.

But it was brief.

Soon, she erased all turmoil and calmly responded.

“I see. So Sophie has died.”

At that serene expression, Si-hyun frowned slightly.

No matter how much one lacked memories, not receiving any shock was not a good sign.

Clearly, there had been lingering feelings for Sophie.

It made no sense if she erased them so quickly.

“Then that’s good. I have no more questions.”

That must be a lie.

She was trembling inside.

Trying not to show her feelings to Si-hyun, she acted as if she were fine.

“Well, I’ll take my leave now. As a thank you for sharing your story, I will let you go this once. Farewell.”

The girl hurriedly tried to leave.

In urgency, Si-hyun called out.

A word that could turn everything around.

“The one who killed Sophie was Black Goat.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“The leader of the group you belong to now. When Black Goat tried to kill you, Sophie sacrificed her life to save you.”