Returning to the classroom, I immediately sought out Danbal to find out how far this absurd rumor had spread.

“Ju, Ju-eun. What’s going on?”

Seeing her pathetic gaze and attitude, I could instantly tell.

It was already too late!

‘Damn.’

Feeling a throbbing sensation in my head, I touched my forehead.

‘Those who know already know.’

Even if there were more people who didn’t know yet, it didn’t matter. In any case, by tomorrow, Danbal would be buzzing around the neighborhood, spreading the news!

“No… It’s nothing, really…”

Feeling tired all of a sudden, I didn’t want to do anything.

I returned to my seat, leaving Danbal behind.

“What’s wrong, Lee Jueun? Are you feeling unwell?”

Checking my complexion, Yooheena shook my face with her hands.

“She seems to have lost consciousness.”

As if telling me to snap out of it, Yooheena grabbed my shoulders and shook me, but I, already drained of spirit, just swayed weakly.

‘What should I do now?’

Ranked 0th in the world because of Snowball’s joke? Even if I had endured the rumors of being a trans girl, now there was something even worse.

‘Thankfully, Yooheena doesn’t seem to misunderstand.’

At the hospital, Seong Jichan told me about the threatening phone call I received on the day of my kidnapping. Yooheena was with me at that time.

So, Yooheena should know why such an absurd rumor about me being Seong Jichan’s girlfriend is not believable.

In reality, Yooheena wasn’t showing any hostility towards me. Maybe she hadn’t heard the rumor yet, or maybe she was just waiting.

‘It won’t work. I need a plan.’

Before the rumor spread uncontrollably, I needed to fix things.

‘To do that, it’s best to talk to the others involved in the rumor.’

I decided to find the others who were entangled in the rumor with me.

First, Seong Jichan.

During the break, I left the classroom and called Seong Jichan. However…

“Huh? Why isn’t he answering?”

It’s strange. He’s not the type to ignore calls.

Unable to reach him, I asked Yooheena.

“Do you know where Seong Jichan is?”

“Jichan?”

Yooheena blinked.

“He’s not answering the phone?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s weird…”

Her puzzled expression suggested that Yooheena also didn’t know.

“Maybe at this time, he’s in the infirmary? Usually, he goes there around now.”

Well, that made sense for Seong Jichan.

‘Then I should go to the homeroom teacher.’

Ugh. It’s too far to go.

After a brief consideration, I decisively made up my mind.

‘Let’s go somewhere else first.’

Next on my list was…

“…What’s going on? You were probably told not to act like you know anything at school.”

It was Seol Yuwha.

Today, too, her appearance was a mess, probably from messing around with the other kids.

Seol Yuwha’s eyes sparkled when she looked at me.

“Did you find out anything about Yubin?”
I’d like that, but unfortunately, it’s not the case. Above all, I was discharged from the hospital yesterday, you know? Where’s the time to look into such things!

… I can’t argue like that. I smiled wryly and said, “No, this time it’s about me.”

“You?”

Seol Yuwha openly showed a disinterested expression.

Geez, how rude.

However, in this relationship, Eul was always me, so I forced a grin.

“Stop that and listen to me, okay?”

I explained why I had come to Seol Yuwha.

And…

“What? You’re ranked 0th in the world? Hahahahaha.”

After hearing everything, Seol Yuwha laughed heartily.

No, I know it sounds absurd, right? I thought it was ridiculous too, but seeing someone else laugh at it made me feel uncomfortable.

Seol Yuwha laughed to her heart’s content, then pretended to listen to me.

“I roughly understand the situation. So, what’s the real issue?”

Only then did I sigh and open my mouth.

“Do you have any intention of revealing your true identity?”

What I wanted was for Seol Yuwha to return to her original form and declare herself as the ‘real’ 0th in the world.

Seol Yuwha wrinkled her brows slightly.

“Reveal my identity?”

Don’t be scared. I’m an adult. An adult…

I nodded calmly.

“A while ago, Yubin said he found traces. Does that mean Yubin won’t come back soon?”

So, you need to return to your original form.

If Seol Yuwha continues to pretend to be Seol Yubin, even if Seol Yubin wants to return, she won’t be able to.

Of course, my real goal is to dispel the misunderstanding that I am the 0th in the world.

Seol Yuwha’s expression became serious, pondering whether it was a problem worth considering.

“…I understand your intention.”

Thank goodness she understood.

“But I plan to contin
No, this guy?

Seol Yuwha, who had somehow regained her composure, nonchalantly said, “Handle your rumors yourself. Just prove that you’re not me, isn’t that enough?”

It wasn’t an incorrect statement, so I couldn’t refute it.

In the end, the conversation with Seol Yuwha concluded without any gain.

‘I should have just gone to find Seong Jichan first.’

Well, whether that would go well is uncertain… Anyway, I felt like I had wasted a precious break time.

Since another break time had ended, I headed back to the classroom.

Or, I was about to.