“Now, got it? I definitely gave it to you, right?”

Lee Yeonho checked a few times and then left the health room immediately. Originally, he had plans to go out, but he had been waiting for me because of this.

Watching Lee Yeonho drive away through the window, I thought, ‘I appreciate that he waited, but… if he’s going to do that, why become a health teacher?’

I haven’t seen that guy properly in the health room before. Maybe it would be better for everyone if he just went back to being an unemployed bum. I hoped Lee Yeonho would find his true calling and leave.

The health room, which hadn’t been visited for a while, was neatly organized again. Sunwoojin’s gaming console, Sung Jichan’s massage chair, and my dedicated desk were all gone. It felt somewhat regrettable… No, regrettable?

Somehow, I seemed to have become entangled in this crazy world too. Pull yourself together. I slapped my cheek.

“All right. Let’s read the letter.”

Sitting on the health room bed, I unfolded the letter.

The envelope had the following written on it:

To Jueun

It was a letter specifically sent to me.

‘Why did she leave a letter?’

I felt a bit taken aback. When was the last time I received an analog letter, not a text… Oh, I got Yuina’s duel invitation not too long ago.

Although it wasn’t that long ago, considering how analog this micro-world was compared to the 2020s, such paper letters didn’t usually circulate. At least, in a world where everyone has a cell phone.

Then there must be something special…

‘…What could she want to say, leaving just a letter and disappearing?’

No, let’s not call it a denial disappearance. She might come back.

‘First, let’s calmly assess the situation.’

Seol Yubin was expected not to come to school today, but as it turned out, she briefly stopped by the health room. Then, through Lee Yeonho, she left a letter for me.

In the original work, Seol Yubin didn’t leave a letter for Lee Jueun, so something seems to have changed.

Yeah, I twisted the original!

‘Maybe Seol Yubin just wanted to try writing a letter!’

Okay, let’s just read it. Surely there won’t be anything strange written, right?

I made an effort to claim mental victory and unfolded the letter.

“Hello, Jueun. It feels really awkward to write a letter like this, but I wanted to say something, so I wrote a letter.”

Seol Yubin’s round and neat handwriting greeted me.

When I first met you, I thought you were a cold person. So, I couldn’t talk well at first… But I’m really glad we became friends, even if it’s late.

The letter began with mostly gratitude toward me.

Thank you for saving me last time, thank you for being my friend, thanks to you, I had fun at the amusement park, and so on. The excessive gratitude made me feel awkward compared to what I had done.

‘Ugh, why bring this up… It’s embarrassing.’

Even though I pretended it didn’t bother me, I felt proud that someone acknowledged my efforts.
Was it too awkward to say it in person? For this kind of thing, you can just say it rather than write a letter…

However, as I read the letter, my expression became darker. But it seems like I’m not good enough…

Hold on! What’s wrong?

From this point on, things started to feel uneasy.

‘Is this mental wreck causing trouble again?’

Seol Yubin’s self-esteem had been significantly lowered due to her long experience of being ostracized.

‘Maybe I should have done more mental education.’

On the day I dressed up Seol Yubin, I regretted focusing more on appearance than on her inner self. I wished I could be as confident as her.

Me… confident? Where?

That’s not important. With a nervous heart, I read through each letter.

I followed your advice and confessed to Seunghyun. Seunghyun said he really likes me, but… not as a girl, just as a friend.

It was a rejection after all.

‘I expected it, but it really hurts when it happens.’

I suddenly felt sorry for leaving her alone irresponsibly at the amusement park. Come to think of it, on that day, she texted me saying she was going home first. Maybe she sent it after I got in the car.

‘I should have stayed with her.’

I couldn’t think of that in the confusion. Next time, I must stay by her side. I don’t know when the next time will come, though.

I don’t resent Seunghyun. But… I feel like I still need to organize my feelings.

Organize my feelings? What am I trying to…?

A bad feeling came over me.

I forced my eyes, which didn’t want to believe in reality, and read the next line.

So, I’ve decided to go on a short trip. I don’t know when I’ll be back… Thank you so much during that time.

Seol Yubin’s letter concluded like that.

“…”

I stared at the letter in silence.

My mind was in chaos.

What is this? In the end, she’s leaving?

Then what happens in the original? Since Seol Yubin left… does the original story start now? But it’s still a year away from the original starting point?