Monday.

After spending a disastrous weekend like that, I came to school.

Today, the kids were noisy as they chattered about the rumors.

“I heard the world’s rank 0 swept Haseong High School.”

It’s already spread this far.

It’s only been two days since Seol Yu Hwa caused a ruckus on Saturday night, but everyone in the neighborhood already knows.

I always feel this way, but rumors in this neighborhood spread really fast.

Well, Seol Yu Hwa blatantly revealed her identity that day, so it can’t be helped.

Let’s hear some more.

“They say it was revenge for Sir Ji Chan?”

“But why would the world’s rank 0?”

“What’s their relationship?”

And the rumors soon evolved like this.

“Iceboy and the world’s rank 0 are dating!”

What a mess.

I don’t know what kind of thought process this is.

One, someone took revenge for Iceboy.

Two, that person is the world’s rank 0, and a woman.

Three, so the two are dating?

Can this even be considered a syllogism…? It’s a bizarre logic.

No, well, they’ll end up dating later anyway, so does it even matter?

“I heard they’re already engaged?”

…There’s no way.

I sighed at the uncontrollably spreading rumors.

‘Just what on earth is going on.’

Despite being the only person who knows practically all the details of this situation, it was hard to keep up with the developments.

‘Now that she’s drawn aggro like that, Haseong High School can’t just stay still.’

Seol Yu Hwa said revenge would be impossible if she showed overwhelming force, but I think differently. Haseong High School won’t give up just from that.

‘Unless it gets even more heated up.’

It’s quiet for now, but that’s what makes it feel like the calm before the storm, and it’s scary.

‘I hope nothing serious happens later.’

Please pass by safely.

Haseong High School folks, please be generous and accept it. It’ll probably be hard though.

I sighed and looked out the window.

The bench near the sports field, Seol Yu Hwa was there.

Today too, Seol Yu Hwa was being bullied by the kids.

No, is that really being bullied or fighting back? Even seeing it often, it’s always confusing.

Anyway, seeing Seol Yu Hwa naturally made me think of Sung Ji Chan.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder what happened with those two yesterday.’

Yesterday, I did talk to the system about the solo ending, but I still haven’t given up on the possibility of the two getting together.

‘There should be some progress between the female lead and male lead.’

I put the two together, so can’t something just happen between them? When I’m doing this matchmaking that’s not even my forte.

I looked at the name compatibility of Sung Ji Chan and Seol Yu Hwa while doodling in my notebook. 98%? That’s crazy. This is a must-buy stock. It’s a folk belief, but I feel some hope.

‘I’m curious what they talked about when alone together.’

I should casually ask Sung Ji Chan when I have time. Seol Yu Hwa is scary, so.

Anyway, aside from these trivial worries, it was a peaceful day for the first time in a while.

“Lee Ju Eun, hi!”

While I was thinking about this and that, Yoo Hee Na approached me. She came to school fine today. I greeted Yoo Hee Na.

“Hi.”

“You met with Ji Chan over the weekend, right?”

How did she know?

“Ji Chan told me.”

Well, I guess that’s natural. Who else would tell her that besides him? There’s no way Seol Yu Hwa would either.

I slightly covered the notebook where I looked at Sung Ji Chan and Seol Yu Hwa’s name compatibility so Yoo Hee Na wouldn’t see, and put it in my bag.

“Oh, well… it turned out that way.”

Fortunately, Yoo Hee Na didn’t seem to notice the contents of the notebook. Yoo Hee Na spoke with a worried face.

“But how badly was he hurt to be hospitalized? I was really surprised to hear he was in the hospital.”

“What?”

I was the one surprised.

“He was hospitalized?”

Then Yoo Hee Na tilted her head.

“Huh? You didn’t know?”

I had no idea. The last place I saw him was Seol Yu Hwa’s house.

‘Was he hurt that badly?’

As I thought, he couldn’t be fine after even fainting.

To think I even rolled him on the ground in the rain… I suddenly felt guilty. I should be nice to him when he’s discharged.

“So we decided to visit him at the hospital later. Do you want to come too?”

Hospital visit… Following Yoo Hee Na, even Sung Ji Chan. He’s usually so healthy that he rarely goes to the hospital even once a year, but I seem to be going there often after possession. Though I’m not the one hurt.

“Okay, then let’s go together after school.”

“Yeah!”

Yoo Hee Na put down her bag and fluttered out of the classroom again.

Come to think of it, I wonder if Yoo Hee Na knows that the last place Sung Ji Chan was at was Seol Yu Hwa’s house. Sung Ji Chan isn’t clueless enough to say that though.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s about time to consider Yoo Hee Na and Seol Yu Hwa’s relationship too.’

Ugh. My head hurts.

I want to just let it roll as it did in the original work.

Anyway, while thinking about that, it was time for class to start. Yoo Hee Na also returned to her seat.

Yoo Hee Na showed an inability to focus throughout the class. If you say she usually doesn’t listen well in class either, I have nothing to say, but… she was more distracted than usual, so to speak.

‘Is it because of Sung Ji Chan?’

I thought it could be because she’s worried.

‘Love is indeed great.’

I thought indifferently and listened to the lecture.

And so, break time came, and Yoo Hee Na disappeared somewhere as soon as the bell rang.

‘Where did she go again?’

Well, it’s her private life, so it’s not for me to interfere. Actually, I’m just bored. I don’t have friends…

‘Suddenly tears are coming out.’

I shed tears of blood inwardly and did my sad math problems.

It was about time I finally solved the problem I was stuck on.

‘But why isn’t Yoo Hee Na coming back?’

It’s about time for class to start…

I looked at the clock and tilted my head.

Then, as they say, speak of the devil and he appears, I got a text from Yoo Hee Na.

[I’ll be at the hospital first! I’m worried about Ji Chan!]

Oh my.

‘Of course.’

If Yoo Hee Na goes somewhere, where else would it be? Of course by Sung Ji Chan’s side.

But still, to leave right away with her bag and all. I didn’t expect her to go without looking back like this.

‘She should become independent from Sung Ji Chan as soon as possible.’

I sighed and closed my phone again.

Anyway, for that reason, Yoo Hee Na had to leave. It seemed I would have to go to the hospital alone.

‘Looks like I’ll be alone all day today.’

It’s lonely, really.

After possession, there was always at least one person by my side, so it was always lively, but it felt strange when they all disappeared. I guess I got quite used to being with the kids without realizing it.

‘Wait, isn’t Seon Woo Jin at school?’

Yoo Hee Na left, and Ban Ha Min hasn’t returned from his trip yet, but as far as I remember, Seon Woo Jin didn’t say anything about being absent from school today.

‘I should ask him to go together.’

Even if it’s Seon Woo Jin, he’s still a friend, so he’ll at least visit the hospital, right? Of course, he tried not to go when it was Yoo Hee Na, but…

‘Let’s send him a text first.’

I took out my phone again and sent a text to Seon Woo Jin.

[Where are you now?]

And of course.

There was no reply.

‘Hey, this guy?’

It’s not like it’s the first or second time I’ve been ignored, but is it because my training is still lacking that I get pissed every time it happens?

No, it’s just that Seon Woo Jin is bad. I trembled and sent another text. I was going to call, but I chose to text in case he turned off his phone.

[Did you hear Sung Ji Chan was hospitalized?]

Again, there was no reply.

‘Don’t tell me this guy is also skipping school and sleeping at home or something?’

This won’t do. I’ll have to find him myself.

While doing that, the bell signaling the start of class rang at some point. I put my phone in my bag, promising to do it during lunch.

And so time passed.

The bell rang again.

‘Still no reply.’

Is his phone off by any chance? I tried calling just in case, and it rings. But he still didn’t answer.

And lunchtime came. It was much longer than break time, so it was perfect for searching for someone.

I went out of the classroom without hesitation.

‘Now, shall I try to find that Seon Woo Jin?’

I tried to think of places Seon Woo Jin would likely be in my head.

Usually, the most likely place would be the 2nd infirmary, but… since Yeon Ho went on a trip with Ban Ha Min, it’ll probably be locked. There is a separate key to the infirmary, but Sung Ji Chan probably has that.

‘Where else could he be?’

Then I suddenly realized.

‘I surprisingly don’t know much about Seon Woo Jin.’

I thought we got pretty close though. Come to think of it, all we do is exchange jokes, and we’ve never had a serious conversation. Of course, it’s partly because I unconsciously kept my distance.

‘I deliberately tried not to get too close.’

Because I’m someone who will return to my original world.

It’ll only be painful when we part if I get attached. So I tried not to get deeply involved.

Thinking about this suddenly made me curious.

‘But what happens to this world when I return to my original world?’

It won’t disappear, right? That shouldn’t be the case.

I called out the system.

[You called? ㅇ_ㅇ]

“There’s something I’m wondering about.”

[Yes, please speak! ^0^]

“If I return to my original world, what happens to this world? It won’t disappear, right?”

Then the system showed ‘……’ as if thinking about something for a moment, and soon displayed an answer.

[This world exists independently from you, Ju Eun! Therefore, it won’t disappear!]

It won’t disappear. Somehow, I felt relieved.

‘I see. This was also one ‘world’.’

Until now, I was only concerned about the ‘novel’ world, but realizing anew that this place is also a ‘world’ made me feel strange.

A world that exists independently from me.

A world that has no problem at all without me.

“Then if I happen to return to my original world, what happens to me to the other kids?”

I thought for a bit and opened my mouth again.

“Do I just disappear?”

The system answered.

[I’ll slightly touch the memories of others! Don’t worry! The memories about you, Ju Eun, will cleanly disappear! ㅇ_〈]

At those words, I couldn’t say anything.

Then does my existence become something that ‘never happened’ in this world?

Strangely enough, I thought I didn’t like that.