I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 10

“Hey, mop-head.”

At Hong Yeonhwa’s call, Hana lifted her head.

The girl was still smiling.

That seemed to bother Hong Yeonhwa, as a flicker of irritation crossed her face.

“Yes, Yeonhwa?”

“…Wow. Unbelievable.”

She didn’t know what it was, but this response didn’t make her angry; it just made her scoff.

“Why didn’t you show up yesterday? Were you really sick or something?”

It sounded like a gentle, concerned question, but her face carried a mocking smirk.

Whether she noticed or not, Hana just kept smiling innocently and replied.

“Oh, hehe. I wasn’t sick. I just had some personal matters to take care of…”

“Oh, really? What kind of personal matters would make you miss school? I’m so curious.”

Hong Yeonhwa’s hand settled on top of Hana’s head.

At that moment, Si woo could no longer hold back. He strode into the room and walked directly up to them.

He brushed off the troublemaker’s hand and growled a warning.

“That’s enough.”

“…Kim Si woo. What’s with you? Did I even do anything? You keep acting up lately.”

“Leave.”

“…”

A tense standoff ensued.

The other students, who had been chatting, noticed the tense atmosphere and turned their attention to the situation.

With a smirk, Hong Yeonhwa raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

“Fine. I’m leaving. Can’t have anyone thinking I’d meddle because I’m concerned.”

As she walked away, the tension finally eased.

The students gradually returned to what they were doing, and Si woo let out a sigh of relief.

“Si woo.”

“Huh?”

A sudden call.

He turned around, startled.

Hana was looking at him seriously.

“Don’t fight with friends, okay?”

“Are you… no, never mind.”

Is she really worrying about me, even in this situation?

It was as if nothing had changed.

If I hadn’t gone to the dormitory yesterday, would I have even realized Hana’s true state?

I did feel a vague sense of unease—a feeling that she wasn’t the same as before.

But if I hadn’t gone to her room, I might have dismissed it easily.

…That’s probably what would have happened.

But it’s okay.

Now, I know everything.

I know that this cheerful facade is just an act.

And the real you inside is still struggling.

That’s why we have to help.

…I’ll help you.

***

Damn it.

Kyunga muttered inwardly.

She couldn’t focus on class.

The memories from yesterday kept replaying vividly in her mind.

The rustling sound she’d heard through the door, the unsteady breathing, the small figure of a girl she’d seen through her ability, the sharp smell of blood.

Cuts on her wrists, blood trickling down her arms.

They were shocking sights she’d never witnessed before.

But there was one moment that troubled her more than any other.

“I want to be happy.”

“Please, don’t tell Si woo.”

Yoo Hana had said this, with an awkward smile.

The myriad emotions behind that smile stirred something within her.

Self-harm.

Suicide.

They were words she had never thought about seriously.

The idea that someone, one of her classmates, would go beyond thinking and actually do it…

Was the bullying worse than she had imagined?

It didn’t seem that way on the surface.

Or maybe there was another reason?

It seemed like Kim Si woo knew something.

And what was with that science teacher?

It was all so confusing.

“Kyunga?”

“…Yes, yes!”

“What’s the answer to the problem we just covered?”

“Uh, well, it’s… um…”

“Stop spacing out and pay attention.”

“Yes…”

She sighed.

She had to focus on class.

There wasn’t much time left until their evaluations and field trips.

And soon enough, midterms would be right around the corner.

Kyunga glanced over at Si-hyun, who was sitting at the front.

No matter how hard she tried, there was no way she could beat a natural genius like her.

She was diligently listening to the teacher, jotting down every detail.

How could she do that?

Even after hearing such shocking news this morning, she showed no sign of disturbance.

Does she have no emotions?

That seemed plausible enough that Kyunga seriously pondered it.

Still, Si woo’s plan made a certain amount of sense.

If Hana had friends to open up to, her condition would improve.

Even if she didn’t open up, just having friends could bring her comfort and peace.

Definitely.

Look at Si-hyun, for example—she doesn’t have friends, and isn’t her personality a bit off because of it?

It was, of course, just an unfounded assumption of Kyunga’s.

So, let’s make the first move.

I’ll be her friend.

As class president, I can’t just stand by and watch.

When break time arrived, Kyunga took a deep breath to calm her nerves and approached Hana.

“Um… Hana?”

“Hm?”

“Did you get home okay yesterday?”

“Oh, yes! Thanks for checking.”

A bright smile.

Based on appearances alone, she didn’t look like someone being bullied—she could easily be one of the most popular students in school.

She was cute, and her looks were charming.

But the academy wasn’t an ordinary school.

And Hana was the only powerless student here.

Kyunga kept the conversation going, making small talk that was fairly mundane.

Thankfully, Hana responded with smiles and cheerful replies.

Feeling encouraged, Kyunga decided to take it a step further.

“Hana, would you like to have lunch together later?”

“Mm, no thanks.”

“…Huh? What did you say?”

She must’ve misheard.

There’s no way Hana would just flat-out refuse.

When Kyunga asked again, Hana repeated clearly, with a smile.

“Sorry, but I don’t really want to eat with you. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk to me anymore.”

***

So persistent.

I tried to turn her down as firmly as I could, yet she still didn’t give up.

She keeps coming over and talking to me; it’s so annoying.

Of course, the class president probably has good intentions.

She may have seen me self-harming and is worried about me, or something like that.

But that might not be the case.

That’s the problem.

There’s a possibility that the class president’s intentions aren’t pure.

This isn’t some baseless paranoia.

The teacher somehow knew I was trying to commit suicide.

Is it really a coincidence that he found out?

Someone must have told him.

Of the four people who know about my attempt, besides Si woo, there are three others.

The school nurse.

The hardware store owner.

And the class president.

To be precise, the class president didn’t witness the suicide attempt, just the self-harm, but that’s enough to suspect her.

So what does that mean?

There’s a chance the class president could be a spy.

Of course, in the original story, she didn’t have that role.

But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t one either; she was just a minor character who faded into the background in the later parts.

So I’ll push her away on purpose.

The less contact with potential enemies, the better.

I’m already close enough to one spy; I can’t afford to get entangled with another.

Not a chance.

Thankfully, Tuesday has no practical classes.

I just need to sit and pretend to listen.

Naturally, I didn’t absorb any of the lessons.

Even when I read the original work, I skimmed past any part that had more than three lines of background details.

After class ended, it was time for club activities.

I had no interest in joining Hana’s club or any other, so I packed my bag and prepared to leave.

If Si woo hadn’t stopped me, that is.

“Hana.”

“Huh?”

I forced a smile.

Si woo had already discovered a lot about me.

Especially the fact that I’d attempted suicide—that was critical.

I can’t afford any more slip-ups.

I’m determined to act with precision from now on.

I don’t know if I’ll succeed, but I’m going to play the role of Yoo Hana.

The concern was written all over Si woo’s face.

Anyone would feel the same after finding out their one childhood friend had attempted suicide.

“Do you have plans later? If not…”

“Sorry. I have club activities.”

I lied smoothly.

Just ten seconds ago, joining a club hadn’t even crossed my mind, but I’ll say anything to keep my distance from the protagonist.

“You joined a club? Which one?”

“Science Exploration.”

As soon as I said it, Si woo’s expression hardened.

I could see his tightly clenched fist shaking from here.

“Then, I’ll see you! See you tomorrow~”

I flashed the smile I’d practiced countless times in front of the mirror.

Casually, I started to walk past Si woo to leave the classroom.

That is, until he grabbed my wrist.

I turned to face him.

His head was lowered, hiding his expression, but I could imagine it clearly.

“Can’t you stay?”

“Huh? All of a sudden…?”

“Don’t go. Stay with me.”

I didn’t expect him to be this blunt.

It seems Si woo’s more shaken than I thought.

Did he value Yoo Hana this much, even in the early parts of the original story?

Maybe I forgot after getting so used to it.

In the original, he’d realized it far too late, but what about now?

I thought about it for a moment, wondering what would be best.

The answer came quickly.

I raised a finger, poking Si woo

“Stop acting so needy.”

“……”

“I’m going. The teacher’s calling me.”

“Ah…”

Si woo’s sigh felt as if it came from a place deep within him, heavy with unspoken emotions.

But I didn’t look back as I walked away from him.

My destination was the science lab.