I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 5

Monday.

The start of a new week.

“I’ll take attendance now.”

Monday in 11th grade, Class A, was the same as usual.

Except for one thing.

“Yoo Hana. Yoo Hana?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the empty seat. Most seemed indifferent—except for her only friend, Si woo.

“Hmm…”

The homeroom teacher didn’t say much, merely marking her attendance sheet.

The academy isn’t like an ordinary school. Nobody covers for your absences here. It’s entirely up to the individual.

Hana didn’t show up the entire day.

During every break, Si woo called her, but there was no response.

Anxiety gnawed at him.

Especially because he’d bumped into her the day before and noticed she didn’t look well as she headed to the infirmary.

In the end, he asked the most reliable person he could think of.

“Could you check on Hana?”

“You want me to check on her? There are plenty of girls who’d jump to help if you asked.”

The girl he asked responded indifferently.

Kang Kyunga. A girl with brown hair and glasses. She had a studious look, though others might call her plain.

Her only notable trait was that she was the class president of Class A, which was why Si woo asked her first.

Kyunga carefully packed her bag and then spoke.

“Alright. I’ll check on her.”

“Really? Thanks!”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m only doing this as class president. It’s not like I’m fawning over you or anything.”

“Of course!”

He either didn’t understand or ignored her sarcasm, his carefree smile slightly irritating.

Kyunga sighed and left Class A.

Yoo Hana.

***

‘It’s because I’m the class president.’

Being class president isn’t a light responsibility.

It’s more than just special credit.

A class president is someone who leads and manages about thirty students, a true leader.

At least, that’s how Kyunga saw it. Perhaps her sense of duty filled the gaps in her self-esteem.

Whatever her reason, Kyunga took her role seriously. Checking on a classmate absent without notice was her duty.

“This is it.”

She checked the nameplate and nodded. The academy had a vast dormitory due to the sheer number of students. It was easy to get lost, but she managed to find the room.

Kyunga paused outside the door, thinking about the girl, Yoo Hana.

She wasn’t exactly a standout student. Or, perhaps she was, in a way.

The only powerless student at the academy.

That title carried more weight than one might think.

Most students, even if they had no particular talent, had some small ability—maybe as trivial as creating a small flame with their fingers.

But Hana didn’t have even that. She had powers but had never awakened them.

It was the worst possible condition, leaving her isolated. As a result, she clung to her one and only friend, Kim Si woo.

It was a vicious cycle. Kim Si woo was popular, and the more Hana relied on him, the harsher the girls’ glares became.

Consequently, Hana grew more isolated, holding onto Si woo as her only support.

Kyunga, who had no interest in Si woo, found it all rather sad.

The only way to break that cycle was for Hana to distance herself from Si woo.

At least for now, things seemed manageable. The worst she faced was the teasing from Hong Yeonhwa, a delinquent.

But this was like a ticking time bomb. If Hana didn’t stop her blind dependence on Si woo, her issues would inevitably explode.

When that happened, even Kyunga couldn’t predict what would unfold. It wasn’t something she could control.

‘For now, let’s just check on Hana.’

Pushing aside her thoughts, Kyunga knocked on the door.

No response.

…Was she not there?

Just in case, she knocked louder and called her name.

“Hana? Are you inside?”

Still, no answer.

Perplexed, Kyunga leaned her ear against the door.

If she concentrated, she could faintly hear something.

Rustling sounds and… labored breathing.

“…Ha… ha…”

What?

Something was off.

Someone was definitely inside, but why weren’t they responding?

Kyunga hesitated. She couldn’t just leave now, knowing someone was inside.

She had no choice but to use her ability.

Using her powers recklessly in the academy could lead to demerits, but her duty as president was more important.

Kyunga removed her glasses and focused her gaze, allowing her sight to penetrate the door and walls, revealing the dorm room’s interior.

Sure enough, Hana was inside, sitting at the kitchen table. She wasn’t asleep, as her arms kept moving.

But her back was turned, so Kyunga couldn’t tell what she was doing.

Her powers couldn’t see through living beings.

Why wasn’t she responding while awake? Was she wearing earphones?

Kyunga wasn’t sure, but an ominous feeling gnawed at her, a sense that she couldn’t just leave her like this.

“Sigh… Why am I…”

With a deep breath, Kyunga focused her gaze on the doorknob, emitting a faint red laser from her eyes, melting it.

It was an ability she rarely used after being teased for it in middle school.

Nonetheless, the laser worked, unlocking the door. Kyunga cautiously slipped inside, unnoticed.

Hana didn’t even realize she had entered, too engrossed in whatever she was doing.

As she got closer, the faint rustling sounds grew more distinct.

‘…Uh!’

And then, a sharp smell—a metallic, bloody scent.

…Wait.

No, it couldn’t be.

Suppressing her mounting fear, Kyunga moved directly behind Hana, hearing her muttering softly.

“…Strange. Why isn’t it working…? This should work…”

This was bad.

It was terrifying to the point Kyunga almost wanted to run, but she forced herself to stay calm. She was the class president, after all.

She extended her hand and hesitantly tapped Hana’s shoulder.

Tap, tap.

“…Huh?”

“H-Hana. It’s me.”

Finally, Hana noticed her and turned around.

The sight made Kyunga gasp.

The wooden table was stained bright red with blood.

In one hand, Hana clutched a box cutter. Her opposite wrist bore numerous self-inflicted cuts, each one a fresh mark of her pain.

***

“…W-what are you… doing?”

Huh?

I tilted my head.

A new face.

“Who are you?”

“It’s me… Kyunga. You don’t recognize me?”

“Oh, the class president.”

At the mention of her title, I nodded. She looked exactly as described in the original story.

But why was she here? I was sure I’d locked the door to avoid anyone finding my body.

How did she get in?

“That’s not the point right now! Answer me! What are you doing!?”

Whoa. She startled me by yelling all of a sudden.

What am I doing?

Isn’t it obvious?

I followed her gaze and looked down at the table. It was a mess, covered in blood, definitely not a place to eat.

And on one side of my vision was my arm, dripping blood from countless wounds.

…Wait.

Why was I… doing this?

I remembered now.

I had tried to end things with a necktie, but the pain turned to pleasure.

Even my illness, which should’ve been painful, became intensely blissful.

The euphoria was so overwhelming, like I was drowning in it, completely at peace.

Even now, my mind was a bit foggy.

In any case, I wanted to understand why the pain had turned to pleasure, so I’d started experimenting.

The result… Well, I can’t quite remember. At first, I thought I was happy, but then I felt the pain return.

It probably looked gruesome from the outside, but it wasn’t as severe as it seemed.

The artery seemed fine; otherwise, I would’ve bled out or fainted.

Just a dull, throbbing pain.

“So, what brings you here at this hour, President?”

“This hour…? It’s Monday already! Classes are over!”

“Huh… really? Is this a prank?”

The president gave me a conflicted look.

Maybe I was too absorbed in my experiment. Now that I thought about it, I felt kind of tired.

“Why… are you doing this…? Why would you…!”

Why?

That was an easy question.

“To feel happy…?”

“…”

The president bit her lip, her face contorting painfully, as if she herself were hurt.

It was like she was the one self-harming.

“Hana… don’t tell me…”

“Oh! Just, please, don’t tell Si woo, okay? Promise?”

“…”

If he found out, things would get messy. To end things quietly, no one should know.

I covered my wrist awkwardly, giving her a pleading smile.

At that moment, a single tear dropped from the president’s eyes.

…Huh? Suddenly?

Here?

Why?