Tangled Threads
"Siwoo-ya, Min-ah's condition has been a bit weird lately."
On the way home.
The homeroom teacher suddenly grabbed me, asked if I had time, then immediately pulled me toward a corner seat in the nearby café and deployed a Silence magic barrier around the area.
"Ah, I've been feeling a bit off lately."
"Yeah. Ever since that clone of Min-ah showed up last time, she's seemed a little down, but no matter how much I ask, she just says she's fine. Besides..."
"Besides?"
The homeroom teacher started to say something else but then bit her lower lip hard, her expression turning sad.
I wondered how deep her worry must be, how heavy the issue must be to swallow it down like that.
The homeroom teacher cautiously opened her mouth.
"...It seems like she's being influenced by Nightmare's ability."
"Min-ah?"
"Yeah."
The homeroom teacher continued.
"Last time Dark Blue attacked again, she got only minor injuries, but I don't know the details. The building beside her was about to collapse."
"Then isn't that a relief? Last time you said she executed someone without mercy."
"Yeah. Honestly, just looking at the results, it's a million times fortunate. There were injuries, but no casualties. Thanks to Min-ah, civilian damage was zero. But..."
She hesitated again, her gaze flicking up to meet mine for a moment.
Was consulting me really the right thing? I saw a trace of doubt in her eyes.
I also wondered if it was okay to listen to her as a normal person. I wasn't a magical girl, and I wasn't even connected to the world in that way.
"...Homeroom teacher, I'll keep this secret."
Still, it was better to carry the burden together rather than alone.
Even if that burden weighed several tons that an ordinary person couldn't bear, a little help could make a difference.
A small gesture, if pooled together, could push a heavy cart and save the person underneath.
Probably.
"Thank you, Siwoo-ya."
The homeroom teacher seemed to steady herself, smiled lightly, and released the words she had swallowed.
"When I went to see her, Min-ah was injured. One of her stockings was soaked with blood."
"That's..."
"Plus... when I entered to reinforce the building so it wouldn't collapse, I saw it."
Her eyes trembled faintly.
"Long traces of blood on the stairs. And even on floors that didn't collapse, there were blood stains here and there..."
"..."
"Yet she hasn't said a word to me. It seems like she's being influenced... but asking her directly would make her suspicious or hurt, right?"
"Hmm..."
Indeed, from the homeroom teacher's position, many thoughts must have crossed her mind.
She couldn't just tell Min-ah about Nightmare's ability straight away because Min-ah might suspect her.
And since Min-ah wasn't showing any sign of it, the idea that Min-ah already knew would make suspicion even stronger.
If Min-ah suspected nothing, she would definitely feel deeply hurt by the change.
Why does she say she's fine all the time and then keep worrying about it, in that way.
On top of that, the homeroom teacher didn't know that Min-ah felt some emotion toward her inside...
Approaching her with pure kindness here would only bring side effects.
And if Min-ah was truly being influenced by Nightmare's ability, she would be a hundred percent mentally overwhelmed.
In that state, even pure kindness would make her distrust people and suspect them.
It couldn't be helped, but here...
"Homeroom teacher, then I'll ask her carefully. Without making her suspicious or hurt."
"R-Really?"
My hopeful question made me nod.
"Yeah. Well... it won't be easy, but I've got to try."
"Thank you, Siwoo-ya...!"
The homeroom teacher's bright smile made me smile lightly as well.
*****
"Min-ah, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"?"
As we walked down the hallway after school, I approached Min-ah, who was slumped in a corner.
"..."
Seeing her up close, her condition was even worse.
The usual bright, positive energy that radiated from her smile had vanished, replaced by heavy dark circles under her eyes.
Her voice was weak and listless, like she hadn't slept properly at all.
"Sorry, I just wondered if we could walk home together."
"Oh, is this a date invitation?"
"Well, in a way, maybe..."
Even so, the moment I spoke, her playful voice replied, and I could tell the real her was still there.
"Hmm. Yeah!"
-Click.
Min-ah stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and stepped forward lightly.
I followed at her pace, then slightly quickened it to walk beside her down the hallway.
Normally we should have been talking, but I didn't bring it up first.
What she really needed was to feel confident that this wasn't a nightmare.
To do that, I had to say nothing and let her believe in me.
...Of course, she didn't know the details of the nightmare she had gone through, and if Nightmare had faked it with the same thoughts, it would be pointless.
But I believed Min-ah would understand my sincerity.
"..."
"..."
We walked home in silence.
At first she glanced at me with a mix of doubt and suspicion, but her eyes soon became thoughtful.
Then I spotted a tteokbokki shop still open in the distance and pointed at it.
"I'm a little hungry. Want to eat tteokbokki together? I'll pay."
"U-um...?"
Suspicions immediately returned to her eyes.
Had I been wrong to suggest it?
I thought good food would cheer her up, but maybe it was a mistake?
Just then.
"Great!"
Min-ah answered with a bright laugh.
We went into the tteokbokki shop, ordered, and sat in a quiet corner.
It felt like it was okay to talk about something serious now, but I still didn't ask first.
She had decided that she would face this moment as reality and gather the courage to open her heart.
A short while later.
Even after the tteokbokki arrived and we finished half the big bowl, no words passed between us.
Then.
"Siwoo-ya."
Min-ah spoke first.
"...Are you... real?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
I tilted my head, not understanding her question while eating.
Min-ah stared at me, then answered softly, carefully.
"It's... lately I've been having nightmares that don't feel real at all... so I don't know if this is reality or a dream... ahahaha..."
"..."
I nodded silently again.
The reason was simple: in Min-ah's eyes I saw the fleeting thought "Maybe I shouldn't have said that."
She still wasn't completely sure I was real or that this was reality.
"...Yeah, Siwoo-ya. Do you remember the other day?"
"Huh? Remember what?"
"When we hung out last time... I suddenly shouted 'Wow, stuff!' and ran off... that day... can you tell me everything that happened...?"
"Ah, that day?"
I nodded as if to say don't worry, and with a bright smile looked into the air, recalling that day.
"Suddenly you yelled 'Wow, stuff!' and I chased after you. When I caught up, you were holding a cardboard box in your Echo bag, and it said 'CSM' on it."
After I finished, I tilted my head as if asking if I should say more, and Min-ah nodded, then whispered to herself with certainty.
"Re-Really... Siwoo..."
"Yeah. If you're still doubtful, I can tell you other stories too."
"No! No way! It's not necessary!"
Min-ah waved her hands quickly.
Seeing her face relax, I knew the doubts were gone.
Good.
"So, what kind of nightmare is it that feels so real?"
"...Yeah. It can't be real, but the nightmare keeps showing things that shouldn't be real. The clone takes my place, and the people around me don't notice anything's wrong... that's the nightmare..."
The nightmares Min-ah described were several times more horrifying than what I had imagined.
"At first I thought nothing of it... but the dreams kept coming, the clones kept appearing. And now the people around me appear in the nightmares too... I'm scared, Siwoo-ya."
Min-ah's voice trembled too much to hide.
"So... that's why I'm asking. Can you promise me one thing?"
"What kind of promise?"
"...No. Thinking about it, it would be too much of a burden on you. Sorry, pretend I didn't say it."
"It's fine, tell me."
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.
"Ahaha... if I keep shaking like this next time, stand by me. So I can beat the nightmare. Okay?"
"...Yeah. I understand."
"Good. This is our secret, just the two of us! The nightmare must never find out! Promise!"
With that, we crossed our pinkies.
Not just the action, but with sincere vows.
Min-ah hoped I would understand.
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