Chapter 7
“Good grief...”
Romance in a sacred school? I was so flabbergasted I wanted to chase Choi Kang-hun right out of the third-year classroom, but I couldn't afford to miss the 'trace' of the third party that had changed the future.
“Tell me even the little details of the confession.”
“Sure. A third-year senior came up to me during break and gave me a note. It said she liked me.”
“...That's it?”
“Yeah.”
“And after that?”
“Huh?”
“You got confessed to. What did you say back to that senior?”
“Do I have to say something back?”
“......”
I nearly smacked the back of Choi Kang-hun's head as he innocently tilted his head and asked. First things first, gather info. It felt like if we veered off this profound topic even once, we'd never circle back without suspicion.
“Kang-hun.”
“Yeah?”
“Ignoring a girl's confession note isn't manly.”
I tossed out baseless nonsense off the top of my head.
“Huh? Isn't that what a manly guy does?”
“No, it isn't.”
Choi Kang-hun furrowed his brow at my point and shot back.
“Why? I thought it made you seem like a cool, aloof bad boy.”
“You've watched too many dramas!”
Is this the leisure of the privileged? My smile as I looked at Choi Kang-hun grew more rotten by the second.
“I don't watch dramas, but yeah, that's not how it should be, right?”
Misreading my expression, he quickly corrected himself.
“Right.”
“Hyung's amazing as expected. You really have that privileged vibe.”
“Me?”
A boy scraping by as the family breadwinner, too broke to even buy textbooks?
“That's why you're so popular.”
“Not at all.”
“So humble. Hyung, you're pretty famous even among the underclassmen. Good grades, great at sports, hardworking, handsome in a manly way... You're good at everything.”
“Hm. There was a time when I was arrogant enough to think that too.”
I didn't deny it. After my deadbeat dad irresponsibly passed away, I'd lived fiercely. But ever since the Aptitude Test came back 'shaman,' I'd turned humble.
“So help me out.”
“With what?”
“Reply to that senior who confessed via note. But I don't know what to say.”
“No, little bro. I really have zero advice to give.”
While keeping the conversation flowing naturally with Choi Kang-hun, I rapidly pieced together the situation in my head.
The third-year girl who confessed to Kang-hun... could she be...?
Investigating wouldn't hurt, I concluded.
“That's sly.”
“Little bro.”
“Help me a bit.”
“Fine. I'll help.”
“You're asking like that—huh?! You're really gonna help?!”
“I said I would.”
I couldn't give him the expert counseling he wanted since I knew zilch about girls, but for solving this occult crap, I had no choice. No time to worry about conscience. So I decided to bluff a little more.
“Do you like that senior?”
“No real thoughts on her. It's not my first confession anyway.”
“I see.”
When my dad died, I just thought my luck was a bit worse than others. But after the Aptitude Test results, my thinking changed. Life really is unfair.
“Hyung. What should I do?”
“Do you know her name?”
“Uh... I heard it, but I don't remember. Is the name important?”
“Not really, but...”
If I knew the girl's name, I could investigate on my own without dragging Choi Kang-hun along. But I couldn't just say that straight up, could I?
“The name was a test of how interested you are in her.”
“Ah! Such deep meaning...!”
“Second question.”
“Yeah?”
“What was that girl's hairstyle?”
“Long straight hair.”
Bingo! I hadn't seen her face, but the rooftop girl had long hair too.
“Third question. What color was her bag?”
“Huh? Her bag?”
“Just answer.”
I knew the question was weird, but I pushed on shamelessly.
“Uh...”
“You don't know?”
“Of course not.”
“Hm. Can't be helped. I'll head to the second-year classroom later. We'll look for her together.”
Break was almost over anyway.
“You're coming, hyung?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“It's just... I've never seen you so proactive about someone else's business.”
“...If you've got time for nonsense, go find out that girl's name.”
“Got it! See you later!”
I watched Choi Kang-hun trot off waving his hand, then replayed our conversation in my mind.
“Someone else's business...”
Actually doing it didn't feel so bad.
* * *
“That's the senior.”
“That doesn't help.”
“The senior sticking her head out the classroom window, looking at the sports field.”
“Hm...”
I scanned the classroom.
“Ah, that one.”
I quickly spotted a girl matching Choi Kang-hun's detailed description. Though, she's not carrying a bag. Not commute hours, so that was natural. Until I confirmed her bag—the one from the confession—I couldn't be sure it was the same person.
Still, the back view seems about right... Slim build, similar vibe.
Then Choi Kang-hun poked my side.
“...What?”
“Hyung. Now what? Should I go say no?”
“Wait!”
I was dead serious, but this guy's life was an eight-lane highway.
“Did you find out her name?”
“Yeah. It was on the note I left in the classroom. Senior Song Seon-yeong.”
“Song Seon-yeong?”
“Yeah.”
“...Feels like I've heard that name before.”
“Different classrooms, but both third-years. Probably overheard it by chance.”
“Maybe.”
I etched Song Seon-yeong into my memory so I wouldn't forget.
“Hyung.”
“What?”
“I feel like the seniors have been staring at me since earlier.”
“Yeah. It's just your imagination.”
Life really is unfair.
“Hyung.”
“What now?”
“It's Song Seon-yeong senior.”
“Oh, yeah it is.”
A third-year girl who'd sent a confession note to a second-year junior. Common long straight hair and uniform, but she struck me as pretty cute if she dolled up. Why? Ahh, those legs. Even with the uniform skirt at regulation length, her crane-like legs stretching out below created an optical illusion.
“Hyung. What do I do?”
“...Can't decide right now, so ask for time.”
I knew jack about dating too.
“Okay.”
“I'm heading out.”
“Huh?!”
“Kang-hun. Take this advice from your hyung to heart. A man needs confidence.”
“Confidence?”
“Yeah. Confidence.”
“A man needs confidence...”
“That's why you can't have me around. Makes you look lacking.”
Song Seon-yeong. I'd confirmed she was the girl attempting suicide on the rooftop.
As expected.
She was tied to this maddening occult somehow. For now, I needed time to plan ahead too. As for my dear junior Choi Kang-hun...
“I get it~”
“......”
His eyes gleamed like he'd gained some massive enlightenment. A bit unsettling.
But with a face that did half the work, he'd be fine. I'd brought up 'man' stuff to motivate him, but confidence was key for anyone.
“Manly, manly...”
“I'm going.”
“Okay.”
“...I'm really going.”
“Yeah.”
He'd be okay... right?
* * *
“Kang Moon-soo. Come up and solve problem 3 on page 338.”
“......”
Not okay at all. No chance to investigate Song Seon-yeong before the fifth regression hit.
“Kang Moon-soo?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Were you sleeping?”
“...No, sir.”
Even in my half-dazed state, I solved it flawlessly. Third time now. I could do it with my eyes closed.
“Ah... Perfect. No need for the teacher to correct or add anything. As expected of Kang Moon-soo.”
“Thank you.”
“That's why the teachers all have high expectations for your Aptitude Test results, just like everyone else.”
“...Me too.”
Unlike the teachers' hopes, I knew there were no dreams or aspirations, so the results meant nothing. Instead, Finally, a lead! I'd been getting one-sidedly screwed by the occult with zero info, but thanks to Choi Kang-hun coming to me, I'd found a clue.
Song Seon-yeong. Pure gut from a guy who knew zilch about the occult, but I was dead certain she held the key.
No doubt.
Maybe influenced by someone else who retained memories like me, but circumstances made that unlikely.
Now, time to meet her and talk.
But...
“Huh?”
No sign of Song Seon-yeong in her classroom or the halls.
Bathroom?
I casually poked around her classroom, waiting leisurely, but even when the next class started, she didn't show. Or anywhere else after...
Song Seon-yeong was gone.
“Hey, got a question.”
“Hm? What?”
I grabbed a classmate of hers.
“Where's Song Seon-yeong?”
“Dunno.”
“Dunno?”
“Yeah. She just vanished without a word. Place is in an uproar.”
“...I see.”
That sealed it.
She's just like me!
Retains memories through regressions. Otherwise, no way such a drastic change.
For now, nothing to do but wait endlessly for the missing girl to return to school.
* * *
Song Seon-yeong never came back to school, even after classes ended. And I...
“Don't wanna work~”
As always, I headed straight to my part-time job after school. The boss, glued to his PC games, loved when I came early to man the convenience store, and I got extra pay on top of my wage. Except lately...
“Yawn...”
Not loving it at all. Standing at the counter late at night after good kids had gone to dreamland, I rubbed my sleepy eyes to stay awake. Clean if dirty, greet customers, watch for shoplifters, restock shelves... Routine stuff kept fatigue low, but knowing another regression meant no paycheck killed my motivation.
My life, man...
Felt like two weeks of unpaid labor. Couldn't report occult BS to labor board—no proof.
Just frustrating.
“12:29. That guy's due any minute.”
One minute later, a drunk uncle would stumble in for T-brand smokes. Then a heavily made-up girl for spicy S-brand cup ramen, and around 12:30, a noisy couple for two H-brand beers... Knowing exactly who and what made it even more boring.
Ding-a-ling~♪
“Welcome!”
The little bell on the convenience store door jingled, and I greeted brightly.
“Ciga—”
“Here.”
Thud. Without listening, I pulled out a T-brand pack and set it on the counter for the staggering drunk uncle.
“Huh? Did I say T-brand?”
“Yes.”
“Did I...? Whatever.”
He looked puzzled for a sec but paid without fuss and staggered out.
Uncle, drink in moderation. Even your one life can evaporate like alcohol. Like my dad.
Through the glass wall, I saw him shivering in the cold, lighting his fresh cig.
Bet he'll toss the butt on the ground again. Thinks the store trash can's decorative—huh?!
My eyes flew wide watching the same customer pull the same stunt for the fourth time, listlessly.
Not the customer.
A schoolgirl brushed past the cig-smoking, life-shortening uncle.
No way I was wrong.
“It's Song Seon-yeong!”
Ding-a-ling~♪
I bolted out without hesitation.
“Hey! W— Ahem. Song Seon-yeong! Wait up!”
First, keep her from leaving. I called out blindly.
“Who—”
“Fellow student! Got something to say!”
“I don't.”
“......”
I yelled at her curt refusal.
“Things didn't work out with Choi Kang-hun?”
Screech. Song Seon-yeong halted, turning to stare at me. Stunned face.
“H-how...?”
She'd realized I hadn't lost my memories.
“I'm...”
I already knew my answer.
“A shaman.”