Sixth Ghost Story - College Entrance Exam Banned Song (12)

The phone number of the maknae who'd spotted the supernatural anomaly from the very beginning—the one I had to contact first thing upon returning. The location where the body was buried. The culprit and their evidence. Muttering everything I needed to memorize, I stood on the rooftop of the broadcasting station.

While searching for the spot where jumping would guarantee death, a hesitant voice called out from behind me.

"...Joon-ah."

A petite girl in a school uniform, looking younger than me, was standing there.

"Seon-ah, why'd you follow me."

"I was waiting, why—"

"You're about to head back right now... You knew, didn't you." Yoon Seon-ah hesitated as if she had something to say, then slowly approached me.

A ruined city. Smoke still rose from spots here and there, and screams echoed sporadically. But up here on this high rooftop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bathed in the sunset, somehow only this place felt peaceful and languid.

Seon-ah slowly drew near, passed right by me, and peered over the railing I'd been about to climb.

The wind from on high tousled her hair. Is Gyeong-won properly guarding the body? What if someone suddenly digs it up or some variable pops up and the ghost story gets ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠resolved? Can't have that.

Truth be told, I still didn't know exactly what triggered checkpoint updates. Did it happen every time we resolved a ghost story? Or at the branching start of each incident?

"Hoo..." I let out a sigh.

Well, no one's gonna touch the body at this point. In Room 3, Gyeong-won aside, the other members are probably guarding it well. I decided to think positively.

Before rewinding time, after all we'd been through together, couldn't I at least spare a moment to chat with this version of Seon-ah?

"You really worked hard today, Seon-ah."

But Seon-ah just gripped the railing and stared out at the distant city, saying nothing.

After standing silently like that for a while, she quietly spoke.

"You were gonna jump from here?"

"Yeah." She turned with a faintly sad expression.

"It feels like... you're leaving me behind..."

Hoo. Is that why she chased after me? I quietly sighed.

"No, I'm just rewinding time."

I said that, but of course, it bothered me too. One day. Short if you thought about it, but we'd shared an unforgettable incident. We'd grown mentally, even if just a little, through the hardships. Our views of each other had probably shifted a lot, gotten closer, maybe deepened our bond.

And yet, it would all vanish pointlessly, reverting to before the incident—back when everyone was a blank slate, utterly immune to ghost stories.

"Sorry, Seon-ah. But we can't survive in a world like this."

"So many people died. Can't reach my parents, school's done for, the whole country's gonna stop functioning."

"Living here would just be suffering—"

"If I'm with the people precious to me... I think it'd be okay." I lost my words for a moment.

If she'd followed to stop me from going back... honestly, I had no confidence in convincing her.

If we could at least share memories, there'd be no issue. That's why I'd snuck up here to just do what I had to—but now we were face-to-face.

Seon-ah and I stood on the rooftop, facing each other against the sunset backdrop.

Silence stretched for a moment, and I spoke first.

"Sorry. I'm going back."

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

Seon-ah ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hesitated with a wistful expression, pondering, then made one request.

"When you go back... tell me everything."

"I'd love to, but... you gonna believe me?"

"I will. Definitely."

Her tone carried conviction. I nodded back with a serious look.

"Got it. I'll tell you everything."

"Pfft." Seon-ah suddenly giggled.

"Joon-ah, you're annoying..." It had the nuance of permission. She still seemed a bit sulky, but her mood had lightened compared to before.

I sidled up beside her and peered down from the railing.

"Whoa. It really is high."

"Yeah..." The flashy marble-and-glass high-rises of Cheongdam-dong. The sunset cast a soft backlight over them.

Beep! Beep! Baaaang~! Suddenly, car horns blared from below. Looking down, I saw the teacher's car surrounded by people.

"It's the teacher!"

The people mobbing her car looked like tiny Starcraft units—surreal and unreal. We watched leisurely somehow.

Beep! Baaaang. The horns died down, the door flew open, and the teacher bolted out, fleeing in a panic. Broadcasting station staff chased after her in a horde.

"Teacher's a celebrity now."

Seon-ah covered her mouth, but laughter leaked through her fingers. Chastised by her conscience, she shot me a pouty glare.

"Joon-ah, you're mean."

A lukewarm breeze tousled our hair again. Seon-ah's black wavy locks clung to her slightly flushed cheek.

"Jealous. The Yoon Seon-ah who'll be there when you go back..."

"That's you. Same person."

"Feels like someone else..."

"It's you, I swear. No need to be jealous."

"Hmph..." Seon-ah snorted.

Come to think of it, there was something I needed to ask her. I'd held back for fear it'd irreparably damage our relationship, but right before rewinding, now was fine, right?

"Seon-ah, you know the word 'yandere'?"

"Yangdaere?" She tilted her head.

"Yeah, yandere."

"Hmm..." Seon-ah cutely furrowed her brows, then shook her head like she had no idea.

"Sorry, no clue..."

"First time hearing it?"

"Yeah."

"I heard it from Deok-hoon. It's Japanese."

"Japanese..."

"People who like someone so much they get obsessively possessive, or even kill them in extreme cases."

Seon-ah silently leaned her face against the railing, gazing at the skyline.

"Why would they do that..."

"Right? Why."

I propped my arms on the railing too, equally curious.

"But apparently, there are real people like that."

"Doesn't really make sense to me."

"Yeah, me neither."

Far off, I spotted the teacher. She'd flung off her high heels mid-flight and was running barefoot. I turned from the dizzying height to stare at Seon-ah's profile.

"Why hurt the person you love?"

Seon-ah looked puzzled.

"Yeah, why..." I cleared my throat and asked again.

I had to nail this down for a safer next life.

"If you have any guesses, tell me, Seon-ah?"

"Hmm... why me."

"Just asking around."

"Well... Hmm..." Seon-ah pondered deeply, then uttered a word with difficulty.

"Afraid of losing them... maybe?"

"Hm!" Afraid of losing them! That's gotta be the answer. Doesn't fully click for me, but if the yandere herself says it, probably right.

Looking down, people had finally caught the teacher.

"Teacher got nabbed."

"...Ah."

A few citizens held her and pressed something like a radio to her ear. She struggled desperately at first, but her flailing slowly turned into dance moves, until she was finally shaking her hips.

"She looks pumped."

"Joon-ah, seriously..." But Seon-ah's lips curved up.

"Alrighty. Time to go." I'd rested enough.

I swung my leg over the railing and climbed to the other side. Barely any footing there.

'Huh?'

Grabbing the railing to steady myself, a chill suddenly ran down my spine. Actually standing to jump... it was terrifying.

'Ah, fuck. This ain't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right...'

The cool wind prickled my back, snapping me alert. Glancing down, the height hit different—not like viewing scenery. Legs shook.

'Whoa, scary?'

One slip and I'd plummet. Supposed to just fall, but chills locked my feet.

I called to Seon-ah watching me.

"S-Seon-ah."

"Wanna jump together?"

She stared at me like I was nuts.

"If you don't come, I'm going first?"

"Yeah, bye..."

"For real?"

"Yup..."

"Hup!"

"...Gimme a sec to psych up."

I'm a wuss who can't even ride the Viking well. Sudden naked high dive...?

"Like this! Hiyah! Prep pose, but actually now! Hup!"

Seon-ah leaned on the railing, giggling.

"Prep pose. Prep pose."

I flailed my arms, shook my body, then shouted again.

"Off to die—"

Slip. My foot slid faster than planned.

"Mom, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I yanked myself up desperately. Failed again.

"S-Seon-ah..."

"What?" She grinned mischievously.

"Help me..." It reminded me of facing the smiling woman from the manual ghost story. I'd been scared alone, so I'd put Seon-ah behind me then too.

"Eung." Seon-ah hopped over lightly, laughing happily.

"Not scared?"

"Nah... You're too reliable!"

She balanced precariously beside me, beaming.

"You need me after all, Joon-ah..." Her lips curved slyly.

"Let's die together like this, so no one can take you from me..."

"Kyaaack!" I yelped.

"Showing your true colors at last!"

"Hehe..."

I scrambled along the railing to the corner.

"Yandere! Mercy~!"

Seon-ah chased me sideways, grinning wide.

"Gonna chop me up and eat me, huh!"

She burst out laughing mid-chase.

"Kyahaha! Just kidding, kidding... What the hell, seriously! Ahaha..."

"Gonna lock me in the fridge!"

"Aha, ahahaha."

She wiped tears with one hand, still laughing.

"Ahaha, really, dummy... Hold still."

She sidled up slowly, climbing onto my thigh, draping herself over me.

"S-Seon-ah... what."

Her soft butt pressed against my lap, black wavy hair tickling my nose. Her scent hit, head-spinning.

"You won't jump unless I push..."

"Mm, fair." I saw her sly smile from behind.

"Okay. On three! Ready... Three—"

"Ei!"

Thud—Before counting, she kicked off hard.

"Wh-whoaaa!"

I screamed airborne. Brief weightlessness, then plummeting.

"Uwaaaaaaaa!"

"Kyaaaa!"

I shrieked wildly; Seon-ah squeezed eyes shut, face red.

"Save meeeee!"

Flailing, I clutched her tight.

"Kyaaaa!"

"Seon-ahhhh, save meeeee!"

"Just die already... seriously..."

"Uwaaaaa!"

Thus, locked in embrace, heads smashing, we fell long.

Thud!

Body-shattering impact. I died.