The First Clouds on Sera's Face
Middle school, second year. Sera and I were in the same class again.
Watching her school life up close once more, she didn't come off as a delinquent girl at all. Sure, she led the class vibe and drew everyone's attention, but because she was so thoughtful and caring in everything she did, none of the kids were intimidated by her.
"Sera! Can you cover for me on cleaning duty today? I'll swap with you next time."
"Sure thing~"
Sera usually said yes to favors from friends.
"Sera, do you know how to solve this?"
"Oh, that one? First, you gotta mess with the function—"
She didn't push friends away just to protect her grades either.
"You're the only one who can rep the class in the inter-class match. Pretty please?"
"Eh, why not."
She had zero qualms about standing up for the class. Thanks to that, Sera got along great with everyone.
I watched it all and thought, Man, Sera's got a killer personality. Social skills, street smarts, sensitivity, empathy—whatever you call it, she was way too kind to label a delinquent.
"Hey! Cha Sihoo!"
"What."
"Quit staring at your phone all day and work out a bit. Guys need good bodies to get popular."
"I'm good. I can just date a girl who doesn't work out like me."
"Ew, for real?"
"......Why so shocked?"
Her occasional teasing aimed at me was a bit of a hassle, though.
Still, Sera's school life looked like smooth sailing, no issues in sight. Her face shone bright without a single wrinkle.
That's why I remember the day clouds first gathered on that face.
The incident started with a sudden text to Sera one day.
"Sera, your skin is seriously flawless. What's your secret?"
"Haha, I keep telling you, there isn't one."
"Your answer pisses me off even more, and it feels real—that's what pisses me off the most—"
Sera was deep in chatter with her friends when her phone buzzed.
Bzzz—
"Oh, hold up a sec."
She excused herself and checked the notification. Probably just a casual glance, nothing more.
But her face froze solid the instant she read it.
"......"
Lee Sera stared at her phone in silence. Her friends tilted their heads.
"Sera, everything okay?"
"What's up?"
"......"
She couldn't respond to their mix of worry and curiosity. For a split second—just a heartbeat—her expression locked up as she stared at the screen.
Then she forced her lips into a smile.
"Haha, it's nothing. Kkami's just not feeling great."
"Whoa, really? You love that dog so much—"
"Is he okay? What's wrong?"
"Yeah, he just collapsed at home outta nowhere. They're keeping him at the hospital."
"No way— that's rough—"
Once her friends offered a few words of sympathy, Sera kept her smile plastered on and amped up her own energy.
"Nah, he's fine. Anyway, you were asking about my skin routine earlier, right? Want me to spill a little?"
"For real?"
"Wait, lemme jot this down—"
Her friends latched onto the new topic in seconds. Sera probably threw it out there on purpose.
"......"
I watched from a short distance away, quietly. I wasn't eavesdropping on purpose. It just bugged me seeing Sera's face stiffen like that for once.
My conclusion after observing her? She's pushing too hard, that girl.
Sera was kind—too damn kind.
The next day, she showed up with heavier concealer around her eyes.
"Sera, your eyes look pretty today."
"Concealer magic, huh? Nailed it."
"Thanks."
She just smiled brightly at her friends' compliments. Acting like nothing was wrong. Like it was just another day.
She kept up the same energy all day long. All to keep her sadness from spreading to her friends.
The day after that, and the one after, Sera lived life as usual. Concealer around her eyes aside.
Oh, and she stopped teasing me too.
Not that the teasing was the real issue.
She even quit walking home with me, something we'd done since elementary school. Said she had to visit her hospitalized pup first and was sorry, then took off.
I didn't mind, but she seemed extra guilty about it. Like she felt bad for making me uncomfortable because of her situation.
I couldn't quite get that. If your own stuff takes priority, why worry about others in the meantime?
I'd never nagged her about anything before—but for some reason, it left me feeling stuffy inside.
And then, the day she caked on even thicker concealer...
I realized Kkami was on the verge of crossing the rainbow bridge.
"Kkami won't make it through tonight."
Tap—tap—
We were walking home together for the first time in days. Sera prodded the ground with her foot as she spoke. Less like teasing, more like shaking off awkwardness.
"Got it."
I nodded silently.
A brief silence hung between us. Then Sera forced a bright smile.
"Eh, whatever! It was bound to happen someday. He's going when it's time. Kinda sucks I couldn't say goodbye properly, yeah—a lot, actually—but—"
"......"
"We took good care of him all this time. So, yeah, Kkami's headed to doggy heaven happy."
Anyone could tell she was just putting on a strong front.
That was when I finally saw the real Lee Sera.
She's no ordinary girl. Always confident, sky-high self-esteem, bubbly and outgoing, ridiculously talented.
Logically, in her world, everyone else must look lacking by comparison.
Yet she'd never treated anyone poorly. Always considerate, never bossy or forceful.
That's why I thought she was incredibly mature for her age. Grown-up, even.
And that was her most attractive quality.
That opinion had never wavered—until now.
She's still just a kid.
You can't always put others first. Caring for them comes after caring for yourself.
If Lee Sera hadn't realized that yet...
—We're friends now!
Maybe as her friend, I should lend a hand.
"Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm fine. Starting tomorrow, I'll be all cheery—"
"Legs hurt?"
"Huh? ...Me?"
"Nah, mine are killing me from all this walking. Let's chill on those swings over there."
"Eh? Wait—"
I ignored her protests and headed for the swings. She glanced around in confusion, then trotted after me.
Come to think of it, this might be the first time I took the lead in a convo.
"......What's with the sudden change?"
We sat side by side on the swings. Sera eyed me from next door.
I gazed at the sky for a bit, then eased into it.
"This isn't about me—it's about someone else."
"......?"
Her eyes went wide. Like I'd lost my mind.
"......You know everyone who says that is full of it, right?"
"Nah, it's really someone else."
Because that someone sure as hell wasn't named Cha Sihoo.
"Sigh... Fine, what about it?"
She crossed her arms. Go on, her eyes said. I continued.
"That person lost a family member. No chance for goodbyes."
"......"
Sera's gaze shook instantly. Passed away. She got why I was bringing this up now.
"The sad part? It was so sudden. No warning—they were just... gone."
"......That make sense? You get a feeling before death. Like, you know time's short."
"Couldn't be helped. They were out—maybe even in class."
Her red eyes shook harder.
Yeah. This was Sera's story.
But it was mine too.
I don't even know why I reincarnated.
Natural causes? Accident? Got isekai'd mid-webnovel binge? No clue—and that stung.
But what really clogged my chest was my family from before.
How are they doing now?
Did I say goodbye before dying? Tell them I loved them? Say to live well without me? Reassure them not to worry?
Are they still searching for the me that's gone forever?
Every time I thought about it, my heart grew heavy.
But I couldn't show that grief. I'm Cha Sihoo now.
No one could relate to my pain anyway.
So I decided not to burden anyone with it at all.
"That person kept acting normal after. Didn't wanna spread their sadness. Put on a strong face, kept smiling."
"......"
"Watching it was heartbreaking. It's okay to say you're sad. Especially if you're hurting more than them."
"......So?"
Sniff. A nose blow. I didn't look her way.
No need to see tears to say what needs saying.
"So. What're you getting at."
"I'm saying it's fine to cry. Can't stand seeing you pretend you're okay when you're not. Dummy."
I rummaged in my bag. Phew, still got 'em. Perks of staying organized.
Pulled out a wet wipe and turned to her.
Sera's eyes were soaked.
But they say crying suits beauties.
Damn, she's gorgeous.
For a second, I nearly wiped her eyes myself—but nah, that's rookie moves. No way.
I politely placed the wipe in her pale palm. Purely platonic vibes only.
"......Thanks."
Wipe—wipe—
She cleaned her face. Even that looked pretty. Problematic.
Not good.
Keep this up, and I'd fall for her hard.
Anyway, that wasn't the point. The real deal came next.
"Bottom line. I'll make it happen somehow."
"......Make what?"
Sniff.
"You need time for goodbyes. Can't just say bye from school outta nowhere and call it a life."
"......I'll live. You're overreacting."
"Sure, you'll survive. But it'll scar your heart forever."
No underestimating childhood farewells. That tiny mental scar sticks around into adulthood.
"So. How exactly?"
Hmph. Not a sniff this time—a sassy snort.
Sera crossed her arms, eyeing me. Annoyed? Hopeful? Both?
"What, you gonna save Kkami or something?"
"Just tell me the animal hospital's name."
"Huh? You going there?"
"Gotta visit a friend's sick dog. Kkami and I are tight anyway."
"Dude... You're just going to visit, and you're acting all cocky?!"
She shot back, exasperated.
But then...
"......Heh heh."
First genuine, wrinkle-free smile in days.
"Ugh, you killed the mood."
Creak! Sera hopped off the swing. Standing tall on both feet, she looked majestic. The Lee Sera I knew.
"Best Animal Hospital. That's the one."
"Got it."
"Ha. You build all this tension just to ask for a name."
She grabbed her bag and strode off like she was heading home solo, legs pumping.
Once she was a bit away...
"Thanks!"
She twisted at the waist toward me. Winked cutely with one eye.
"You saved me!"
"Eh, no biggie."
"I'll pay you back big time!"
Bye-bye—
Lee Sera waved side to side and vanished into the distance.
"......Hm."
I eased off the swing too.
What. No walking home together?
Well, I planned to hit the hospital right away anyway. Still, her ditching solo felt a tad lonely.
She probably snapped out of it and got embarrassed.
Anyway, mission accomplished.
I checked that no one was around and raised my hand.
Pure white energy bloomed from my palm.
Ether.
My unique power. The fifth element.
Unknown origins, mechanics a total mystery.
One thing for sure—it responds to my will.
That's what I'd use now.
"Hang in there, Kkami."
To give my childhood friend a chance to say goodbye to her dog.