Haru's Day
“Miss, how’s life at the academy treating you?”
The chauffeur, who’d been hesitating and stealing glances, finally broke the awkward silence.
“Yes.”
“No particular hardships or anything?”
“Yes.”
But with Ha-ru’s curt replies, the conversation fizzled out as if it had never started.
Ever since the frail madam of the house had passed away without surviving the winter, the driver had lamented the loss of the once bright and cheerful young lady he’d known. At the vice president’s request, he personally drove her to and from the academy every day, but there had been no change in the situation over the past few months.
“I’m off.”
“Um... miss?”
“Yes...?”
“You’ve always got people around to help you, so—”
“If you’re going to say stuff like that, just let me out here. Thanks for the ride today.”
“I’m sorry... Take care. I’ll be waiting at the back gate at dismissal time, same as always.”
The girl who stepped out of the car filled her lungs with the fresh air. But the walk to school didn’t stir her heart as much as she’d hoped.
Since that day, I Ha-ru’s world had turned black and white in an instant. Nothing was fun anymore, nothing gave her energy. The only place she could find any attachment was with her academy friends.
“Hey, Ha-ru-chin! I’ve been waiting for you.”
Jeon Nuri waved as she approached. They’d been in the same Class C last year, and she was Ha-ru’s closest friend.
Only then did Ha-ru relax her stiff expression and return the greeting.
“Whoa, not self-driving—a personal chauffeur? As expected from the Samsung Group heir!”
“Dad just insists on it. How uncomfortable would it be with two people crammed in there?”
“Still, it’s got that romantic vibe. In dramas, chaebol sisters each have their own driver.”
“That’s why it’s drama. Real life’s different.”
Ha-ru knew Nuri was just joking anyway. With her grandfather as the head of a university hospital, Nuri was on the wealthier side even among the academy students.
Ha-ru hadn’t sought out friends based on money, but she disliked the distance wealth gaps created, so Nuri felt more comfortable by comparison.
“But Ha-ru, you seem really different lately compared to before.”
“Me? How so?”
“Hmm... hard to put into words. You used to be such a chatterbox, but now you’re quieter, and... yeah, cooler. Sleeker.”
“Sleek...?”
Ha-ru blinked in confusion at the word.
“Yeah! Like Lisa from Frozen 4!”
“Haven’t seen it, so no clue.”
“Whoa, you haven’t? Lisa’s Elsa’s daughter, super talented with ice magic from a young age. Gorgeous, but she never smiles, so the palace folks try every trick to make her laugh. And then—”
“Spoiler stop! Gonna watch it later, so no more.”
“Anyway, she’s got that sleek vibe. Super cool even with the blank expression.”
“Like NoName?”
Ha-ru and Nuri exchanged glances. Nuri hummed thoughtfully, then shook her head.
“Name’s blank-faced, but ‘sleek’ doesn’t quite fit. It’s complicated. If you’re cool-sleek, Name’s cute-sleek?”
“Cute-sleek what now?”
“Cool’s opposite is hot, so hot-sleek? Nah, sounds weird—like hot sex! Hehe, dunno. Something like that.”
Nuri burst into giggles at her own joke. Ha-ru forced an awkward smile to match her mood.
The sudden mention of NoName sparked another topic; Nuri grabbed Ha-ru’s hand and swung it around.
“NoName’s got this amazing scent lately! Should I ask what perfume? Even from the next desk over, it distracts me from class.”
“Yeah, I caught some apple on my side too.”
“Right? Not just apple—super sweet, like sugar-and-honey-soaked apple.”
“You can tell that much? Dog nose or what?”
“Kinda. Mom says it all the time!”
“Ah... yeah... from Mom...”
“Huh? What’s wrong? You okay?”
Nuri’s casual words hit Ha-ru like a gut punch. Noticing her paling face, Nuri looked concerned.
Beeeep—
‘Again...’
The piercing ring in her head grew louder. It usually wasn’t this intense, but today it was unbearable. Ha-ru crouched on the street, clutching her head and taking deep breaths.
‘One, two...’
BEEEEEEP!
“Ahh...!”
“Ha-ru! You okay?”
The tinnitus swelled, her head throbbing like it might split. Panicked, Nuri pressed.
As far as Nuri knew, Ha-ru had always been healthy and full of energy—never collapsing like this.
“I Ha-ru! What’s wrong? Hurt somewhere?”
“No... not hurt... the sound... cover my ears.”
“Ears? Like this?”
“Still hurts... the sound won’t stop.”
Nuri clumsily cupped Ha-ru’s ears at her desperate plea, but it didn’t help. As things worsened, Nuri debated calling passersby or an ambulance—then spotted their classmates approaching.
“Hey, Nuri! And Ha-ru next to her, obviously? What’re you doing on the ground?”
Se-ri, Ji-hye, and trailing behind them Yu-na and NoName.
“Hey guys... Ha-ru’s not feeling well right now...”
“Ha-ru’s sick? You okay, Ha-ru?”
Se-ri rushed over to check. Outwardly, nothing seemed wrong.
“Was thinking ambulance... she says she’s fine, though.”
“Maybe call one anyway...?”
Ji-hye ventured timidly. Yu-na hung back, looking uncomfortable.
“Can I step in?”
NoName finally intervened.
“I Ha-ru, where’s it hurt? Headache?”
“The sound... too loud... please...”
Ha-ru’s voice cracked with pain. But they were in a quiet spot, not a busy road.
2nd Circle: Diagnosis
NoName even cast a spell to diagnose, but found nothing. Shaking her head, the kids’ faces grew graver.
“It’s okay, I’ve got an idea.”
Undaunted, NoName wrapped her arms around the trembling Ha-ru. Suddenly, golden aura flowed from her body, enveloping them both.
Ha-ru’s black-and-white world brightened; she opened her eyes. The hated hallucination faded to a faint beep—.
Warmth circulated through her, color returning to her face. NoName brushed sweat-dampened bangs from Ha-ru’s forehead.
“Might feel sleepy. If you doze off, just sleep. We’ll get you to class.”
As promised, it felt like a cozy nest; her eyelids grew heavy.
‘Apple scent...’
Ha-ru realized it was the fragrance she’d discussed with Nuri. Inhaling steadied her mind and body.
‘The sky’s blue...?’
She beheld the vibrant blue she’d thought gone forever.
Not wanting to lose this peaceful, heartwarming feeling, Ha-ru reached for NoName.
“Feeling... a bit better now.”
* * *
Ha-ru later thought it was a day of nonstop drowsiness. After battling sleep in the morning, lunch brought another wave; luckily, fifth period was PE, and sixth switched from math to art, or she might’ve been useless.
PE was dodgeball unless it was assessment time. With only twenty per class, it combined two classes. All boys played; about half the girls did.
In a corner behind the gym basketball court, NoName leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Normally chatting with Yu-na, but today Se-ri had dragged Yu-na off, leaving her alone. Nuri was out for parent-teacher conferences too, so Ha-ru was bored.
Ha-ru watched NoName quietly. Whatever she was, NoName was a ‘fascinating kid’ to her—a sentiment the whole class shared.
Sepiron Academy rarely accepted transfers outside entrance exams, yet they’d broken their own rule for her. On day one, she memorized every name instantly. Her aptitude test? Perfect score on notoriously tough content, including advanced topics.
Tiny even for second year—could pass for first or younger—but her aura was profoundly mature.
Ha-ru had no label beyond ‘fascinating.’
Ha-ru sidled closer, making noise, but NoName kept her eyes shut—probably resting like Ha-ru.
Seizing the chance, Ha-ru admired her up close.
‘So cute...’
Slim and wiry, but baby fat on her cheeks made her look like an oversized infant. Faint frowns and lip twitches suggested dreaming. And that rich apple scent from days ago lifted her spirits.
‘She’ll be my friend, right?’
Popular ex-class rep Ha-ru figured there’d be plenty of chances, so she quietly retreated to not wake her.
“Heads up, ball incoming!”
Classmate Park Tae-hyun yelled a warning their way.
“Huh...?”
Turning, Ha-ru saw the dodgeball heading for NoName. Too late to warn—in a flash, NoName’s eyes snapped open, arm whipping sideways.
Boom!
The gym echoed like an explosion.
“...!”
“Huh. It burst.”
NoName eyed the shredded ball flatly. She walked it over to the boys as apology.
“Sorry.”
“Nah, it’s fine. We’ve got more.”
“Teacher’ll get mad?”
“Sneak one from storage; she won’t know.”
Back in place, NoName leaned against the wall, lost in thought.
“How’d you do that?”
Ha-ru asked incredulously.
“Used aura on reflex. Got lost between imagination and reality.”
“Weren’t sleeping?”
“Wasn’t asleep.”
Ha-ru flushed crimson. Caught staring?
In fluster, she rapid-fired questions.
“What were you imagining?”
“One dagger versus a hundred.”
“...?”
That day, ‘eccentric’ joined Ha-ru’s mental file on NoName.