The Beginning of Loss

My school days.

Unlike before, the bizarre voice echoed once more. The scholar, shrinking back at the monstrous sound that stirred a primal fear, glanced at Kaits. The hero, who had clearly been smiling just a moment ago, was now expressionless.

"Kaits...?"

When he called out, wondering if this was truly the hero he knew, Kaits turned his head as if nothing were wrong.

"What is it?"

"......"

From that attitude, the scholar intuited that he wouldn't get an answer no matter what he asked. So, he decided to focus on the memory rather than Kaits. He cleared his throat, which felt like it was cracking, and voiced his deduction.

"It seems something is about to happen."

"That much is obvious to anyone."

Raeband spoke with a sarcastic edge to mask his nervousness, but the scholar ignored him and continued.

"That bizarre voice from just a moment ago... I suspect the 'Narration' is recreating the emotions Yeodre felt afterward."

"The Narration?"

"You might not know because you aren't meticulous, but the voices in memories—the 'monologues' or 'narrations'—vary wildly depending on the nature of the memory. That voice just now was closer to a deep, demonic tone. It's not a voice a human could produce."

Raeband, having been subtly insulted, pouted and said,

"Oh, really? So what kind of guy is this narrator that it's going beyond setting the scene and even representing Yeodre's inner feelings?"

"There can only be one. The one who granted the authority to this world of memories."

"Why would that being do such a thing?"

"Who knows. One thing is certain: even that god holds special feelings for this memory. It's obvious what will happen next. Those kind friends will be miserably trampled, and Yeodre will fail. Do you remember what Kaits investigated before coming here?"

Investigation.

Kaits had asked those around Yeodre about him to better understand him. Most were reluctant to talk about someone else's personal life, but a few, thinking the hero couldn't have had bad intentions, spilled information here and there.

Thinking about it now, perhaps there was nothing they could tell him. Because Dre was such an unusual human being.

At that moment, the scenery flowed by.

The memory brushed past like a river, offering glimpses of the 'Dojo Family's' daily life and joy. It arrived at one of those moments.

"Seo Yerin. You use your phone surprisingly often, don't you?"

Tap, tap. Seo Yerin, who had been operating her smartphone, stopped and tilted her head.

"Does it look that way?"

"Yeah. You don't exactly have the image of someone who'd put the phone down and just study... well, you don't have that image, but you also don't seem like the type to use it much either."

"Why are you looking at me while you say that?"

Sung Sihyun grumbled, looking dissatisfied.

"What are you always doing?"

"...Contacting someone."

"Contacting?"

"More importantly, tell me what I'm supposed to do already."

Yerin dodged the topic and glared at Dre. Dre was rolling around, hugging a pillow the size of himself.

"This is comfortable."

"I'm glad you like it."

Now that he looked, all sorts of items had increased in the dojo.

"So, what is my task?"

"Just wait a little longer."

"'Just a little longer' again..."

Watching Yerin sigh, Dre blinked his eyes.

"Is it really that annoying to hang out with us when there's nothing to do?"

"...That's not it, but."

Someone was trembling while watching Yerin answer in a voice that was barely audible, and that was Han Siyoung.

"Yerin is so cute!"

"W-wait...!"

Seo Yerin, unable to even think of shaking off Han Siyoung, who had suddenly hugged her tightly and was rubbing her head against her, just took it.

Watching that with an 'ugh...' expression, Sung Sihyun sat next to Dre, who was lying on the bed, and said,

"Did you watch that anime from the other day?"

"I did! Honestly, I wondered what would be so good about it just because it's a beast-kin, but it was sooooo cute!"

"Right! I knew you'd understand!"

"Especially that dragon; it's not just lewd, it has a unique charisma. Why aren't there dragons in reality..."

"That's what I'm saying. Come to think of it, Dre. Do you know about that?"

"That?"

"It's called the 'Comic Market'."

"What's that?"

Seeing Dre's eyes sparkle, Sung Sihyun pushed up his glasses. "Hmph."

"I'll take you sometime soon. You'll like it too."

"Okay! Suryeon, don't make such a sour face, you come too."

"Oh, yes. Yes."

Suryeon, suddenly called out, bowed her head and nodded slightly.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Ah, fucking otaku bastards..."

"It doesn't do any damage to me even if you say that while rubbing your cheek against another woman's face."

When Dre replied with a snort, Han Siyoung snapped back,

"What's wrong with this? It's healthy skinship!"

"N-no... it's not healthy..."

Seo Yerin's barely audible voice was buried by Han Siyoung's shout. At first, Han Siyoung had found her difficult, thinking of her as a haughty student council president who was good at studying, but as they spent more time together, she must have discovered her cute side, because she hugged her at the drop of a hat.

"Then hug me instead. I could accept it happily."

"Huh? Ummm..."

Han Siyoung looked closely at Dre's face at his words. If it were before, a 'fuck off' would have come out immediately, but seeing her hesitate, it seemed her feelings toward him had improved significantly. Then, seeing Suryeon's sour expression, she let out a small scream and playfully added,

"I'll think about it if you get a bit more handsome."

"Wow, she'll even think about it if I'm handsome... You bad girl. Your boyfriend is going to cry."

"...I told you not to talk about my boyfriend, you son of a bitch."

"Wait. Wait. Go away. Don't grab my hair... Gaaah...!"

After wrestling for a while, Han Siyoung smiled mischievously.

"Since we're on the subject, let's dress you up a bit. You're too full of loser stench like this, it won't do."

"I'm not really interested in dressing up, so do Sung Sihyun first."

"He dresses himself up just fine when he goes out on dates."

Sihyun was surprised.

"Wait. How do you know that?"

"I saw you on the street, so what do you want me to do? Let's see, let's see..."

Han Siyoung smoothed Dre's hair, changing his expression and wearing a sinister smile. She was probably planning to tease him if a bizarre look came out.

"Eyebrows like this, a smiling face, and the hair is... um... um...?"

Han Siyoung's playful expression gradually turned strange. It changed to one of puzzlement, and then surprise, and soon a slight flush appeared on her face. A gasp of 'Oh...' escaped her lips as if it had come out on its own.

"...Hey."

"What."

"Why don't you dress up and go ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠around? You'd probably be popular."

"?"

"You wouldn't even have to fight like this; you'd automatically get people on our side."

"What are you saying. Gaaah..."

Dre complained, his neck slightly bent because Han Siyoung had gone behind him while grabbing his hair.

"Guys, look at this. Doesn't it look okay with my hair like this?"

"...Oh."

Sung Sihyun exclaimed in admiration, and the other two stared silently. Dre clapped his hands, but each time, Han Siyoung grabbed his face again to change the style.

"This style would suit you too. I thought your eyes were trash, but if you do a delinquent style, wouldn't these fish-like eyes look cool?"

"Ah, miss. Wait..."

Ding-dong.

The doorbell installed at the dojo rang.

"Delivery's here!"

As if this were his chance, Dre jumped up and ran out, da-da-da. As he opened the door, what was in front of him was...

"Oh."

"It's that woman from before."

Just as Raeband and the scholar had said, it was the woman with reddish hair who had saved Yeodre in the memory of the first day. Could she have known and come looking for him?

"Huh."

The woman, who had been holding a cigarette in her mouth, crushed it with her fingers when someone came out and made a surprised face.

"Should I say it's been a while, student? Do you live here?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember me from when we met a few months ago?"

"If I didn't remember that hair that stands out, I'd think there was something wrong with my brain."

"That's true, too."

Chuckling, the woman pointed inside the dojo.

"Can I come in?"

"Please, come in."

Watching the overly easygoing Dre, she blinked, then the woman laughed.

"You look a bit alike."

"Pardon?"

"No, let's introduce ourselves. I'm Rachel. You can call me that."

"So you were mixed-race."

"I guess so."

"I thought that physique couldn't possibly be made of only Korean blood... Ugh."

He was grabbed by the throat. Veins were popping out on her face, which was smiling only at the lips.

"Where were you looking when you said that just now? The body? It's the face, not the body, right?"

"Yes..."

Dre was wise enough not to resist, even though he didn't specifically know why she was angry. Dre said, coughing, to Rachel, who had let go of his throat.

"I'm Yeodre."

"That bastard named him something fucking awful..."

"......"

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean that at you, I meant it at your dad... wait, that's not it either."

Is this a Tallulah?

Watching the flustered Rachel, Dre grinned.

"Right? I told you that guy is too sloppy."

Seeing him grumble, it seemed he did have a complex about his name. Rachel laughed, "Kuh-huh," and said,

"Is your father inside?"

"He's dead."

"......"

Rachel blinked her eyes and said in an incredulous voice,

"When."

"Two years ago."

"........."

Rachel seemed unable to find words. After being like that for a while, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she stepped inside, looked around the room, and just let out a hollow laugh.

"You said you were going to open a dojo, but this bastard was lying through his teeth."

"W-were you... my father's ex-girlfriend?"

"What? Don't say such a terrible thing. We just had a connection through work..."

Rachel, who had trailed off a bit, looked at the children staring at her blankly.

"But who are they?"

Rachel, who had seen the kids exploring who she was from afar, said.

"Um..."

"Why are you agonizing over it? You can just say they're friends, right?"

"Then if that's what you're going to think, why are you asking?"

"This guy has a talent for pissing people off..."

Rachel clicked her tongue.

"They're friends-ish."

"'Ish'?"

Dre didn't answer. Kaits stared intently at Dre. Raeband and the scholar also looked at Rachel with interest.

"Ho-ho. So she was an acquaintance of his father."

"She seems like a formidable person, and they were involved through work... I'll have to see who his father was."

The two were intrigued. At that moment, Rachel looked at the 'friends-ish' again, and her gaze fixed on someone. It was Seo Yerin. She opened her eyes a little wider, then immediately looked sharp, as if looking at prey.

"Huh."

Rachel, wearing a smirk, walked over. Rachel's words spread among the flinching children.

"Hi, kids. It's Dre's big sister."

"B-big sister? She's incredibly pretty..."

Han Siyoung muttered, and then gave Dre a look as if to ask why he hadn't told her about this. Suryeon stared at her silently.

"Ah. Right. Before that, we should introduce ourselves."

"My dad's ex-girlfriend, Ms. Rachel... Kuh-huck...!"

"I told you I'm not his ex-girlfriend, you brat."

Rachel, who had let go only when Dre, who had been grabbed by the throat, was on the verge of going limp, cleared her throat and regained her composure.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rachel. Since we've met before, I don't think I need to say what kind of person I am, right?"

"......"

Seo Yerin turned her gaze away. The expression she caught a glimpse of was submerged in anxiety.

"Well, is Assemblyman Seo doing well?"

"...Hello."

"Tell him I'll definitely visit next time. Even without that, Kang Gu-jin is around here..."

"Auntie."

"Aaaah?!"

She turned around at the sudden damn title, only to be met with Dre's calm face. The two locked eyes in silence. Soon, Rachel clicked her tongue and turned her face away.

"You're really diligent in strange ways, just like your dad."

Then she bowed her head.

"Sorry, Yerin. Excuse me. This wasn't the place to talk about that."

"No. Not really...!"

She bowed her head once more to Seo Yerin, who was actually surprised and waving her hands, then tapped Yeodre on the top of his head.

"Let's go outside and talk."

"Talk about what?"

"Your dad."

"......"

That was how the story began. It was a story that really wasn't much.

About how your dad died. That I didn't know that guy would be like that... that I didn't know he'd have a woman. That I never imagined he'd even have a child...

"I thought he might have had a woman, but he wouldn't have gotten married or gotten anyone pregnant."

"?"

"Because I'm an adoptee."

"...Ah. Really?"

This was a new fact.

"Is this why he told Kang Gu-han before that he had no mother?"

Kaits muttered.

"I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything. It's not really a wound."

"......"

Looking down at Dre, Rachel held up a cigarette.

"Is it okay if I smoke?"

"Yes."

"Then."

She lit it with a natural motion, and the smoke rose to the sky. Amidst the silence, Rachel said as if she suddenly remembered.

"Then did you learn this and that from your father? That guy's fighting... no. His overall combat was amazing. You must be too, right?"

"No. We sparred, but he didn't teach me any techniques."

"? From what I saw, I could see he was trying to use his techniques."

"I learned that over his shoulder."

"Hmm... Then did you not learn weapon techniques either?"

"Weapon techniques?"

"That guy's martial arts were excellent, but his skill with weapons was his specialty and his true worth. Especially swords in general."

"...I think I saw it once..."

"...I suppose. It's not a healthy technique to show in front of your son."

Dre started to say something but stopped, and Rachel inhaled deeply, exhaled, and crushed the cigarette.

"Thanks for letting me smoke."

"No, it's nothing."

"This."

She held out something. It was a business card.

Kaits' party rushed over to look at the business card. The narration hadn't told them anything like this.

"What is this. Is it forged?"

"If you say it's forged, then it's forged. The higher-ups are easily frightened."

Tap, tap. Rachel, who patted Dre on the shoulder, smiled.

"If things get tough, contact me. I'll be your drinking partner or whatever. And be careful of them. I'll come again, so see you next time."

Leaving behind ominous words, Rachel walked away into the distance. Dre watched her back for a while before going inside. But for some reason, Suryeon was packing her things and standing up. It looked like she was planning to go back.

"Are you going?"

"Yes."

"Take care."

As he answered, looking down at the business card, Suryeon approached closer. She fidgeted, closing her mouth as if trying to think of what to say.

"Why?"

"Um. Could you... walk me home?"

"Oh-oh...!"

It was Sung Sihyun who raised his voice. Han Siyoung had an 'ugh...' expression, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seo Yerin, instead of her usual expression, was wiggling her fingers strangely. She seemed uneasy about something.

Dre scratched his cheek. Kaits anticipated his next words.

"There wouldn't be any reason to refuse, would there?"

And Dre said,

"There's no reason to refuse."

And the two headed toward Suryeon's house, meeting the twilight. Suryeon, who was walking a little ahead, laughed, "Huhu."

"It's really nice."

"Yeah?"

"Over these past few months, my situation has improved beyond my expectations."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. You wouldn't have known because you were busy fighting Kang Gu-han and Shin Jin-pae, but things have changed quite a bit."

As she said that, she held up her fingers and counted them one by one.

"Even if the kids around me can't act friendly, they show goodwill, and now there's no more tripping, no more hiding my gym clothes or shoes, and I'm no longer wandering around because I'm the only one who doesn't know the location of the moving class."

"......"

At Dre's silence, Suryeon laughed, "Uhu-hu."

"Did you pity me a little?"

"Yeah."

"I like that you're honest. Dre."

Silence flowed again, and soon they walked with the twilight, with the background of a chuckling laugh that broke the silence.

"Siyoung seems to be having a hard time lately."

"Yeah. Even if I don't know the reason."

"Siyoung's boyfriend seems to have been acting cold for a few months now. I saw a photo, and really... the two don't suit each other. Siyoung is too good for him."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Isn't it absurd? That such a man, without knowing his own place, would leave a woman like Siyoung feeling anxious."

"I see."

"......"

Suryeon, who had been staring intently at Dre, wondering what his complaint was, smiled faintly and said,

"Oh, right. I also got a confession."

"......"

The wind blew. Her fluttering black hair rippled. A transcendental beauty, as if painting the world with black brushstrokes. Suryeon was truly beautiful. When the wind stopped, her black hair fell down like a waterfall. Suryeon swept her rippling hair back with her hand and said,

"What should I do?"

"Huh? Oh?"

Dre was not looking at Suryeon. He was looking at the twilight.

"......"

"You can do whatever you want. If you like him, date him. If not, don't. If you get into trouble, tell me. If those guys keep bothering you, I'll do something about it."

"...Thank you, Dre. Dre, you are really. Kind. And..."

Suryeon, who had stopped speaking, moved only the corners of her lips and laughed, "Hoo."

"You're cold to people you're not interested in."

"?"

"Dre. I told you before that my mind-reading is a bit different from other people's, right?"

"You did."

"My mind-reading, you see. I can hear everyone's voices, but I can't hear everything."

She looks at the sky. Suryeon's words fall.

"It's not a riddle. There are some people whose voices I couldn't hear, but then I become able to hear them."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. My mind-reading... the more intense the emotion they hold for me—whether it's love, anger, or sadness—the more I can hear."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. There are other secrets besides that, but I'll keep that a secret for now."

"Ummm... Ah. Thinking about what will be revealed later gives me goosebumps?"

It was clearly felt that he had said that while agonizing over how to answer.

"Sometimes when I look at you, Dre, it seems like you don't know emotions or aren't used to them. Like you're not human."

"Excuse me. I'm a human."

"Yes. You are a human. A very cruel human. Do you know that, Dre?"

Suryeon's eyes stared straight at Dre. Her eyes glowed light purple for a moment.

"I can still hear your heart intermittently. It means you don't hold any emotions for me."

"......"

"That's not welcome to me. It's as annoying as being bullied... no, even more annoying than that."

"Is that so?"

To Dre's still indifferent answer, Suryeon said,

"I told you I'm good at lying, right?"

"Yeah."

"Try to guess if what I'm about to say is the truth or a lie."

"...?"

Hoo. Not at the timing of inhaling and exhaling, but at an off-beat timing, she said with an unexpected surprise attack,

"I like you."

"......"

Silence hung in the air. Only the sound of the wind blowing occasionally swirled between the two.

"Lie? Truth?"

"A lie... right?"

A tone without conviction. And... Raeband made a sound as if he were dumbfounded, "Huh."

"That guy, seriously. His tone sounds like he doesn't care whether she likes him or not?"

"Right. That's how it sounds to me, too."

Raeband and the scholar, who had been watching, clicked their tongues.

Suryeon smiled bitterly.

"I learned one thing. No, I knew it, but I became certain."

"?"

"That if there's something I want to have, it's better to go for it actively rather than waiting."

"Yeah. Do your best."

As he said that, Dre, who had been looking at the twilight, opened his mouth.

"That sunset, actually, Dad..."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow! Dre!"

Dre, who discovered Suryeon running away while waving her hand after looking up at the sky, waved his hand awkwardly, then looked back at the sunset.

"Suryeon is 100% going to go home and cry."

"Is that so...?"

"Right. She's still trying to appeal to you, trying to get you to understand her heart, but you're talking about sunsets and stuff."

"...It would have been good if he had listened to Dre's words."

At Kaits' words, Raeband made a bewildered expression.

At that moment.

Kuk-kwa-kwa.

The scenery changed. It was a little different from now. The bright background became slightly dark.

"What is this."

"......"

Kaits looks around at Raeband's words. The scenery changed to a classroom.

"Suryeon said she'd be taking a break from school for a while starting today..."

Pa-at!

The words were cut off, and the scenery changed.

"Hey Siyoung. Is this the boyfriend you said looked like Brad Pitt?"

"Kya-hahaha. That can't be! Everyone knows Siyoung has high standards~?"

Han Siyoung trembling at the photo presented by a friend from her usual group.

Pa-at!

The scenery is the same classroom as before.

"Hey, class president."

"...Why? Kang Gu-han."

"You. I heard you look at stuff like this?"

Kang Gu-han tosses an illustration of a scantily clad beautiful girl onto Sung Sihyun's desk.

Pa-at!

And the world. Was submerged in pitch-black darkness. This was the first time something like this had happened, in any of the turns.

"What is this...?"

"Kaits."

"......"

Raeband, who is flustered but draws his dagger. And the scholar and Kaits, who conjure light. And...

A narration that floats up like blood.

The next act had begun. Kaits intuited it. That from now on, this would be the true beginning of the events that constitute the current Yeodre.