Why Is She Here Like This?
I pondered hundreds of possibilities for a moment before pulling out the most plausible one. Lee Jiyoon, this girl must've been a total slacker back in school. That's why she came for remedial classes but ended up hiding here, skipping them instead.
But then I took another look at her outfit, and my theory crumbled. The nameless girl I'd seen earlier was definitely in academy uniform, but what Lee Jiyoon had on was plain casual clothes. A soft milk-white knit that exposed her collarbone, paired with a pitch-black H-line skirt that hugged her waist tight. And that skirt—now that I looked closer—kinda resembled a high school uniform. Or maybe not. Either way, it wasn't academy attire. The color was a bit off from what I'd seen before.
So, a freshman then? Lee Jiyoon was definitely a Miren Academy hero, age fuzzy in my memory aside. But would a freshman really slack off here like this, napping while listening to music? I couldn't think of a good reason. It was still February—no classes yet—so why would a newbie be lounging around? Or maybe she wasn't a freshman at all. Maybe she'd graduated and just dropped by the academy for old times' sake. Nah, she still looked too much like a high schooler. Her skin. Her style. All of it.
Hmm. Staring down at her wasn't solving any mysteries. After a brief debate, I reached out and...
"Mm...?"
...lightly tapped her pillow. Just enough to wake the defenselessly sleeping girl.
Lee Jiyoon was a raw gem compared to that nameless trainee hero I'd met earlier. If I left her alone, she'd bloom on her own and show that face to the whole nation. This was my chance to slip in, leave my mark—my bite—claiming her as mine. No rash moves; I had to play it careful. Touch her body too greedily now, and if she woke up... that'd lead straight to a bad end.
"Hey."
"Nggh."
My gestures alone didn't do it, so I spoke up. She let out a weird noise, and her eyes snapped wide open. I'd noticed from photos before, but damn, what a bratty glare. The kind some guys online raved about wanting to be trampled by, the kind others dreamed of forcing into submission with a tight collar.
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"You look like an outsider. What're you doing here?"
Hey, I'd been an insider for like twenty minutes, so I asked boldly. If I could snag some blackmail material on Lee Jiyoon, it'd be a huge score.
But what followed was a brief silence. Just a couple breaths' worth. Scrambling for an excuse? Overkill for this—she wasn't committing any major crime. Amid the total quiet, I kept my expression stern and businesslike, staring down at her. Those big jade-green eyes caught my attention. Same shade as that girl from earlier. Should I ask if they know each other?
Lee Jiyoon glanced up at me cautiously, then around the room, dodging the question.
"......"
The cozy evening sunset filtered into the infirmary, stretching the silence longer. Fine by me if it dragged on, but her? After giving her plenty of time, I stepped closer. One step. Exactly that much. Closing the gap from three steps to two.
Logically, easing the tension and building rapport would help long-term. But honestly...
my heart was racing a bit.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Ah, no. Um..."
Teasing a national-class hero I'd never even locked eyes with before—especially one famous for avoiding chit-chat with fans, villains, reporters, or even fellow heroes. Hearing her voice tremble like that... might be a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.
I'd figured it'd feel good, but the electric shiver down my spine blew past expectations. Is this the rush of secret one-on-one time with a celeb? That flustered face you plebs could never catch on camera—I'm seeing it up close with my own eyes.
"I, uh, well..."
But still, even if she was shy, I hadn't expected her to stumble so hard over introducing herself. This was the Lee Jiyoon who'd bite her lower lip and dodge cameras when nosy citizens shoved them in her face post-villain cleanup.
Maybe she just struggled with people. Or specifically guys.
Anyway, leaving her be let her relax on her own. After another awkward pause, her voice came steadier, less shaky.
"...Actually, I'm a freshman here."
"Got it."
Fidgeting with the earbuds she'd pulled out, she hesitantly met my eyes. Voice calm now, but her gaze was awkward—probably the type who looks down during talks instead of straight on.
"I was wandering around, got curious what this room was... sorry."
"So you were napping that soundly?"
"Ah, no. I get chronic headaches, so I was just lying down listening to music for a bit..."
I leaned in, and faint song leaked from her earbuds. The Beatles' Yesterday.
"My sister's remedial class is ending soon. I was just gonna rest a minute and head back..."
"Sister?"
"Yeah. Second-year."
She didn't drop the name—faint wariness there. Noticing that, maybe? Unlike her initial sleepy babble, she was starting to show the Lee Jiyoon I knew: stiff, cold, aloof.
All perfect material to break.
"As you can see, this is the infirmary. Well, technically an unused one until now."
"Figured. Nothing on the desk."
"I'll stock it up bit by bit. Now that I'm here."
Probably light novels over medical books, though.
Hinting at my role like that made her eyelids flutter rapidly. Felt like she was eyeing an expensive cat.
"You're the health teacher?"
"Something like that."
"...? Isn't health teacher just health teacher? What's 'something like'?"
"Health committee member."
"Pardon?"
"Health committee. You don't know?"
Didn't click until I said it, but honestly, I barely knew either. Some Japanese term? Sounded like it.
"...A student who acts like the health teacher."
Her jade-green eyes bored into me. Yeah, she didn't get it.
"Healing-type transcendent."
"...Ah."
Short exclamation, then she stared at my face, probably trying to place me. Good luck—my online pics were mostly from kid days.
Hoo. I sighed softly, pulled out my phone, and showed her the news article I'd dug up before. Suspicion finally cleared. Whew, thought he was some weirdo, but he's legit. That exact look.
...Feels familiar. Nah, imagination.
"......"
"......"
Back to that familiar silence. Her initial cute panic was gone; now it was just the "talking-to-people-is-a-pain" Lee Jiyoon I knew.
What if I'd pushed harder? What face would've I seen? Saving the fun for later, I licked my lips.
Drop the heavy vibe. Keep it light.
"Oh yeah, you mentioned chronic headaches earlier?"
"...Ah, yes."
"Wanna make it worth our meeting? I could treat it."
"...Pardon?"
A flicker of brightness crossed her stiff face. Just a flicker.
"But the money..."
"Don't worry. Health committee perks."
Money again. Same line as that puppyish trainee earlier—weird déjà vu. Recalling her without thinking, I echoed it back.
"And no need for formal speech. I'm a freshman too."
"No, this feels more comfy."
"Can't force it then."
Opposite of the pup's answer. That second-year sister—was she the daytime hero? Staring at those strikingly similar jade-green eyes, I sighed lightly and reached out carefully.
Having seen my powers and trigger in the news, she stayed surprisingly meek as a guy's hand approached. Hesitant, but no dodging. Even when my hand softly brushed her snow-white hair.
A tiny flinch—that was it. She just stared at the white curtain over the infirmary bed.
"Headache, right?"
"...Yes."
"Might feel tired after. But you just napped, so probably fine."
"......"
I plopped down beside her, hand on her head. Thought I'd sat at a safe distance, but somehow the gap widened another half-inch. Does she just hate me? Whatever. I brushed it off.
A thousand miles starts with one step. Hiding a smile, I slowly infused mana into her head.
...But this time was different. No full heal from the start.
"Feeling okay? Anything weird?"
"...Not really."
I asked casually, but instead of smashing all the hard impurities blocking my mana, I left the deep core intact—gently shaving just the surface.
From experience, that kills the pain. Pain only. Wound stays. Like painkillers on an injury with natural healing potential.
But chronic headache? Simple result: it'd slowly worsen again, never heal on its own. Leave the root, and it'll fester eventually.
Then, when the throbbing agony returned...
Lee Jiyoon would knock on this infirmary door herself.
Like a junkie craving a fix. Sure, overdoing it might raise flags, but once or twice? She'd never notice.
"......"
As the pain eased, her rigid expression visibly softened. Good. Foundation laid. Now, while I'm at it, scope her hidden kinks...
"Here?"
That's when it happened. The firmly shut infirmary door burst open, and a familiar girl strode in.
"Ah, Jiyoon. There you ar—... Huh? Wait, what? Aren't you not a freshman?"
"...Hey. Hayun. Shut... be quiet a sec..."
"Getting a headache fix from Woojin-oppa?"
"How do you know his na—... Ah. No way."
"Isn't it amazing?"
"......"
"I was shocked too. Waited a bit, and poof—healed."
I knew that face. Unlike Jiyoon's snowy, neat bob, she had a long black ponytail tied tight, swaying energetically. Casual for her too, but sloppy—uniform half-on, sleeves barely in.
Yeah. The one I'd dubbed "puppy."
"Anyway, hey. Seo Woojin."
"Yeah, noona."
"You told me earlier you didn't apply? So why're you here? And why's this the infirmary?"
"...Wasn't a lie. Just kinda ended up like this."
From Jiyoon's reaction: name's Lee Hayun. And yeah, her sister. Slapping a new sticky note on my mental file.
"Not a lie, but 'kinda ended up'?"
"Yeah? Yeah."
"...For real? No lie, seriously?"
"Why would I lie about this?"
"Hmm... Suspicious... super suspicious..."
"What is?"
"Well... heroes saving you in a crisis? Turns out girls fall at first sight more than you'd think."
"...Pardon?"
"Be honest. What about noona caught your eye? Fan service hug?"
"...Sorry. Embarrassing sister."
"......"
"Ditching school for citizen rescues... that sense of duty?"
"......"
"Snapping your ankle but charging in anyway... that guts?"
"......"
"Or just the looks..."
Hayun chattered more in a minute than Jiyoon and I'd exchanged all talk. Dealing with her while squeezing Jiyoon's head, I fought to steady my pounding heart.
Lee Jiyoon. Tastes way more... extreme than her looks suggest. The spots I pinched and scratched myself were shallow, but her "weak point"...
Like her sister. Deep. Intense. Brutal.