Hero's Qualification (3)

Out of nowhere, Han Sua sidled up right next to me, practically glued to my side. We were so close I could hear her breathing clearly. This unprecedented intimacy was throwing me off for no good reason. What the hell was this? Did she eat something bad?

"You two are childhood friends, right? It's so heartwarming to see you getting along like that."

"Uh? Y-yeah. Thanks..."

Han Sua continued chatting with Yuha, her eyes crinkling into half-moons. Before I knew it, I'd been sidelined as a third wheel, just observing them.

Han Sua waved her hands animatedly as she spoke. "I'm jealous. I don't have anyone like that around me. It would've been nice to have even one friend like Woojin."

"...It's fine. Someone like that might show up someday. Though obviously not on Woojin's level..."

Han Sua covered her mouth and laughed. Yuha laughed too. I didn't know the full story, but the vibe was undeniably warm and friendly.

Didn't Yuha say last time they barely exchanged greetings? Yet here they were, lumped together as part of the top three in our freshman class, constantly vying for first and second place academically. I'd figured there might be some rivalry or bad blood, but the atmosphere suggested otherwise. Turns out all that talk about girls trash-talking each other was just clueless rumors from outsiders.

"By the way, I think you mentioned something about applying just now... What was that about?"

Yuha steered the conversation back, a hint of urgent curiosity in her tone.

"Oh, that? It's nothing much."

Han Sua nodded as if she'd been waiting for the question. Hadn't she gotten even closer? "I decided to pair up with Woojin for field training."

"Huh...?"

"Oh? You didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know?"

Han Sua covered her mouth lightly, her eyes widening in surprise. "I was stressing over who to pair with since I didn't have anyone suitable. Then Woojin comes along and suggests we team up. No reason for me to say no, right? I was so grateful."

She playfully tapped my arm, drawing out her words in a sly, intimate tone. "Woojin, seriously. You should've told me sooner. What if Yuha felt left out?"

"Woojin... suggested it first...?"

Now it was my turn to step in. Han Sua's sudden attitude shift was suspicious, but grilling her here wasn't an option. I couldn't risk exposing our secret relationship in front of Yuha. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If anything, this saved me some explaining.

"Turns out she doesn't have many friends. Probably 'cause she's from a rich family—intimidates the other kids."

I wedged myself between them. "She was agonizing over a partner, so I offered to help. I don't really care about that stuff anyway."

"I-is that so... I didn't know... Friends, I don't have many either..."

"What are you talking about? If you asked anyone from the regular classes to pair up, they'd all line up in front."

I brushed off Yuha's nonsense. Sure, Psyche and Flame Mist were both top three in school, but their popularity had subtle differences. The former came off as aloof and standoffish—hard to approach—while the latter felt far more approachable and friendly. Of course, Psyche was still a rising star with massive appeal, but Flame Mist undeniably had broader mass appeal.

You could tell just from how the regular class reacted when they showed up in their classroom. Plus, thanks to my efforts in the alley and at the bank, Yuha's villain takedown record had boosted her to number one in the hero course rankings. With scores like that, she'd naturally pair with top students from the regulars for field training.

My grades were decent enough, but objectively, I fell short of matching with Yuha. Same went for Han Sua, really... but she had a clear motive for sticking with me on purpose.

"I-I see. You two... I had no idea..."

"Sorry. Forgot to mention it earlier."

I'd half-expected Yuha to suggest teaming up herself. She was probably worried about me and planning to offer first. To her, I still seemed unreliable. But blocking her path was a past-life mistake I wouldn't repeat. This time, I'd support her however I could—hero work, studies, whatever. In other words, stretch your legs only as far as your bed allows.

"Anyway, don't worry about me too much. I'd just be a burden when you're already busy."

"No, I...!"

"Woojin, let's go submit the application."

Just as Yuha started to protest, a coquettish voice cut in from the side. Han Sua had slyly grabbed my arm and was tugging me backward.

"We need to hand in the paperwork before the professors clock out."

"Oh, right..."

I checked the time. She was spot on. No harm in submitting early, obviously.

I turned back. "Sorry, Yuha. What'd you say?"

"N-no, nothing..."

Yuha paused, then shook her head with a wry smile. What a lightweight. Must not have been important.

"I'll head out first then? See you tomorrow?"

"...Yeah, bye, Woojin. Text you later."

I said goodbye to Yuha and walked off. Her awkward demeanor nagged at me a bit. Probably still fretting over me. When will I ever change that image...?

"Hey, what was that about?"

I turned to Han Sua, who was still plastered to my side. She flinched.

"W-what?"

"Why the sudden buddy-buddy act? Weren't you yelling at me in front of the professor last time?"

"Y-you told me to act normal around others."

She stammered but held her ground defiantly. "So I'm following orders perfectly. Why complain?"

"..."

She had a point... "Doesn't mean you have to stick like glue. Back off a bit? It's hot enough already."

"..."

Han Sua pouted and reluctantly released her grip on my sleeve. I eyed her curiously. "Why'd you look back?"

"...To say bye to Yuha. Why...?"

"Never mind..."

Suspicion could be a sickness. I shook off the nagging unease. Glancing back, Yuha was still there, waving with a big smile. I waved back and hurried to the professor's office. Han Sua stayed glued to me the whole way. Today, that haughty, prickly face was beaming with unusual satisfaction.

...What the hell is her deal?

Once Kim Woojin's figure had completely vanished from sight, Baek Yuha's smile finally faded.

Something thudded to the floor at her feet—a crumpled scrap of paper so mangled it barely resembled its original form anymore, the word "Application" scrawled on it.

Just moments ago, it had been filled with excited anticipation and happy fantasies. Now, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was utterly useless.

Baek Yuha still remembered the last look on Han Sua's face as she glanced back. The emotion oozing from it was unmistakable: mockery.

She bit her lip hard.

"...Hah."

Her hollow sigh echoed alone down the empty hallway.

A few days later, field training week began. Yoram Academy students headed out in pairs or groups to their assigned sites. Han Sua and I blended in, making our way to ours.

Once outside the academy, S City's towering, majestic skyscrapers filled our view. Decades had passed since the explosive tech revolution. Humanity had nothing left but endless leaps forward.

This futuristic city before us was both the foundation and proof of that.

But right now, we were deep in an era of endless decline. The emergence of superpowers—Authorities—that modern science couldn't explain had changed everything.

Uncontrollable overwhelming power and irrational violence were dragging us back to the Stone Age, day by day. From that perspective, the scene before us was nothing but a faded relic of past glory—a grotesque monument.

And even that would crumble to dust in less than five years.

To survive, we had no choice but to thrash wildly amid the raging waves. Even if it meant becoming the wave itself.

This training raid incident would be the first ripple.

"Welcome, Yoram Academy prospective heroes!!"

We arrived with a few other student groups at an especially sleek high-rise in the city. It was the office of A-rank 33rd hero, Peerless—likely the highest-ranked and most famous hero hosting internships.

With my original grades, applying would've been a pipe dream. I owed this to Han Sua, the hero course number two.

Not that I wasn't going to end up here anyway.

"We at Peerless Hero Agency sincerely welcome you!"

A short woman with bouncy brown hair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠greeted us in the lobby. Her form-fitting suit hinted at her identity.

"I'm Sleeping Bubble! Peerless's sidekick! I'll be handling your practical training for the next few days!"

...Ding!

The character info was just about to pop up fully when a cheery alert overlaid the screen.

-WoojinWoojin, you there yet?

It was from Yuha—I couldn't help but sigh. She'd kept me on the phone until dawn last night, and now this? Sending pics every hour? Was she that worried? Not like she was sending her elementary kid off on a field trip.

...Not that I could ignore it.

"So childish."

Ping, ping, ping. The alerts kept coming nonstop. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ooh, girlfriend?"

A voice piped up right behind me. Sleeping Bubble, the brown-haired hero, was peeking over my shoulder with wide-eyed curiosity.

"What're you talking about?"

I recoiled and snapped my phone shut. That was a horrifying assumption.