Episode 4. The Saddest Thing in This World
Episode 4. The Saddest Thing in This World
I picked up the damp black bra and pure white panties.
I have to endure every day with just this one set?
Yubin...
What kind of life have you been living?
First, let's get dressed.
Since it's early spring and still chilly, I could catch a cold if I'm not careful.
I pulled up my dolphin pants to my waist while still not wearing any panties.
I shuddered slightly at the feeling of my vulva touching the soft fabric.
I don't think I'll ever get used to this feeling.
The cotton t-shirt I put on next was too big for me, just as it looked.
There was plenty of space in the sleeves, and the hem covered about half of my thighs.
Looking in the mirror, I looked somewhat ridiculous.
Anyway... I picked up all the clothes from the floor and headed to the washing machine (at least there was a washing machine).
'I'll wash them first, and if they're not dry by tomorrow morning, I'll use a hair dryer or something.'
Thinking that, I lay down on the floor with my limbs stretched out.
I was hit with a sudden reality check.
Okay, I've accepted that I've become a girl.
But why am I an orphan and so poor?
I blankly stared at the ceiling while thinking about incomprehensible things like the ways of the world or fate.
Time had flown by without me noticing. The sunset was already floating in the sky, and the lingering light of the afternoon slowly seeped through the slightly open window, warming the floor.
Maybe that's why I was getting sleepy.
"Hoo..."
Should I sleep for a bit and then get up?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Uuugh... Huh?!"
At some point, my eyes suddenly snapped open.
How long did I sleep?
The answer to that question came quickly. I didn't even need to check the clock.
The house was dimly lit.
No matter how I thought about it, it was clearly morning.
I jumped up in surprise and immediately turned on my phone.
[AM 8:29]
"Holy shit...!"
I fell asleep around sunset yesterday and woke up this morning?
Was I that exhausted without realizing it?
My mind is extremely tired, sure...
No, this isn't the time to think about that.
It takes about 20 minutes to get from home to school, and I need to arrive by 9 AM.
I immediately went up to the rooftop, gathered all the laundry hanging from the clothespins in one arm, and rushed back down the stairs to my room.
No time to wash up. Getting dressed is the priority right now.
"Blouse, skirt, necktie, socks... They're all dry."
Some miracle must have happened overnight because all the outer clothes were dry.
The armpit areas and sleeves were fluffy like new clothes.
Next, the bra and panties.
I picked them up and checked their condition.
Damp-
"Ah, fuck."
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
[AM 8:45]
A character with an awkward name from a famous novel once said.
Among the tragedies of this world, there's nothing sadder than putting on a damp bra...
I never thought I'd experience that in my life.
But now, with damp bra and panties combined, I'm experiencing a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare in real time.
'How did it come to this?'
I pondered seriously while running through the alley.
Sweat was pouring down. I was fully dressed in my uniform, but without stockings, my legs were bare. The wind was blowing fiercely, making my legs cold.
'At least buy more underwear, come on...!'
Around 8:55 or so, the main road appeared and the academy's main gate came into view.
Other pitiful students like me were quickly running inside.
I picked up my pace too.
"Hek, heek, heuuuuk..."
Finally arriving at school.
I was practically half-dead, supporting my knees with both hands while looking at the ground, panting heavily.
Sticky drool dripped onto the ground, and my whole body was drenched in sweat.
'I just washed these clothes yesterday!'
[AM 8:56]
Anyway, did I run too hard?
I arrived 4 minutes early.
'First... let me catch my breath for a minute before going in...'
"Hoo, hoo..."
Just as I was catching my breath while bent over,
someone grabbed my shoulder firmly.
"Kyaak...!"
"Yubin-ah, what are you doing?"
I let out another girly scream.
When I turned around sharply, Seyeon was there.
"Uh, Se, Seyeon-ah..."
"Did you run here?"
"Yeah, I thought I'd be late."
"Looks like it. Your hair is all messy."
Saying that, Seyeon smiled sweetly.
Actually, it might be because I didn't wash my hair... but since Seyeon smiled, it was fine.
"Let's go in quickly. We'll be late."
Seyeon grabbed my wrist and took the lead.
While walking down the hallway, I suddenly became curious and asked Seyeon.
"Which class are you in, Seyeon?"
"Huh? Yubin-ah, didn't you check the class assignment list? It's on the school website."
I nodded.
Now that you mention it, that's right.
Yesterday went by so fast that I didn't even think to check my class.
"I should check now."
"No, no need."
"Huh?"
"You're in the same class as me. Class 3, Grade 1."
Gasp...!
My eyes widened as I responded.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really."
"Wow, what a coincidence..."
"I was surprised too. The girl I just met yesterday is in the same class."
"Right, that's really great."
I nodded obediently, then remembered something at the word 'yesterday' and opened my mouth.
"By the way, what happened yesterday?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Um..."
For some reason, the words wouldn't come out easily.
"After I met you yesterday, I came to my senses lying on a bench. I don't remember what happened."
"Hmm..."
Seyeon thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'm not sure. You stayed behind saying you'd stay in the empty lot a bit longer after we exchanged numbers. I went back to the dormitory."
"R, really...?"
I did that?
I don't remember exchanging numbers or Seyeon saying she was going back to the dormitory.
"Actually, I don't even remember exchanging numbers."
"What?"
Seyeon's face darkened rapidly as she looked at me with pity.
"Are you okay? You're not sick or anything?"
"I don't know."
Seyeon gently stroked my wrists with both hands.
My heart beat faster for no reason.
"Maybe you should go to a hospital or-"
"Ah, it's not that serious. Don't worry too much."
Actually, I'm worried too, but going to the hospital would cost money.
♩♪♬~
The bell rang as soon as we stepped into the classroom. Fortunately, the teacher hadn't arrived yet.
I quickly looked at the seating chart on the board and sat down in my chair.
Coincidentally, I was paired with Seyeon. Why do these coincidences keep happening?
But since it's a good coincidence, it's fortunate.
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
Seohyun Hunter Specialized Academy.
Despite its extraordinary name 'Academy', it's actually just a specialized high school.
They don't divide classes by ability like Class A, B, C. Classes are assigned randomly like a regular high school.
The teaching method is the same as specialized high schools too.
We learn general subjects like Korean, English, and math, but they have less weight. About three periods in the morning?
The rest is all filled with Hunter-related classes. Both theory and practical.
...That's what was mentioned in the novel.
'It's exactly the same.'
The schedule matched the novel exactly.
Periods 1, 2, 3: General subjects.
Period 4: Hunter Theory Class.
Periods 5, 6, 7: All practical training.
♩♪♬~
The bell ending period 4 rang, and I quickly lifted my forehead from the desk.
Drool stretched between my textbook and my lips.
'Holy shit.'
Did I sleep through the entire period 4?
Even though it was about Hunters, which I've never learned about before, any subject with 'theory' in it was boring.
The part about monster habits was relatively interesting, but concepts like Gates and mana were explained with such difficult terminology that I got confused and just fell asleep.
I quickly wiped away the drool I'd spilled, as if someone might see.
Anyway, period 4 is over, so it's school meal time now.
The moment most students look forward to.
Especially if that student had to make do with tap water for meals the previous day.
As I stood up with a pounding heart, Seyeon grabbed my arm firmly.
"Yubin-ah, let's go to the bathroom."
"Huh? Bathroom?"
I was momentarily flustered by the sudden suggestion to go to the bathroom, but I soon nodded.
Right, girls always have the habit of going to the bathroom together.
I don't know what they do in there though.
Maybe now I can uncover that secret?
As I agreed, Seyeon grabbed my wrist and left the classroom.
'I'm holding hands with Seyeon a lot.'
To be precise, it's my wrist.
Even though we're not dating, it was a bit embarrassing to be grabbed and touched here and there, but girls naturally have more physical contact than boys. There's less aversion to same-gender contact.
Since I'm a girl now too, shouldn't I accept this?
It's definitely not because I can't bring myself to tell Seyeon to let go for fear of offending her.
'Seyeon is the first nice friend I've made, I shouldn't make things awkward.'
Meeting a kind friend in this terrifying Hunter Academy full of schemes is a great blessing.
Besides, holding hands with such a pretty girl is quite nice.
While having such random thoughts and walking along, I suddenly noticed something strange.
We've been walking for quite a while...?
Was the bathroom this far? Normally it should be at the end of the hallway.
I looked around, turning my head left and right.
The surroundings were gloomy.
The only light source was sunlight coming through open windows, and all the lights were off.
"Se, Seyeon-ah? Where is this...?"
"Bathroom."
Well, Seyeon was right.
There was definitely the entrance to the girls' bathroom in front of us.
"......"
Goosebumps suddenly rose all over my body.
The inside of the bathroom was filled with sticky darkness.
The wide-open glass door looked like a giant monster opening its mouth wide. An unusually ominous feeling could be sensed.
"Let's go in, Yubin-ah."
Seyeon pulled my wrist forcefully, trying to drag me into the bathroom while I stood stiffly in place.
Her voice was as cold as a bus stop bench that had frozen over in winter.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, no. I'm fine. I'll wait here..."
Even just breathing, the darkness flowing from beyond seemed to cling stubbornly to my lungs.
Instinctively, I pulled my waist back and hesitated, stepping backward.
But Seyeon tightened her grip on me until my fingers turned pale from lack of blood circulation, preventing me from escaping.
"What do you mean you're fine."
"Hwuuk, hwuuk..."
"Haa, you've been really persistent since yesterday."
Seyeon released my wrist with a snap, as if she might have broken a bone with her grip.
Only then did I exhale the breath I'd been holding.
Why is my body trembling like this, why do I want to run away...?
'But what does she mean by persistent-'
Snap!