Kim Noeul closed the distance with Na Yuna, her eyes lifeless.
“Yes, it looks very good. Keep doing that.”
“N-no, that’s not it….”
Having tasted the abyss in Kim Noeul’s eyes, Na Yuna turned pale and stepped back.
Just before Na Yuna fainted, Kim Noeul changed her target to Han Doa.
“And Doa Sunbae.”
“…What is it?”
Han Doa, perhaps tensing up at Kim Noeul’s changed atmosphere, answered late.
“Who did you say you’d take responsibility for at the family home? That’s a very misleading statement, isn’t it? Surely the Disciplinary Department Head doesn’t harbor strange feelings for a junior?”
“Wh-what! I have never harbored indecent thoughts! Merely as a comrade with whom to achieve the great cause…!”
“Really? Just a simple comrade?”
“Well….”
“Truly? Then you wouldn’t mind if the relationship doesn’t develop beyond that?”
“……”
Han Doa couldn’t answer, blushing and lowering her head.
Retirement.
After sinking the two women, Kim Noeul firmly pressed her phone screen.
“What are you doing?”
When I asked, she approached me and showed me her phone screen.
On the phone, all the names that seemed to be male had turned gray.
“Blocked them. You won’t hear from them during the break.”
“No….”
“So don’t think I’ll be playing around with guys during the break.”
“I never thought that.”
“…Just saying. It’s an important time, I can’t afford distractions.”
At Kim Noeul’s extreme measure of blocking all her male acquaintances, Na Yuna and Han Doa kept their mouths tightly shut.
“Your resolve, I understand it well.”
I clapped.
“Actually, I don’t care whether you date or whatever, but I respect that resolve. You’re fully intent on taking down Ojakgyo.”
“…Pfft.”
“Kick.”
As I finished speaking, Han Doa and Na Yuna burst into laughter respectively.
Meanwhile, Kim Noeul’s expression soured.
“Wh-why wouldn’t it matter if I date? It could cause problems for your plans, couldn’t it?”
“I don’t think you’re stupid enough to get distracted by dating and mistake your priorities.”
Kim Noeul couldn’t offer any rebuttal.
“And I don’t want to interfere with your private life either. If you want to date, go ahead.”
“Noeul Hubae, we permit it too. Do as you please.”
“R-right. Go for it!”
“…Let’s stop this and just pick a date.”
A few days passed since the summer vacation began.
I was on the phone with the Vice-Principal at the train station located inside Hakdo.
[It’s been a while since you called. Have you been well?]
“I’ve contacted you regularly, anyone would think I haven’t called at all.”
[It’s because I want to talk more often. Are you going to stay in Hakdo?]
“No. I was invited by a senior I know, so I’ll be staying there.”
[So you’ll come to the orphanage after that.]
“Yes.”
[I’m still keeping your things safe.]
Hearing ‘my things,’ I suddenly thought of the letter.
The letter Alice left behind.
At the time, my emotions were chaotic, so I didn’t read it.
And I still haven’t read it to this day.
Temptation to read it arose occasionally, but I desperately fought it off.
The reason was simple.
The moment I read it, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control my emotions.
I had strived to resist Alice and finally made it this far.
I was afraid that if I read that letter, my resistance towards her would weaken.
But lately, this thought also occurred to me.
If my resolve is weak enough to be shaken by reading just one letter, perhaps it’s right to give up from the start….
So, I plan to stop by the orphanage during this break and get the letter.
I can’t avoid reading it forever.
[And you mentioned volunteering at a place called Angel’s House. The Principal knows the principal there, so she was pleased.]
“Really? Then I should probably pass on her regards.”
[That would be nice.]
The Vice-Principal paused for a moment before continuing.
[A student from an orphanage volunteering at another orphanage…. This kind of virtuous cycle should continue….]
“……”
[Sorry, I said something too gloomy. Go have fun. You should cherish your current connections.]
“Yes.”
I ended the call.
My phone screen showed an English vocabulary app.
I stared at it blankly for a moment, then entered the group chat.
[Na Yuna: We get off at Gangneung Station, and Doa’s family car will pick us up outside, right?]
[Han Doa: Correct]
[Na Yuna: Wow, a chauffeur picking us up in person ;;]
[Kim Noeul: Excuse me, but please give me some pocket money]
[Han Doa: As I kept saying, it’s really not a special family]
[Kim Noeul: Does a not-special family hire servants, have two ocean-view villas, and chauffeurs come pick them up?]
[Han Doa: Let’s just drop it ;;]
As could be inferred from the conversation history, we were going to Gangwon Province.
Han Doa’s family home is in Gangwon Province, and there’s a separate villa nearby.
We plan to stay in that villa.
I heard it’s a building offered to guests, and it’s also registered as a separate tourism corporation.
‘It was mentioned in the original work, but actually going there, it’s a much grander family than I thought.’
Han Doa’s unique way of speaking and behaving also stemmed from her family environment.
“You’re early.”
Speak of the devil, Han Doa approached me.
Despite it being vacation, she was in her school uniform.
“…Do you like the uniform?”
“All my wearable casual clothes are loungewear, so I packed them. That left only the uniform.”
She unbuttoned the top button of her uniform blouse.
“Unbuttoning like that is unlike you, Sunbae. Are you hot?”
“It’s mid-July now. And unbuttoning the top button is permitted.”
Wiping the sweat trickling down her neck with a handkerchief, she sat next to me.
Then, startled, she moved away.
‘Why did she move away from me?’
As I looked at her strangely, Han Doa flusteredly made an excuse.
“I sweated a bit on the way here, so I might smell. That’s why I moved away.”
“I didn’t really smell anything.”
“I-is that so.”
Clearing her throat, she subtly moved back next to me.
Some strands of her ponytail stuck to her neck, creating a peculiar atmosphere.
I felt heat rising to my face.
Thinking it was because of the heat, I changed the subject.
“Anyway, are there any rules I should follow when we go to the family home?”
“Rules? Are you referring to house rules?”
“Yes. It’s not exactly an ordinary household, right?”
Han Doa wore a thoughtful expression upon hearing my question.
Then she looked at me.
“Maru Hubae, do you happen to dislike wearing a dobok or a modified Hanbok?”
“I’ve rarely worn them, so I don’t know, but I don’t think I’d dislike it.”
“Then it doesn’t matter. You’ll be given those clothes before and after bath time, you just need to wear them then.”
‘Is it similar to a Japanese onsen trip?’
I think I heard people wear such attire before and after using the hot springs on onsen trips.
Though there are package tours that don’t, of course.
“And meal times are fixed, but that only applies to the retainers, so Maru Hubae doesn’t need to worry about it….”
“Then do we eat separately?”
“You can eat together if you wish. But I don’t recommend it.”
I agreed with Han Doa’s words.
Han Doyoung’s glare, still directed at me, was vivid in my mind.
I had only opposed her to utilize the original story’s development; otherwise, keeping my mouth shut would have been the best course of action.
But Han Doa added something unexpected.
“Um… Maru Hubae will probably be invited to the meal.”
“Huh?”
“Mother initially suggested you come to the family home, after all. Maru Hubae will likely be the main guest.”
Suddenly, my stomach started to hurt.
Seeing my uncomfortable expression, Han Doa quickly spoke.
“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to prevent Mother from saying anything strange. I have that much capability.”
“No, you don’t have to go that far. I’m just nervous. Anyway, since we’re going for fun, I should clear my mind. You too, Sunbae, forget about Ojakgyo for a while.”
“…I will try.”
Han Doa’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing the word Ojakgyo.
Judging by her reaction, she still seemed to be thinking about the fight with Lee Jihye.
It made sense.
Lee Jihye was Han Doa’s Achilles’ heel and trauma.
“You’re still thinking about that fight, aren’t you?”
“……”
“It’s awkward for me, who lost to Eun Yuri, to say this, but you did well enough, Sunbae. I heard Lee Jihye was hospitalized after that too.”
“I’m not simply thinking about victory or defeat.”
Han Doa sighed and closed her eyes.
“You know from the rumors, but… Lee Jihye and I were middle school classmates.”
“…Is the letter Lee Jihye sent at TT Academy related to that past?”
Back then, Lee Jihye’s lackeys came to us and handed over a letter, saying Lee Jihye sent it.
And Han Doa tore it up without even reading it.
“That assumption is correct. I don’t know what Lee Jihye thinks, but to me, it’s an ill-fated connection. An ill-fated connection I desperately want to sever….”
Her words trailing off, Han Doa slowly opened her eyes.
“Sorry. I told you to clear your mind, yet I’m talking like this…. I will truly clear my mind now. Let’s meditate for a moment.”
Han Doa took deep breaths and began meditating.
I stared intently at her profile as she fell silent.
‘Looks like she’s not ready to talk about it yet.’
I decided to wait until she spoke herself.
According to the original work, she reveals her past at the family home.
“Maru, Doa! You were here first!”
“You two are diligent.”
Na Yuna and Kim Noeul appeared together, apparently having met on the way.
Na Yuna wore a yellow dress, while Kim Noeul wore a white chiffon t-shirt and blue wide-leg pants.
Kim Noeul approached Han Doa, who was meditating, and stared at her clothes.
It was a gaze as if looking at an alien.
“Um… why is this person wearing a uniform…?”
“W-well, uniforms are comfortable!”
Na Yuna tried hard to defend her, but confusion flickered in her eyes too.
Just as the two women shifted from Han Doa’s uniform to discussing fashion, the train pulled into the station.
Hearing the train sound, Han Doa stopped meditating and stood up from her seat.
We also stepped inside the train with Han Doa.
“We were in Car 6, right?”
“Yes, four seats in Section D.”
Kim Noeul answered Na Yuna’s question and found the seats.
The seats were arranged in pairs, facing each other.
She lifted our luggage onto the overhead rack as if lifting a light child.
Na Yuna’s eyes widened in admiration.
“You’re strong….”
“It’s the result of training.”
Kim Noeul, answering nonchalantly, sat down by the window.
“I need to use the restroom for a moment.”
Leaving the three women, I headed towards the restroom.
As Kim Maru left his seat, Na Yuna and Han Doa looked at each other, creating a strange atmosphere.
“Doa, where are you going to sit?”
“Where are you going to sit?”
They only asked each other’s intentions, never stating their own first.
Kim Noeul watched them with eyes that had gone cold.
“Unnies, just sit down quickly.”
“Noeul Hubae, why have you already taken a seat? Get up.”
“Noeul. We need to agree on the seats.”
Unable to withstand the glares from her two seniors, Kim Noeul reluctantly stood up.
“I will arbitrarily assign numbers to the seats. The window seats are 1 and 2. The other seats are 3 and 4.”
Han Doa took the initiative and led the conversation.
“Let’s play rock-paper-scissors, and the winner decides everyone’s seats.”
At Han Doa’s suggestion, Kim Noeul and Na Yuna looked nervous.
“Then let’s begin.”
The three women held out their fists.
“Rock….”
“Paper….”
“Scissors!”