I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 31

A sunny day.

The sound of a voice amplified through the speakers echoed across the playground.

“As you know, today is a day for field practice. Please follow the instructions of your supervising instructor.”

At a glance, it almost looked like a school outing.

Students lined up on the playground, chattering, with buses waiting for them.

Once the headcount was complete, they started boarding the buses. I noticed Han Si-hyun getting on the bus for Class B.

“Did you prepare well?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded at Sophie’s question. I had prepared thoroughly. There’s no way I’ll fail.

At that moment, someone ruffled my hair from behind.

“Why are you carrying so much stuff?”

“Snacks.”

“…You’re not mistaking this for a picnic, right? We’ll be back by four.”

No, sorry, but I plan to stay for a week.

“Get on the bus, quickly!”

“Okay!”

At the class leader’s urging, we boarded the bus. I tried to sit towards the front, but Hong Yeonhwa grabbed me.

“The best seats on a bus are always at the back, right?”

“I get carsick in the back.”

“What carsick nonsense? We’ll be there in 30 minutes.”

In the end, I was dragged to the back, wedged between Hong Yeonhwa and Sophie.

It’s fine. No problem at all.

Once everyone was seated, the teacher spoke from the front seat.

“For this practice, you’ll be entering a gate directly. Although it’s a training gate, you’ll face real monsters instead of holograms. A mistake could cost your life.”

A gate.

It’s a space where monsters appear.

Of course, monsters exist outside gates as well; otherwise, Yoo Hana’s hometown wouldn’t have been attacked.

These gates don’t disappear just by defeating all the monsters inside. The core of the magic stone at the center must be destroyed. Otherwise, the monsters will reappear over time.

Training gates use this fact in reverse. By deliberately not destroying the core, they control the gate’s interior space, using it as a training ground to cultivate practical experience.

The training gate we’re headed to is a D-grade gate.

For a non-superpowered person, entering alone would mean certain death.

But considering the number of superpowered students, along with the supervising teachers and assistants, it’s perfectly safe—unless something unexpected happens.

“No need to fuss. Who would die in a D-grade gate?”

“You shouldn’t say that. You never know what might happen.”

Ignoring the voices from either side, I looked ahead.

For some reason, Kim Si woo has been acting strange since yesterday.

Today, he didn’t even say a word to me.

I wonder if something happened.

…

No, this isn’t the time to worry about that.

For now, I need to focus entirely on my plan.

Even the smallest mistake could make it irreversible.

“Hey, curly hair.”

“Hey, curly!”

“…Huh? Were you calling me?”

“What are you daydreaming about? Do you like that guy so much?”

Hong Yeonhwa looked annoyed.

“No.”

“No? Your eyes were practically dripping honey when you looked at Kim Si woo. It’s annoying.”

I’ve learned something while being around her.

Her personality isn’t as bad as it seems, but her language is extremely harsh. Because of that, most people are either scared of her or dislike her.

She’d be so much better if she changed her language. I’ll tell her that if I get the chance when I return to the academy.

After all, she’s a friend if anything.

“Hey, open your bag, Curly.”

“Huh?”

“You brought snacks, right? Snacks are essential on the bus.”

“…You were just complaining about me acting like it’s a picnic.”

“Oh, I don’t care. Just hurry up!”

With a sigh, I opened my bag. Without asking, Hong Yeonhwa began rummaging through it, pausing momentarily.

“…What’s this? Canned food?”

“Have some chips instead.”

“Jerky, too? Are you going on a survival mission?”

Well, I couldn’t help it.

Stuff like kimbap spoils after a day or two, so I only packed food that’s high in calories and easy to preserve.

I stared blankly at the chips Hong Yeonhwa was eating.

…Those chips are my favorite.

I bought them to save for later.

Noticing my gaze, she frowned, then burst out angrily.

“Oh, seriously! What’s with you! …Here, have some!”

“It’s mine anyway.”

“How arrogant. So arrogant!!”

She pinched my cheeks again.

It seems she’s gotten a taste for it lately.

It’s not just her language; maybe her actions need adjusting too.

I hoped Sophie would step in, but she just smiled, amused.

Only after I gave her a pleading look did she intervene half-heartedly.

“Hana, that must hurt, Yeonhwa.”

“Hmph. You little brats are annoying.”

Despite her words, she let go of my cheeks.

Now that I think about it, maybe Sophie has a soft spot for Hong Yeonhwa?

During club activities, she always seems to let Sophie win.

What’s Kim Si woo up to?

He was sitting next to a girl with eye-catching pink hair, listening to her chatter.

I thought, Ah, she’s the heroine.

As I’ve mentioned before, this story is a harem.

In the original, Kim Si woo is surrounded by several girls.

And that hasn’t changed.

It’s true he’s been paying more attention to me since noticing my suicide attempt. But even so, he’s still surrounded by girls.

Kim Si woo doesn’t push away the heroines who approach him.

To be precise, he’s the type to make friends with everyone, whether male or female.

His abilities are even related to that.

“…Hey, I told you to stop looking at him, didn’t I?”

“You didn’t.”

“Didn’t I? Well, I did now.”

My cheek was pinched again.

It seems Hong Yeonhwa doesn’t like Kim Si woo.

Maybe it’s because of the fight they had.

Ironic.

In the original story, she ends up liking him, though that happens later on.

After some chatting at the back of the bus, we soon arrived at our destination.

A quiet, rural landscape spread out before us.

Our Class A bus was the only one there.

Each class is assigned to a different training gate.

This means Han Si-hyun won’t appear in this incident.

It’s a reason why the original storyline has to break.

We got off the bus and lined up.

The teacher spoke.

“In this practice, you’ll explore your designated area. There are assistants stationed inside the gate to ensure safety, so don’t worry too much. You’ll also be working in groups.”

The mention of groups elicited various reactions from the students.

Those who lacked confidence felt relieved, while someone like Hong Yeonhwa looked disappointed.

“Boring.”

“Groups will consist of four people each. Line up as I call your names. Group 1.”

One by one, the groups were formed.

With 36 students, there would be nine groups.

That works out perfectly.

Suddenly, I recalled what the disciplinary committee said.

They had swapped Sophie for Han Si-hyun because, without her, the planned curriculum would have been disrupted.

Does that mean this is also part of the curriculum?

“And for Group 8, Kim Si woo, Sophie, Yoo Hana, Hong Yeonhwa.”

…

I never expected to be in a group like this.

Is this another butterfly effect from replacing Han Si-hyun with Sophie?

I could faintly hear whispers nearby.

“What’s with that group?”

“Why? The balance seems fine.”

“Hehe, is it the top duo and the bottom duo?”

I didn’t feel particularly angry or humiliated.

It’s just the truth, after all.

Kim Si Woo is ranked first. Hong Yeonhwa, second.

Yoo Hana, 36th. Sophie, 35th.

In the academy, ability reigns supreme.

No matter how good your grades are in non-combat subjects, combat is the core.

An academy’s only powerless student and one with a vague ability to bring peace of mind.

Add to that, weak physical abilities and a timid personality.

There’s no way my rank could be high.

“Eek!”

“What, what are you doing?!”

“Ah. You were there? Didn’t see you. My bad.”

A deliberate shoulder shove, obvious to everyone.

But faced with Hong Yeonhwa’s sharp glare, the two kids gossiping behind us fell silent.

“If you’re going to talk shit, at least say it loud enough. How was I supposed to know you were there, huh?”

“…Are you insulting us?”

“What crap. I was insulting the mosquitoes.”

The atmosphere turned icy.

“What’s going on there?”

“Nothing, teacher.”

Luckily, the teacher’s intervention ended the situation.

I stared at Hong Yeonhwa.

Noticing my gaze, she responded confidently.

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

“Idiot.”

Despite the commotion, we gathered as Group 8.

As expected, Kim Si woo’s expression was different than usual.

Though I’m not sure how, he kept glancing at Sophie instead of me.

Something had definitely happened between them.

The problem is I don’t know what.

Sophie, on the other hand, was just the same as usual.

“Let’s do our best!”

“You guys stay quiet in the back.”

“Hehe, Yeonhwa is so reliable!”

“…Seriously, what are you talking about?”

I met eyes with Kim Si woo while listening to the two talk.

Neither of us looked away.

I smiled.

Like always.

Playing the part of Yoo Hana.

“Si woo, doesn’t it feel like a picnic today?”

Kim Si Woo didn’t respond.

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