"Seriously…"
A love confession in the sacred halls of school?
I was so dumbfounded that I wanted to kick Choi Kang-hoon out of the third-year classroom, but I couldn't risk missing the "trace" of the third party who altered the future.
"Tell me about this 'small' confession story."
"Yeah. A third-year sunbae came to me during break and gave me a note saying she likes me."
"…That's it?"
"Yeah."
"And then?"
"Huh?"
"You got a confession. What did you say back to her?"
"I have to reply?"
"…"
I almost smacked Choi Kang-hoon's head as he innocently tilted it and asked back.
'Information first.'
If I strayed from this profound topic, it'd be hard to steer back without raising suspicion.
"Kang-hoon."
"Yeah."
"Ignoring a girl's confession note isn't manly."
I blurted out whatever came to mind without any basis.
"Huh? Isn't it manly?"
"No."
At my comment, Choi Kang-hoon furrowed his brow and countered.
"Why? I thought it made me seem like a cool, aloof bad boy."
"You've been watching too many dramas!"
'Is this the leisure of the privileged?!'
My smile soured as I looked at Choi Kang-hoon.
"I don't watch dramas, but you're saying that's not okay?"
He quickly backtracked, misreading my expression.
"Exactly."
"You're amazing, hyung. I can feel the leisure of the privileged in you."
"Me?"
The breadwinner of a household who struggles to afford textbooks and study guides?
"That's why you're so popular."
"Not at all."
"Don't be modest. You're pretty famous even among the underclassmen. Good grades, athletic, hardworking, manly looks… You're talented in every way."
"Hm. I used to be arrogant enough to think that too."
I didn't deny it. I'd lived fiercely since my father's irresponsible passing.
But after getting "shaman" as my aptitude test result, I became more humble.
"So help me."
"With what?"
"With replying to the sunbae who confessed to me with a note. I don't know what to say."
"Listen, little brother, I really don't have any advice for you."
As I kept the conversation flowing naturally with Kang-hoon, my mind raced to analyze the situation.
'The third-year girl who confessed to Kang-hoon… could it be her?'
It wouldn't hurt to investigate.
"You're so stingy."
"Little brother."
"Just help me out."
"Fine, I'll help."
"I'm begging you—huh?! You'll really help?!"
"I said I would."
I had no knowledge of women to offer the expert advice Kang-hoon wanted, but to solve this occult mystery, I had no choice. This wasn't the time to worry about conscience.
So I decided to act a bit more knowledgeable.
"Do you like this sunbae?"
"I don't really have any thoughts. It's not my first time getting a confession."
"I see."
When my father passed, I thought I was just a bit unluckier than others. But after getting my aptitude test result, my perspective changed.
Life is so unfair.
"Hyung, what should I do?"
"Do you know her name?"
"Uh… I heard it, but I forgot. Is her name important?"
"Not really, but…"
If I knew her name, I could investigate on my own without dragging Kang-hoon along. But I couldn't say that outright, could I?
"Her name was to test how much you care about this girl."
"Oh! There's such deep meaning…!"
"Second question."
"Yeah."
"What's her hairstyle?"
"Long, straight hair."
Bingo!
I didn't see her face, but the girl on the rooftop had long hair too.
"Third question. What color was her schoolbag?"
"Huh? Her bag?"
"Just answer."
I knew the question was odd, but I pushed forward shamelessly.
"Uh…"
"You don't know?"
"Of course not."
"Hm. No choice, then. I'll come to the second-year classroom later. Let's find her together."
Break time was almost over.
"You're coming, hyung?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It's just… I've never seen you so proactive about someone else's business."
"…If you have time to talk nonsense, figure out her name."
"Yeah! See you later!"
Watching Kang-hoon wave and scamper off, I mulled over our conversation.
"Someone else's business…"
Now that I'd done it, it didn't feel so bad.
***
"That's her."
"That doesn't help me know who."
"The sunbae poking her head out the classroom window, looking at the courtyard."
"Hm…"
I quickly scanned the classroom.
"Oh, that girl."
With Choi Kang-hoon's detailed description, I easily spotted the female student who matched it.
However,
'She's not carrying a bag.'
It made sense since it wasn't time for arriving at or leaving school.
Until I confirmed the bag of the girl who confessed to Kang-hoon, I couldn't be sure it was the same person.
'Still, her silhouette seems kind of similar…'
Her slender frame and vibe felt familiar.
At that moment, Kang-hoon poked my side.
"…What?"
"Hyung, what do I do now? Should I just tell her I'm not interested?"
"Wait!"
I was dead serious, but this guy's life was like an eight-lane highway.
"Did you find out her name?"
"Yeah. It was written on the note I left in the classroom. Song Sun-young sunbae."
"Song Sun-young?"
"Yeah."
"…I feel like I've heard that name before."
"We're in different classes, but we're both third-years. You probably heard it in passing."
"Maybe."
Song Sun-young. I committed the name to memory.
"Hyung."
"What?"
"I feel like the sunbaes have been staring at me since earlier."
"You're right. It's just your imagination."
Life is so unfair.
"Hyung."
"What now?"
"That's Song Sun-young sunbae."
"Oh, right."
A third-year girl who sent a love note to a second-year junior.
She had the common long, straight hair and wore a school uniform, but I couldn't help but think she'd look quite pretty if she dressed up.
Why?
'Oh, her legs are long.'
Even without shortening her uniform skirt, her crane-like legs created an optical illusion.
"Hyung, what do I do?"
"…It's hard to decide right away, so ask for some time."
I know nothing about romance either.
"Okay."
"I'm heading out."
"Huh?!"
"Kang-hoon, listen to your hyung's advice. Confidence is key for a man."
"Confidence?"
"Yeah, confidence."
"Confidence for a man…"
"If I'm here, it'll get in the way. It'll make you look less confident."
Song Sun-young.
I confirmed she's the girl who jumps from the school rooftop.
'Just as I thought.'
She was somehow connected to this maddening occult phenomenon.
For now, I needed time to think about my next steps.
As for my dear junior Kang-hoon…
"I see~"
"…"
The glimmer of profound realization in his eyes made me a bit uneasy.
But with a face like his, he's already halfway to success, so it should be fine.
I brought up manliness to motivate him, but confidence is a vital virtue for anyone.
"Manly, manly…"
"I'm going."
"Okay."
"…I'm really leaving."
"Okay."
He'll be fine… right?
***
"Student Kang Moon-soo, come up and solve problem 3 on page 338."
"…"
It wasn't fine at all.
The fifth regression triggered before I even had a chance to investigate Song Sun-young.
"Student Kang Moon-soo?"
"Oh, yes."
"Were you sleeping?"
"…No."
Even in a half-dazed state, I solved the problem flawlessly.
This was my third time.
I could do it with my eyes closed now.
"Oh… That was perfect. There's no need for me to point out or add anything. As expected of Kang Moon-soo."
"Thank you."
"So, like the other teachers, I have high expectations for your aptitude test result."
"…Me too."
Unlike the teachers' expectations, I know there's no such thing as dreams or hope, so I couldn't care less about the aptitude test result.
Instead,
'I finally have a clue!'
Until now, I was helplessly at the mercy of this occult because I knew nothing, but thanks to Choi Kang-hoon visiting me, I found a lead.
Song Sun-young.
I'm clueless about the occult, but my gut tells me she holds the key.
'I'm sure of it.'
There's a chance someone else, like me, retains their memories and influenced this, but given the circumstances, that seems highly unlikely.
Now, I'll meet her directly and talk.
But…
"Huh?"
I couldn't find Song Sun-young in the classroom or the hallways.
'Is she in the bathroom?'
Thinking it wasn't a big deal, I loitered around her classroom, waiting leisurely, but even when the next class started, she didn't show up.
Not after that, either. Nowhere…
Song Sun-young was gone.
"Hey, I have a question."
"Hm? What?"
I grabbed a student from her class and asked.
"Where's Song Sun-young?"
"No idea."
"You don't know?"
"Yeah. She suddenly disappeared without a word, and it's a big deal now."
"…I see."
This made it even clearer.
'She's like me!'
She doesn't lose her memories when regressing. Otherwise, such a drastic change wouldn't happen.
For now, I had no choice but to wait endlessly for her to return to school.
***
Song Sun-young didn't come back to school until all the classes were over.
And I…
"I don't wanna work~"
As always, I went straight to my part-time job after school.
The boss, obsessed with computer games, loves it when I come early to take over the convenience store, and I'm happy to get extra pay beyond my salary.
But,
"Yawn…"
Lately, it hasn't been great at all.
Standing at the counter in the dead of night when good kids are off in dreamland, I rubbed my sleepy eyes to stay alert.
Clean if it's dirty, greet customers, watch for shoplifters, restock empty shelves…
The work is always similar, so the fatigue isn't too bad, but the fact that I won't get paid if I regress again keeps sapping my motivation.
'My life, really…'
It feels like I've been working for free for half a month. It's an unprovable occult phenomenon, so I can't even report it to the labor board.
It's just unfair.
"12:29 AM. Time for that customer."
One minute from now, a drunk guy will come in and order T-brand cigarettes. Then a heavily made-up girl will pick out S-brand spicy cup noodles, and about 30 minutes later, a noisy couple will buy two bottles of H-brand beer…
Knowing exactly which customers will come and what they'll buy makes it even more tedious.
Ding~♪
"Welcome!"
As the small bell on the convenience store door jingled, I greeted the customer brightly.
"Cigarettes—"
"Here you go."
Tap.
Without even listening to the drunk, stumbling man, I grabbed a pack of T-brand cigarettes and placed it on the counter.
"Huh? Did I say T-brand?"
"Yes."
"Did I…?"
He looked puzzled for a moment but paid without question and staggered out of the store.
'Sir, drink in moderation. Your one and only life might evaporate like alcohol.'
My father did.
Through the glass wall of the store, I saw the man, shivering in the cold, lighting the cigarette he just bought.
'He'll toss the cigarette butt on the ground again. Thinks the store's trash can is just for show—huh?!'
My eyes widened as I watched the same customer's same misdeed for the fourth time with a listless gaze.
Not because of him.
Next to the man, burning through his lifespan and health with his cigarette, a female student passed by like a shadow.
There was no way I mistook her.
"Song Sun-young!"
Ding~♪
Without hesitation, I rushed out of the convenience store.
"Hey! Wai—ahem. Song Sun-young! Hold on a second!"
I called out to keep her from leaving.
"Who—"
"I'm a student from the same school! I need to talk!"
"I don't."
"…"
To her curt rejection, I shouted,
"Did things not work out with Choi Kang-hoon?"
Stop.
At those words, Song Sun-young halted and turned to face me.
Her face was full of shock.
"H-How…?"
She must've realized I haven't lost my memories.
"I…"
I'd already decided what to say.
"Because I'm a shaman."