Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Sunday morning.
Si woo walked toward the hospital room early in the day.
To visit his childhood friend, Yoo Hana.
Yoo Hana.
They had grown up together in the orphanage, practically like family.
Perhaps he had become too accustomed to their familiarity.
In the end, he hadn’t truly realized how precious she was and hadn’t given her the attention she deserved.
Her enrollment in the academy had also been mostly at his request.
He vaguely remembered Hana’s innocent smile as she said she’d follow him wherever he went.
The guilt hit him hard, as he realized too late just how much she had been suffering.
But after talking yesterday, Si woo felt a glimmer of hope.
The relief of knowing that it wasn’t too late yet.
He acknowledged all the things he’d done wrong up until now.
From here on out, he was determined to do things right.
Slowly, one step at a time.
He would return things to the way they used to be.
Lost in thought, he soon arrived at the hospital room.
Si woo knocked lightly on the door.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
Si woo was momentarily startled.
How long had it been since he’d heard her voice sound that cheerful?
With a fluttering heart, he carefully opened the door.
As expected, Hana was there inside the hospital room.
Leaning against the window, basking in the morning sunlight.
“…”
It was a beautiful scene, like a painting.
So beautiful that he couldn’t help but stare in awe, speechless.
“Welcome, Si woo.”
The girl smiled brightly as she looked at him.
His heart pounded fiercely.
What is this?
Was Hana always this beautiful?
Quickly brushing aside his idle thoughts, he asked,
“Are you okay?”
“Hm? With what?”
“Are you okay standing like that?”
He took a closer look at Hana.
She was still wrapped in bandages from head to toe, just like yesterday.
She even had several IV drips hanging around her.
Realizing her appearance, she responded with an embarrassed laugh.
“Well… I guess I feel a bit better after a good night’s sleep.”
“…Really? That’s good.”
She looked quite serious just yesterday.
But, good things are still good things.
Si woo nodded, letting it go.
—
“Her healing ability is really impressive.”
“Right? I was shocked when I saw it myself.”
Si woo replied lightly, but Rachel’s expression was serious.
“The wounds were severe enough that she should have been bedridden for at least two weeks.”
“Hmm. That’s what I heard yesterday.”
“I mean it literally. She should’ve been lying in bed 24 hours a day for at least two weeks. And to be discharged and return to daily life would take at least a month.”
“…”
That was…
Certainly strange.
In less than two weeks, Hana had already managed to stand up on her own after just one day.
“Could she be a recovery-type ability user…?”
“She hasn’t received any ability-based treatment. I confirmed all the visitors from yesterday.”
“So… her natural recovery rate is just that high?”
Rachel, lost in thought as she glanced at the medical records, spoke.
“There could be an explanation, I suppose. Like… maybe Hana herself is a recovery-type ability user.”
“If that were the case, wouldn’t her ability have already been revealed?”
Of course, it couldn’t be entirely ruled out.
Hana had never suffered an injury this severe before.
However, the academy already had several recovery-type ability users.
All of them had their ability types and levels identified from the time of their admission.
Why only Hana?
“The world isn’t perfect. There are always exceptions and anomalies.”
“A simple anomaly… is that all it is?”
“Well, that’s the most logical way to think about it. Otherwise, Hana might possess something special that sets her apart from the rest of us.”
Something special.
Something only Hana had, that no one else did.
He couldn’t think of anything immediately.
But he had a feeling that it wasn’t just an anomaly.
Yet, he had no way to prove it.
“Try not to overthink it. After all, as long as the outcome is positive, isn’t that what matters?”
“…Yes. You’re right. Thank you.”
Exactly.
There’s no need to let a positive situation be clouded by negative thoughts.
“Then, I’ll go back to Hana.”
“Alright. Take care of her for me.”
“Sure. Have a good day.”
Left alone after Si woo’s departure, Rachel sank into thought once again.
Finally, a small murmur escaped her lips.
“…What on earth is going to happen?”
It was a mystery.
—
Returning to the hospital room, Si woo paused in the hallway.
He could hear chatting inside.
Occasionally, there were bursts of bright laughter.
Who was it?
There didn’t seem to be any men, only high-pitched voices of girls.
“Hana, I’m coming in.”
The people inside were familiar faces to Si woo.
“Oh, it’s the class president.”
“Oh, you’re here too? Visiting?”
“Yeah. I stepped out for a bit and came back.”
“I see. You’re really dedicated.”
Si woo chuckled, feeling much better now that Hana was doing well.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Like their everyday, normal life.
“What were you talking about?”
“Talking about you behind your back.”
“…Now I’m curious.”
When he scratched his cheek with an embarrassed look, Hana covered her mouth and chuckled.
Si woo found himself staring at her, captivated.
“You’re practically dripping honey from your eyes, aren’t you?”
“Ahem! Wh-what are you talking about? People might get the wrong idea.”
“Wrong idea, my foot. It’s sickeningly sweet.”
Sighing heavily, the class president looked at Hana, who was still laughing, and said,
“Well, I should be heading out.”
“Huh? Already?”
“I’ll leave you two alone.”
Then the class president began her usual nagging.
“And remember, don’t neglect your studies just because you’re hospitalized! Study whenever you have the time, alright?”
“Ugh, studying is so boring.”
“But you can’t neglect it completely! Midterms are just around the corner.”
Hana’s eyes widened slightly before she murmured to herself.
“…I see. Time has passed quickly.”
“Yeah. Time flies… So, to keep up with the lessons, you need to study hard! Si woo can help you with the practical exercises for now.”
“Huh? Me?”
At the sudden mention of his name, Si woo tilted his head in confusion.
The class president gave him a pointed look and said,
“As the top student in our class, you should help her. Isn’t that right?”
“…Of course, I should help. I planned on it, even without you telling me.”
“Hmph. You didn’t seem to have thought of it, but I’ll let it slide this time.”
Caught off guard, Si woo agreed.
Well, the class president wasn’t wrong.
Hana had missed a lot of classes due to various events.
Even after being discharged, it wouldn’t be easy for her to catch up.
Hana smiled gently.
“Thank you. The class president is very kind.”
The class president’s face turned red at the compliment.
She fiddled with her glasses and muttered softly.
“Well, I am the class president… It’s my duty to manage and guide my classmates…”
Watching her bashful demeanor, Si woo chuckled softly.
Immediately, the class president glared at him and turned to leave.
“I’ll be going now! Get well soon and come back to school, alright!?”
“Yeah, I will.”
The class president left with stiff steps.
Watching her retreat, both Si woo and Hana chuckled quietly.
“The class president is so cute.”
“Yeah. I never knew she had that side.”
After a laugh, silence settled over them.
But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.
It was a peaceful quiet without any worries or concerns.
Suddenly, this moment felt incredibly precious.
I wonder if you feel the same way as I do?
I hope so.
I wish for your happiness.
Eventually, the silence broke, and the two of them started chatting.
Their conversation was nothing more than idle small talk.
And yet, it was incredibly valuable.
It felt like they’d returned to the past.
Back to before they entered the academy.
Looking back, they had grown distant at some point.
Probably since the beginning of their first year at the academy, when they were placed in different classes.
Even though they were in the same class in their second year, by then, they had changed.
But even so, they were still childhood friends.
Their conversation blossomed beautifully, like flowers that wouldn’t wither.
They stayed together until the sun went down and evening came.
“Oh, it’s already this late.”
“Yeah. We even forgot about dinner.”
“I should get back before curfew.”
“Alright. Be safe.”
Just as Si woo was about to leave, Hana called out.
“Oh, right.”
He remembered something he had forgotten.
Taking a lollipop out of his pocket, he handed it to her.
“Huh?”
“I brought this for you in the morning but forgot to give it to you. You like these, don’t you?”
Hana stared blankly at the lollipop Si woo held out.
Wrapped in purple, grape-flavored.
“…Thanks.”
Hana spoke softly.
“I’ll enjoy it.”
“Alright. I’ll really go now! I’ll be back tomorrow!”
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
After Si woo left, Hana was alone in the hospital room.
Sitting on the bed, she looked at the lollipop in her hand.
After a moment, she muttered with a bitter smile.
“…I’m not really a fan of grape flavor.”
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