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As always, when I headed to the science lab, a chubby middle-aged woman I had never seen before occupied the place he should have been.

“Oh dear. What happened, student?”

“…Who are you?”

“Me? I’m the teacher temporarily assigned to the first-year science class.”

Temporarily assigned, huh?

I frowned and glanced around.

As expected, there was no sign of him.

“What about the teacher who was originally here?”

“Oh, that person is away on a business trip.”

“…Excuse me? What did you say?”

“The teacher who used to be here is on a business trip, I said.”

A business trip?

Then what about my meds?

“When will he be back?”

“Hmm, maybe in three days?”

At that moment, the first feeling that hit me was betrayal.

But…

He didn’t tell me anything!

He never gave me a heads-up that he would be gone!

Of course, I know.

He had no reason to keep me informed about such things.

My head felt blank.

Especially since the effects of the medication were wearing off.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing. It’s fine.”

I took a step back and exited the science lab.

Stay calm.

I always thought it had to end someday.

It just so happens that the chance is now.

It’s actually a good thing.

I don’t need medication anymore.

From now on, I just have to overcome things on my own.

“…Right?”

As expected, I didn’t get a response.

Since when did I start talking to myself?

Even though Sophie isn’t around anymore.

By the time I returned to the dorm, the effects of the medication had completely worn off.

It’s been ages since I was fully awake and alert.

When I faced the scenery in my room, surprisingly, I was pretty indifferent.

Not that I didn’t feel sadness at all.

I wasn’t enveloped in the unnatural happiness I experienced when I was under the drug.

Just a touch of lethargy and loneliness.

And a bit of a heavier solitude.

Ah, I see.

This is what it feels like to have emotions not distorted by medication.

I had been forgetting that for quite a while now.

When I was addicted to the drug, this moment terrified me.

I was convinced I’d never overcome these negative feelings.

What a delusion.

It’s more bearable than I thought.

In fact, this natural sadness isn’t so bad.

It felt like it was comforting my wounded heart.

I looked at the empty bunk bed in the corner of the room.

I gently stroked the mattress.

It was a bed that only came in after you left.

There aren’t any memories related to you in this bed.

But I guess I’ll sleep in this bed again tonight.

It’s quite soft and comfy, honestly better than the old one.

Maybe it isn’t so different after all?

This world too.

The fulfilling life I enjoy at the academy right now.

All of these are things I’ve gained anew since you disappeared.

But I don’t think that’s so bad.

It might not be necessary for everything to be related to you.

To think of only you in everything might be excessive.

However, when I look at the shining stars brightly shining in the night,

At that moment, I’ll think of you and miss you.

I’ll allow myself to be sad.

It’s a bit late, but even now,

I’m learning to slowly accept goodbye.

Even if we’re far apart, if we’re thinking of each other,

That’s just as good as being together.

*

On a dark night,

Shin Woo slipped out of the dorm and headed to the park.

It was past curfew, and if caught, he would be penalized, but right now, that didn’t matter.

The swing in the park, which should have been empty, creaked.

Their eyes met.

A brief silence.

Hana smiled weakly and spoke first.

“…Hey.”

“…Nice night, huh?”

Why did she call out to him?

Especially at this hour.

He couldn’t tell.

But it was a good opportunity.

After a long contemplation, Shin Woo was about to share his decision with her.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

At her words, the boy sat on the swing next to hers.

They spent a moment in silence together.

Suddenly, a memory popped into Shin Woo’s head, and he chuckled.

Hana then asked.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, it just feels like it’s been a while since I swung on a swing with you.”

“…Is that so? I suppose it might be.”

The boy was lost in happy memories.

The girl watched him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so harsh last time. I was just interfering under the pretense of worrying about you without knowing anything.”

“You did it because you were worried, right? I get it.”

Hana looked down at the ground for a moment and mumbled.

“It just… It’s like things went downhill. If it had been just a little bit better, maybe things wouldn’t be so awkward now?”

“But there were definitely chances to change things. If I hadn’t kicked them away myself, things would surely be better now…”

Shin Woo’s words were interrupted by Hana.

“You can still change things now.”

“…”

“I don’t think it’s too late. It’s just that you took a slightly wrong turn. We can change things starting from now.”

Shin Woo tried to respond, but words wouldn’t come out easily.

He needed time to calm the overwhelming emotions.

Then Hana,

No, maybe someone within Yu Hana,

Physically hinted at her true feelings.

“Kim Shin Woo, you look like a fool sometimes, and you’re quite frustrating. You let girls control you, and you’re needlessly stubborn, plus you hesitate at important moments, right?”

“…Sorry.”

“But you know, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. A protagonist doesn’t always have to be perfect. I’ve never disliked you even once.”

Has she really thought of him that way all along?

Shin Woo wore a bitter smile.

Yeah, he could still change.

Maybe this was his last chance.

So, he should do it right this time.

“Yu Hana.”

“…Yes?”

“Are you happy right now?”

Happiness?

As the word echoed in her mind, Hana looked up at the sky.

Countless lights called stars lit up the dark night.

The first person to show her happiness in a world full of despair was Sophie.

But she left. Sacrificing herself until the very end.

As happiness faded, sadness filled its place.

She believed she could never regain happiness without Sophie.

So she clung to false happiness.

A potion that deceived her into believing her sadness was happiness.

She realized too late.

That fabricated happiness could never be true happiness.

No matter how thrilling and dizzying the pleasure was, it couldn’t compare to the gentle seep of true happiness.

Thus, she reached the present moment.

So what about now?

“Well, I’m not sure, but I think it might not be.”

“…”

“So I want to be happy.”

Not a false, fabricated happiness.

But true happiness.

Then Shin Woo said,

“I’ll help you.”

“I’ll make sure you can be happy.”

If that’s what you want.

I’ll sacrifice everything for it.

So they stayed like that in the park for a long time.

It was a bright and peaceful night with stars filling the sky.

And three days passed.

*

I hesitated countless times about coming here.

But I definitely need to tie it all off.

I intend to never come back.

This will be my last time.

After a deep breath, I opened the door to the science lab.

He was sitting there, just as always.

He’s really back.

It felt like it had been a while, even though it had only been three days.

Maybe it’s because I had seen him every day lately?

Well, that would end today.

He noticed my presence and got up from his seat.

“It’s been a while.”

“…Yeah.”

That unsettling smile.

His sharp gaze sends a chill down my spine.

“What brings you here?”

“…It’s about the medication.”

“Oh, that medication? You came because you need more.”

That’s not it.

I came here to say I won’t take the medicine anymore.

Just as I was about to clarify the misunderstanding, he spoke first.

“However, what should I do? The medicine has run out now.”

“…The medicine is gone?”

“Yeah. You hurried over right after class, so you seem to be in quite a rush, but I’m sorry. Then again, it’s only natural since you haven’t taken it for the past three days.”

I frowned, understanding his implication.

“Do I really look that desperate?”

“Hmm, there’s no point in pretending otherwise. Just looking at your eyes tells me everything.”

It’s true I hadn’t been sleeping well lately.

But that was more due to the concerns that had recently arisen, not withdrawal symptoms.

One thing was for sure; unlike what he claimed, I did not miss or crave the medication at all.

Something felt off.

It was hard to pinpoint, but there was a palpable unease in the air.

He definitely welcomed the reduction in the effects last time we met before his trip.

I was worried about how much longer it would take, and he even said it was a relief.

But his demeanor now was the complete opposite.

It seemed like he wanted me to be addicted to the medication instead.

What the hell?

As I reflected on three days ago, I recalled the last thing he said.

“Never trust anyone.”

Including him, suspect everyone.

Desperately trying to calm my trembling heart,

I cleared my throat and begged with as sincere a voice as I could muster.

“Is this a lie? I know there’s medicine! A-are you doing this because of that condition you imposed? But I had no choice! How could I possibly fulfill those hard conditions? Please, can’t you just give it to me? Huh?”

As I clung to him, he stroked his chin and got lost in thought.

I didn’t miss the fleeting smile that crossed his face in that moment.

“Hmm. It’s quite disappointing that you couldn’t fulfill the conditions. I’ll need to think longer about giving you the medication now.”

“But that’s too much! How could you impose that kind of condition… I won’t be able to return to a normal student life…”

“Are you not even prepared for something like that? Quite disappointing.”

“…”

With my head bowed, I thought.

What should I do now?

For the time being, I just need to get out of here as quickly as possible.

I need to escape.

“That’s surprising.”

A low, deep voice boomed up close.

Nothing like his voice at all.

“You noticed, huh?”