I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 3

“Hanaya, are you alright?”

Thump, thump.

Huh? Why is my heart racing?

The moment I saw Kim Si woo, my heart started pounding. But it doesn’t seem like a sign of a panic attack.

Could it be that Yoo Hana’s body is reacting? Just how much did she like him if that’s the case?

No, it’s not that. It’s not going to work out anyway. Pursuing a one-sided love for the main character will only lead to getting hurt.

As Kim Si woo approached, Hong Yeonhwa blocked his path.

“Hey, if anyone sees us, they’ll get the wrong idea. Do you think I’d do something bad to Hana?”

“Everyone knows you’re not close with Hana. You don’t even look happy now.”

“I was just taking her to the infirmary since she wasn’t feeling well. Right?”

Hong Yeonhwa nudged me with her arm around my shoulder.

“…Uh, yeah. That’s right. We were going to the infirmary.”

I nodded in agreement.

Getting close to the protagonist is a bad idea. If I get involved with him, I won’t even be able to avoid my fate and escape the original storyline.

It’s better to stay beside Hong Yeonhwa, even though I hate the bullying… Maybe if I just close my eyes and take a few hits, it won’t hurt as much as a full-blown attack.

At my response, Kim Si woo looked uncertain.

What a fool.

True to a harem protagonist, he’s completely oblivious. Anyone would notice that I’m being bullied.

Then again, that’s probably why he didn’t realize his childhood friend was bullied until she dropped out.

It’s unfortunate for Yoo Hana, but it’s actually a blessing for me.

“You heard her. Now go on your way.”

Hong Yeonhwa seemed delighted, grinning smugly at the protagonist.

Amazingly, this bully girl is one of the original heroines, too. She’s a character who feels guilty about Yoo Hana’s suicide and seeks redemption later.

Naturally, readers have mixed feelings about her. I never thought much of it, maybe because I couldn’t empathize with Yoo Hana.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“Ha, don’t push it, Kim Si woo. You’re crossing the line.”

“What did I do? I’m just worried because Hana is my friend. Is that a problem?”

“…Fine. Have fun with each other. You two really suit each other.”

Hong Yeonhwa spat on the ground in disgust and walked away.

How could she give up so easily?

Now I’m alone with the protagonist.

Kim Si woo watched her leave for a moment before rushing over to me, looking worried as he checked my expression.

“Are you okay? Are you in a lot of pain? Let’s get you to the infirmary.”

“…I’m fine. Weren’t you on your way somewhere?”

“Oh, Si-hyun asked to meet up for a project.”

Han Si-hyun. She’s the main heroine of the original story. She’s a legendary genius, even more talented than the protagonist.

She’s the exact opposite of the inept Yoo Hana.

Actually, Yoo Hana also has potential, but her awakening conditions are just abysmal.

“Then you should go to Si-hyun.”

“It’s okay. I can be a little late. You’re more important right now.”

“I’ll be fine on my own. It’s just a little dizziness.”

After I insisted, Kim Si woo finally relented.

“…Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Why? Do I look weird?”

“It’s not that… You just seem a bit different.”

Wow, he’s observant for once.

If he had paid that much attention to Yoo Hana before, he would’ve noticed something was wrong.

“Hanaya, you can be honest with me. Is Hong Yeonhwa bullying you?”

Now I’m starting to get annoyed.

Can’t you just leave me alone?

I just want to end things quietly without any interference.

Though I get why he’s doing this. We grew up together as childhood friends, and as orphans from the same home, we relied on each other.

Because Yoo Hana treasured him, she kept everything hidden from him.

Her illness, her pain, her inferiority, her love, and even her despair.

How did Yoo Hana manage to hide her suffering?

There was only one way.

She had learned to hide everything long ago.

Kim Si woo never knew how severe Yoo Hana’s illness was because she kept it all under wraps.

It’s foolish, really. But thanks to that, she could enter the academy with him.

Yoo Hana probably never regretted her choice.

So, if the person she loved most were to ask her that question, Yoo Hana would’ve answered with a bright smile.

“Yeah, Yeonhwa is really good to me.”

“…I see. I’m glad to hear that. Sorry for misunderstanding.”

“Hehe, sometimes you worry too much about the smallest things.”

I didn’t even know if Kim Si woo was overly worried, yet the words slipped out so naturally.

Kim Si woo scratched his head awkwardly with a grin, and then, somewhere, a bell chimed.

It was his phone ringing in his pocket.

“Hello? Yeah, I’m outside the girls’ dorm. Uh-huh. Okay.”

“Then I’ll get going. See you tomorrow.”

“Hanaya, wait! Uh, no, it’s nothing…”

Leaving Kim Si woo, who was busy on his call, I turned and walked toward the main building.

I ended up lying to the protagonist.

We won’t see each other tomorrow.

Because tonight, I’m going to end my life.

My destination wasn’t the infirmary but the science lab.

***

The school layout is more complex than I thought. Since the academy is so vast, I struggled to navigate, even with a map.

But finally, I arrived.

The school was silent, as it was the weekend, and the science lab door was closed.

Hmm…

Of course, that makes sense.

But how should I open this door?

Why didn’t I think of this beforehand?

Well, I was high on painkillers then and could only think about ending it all.

Forcing the door open or breaking a window is too risky. I’d trigger the alarm.

Wait, I got it!

I could just ask the teacher for the key, claiming I left something in the lab.

Smart thinking, right? Yoo Hana isn’t dumb. She just scores poorly in practical exams due to her lack of abilities.

She barely avoids failing with her theory and core subject grades.

But I know nothing about combat theory, so wouldn’t I fail anyway?

Not that it matters. I’m dropping out today.

Lost in thought, I reached the faculty room on the first floor. Surely, it’s not locked.

When I knocked, a voice replied from inside.

“Come in.”

Thank goodness, someone’s here.

Inside, I saw a solitary young male teacher with glasses, looking smart.

I had no idea which subject he taught.

“Ah, a student. How can I help you?”

“Uh… Could I go into the science lab for a moment?”

“The science lab? Why?”

“I left my notebook there.”

The teacher rested his chin in thought.

“Hmm. Couldn’t you get it tomorrow?”

“Uh, well, I have an assignment due, so I need it…”

“I see. Alright.”

Phew. I thought of that excuse thanks to Kim Si woo.

Thanks, protagonist. Now I can end things a little more smoothly.

The teacher fetched the science lab key from the cabinet.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“…What?”

“I checked the lab on Friday, and there was no notebook there. Let’s go find it together.”

“Ah…”

So he’s the science teacher on duty? Of all things, this is terrible luck.

It means no poison for me.

And now, if I don’t go, he’ll figure out my lie.

Whatever. I’ll pretend to look around and say I confused it with somewhere else.

“…Thank you.”

Reluctantly, I went with the teacher to the science lab.

It’s so frustrating.

Is it so hard just to let me end things?

Then again, maybe it is.

Anyway, we entered the science lab.

This place feels eerie. Must be because of that skeleton model in the corner.

“Let’s find it quickly.”

“Alright…”

Of course, the notebook doesn’t exist.

Pretending to search, I glanced around at the skeleton model.

Should I discreetly take some hydrochloric acid…? No, too risky.

“Oh, here’s your notebook.”

“What?!”

There’s a notebook here?

Someone else must have left it by accident.

Huh? Why is my vision blurring? And… What’s that prickling on my neck?

A needle?

I collapsed to the floor as my strength drained.

A voice drifted from above my fallen gaze.

“This went easier than expected.”

With that, I lost consciousness.