I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Sui**de

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“Hana, are you okay?”

Thump thump.

Huh?

What’s happening?

The moment I saw Kim Shinwoo, my heart started racing.

It doesn’t feel like a seizure…

Could it be that Yu Hana’s body is reacting?

If that’s true, just how much did I like him?

You know that’s not the case.

It’s not like it will ever happen anyway.

I only get hurt by having a one-sided crush on the main character.

As Kim Shinwoo approached, Hong Yeonhwa stepped in to block him.

“Hey, aren’t you going to make people misunderstand? Do you think I did something bad to Hana?”

“I know you’re not close to Hana. Your face says it all.”

“She’s sick, so I’m taking her to the nurse’s office. Right?”

Hong Yeonhwa tightened her hold on my shoulder, giving him a warning look.

“…Uh, yeah. That’s right. We were heading to the nurse’s office.”

I nodded in agreement.

I absolutely can’t get involved with the main character.

If I do, I’ll end up unable to even kill myself and be dragged into the original story.

It’s better to stay by Hong Yeonhwa’s side.

I hate school bullying, of course…

But I could just shut my eyes and take a few punches.

It wouldn’t hurt as much as a seizure, right? Should be fine.

Kim Shinwoo’s expression grew uncertain at my response.

What an idiot.

As a harem protagonist, he really has no sense.

Honestly, anyone could tell I’m being bullied.

Well, that’s why he probably didn’t notice when my childhood friend dropped out and was bullied until then.

It’s unfortunate for Yu Hana, but for me, it’s a blessing in disguise.

“Did you hear? So now, just ignore us and go on your way.”

Hong Yeonhwa seems pleased that she poked fun at the protagonist.

Just look at that smug grin on her face.

Surprisingly, this delinquent girl is also one of the heroine candidates in the original story.

She feels guilt about Yu Hana’s suicide and wants to atone for it later.

Naturally, opinions among readers are sharply divided.

I suppose I didn’t think much of it. Perhaps I just couldn’t immerse myself in Yu Hana.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“Hey, stop! Kim Shinwoo, you keep overstepping!”

“What? Hana is my friend, so I’m worried. Is something wrong?”

“…Forget it. You two have fun. You really look good together.”

Spitting on the ground as if it disgusted her, Hong Yeonhwa disappeared gracefully.

How can you give up so easily?

Now, it’s just me and the protagonist left.

Kim Shinwoo glared at her retreating figure for a moment before rushing over to me.

With a worried look, he scanned my face and asked,

“Are you okay? Is it hurting a lot? Let’s hurry to the nurse’s office.”

“…Uh-huh. I’m fine. Weren’t you going somewhere?”

“Oh, Si-hyun asked to meet because of an assignment.”

Han Si-hyun.

The main heroine of the original story.

She’s also a legendary genius, far surpassing the protagonist.

In many ways, she contrasts sharply with the incapable Yu Hana.

In fact, later, when Yu Hana turns into a villain, she openly shows hostility toward Han Si-hyun.

In reality, Yu Hana’s awakening conditions are just terrible; if we talk about talent, she’s not lacking.

“Then hurry and go see Si-hyun.”

“Forget it. It’s okay to be a little late. You’re the one who needs help right now.”

“I’m fine to go alone. It’s only a little dizziness, that’s all?”

As I continued to decline, Kim Shinwoo finally accepted it.

“…You really are okay, right?”

“Why? Am I acting weird?”

“It’s not weird… Just looks a bit different from usual.”

Wow, he’s observant.

If he had been interested in Yu Hana regularly, he wouldn’t be oblivious to her condition.

“Hana, you can be honest. Hong Yeonhwa isn’t bothering you, is she?”

I was starting to feel a bit annoyed now.

Can’t he just leave me alone?

I’m not doing anything strange; I’m just going to commit suicide.

Something about that sounds off, but still.

I get why the protagonist is acting this way.

He’s been my childhood friend since we were little.

Both orphans with no parents, relying on each other as the only peers they had.

That’s why he’s worried about Yu Hana.

For the same reason, Yu Hana hides everything from Kim Shinwoo.

Her illness.

Her pain.

Her insecurities.

Her love.

Her despair.

How did Yu Hana manage to hide her seizure troubles?

There’s only one way.

She got used to hiding it a long time ago.

Hiding and hiding and hiding some more.

Kim Shinwoo doesn’t realize how serious Yu Hana’s illness is.

It’s foolish.

But thanks to that, we both entered the academy together.

Yu Hana probably has no regrets about her decision.

So when Yu Hana receives such a question from the person she loves most,

With a bright smile, she would surely respond like this.

“Uh-huh. Yeonhwa treats me so well.”

“…Is that so? That’s a relief. Sorry for misunderstanding.”

“Hehe, you worry about silly things sometimes.”

I had no idea that I was worrying about silly things.

Yet, those words came out of my mouth so naturally.

Kim Shinwoo scratched his head with a sheepish smile.

Just then, the sound of a bell rang from somewhere.

It was Kim Shinwoo’s phone from his pocket.

“Hello? Oh, I’m in front of the girls’ dormitory. Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

“Then I’ll head out. See you tomorrow.”

“Hana, wait a second! Huh? No, it’s not that…”

Leaving the busy Kim Shinwoo on the phone, I headed towards the main building.

Kim Shinwoo, unsure whether to stop me, ultimately didn’t make a move.

I lied to the protagonist.

Tomorrow, we won’t see each other again.

Because I’m going to commit suicide today.

The destination wasn’t the nurse’s office, but the science room.

*

The school structure is really complicated.

Since the academy is so large, I got lost even while looking at the map.

But arriving is what matters.

It was quiet in school since it was the weekend.

And the science room door was closed.

“Um…”

Right. I suppose that’s to be expected.

So how do I open this door?

Huh? Why didn’t I think about this beforehand?

Well, back then, I was just groggy from the painkillers and didn’t think of anything other than committing suicide.

Of course, breaking down the door or smashing a window would be difficult.

If I accidentally triggered the security system, that’d be a hassle.

“Ah!”

Good idea just popped into my head.

I could just go to the staff room and ask for the key.

If I say I left something in the science room, I should be able to get away with it.

I’m so smart.

Thinking back, Yu Hana isn’t particularly slow-witted either.

She just lacks abilities, which means she always scores the lowest in practical combat.

But she barely passes with her scores in combat theory and basic subjects.

Ah, but I don’t know anything about combat theory right now, do I?

Wouldn’t that mean I’d fail?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

I’m going to die today anyway.

I’m thinking about it as I walk, and before I know it, I arrived at the first-floor staff room.

There’s no way the staff room is locked, right?

I knocked lightly, and a voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Fortunately, someone was there.

As I stepped cautiously into the staff room, I saw a leisurely scene.

There was only one person inside. Is he the duty teacher or something?

He was a young teacher with a smart look and glasses.

I don’t know what subject he teaches since I can’t see his face.

“Student? What can I help you with?”

“Uh… Can I go into the science room for a minute?”

“The science room, huh? What for?”

“I left my notebook there.”

The teacher stroked his chin at my excuse.

“Hm. Couldn’t you have come back for it tomorrow?”

“…Uh, well. I have an assignment due by tomorrow, and I can’t manage without that notebook…”

“I see. Alright.”

Phew. That was a relief.

Thanks to Kim Shinwoo, a reason to say I need it popped into my head.

Thanks a lot. So like a protagonist, you’ve made it easy for me to commit suicide.

The teacher took out the key to the science room from the key box inside.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go together.”

“…Huh?”

“I checked the science room on Friday and didn’t see a notebook there. Let’s go look for it together.”

“Oh…”

So, of all times, the teacher who’s guarding the staff room on the weekend is a science teacher?

This is too much. The world is conspiring against me.

With this, acquiring poison is out of the question.

But I can’t just say I won’t go now.

If I go to the science room with him, he’ll surely figure out there isn’t a notebook.

Ugh. I don’t care anymore.

I’ll just pretend to look and say I confused it with another place.

“…Yeah. Thanks.”

In the end, I moved to the science room with the teacher.

The more I think about it, the more unfair it feels.

Is it that big of a deal that I want to commit suicide?

Hmm. Actually, it seems like it might be.

Anyway, we entered the science room.

Ugh… It feels so creepy here.

Is it because of the skeleton in the corner?

The human model in the science lab is also famous for school ghost stories.

“Let’s hurry and look.”

“Yeah…”

You can search a hundred times. There’s no way my imaginary notebook is here.

I just pretended to look around and started sightseeing the skeleton instead.

What about secretly trying hydrochloric acid…?

That’s probably too much of a stretch.

“Ah, I found the notebook.”

“What?!”

There’s a notebook?!

You mean there’s really a fool who left it in the science room?

What a coincidence this is…

Huh?

What’s happening?

Suddenly, my vision blurred.

And my neck felt a prick… a needle?

Without realizing what was happening,

I collapsed to the ground, my legs giving out.

From my view facing the ground, I heard a voice.

“This is turning out to be easier than I thought.”

That was the last thing I heard before losing consciousness.