The sun was beginning to dip over the horizon as we left the main Cube building, marking the end of another intense day of classes.
The fresh afternoon air contrasted pleasantly with the crowded classroom, full of texts and academic discussions.
Nayun, Yeonha and I walked side by side along the paved path that meandered through the vast campus. The golden light of dusk painted long shadows on the ground, while other cadets followed in small groups, chatting about the day's activities or simply enjoying a moment's rest.
Nayun, always full of energy, stretched her arms above her head, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"It's finally over! If I had to spend another minute in that room, I think my head would have exploded."
Yeonha, as always, maintained impeccable posture as she walked and a firm look was still on her face.
"If you had paid more attention in the theory classes, you wouldn't have been so anxious."
Hearing Yeonha's words, Nayun clearly didn't accept them and snorted...
"Oh, please! Theory is only good up to a point. At the end of the day, what matters is practice!"
'It's only like that until we come first.'
I shook my head, already used to the frequent arguments between the two. My eyes scanned the surroundings of the campus. The other cadets followed in small groups, some commenting on the presentations, others simply enjoying the end of the day.
But my attention soon turned to a specific point. A little ahead, sitting on a bench near the outdoor training area, was Kim Hajin.
He looked exhausted. No, more than that. He looked like a walking corpse. His deep-set, reddened eyes showed his lack of sleep and his posture was far from usual. He wasn't training or interacting with anyone.
He just stared at the ground, lost in thought.
Yeonha followed my gaze and frowned slightly.
"Kim Hajin... He didn't look well at the presentation. And now, seeing it ... Something's definitely wrong."
Nayun, on the other hand, arched an eyebrow, not really caring.
"He's always been strange, that's nothing new. It's probably just another one of his antisocial phases."
I wasn't so sure. Hajin wasn't the kind of person who would let something slip so easily, not at this level. Something was really bothering him.
'Ah! I guess I'll have to change my plans a bit and talk to him a little earlier... But... How?'
He couldn't just come out and say he knew the future. That would sound absurd, and besides, I didn't even exist in the original novel.
'Uh! The best option is to say that I was reincarnated in the work I was reading... Yes, if I tell him that, he'll understand quickly...'
But one question remains...
'The co-author... I don't know for sure whether he would try to interfere in my life or not. In the worst case, he could even try to destroy this world...'
My existence goes against what the co-author has planned for this story.
'After all, he took Chae Jinyoon out of the picture because he thought the story was too easy for Kim Suho and the other main characters...'
Not only that, he had also increased the levels of the antagonists and even added some new ones, making it almost impossible for Kim Hajin not to have to interfere. I knew that this was part of the mentality of an author looking for challenges and conflicts to entertain readers. But now that I was inside that world, this quest for entertainment had a real cost.
'And the reason... was that readers might get bored...'
Thinking about it, were these readers that the co-author quoted just a metaphor or did they really exist? If they did, then it meant that this world wasn't just an isolated fiction. Maybe there was something bigger behind it all, something I still couldn't understand...
"Hey... Theoo? Hello?"
Nayun's voice pulled me back to reality. I blinked a few times before realizing that she was looking at me with a confused expression, while Yeonha kept her arms crossed, watching me intently.
"You've suddenly become very quiet. What are you thinking about?"
Nayun asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Humn! I wonder if you're happy that we got first place from instructor Velk?"
I frowned slightly. Indeed, our team had managed to excel in Instructor Velk's assessment, which was quite an achievement considering how strict he was with his criteria. Still, that wasn't top of my mind at the moment.
"It's a good achievement, but it's not something I'm worried about right now."
I replied, looking slightly away from Kim Hajin again.
Yeonha, perceptive as ever, noticed.
"If you want to talk to him, you'd better go straight away."
"No... Not now. If he's still in the same place when I get back, I can do it, and even if it doesn't work out today, there will be other chances in the future. You need to get to your destinations early, right?"
Nayun received a message from her father saying that Chae Jinyoon would now be discharged in the early evening, and in order not to miss her brother's return, she made a point of taking a temporary leave of absence and returning tomorrow morning.
Yoo Yeonha, too, would be returning home, apparently to sort out some personal matters, and just like Nayun, she also took a temporary leave of absence.
And with that, Yeonha joined us on our walk to the Teleportation Gate.
"If that's the case, then let's go."
Nayun said, as she started walking again...
Yeonha and I followed right behind...
After a few minutes, we arrived at the Teleportation Portal.
Yeonha went straight to the checkpoint.
Meanwhile, Nayun and I stayed a little further back, which gave me the perfect opportunity to tease them a little before they left.
Moving slightly closer, I leaned in close to her ear, feeling the subtle warmth emanating from her skin, and whispered in a provocative tone:
"What a shame I couldn't kiss you goodbye..."
Her reaction was immediate. Her previously serene face tinged with a slight reddish hue, her cheeks blushing as she absorbed the meaning of my words. Her restless gaze scanned the surroundings, as if making sure no one was watching us.
"Idiot... If Yeonha hears this she won't leave me alone..."
She used one of her hands to playfully pinch me, while her eyes ran all around us.
"Hah! What about them? Do you think she doesn't suspect both of us already?"
It was clear that Yeonha wasn't naive. On the contrary, Yoo Yeonha was perceptive, and considering her ability to read between the lines of social interactions, she must have already been sure that there was something going on between me and Nayun. If she hadn't said anything yet, it was probably because she wasn't interested yet...
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."
She said a hasty goodbye, turning quickly to walk towards the portal. Even so, her hasty way of running away showed her embarrassment.
I crossed my arms and watched her disappear among some staff...
'Humn! Tomorrow you pay me... I think it's time I wore the cosplay I bought...'
Yeonha, who was already near the portal activation, waited for Nayun.
After Nayun's confirmation process had finished, she joined Yeonha who gave me a brief look and nodded before entering. Their figures disappeared into the blue glow of the teleportation, leaving only the gentle flicker of residual energy in the air.
After seeing that they had both disappeared, I started to head back in the direction of my dormitory.
The rhythmic sound of my footsteps echoed softly on the sidewalk, accompanied by the whisper of the wind between the trees. My mind, however, was still occupied with another question.
If he was still there when I got back, it might be a good opportunity to talk to him. If not, there would be other chances in the future. But one thing was certain, I couldn't ignore the condition he was in. His exhausted state, his heavy expression... Something was wrong, and I needed to find out what.