“Why… why aren’t we in the same class…?”
“…”
“We’ve always been in the same class until now…”
Yeon-ha-neul’s rabbit ears drooped halfway down, her face clouded with disappointment as she let out a heavy sigh.
Her voice trembled with dejection as she stared blankly at the table.
“We were in the same class in sixth grade… in first year, second year, and third year of middle school, too. I even prayed every night for us to be together again. I asked the Headmaster personally, even made offerings…”
“Oh… you really did all that?”
“Even last night, I filled a bowl with purified water and made a wish. I did it again this morning before sunrise…”
“…”
She… she prayed just to be in the same class as me?
I had no idea Yeon-ha-neul was making such earnest efforts behind the scenes. I could picture it vividly now: her kneeling before a bowl of moonlit water on the veranda, hands clasped in a desperate plea.
A strange mix of pride and embarrassment filled my chest. To her, I must be someone truly important.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but find her adorable for believing that our yearly luck of being classmates was a miracle born of sincere prayers.
Yeah… I should never tell her. Let it remain a secret forever.
It felt wrong to deceive someone who believed so purely that her prayers had reached the heavens. But in truth, the reason Yeon-ha-neul and I were always in the same class was far less mystical.
It was because of my family’s influence—the power of the Divine Sword Clan.
As long as I asked my father, it was simple enough to ensure we got into the same schools and were placed in the same classes. The elementary and middle schools we attended were financially backed by our clan. They couldn’t refuse.
Every year, I made the request. And every year, my father happily obliged.
The reason I never told her was simple—because of how she reacted.
“Oh thank goodness. We’re in the same class again! Let’s do our best this year too, Gyeon-woo!”
“Yeah, let’s do our best again.”
“See? We must be fated to be together, right?”
“….”
Unlike me, who always knew the outcome, Yeon-ha-neul would get visibly anxious every year on class assignment day. She’d fidget nervously until the announcement, and then beam with joy when she found out we’d be together again.
That smile—so bright and dazzling—was something I couldn’t bear to take away.
“Don’t tell Ha-neul, alright? That’s how you keep earning points.”
“Exactly. There’s no need to explain. Just let her like you for who she believes you are.”
That was the advice from my parents.
Sometimes, silence is a virtue. Overexplaining just ruins the mood.
So I kept the truth hidden.
If it were up to me, I’d have asked Dad to pull strings again and place us in the same class at the Academy too…
But that wasn’t possible.
Unlike our old schools, the academies in the City of Academies weren’t under the sole influence of the Divine Sword Clan. Other noble houses and political factions had their hands in the pot.
Geumgang Academy was no exception.
It was also supported by other Houses of the Twelve Clans, not just ours. Any overt manipulation would be too conspicuous, potentially triggering opposition—or worse, catching the eye of the chairwoman, So Hye-yul.
One of the most formidable powers in the Academy City, So Hye-yul was someone even our clan dared not cross carelessly.
It was unlikely, but we had to consider the worst-case scenario—what if she cut off our sponsorship?
Geumgang Academy, which had grown into the city’s top academy, could now operate without our financial aid. If we tried to strong-arm our influence, other houses might pounce on the opportunity.
“Why… Why did it have to be this way…?”
Still unaware of all these behind-the-scenes complications, Yeon-ha-neul sulked beside me.
I tried to console her.
“Don’t be too disappointed. Most of the shared class time is just in the mornings. Afternoons are for elective courses—you can choose your own. We can still eat lunch together, maybe even take some of the same electives. It’s not the end of the world.”
“But still…”
She pouted, lips pursed in a stubborn curve.
But reality was not going to change. Eventually, she had to accept it.
Then she asked, as if seeking verbal confirmation:
“You’ll really eat with me, right?”
“As long as I don’t have something important going on, of course. Breakfast and dinner too.”
“You’ll take some afternoon classes with me?”
“We might not match all of them, but we’ll try. Let’s coordinate when we can.”
“…Fine. But you promised, okay?”
Hearing my response seemed to lift her spirits a little.
Her bunny ears perked up slightly.
Still, the fact that we were in separate classes clearly bothered her.
And I couldn’t deny I was a bit worried myself.
Will she be okay without me?
I wasn’t exactly the sociable type, but Yeon-ha-neul was worse. She was shy, wary, and never the first to start a conversation.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d be able to build good relationships with her classmates.
It’d be nice if at least one person she knows ended up in the same class…
I hadn’t checked the group chat yet, but surely people had started posting their class assignments by now.
Maybe someone familiar would be in her class.
Just as I was about to open the chat—
“Ah! Found you! Ha-neul! Gyeon-woo!”
“Good thing you haven’t left yet!”
“Are you here for breakfast too?”
It was Go Eun-bi and Lisa, holding their food trays and making their way toward us.
Both of them wore the Geumgang Academy uniforms, looking exactly like their illustrated portraits from the game.
They took the seats beside us—Go Eun-bi beside Ha-neul, Lisa next to me.
Without missing a beat, Go Eun-bi launched into conversation.
“You guys checked the class lists, right? Which class are you in? I’m in Class Eight!”
“I’m in Class Twelve.”
“What? Really? I’m in Class Eight too!”
“Kyah! Really?! You’re in Class Eight, Ha-neul? That means we’re in the same class! We can stick together now!”
“Wow, I’m jealous you got to be in the same class. What about you, Gyeon-woo?”
“I’m in Class Seventeen. I was hoping someone I trust would be in Ha-neul’s class… and here you are.”
It really was a stroke of luck that Go Eun-bi ended up in the same class as her.
With her there, I could rest a little easier about Ha-neul.
“I’m not alone…”
“You’re that happy to be in the same class as me? You adorable thing!”
“Kyah! Ugh, Eun-bi, stop that…!”
Yeon-ha-neul, usually overwhelmed by Eun-bi’s touchy behaviour, surprisingly didn’t resist this time. Instead, she smiled faintly—relieved, perhaps.
Though she said no, her expression told another story.
Watching the two of them cuddle so closely, I let out a quiet chuckle.
Beside me, Lisa looked a bit envious.
“That must be nice… I wish I were in the same class as someone I knew.”
She sighed and poured milk into her cereal, stirring it with graceful movements.
I said gently, “Even if you don’t know anyone yet, I bet you’ll meet some great classmates.”
“Thanks for trying to cheer me up.”
“I’m not trying. I mean it.”
“I hope you’re right, Gyeon-woo.”
She didn’t seem convinced, but I already knew how things would unfold.
If the game’s progression holds, she’ll end up in the same class as Kang Han-byeol.
Not just Han-byeol—the main protagonist—but also Bak Sa-goon would be there.
Lisa would grow close to them, and eventually become one of the most heavily featured female characters in the story, deeply involved in Han-byeol’s plotline.
That’s why so many players considered her the “main heroine” of the game.
Though Han-byeol never showed romantic interest in anyone… well, except for one person.
There was one exception—a childhood friend four years older.
Han-byeol harboured feelings for her. That’s why, throughout the game, he never viewed the other girls romantically—only as comrades.
In the players’ eyes, being a “heroine” just meant being close to Han-byeol or important in the story.
Romance didn’t factor in.
By the game’s end, Han-byeol didn’t date anyone.
Still, I offered Lisa some parting encouragement.
“Trust me—you’ll meet good people. You’ll go through a lot, but you’ll be fine.”
“…Was that meant to be comforting?”
Lisa blinked at me, unsure how to respond.
Then—
“By the way, what about the others? Do you know what classes they ended up in?”
“They probably posted in the group chat.”
“…Wow, that’s a lot of messages.”
I scrolled down to check.
Eventually, I found the posts.
[Yong Hae-rang]: I’m in Class 5. Do Gyeon-woo! What class are you in?!
[Dolmani Geum]: We’re in Class 22! The three of us ended up together again!
[Dolmani Eun]: It’s a miracleeeee!
[Dolmani Dong]: How does this keep happening? Same class again, LOL.
—
[Me]: Can you three read the room for once?
[Dolmani Eun]: Starting early, huh…
[Dolmani Dong]: What’s your problem? Don’t tell me you’re in a different class from Ha-neul?
The Central Hall of the Cultural Centre, where the entrance ceremony would be held.
Yeon-ha-neul and I had arrived early for the rehearsal.
The moment we stepped into the hall, we saw the staff busily preparing for the event. It was a grand space, capable of accommodating over ten thousand people.
Just then, someone who appeared to be a faculty member approached us.
“Hey, students. Judging by your ties, you must be this year’s incoming first-years. Are you the student representatives?”
“Yes, that’s right. We’re here for the rehearsal. Where should we go?”
“I’ve been looking for you! That’s great—please head backstage right away.”
Without wasting another word, the staff member rushed off to handle something else.
We passed through the massive space and made our way behind the stage.
Back there, too, people were moving about in a frenzy.
It’s pretty chaotic back here…
Faculty, instructors, and staff were running around. Occasionally, we spotted other students, most likely upperclassmen who would be performing during the ceremony.
Turning our attention away, we approached another nearby staff member.
“You’re the freshman reps, right? Top scorer and runner-up. Rehearsal will begin soon, so just wait here for now.”
After receiving the brief instructions, we took a seat in the corner and used the remaining time to run through our lines.
“…Geumgang Academy, Class of the 145th… Yeon, Ha, Neul. Ugh… I’m so nervous I could throw up.”
“You’re not even stammering anymore. What’s there to be nervous about?”
“That’s only because no one’s here yet! But later, we’ll be standing in front of thousands of people! Just thinking about it makes me want to disappear… I already want to graduate…”
“We haven’t even officially started school yet.”
“Ah… yeah. I’m saying this to myself, aren’t I?”
Paying no mind to those around us, Yeon-ha-neul and I rehearsed our oath lines again and again.
We’d been practising for days now. By this point, the words rolled off our tongues without even looking at the script.
But still, she couldn’t shake her nerves.
Then the announcement came.
[We will now begin the rehearsal. Due to time constraints, we’ll skip the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance. The Chairwoman’s address, Student Council President’s speech, and introductions for board members and instructors will also be omitted. The performance segment has been delayed due to unfinished stage setup. For now, we’ll begin with the Freshman Oath. Freshman representatives, please come to the stage.]
Of course, we were the first ones called up.
Yeon-ha-neul’s face crumpled with despair.
“W-what is this…? Why are we first…?”
“Honestly, I think it’s better this way. Better to get it over with than sit around getting more anxious waiting for our turn.”
“Ugh…”
“It’s just a rehearsal. Don’t stress too much.”
Whether it came first or last, it had to be done.
Reluctantly, she stood up and followed me to the stage.
We stepped up to the podium.
One by one, we read our oaths into the microphone with clear, steady voices.
[…Do, Gyeon, Woo, of Geumgang Academy, Class of the 145th.]
[…Yeon, Ha, Neul, of Geumgang Academy, Class of the 145th.]
[Student Yeon-ha-neul, your voice is a little soft. Please speak louder during the actual ceremony. Don’t be nervous.]
[Y-yes…]
Unlike me, Yeon-ha-neul stumbled through her lines—biting her tongue, tripping over words, her voice trembling. Sometimes, her words barely left her mouth, swallowed before they even reached the mic.
Naturally, she couldn’t avoid being gently corrected by the supervising staff.
Even she knew she had messed up. Her face darkened visibly as we stepped down and returned backstage.
“What am I gonna do if this happens during the actual ceremony…? My voice is small by nature… how am I supposed to speak louder…?”
“You needed to bring the mic closer to your mouth. And stop mumbling.”
“I didn’t think I was mumbling…”
“Just pretend you’re talking to me. You’re louder already, see?”
“…Gyeon-woo.”
“What?”
“How about this—I just move my lips and you say my lines for me?”
“You want me to lip-sync for you?”
“Yes. Please?”
“You think that’ll work?”
“I really don’t think I can do this…”
“You’ll be fine. You passed the exam and knocked everyone off their feet. You’ve got this.”
“That was totally different! Ugh… Aren’t you nervous at all? What if we screw up? What if we embarrass ourselves in front of everyone?”
“It’s a student oath, not a death sentence. Even if we mess it up, it’s not like the world’s going to end.”
In this world, there were choices that really could trigger apocalyptic endings. Yeon-ha-neul herself, standing in front of me, was one of those potential doomsday flags.
But the student oath? That wasn’t one of them.
Even if we bombed, life would go on. And when I thought about things that way, it was hard for me to get nervous.
“Still… even if the world doesn’t end, I’ll definitely die of embarrassment…”
Apparently, that logic didn’t work as well for her.
Just then—
“Gyeon-woo, Ha-neul.”
“…Nuna?”
“…Si-eun unni?”
My cousin, Do Si-eun—now serving as Student Council President—approached us.
We both lit up with relief at the familiar face.
“I saw your rehearsal just now. Ha-neul, you looked really nervous.”
“A-ah… so you saw…”
“Mind if I give you a quick tip?”
“A tip? Of course not! Please!”
She must’ve made time despite her packed schedule out of concern for Yeon-ha-neul’s stage fright.
Yeon-ha-neul perked up, rabbit ears twitching attentively, ready to absorb every word.
“I get nervous too, you know. Whenever I have something important, I worry a lot.”
“You? You get nervous?”
“Mm-hmm. I’m actually worried about messing up my speech at the ceremony today.”
“What do you do when that happens?”
“Me? I just…”
Do Si-eun nodded with a calm expression, speaking in her usual serene tone.
Honestly, it was surprising to hear her admit that.
Is she lying just to comfort Ha-neul?
For a moment, I wondered. But knowing her personality, she wouldn’t lie about something like this.
Hard to believe as it was, even the poised and elegant Student Council President felt anxious.
Now I really wanted to hear her secret.
“I think about what I’ll do once it’s all over. As a reward for doing my best, I might treat myself to something delicious, or buy myself something I’ve been wanting…”
“That’s it?”
“Yep. Sounds simple, right? But it helps. Instead of obsessing over what could go wrong, it feels better to imagine something to look forward to afterwards.”
“…No, I actually like that more than Gyeon-woo’s advice. I’ll try that. Thank you so much!”
Her advice wasn’t anything extraordinary.
But somehow, it had an impact, and Yeon-ha-neul seemed to really appreciate it.
I had to admit, it was helpful.
Even so—
Ha-neul… don’t you think you’re being a little too obvious with the favouritism here?
I didn’t think my advice was that bad.
But there she was, clinging to Si-eun’s hand and praising her like she was the goddess of stage confidence. Her long rabbit ears bounced with glee, hopping up and down.
Honestly, it was a little hurtful.
Time passed.
[We will now begin the Entrance Ceremony for the 145th class of Geumgang High Academy.]
At last, the ceremony began.
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