Ban Eunhyeol sat quietly, as if ready to follow my decision, staring only at my lips.
It felt like he was waiting for some answer to come out of my mouth.
‘Is this really something to hesitate over?’
If I fail this quest, something terrible will happen in this world.
Countless civilians will suffer because of me, and friends I once had will die.
So this isn’t a matter of choice—I absolutely must succeed.
“Soul, then. Let’s switch.”
It had already been a week since Kang Yedam told me what would happen in the future.
During that time, Ban Eunhyeol and I spent time every day after school talking alone.
Ever since I said I wanted to try switching souls, we discussed at length how to do it and what to do after switching.
Of course, I saw Kang Yedam during that time too, but it was always the three of us together.
So today was the first time meeting just the two of us alone.
‘A business class? This is when I really feel what being a chaebol means.’
I waited for Kang Yedam to bring the drinks at the café run by his parents.
Even while resting my chin on my hand and looking out the window, I could tell when Kang Yedam had come up to the second floor.
As the murmuring grew closer, Kang Yedam also drew nearer to the table.
Since I’d mostly only seen the Four Heavenly Kings and often observed Do Ihyun’s popularity, I had forgotten.
Kang Yedam was also one of Iljin Sanggo High’s top three VIPs.
“Here, I brought the drinks.”
Kang Yedam came back after getting the drinks and placed mine in front of me.
When I first brought up the future, the atmosphere was heavy, but now it felt much lighter.
The quest window had appeared for me, and there was hope that I could change the future if I did well.
I admired the shimmering fashion fruit ade before taking a sip.
“Wow, I have to change the future no matter what, if only to protect this ade.”
Even if everyone died and Seoul became a ruin, I knew that once I returned to that other dimension, everything would be restored.
But I couldn’t allow this store, which made such delicious ade, to be harmed.
It wouldn’t be right to hurt Kang Yedam’s parents, who made it so carefully, nor the customers who came to enjoy the ade.
Kang Yedam chuckled softly at my words, glanced around, then whispered quietly to me.
“I set up a noise-blocking barrier, so you can talk comfortably.”
“But why are you whispering?”
“Because it’s cool. Heroes secretly making plans to change the future.”
“Oh, I see…”
After going through such tragedy and returning, you’d expect some trauma or mental damage, but he looked perfectly fine.
Maybe you need this level of mental strength to do a time loop.
“By the way, has the quest window added any explanations or shown any rewards?”
“No, nothing like that. Even when I fall asleep early every night, I don’t dream.”
“Hm…”
I had already been going to bed early and waking up late for a week, but the other dimension never appeared in my dreams.
At all.
On weekends, I even tried lying in bed all day, just hoping to dream, but nothing.
Thinking about the scolding I got from my parents for that made me feel unfair.
“There’s still a lot of time until graduation, so don’t be too impatient.”
“There are only about nine months left until February, though?”
“That’s still plenty of time! With the quest, someday you’ll be able to switch souls in your dreams.”
Kang Yedam was such a positive friend.
He was so confident that there was still plenty of time left and that everything would work out.
We talked about my dreams and about the future Kang Yedam had experienced.
Because we sat by the window with a clear view of the street outside, Kang Yedam suddenly called out excitedly.
“Huh? I think our Ihyun just passed by.”
“Our Ihyun…?”
“We call him that sometimes. Do Ihyun calls him by his full name all coldly.”
“Oh…………. Where is Do Ihyun?”
I looked carefully at the faces of the people Kang Yedam was watching.
Since I started dating Ban Eunhyeol, I hadn’t had much chance to meet Do Ihyun.
Actually, it wasn’t so much that I hadn’t had the chance—I deliberately avoided crossing paths with him.
Do Ihyun said he saw me as a friend, but my gut said otherwise.
‘It’s awkward to meet someone who likes you when you already have a boyfriend. It feels like I’m giving him hope.’
So for a while, I didn’t even visit the Association, and I avoided the area near Iljin Sanggo High.
I only occasionally replied to his messages, nothing more.
But as I kept avoiding him so one-sidedly, I started feeling guilty.
Maybe I was wrongly avoiding a friend because of a misunderstanding.
He was the one who first noticed my secret but never said a word, and even helped me out.
I didn’t want to grow distant from him like this.
“Well, maybe I just didn’t see him properly. He’s not here.”
Kang Yedam glanced outside briefly but soon lost interest and turned his gaze away.
I also stopped searching after failing to find Do Ihyun on the street.
‘I should go to the Association or contact him sometime next week.’
With that thought, I ended the conversation with Kang Yedam.
***
In the middle of the café street with the large café run by Kang Yedam’s parents, Do Ihyun was walking absentmindedly when he stopped upon seeing his reflection in the shop window.
Bright sunlight shone down at noon, people walked behind him, the busy street alive.
It was a time and place he wouldn’t have set foot in before.
‘I’ve changed a lot.’
He had gradually taken over the public duties of Guild Leader, which he had previously left almost entirely to Haemal.
He was now on his way home after an interview.
The weather was getting warmer, and the thought of the refreshing ade made by his friend’s parents pulled him toward the café.
But just before entering, he felt a prickling sensation and looked up.
There, Danya was sitting by the window of Kang Yedam’s café.
Ban Eunhyeol was nowhere to be seen; it was just Kang Yedam and Danya.
Do Ihyun frowned at the sight.
But it was brief.
As soon as Danya’s gaze lowered, he unconsciously activated his stealth skill.
“Huh? I think Do Ihyun was just standing here.”
“Where? I don’t see him.”
“No, that silhouette was definitely Do Ihyun.”
When he suddenly disappeared from the street, people who were unsure glanced around in confusion.
‘Why did I avoid her?’
Since learning that Danya was avoiding him, he had spent days wondering how to approach her first.
Should he pretend it was a coincidence?
Should he go find her at school?
Or should he just wander around places she frequents and hope to run into her?
He’d agonized over it, but somehow ended up hiding himself with stealth.
‘I should have at least waved.’
Regret washed over him too late.
He pulled a mask from his pocket and put it on, then entered Kang Yedam’s café.
After ordering a drink, he went up to the second floor where Danya had been sitting.
They were talking happily, surrounded by the noise-blocking barrier.
Creak—
“Eek!”
The handrail by the stairs dented under his grip, making a café customer jump and quickly head downstairs.
‘I guess I’ll have to compensate for that.’
Do Ihyun brushed the wood splinter off his hand and turned away from Danya.
Sensing Do Ihyun’s presence, Danya looked toward the stairs, but the moment their eyes could have met, they missed each other.
Despite being so close, the two had passed each other by.
***
All three of Iljin Sanggo High’s top VIPs ended up in the same class, and the students cheered at the thought that they wouldn’t have to watch petty delinquents run wild.
That had been true since the start of the semester, and remained so until recently.
But not anymore.
“Why is the classroom so cold…? Doesn’t it feel colder than usual today?”
“Hey, quiet. Someone might hear.”
The students sat by the back window looked miserable seeing Do Ihyun emanate a dangerous aura from morning.
The once peaceful atmosphere had frozen around Rose Day.
That’s when he had apparently given a bouquet of roses to a girl named Lee Dana, who was a well-known A-rank Awakened.
It seemed like a confession that got brutally rejected.
Afterward, rumors spread that Ban Eunhyeol and Lee Dana were dating, so no matter how you looked at it, that had to be the cause.
Whatever the class thought, Do Ihyun sat there emitting a cold vibe in a low mood.
“Hey, why did you come early today?”
When Kang Yedam came in later than him, Do Ihyun glared at him fiercely.
“W-why…?”
Though it was clear Do Ihyun had been in a bad mood, this was the first time he’d seen him look at Kang Yedam with eyes dripping coldness.
As Kang Yedam hesitated and backed away, Do Ihyun stood up.
‘Whatever’s going on, that guy’s dead today.’
The students all stuck their heads down on their desks, pretending not to hear or see anything.
Do Ihyun grabbed Kang Yedam’s collar as he tried to step back and pulled him forward.
“What did you do with Danya over the weekend?”
Kang Yedam’s pupils trembled at the jealousy obvious in that question.