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Professor Jeong Jeonjin swiftly quelled the stormy rebellion of maverick students just before the submission deadline.
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“I told you, ‘The Light Within’ is not an acceptable theme. Disqualified.”
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“Oh no!”
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“Now, the submission period will officially close. Participants and staff of the Hanul Youth Art Competition, thank you for your efforts.”
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With that sharp declaration of the deadline, the judges left the venue with the students’ submission records.
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As the tense atmosphere of the competition dissipated, a relaxed mood returned as if nothing had happened.
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The Hanul Youth Art Competition had officially concluded.
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All that remained was the announcement of the winners, set for a few days later.
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The murmurs of Hanul students and external participants heading back to their homes echoed in the hall.
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Since students who had already submitted were allowed to leave at their discretion, only a few lingered in the venue.
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“It’s finally over~!”
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“Anyone heading back to the middle school dorms? Carry my stuff for me.”
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“Nope~”
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“Hey, Mom? Yeah, I’m done. No, not ‘done for,’ I mean it’s over, so come pick me up. I’ll let you know the results later. Yeah, I submitted everything fine.”
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“How long is it going to take to get to Gangwondo from here?”
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“I heard Gangwondo residents spend half their lives on buses and trains. Isn’t that horrifying?”
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“Haha.”
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“Don’t joke. I’m from Gangwondo.”
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“Do you actually use potatoes as currency in Gangwondo?”
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“Yep, we even pay rent with potatoes.”
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“Seriously?”
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“Obviously not.”
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As the remaining students exited the Garam Hall, they gazed at the colorful murals on the windows painted by Han Mari and others, just like the earlier departing students had.
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“Wow… they even allow this kind of stuff.”
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“The grand prize will probably go to Han Mari, right? Judging by the professors’ surprised reactions…”
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“Or maybe not. Considering Professor Jeong Jeonjin’s strictness, she might not even get a consolation prize.”
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“That moment when she wore that box on her head—still hilarious.”
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Han Mari’s “Action Painting” was recognized as a type of performance art.
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Fortunately, when she began her wild antics, journalists already on-site had started recording with their camcorders, allowing her to submit it as documentation.
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The journalists cheered at Han Mari’s unexpected display.
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The Hanul Youth Art Competition wasn’t meant to be calm or strictly educational.
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It was a stage for provocateurs who stirred up public emotions or captured their cheers.
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Because that’s what drew “attention.”
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A battlefield where young artists ran wild with competitive fervor.
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In this year’s Hanul Youth Art Competition, the public got exactly what they wanted—a “genius” like Han Mari standing out and stunning the masses while countless “ordinary” participants looked on in shock.
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It was the scenario the audience had been waiting for.
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“Han Mari!! That’s it!!”
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“Wow! This is exactly what I wanted!”
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“Do we have more pictures of the shocked students? If we place them side by side, it’ll make for a dramatic contrast.”
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“Hmm,”
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“A genius scorns the dull paintings of ordinary students, then reveals true talent and dominates.”
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“Not a bad story.”
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“By the way, which school is that kid from?”
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“Who?”
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“The talented kid. The one with the box.”
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“Uh, I’m not sure? Do we have any photos of them?”
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As they organized their coverage materials, the journalists took the opportunity to ask Han Mari a few unofficial interview questions under the pretense of helping her submit her documentation.
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For some reason, Han Mari, who had stayed behind in the hall, answered their questions bit by bit.
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“Was there any student who caught your eye? …Perhaps a male student?”
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“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
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“I-I see. Anyone you were interested in?”
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“The strange journalist asking weird questions.”
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It probably wasn’t a good kind of interest.
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Despite her typically oblivious demeanor, Han Mari was the granddaughter of a conglomerate family.
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One journalist discreetly jotted down in their notebook: “Han Mari: No boyfriend.
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Avoid further mentions.”
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“And your thoughts on the competition?”
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“I’m hungry.”
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“…I see!”
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While her response wasn’t the profound quote the journalists hoped for, turning a few remarks from a trending figure into a dramatic story wasn’t too difficult for them.
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Thus, Han Mari muddled through the interview.
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Looking around, she realized:
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“That kid” was no longer there.
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“In the end, I didn’t get to talk to Hana…”
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She could tell.
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That box wasn’t what Hana truly wanted to express through her art.
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“She looked troubled while doing it.”
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A sense of humor that mocked an unfair reality.
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Even that humor explained through the language of aesthetics.
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It was an answer filled with irony, akin to Duchamp’s urinal.
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And what seemed boring at that moment…
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The direction of emotion that the artwork aimed for…
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“…Ah.”
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That’s how it felt.
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“Bored, aren’t you? Let’s play together.”
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It was as if a little fairy had whispered to her.
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It felt like she had grabbed that child’s hand and played along… Was it just her imagination?
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‘I wanted to talk more.’
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Regret seeped in.
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She even knew her name, displayed on her badge.
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“Hana… Are you happy when you draw?”
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One day.
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If they met again, she wanted to ask.
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Her reverie was interrupted by a voice behind her.
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“Miss.”
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She turned around.
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Manager Kang stood waiting against the backdrop of the sunset.
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“Well done.”
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“…Thank you.”
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In the car driven by Manager Kang, Han Mari quietly rolled down the rear window, letting the wind brush her face.
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Not a word was spoken.
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The drive back was silent.
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Mari rarely spoke much, but after an event where she mingled with peers, she became even quieter.
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Manager Kang understood that Han Mari didn’t easily connect with others.
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More precisely, she lacked friends with whom she could genuinely laugh, chat, and joke around.
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Even those who got closer eventually grew distant, sensing an intangible divide between themselves and the “different” Han Mari.
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“After all, spending her childhood shuttling between American therapy centers and Korea, alongside starting her art career… forming natural friendships was always going to be tough.”
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It wasn’t something an old man like him could fix.
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Hence, Manager Kang refrained from touching on Mari’s emotional wounds.
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“One day, I hope she finds a friend she can truly open up to.”
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At the same time, all he could do was pick her up with the same smile, at the same time.
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She remained a precious treasure of the HU Group.
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Mari suddenly spoke.
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“Hana.”
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“Yes?”
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“The name Hana. It’s so simple, easy to remember. Even after hearing teachers’ names for over a year, I can’t remember them, but…”
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“Oh, I see. Is she a celebrity?”
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“No, but maybe soon.”
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“An aspiring actor?”
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“She’s as pretty as one.”
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“Ah, I should’ve stopped her earlier. If she becomes famous, it’ll be a problem. Should we just enroll her at Hanul? I’d love to collaborate with her.”
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‘What is she talking about? Who is this?’
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Manager Kang broke into a cold sweat.
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His mouth opened and closed several times, trying to respond, but he failed.
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‘I have no idea what she means.’
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Even his experience couldn’t decipher her whimsical thoughts.
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But…
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The faint smile visible through the rearview mirror suggested that this wasn’t a bad thing—in fact, it might be good news.
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“…Haha.”
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Manager Kang smiled quietly.
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“I want to see her again.”
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“…That’s a relief.”
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Finding someone she wanted to befriend.
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Truly.
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A relief.
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-BEEEEEEP!!!-
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The last thing Manager Kang saw was a vehicle swerving wildly, crossing lanes, and charging straight toward them.
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“Damn it! Miss, hold on!”
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-CRASH!
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Han Mari felt as if she were flying.
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‘What is happening…?’
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And like Icarus from ancient myths, humans who fly must eventually fall.
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Just as she was now.
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Han Mari’s heightened senses became a source of agony, piercing her soul like thorns.
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Even when she closed her eyes or briefly lost consciousness, the pain relentlessly tormented her.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
-Crunch…
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With a jolt, she felt the unmistakable sensation of something wet bursting from her arm.
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The feeling of her arm twisting in an unnatural direction was vividly clear.
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“Gah…?!”
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She couldn’t even scream.
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It hurt.
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Her right hand hurt.
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Her back hurt.
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Her legs hurt.
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Breathing hurt.
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‘It hurts so much…’
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Hurt.
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Hurt.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Hurt.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Hurt.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Hurt.
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“Ot… It.”
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Tears streamed down her face from the endless pain.
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She realized she was sprawled on the damp ground, her body smeared with mud.
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She could feel it clearly.
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‘My hands… My hands must not get hurt. I need them to draw.’
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Even if her legs were severed.
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Even if she lost all her teeth and became mute.
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‘As long as I have my hands…!’
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Desperately, Han Mari tried to move her fingers.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It hurt.
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Hurt.
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Hurt…!
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A dull shock rendered her mind blank.
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‘Did they… break?’
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Han Mari’s spirit turned pale.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘Someone, please… check for me! An artist must not lose their hands!’
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She was terrified.
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Terrified of herself for not fainting despite the immense pain.
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Terrified of the crimson droplets swaying in the murky vision that seeped through the mud-covered eyes.
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Terrified of the chilling cold creeping up her spine, reminiscent of the frigid winds of a New York winter.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘So… cold.’
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Death comes with coldness—a harbinger of the Grim Reaper.
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In literature, death is always described with cold and winter.
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That’s how she knew.
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She was dying.
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‘I’m… scared.’
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Facing death for the first time, she was afraid.
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Most of all, she was terrified of the realization that she was dying.
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‘There are still so many things I haven’t drawn…’
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Overwhelmed by fear, she tightly shut her eyes.
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The faces of loved ones flashed through her mind.
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Her father.
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Her grandfather.
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Her uncle.
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‘…God.’
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‘Please.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Anyone.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Please, anyone.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Help… me…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I found her!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Who was that?
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‘…Hana?’
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Through the agony, Han Mari strained to open her eyes.
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In her blood-spattered vision, a faint yellow light glimmered.
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A familiar nametag.
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The girl she had wanted to meet again.
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Hana
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With an angelic face stained with blood, she was desperately pushing through the thicket to reach her.
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“I’ll save you!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘Oh… Hana.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Hana didn’t care that her clothes were soaked in blood.
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Instead, she tore her skirt with scissors and pressed it firmly against Mari’s wound.
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“Ah, it hurts…!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I’m sorry! I know it hurts, but bear with me! Just a little longer, I promise!”
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“Ugh…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The pain from the makeshift bandage was beyond imagination.
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But even the intense pain that roared like mountain peaks eventually began to subside.
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‘It’s cold…’
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When the pain faded, the overwhelming coldness struck again.
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As Mari started to shiver, Hana removed her cardigan and draped it over Mari.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Gradually, the trembling subsided, and she felt a bit more stable.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
-Thud…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
-Thud…
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Her body convulsed with spasms of pain.
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Her teeth clattered, producing an eerie sound.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Even in such agony, a question arose in her mind.
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How?
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Why?
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No, more than that…
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‘Do you… enjoy drawing?’
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She wanted to ask.
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Slowly, her eyelids grew heavier.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Drowsiness crept over her.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Hana… 24…”
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At that moment, Hana firmly grasped Mari’s uninjured left hand.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Don’t fall asleep.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Why…?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Because it’s not time yet.”
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“I see…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Then…
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‘What should… I do?’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
In her hazy consciousness, she saw Hana waving her hand toward somewhere.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Over here! Please, over here! Save her! Save her!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“This is the rescue team! Is this the patient?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Yes, here! She’s lying here!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Who’s more critically injured… Get the child first!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Hana shook off the rescuers’ hands.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“No, not me! Take her first! Her, immediately!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
She screamed desperately, as if she’d sell her soul.
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The young girl’s plea was that urgent.
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‘Why…?’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
One rescuer quickly assessed Mari’s state on the muddy ground, barking orders through his radio and to his team.
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In the chaos, Mari mustered her remaining strength to grab Hana’s sleeve.
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Surprised, Hana turned back.
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“What? Does it hurt somewhere…?!”
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“Ot, lt…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But what she heard was an unexpected question.
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“Do you… enjoy drawing?”
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Hana’s face looked as if she might cry.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Yes! I love it! Thanks to you, I started drawing! My first solo exhibition—it was amazing!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I see…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Ah.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
That’s good.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
For the first time, Mari felt grateful.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘I’m glad I started drawing.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
As the rescue team carefully carried her away, she smiled faintly at the sound of voices behind her.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“What’s your relationship to the patient?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“A friend.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
That’s good.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
That’s good…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘I’m glad.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Mari’s consciousness slowly sank into darkness.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But this time, the darkness was warm and comforting.
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