Monday was a day no one welcomed.
Even if you tried to start the new week energetically, the pressure of having to do something always felt unbearably heavy.
I was no exception to this lack of energy.
No, perhaps it was because of what happened yesterday.
"Yoon Ha-min."
"Yes."
I answered the teacher calling attendance and quickly turned my head.
Even during roll call, the seat of the person disturbing my mood remained empty.
"Kanna? Kanna Aurora? Absent again today?"
"Yes, she's not here."
The student sitting next to Kanna's desk pointed at the empty seat as he answered.
The teacher looked concerned but, knowing that it shouldn't affect class time, quickly moved on to call the next student.
During the brief homeroom period, I debated whether to say something, but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to speak up.
After all, Kanna's appearance last night had been far from normal.
My brow furrowed.
Her blazer had been soaked with blood, her shirt torn to the point of becoming sleeveless, and overall she was filthy as if she'd been rolling around somewhere.
Despite all that, she had surprisingly few injuries, which meant I'd have to ask her directly if I wanted to know the truth.
But her responses had been indifferent and vague.
As if she didn't particularly want to tell me anything.
Was that a sign of resentment toward me?
Was she reacting that way because I had spoken with a tone of disbelief before she left? Or did she remain silent knowing that without evidence, no words would have meaning?
Either way, it seemed difficult to win back Kanna's trust.
Even if I said I believed her now, would it be brave or foolish to ask her to trust me again after I had told her I couldn't fully trust her without evidence?
"..."
The bell rang and class began.
Despite several class periods passing, Kanna showed no sign of coming to school.
I was worried about what might be happening to her, but I had no way to find her.
I didn't know where she lived, and her Device was in my possession.
All I could do was worry and think repeatedly.
What was Kanna seeing, what had she experienced, what had she done?
Something must have happened during the time she was missing, but not knowing left me feeling frustrated.
The frustration felt like a knot that wouldn't go away, causing me distress.
As I was feeling this way, during break time, I saw a teacher from another grade rushing over to Mrs. Lucia.
What that teacher said heightened my frustration even more.
"Do you happen to have a student with ivory-colored hair in your class? With purple eyes..."
"Ah, yes. Are you referring to Kanna Aurora?"
"So her name is Kanna Aurora?"
"Yes, but what business do you have with Kanna? She hasn't been coming to school for several days now."
"Is that so? Well, the thing is—"
Hearing this conversation, I felt a tightness in my nose.
My emotions were stirring.
*
April had just begun.
The support funds should have arrived, but the problem was that without my Device, I had no way to check the money.
"...I'm doomed."
I licked my parched lips as I stayed holed up in my room.
I had managed to wash myself, but the bloodstains on my uniform hadn't come out completely.
I was worried that scrubbing too hard might damage the fabric of the uniform.
With no good options, the bloodstains remained, and my damp blazer hung on the drying rack, seemingly weeping pathetically.
I considered using a hair dryer to dry it faster, but ultimately decided against it, unable to afford the electricity bill unless absolutely necessary, leaving everything to the sunlight.
Crouched quietly on my bedding, I stared at it.
I never realized how critical it was to be without a Device.
I must have dropped it somewhere while being dragged away by that Mysterious Person, but there was no way I could remember where I lost it in that situation.
Going to the dry cleaner's was a problem, and going to the Academy without a uniform was also awkward.
I was becoming a truant, thinking that one more day of absence couldn't make things any worse.
Come to think of it, I seemed to have left my bag somewhere at the Academy too, and I had no idea where to find it.
"This is driving me crazy."
After contemplating for a while, I finally bit my lip.
I thought there was no solution, but there actually was one.
Just not the solution I wanted.
I wore sweatpants and a hoodie.
Pulling my hood down low to avoid being recognized, I put on my shoes and started walking.
"...Kanna?"
"Hi."
Coming back after leaving like that yesterday was certainly shameless.
I knew that. I wasn't oblivious.
But I had no choice. I could only hope he would understand.
Even if it was selfish.
"I know this is really shameless of me, but could you do me one last favor?"
To my small request, Yoon Ha-min nodded.
I was actually surprised that he agreed so readily.
"Come in first. I had something I wanted to talk to you about too."
"...Thank you."
Though bewildered, I followed him inside since he was willing to help.
I hadn't noticed yesterday when I woke up disoriented, hastily sewed my clothes, and ran out, but Yoon Ha-min's house was quite spacious.
How could someone living alone have such a large place?
I could see he lived a very different life from mine, where my living space was limited to a single room.
"Do you want something to eat? I was about to have dinner."
"...I'll gratefully accept."
I nodded.
Having been starving for so long, his offer was truly appreciated.
Sitting across from Yoon Ha-min at the table next to the kitchen, I quietly looked at the pasta he had made.
I knew Yoon Ha-min was an excellent cook, but I never expected to actually eat his food, so I was a bit excited.
Cream pasta. It was impressive that he could make something like this at home.
When I put it in my mouth, the smooth taste and aroma immediately hit me.
And as I ate it, tears began to leak from my eyes.
"Kanna?"
Hearing his voice, I came to my senses and let out a small groan as I lowered my head.
I quickly wiped away my tears, but there was no taking back what he had already seen.
"...Kanna,"
"Yes."
I lifted my head, pretending nothing was wrong.
Yoon Ha-min hesitated for a moment after looking at me, then carefully continued speaking.
"I was harsh with my words before, wasn't I?"
"About what?"
"About not being able to believe you."
Ah, so that's what this is about.
My response was delayed for a moment because I never dreamed he would be holding onto that.
"It's fine. I thought you might react that way. No, it actually seems like a normal response..."
Feeling suddenly emotional while speaking, I hurriedly moved my fork.
The white-coated noodles spiraled around my fork, gathering at the tip.
I put it in my mouth and swallowed it along with my emotions.
Yoon Ha-min seemed unsatisfied with my answer, pressing his lips together before continuing.
"That's not it. I'm apologizing for not keeping my promise."
"Promise?"
"The promise to believe you at least once."
Hearing those words, I stopped chewing.
"Even after making such a promise, I shamelessly..."
"I don't understand why you feel guilty when you never said you'd keep that promise."
Yoon Ha-min's expression hardened.
"Honestly, it was my fault. How could you believe something without any evidence? I'm not blaming you for saying that."
I continued speaking nonchalantly.
What I had asked for was just selfishly relying on Yoon Ha-min's character.
"I just came to ask if you could find my Device at the Academy..."
"Is that why you didn't come to school today?"
"No, well... strictly speaking, it's related."
I shrugged as I answered.
"...Really?"
Yoon Ha-min had a dubious expression, probably recalling my appearance yesterday.
My blazer and shirt had been covered in blood, and the shirt was torn at the arms to the point of looking sleeveless—he had seen me in that terrible state.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Support funds come through the Device, and without it, I have no way to access them, so I'm in a bit of trouble."
When I spoke honestly, Yoon Ha-min groaned and carefully got up from his seat.
I wondered where he was going when we hadn't finished eating, but when he returned, he was holding another Device.
"This is yours."
Yoon Ha-min handed it to me as he sat down.
I took it blankly, turned on the screen, and checked the contacts first.
With only two contacts—Yoon Ha-min and Orca—I confirmed it was mine.
I wondered how he had found it without me even asking.
As I was blankly handling the Device, he asked another question as if he had more business.
"...Kanna, I haven't told the teachers yet, but were you taken by a monster?"
Hearing those words, I almost flinched.
I nearly burst into laughter, never dreaming that the straightforward Yoon Ha-min would ambush me like this.
Fortunately, I was able to suppress my emotions as much as possible.
I could just keep my mouth shut like this.
After all, I had only come to ask a favor.
"Kanna."
But Yoon Ha-min didn't seem to give up so easily.
"Tell me. I granted your request. Now you grant mine."
Hearing that, I shrank back a little.
I wanted to ask why he was doing this, whether he no longer couldn't believe someone like me.
"...I want to believe you. Even without evidence, I want to believe you."
"Why are you going this far?"
When I responded indifferently, Yoon Ha-min's lips trembled.
"Because it's sad when no one believes you..."
At those words, I couldn't help but freeze.
"I'm used to it. You don't have to believe me."
"Why...?"
"Because I don't need belief based on pity."
I put down my fork with a clatter, leaving the half-finished bowl in front of me.
As I was about to get up from my seat, Yoon Ha-min clenched his fist and stopped me.
"It's not pity."
His trembling fist seemed to contain numerous emotions.
"It's not pity... A teacher from another grade said that you provided information on how to deal with an unfamiliar monster. They don't know who originally shared the information, but they said your contribution in spreading it was significant. They were praising you."
Yoon Ha-min sent me an intense gaze as he spoke.
His golden eyes looked like burning starlight.
"It was you, wasn't it? You knew and told them...?"
I kept my mouth shut.
I just looked at Yoon Ha-min's face.
Honestly, I thought it would be something that would just pass by.
But the teachers must have discussed it separately and passed it on, extending the conversation to here.
There was a possibility they would dig deeper, asking which student had shared that information and where it had originated.
With me absent, the teachers must have tried to find their acquaintances and the hero who had been in that situation.
Unable to find answers, they must have finally gone to the homeroom teacher.
Yoon Ha-min was certain of it.
"...You know?"
He believed it firmly.
It wasn't belief based on pity.
"That you saved people at the Academy. People nearby, no, even people living farther away—you saved them all."
Yoon Ha-min's voice trembled.
"So this isn't pity... so..."
His voice sounded like he was crying.
"Just once more... will you let me believe you...?"
Why did his voice, asking to believe my words this time, sound so sad?
It was a voice that made even me feel emotional.