A dark and cold place.
When described that way, what do people usually imagine?
Such places exist everywhere. But doesn't everyone have their own space that comes to mind?
For me, it was a cave, and that space remained as a deep scar, a trauma.
Actually, at first, it wasn't even a trauma.
I just thought I'd been unlucky, that I should be grateful the Strange One had grown tired and released me on a whim, and that I should live more carefully from now on. That's how I was able to cope.
But after the Wall collapsed a second time and I encountered the Strange One again, all I could do was tremble when alone in dark, cold places, feeling terrified and miserable.
The cave was dark and cold.
The asphalt ground at night was also dark and cold.
A life of solitary suffering and hunger was so painful and unbearable that tears welled up.
Hoping someone would save me, I pulled Yoon Ha-min, the person I trusted most, to my side.
When there were too many things I couldn't speak about, just having someone who believed me made me feel saved.
"Are you sleeping here again today?"
Yoon Ha-min glanced at me.
I wanted to say, "I'm sorry, I'll leave if you don't like it," but I was too scared to sleep alone in the room he'd given me, so I nodded.
"...Yes, I'm scared to be alone..."
I said this while gripping the edge of the blanket I was using.
When I clenched my fist, the blanket crumpled in my hand.
I sighed involuntarily, thinking I was too weak for not being able to overcome this on my own.
Yoon Ha-min made a sound like "nngh" before exhaling deeply.
Hearing this, I flinched and glanced in his direction.
"Sorry, am I making you uncomfortable?"
"No, no. It's because of your trauma, can't be helped."
Yoon Ha-min shook his head hurriedly.
If he had said I was uncomfortable and told me to leave, I would have had to go, but he didn't, and I felt relieved that he was so understanding.
"...Thank you."
I smiled as I replied.
I thought perhaps I was being saved, even just a little, because the protagonist Yoon Ha-min was here.
Whether when we couldn't meet because we were in different worlds, or now that we were in the same world, I felt strange that I was always the one receiving help.
Rustling as I took up his left side, I rested my head on the pillow I'd brought.
Then I closed my eyes gently.
It was comfortable. Comfortable and nice.
Though it was dark, it wasn't lonely or cold, so I could feel at ease.
I didn't have to scream in fear.
I didn't have to wake up in a cold sweat.
I didn't have to be afraid of being dragged back to that place.
So, I liked it here.
By Yoon Ha-min's side.
Sometimes, sleep feels too short.
Especially when you have to wake up with a tired mind the next day to prepare for the Academy.
I suppose it's the same for working adults, not just students.
Rubbing my bleary eyes, I saw Yoon Ha-min curled up like a shrimp beside me.
"...Yoon Ha-min?"
"Oh, you're up?"
He hesitated before hurriedly leaving the room in an odd posture.
I hadn't said anything, but seeing him suddenly flee somewhere gave me a strange feeling.
Ah, my clothes had ridden up a bit.
Noticing my exposed stomach, I quickly pulled my shirt down.
Then I looked at the brightening outside and found my uniform to put on.
"Come to think of it, the lunch box..."
I mumbled absently, staring at the empty kitchen.
I wasn't particularly expecting anything, but since I'd told Orca I'd bring a lunch box, it would be strange to show up empty-handed, so I felt I should prepare something.
Before, both here and there, I never had time to cook, so I mostly bought bread or kimbap. I didn't really know how to cook.
But thinking Yoon Ha-min might be busy, I cautiously raised my hand to try.
It wasn't a complete disaster, but it wasn't good either, leaving me with mixed feelings.
The rolled eggs turned into scrambled eggs, and the meatballs were slightly burnt.
I stared blankly at them before rummaging through the lunch containers.
Just then, Yoon Ha-min finally emerged from the bathroom.
"Kanna, what are you doing?"
"Well... you seemed busy, so I tried to help..."
I knew Yoon Ha-min was an excellent cook, but I thought I could handle something this simple, so I tried.
The attempt was good, but the result wasn't, which was the problem.
Yoon Ha-min sighed when he saw the peculiar combination of food on the plate.
"Scrambled eggs, and what's this?"
"...Meatballs."
"Ah, so that's what you used."
"Sorry."
"No, I bought them to use anyway."
Yoon Ha-min said this and chuckled.
"I thought it would be weird if we didn't bring lunch boxes when we told Orca to bring one..."
"That's true. Oh right, we did say that."
Look at this guy!
"Where are the sausages..."
Yoon Ha-min pulled out Vienna sausages from a nearby bag.
He grabbed the knife I had taken out to cut the rolled eggs but hadn't used, and with a quick flick, he extracted the contents.
I wondered if this was the kind of skill that made him stand out as number one in practical classes.
Though weapon skills were part of the second-year curriculum, so being good with a sword wouldn't affect his grades yet.
He made cuts in the Vienna sausages and tossed them into the frying pan. As soon as they heated up, they started to look like octopuses.
"Wow..."
"Looks delicious, right?"
When I expressed amazement, Yoon Ha-min naturally grinned at me.
I stared at him with wide eyes.
Then I lowered my head again, fixing my gaze on the frying pan.
"Well, I guess all sausages taste the same."
"Kanna, are you taking this one?"
"...No, I mean, yes, I should."
Cooking seemed to depend more on skill than effort.
Though skill requires effort, of course.
Hmm, I looked once more before putting the scrambled eggs and darkened meatballs into my lunch box.
"Um, thank you."
I didn't forget to thank Yoon Ha-min for letting me use the ingredients and allowing me to eat.
I knew that while it's okay to forget borrowed things, one shouldn't forget to give what is rightfully due.
Yoon Ha-min, who had been staring blankly, smiled and said to me:
"Kanna, do you want some of these too?"
Yoon Ha-min turned off the gas and offered me the Vienna sausages.
Although I liked sausages, I thought it might be problematic, so I shook my head.
"No."
"Huh, why?"
"If our menus are identical, Orca might find it strange."
When I answered like that, Yoon Ha-min let out an "Ah" of realization.
There was no reason to lower Orca's affection here.
So I quietly drew the line.
Then Yoon Ha-min smiled as if he'd had a good idea.
"Then since I cooked a lot, let's put them all in here and share them at lunch."
"Oh, really?"
I didn't know that was an option.
As expected of the top student, he's so smart.
After preparing lunch boxes early in the morning, we bustled about before shouldering our bags and heading to the Academy.
Yoon Ha-min looked a bit tired, but his face seemed more refreshed today.
I felt relieved, though I wondered if it was because of me.
But at this moment, something else seemed more important.
"O-Orca."
As I was about to take out my lunch box since we'd agreed to eat lunch together, I noticed Orca wasn't holding anything like a lunch box.
Instead, she was holding only her Device.
"Ah, I forgot my lunch box."
She smiled kindly and made a call somewhere. Shortly after, a person in formal attire entered the Academy with an incredibly fancy container before leaving.
Can outsiders enter like that?
If they're servants of the Ramiris family, can they easily access places like this?
Lost in such thoughts, I lowered my gaze absently. Meanwhile, Orca confidently unwrapped her package and took out her lunch box.
While mine was like a studio apartment, Orca's was more like a luxury condo, which was fascinating.
"Come on, Yoon Ha-min, join us. Let's share."
Orca pushed the desks together and spread out the lunch boxes so we could all sit comfortably.
Yoon Ha-min, who had been staring blankly from behind, opened his mouth wide.
"Wait, what is all this..."
"It's made by my mansion's exclusive chef, so I guarantee the taste."
As expected of a daughter from a prestigious family.
I thought it was amazing how naturally she used such things.
There were six lunch containers on the desk—two were mine and Yoon Ha-min's, but the other four were all Orca's, which was incredible.
They didn't look unappetizing at all, so I couldn't help but salivate.
I could feel the gazes of students who were heading to the cafeteria a bit late.
It wasn't that the school meals were insufficient, but the quality of a lunch prepared for just one person couldn't be ignored, so everyone seemed to be stirring with awe.
Orca proudly picked up her fork.
Yoon Ha-min stood beside us, staring blankly before glancing at his lunch box and then at me.
He seemed to want to give me his Vienna sausages.