The classroom noise slowly thinned after Mr. Yoo Joon's announcement, chairs scraping softly against the floor as students began to gather their things.
Ji-Woo, Eun-Woo, Ji-Bok, Ji-Ho, and Kang Mi-Sook stood and moved toward the front.
The air outside the classroom felt slightly cooler, quieter.
Behind them, Mr. Yoo Joon remained inside, still speaking to the rest of the class, his voice firm but muffled through the half-closed door.
"Make sure you finish your assignments before I return," he said. "No excuses."
The group barely reacted as they stepped out into the hallway.
Then—
Mi-Sook's hand suddenly caught Ji-Woo's wrist.
She pulled her slightly to the side, away from the others.
Ji-Woo turned her head slowly.
Mi-Sook leaned in close, her voice low.
"You really think this is just a simple school trip?"
Her eyes sharpened.
"If we go there… to your sister's so-called ashes…" she said, stressing the words, "people will start asking questions."
Ji-Woo didn't react outwardly, but her fingers tensed slightly.
Mi-Sook continued, almost like a whisper sharpened into something poisonous.
"And when they do… they'll realize your little secret."
A pause.
Her lips curled into a faint smirk.
"And then you'll be done for."
Ji-Woo blinked once.
Slowly.
Then she swallowed, her expression still calm—but something in her gaze hardened just slightly.
Mi-Sook released her wrist and stepped back, satisfied, like she had planted something dangerous and walked away untouched.
She turned and walked toward Mr. Yoo Joon, who was just stepping out of the classroom door, her smirk still lingering.
Ji-Bok, who had been watching lazily from a few steps away, tilted his head slightly.
He had seen everything.
He always did.
He walked over casually, hands in his pockets, that usual half-asleep smile on his face.
He stopped beside Ji-Woo.
"What's the matter?" he asked lightly.
Ji-Woo didn't answer.
Her silence made him hum softly.
He crouched down a little so he could look up at her face, meeting her eyes from below.
"Hmm," he said. "Now Mrs. Arrogant doesn't want to talk?"
Ji-Woo finally looked at him properly.
Still no words.
Just a quiet, controlled stare.
Ji-Bok exhaled through his nose, amused.
Then she finally spoke, low and steady.
"If we go there… everyone will find out."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"And I'll be done for."
Ji-Bok paused for a moment.
Then he straightened slowly, leaning just enough so their eye levels matched.
"Then don't get caught," he said simply.
Ji-Woo frowned faintly.
"I don't like pretending."
"Too bad," he replied with a small shrug. "Life doesn't really care what you like."
A few feet away, Eun-Woo had been watching the entire exchange.
His gaze was fixed—quiet, sharp, unreadable.
He ran a hand slowly through his dark brown hair, like he was thinking too much at once.
Before anything else could be said—
He stepped forward.
He didn't interrupt loudly.
He just placed himself beside Ji-Woo.
Close enough to cut the tension.
Ji-Bok straightened immediately, the lazy smirk still there, but his posture shifting slightly more alert.
A silent exchange passed between the two boys.
Wordless.
Measured.
Then—
Mr. Yoo Joon's voice cut through from behind them.
"Enough."
All four of them turned slightly.
He was standing at the end of the corridor now, file still in hand, expression firm.
"We are leaving now."
No room for argument.
Mi-Sook, already ahead, glanced back briefly with a satisfied look.
Ji-Ho and the others adjusted their bags.
Ji-Bok stretched his shoulders once, like none of it mattered anyway.
Eun-Woo glanced at Ji-Woo one last time.
Ji-Woo looked forward again.
Then, without another word, the group began walking down the corridor together—toward the school exit, and toward something none of them were fully prepared for.
They left the school gates in a quiet line.
Mr. Yoo-Joon walked ahead with Ji-Ho beside him, speaking briefly in a low voice about the schedule. Ji-Ho nodded occasionally, still half-asleep, like his body was moving before his brain fully agreed.
Behind them, Kang Mi-Sook walked a little in front of Ji-Bok, her steps neat and deliberate, like she already knew where everything was headed.
Ji-Bok followed lazily behind her, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded—but still aware of everything.
And behind him were Ji-Woo and Eun-Woo.
A quieter space.
A heavier one.
Ji-Woo's fingers kept tightening around the strap of her bag. Her gaze stayed forward, but her breathing wasn't as steady as before.
Eun-Woo noticed immediately.
He slowed his steps slightly so he matched hers.
Then softly—
"What's the matter?"
Ji-Woo didn't answer.
Not right away.
Her lips parted, then closed again.
She looked like she was deciding whether silence would be safer.
Eun-Woo didn't push. He just reached out gently and took her hand.
Not sudden. Not forceful.
Just… there.
Ji-Woo froze slightly.
Then turned her head toward him.
His eyes were already on hers.
Calm.
Steady.
Waiting.
That made it worse.
Because she couldn't lie to him.
Not easily.
Not without something in her chest tightening in a way she didn't like.
She swallowed.
Her voice came out softer than usual.
"I'm just… really sad about going to see my sister's ashes."
A pause.
Her grip tightened faintly around his hand.
"It's a lot," she admitted quietly. "I feel like I'm going to cry. And… it's going to hurt."
For a moment, Eun-Woo didn't speak.
He just looked at her.
Like he was listening to something deeper than words.
Then his expression softened.
Not pity.
Not confusion.
Just understanding.
"You don't have to hold it in," he said gently. "Not with me."
A small pause.
"If it hurts, it hurts. That's not something you have to fix right now."
Ji-Woo blinked, caught off guard by how simple it sounded.
Like pain didn't need to be hidden to be valid.
Eun-Woo gave her hand a light squeeze.
"And if you cry," he added quietly, "I'll just sit there with you. That's all."
Something in Ji-Woo's chest loosened a little.
A breath she didn't realize she was holding left her slowly.
Then, almost despite herself—
A small laugh slipped out.
"It sounds easy when you say it like that," she murmured.
Eun-Woo's lips curved slightly.
"It is easy," he replied. "You're the one making it complicated."
Ji-Woo let out another soft laugh, quieter this time.
Ji-Bok, walking ahead, tilted his head slightly and glanced back over his shoulder.
"Are you two done?" he called lazily. "Or should I bring snacks for the emotional moment?"
Ji-Woo immediately looked away, embarrassed.
Eun-Woo didn't even spare him a full glance.
"Walk faster," Ji-Bok added with a sigh. "You're slowing down the entire tragedy."
Eun-Woo finally clicked his tongue faintly.
"Annoying," he muttered under his breath.
Ji-Woo's lips twitched again, almost smiling.
But they kept walking.
Soon, the school bus came into view near the roadside.
It was already waiting.
The door stood open.
Students began boarding slowly.
Ji-Bok went up first, yawning.
Mi-Sook followed with a faint, knowing smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Ji-Ho climbed in behind Mr. Yoo-Joon, still looking half-conscious.
Eun-Woo stepped up next, then paused at the entrance, turning slightly to wait.
Ji-Woo followed him.
As they stepped inside, the familiar smell of the bus hit her—warm plastic seats and faint dust.
She hesitated for a second.
Eun-Woo didn't rush her.
He just walked to a seat and sat down, then gently pulled her into the seat beside him.
Close.
Not crowded.
Just… close enough.
Ji-Woo's legs felt slightly tense as she sat.
Eun-Woo noticed again.
Without a word, he took out his phone, plugged in his earphones, and held one side out to her.
Ji-Woo looked at it.
Then at him.
He didn't explain.
He just waited.
She slowly took it and placed it in her ear.
A soft, light melody filled her side of the world.
Quiet.
Comforting.
Like the noise inside her head had been turned down just a little.
Eun-Woo leaned back slightly, eyes half on her, half forward.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Outside, the bus began moving.
The city slowly faded into quieter roads.
Ji-Woo's shoulders, little by little, started to relax.
Not fully.
But enough.
After a while, she let her head lean slightly toward the window.
Eun-Woo glanced at her again.
Then, softly, he said something she couldn't fully hear over the music—but she saw his lips move.
She tilted her head.
"Hmm?"
He repeated it more clearly this time.
"You don't have to be strong the whole time."
Ji-Woo blinked.
Then, unexpectedly—
She smiled.
Small.
Real.
For a moment, the heaviness didn't feel as sharp.
A little further ahead in the bus, Ji-Bok glanced back again.
"Are you two seriously getting comfortable already?" he muttered.
Eun-Woo didn't even look at him.
Ji-Woo, however, let out a quiet laugh this time.
And that alone made Eun-Woo's gaze soften slightly.
The bus continued forward.
Eventually, the atmosphere shifted.
Mr. Yoo-Joon stood from his seat near the front.
"We're here," he said firmly.
The bus slowed.
Then stopped.
The doors opened.
Cooler air drifted in.
"Everyone, come down carefully," he instructed.
Ji-Ho stood first, rubbing his eyes.
Ji-Woo hesitated, then looked at Mr. Yoo-Joon.
He gave her a small, confirming nod.
That was enough.
She stood.
Eun-Woo stood with her immediately, staying close without touching.
Outside, Mi-Sook had already stepped down, her gaze scanning the surroundings with something unreadable in her expression.
The columbarium stood quietly ahead of them in Ji-Soo's hometown.
Still.
Respectful.
Heavy in its silence.
Mr. Yoo-Joon faced the group.
"We received permission from her family and the caretakers here," he said calmly. "After this, we will also visit Ji-Soo's home."
At that, Mi-Sook's smirk deepened slightly.
Barely visible—but sharp.
Ji-Woo felt it immediately.
A flicker of panic.
Her fingers twitched.
What if they see her?
What if something slips?
Her breath caught slightly.
Eun-Woo noticed the shift instantly.
He stepped a little closer without saying anything.
Just enough to remind her she wasn't alone.
Mr. Yoo-Joon turned.
"Come on. Let's go."
And together, they began walking into the columbarium.