After school, Seo Yuna walked down the street outside Haneul Academy while stretching her arms.
"Finally… freedom."
Inside her mind she sighed.
Another day survived.
But suddenly…
She felt something strange.
Someone was behind her.
She glanced at a glass shop window beside the road to check the reflection.
And she almost burst out laughing.
Behind her were three extremely suspicious figures.
One was wearing huge black sunglasses even though the sun was already setting.
Another had a fake mustache so crooked it looked like it might fall off any second.
The third one had a giant scarf covering half her face like a cartoon thief.
Yuna's eye twitched.
…Are they serious?
Did they buy those disguises from a toy shop?
Of course she knew exactly who they were.
Chaeyoung.
Yerin.
And Soyeon.
Inside her mind she groaned dramatically.
Are they following me because they saw me with Jihun in the library?
Oh jeez…
Why do I always end up in this kind of trouble?
So Yuna decided to test them.
She suddenly turned left.
The three spies turned left.
She crossed the road.
They crossed the road.
She suddenly stopped walking.
Behind her the three also stopped and pretended to look at the sky.
Yuna almost laughed.
Wow.
Professional detectives.
Totally not suspicious.
Behind her Chaeyoung whispered,
"Where does she live?"
Yerin adjusted her fake mustache nervously.
"I think she's heading toward the park."
Soyeon nodded seriously.
"Stay calm. Don't let her notice us."
Yuna almost facepalmed.
Notice you?!
You three look like villains from a cheap spy movie!
She sighed.
Alright.
Time for Plan Escape.
Suddenly—
Yuna started sprinting.
"HEY!" Yerin shouted.
"She's running!" Soyeon yelled.
Chaeyoung immediately ran after her.
"Don't lose her!"
The three chased her like a chaotic train.
Yuna ran into a nearby neighborhood park.
She slowed down slightly and looked behind.
They're still chasing me…
She groaned.
Now I actually have to do something.
Then she looked around.
And suddenly smiled.
Perfect.
She walked calmly toward a quiet street corner.
Then suddenly she shouted loudly,
"THIEF!!"
Immediately a loud voice shouted nearby.
"WHAT?! WHERE?!"
A neighborhood patrol uncle appeared with four large barking dogs.
Yuna pointed dramatically behind her.
"THOSE THREE!"
The uncle's face turned serious.
"HEY! STOP RIGHT THERE!"
The dogs began barking loudly.
Chaeyoung froze.
"…What?"
Then the dogs started chasing them.
"RUN!" Yerin screamed.
The three girls ran like bullet trains.
The fake mustache flew off Yerin's face.
Soyeon's scarf dropped on the road.
Chaeyoung's sunglasses fell somewhere in the grass.
"WHY ARE THERE DOGS?!" Soyeon shouted.
"I HATE DOGS!" Yerin cried.
The patrol uncle continued chasing them.
"THIEVES!"
Meanwhile Yuna quietly slipped away from the area.
A few minutes later she stopped walking and sighed.
Then she scratched her head.
"…Maybe that was a little too much."
Inside her mind she felt slightly guilty.
That patrol uncle always patrols this neighborhood.
So I knew he would come.
She sighed again.
But those three probably ran ten kilometers by now.
Then she shrugged.
"They'll survive."
---
A while later Yuna reached home.
The house was quiet.
"Mom?"
No answer.
She checked her phone.
A message appeared.
"Working overtime today. Eat dinner. Don't wait."
Yuna's expression softened.
"Mom works too hard…"
She sat down and thought for a moment.
Maybe I should help a little.
So she opened her laptop.
"Part-time jobs near Haneul Academy…"
Many results appeared.
She contacted a few.
But most replies were weird.
"Night shift only."
"Private office meeting."
"Come alone."
Yuna immediately closed those chats.
"…Creepy."
But she kept searching.
Finally she found something.
Internet Café – Part-time Helper
The location was perfect.
15 minutes from school.
10 minutes from home.
"Nice."
She contacted the owner.
The reply came quickly.
They needed help after school from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Yuna smiled.
"That's perfect!"
She accepted the job.
Her shift would start tomorrow.
But suddenly another thought appeared.
Wait…
What if someone from school finds out I work there?
She thought for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"What's the worst that could happen?"
---
The next morning…
Yuna walked into school full of energy.
Minji stared at her.
"Yesterday you looked like a dead person."
She tilted her head.
"But today you look like you drank five energy drinks."
Yuna raised her arms dramatically.
"Because today…"
She paused.
"I have been reborn!"
Minji blinked.
"…What?"
"I am a new person."
Minji slowly clapped.
"Wow."
Then rolled her eyes.
"Very dramatic."
---
Just then Jihun entered the classroom.
Immediately several girls started whispering loudly.
"Did you smell that?"
"His perfume!"
"It's from a new luxury brand!"
"So cool!"
"I wish I could sit next to him!"
Yuna sighed.
Inside her mind she complained.
Why do girls scream every time he enters the room?
It's just perfume.
Minji was about to start explaining.
"Well you see, Jihun is popular because—"
Yuna quickly stopped her.
"Please."
She waved her hand.
"I'm tired of hearing about him since the day I arrived."
Unfortunately…
She said that very loudly.
The entire classroom suddenly became silent.
Yuna slowly realized.
"…Oops."
She looked up.
Jihun was staring at her.
Glaring.
His eyes clearly said:
Oh… so I'm the problem?
Inside her mind she panicked.
Oh no.
She quickly looked at Minji for help.
But Minji suddenly sat properly at her desk and waved awkwardly.
"Oh hi Yuna."
"…When did you arrive?"
Yuna stared at her in betrayal.
YOU TRAITOR.
Meanwhile Jihun stood up.
Hands in his pockets.
He slowly walked toward her.
Step.
"You said…"
Step.
"…I'm the problem?"
Step.
"And yesterday…"
Step.
"You embarrassed me."
The entire class watched nervously.
"That scholarship girl is finished."
"She's dead."
"Pray for her."
Suddenly—
Yuna shouted loudly,
"OH TEACHER GOOD MORNING!"
Everyone turned around instantly.
"Teacher?"
But when they looked back—
Yuna was gone.
She had already sprinted out of the classroom.
Standing in the corridor, she sighed in relief.
"Safe…"
Then she heard footsteps.
She looked up.
Walking down the hallway were the Elite Seven.
At the front was Park Haeun, the famous young actress of the academy.
She looked elegant and confident as she walked.
The other members followed behind her like bodyguards.
Yuna quickly looked down.
Don't look at them.
Don't make eye contact.
They walked past her calmly.
Then the classroom door opened again.
Jihun stepped out.
Park Haeun stopped.
Then she and Jihun walked down the hallway together with the rest of the Elite Seven.
Yuna watched them leave.
Inside her mind she muttered,
Great.
The rich people council has assembled again.
---
After school ended…
Yuna checked the time.
"No investigation today."
Because she and Jihun only investigated Scarlet Shadow on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Today she was free.
So she followed Google Maps toward the internet café.
But the directions were ridiculous.
"Turn left through houses."
"Walk through narrow alley."
"Cross invisible road."
Yuna stared at her phone.
"…This map is drunk."
After wandering for a while she finally found it.
A small but stylish internet café.
Yuna smiled excitedly.
"My first job!"
She walked toward the entrance energetically.
But she didn't notice something.
Behind a nearby building…
A dark shadow stood silently.
Watching her.
From the darkness.