The library was quiet, almost eerily so. Perfect for an investigation—or so Jihun made it sound.
Seo Yuna adjusted her chair and stretched dramatically, all while her mind was racing. Okay, Yuna. Act normal. You're here to "help" Jihun catch the Scarlet Shadow. Totally innocent. Totally not yourself.
Jihun was already at the table, flipping through reports and observing her silently. Yuna shivered.
Why is he staring at me like that? Is he reading my soul? Or is he just enjoying my suffering? Either way… not fair.
---
Yuna reached up for a dusty reference book to "help with the investigation." Disaster struck immediately—a precarious stack of heavy volumes above her wobbled dangerously.
Oh no… oh no… oh no…
Before she could scream, Jihun lunged forward and shielded her. The books crashed onto him instead, and they both tumbled to the floor, Yuna pressed against his chest.
OH MY GOD. HE'S SO CLOSE. MY FACE. I'M MELTING. I'M LITERALLY MELTING.
"Are you okay?" he muttered calmly.
"I-I… yes… fine!" Yuna stammered, her voice squeaky as she scrambled to move away.
Inside her mind: LIAR. RED AS A LOBSTER. HE DOESN'T EVEN CARE. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!
The library door creaked—students peeked in briefly. Both Yuna and Jihun scrambled to set the books upright, pretending everything was normal.
Normal? MY HEART IS EXPLODING. HE'S CALM. THIS IS TORTURE.
---
Once the students left, Jihun finally spoke, eyes narrowed.
"The Scarlet Shadow hasn't appeared in days," he said thoughtfully. "Either she's hurt… or she's planning something bigger. We need to see which students might have been affected recently."
Yuna froze. Bigger prank? Oh no. This is a trap. A giant, terrifying trap. And I am the trap architect.
"I-I can help," Yuna said quickly, trying to sound confident.
Inside her head: Help… act like I'm helping… mislead him… blame janitors… maybe imagine some slime somewhere. Just don't die of embarrassment, Yuna.
Jihun's eyes scanned the room. "We'll list all students who might have been targets recently. And cross-check with incidents that have happened in the last week."
Yuna nodded eagerly, her mind spinning with possibilities. Yes… totally helping… except also subtly pointing him toward empty corridors and janitor closets. That counts as strategy, right?
---
Hours passed as they "investigated" through the library, with Yuna secretly redirecting him.
Jihun paused suddenly, glancing at her sharply. "You seem… too calm."
Yuna forced a smile. "Calm is essential for strategy. You wouldn't understand."
Inside her head: Sweating bullets. My calm is a lie. Totally a lie. Pretend I'm composed. Pretend. Don't faint. Don't faint.
---
They moved toward another row of bookshelves. Yuna secretly nudged him toward a "suspiciously quiet corner" that hadn't been used in months.
Jihun frowned. "Why here?"
Yuna shrugged innocently. "Just… maybe she's hiding. Scarlet Shadow likes… secretive spots."
Inside her mind: Secretive spots? Sure, and maybe unicorns serve tea there too. Just keep acting natural.
He glanced at her with a skeptical look, but said nothing.
---
Yuna's thoughts drifted as they walked. All those pranks… the cafeteria slime, the water bucket, even the janitor trap… oh no, what if he starts piecing things together?
She imagined the pranks happening in fast-forward: slime splashing, students screaming, Jihun's shocked expression—and her guilt grew. Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Smile. Nod. Look innocent.
---
Jihun finally broke the silence again. "If the Scarlet Shadow is planning something bigger, we need to anticipate it. Every location, every student, every potential target…" His voice trailed off.
"Yes! Absolutely," Yuna agreed, nodding vigorously.
Inside her head: Yes… anticipate… distract him… mislead… totally innocent…
---
Later, Yuna reached for a book at the top shelf and froze. Another stack wobbled dangerously. She could feel panic creeping up. No… not again. Please, universe, don't let me fall on him again.
But this time, she was faster, stepping aside with exaggerated caution. Jihun noticed, eyebrows slightly raised.
"You're being extra careful," he said.
"Of course," she replied, voice overly calm.
Inside her head: Extra careful… code for I'm hiding my panic and my guilt. Totally casual. Totally casual.
---
They continued their work, cross-checking incidents and listing students who might have been targeted. Every now and then, Yuna would sneakily point him toward empty classrooms or obscure corners, giving herself time to imagine Scarlet Shadow pranks unfolding elsewhere.
Yes… mislead the detective… protect my secret… and maybe just peek at him when he's not looking. Totally innocent, Yuna.
Jihun's gaze flicked toward her more than once. "Are you sure you're not hiding anything?"
"Absolutely," she said too quickly, cheeks heating.
Inside her mind: LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. I am literally sweating bullets. He knows. He knows.
---
By late afternoon, Jihun closed his file. "Alright. We'll meet here again after school. Don't forget."
"Y-Yes! Of course!" Yuna replied eagerly, nodding so hard her neck hurt.
Inside her mind: After school… more time with him… more opportunities to mislead… more chances to die of embarrassment. This is my life now. Survival mode: ON.
Jihun's eyes lingered on her, sharp as a hawk, before he turned and left.
Yuna exhaled, trying to calm the whirlwind of panic and guilt inside her. I survived today. Somehow. But the next session… oh no… how do I survive the next session?
And as she collected her notes, she couldn't help imagining her past pranks unfolding in the hallways, chaotic as ever.
Yes… pretend to help. Mislead. Stay alive. And maybe… try not to faint on top of him again.
After the day's investigation in the library, Yuna slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped outside. The school grounds were quiet; most students had already left.
She walked home slowly, still thinking about the chaos that had just happened.
Library… books falling… me almost on the floor… and him… so close… oh no… my cheeks are definitely red…
She pressed a hand to her face, hoping the blush would fade before anyone noticed. Every time she replayed the scene in her mind, she groaned.
Why am I always in disasters like this? And why does he stay so calm? Seriously, it's unfair.
Her thoughts drifted to the way the books had tumbled, how she had stumbled, and how Jihun had been right there, steadying her.
Stop thinking about it, Yuna! Just… survive the walk home…
She picked up her pace, trying to shake the image from her mind, but the memory kept replaying, making her heart beat faster and her face hotter.
---
Meanwhile, in the back of a sleek black private car, Jihun leaned back, letting the city lights flicker across the polished interior. His driver navigated the quiet streets.
But Jihun was far from calm. His mind kept replaying the library moment—the way Yuna had leaned down, the books above her almost falling, and how incredibly close they had been.
Why… why did she have to be so clumsy? And why was her face… so close to mine?
A sudden warmth rose to his cheeks. He quickly covered his face with his hands, hoping the driver wouldn't notice.
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. "Sir… are you not feeling well? Your face… it's red."
Jihun waved a hand dismissively. "No… I'm fine. Just… feeling hot, that's all."
Inside his head, he groaned. Hot… sure. Totally normal… nothing weird about a high school girl almost collapsing on me… and making me blush like this…
He leaned back, trying to focus on the streets, but the memory of Yuna's flustered expression, the books tumbling, and the accidental closeness refused to leave his mind.
Why does she have to be this… ridiculous?
---
Yuna finally reached her home. She kicked off her shoes and flopped onto her bed dramatically.
Library chaos… survived. Investigation… survived. Embarrassing moments… eternally replaying… my life is officially a drama.
She buried her face in the pillow, her cheeks still warm, and imagined Jihun back in his car, probably thinking about the exact same moment. She shivered.
Don't think about it, Yuna. Seriously. Don't think about it.
Yet despite her best efforts, she couldn't stop replaying the scene in her head—the falling books, the closeness, his calm reaction, and the way her heart had leapt. She groaned loudly.
Why does he have to be so… so… She let out a long sigh, letting the tension of the day finally drain from her body.
---
Outside, the city lights reflected off the car's glossy surface as Jihun continued his ride home. His hands lowered from his face, though a faint red tint still lingered on his cheeks.
Why… why did she have to be that clumsy? And yet… He shook his head, scolding himself. No. Focus. Investigation. Scarlet Shadow. Not… her…
But the memory was already embedded in his mind, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.
The driver glanced at him again in the rearview mirror. "Sir… are you sure you're okay? Your face… it's still red."
Jihun waved his hand, forcing his voice to remain calm. "I'm fine… just… feeling a bit hot, that's all."
Yet inside, he couldn't stop thinking about Yuna—her flustered face, the books falling, and how startlingly close they had been.
---
The quiet city streets stretched ahead as Yuna and Jihun each headed home, the day's investigation done, yet both unable to erase the awkward, chaotic, and strangely intimate memory from their minds.