The quiet tension from the storage room followed them into the hallway.
Yuna turned to both Jihun and Harin, her expression serious.
"We'll split up," she said. "If the culprit is still somewhere in the school, we might find something."
Jihun nodded immediately.
"Good idea."
But Harin stepped closer to Yuna again, placing a hand dramatically over her chest.
"Yuna… how can I let you go alone?" she said in a princely tone. "What if something happens to you?"
Yuna sighed.
"I'll be fine."
Before Harin could insist again—
Jihun spoke.
"She'll be alright," he said calmly. "Yuna isn't weak."
Yuna crossed her arms slightly.
"Exactly."
With that, she turned and walked down one of the corridors alone.
Harin watched her go for a moment… then turned to leave as well—
"Wait."
Jihun's voice stopped her.
Harin looked back.
"What?"
Jihun narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why are you so clingy with Yuna?"
Harin blinked.
Then slowly, a teasing smile appeared on her face.
"Why?" she said lightly. "Are you jealous?"
Jihun let out an awkward laugh.
"Me? Jealous?" he scoffed. "Never."
He crossed his arms.
"Girls get jealous of me. Not the other way around."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
Harin stood there for a second—
Then immediately covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Wow…
His face is saying something completely different.
She shook her head slightly, amused.
Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she called out—
"If you don't do something soon…"
Jihun stopped for a second but didn't turn around.
"I might take Yuna away forever."
Jihun didn't respond.
He simply continued walking.
But his steps were slightly slower than before.
Harin smirked.
Interesting.
---
Meanwhile—
Yuna walked alone through a quieter part of the school building.
The corridor was almost empty, with only the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the distance.
Her eyes carefully scanned the surroundings.
If someone planned this… they might have left something behind.
She turned a corner and slowed down.
Something on the floor caught her attention.
A small, shiny object.
Yuna bent down and picked it up.
It was a star-shaped hair clip.
It sparkled slightly under the light—clearly expensive.
Yuna examined it closely.
"This doesn't look ordinary…" she murmured.
She looked around.
The hallway was empty.
Did the culprit drop this?
But then she hesitated.
No… in this school, almost everyone is rich.
This could belong to anyone.
Still, something about it felt… off.
Yuna closed her hand around the clip.
"For now… I'll keep it."
She slipped it into her pocket and stood up.
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
Even if it's small… it could be a clue.
She continued walking down the corridor—
Unaware that from the far end of the hallway…
Someone had just turned the corner—
And paused.
As if they had been watching her all along.
At the other side of the corridors..
The corridor was silent.
Jihun walked slowly, his eyes scanning every corner.
Then—
He saw it.
A shadow.
Someone was standing still… right in front of the storage room.
Not moving.
Waiting.
Jihun narrowed his eyes and quietly stepped forward.
Closer…
Closer…
In one swift motion—
He grabbed the person from behind.
"Finally," he said firmly.
"I found you."
"Scarlet Shadow… or the fake one."
The person struggled immediately.
"Y-You pervert! Let me go!"
Jihun froze.
That voice—
Slowly, he loosened his grip.
The person turned around.
Jihun's eyes widened.
"…Minji?"
Harin walked down the corridor, completely relaxed.
"Yuna… Jihun…"
A dreamy smile spread across her face.
"They totally like each other."
She clasped her hands dramatically.
"They just don't realize it yet."
She giggled.
"Wow… I can feel love in the air~"
Just then—
As she passed the music room—
THUD!
Harin froze.
"…!"
She quickly hid beside the wall.
Wait…
A mischievous grin appeared.
"I guess I found the culprit."
She straightened.
"Wow… I'm so awesome after all."
Creak—
The music room door slowly opened.
A figure stepped out.
Harin's eyes sharpened.
Now!
"BHAMMM!"
She jumped forward and tackled the person to the ground.
"YOU'RE GONE!" she declared dramatically.
The person shouted in shock,
"W-Wow! What the—?! I'm sorry! I didn't do anything!"
Harin blinked.
"…Huh?"
She leaned closer—
And froze.
"…You?"
"…You??"
It was Choi Kyungmin.
Both stared at each other in shock.
Yuna looked at her hands, frowning slightly.
They felt dusty from the storage room.
"I should wash this…"
She walked toward the girls' washroom.
Creak—
The door opened.
Yuna stepped inside—
And froze.
Another girl standing near the sink also froze.
"…!"
"…!"
It was Chaeyoung.
Silence filled the room.
The air suddenly felt heavy.
Yuna slowly narrowed her eyes.
Why is she here…?