The evening felt heavier than usual.
Yuna stood behind the counter at her part-time job, absentmindedly arranging items.
Her mind wasn't there.
The prank…
The clip…
Chaeyoung…
Everything kept repeating.
"Yuna."
She blinked.
Her manager stood beside her, looking concerned.
"Are you feeling unwell? You look a bit down today."
Yuna quickly shook her head.
"No, I'm fine."
The manager studied her for a second—
Then nodded.
"Well, actually, I needed to tell you something."
Yuna looked at her.
"For the next few days, the shop will be closed," the manager said. "I won't be around, so you don't have to come for almost two weeks."
Yuna was a bit surprised.
"…Oh."
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
---
Later that night—
Yuna lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her eyes slowly hardened.
I have to be careful…
If I'm not…
She clenched her fist slightly.
This will get worse for everyone.
---
The Next Day
The moment Yuna stepped into school—
Something felt off.
Students were whispering.
Looking at her.
Pointing.
Her steps slowed.
Why are they staring at me like that…?
Suddenly—
"YUNA!"
Minji ran toward her, grabbing her wrist.
"Just go home for now," she said urgently. "It's not safe."
Yuna frowned.
"What? Why? What happened—"
The classroom door opened.
Silence fell instantly.
The Elite 7 walked in.
At the front—
Park Haeun.
Her expression was cold.
Sharp.
"Seo Yuna," she called.
Yuna froze.
"…Yes?"
Haeun's eyes locked onto hers.
"So," she said slowly,
"What are you going to do now… Scarlet Shadow?"
The world went silent.
Yuna's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Murmurs spread across the class.
"No way…"
"Is it really her?"
"I can't believe it…"
Yuna looked around—
Faces filled with disbelief.
Shock.
Judgment.
Then—
Her eyes moved.
To Jihun.
He stood among them.
But—
He felt different.
His expression—
Wasn't just cold.
It was angry.
No—
Very angry.
Yuna's heart tightened.
"…Jihun…?"
Choi Kyungmin stepped forward.
"Miss Yuna," he said formally,
"Please come with us."
Yuna stepped back slightly.
"What is happening here?"
Her voice shook just a little.
Park Haeun answered.
"From your school locker," she said,
"we found slime, gloves, and all the materials used in the recent pranks."
Yuna's mind went blank.
"…My locker?"
She shook her head.
"That's not possible—"
"How?" she whispered.
Jihun stepped forward.
Now standing right in front of her.
"We got permission from the teacher," he said coldly,
"to check every student's locker yesterday."
Each word felt heavy.
"And when we checked yours…"
His gaze hardened.
"We found all the proof we needed."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Yuna stood there—
Unable to speak.
Because now—
Everything had turned against her.
Silence filled the classroom.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
"Wait."
Harin stepped forward, placing herself in front of Yuna.
"There must be something wrong," she said firmly. "Your conclusion is too fast."
All eyes shifted to her.
Jihun's expression darkened.
"Keep quiet."
His voice was sharp.
Colder than before.
Harin didn't move.
Jihun stepped forward, his gaze unwavering.
"In this school," he said,
"no one has the right to open someone else's personal belongings."
The room stayed silent.
"And in the locker area," he continued,
"there are cameras everywhere."
His eyes briefly flicked toward Yuna—
Then back to Harin.
"No one could even try to open someone else's locker without being seen."
Each word felt like a final verdict.
"So," he said, his tone cutting through the air,
"Yuna is the only one who had access to her locker."
The words landed hard.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
Harin clenched her fists slightly.
"…That still doesn't prove—"
"It proves enough," Jihun interrupted.
His voice didn't rise—
But it carried weight.
A dangerous kind of certainty.
Yuna stood behind Harin, frozen.
Her mind was blank.
No…
This doesn't make sense…
Her eyes slowly moved—
Back to Jihun.
The same person who was investigating with her.
Now—
Standing against her.
And the worst part—
He believed it.
The classroom felt suffocating.
Because for the first time—
Yuna had no answer.
Harin didn't step back.
"There's still something wrong!" she insisted. "You can't just accuse her like this without—"
But before she could finish—
She subtly raised her hand.
A small gesture.
Almost unnoticeable.
✋
Minji saw it.
Understood instantly.
Without a second thought—
She grabbed Yuna's wrist.
"Run."
"Wha—?!"
Before Yuna could react—
Minji pulled her out of the classroom.
Fast.
Ignoring the shocked voices behind them.
---
Behind the school—
Yuna bent forward, breathing heavily.
"What… what are you doing?!" she said, trying to catch her breath.
"Now everyone will believe them even more!"
Her voice trembled with frustration.
"You just made it worse!"
Minji turned to her sharply.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Yuna froze.
Minji stepped closer, her voice firm.
"They're the Elite 7," she said. "Whatever they say—people believe it. Whether it's right or wrong."
Yuna stayed silent.
"If you stayed there," Minji continued,
"you'd be in even more danger."
Her grip on Yuna tightened slightly.
"I'm not letting that happen."
Yuna looked at her—
Speechless.
---
Meanwhile—
The school was in chaos.
Students whispered.
Ran through corridors.
Searching.
"Find her!"
"She ran away!"
"So it's true?!"
The Elite 7 fanclub was especially active, spreading out across the campus.
The pressure kept rising.
---
Back behind the building—
Minji suddenly stiffened.
"…Someone's coming."
Yuna looked up.
Footsteps.
Getting closer.
Minji's heart started racing.
Who is it…?
Then—
A figure appeared.
"…Haru?"
It was Harin.
Before either of them could react—
Harin ran straight toward Yuna—
And hugged her tightly.
"I was so scared for you!"
Yuna blinked in surprise.
Then gently patted her back.
"It's okay…"
"I'm fine."
Minji watched them quietly.
…Oh.
A small blush crept onto her face.
I guess Haru really likes Yuna…
She looked away, slightly embarrassed by her own thoughts.
---
After a moment—
The three of them sat together, hidden from sight.
The tension slowly settled.
Then Harin spoke.
"How did all those things even end up in your locker?"
Yuna shook her head.
"I don't know."
Her expression turned serious.
"I didn't do those pranks."
She paused.
Then—
"…But one thing is true."
Both of them looked at her.
Yuna took a deep breath.
"I am Scarlet Shadow."
Minji nodded.
Harin stayed silent, listening carefully.
"But the recent pranks…" Yuna continued,
"That's not me."
Her eyes hardened.
"I was trying to find out who's behind all this."
Silence fell.
Then Harin spoke slowly—
"Then…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"It has to be someone who knows your identity."
Yuna nodded.
"Yes."
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"But the question is…"
Her voice lowered.
"Who?"
___ __ ___
The Elite 7 stood together.
Students surrounded them, waiting, watching.
Jihun stepped forward slowly.
His expression—
Cold.
Unforgiving.
His eyes scanned the classroom like he was already chasing a shadow.
Then he spoke.
Low.
Sharp.
"Where will you run…?"
A pause.
His gaze darkened.
"Scarlet Shadow—"
Then—
A faint, dangerous smirk.
"Oh…"
"Sorry."
His voice dropped even lower.
"Not Scarlet Shadow…"
A beat.
His eyes hardened completely.
"Yuna."