The corridor felt heavier than before.
Yuna walked ahead.
Minji and Harin followed closely behind.
Minji lowered her voice, worry clear on her face.
"Yuna… isn't it a bad idea to go back to class?"
Harin nodded immediately.
"It's dangerous. The Elite 7 and their fan club are literally searching for you… and in our class, people are already talking badly."
Yuna didn't stop walking.
Her expression stayed calm.
"If we want to catch the real culprit… we have to stay in school."
Both of them looked at her.
"And who knows…" Yuna continued quietly,
"the culprit might be very close to us."
A pause.
"And we just don't realize it yet."
The three of them reached the classroom.
The moment Yuna stepped inside—
Silence.
Every single student turned to look at her.
Whispers started immediately.
From the Elite 7—
Only Jihun was there.
The rest had already left.
The moment his eyes landed on Yuna—
His expression turned cold.
"So…" he said, standing up slowly,
"the Scarlet Shadow finally got the courage to come back?"
A small smirk appeared.
"After running away like a coward."
Yuna said nothing.
She just stood there.
Calm.
Because she knew—
Someone was watching.
Jihun clicked his tongue.
"What? No energy to talk now?" he mocked.
"Or did you lose your confidence?"
He stepped closer.
"Tell me something…"
His eyes narrowed.
"You were the one who pranked me in the cafeteria, right?"
A pause.
Then—
Yuna answered.
Calmly.
"Yes."
The entire class froze.
Jihun blinked.
Then laughed.
"You're admitting it?"
He stepped closer.
"I deserve it? How?"
Yuna finally looked straight into his eyes.
And then—
She spoke.
Sharp.
Cold.
Savage.
"You embarrass people like it's a game."
The class went silent.
"You look down on others just because they're not on your level."
A few students lowered their heads.
"You don't even see them as equals."
Her voice didn't shake.
Not even once.
"And you're asking why you deserved it?"
No one dared to interrupt.
Yuna continued—
"And yes… not just you."
She glanced around.
"I also pranked Seojun. Taemin."
Gasps filled the room.
"Because they deserved it too."
Her eyes hardened.
"They bully students who come from lower families… or those who got in through scholarships."
The atmosphere turned suffocating.
Jihun stood there—
Shocked.
For the first time—
He had no immediate reply.
Then—
Yuna spoke again.
"But…"
A pause.
"The recent pranks?"
"I didn't do them."
This time—
Everyone reacted.
Shock.
Confusion.
Even Jihun's expression changed.
Yuna continued calmly—
"Yes, I was investigating with you."
"But at first… I was just trying to mislead you."
Jihun's jaw tightened.
"But when these new pranks started…"
Her voice turned serious.
"I became serious too."
"I put everything into finding the real culprit."
She took a step back.
"If you want to believe me or not…"
"That's your choice."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
Yuna turned around.
And walked out of the classroom.
Jihun's voice suddenly echoed—
"So you were playing with me this whole time?!"
But—
Yuna didn't stop.
Didn't turn.
Didn't answer.
She just walked away.
Minji and Harin quickly followed her outside.
Inside the classroom—
No one spoke.
Because for the first time—
Everything they believed…
Was shaken.
Outside the classroom—
The moment Yuna stepped out, she stopped.
Minji and Harin quickly caught up to her.
"Yuna!" Harin whispered urgently.
"Why did you suddenly leave like that?"
Minji frowned.
"Yeah… what was that? You just dropped a bomb and walked out!"
Yuna slowly turned towards them.
Her expression—
Calm.
But different.
Then she said one word.
"…Perfect."
Both of them froze.
Minji blinked.
"…What?"
Yuna's lips curled slightly.
"My plan…"
A small pause.
"…has just begun."
Harin and Minji looked at each other.
"Plan??" both of them said together.
Yuna stepped a little closer—
Her eyes sharp now.
"I'm going to show that fake Scarlet Shadow…"
A faint smirk appeared.
"…what the real Scarlet Shadow can do."
A chill ran through the air.
Minji's eyes widened.
"…Yuna, what are you planning?"
Harin leaned forward, excited.
"This sounds dangerous… I like it."
Yuna turned her gaze towards the corridor—
Where students were still whispering.
"Let them believe I'm the culprit."
She said quietly.
"Let the Elite 7 chase me."
A pause.
"Because while they're busy looking at me…"
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"The real one will make a move."
Harin's expression slowly changed.
"…You're using yourself as bait."
Yuna didn't deny it.
Instead—
She smiled faintly.
"So…"
She looked at both of them.
"Just wait and watch."
"Because now…"
Her voice dropped—
"The real game starts."