The next morning—
---
Yuna walked toward the school gate—
Bag on her shoulder—
Still thinking about yesterday.
---
"…This is getting complicated…"
---
Just then—
A black car stopped near the gate.
---
The door opened—
And Jihun stepped out.
---
Calm.
Sharp.
As always.
---
Yuna glanced at him.
---
"…You're late."
---
Jihun adjusted his sleeve slightly,
"…Busy."
---
A pause.
---
"…Let's go."
---
The two walked toward the classroom together—
---
Unaware—
---
That something had already gone wrong.
---
The moment they entered—
---
Minji rushed toward them.
---
Panicked.
---
"…YUNA—!"
"…JIHUN—!"
---
Both of them stopped.
---
"…What happened?"
Yuna asked.
---
Minji grabbed her arm,
---
"…Everyone is talking about Harin…"
---
A pause.
---
"…Something bad."
---
Jihun's expression darkened instantly.
---
He stepped forward—
Voice sharp—
---
"…What happened?"
---
The entire class went silent.
---
Jihun looked at a boy nearby.
---
"…You."
---
"…Explain."
---
The boy hesitated—
Then said,
---
"…Everyone got an email…"
---
A pause.
---
"…With… pictures."
---
Yuna frowned.
---
"…What pictures?"
---
The boy looked uncomfortable.
---
"…Bad ones…"
---
"…Of Harin."
---
Silence.
---
Minji whispered,
"…No way…"
---
Jihun immediately took out his phone.
---
"…Check."
---
Yuna and Minji did the same.
---
Inbox.
---
New mail.
---
Unknown sender.
---
They opened it.
---
And froze.
---
Yuna's hand started trembling.
---
"…This is—"
---
Minji covered her mouth.
---
"…No…"
---
Jihun's jaw tightened.
---
"…Fake."
---
The images—
Looked real—
Too real—
---
But something was off.
---
Yuna's eyes sharpened.
---
"…These are AI generated…"
---
A pause.
---
"…Someone edited them."
---
Minji whispered,
"…Who would do something like this…"
---
But Yuna already knew.
---
Her expression changed.
---
Serious.
Cold.
---
"…Serin."
---
Without another word—
---
Yuna turned—
And ran.
---
"…Where are you going—?!"
Minji shouted.
---
"…Harin!"
---
Yuna's voice echoed.
---
"…Where is Harin?!"
---
The classroom erupted into whispers again.
---
Jihun followed immediately.
---
"…Wait—"
---
Minji ran after them,
"…Don't leave me—!"
---
Meanwhile—
---
Somewhere in the school—
---
Harin stood alone.
---
Phone in her hand.
---
Screen open.
---
The same email.
---
The same images.
---
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
---
Her expression—
Unreadable.
---
And for the first time—
---
The "game"—
---
Had crossed a line.
The corridors felt suffocating—
---
Students whispering everywhere—
Phones in hands—
Eyes judging.
---
Yuna ran through the hallway—
Jihun and Minji right behind her.
---
"…Where is she…"
---
Yuna's voice was low—
But filled with urgency.
---
Minji looked around nervously,
"…What if she saw everything already…"
---
Jihun's expression hardened,
"…She must have."
---
Just then—
From the opposite direction—
---
Kyungmin appeared.
---
Walking fast.
---
Searching.
---
The moment their eyes met—
---
"…You're looking for Harin too?"
Yuna asked.
---
Kyungmin nodded—
His expression dark—
Anger clearly visible.
---
"…Yes."
---
A pause.
---
"…Because of me…"
---
His fists clenched.
---
"…She became the target."
---
Minji quickly shook her head,
"…No—it's not your fault—"
---
Jihun stepped forward,
---
"…It isn't."
---
Kyungmin looked away—
Still frustrated.
---
"…If I didn't drag her into this…"
---
Yuna cut him off—
Firm.
---
"…Stop."
---
A pause.
---
"…Blaming yourself won't help."
---
She looked straight at him.
---
"…We already know who did this."
---
Silence.
---
Minji spoke softly—
But clearly.
---
"…It has to be Serin."
---
Kyungmin's jaw tightened.
---
"…Yeah."
---
His voice dropped.
---
Cold.
---
"…It's her."
---
Jihun nodded,
"…No one else would go this far."
---
Yuna's eyes were sharp now—
Focused.
---
"…This isn't just about you anymore."
---
A pause.
---
"…She attacked Harin directly."
---
Minji whispered,
"…Those pictures… they're horrible…"
---
Kyungmin's fists clenched even tighter.
---
"…I won't let this go."
---
Jihun placed a hand on his shoulder—
Firm.
---
"…And we won't act blindly."
---
A pause.
---
"…First, we find Harin."
---
Yuna nodded immediately.
---
"…She shouldn't be alone right now."
---
Minji added,
"…She must be really hurt…"
---
For a second—
All of them went silent.
---
Because they knew—
---
Harin wasn't someone who showed weakness easily.
---
Which made this—
---
Even more dangerous.
---
Yuna suddenly turned—
Determined.
---
"…Split up."
---
"…We search every floor."
---
Jihun nodded,
"…Call if you find her."
---
Kyungmin didn't wait—
He already started running again.
---
"…Harin…"
---
His voice was low—
But desperate.
---
And somewhere—
Hidden from everyone—
---
Harin stood alone—
---
Looking at her phone—
---
As the whispers around her—
---
Got louder.
The school felt colder than usual—
---
Kyungmin searched everywhere—
His steps fast—
Heart racing.
---
"…Harin…"
---
Then—
He found her.
---
Sitting alone—
Near the back side of the building.
---
Head slightly down—
Phone still in her hand.
---
From a distance—
---
He could see it.
---
Her eyes—
---
Shaking.
---
Like they wanted to cry—
---
But she wasn't letting them.
---
Kyungmin stopped.
---
"…She saw everything…"
---
His chest tightened.
---
"…And she's holding it in…"
---
Meanwhile—
---
On the other side—
---
Yuna walked past classrooms—
Searching.
---
"…Where are you…"
---
She was about to pass one room—
---
When she heard laughter.
---
She ignored it—
---
Then—
A name.
---
"…Harin…"
---
Yuna stopped.
---
Her eyes narrowed.
---
Slowly—
She stepped closer to the classroom door.
---
Inside—
Voices continued.
---
Serin's voice—
Calm.
Satisfied.
---
"…Good."
---
A pause.
---
"…Because of you two…"
---
"…The photos reached the whole school."
---
Another pause.
---
"…Now she knows her place."
---
Yuna's fists clenched.
---
She slowly moved—
Looking through the glass reflection.
---
And saw them.
---
Serin.
---
Park Haeun.
---
And another girl—
Holding a laptop.
---
Yuna's eyes darkened.
---
"…So it was them…"
---
Inside—
Serin crossed her arms.
---
"…Why did you help me?"
---
She asked Haeun.
---
Haeun scoffed.
---
"…I don't like them."
---
A pause.
---
"…Because of them—"
---
"…Jihun has changed."
---
Another pause.
---
"…And Choi too."
---
Serin nodded slightly.
---
"…Same."
---
Haeun continued—
---
"…And because of that Harin…"
---
"…Their group will become weak."
---
A small smirk.
---
"…Then I can target Yuna."
---
Yuna's expression turned cold.
---
"…So that's your plan…"
---
Haeun added bitterly,
---
"…Because of her…"
---
"…Even Elite 7 hates me now."
---
The third girl spoke nervously,
---
"…Please… you both should stop…"
---
Silence.
---
Serin stepped closer to her.
---
Smile gone.
---
Voice cold.
---
"…Don't forget."
---
A pause.
---
"…Your father works under mine."
---
The girl froze.
---
"…One call…"
---
Serin continued—
---
"…And your whole family can lose everything."
---
Fear.
---
Clear in the girl's eyes.
---
Outside—
---
Yuna's grip tightened.
---
"…They forced her…"
---
Her phone—
Still recording.
---
Proof.
---
Enough proof.
---
Her eyes burned with anger.
---
"…That's enough."
---
Without hesitation—
---
Yuna pushed the door open.
---
BANG.
---
All three turned.
---
Shock.
---
"…Yuna—?!"
---
Before anyone could react—
---
Yuna walked straight toward Haeun—
---
And—
---
SLAP.
---
A loud sound echoed in the room.
---
Haeun's head snapped to the side.
---
Silence.
---
Complete silence.
---
Serin's eyes widened slightly.
---
The third girl froze.
---
Yuna stood there—
Breathing heavy—
Eyes filled with anger.
---
"…That was for Harin."
---
Her voice—
Cold.
---
Dangerous.
---
Haeun slowly looked back—
Shocked.
---
"…You—"
---
Yuna stepped closer.
---
"…Say one more word…"
---
A pause.
---
"…And I'll make sure the whole school knows the truth."
---
She raised her phone slightly.
---
"…Including this."
---
Serin's expression changed.
---
Not shocked anymore—
---
Interested.
---
"…You recorded it."
---
Yuna didn't look away.
---
"…Every word."
---
Silence.
---
The power in the room shifted.
---
Completely.
---
And for the first time—
---
Serin—
---
Wasn't fully in control anymore.
