I snapped back to reality and found myself at the Academy.
I must have washed my face and brushed my teeth without realizing it, as everything felt clean and fresh. My uniform fit perfectly around my body, making me wonder when I had put it on.
I tilted my head, thinking this was similar to how I'd always drift to school in a half-asleep state, only to suddenly find myself there with no memory of the journey.
More pressingly, whether from trauma or because I couldn't shake my primal fear despite Yoon Ha-min's promise to protect me, I'd had nightmares that left me exhausted since morning.
As time passed, I trembled with fear that Mysterious Persons might lead Monsters to attack us, even if we found the Totem, because of another Totem hidden somewhere I didn't know about.
Plus, I didn't want to see the Wall near where I was collapse because I myself was acting as a Totem.
Though Ha-min said he would protect me, I still felt something would eventually come for me.
I was probably unconsciously terrified of those things, making me tremble.
Being captured by a Mysterious Person and dragged back to the Cave again,
Being pointed at and accused of helping the Mysterious Persons,
I couldn't help worrying whether I could endure it all with a sound mind.
Ha-min's choices ultimately served the greater good, not individuals.
So no matter how much he tried to reassure me, it only went so far.
In the end, there were limits to what I could realistically accept.
Still, selfishly speaking, I wanted him to protect me from the Mysterious Persons.
If they broke through the Wall, I wanted Ha-min to heroically kill them.
Just then, the bell signaling the start of classes rang through the speakers.
*
Both the Academy and the agencies throughout all districts were on high alert, preparing for the possible reappearance of Mysterious Persons.
Even Heroes who had grown complacent were now tensely watching the Wall, saying the peace we'd had until now was gone. I was starting to think it might be safe to relax a little.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Being with Kanna all day, seeing her face every day—it made me happy somehow.
Though she struggled at times, her smile was beautiful, and when her eyes crinkled with laughter, my heart pounded.
When she innocently snuggled against me in her sleep, I'd lie awake. If she tossed from nightmares and her top rode up exposing skin, my body would react.
Normally, such a reaction might seem strange, but certain memories made it unavoidable.
Anyway, I spent my days guarding her side and checking the Wall independently from the Heroes. Then Wednesday arrived—the day of the sixth exam.
"..."
After finishing both the written and practical exams, I found the results rather miserable. I barely managed to hold onto third place in the practical, preventing myself from dropping further, but once again I'd lost the top rank to Orca.
Looking at the report card in my hand, I groaned and covered my mouth.
My twitching lips weren't something I wanted to show anyone.
While blaming others isn't a good habit and means giving up opportunities for self-improvement, this time I wanted to do it.
This is all because of Kanna, I wanted to say.
Of course, I had no intention of saying, "My grades dropped because of you, so get out of my house."
But it was undeniably Kanna's fault that I'd lost sleep because she shared my bed under the same blanket, unconsciously pressing against me while tossing in her sleep, and exposing her bare skin.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but immediately opened them wide when images of Kanna sleeping appeared in my mind.
Reminding myself that thinking about such things here would only cause trouble, I took a deep breath. Just then, Orca, who had received the top rank report card, called my name.
"...Yoon Ha-min?"
"Oh, yes."
"Did something difficult happen this time too?"
"No, I worked hard but missed a bit this time."
I answered with a bitter smile.
The reason I could still take second place despite missing three questions on the written exam was because I'd achieved overwhelming results in the practical.
Thinking about it that way, it seemed like a blessing in disguise.
Hearing my answer, Orca tilted her head as if uncertain, then shuddered slightly.
Though she wasn't showing it outwardly, I could tell she was extremely happy inside.
Previously she had been disappointed about not having a proper competition because I was distracted by Kanna, but now she seemed pleased to have won fair and square.
That feeling didn't seem to last long, but I didn't mind her approaching me as a competitor and challenging me with her grades.
Standing dazed in the top position, wondering if she would remain first if this continued, I was actually grateful to Orca for giving me a second-place benchmark to aim for.
She consistently showed what she was capable of.
Still, my attention turned toward Kanna.
Her hand injury hadn't fully healed, which seemed to have affected her performance in the ability assessment test, but she showed some improvement from before, so I stood up slightly, hoping for good news about her grades.
"Kanna, how are your grades?"
Kanna stuffed her bandaged right hand deep into her pocket.
She seemed to have shoved it directly into her blazer pocket.
With a bitter smile, she showed me briefly.
"I improved a little, but it's still mediocre."
Although Kanna had managed to score well in geography, she was still lacking in terms of ability.
She might be able to use all her strength like before, but whether she was worried about injuring herself due to her suddenly increased power, or because her accumulated Mana had been depleted, she couldn't escape last place despite improving slightly.
Additionally, injuring her hand during the field training evaluation and receiving zero points was too critical.
If the Mysterious Persons and Monsters hadn't attacked, and if the martial arts test Kanna had been practicing for was still remaining, could she have escaped last place?
I wondered about that.
"It's okay, I can tell you'll improve next time."
"Really?"
"Honestly, you only did poorly because of your hand injury. Once it heals, just adjusting your output would get you points in the ability assessment, and by then the agency would probably raise your evaluation too."
When I encouraged her like this, Kanna chuckled.
"You think so? Then I'll ask for your help when my bandages come off."
"Leave it to me."
The corners of my mouth trembled.
Just knowing she was relying on me gave me strength.
Of course, that was one thing, but...
The door burst open.
As soon as Mrs. Lucia entered, she called my name.
"Yoon Ha-min, please come out for a moment."
Getting report cards on the same day as the exam really seemed like a terrible practice.
It was hard to accept the fact that teachers immediately knew the results and came to scold me.
Still, I couldn't refuse, so I nodded and told Kanna:
"Ah, yes. Kanna, wait for me a bit. Let's go home together."
After the exam ended and everyone started to leave, instead of going home, I followed the teacher to the Teachers' Office.
As soon as we entered, I noticed Mrs. Lucia's voice rise slightly.
"Yoon Ha-min. Why are you barely scraping by with your grades again?"
My homeroom teacher, showing off her teal hair, sat in her seat and looked up at me with sharp eyes.
"Well, I think it's because I haven't been in good condition lately."
"Yoon Ha-min, I appreciate that you showed consistent performance in the practical exam, but please be aware that some agencies make decisions based on grades. Heroes don't save some people and not others depending on their condition. I hope you can start managing yourself better."
Listening to the teacher's words made me feel quite awkward.
Of course, she wasn't wrong.
The top student should go where top students go, so she wanted me to maintain the top position without dispute. She seemed frustrated that I wasn't doing that.
But I couldn't let go of Kanna, so I was just letting the teacher's sharp advice go in one ear and out the other.
The teacher, who obviously couldn't know this, continued with a sigh:
"And I don't know why you chose Larden, but make decisions with your future in mind. It might be more convenient to choose an agency near where you live."
"Yes, I understand."
The conversation seemed to be wrapping up.
I felt relieved at the thought of finally being able to leave.
Just as I was nodding, instead of the usual bell, a siren blared through the Academy's speakers.
It was the alarm signaling the destruction of the Wall.
I thought it was very typical of Mysterious Persons to appear suddenly when least expected, after not showing up when we were wondering when they might come.
Disasters that strike without warning—Mysterious Persons were incredibly annoying.
The good news was that security would be quite tight due to their recent frequent attacks.
While I couldn't be completely at ease, as a student, I had some leeway. Though the teacher didn't seem to think so.
The teacher shouted at me:
"Oh, Yoon Ha-min! Hurry to the playground for assembly! Top first-year students...!"
This was closer to an apprentice Hero experience working with active field Heroes than the bi-weekly Wednesday field training.
I couldn't forget my previous experience with the Hero named Sela.
But right now, I had no time to participate in such things.
"I'm sorry!!"
My body, which had momentarily frozen when the siren sounded, now moved toward Kanna, who would be alone in the classroom.