Why Does the Yeon Haneul Ending Occur?
With no leads in sight, the incident arrived without warning.
“Huh!? What did you say?”
Dropping a fireball into the Azure Lake and harming those nearby, as well as damaging the greenhouse garden, destroying the memorial statue, disrupting class, barging without consent into a duel between students, resulting in simple injury and extortion of money and goods.
And so on.
For the past three days, atrocities presumed to have been committed by Yeon Haneul were reported from all over the Academy.
Yeon Haneul naturally proclaimed her innocence, insisting she had done nothing, and for me and my friends who believed her, it was nothing short of absurd.
“I’ve never done such a thing, Instructor! I really didn’t. Why would I do something like that!?”
“Yes, Haneul. I understand how you feel. You must be very confused right now. But you see….”
Yeon Haneul was already on edge, having been under suspicion from students and even hearing protests directly.
Called by Yu Noeul, she went to the faculty office and argued as if she were being wronged.
Yu Noeul, who had taken on the role of homeroom instructor this year, coaxed her to calm down.
Worried that she might cause some unnecessary problem given her state, I, who had accompanied her, also took action.
I gently pulled her into my embrace and patted her shoulder.
I also spoke in her defense.
“That’s right, Instructor. There’s no way Haneul would do such a thing. If you investigate where Haneul was at that time, her alibi, you’d know. Through student ID usage records, class attendance, and so on….”
“I know, I know…. Do you think I don’t know? Neither I nor Instructor Yena think Haneul did it. So won’t you stop misunderstanding? And I am your homeroom instructor. What would I do if I didn’t believe my own students? No matter what others say, I have to believe and protect you. But instead of trying to believe me, you just get angry… Wouldn’t the instructor be hurt? *Sob sob*. Especially you, Gyeonu. Are you taking Haneul’s side unconditionally just because she’s your girlfriend, even over me, your homeroom instructor?”
“Ugh, that’s… I’m sorry.”
Unlike when she came to class, Yu Noeul, wearing slippers instead of dress shoes, feigned crying.
Even though I knew she was acting, I couldn’t help but lower my head, not entirely without guilt.
Having calmed down by then, Yeon Haneul also apologized in a shrinking voice.
“I’m sorry too…. Actually… I’ve been on edge because of this lately….”
“No, I’m fine. Haneul, it’s perfectly understandable. I’d feel frustrated and wronged too if I were interrogated for something I didn’t do. However, Gyeonu shouldn’t act like that. Right?”
“….”
As if taking revenge.
Yu Noeul took off her slipper, pointed her toes, and playfully tapped my leg.
Both Yu Gaeul, who wasn’t here, and Yu Noeul….
Why are the cousin sisters of Jamyeong Yuga so desperate to tease me?
A sigh escaped me at the random thought.
I deliberately didn’t react and decided to change the subject.
“Then Instructor, what was your reason for calling Haneul and bringing this up?”
“Oh my, are you ignoring the instructor again? Gyeonu, you’re hopeless. But since the situation is what it is, I’ll let it slide… There were so many reports that I couldn’t help but step in, at least formally. Moreover, there were photos capturing the circumstances, not just witness accounts.”
“Photos?”
“Yes, here.”
Yu Noeul held out a photo.
In the photo with the Azure Lake in the background….
‘Yeon Haneul?’
It was unmistakably Yeon Haneul.
For a moment, I doubted my eyes.
The person in question beside me was so startled she held her breath.
“She looks exactly like Haneul, doesn’t she? It’s problematic to say this, but it’s enough to cause controversy. Ah, for reference, it’s not a photoshopped image. I confirmed it.”
“….”
“There are more photos besides this one.”
In this photo, and that photo….
A being that could not be denied as Yeon Haneul was captured in them.
Having examined the photos, neither Yeon Haneul nor I could say a word.
It was then that Yu Noeul asked a question.
“Haneul, is there anything that comes to mind?”
“…No.”
“Or perhaps you used your Gift recently….”
“Probably… that isn’t it either. I haven’t activated my Gift in the past few days.”
“I see. Then unless your Gift manifested unconsciously, this is someone’s doing…. I don’t know what their purpose is, but one thing is certain.”
Yu Noeul pressed a candy into the hand of the dejected Yeon Haneul.
Continuing to hold her hand, she spoke gravely.
“The culprit is targeting you. You, Haneul.”
“Me…?”
“Yes. Otherwise, there’s no reason they’d deliberately impersonate you to ruin your reputation. The culprit wants you to be socially destroyed right now. Or perhaps….”
“….”
“They want me to find them. Either way, it’s clear they harbor a grudge against you, Haneul. So if anything comes to mind later, will you please tell me?”
Slowly.
Yeon Haneul nodded.
Without pressing further, Yu Noeul smiled gently.
Then she turned her gaze to me.
“Gyeonu, take good care of Haneul. For the time being, don’t leave her alone; try to stay together as much as possible. Not that I even need to say it, since you’ve been doing that already….”
“Yes, I should. Don’t worry. I’ll protect Haneul well.”
“Yes, good. You’re reliable, then. We’ll try to settle the current commotion appropriately on our end. The Chairman even told us to actively help. However….”
If we drag this on too long, there will be limits to what we can cover up.
Therefore, it must be resolved as quickly as possible.
Reading the implication behind Yu Noeul’s trailing words, I answered immediately.
“I know. We intend to do the same.”
* * *
There was no telling how far the actions of the person impersonating Yeon Haneul would escalate.
For now, it was limited to simple injury, but there was concern it could develop into serious crimes such as robbery or murder.
The controversy was growing uncontrollably, and Yeon Haneul could end up taking the blame.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, we focused our efforts on finding the impostor.
But unfortunately.
‘…Damn, another dead end?’
Whenever we rushed to the scene through Go Eunbi and Yu Gaeul’s information network.
The impostor had already left early, as if anticipating our arrival.
And then, one day….
“Haneul appeared at Silver Lake!”
“They say she’s at Brilliant Cafe too!?”
“Near Dongsik Hall under construction too!”
“….”
Like this.
Multiple people appeared at the same time, confusing us.
Furthermore.
“Huh? Haneul-haneul, why are you here? You said earlier you were going to Gyohak Hall.”
“Haneul? Haneul greeted me just a moment ago… Could it be….”
Taking advantage of our momentary lapse, the impostor even approached some friends like Nam Yuri and Lisa….
From this point on, we all established measures to distinguish between Yeon Haneul and the impostor.
From now on, before approaching Yeon Haneul, we would use shared memories as a password.
Because of this, she had to insist she was the real one several times a day, to the point of feeling suffocated.
Even if she didn’t express it outwardly, it was obvious she was suffering inside.
In truth, when we were alone together, she repeatedly complained.
“I’m the real one… I really am…. Haneul is the only Haneul, *sob*….”
“That’s right. Haneul is only you.”
To cheer Yeon Haneul up.
After class, we went to the city, had dinner, and were walking the night streets.
I suddenly accepted her outburst of tears.
She buried her face against my chest and couldn’t stop crying.
“Hey….”
“Yeah.”
By the time her sobbing gradually subsided.
Yeon Haneul raised her face from my embrace and opened her mouth to speak.
“Maybe… back then, a clone that survived…?”
“….”
“If, if there was one alive… I, I would again….”
Her face full of fear.
Yeon Haneul’s voice trembled.
As if begging me not to forsake her, her grip on me did the same.
“Ah….”
I stroked Yeon Haneul.
With one hand, I gently brushed her back; with the other, I embraced her tightly.
Her eyes, pressed close to me, went wide and round like a rabbit’s.
Her wavering red pupils fixed on me.
Her lips, letting out a low exclamation, parted slightly.
Very red.
Toward her,
“Close your eyes.”
“Mmm….”
I kissed her.
Yeon Haneul did not resist.
We rubbed our bodies together, entwined our tongues, sometimes sucking, freely exploring each other’s mouths.
When we finally parted our lips.
“Haah….”
Yeon Haneul took a deep breath.
Saliva stretched between her lips and mine like a thread before breaking.
Before I knew it, her face was flushed, and the red eyes looking at me sparkled hazily.
I wiped her lips and spoke close to her rabbit ear.
“It’s okay. There’s no way it survived. They were all eliminated back then. You, me, and the Witch all confirmed it together.”
“But… even so….”
“Even if, by chance, a clone survived back then without our knowledge….”
The incident from three years ago that we can hardly bring ourselves to mention lightly….
Was a very painful memory for me, and a trauma for Yeon Haneul.
That is why.
“To me, Haneul is only you.”
“…Say it again.”
“To me, Haneul is only you.”
“….”
Embracing Yeon Haneul with both arms.
I whispered it over and over.
I comforted her like that.
She seemed to gradually calm down, but then….
“I don’t want to go home today.”
Bluntly.
She spat it out.
* * *
I don’t want to go home today.
The meaning of those words was clear.
There was no way I didn’t know.
—Then… shall we stop by somewhere?
—…Yeah.
Since Yeon Haneul had worked up her courage first, it was my turn next.
I suggested to her in as calm a tone as possible.
She nodded briefly.
We walked the night streets from there.
After that….
I don’t remember well.
Only that, since it was our first time, I proceeded with the utmost care so that it could remain as a good memory, and yet not wander about aimlessly.
And when I came to my senses, we had entered a hotel room….
When I came to my senses again….
“I washed up.”
“Huh? Uh, yeah….”
“….”
Having thoroughly washed every inch of my body, I sat on the edge of the bed wearing only a gown.
It was the result of being flustered about how I should wait for Yeon Haneul to finish washing.
And so I ended up greeting Yeon Haneul in my current state.
‘She’s really beautiful….’
Perhaps because she hadn’t dried it properly, her white and blue hair still held moisture.
Her white nape, arms, legs, and bare feet, which the gown could not hide.
With steam rising from her body, Yeon Haneul walking out of the bathroom was incredibly beautiful.
To the point that I wanted to remember this moment.
She….
Approached me with awkward steps and plopped down beside me.
“….”
We fidgeted with our fingers and stole glances at each other.
Then, I reached out and gently embraced Yeon Haneul.
Our eyes met.
Both me, and her.
It felt as if we were being pulled into each other’s gazes.
We lightly kissed like that.
From that point on, we gradually surrendered ourselves to pleasure.
“Ah….”
While our tongues intertwined.
Yeon Haneul, pushing me with a weak hand, collapsed onto the bed with a soft thud.
Her white and blue hair spread widely across the bed, like both the sky and the sea.
It was an impressive sight.
Swoosh.
Then, Yeon Haneul moved her body, shifting little by little toward the pillow.
I followed as if entranced.
And then….
I touched Yeon Haneul’s gown, which was already nearly undone.
Delicate skin was revealed.
I….
was out of my mind.
“…Gyeonu?”
“….”
“Don’t look so much…. I’m embarrassed….”
“Mmm….”
“Are you going to… keep doing that? Then… let me see you too….”
“Ah, u-uh…. Wait a minute….”
“I-I’ll take it off for you….”
This is bad. This is dangerous.
It feels like my blood is boiling.
I feel like my mind is going blank.
We tried hard to suppress our excitement and took each other in with our eyes.
After that….
“H-Hey… hngh! W-Wait, Gyeonu, before that… this first….”
“I was just about to take mine out too…. When did you buy it?”
“Uh… not long after we started dating….”
“Ah….”
“…Did that kill the mood?”
“No. I’m too happy about it.”
“We… were of the same mind then. I’m glad it seems we connected…. I’m happy.”
Unable to maintain reason any longer, surrendering our bodies to the flow.
We became intoxicated with sweetness.
I Became the Mid-Boss’s Childhood Friend