The back of the school is quieter.
Not silent.
Just… removed.
Like all the noise stays on the other side of the building and refuses to follow.
We sit on the low concrete ledge behind the gym.
Jea-Hyun beside me.
Me in the middle.
And Niran—
half-there, half-not, leaning against the wall like he owns it.
I drag a hand through my hair.
"…this is a mess."
Jea-Hyun nods immediately.
"Correct."
Niran shrugs.
"Manageable."
I turn to him.
"Someone got thrown into a wall."
"He lived."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT."
Jea-Hyun raises a hand. "Okay—let's stay calm."
"I'm calm," I say.
I'm not calm.
Niran tilts his head. "…you look like you're about to cry over nothing."
I stare at him.
"Over NOTHING?"
Jea-Hyun exhales.
"Min-Jun, listen—let's break this down logically."
I groan. "…I don't want logic."
"You're getting it anyway."
He counts on his fingers.
"One—rumors spread fast. Two—people are scared. Three—you were at the center of it. So naturally—"
"They think I'm possessed," I finish flatly.
"Yes."
I drop my head into my hands. "…great. Love that for me."
Niran watches me for a second.
Then casually—
he reaches out and flicks my forehead.
Light.
Annoying.
I jerk up.
"—WHAT WAS THAT—"
"Focus," he says calmly.
"I AM FOCUSING!"
"No, you're spiraling."
"I'm allowed to spiral!"
"No, you're not."
"WHO DECIDED THAT—"
"Me."
Jea-Hyun leans back slightly.
"…I'm watching a parent argue with their child."
"I'm not his child!" I snap.
Niran glances at him.
"…he is."
"I AM NOT—"
Before I can finish—
Niran grabs my shoulders.
Firm.
Not rough.
But enough to stop me mid-rant.
"Min-Jun."
I freeze.
His voice drops.
Not teasing.
Not sharp.
Just steady.
"…breathe."
I blink.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
annoyingly—
I do.
In.
Out.
Jea-Hyun nods approvingly.
"Good. Progress."
I glare at both of them.
"…I hate you."
"Not important," Niran replies.
Jea-Hyun adds, "Emotionally noted."
I groan again.
Then suddenly grab Niran's sleeve—
or… what counts as his sleeve—
and shake him.
"—PLEASE JUST REMEMBER EVERYTHING—OH MY LIFE—"
He blinks.
Unimpressed.
"Stop shaking me."
"NO—REMEMBER—LIKE—IMPORTANT DETAILS—USE YOUR BRAIN—"
"I am dead."
"THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE—"
Jea-Hyun immediately grabs my arm.
"Okay—okay—release the ghost."
I pause.
Still holding Niran.
Then slowly let go.
"…sorry."
Niran straightens his sleeve like I offended his dignity.
"…uncivilized."
Jea-Hyun exhales.
"Right. Reset."
We all go quiet for a second.
Then—
Niran speaks.
Calm.
Focused.
"…if we want answers, we stop acting like this is a joke."
I look at him.
He continues—
"Everything points to Seo-yeon."
Jea-Hyun nods slowly.
"Camera footage."
"Guilty behavior," Niran adds.
"Her reaction to your name," I say quietly.
We all pause.
Because it's true.
Too true.
Niran's eyes narrow slightly.
"…she knows something."
Jea-Hyun leans forward.
"Or she's hiding something."
I swallow.
"…or both."
Silence settles again.
He sighs lightly.
Then—
"…we go deeper," Niran says.
I frown.
"…deeper how."
"People close to her," he replies. "Friends. Patterns. History."
Jea-Hyun nods.
"Background check."
"Exactly."
I blink.
"…you sound like a detective."
"I am the victim," he replies flatly. "I have the right."
"Fair."
I exhale slowly.
"…so we investigate."
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
I look between them.
Then nod once.
"…okay."
For once—
we're all on the same page.
Focused.
Clear.
Dangerous, honestly.
And then—
"…look at this guy."
A voice cuts in.
We all turn.
A random student walking past.
Looking directly at me.
Smirking.
"Isn't that the ghost boy's pet?"
Silence.
I blink once.
"…excuse me?"
Jea-Hyun immediately stands up.
"Say that again."
Niran also straightens—
at the exact same time.
"…I dare you," he mutters.
The guy laughs.
"Yeah, you're weird as hell. Talking to yourself and—"
He doesn't finish.
Because BOTH of them move.
At the same time.
Jea-Hyun steps forward—
fist ready.
Niran lunges—
pure intent to destroy.
"—WAIT—"
I grab both of them.
One hand on Jea-Hyun's arm.
The other—
somehow catching Niran mid-air glitch attack.
"STOP—STOP—STOP—"
Jea-Hyun "He started it—"
Niran "He dies—"
"NO ONE IS DYING TODAY—"
The guy freezes.
Because from his perspective—
I'm just… yelling at nothing while holding air.
"…okay, you're actually insane," he says, backing away.
"LEAVE THEN—"
"I AM LEAVING—"
He runs.
Actually runs.
I slowly lower my hands.
Silence.
Then—
I turn.
Look at both of them.
"…what is wrong with you two."
Jea-Hyun shrugs.
"Instinct."
Niran crosses his arms.
"Deserved."
I stare.
"…he called me a pet."
"You are," Niran says.
I pause.
"…what."
Jea-Hyun laughs.
"He's not wrong."
"YOU TOO—?"
Niran smirks slightly. "…you followed me out of the house this morning."
"I WAS DRAGGED—"
"Same thing."
I grab my head. "…I regret both of you."
"Too late," Jea-Hyun says.
Niran nods.
"You're stuck with us."
I exhale.
Then—
despite everything—
I laugh.
Just a little.
"…we're really doing this, huh."
Jea-Hyun grins.
"Investigation team."
Niran adds quietly—
"…and this time… we finish it."
That line lands differently.
Heavier.
Real.
I look at him.
Then nod.
"…yeah."
And just like that—
this stops being chaos.
And starts becoming something else.
Something serious.
Something dangerous.
Something we can't back out of anymore.