I followed Yoon Ha-min inside hurriedly, but even I wasn't completely oblivious to the atmosphere.
I felt anxious. Though curious about why Ha-min had rushed me inside with such an urgent expression, even as I turned to flee into the house, I couldn't bring myself to move further from the entrance.
"If I just go to my room and hide under the covers, Ha-min will surely handle everything."
That's what I wanted to believe.
That's what I had believed. Or rather, wanted to believe but couldn't.
I couldn't shake the anxiety of what might happen if something went wrong with Ha-min.
How could I feel at ease when Ha-min had told me to go inside with such a fierce expression?
I couldn't relax. So after hesitating, I leaned against the firmly closed front door and listened.
I could hear Ha-min talking with someone.
The atmosphere alone told me everything. It was hostile.
I wondered what was happening.
So I swallowed hard and held my breath, focusing only on the sounds.
They were looking for me. Someone I didn't know had come to take me away.
They even asked Ha-min to come along.
This was definitely a future different from what I knew.
Of course, the fact that I was close friends with Ha-min might already be the starting point of this twisted future, but I couldn't help worrying as an unknown future approached.
I knew that people normally live without knowing their future, but having seen it once only to have it blur, I couldn't help but sigh.
Then Ha-min must have refused and started fighting, because loud noises began to echo.
After the warning, I flinched away from the door at the booming sounds.
But I couldn't run far, probably because I was worried about Ha-min.
The end of the world that no one else knew about.
The deaths of people that only I was aware of.
I alone knew that ahead lay a tragic end where everyone would die.
That's why I desperately wished for tragedy to become comedy.
Because I wanted you to smile.
But at this rate, tragedy would remain tragedy, never becoming comedy before reaching its conclusion.
I might not matter, but if I lost Yoon Ha-min too, nothing would remain in this world.
The world needed Yoon Ha-min.
This world needed him.
I firmly believed that his existence was necessary to change the tragedy.
At that moment, a voice came from beyond the door.
"Yoon Ha-min, if you surrender and cooperate now, I'll spare just you...!"
Ah, Ha-min.
If he surrenders now, they'll spare him.
I fidgeted anxiously before standing up.
I'm scared. Without Ha-min, I'm scared.
But the world feels the same way.
The world would fear losing Ha-min more than losing me.
So isn't it better if I go alone rather than both of us?
I'm not scared. I don't know if it's because I haven't experienced what Ha-min told me about yet, but I'm not scared.
I'm not... scared...
Actually, I am scared. I'm even afraid of being alone in dark places, so how will I endure? Can I bear it?
It must be the same for others too.
So, I—
"I... I surrender! I'll go with you!"
I opened the door and shouted.
Ha-min, you fought for me, right? I'm sorry.
But this way, we'll both be in danger.
I'm sorry for getting you involved. I'm sorry.
I should have never approached you, should have let you live peacefully, but I'm sorry.
I must have been foolish before. I must have known nothing. I don't even understand why I made those choices.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
It's all my fault. This happened because of me, and you don't need to be in danger too.
You tried desperately to protect me, right? Thank you.
I had so much I wanted to say, but I couldn't right now.
No matter how much I wanted to throw a tantrum, I couldn't in this situation.
So I stepped forward hesitantly.
Live. Smile. That's how you'll save the world.
Become a star. Become a compass illuminating this dark space.
So people won't be afraid in the dark night like I am.
"...What?"
The strangers looked at me with dumbfounded expressions.
I hesitated when I saw them, but I didn't stop walking.
"...I'll go with you. That's what you want, right?"
"But this guy too—"
The men insisted they needed to take Yoon Ha-min too, and they even gave me a look as if asking me to persuade him, while Ha-min was struggling against them.
I looked at Ha-min and quietly said:
"It's over now."
Ha-min.
"You and I, we're not connected anymore."
I'm sorry.
I pushed against Yoon Ha-min's chest.
Watching him stumble back weakly made my heart ache.
Though I pushed gently, my heart felt like it was breaking.
Is this the right thing to do? No, even before I lost my memories, in that forgotten time, wouldn't I have made the same choice?
These feelings couldn't have faded in just three months.
This desire to ensure Yoon Ha-min has a happy ending couldn't simply disappear.
So I won't regret this.
"Wait, I said we need to take Yoon Ha-min too!"
Someone shouted, but I watched carefully and tried to control the situation.
"I'm sorry. I deliberately made him like this."
"What?"
"He's following me because of my ability."
"...Huh?"
I thought this was the only way to save Ha-min.
"What are you saying...! Kanna!"
Ha-min grabbed me, but I ignored him and continued.
"Take me if you want. I don't know how to undo it either."
I spoke to ensure that even if they insisted on taking him too, Yoon Ha-min could quietly return to society.
The two men nodded, though they seemed uncertain.
"Then both of you come with us for now."
Their sharp attitude toward Yoon Ha-min softened somewhat.
In contrast, Ha-min looked at me with a frustrated expression.
Perhaps he was upset that I acted contrary to all his efforts.
But what could I do? In a world like this, standing alone is something most people couldn't endure.
Even with the power of stars, there are limits to what one can endure alone.
"...Yes."
I didn't look back at Ha-min.
Goodbye, Yoon Ha-min.
When we part, move forward.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for being scared and asking to sleep together, for taking up space in your bed.
I'm sorry for whining about wanting to go to the Academy with you.
I'm sorry for throwing tantrums on weekends when you probably wanted to be alone.
I think I'm stupid.
I've only caused things to be sorry about.
But I can't say it. I'm afraid that if I say such things, you'll get involved.
Take care.
"Kanna!"
Leaving that cry behind, I got into a different car from Yoon Ha-min.
*
A bleak, dark room.
The black glass windows, impossible to see through from inside, seemed coated to allow only one-way visibility from outside.
I sat dazed at a table positioned some distance from the door.
What had I done wrong? I couldn't understand why Kanna had acted that way and said those things.
I had resolved to protect her, even using my ability against those people, so why?
I had questions, but ultimately couldn't find any answers on my own.
I just sat there blankly, only staring vacantly at whoever entered.
Someone different from those who had come for me entered through the door and knocked on it.
Someone outside locked the door with a click, and then the person sat across from me at the table.
"So you're Yoon Ha-min."
"...Yes."
"I hear you resisted fiercely when the Association came for you?"
"..."
When I remained silent, he glanced through the file he'd brought, then spoke as if trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm not saying this to scold you. I might have done the same if my girlfriend was in that situation."
Those words didn't comfort me at all.
She wasn't even my girlfriend.
As I kept my mouth shut, fear rose in me and I clenched my fists.
"Excuse me, what's going to happen to Kanna? You won't throw her outside the Wall or anything, right? Right?"
"My, this is serious. Haven't you considered that your feelings for her might be fake?"
Hearing that, my mind went blank.
What's fake about what?
My feelings for Kanna are fake?
"What are you talking about?"
When I asked incredulously, he looked at me calmly.
"These intense feelings you have, is it love or something?"
I stared silently, and he took my silence as his opportunity.
"I understand Kanna Aurora's ability is electricity, and it's been confirmed she can manipulate even minute electrical currents? It seems she even stopped that Unrefined Mana explosion with precise control."
"...And?"
"Have you considered she might be forcing your heart to beat with her ability?"
What nonsense.
"Kanna Aurora herself admitted it, that she did this to use you. It sounds circular, but I thought it might be true, so I came to talk."
"W-wait a minute. That's impossible...!"
"People often don't understand themselves. When your heart keeps racing, you might confuse what emotion that is. Even without abilities, she's a girl, so you might have just felt that way naturally. Right?"
My teeth clenched.
"That's impossible!"
Though I shouted, he had already half-formed his own conclusion, looking at me with an expression that said, "That must be it."