Seo Yuna woke up with a tight knot of anxiety in her chest. The nickname the school had given the mysterious prankster—The Scarlet Shadow—still echoed in her mind. Everyone knows now… the Elite Seven must be looking for the person behind the prank… what if they catch me?
Her small apartment felt suffocating as she dressed. Living with only her mother, who worked tirelessly to support her, meant she had learned to handle pressure—but today, the pressure felt enormous.
Outside, Minji was already waiting, practically bouncing on her heels. "Good morning! Ready for the big day?" she called, waving excitedly.
Seo Yuna hesitated, her stomach twisting. "I… I don't know. What if the Elite Seven figure out who the Scarlet Shadow is?"
Minji's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Don't worry about that! Did you hear? The Scarlet Shadow is amazing! Everyone's talking about it. Finally, someone is showing those elite brats exactly who's boss. She—uh, I mean… that mysterious hero—is so cool! I hope she shows the Elite Seven their place today too!"
Seo Yuna froze mid-step. She… doesn't know it's me… and she's praising me? A thrill ran through her chest. If Minji thinks the Scarlet Shadow is so brave, maybe I can actually do this…
By the time they reached the school gates, her confidence had begun to grow. The students whispering about the Scarlet Shadow only fueled it further.
"Maybe… I'm not going back," Seo Yuna thought. Whatever I've done is good. Maybe it's time for another prank…
As they walked through the corridors, Seo Yuna noticed something that made her eyes narrow. Two members of the Elite Seven—Han Seojun and Kang Taemin—were laughing cruelly as they pushed a younger boy around, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
Seo Yuna's jaw tightened. So they think they can bully someone and get away with it…?
She glanced at Minji, who was still excitedly talking about the Scarlet Shadow. A small, mischievous smile spread across Seo Yuna's face. Time for lesson number two.
She quietly formulated her new plan. It would be harmless, clever, and humiliating enough to show the Elite Seven that no one—not even the most untouchable students—could act without consequences.
Seo Yuna took a deep breath, her nervousness melting into determination. Let's see who's really in charge here…
Seo Yuna followed the two Elite Seven members down the corridor, careful to stay out of sight. Her mind raced, thinking of a way to give them a taste of their own arrogance. It has to be clever, harmless, and—most importantly—humiliating.
Han Seojun and Kang Taemin were laughing, slapping each other's shoulders, clearly pleased with themselves after bullying the younger boy. The corridor was practically empty, the perfect stage for Seo Yuna's plan.
A mischievous grin tugged at her lips. Maybe a little… poetic justice?
She remembered the janitor's supply closet she had noticed earlier that morning—a place filled with harmless cleaning gadgets, buckets, mops, and a few leftover science project materials. Seo Yuna quietly slipped inside while the two Elite Seven members were distracted, grabbed a small, battery-operated smoke machine and a few colorful harmless stink bombs she had spotted in a prank store nearby. She stuffed them into her backpack and moved silently along the wall, following her targets.
---
As Seojun and Taemin approached the indoor courtyard, Seo Yuna positioned her equipment behind a large potted plant. Timing was everything.
Seojun bent down to adjust his shoelaces, chuckling. "Did you see that kid's face? Hilarious."
Taemin laughed, leaning against the wall. "Pathetic. I swear, some people just don't belong in this academy."
Seo Yuna's eyes narrowed. Time to teach them humility.
With a flick of her fingers, the small smoke machine whirred to life, sending a cloud of harmless, colorful smoke right behind them. At the same moment, the stink bombs popped, releasing a ridiculous, fake-smelly odor—like a mix of rotten eggs and chocolate.
Seojun and Taemin yelped, waving their hands wildly to clear the smoke. Their laughter turned into coughs and exclamations of disgust. "What the—ugh! What is this?"
Students passing by peeked out of windows, stifling laughter, while Minji—who had followed discreetly—giggled quietly behind a column. "Yes! That's our girl!"
Seo Yuna couldn't help but bite her lip, smiling at the chaos she'd orchestrated. Seojun and Taemin were stumbling around, trying to escape the smoke and smell, bumping into each other and the potted plants, utterly humiliated.
"Who… who did this?!" Seojun shouted, coughing.
"I don't know! I didn't do it!" Taemin cried, waving his hands like he could magically vanish the smoke.
Seo Yuna crouched behind the planter, suppressing laughter. Perfect. Exactly what they deserved.
Then, she froze. A shadow fell across the courtyard.
Jihun.
His dark eyes scanned the scene, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. The two Elite Seven members were glaring in every direction, trying to locate the culprit. Jihun's gaze landed on Seo Yuna—not recognizing her at first—and his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Who's responsible for this?" His voice was calm, but it carried a weight that made Seo Yuna's heart skip a beat.
She bit her lip, hiding behind the plant. Stay calm… he doesn't know… he can't know…
Seojun and Taemin, still coughing and waving their arms, tried to explain. "We… we don't know! Someone… someone did this!"
Jihun's eyes darkened. "No one touches anyone without my permission. I want the person who did this found—today."
Seo Yuna's heart pounded, but a tiny thrill ran through her. He's so intimidating… but this is fun. She allowed herself a brief smirk, satisfied that her prank had worked perfectly without anyone discovering her identity.
---
After the courtyard chaos, Seo Yuna slipped away, careful not to be seen. She met up with Minji near the school gates, trying to act casual.
"Did you see that?" Minji whispered, eyes wide. "The Scarlet Shadow is unstoppable! Even the Elite Seven are freaking out!"
Seo Yuna smiled faintly, hiding her identity. Yes… they're showing their place… but they have no idea it's me.
As they walked to class, Seo Yuna's confidence grew. Today, she realized, it wasn't just about revenge. It was about showing that no one, no matter how powerful, could bully or humiliate others without consequences. And doing it cleverly enough to escape detection… that was exhilarating.
---
That evening, in the Elite Seven's lounge, the discussion was more intense than ever.
Jihun slammed a hand on the table. "No one humiliated me—or anyone else—without consequences. The Scarlet Shadow is clever, bold, and cunning. I will find this person."
Han Seojun, still embarrassed from the courtyard fiasco, rubbed his face. "This person… is daring. Maybe too daring."
Kang Taemin glared, embarrassed and irritated. "I can't believe it. This is humiliating!"
Yoon Somin, elegant as ever, spoke calmly. "We need intelligence on every movement. She—or he—is clever. Probably a girl."
Park Haeun tilted her head dramatically. "Honestly… hilarious. But yes. This is serious. No one gets away with this."
Choi Kyungmin added, dark-eyed and calculating, "Every student must be questioned. Every angle investigated. The Scarlet Shadow cannot escape."
Lee Jiwon, crossing her legs elegantly, concluded, "We leave no stone unturned. Whoever did this will be discovered… eventually."
Jihun's gaze darkened. "No matter what… I will find her. Scarlet Shadow… whoever you are… the game has begun."
Seo Yuna, though far away, couldn't help but feel the thrill of the chase. She was the Scarlet Shadow, clever and untouchable—for now.