Friday morning at Haneul Academy was unusually loud.
It had already been two days since the mysterious Scarlet Shadow humiliated two members of the Elite Seven, and just yesterday the entire cafeteria had witnessed another shocking moment when Seo Yuna accidentally dumped her entire lunch tray on Jihun.
Students were still whispering everywhere.
Some said the Scarlet Shadow was secretly watching the Elite Seven. Others believed the mysterious hero might strike again at any moment.
Seo Yuna walked through the corridor beside Minji, pretending to listen to her friend's endless gossip.
"Did you hear?" Minji said excitedly. "Some people think the Scarlet Shadow is a genius hacker. Others say it's someone from the scholarship group!"
Seo Yuna forced a calm smile.
If only they knew…
Minji suddenly stopped walking.
"Oh right! Wait for me here. I forgot to return the book I borrowed yesterday."
Seo Yuna nodded. "Okay, I'll go ahead."
But instead of heading toward class, Seo Yuna quietly turned into another hallway.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Across the courtyard, two familiar figures were standing near a smaller student.
Seojun and Taemin.
And once again, they were bullying someone.
The younger boy looked terrified.
Seo Yuna sighed.
Seriously… these guys never learn.
She looked around the area and quickly started putting together a small trap. Nothing dangerous, just something embarrassing enough to teach them a lesson.
Just as she finished setting it up, she heard footsteps behind her.
"Seo Yuna…?"
She froze.
Slowly turning around, she saw Minji standing there with wide eyes.
Minji looked from the trap… to Seo Yuna… and back again.
Then realization exploded across her face.
"WAIT—"
"You're the Scarlet Shadow?!"
Seo Yuna's shoulders dropped.
Well… the secret was out.
She quickly grabbed Minji's arm and pulled her behind a nearby tree before anyone could see them.
"Shhh!" Seo Yuna whispered urgently.
Minji looked like she might explode from excitement.
"You! You're the hero! You're the one who's been pranking the Elite Seven!"
Seo Yuna rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"…Yeah."
Minji gasped dramatically.
"I KNEW IT!"
Seo Yuna blinked.
"You… knew?"
"Well… not exactly," Minji admitted. "But it makes sense! You're brave, smart, and yesterday you even argued with Jihun!"
Seo Yuna sighed.
"I'm not trying to be a hero. I just hate seeing them bully people."
Minji's expression softened.
"That's exactly why you're a hero."
Seo Yuna felt a little embarrassed hearing that.
"Just promise me you won't tell anyone," she said seriously.
Minji immediately crossed her heart.
"I swear! Your secret is safe with me!"
Just then—
SPLASH!
A loud crash echoed across the courtyard.
Both girls peeked out from behind the tree.
Seojun and Taemin had just stepped into Seo Yuna's trap, slipping on the slick surface and falling straight into a bucket of bright cleaning foam that had been hanging above the doorway.
White foam exploded everywhere.
Students nearby gasped, then quickly turned away to hide their laughter.
Taemin looked furious.
"WHO DID THIS?!"
Minji covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Seo Yuna grinned proudly.
"Lesson delivered."
---
Later that day, back in class, Seo Yuna sat beside Minji as usual.
Minji kept glancing at her with sparkling eyes.
"I still can't believe my best friend is the Scarlet Shadow," she whispered.
Seo Yuna sighed.
"Stop saying that so loudly!"
But something else was bothering her.
A strange feeling.
Like someone was watching her.
Slowly, she looked up.
Across the classroom…
Jihun was staring directly at her.
Not just staring.
Glaring.
His dark eyes were sharp, intense, almost burning holes through her.
Seo Yuna quickly looked away.
Why is he looking at me like that?
Every few minutes, she felt his gaze again.
Watching.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Did he figure something out…?
---
After class ended, Seo Yuna excused herself and headed toward the girls' washroom.
Seo Yuna pushed open the door of the girls' washroom, hoping for a quiet moment after class.
But the moment she stepped inside, she stopped.
Three familiar figures were standing near the mirrors.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Chaeyoung. Yerin. Soyeon.
The same girls who had bullied Minji on the first day.
The same girls who had pretended to be innocent in the cafeteria and made Jihun believe Seo Yuna was the one causing trouble.
Chaeyoung slowly turned toward her, a smug smile spreading across her face.
"Well… if it isn't the scholarship girl."
Seo Yuna crossed her arms calmly.
"What do you want, Chaeyoung?"
Yerin scoffed. "Wow, look at her attitude."
Soyeon folded her arms, leaning against the sink.
"You really have a lot of nerve."
Seo Yuna raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Chaeyoung stepped closer, her voice cold.
"First you embarrassed us in front of everyone at the school gate."
Yerin added sharply,
"And then in the cafeteria you tried to act innocent in front of Jihun."
Soyeon narrowed her eyes.
"But now something interesting is happening."
Seo Yuna tilted her head slightly.
"Interesting?"
Chaeyoung leaned closer.
"Jihun keeps looking at you."
"In class."
"In the hallways."
"Everywhere."
Seo Yuna froze for a second.
Wait… what?
Yerin rolled her eyes.
"So tell us. What exactly did you do to get his attention?"
Seo Yuna thought back to the classroom earlier.
Then suddenly it clicked.
Her lips slowly curled into a small smile.
Oh…
He's not looking at me.
He's glaring at me.
With anger.
Lots of it.
She shrugged casually.
"Maybe he just hates my face."
The three girls looked stunned.
Seo Yuna walked past them toward the sink as if the conversation meant nothing.
But inside, her mind was racing.
So Jihun really is watching me now.
Looks like the king of Haneul Academy is starting to get suspicious.
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
Good.
Because the Scarlet Shadow isn't done yet.