Seo Yuna did not sleep well that night.
Actually… she barely slept at all.
She kept staring at the ceiling in her small room, replaying the same moment again and again in her head.
Jihun's voice.
"See you tomorrow… Scarlet Shadow."
Yuna suddenly sat up in her bed.
"AHH!"
From the other room her mother shouted,
"Yuna! Why are you screaming at midnight?!"
Yuna quickly replied,
"Nothing, Mom! Just… studying!"
Then she flopped back onto the bed and covered her face with a pillow.
Studying my foot.
My life is about to end tomorrow.
Her brain kept running in panic mode.
Did he really figure it out?
Or was he just bluffing?
She imagined a terrifying scene in her head.
Seojun and Taemin standing in front of her like villains.
"You pranked us?!"
Then they both chased her around the school with giant buckets of slime.
Yuna jumped up again.
"NOOO!"
Her mother shouted again,
"SEO YUNA GO TO SLEEP!"
Yuna slowly lay back down.
Okay calm down.
Maybe he doesn't actually know.
Maybe he was just trying to scare me.
But deep inside…
She wasn't convinced.
---
The next morning at Haneul Academy, Yuna walked into the classroom like someone walking to her own execution.
Minji noticed immediately.
"Why do you look like you lost a war?"
Yuna forced a smile.
"I didn't sleep well."
Minji nodded.
"That makes sense. The Scarlet Shadow drama is everywhere in school right now."
Yuna almost choked.
"Oh… really?"
"Yeah!" Minji said excitedly. "Everyone is saying the Scarlet Shadow is a genius prank master!"
Yuna awkwardly laughed.
"Haha… wow… impressive…"
Yes Minji.
Very impressive.
Especially when the hero is currently dying from stress.
---
Suddenly someone's shadow appeared beside her desk.
Yuna slowly looked up.
Seojun.
Her soul almost left her body.
Seojun spoke calmly.
"Jihun wants to see you."
Yuna blinked.
"…What?"
"Behind the main building."
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Yuna sat there frozen.
Minji leaned closer.
"Why is an Elite Seven member calling you?"
Yuna gulped.
"Probably… to announce my funeral."
A few minutes later, Seo Yuna slowly walked behind the main school building.
The place was quiet.
Suspiciously quiet.
Why does this feel like a crime scene meeting…
She looked around carefully.
Then she saw him.
Jihun was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looking completely calm.
Like he had all the time in the world.
Unlike Yuna, whose heart was beating like a drum.
She walked closer.
"You called me?"
Jihun straightened from the wall and looked directly at her.
"I know the truth."
Yuna blinked.
"…What truth?"
Jihun said it casually.
"You're Scarlet Shadow."
Silence.
For three seconds, Seo Yuna's brain completely shut down.
System error.
Brain not responding.
Then suddenly she laughed loudly.
"Haha!"
Jihun raised one eyebrow.
"Haha… wow, Jihun. Very funny joke," she said quickly.
Inside her mind she was screaming.
HE KNOWS.
HE KNOWS.
THIS IS THE END OF SEO YUNA.
Jihun stared at her carefully.
"You're not a very good liar."
Yuna crossed her arms immediately.
"Excuse me? I'm not Scarlet Shadow."
Jihun tilted his head slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then explain something."
Yuna swallowed.
"What?"
Jihun began counting on his fingers.
"You arrive at the school."
First finger.
"Suddenly Scarlet Shadow starts appearing."
Second finger.
"You're not scared of the Elite Seven."
Third finger.
"And somehow… every time Scarlet Shadow causes trouble, you're nearby."
Yuna felt sweat forming on her forehead.
Why is this guy doing detective work now?!
But she kept her composure.
"That's just coincidence."
Jihun looked unconvinced.
Then suddenly he stepped closer.
Much closer.
Yuna froze again.
Her brain immediately started screaming.
WHY DOES HE KEEP COMING CLOSE LIKE THIS?!
IS PERSONAL SPACE ILLEGAL FOR HIM?!
Jihun lowered his voice.
"If you're really not Scarlet Shadow…"
He paused.
"…then prove it."
Yuna blinked.
"How?"
Jihun answered calmly.
"Help me find the real Scarlet Shadow."
Yuna stared at him.
"…What?"
"If you're denying it," he continued, "then help me catch whoever is doing it."
Yuna pointed at herself.
"Why me?"
Jihun answered simply.
"Because you're not scared of anyone."
Yuna snorted.
"That's not a talent."
"And you're new here," he continued.
She frowned.
"So?"
"So no one will suspect you."
Yuna's brain started imagining the situation.
Scene in her head:
Jihun: "Let's catch Scarlet Shadow."
Seo Yuna: "Sure!"
Also Seo Yuna: is Scarlet Shadow.
She wanted to cry.
This is the most ridiculous plan in history.
Jihun continued calmly,
"You can move around the school without attracting attention."
Yuna stared at him.
Sir.
You are literally asking the criminal to investigate the crime.
What kind of logic is this.
She sighed dramatically.
"This makes zero sense."
Jihun shrugged.
"You still have two choices."
He raised two fingers.
"First option."
He said calmly,
"I tell Seojun and Taemin that you're Scarlet Shadow."
Yuna imagined them again.
Taemin cracking his knuckles.
Seojun looking extremely annoyed.
Her soul immediately left her body.
Then Jihun continued.
"Second option."
He lowered his fingers.
"You help me find the real Scarlet Shadow."
Yuna glared at him.
"You're blackmailing me."
Jihun smirked slightly.
"I prefer the word persuasion."
Yuna groaned internally.
This guy is impossible.
She thought for a moment.
Then sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
Jihun tilted his head.
"Fine what?"
Yuna pointed at him.
"I'll help you find the 'real' Scarlet Shadow."
Inside her mind she screamed again.
CONGRATULATIONS SEO YUNA.
YOU JUST AGREED TO INVESTIGATE YOURSELF.
Jihun looked satisfied.
"Good."
He turned to leave.
But before walking away, he glanced back at her.
"And Seo Yuna…"
She looked up.
Jihun gave a small teasing smile.
"If I find out you're lying…"
He paused.
"…your life here will become very interesting."
Then he walked away.
Seo Yuna stood there frozen.
A few seconds later she slid down the wall dramatically and covered her face.
"This is a disaster."
She groaned loudly.
"I just joined an investigation… to catch myself."
Then she sighed.
"My life is officially ruined."
But deep inside…
She had a strange feeling.
This dangerous game between her and Jihun had only just begun.