The night breeze was cool to the touch, a refreshing contrast against the warmth of the day. Above, the stars bloomed bright, twinkling from beyond the windows of the Detention Center. Each star was a spectacle in its own right, forming curious shapes in the blank black canvas of the universe.
"Devils, I wonder… Do they come from outer space?" Chae Nayun mused aloud as she stepped outside, her thoughts wandering aimlessly. The question hung in the air, a trivial thought that seemed to lead her further into the depths of her imagination.
For some reason, Hyon Hyung had been spending an excessive amount of time in the Detention Center, and not because he was serving any punishment. Apparently, he was using the place for make-up study sessions, which only raised more questions in Nayun's mind. Wasn't there a more appropriate venue for studying? Why the Detention Center?
She decided it was worth the wait, hoping to run into him. But not even five minutes had passed before fatigue claimed her, and she succumbed to sleep right there at her desk.
A short few minutes later, something utterly embarrassing jolted her awake.
"That bastard… How dare he shout in my ear?" she fumed, still half-asleep and disoriented. Though she couldn't quite grasp the words he shouted, the tone was enough to send her into a blind bout of rage. How dare he disturb her precious nap?
The irritation surged through her like a wave, but thankfully, Hyon Hyung was still in one piece. The thought of him being injured weighed heavy on her conscience. She would never forgive herself if she seriously hurt him, even unintentionally.
As she stormed out of the Detention Center, her mind raced with thoughts of vengeance. What was she going to do about Hyon Hyung? Perhaps a revenge prank was in order…
Inside the female dormitory, Chae Nayun paused mid-step as she caught sight of an unlikely duo. Yoo Yeonha was striding confidently down the corridor, and right behind her was Rachel, trailing closely like a curious duckling. The two of them entered Yeonha's room, laughter echoing softly in the hallway as the door clicked shut behind them.
Nayun couldn't help but feel a pang of surprise. This was another change, albeit not unexpected. In her pre-regression timeline, Yeonha and Rachel had been very good friends, but their bond had taken years to develop. Now, it seemed as if the timeline had fast-tracked their friendship, bypassing all the awkward introductions and misunderstandings that had once characterized their relationship.
The sight of them together sparked a mix of intrigue and concern within Nayun. She wondered how their relationship had evolved so quickly. The girls had always been polar opposites—Yeonha was the composed, strategic thinker, while Rachel was known for her energetic and straightforward demeanor. Their differences had made for an entertaining dynamic, but they had also led to plenty of misunderstandings and bickering in the past.
Yet, Nayun's intuition told her that there was more to this sudden alliance than met the eye.
Contrary to her initial assumptions, the motivations behind their newfound closeness were entirely different from what she had expected.
Oh how wrong she was…
***
Rachel stepped into Yoo Yeonha's room, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was her first time visiting a classmate's room, a small yet significant milestone for someone like her, who usually kept to herself. She had always known the importance of establishing relationships, especially in a place like Cube, but the barriers of race and status felt like insurmountable walls. Others viewed her as a princess, and that pedestal brought with it a sense of alienation.
As she surveyed the room, she couldn't shake the feeling that her status isolated her even more. While she had been raised to believe in the significance of her title, she had never expected it to create such a distance. Here in Cube, she found herself lacking in genuine friendships. Most cadets were too busy fawning over her lineage to actually connect with her as a person. All of this weighed on her, and the sting of getting second place in the Phenomenon Realm Analysis still lingered in her mind.
"What do you want? How about tea?" Yeonha's voice snapped Rachel out of her thoughts, and she sensed the subtle distress in her guest.
Rachel nodded affirmatively, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks… I will go with tea…"
After Yeonha prepared the tea, Rachel felt the warmth of gratitude swell inside her. "Thanks… I appreciate it…"
"Are you sure you want to drink it?" Yeonha's tone was sharp, and Rachel felt a small shiver run down her spine. "Doesn't royalty often become a target of assassination? You know, poison and all that…"
"Y-you must be jesting." Rachel stumbled over her words but quickly regained her composure. "I am nothing to you here in Korea. I am just another ordinary cadet…"
The reality was harsh; the Essence of the Strait Guild, which Yeonha represented, held more power than England itself. In that moment, Rachel realized just how flawed her understanding of hierarchy was. Yeonha was as much a princess as she was, if not more so.
"So, why is it that you asked me to talk in private with you?" Yeonha leaned back, her curiosity piqued. "Just to give you a heads-up… the Essence of the Strait won't show preferential treatment to England just because you're classmates with me."
"No, that is not it." Rachel quickly rebutted, but the truth was, it would be a joy if the Essence of the Strait did show more kindness toward England. "I overheard something… and I believe it concerns you…"
Yeonha's expression shifted from curiosity to disappointment, her brows furrowing as she stood up, ready to dismiss the conversation. "I never took you to be the gossiping kind… Miss Rachel…"
***
Yeonha was a busy person. It was already 9:45 PM, and she had her homework and personal work as a crucial member of her guild to attend to. Time was gold, and she took that teaching seriously.
"You have to hear me!" Rachel implored, grabbing Yeonha's arm and refusing to let go.
Yeonha recoiled at the contact, annoyance flaring. "You! If this will be a waste of my time, then be prepared for the consequences!"
Rachel flinched at the threat, suddenly aware of the taboos surrounding Yeonha's reputation. "I… I am sorry! But you have to hear me! It is for your safety!"
"Is that a threat?" Yeonha's icy tone cut through the air, and for a moment, Rachel wondered if she should have chosen a different approach. "Sigh… I will hear you, but I am warning you."
Returning to her seat, Yeonha took a calming sip of her tea, the fragrance from her wrist where Rachel touched her catching her attention. It smelled pleasant. Initially, she assumed it was the tea, but when she removed the cup, the aroma lingered. Curious, she glanced at Rachel, recalling the brief moment of contact.
Taking this as a sign to speak, Rachel started with urgency. "Djinns might be targeting you!"
But Yeonha seemed more interested in the fragrance. "What lotion do you use?"
"…"
They exchanged puzzled looks, both caught off guard.
"Djinns are targeting me? Why?" Yeonha pressed, her interest piqued but still confused.
"Huh? I don't use any lotion though?" Rachel replied, her naivety only adding to Yeonha's frustration.
For some inexplicable reason, Rachel's answer annoyed Yeonha.
The conversation took a comical turn as they stumbled back and forth between the topics of Djinns and skincare. The absurdity of their discussion was not lost on either of them.
"Eh?" They exclaimed in unison, laughter bubbling up as their conversation spiraled into unexpected territory. "What skincare routine do Djinns use?" Rachel mused, while Yeonha countered, "Do heroes use lotion too?"
A few hours later—
Yoo Yeonha tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing while the clock ticked silently in the background. It was the middle of the night, and she had wasted precious time choosing to sleep now. She couldn't focus on her work—researching her classmates for potential invitations to her guild in the future.
"Ugh… Damn, I am losing my mind…" she muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling to the surface.
It wasn't the presence of the blonde beauty beside her that kept her awake; Rachel had to sleep over after their long conversation, lest she face the harsh consequences of curfew violations. Both of them were straight-A students and had no intention of racking up demerits, even if the penalties were minimal. With high-level heroes patrolling the dorms, they had opted for caution.
Yeonha slipped out of bed, her mind racing with thoughts that distracted her from the uncomfortable feeling of sharing her personal space. She couldn't shake the nagging realization that Djinns existed within Cube, and her thoughts lingered on her investigations into Yun Hyuk, the president of the Academic Club.
From the details she had pieced together, it was clear that something was off about his rapid rise in strength. While Hajin and Hyon were speculating about whether she might be a Djinn, Yeonha found the idea ludicrous. "Me? A Djinn?" She scoffed quietly to herself, her skepticism mingling with unease.
Glancing over at Rachel, who lay peacefully asleep, Yeonha couldn't help but envy her beauty. "She is really beautiful…" she whispered, the admiration mixing with the slight jealousy she felt. If she were a guy, she might not have been able to resist the urge to devour Rachel in that moment.
"For now, I should eat something…" she decided, wanting to distract herself from her troubling thoughts.
With careful steps, Yeonha made her way to the kitchen, determined not to wake Rachel. As she navigated through the messy room, dodging the scattered pages of their research on Yun Hyuk, her irritation flared. She despised disorganization; the chaos clashed with her obsessive need for cleanliness and order.
Once in the kitchen, she placed a mac-and-cheese cup in the microwave, her stomach growling in anticipation. While she waited, she stepped into the shower, scrubbing herself down to cleanse both her body and mind. After her quick rinse, she returned to retrieve her food.
But as she looked at the steaming mac-and-cheese, a sudden realization hit her. "I can't eat this… I can't serve this either." She sighed, recalling the image she needed to maintain.
Just as she was about to toss the cup in the trash, inspiration struck. "If I throw it away, Rachel will see the evidence!" The thought of being caught was enough to send her into a frenzy.
In a flurry of superhuman speed and acrobatics, she grabbed a spoon and discreetly shoved the mac-and-cheese into her mouth, her cravings overwhelming her sense of propriety. "Nom. Nom. Nom."
"Uhhh…" Rachel stirred in her sleep, stretching and letting out a cute sound that made Yeonha's heart skip a beat. Panic surged through her. She turned away, her back facing Rachel, desperately hiding her midnight snack.
"Nom. Nom. Nom."
She finished her meal just as she tossed the empty container into the trash, relieved to have escaped unscathed. But then Rachel's voice broke through her triumph.
"Is that mac-and-cheese? It smells good…" Rachel murmured, still half-asleep, rising from the bed in her uniform from the night before.
"N-no…" Yeonha stammered, her heart racing. "You must still be dreaming… Are you craving some cheese? Let's go, I will treat you to good classy food… How about something light? Oh~! I know this cheesecake that tastes great!" She rushed through her words, desperate to change the subject.
"Huh?" Rachel blinked in confusion, wiping the remnants of sleep from her eyes. "What is this?" She approached Yeonha, swiping something from her lips.
Yeonha felt a wave of violation wash over her, a blush creeping up her cheeks as Rachel inspected the cheese smudge. "What is this? It smells like cheese?"
A fresh wave of panic surged through her. In a moment of desperation, she grabbed Rachel's wrist and, before she could think twice, sucked the cheese from Rachel's finger.
"It tastes like cream… It's from the coffee I drank…" she lied, grimacing at the absurdity of the situation. "But it kind of tastes salty."
Rachel's expression turned to one of bewilderment. "Why did you do that?"
Yeonha felt a twisted sense of pride in her audacity, but it quickly faded as the reality of her actions hit her.
"M-miss Yeonha… Y-you… ate my eye boogers…" Rachel's voice trembled as she registered what had just happened, her eyes widening in horror.
Yeonha shuddered at the revelation, the salty taste suddenly making sense. "So that is where the salty taste comes from?" she muttered in disbelief, a wave of despair crashing over her.
Rachel, now fully awake, curiously sniffed her finger, and Yeonha felt the panic return. "Hey! What are you going to do!?"
"Huh? Uhhh… I am sorry!" Rachel stammered, clearly caught off guard by the bizarre turn of events.
In that chaotic moment, the lines between embarrassment and humor blurred, leaving both girls in a state of shock, confusion, and a strange sense of camaraderie forged through an absurd situation. As they stood there, it became clear that perhaps, in their shared experiences and misunderstandings, they were building a bond that neither had anticipated.
The next day, Yeonha had diarrhea.