Prologue Story

The small, trembling shoulders were heartbreakingly pitiful.

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed.

They flinched and turned their heads.

A figure emerged from the staircase. The woman with long hair tied back that reached her chest was someone they recognized well.

“U… unnie Eun-hee…?!”

“Hey, this…!”

Park Han-soo hurriedly hid Kang In-ha, who was crying, behind him.

Lee Eun-hee smirked as she watched him.

“Sorry. I came here because I knew, and I heard everything.”

“Eun-hee unnie…!”

“This unnie was worried about Eun-ha too, you know. I even owe her.”

In Lee Eun-hee’s mind, the image of the child who had shyly but earnestly spoken her mind flashed back.

The words that small child had spoken gave her true courage. Talented, strong, and kind-hearted, Yoo Eun-ha was a junior she cherished dearly.

Slowly, Lee Eun-hee approached Kang In-ha. She crouched down, bent her body to meet the gaze of In-ha, who was hiding her face, and whispered softly.

“Stubbornly refusing to apologize because you’re scared, hurting your friend. Really, what a thing to do. Don’t you think so too?”

Kang In-ha looked up sharply, glaring at Lee Eun-hee.

But, despite her harsh words, Eun-hee gave her a warm smile when their eyes met.

Kang In-ha opened her eyes wide.

“Haha! It reminds me of the time I fought with a friend too! But honestly, it still happens sometimes even now. When you fight with a friend, you end up being stubborn. But you know, when that happens, the right answer is to face it, to really get angry if you need to, and then to make up properly. This unnie is giving you this lesson as a freebie. In-ha, it seems like you ran away without really confronting Eun-ha at all.”

In-ha’s expression hardened.

In reality, that was exactly what happened.

In-ha had only lashed out and didn’t listen to Eun-ha’s words, running away instead.

Lee Eun-hee tilted her head slightly as she looked at In-ha.

“Or are you lacking confidence in yourself?”

“……”

In-ha lowered her head without saying a word.

Seeing this, Lee Eun-hee grinned and pointed to In-ha’s chest with her finger.

There, hanging on a silver necklace chain, was an ornament swaying.

It was a navy-colored ornament, resembling a gemstone.

Pointing to it, Eun-hee asked.

“That necklace, do you know what it is?”

“……?”

In-ha instinctively grabbed the pendant on her necklace.

This was the necklace Eun-ha had given her last winter, saying she’d made it herself.

It was an incredibly precious item to In-ha.

“It’s a magic crystal. Usually, you need to be about middle school age to make one. Hmm, based on our school’s standards, maybe an upper-grade elementary student could succeed?”

“Magic crystal…?”

With a puzzled expression, In-ha looked at the crystal hanging from her necklace.

The navy crystal, occasionally tinged with a silvery glow in the light, was shaped like a smooth, rounded teardrop.

“Yes. It’s magic solidified, so they call it a magic crystal. It’s pretty amazing, actually. Making one isn’t too hard if you know the technique, but it’s the essence of magic itself. Depending on how you imbue it, the maker’s magic can be infused so that even someone else can use it. Not everything works, though. Since you two are especially talented, I’m giving you an early lesson. Also…giving that crystal to anyone is a taboo among magicians.”

Though still sporting a gloomy expression, In-ha looked at the crystal with a somewhat curious gaze, and then suddenly widened her eyes in shock.

Lee Eun-hee’s face grew serious.

“Remember? I said it’s the essence of magic itself. It contains the complete magical information. You know how advanced forensic science is these days, right? With a magic pattern analysis and a DNA test, they can find everything with just this one thing. So if it falls into the wrong hands, it’s incredibly, incredibly dangerous. The higher-ranking the magician, the more true this is. Just with this, they could create a clone of the magician.”

In-ha, now alarmed, clutched the crystal tightly in her hand.

For the first time, Eun-hee’s expression turned cold as she looked at In-ha.

Standing up, she continued speaking.

“That’s how it is. Even though she’s young, she’s a smart girl. She wouldn’t have given it to you without knowing. From what I’ve heard, that was the first crystal she ever made. But she didn’t keep her very first crystal for herself; she gave it to you, and only to you. Do you really not understand what that means?”

In-ha, holding the crystal tightly, was left speechless.

It was a look no one had ever seen from her, but her expression always changed when she was with Yoo Eun-ha.

She truly treasured Eun-ha more than anyone, and everyone around her naturally accepted it.

“She didn’t keep it for herself or give it to anyone else. She gave it to you as a gift. Think about it.”

“……”

“You are that precious a friend to her. Isn’t that enough? If it’s not, then you need to make the effort. At the very least, she told you she would try.”

“……”

For a moment, In-ha lowered her head.

Then she stood up and started running.

──No, she tried to.

“In-In-ha?!”

“……!”

If only Eun-ha hadn’t suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs where Lee Eun-hee had stood.

With a startled expression, Eun-ha called out to In-ha.

Seeing her suddenly appear, everyone there opened their eyes wide.

☆

When I arrived at the basement on Seonghu oppa’s back, I was quite shocked.

The basement was lined with various security spells.

But the magic here was so subtle that I couldn’t clearly see most of it, even with my eyes.

Still, I could roughly guess a few spells based on the forms of magic that changed before my eyes. That’s probably an illusion, and that’s a barrier…right?

And as I followed them, no, as I was carried into the CCTV control room, I was surprised once again.

“What’s going on? Who else is here?”

“Hm?”

“Oh.”

It was surprising because, aside from the person who seemed to be a staff member, I also recognized the two seniors sitting nearby.

“Senior Seonghu… Oh, isn’t that Eun-ha?”

“Huh? Ji-hyun, do you know this little lady?”

“Of course, I do. She’s a friend of my sister. She’s quite capable. But why are you carrying her on your back, Senior Seonghu?”

My face flushed at his words, as the embarrassment I’d forgotten came rushing back.

‘Come to think of it, why was I still being carried on his back? We already passed the crowded areas…’

I tapped Seonghu oppa on the back to signal my desire to get down, and as soon as I did, Senior Cheonho approached me.

“Hello. Do you remember me?”

“Oh, yes, I do. Senior Cheonho…”

Of course, I remembered. I’d heard about him from Min-hee several times and met him a few times at her house.

Even I couldn’t forget at this point.

“What? You know the kid too?”

“She’s Min-hee’s friend.”

Senior Cheonho answered Senior Yeon Yoon as he gently patted my head.

Since it didn’t feel unpleasant, I didn’t reject it.

I watched quietly as Senior Yeon Yoon chatted with Senior Ji-hyun and the person who seemed to be a staff member, then anxiously tugged on his sleeve.

“Hm? Oh, right. I’m sorry. I’ll find her quickly.”

“……You’re not here to find someone too, are you?”

“Actually, I am!”

“Why are kids so impudent these days?!”

The guard smacked Senior Yeon Yoon on the head with a loud thud and then looked at Seonghu oppa with a betrayed expression.

“So, you’re here for the same reason too… I never thought…Fine. Find her yourself.”

With his permission, I brightly thanked him.

Regardless of the rules, I wanted to find In-ha quickly.

I turned towards the screen.

“Hey, hold on.”

I flinched, stopping in my tracks to look back at Senior Ji-hyun.

With a casual expression, he asked.

“Are you looking for that girl ‘Kang In-ha’ too?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right…”

“Huh? Isn’t In-ha the one Min-hee came to find?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

What? Shocked, I was about to rush over and demand an explanation…but instead, I restrained myself and asked carefully.

“Um…what do you mean by that?”

Senior Ji-hyun then told me something shocking.

“Min-hee went to fight with her. Look over there.”

Following his finger, I turned my head and saw Min-hee…and Han-soo, Hyun-ho, Shia, and In-ha facing off with each other.

I was at a loss.

“Oh no, what should I do…?”

I wanted to run over, but I didn’t know where it was.

Turning my head, I quickly asked Seonghu oppa.

“Um, Seonghu oppa…could you tell me where that is?”

“I’ll take you there.”

Surprised by his easy response, I blinked.

Senior Yeon Yoon laughed as he patted my head.

“The high school campus is huge. You could easily get lost. You want to stop your friends from fighting, right? I’ll take you there. With a quick teleport.”

“Um…”

I looked at the screen with a worried expression.

In-ha, with her head down, seemed to be crying.

Finally, I urgently requested.

“Then, please.”

“We’ll go too.”

Almost simultaneously with my request, Senior Ji-hyun stood up, and next to him, Senior Cheonho also got to his feet.

“My little sister is there too. Plus, the second day of the festival will be ending soon.”

Indeed, it was already that time. I frowned.

If In-ha doesn’t forgive me again this time…then…

“Alright, let’s go.”

Teleportation wasn’t possible underground due to magical interference.

So we left the basement on foot and then used a teleportation spell once outside.

Upon teleporting, I immediately saw In-ha before me.

In-ha looked as if she were in pain or maybe even on the verge of tears.

The frail appearance, something I never expected from In-ha, startled me, and I called her name.

“In…In-ha?!”

And for some reason, Eun-hee unnie was there too.

She waved at me. Ah, hello there…No, this isn’t the time for that!

“Uh, In-ha, I wanted to say…”

Before I could shout anything, In-ha grabbed my hand and started running somewhere.

Surprised, I allowed myself to be pulled along as In-ha ran.

We ran, past the seniors and kids, up the stairs, and opened the door to the rooftop.

It felt like it happened in an instant.

Even though I’d been steadily working on my stamina, In-ha’s was stronger.

While I was slightly out of breath from running to the rooftop, In-ha looked completely unaffected.

I lowered my head for a moment to catch my breath.

When I looked up, In-ha suddenly embraced me.

Tightly, so tightly I could barely breathe.

I rested my head on In-ha’s shoulder, who was taller than me.

“In-ha…?” Still stunned, I muttered her name in a daze.

A tearful voice whispered in my ear.

“I’m sorry…!”

At her earnest apology, I was taken aback.

Carefully, I called her name again.

“In-ha…?”

In-ha continued to apologize as she cried.

“I’m sorry for being so stubborn…I know… I know you care about me, think of me as your closest friend. But…I got anxious…”

I could feel In-ha’s trembling body embracing me tightly, proof that she was indeed crying.

Though I didn’t understand why this was happening all of a sudden, it was exactly what I had always wanted.

Moved by her apology, I hugged her back and spoke.

“No, I’m sorry too. I… I hide so many things, even from Mom, that I didn’t realize I should’ve told you. I won’t do that anymore.”

“I…don’t want you to hate me…”

“I don’t hate you. Why would I hate you, In-ha…?”

Hate her? Not at all.

In fact, it felt like a miracle.

I’d always been the kind of kid who couldn’t express my feelings well, so I’d lost friends countless times.

And I gave up.

No friend had ever kept coming back to me like this, trying to reach me over and over.

So, honestly, it was hard to believe this moment was real.

“Thank you for not giving up on me…”

“Why are you thanking me for that, Eun-ha? I should be the one thanking you…”

“I’m sorry…!”

“No, I’m sorry, too…!”

We held each other, continuously muttering jumbled apologies.

And we cried. We cried a lot.

Saying sorry repeatedly, crying over and over, not even knowing who we were talking to.

And in the end, we held each other, smiling brightly.

After that, we went back to being close friends.

No, maybe we were even closer than before.

We spent the night talking about everything we hadn’t said during the time we were fighting.

Mom and Dad, Auntie and Uncle, everyone was thrilled that we made up.

As for our friends—

“Don’t be so annoying ever again!”

I thought they were talking to me, but surprisingly, In-ha answered instead.

“Sorry to you all, too.”

Only then did my friends smile again.

It was only me who’d been confused.

The next day, we toured the festival together as promised.

We went to the high school area, which we hadn’t been able to fully explore on the first day.

Per Min-hee’s request, Seniors Ji-hyun and Cheonho tagged along to guide us.

“But I thought you, Min-hee, would be the elementary school freshman with the best connections at this school, but your friend’s no joke either.”

“Who do you mean?”

“I mean Yoo Eun-ha here. She calls Senior Seonghu ‘Oppa,’ knows Senior Yoon, and is close with Senior Eun-hee too. And now, we know her as well. That’s impressive, huh? Getting close to Senior Seonghu is really tough.”

“Uh, it’s thanks to Unnie Eun-hee…and I just met Senior Yoon yesterday.”

“Really?”

Senior Cheonho gave me a knowing smile.

Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

Even though the first school festival of my life started off rocky, the final day was truly enjoyable.

I reconciled with In-ha, and we became closer.

No, it felt like I became closer to everyone else too.

Joo Min-hee, Park Han-soo, Kim Hyun-ho, Yoon Shia, now all precious friends of ours.

Along the way, we also met Yoo-jung unnie and Chunho oppa.

They were genuinely happy to see us all together as usual, relieved that we had reconciled.

We spent the festival’s end together, just the two of us.

After saying goodbye to Senior Cheonho and Senior Ji-hyun, we watched the closing fireworks in the midst of a large crowd.

More precisely, the two seniors had left first, saying they had somewhere else to be.

I reached my hand out toward the brilliant fireworks in the dark sky.

And, watching the dazzling fireworks, I fully enjoyed the peace that had come to me after so long.