Chapter 15: Reflections in Candy and Glass

Choi Sua lay on her bed, giggling as she tapped away on her smartphone.

Even late at night, the bright ceiling light illuminated the room.

Kicking her legs, she messaged a friend she’d been close with since middle school.

– Paradise High? Still figuring it out. Seems pretty good tho~?

– Jealous. Isn’t that for brainy kids? I’d have tried if it wasn’t so far from home~

– Not really. There’s a delinquent kid, and one who looks like a ghost and only talks about ghosts. Thought it’d be all nerds, but guess not~

Unlike a few months ago when they attended the same middle school, they now went to different high schools.

Still, they kept in touch.

– Any cute guys catching your eye?

– Hmm, dunno. Don’t know much beyond my class yet. The delinquent’s kinda hot but scary… Oh, there’s a nice-looking guy too. Kim Dodam, I think.

– Ooh, gonna make a move?

– With my grades? Nah. Plus, he’s already close with a super pretty girl. They’re desk mates too.

– A girl? Prettier than Yuri from middle school?

– Way prettier. People don’t talk to her much, but it’s not that she’s unapproachable—it’s like they want to be friends but feel intimidated.

– I get the vibe~

Seol Haru, with her blue hair, exuded a mysterious aura.

Maybe I should dye my hair too.

“How do girls like her even dress up? I wanna learn her secrets~”

I want to befriend her.

Maybe I’ll talk to her tomorrow.

– Hold on, someone’s here.

– K, come back~

Her friend stepped away mid-chat.

Someone must’ve come to her house.

“Guess I should get ready for bed.”

School tomorrow.

While brushing her teeth and browsing celebrity gossip, a message came.

– Sua, what’s with the prank?

“Huh?”

Blinking, toothbrush in mouth, she typed.

– Wut?

– When did you come to my house? It’s late, you should’ve said something.

– What’re you talking about? I’m at home.

– Yeah, MY house.

– No, MY house.

Is she messing with me?

While thinking how to reply, a dry-texted message arrived.

– Something’s off. I’m calling the police.

– Police? What’s wrong?

– Hello? What’s happening?

– Hey, answer me!

No reply came, even after brushing and slipping into pajamas.

Lying in bed, she turned off the light and closed her eyes.

As sleep crept in, her phone buzzed.

Groggily checking, she saw:

– All sorted.

No clue what happened, but it seemed resolved.

Relieved, she typed.

– Glad it’s okay. I’m crashing. You should too.

– Come to my house tomorrow?

That was sudden.

She squinted.

– Outta nowhere? Wanna hang?

– Come to my house.

– Uh, sure. See ya tomorrow.

Close friends, but different schools meant fewer meetups.

She’d been missing her, and her friend seemed to feel the same.

Probably spooked by the intruder too.

Chuckling, she pulled up the covers.

A chilling thought made her eyes snap open.

“Was that really my friend I was talking to?”

The long White Day passed, and normal life resumed.

During morning homeroom, Ms. Park Irim made an announcement.

“…So, everyone needs to join a club. You’ll participate during weekly CA time. You can start a new club or join an existing one, but new clubs need at least four members within two weeks to stay active. Keep that in mind~”

“Yes, ma’am~”

CA time, huh.

Fitting for an “innovative” high school.

I looked drowsy as usual, but this was worth considering.

‘I need to join something.’

Options were plenty: book club, basketball, track…

But nothing really grabbed me.

As a ghost, sweaty, passionate sports clubs weren’t my thing.

Something quiet and easy would be nice.

I nudged Kim Dodam, deep in thought beside me.

“What club you joining?”

“Soccer, maybe… or boxing if they have it. You?”

As expected, sports.

His White Day memories erased, he was still a ghost skeptic.

“Thinking about it. Might just pick anything.”

“Really? …Join the same one as me. Soccer’s cool.”

“Ugh, no way. I’d just be dead weight.”

“Dead weight? You’d outshine most girls… You’ve got talent. Don’t waste it.”

I could probably dominate the World Cup if I didn’t hold back.

But that’d tip off the Association.

“Hey, this is huge!”

“Wanna hit the convenience store later?”

A typical day ended, and Pyo Jiseok sauntered out the back door with friends, hands in pockets.

His cocky stride didn’t match the bloodied figure from before.

‘Well, he’s alive. That’s good.’

Good vibes only.

Seeing him with friends sparked a bit of envy.

Even a guy like him has buddies…

“Uh, h-hey…”

“Hm?”

A small voice behind made me turn.

A tiny girl flinched and apologized.

“S-Sorry, didn’t mean to bother you…”

“…I’m not mad. What’s up?”

Ugh, my blank face.

My cold, aloof expression was Seol Haru’s trademark in Spirit Exorcism.

Guess that’s my ghostly charm.

I softened my expression.

“It’s nothing big… Just, if you’ve got time, wanna hang with us?”

“Hang?”

“Yeah. We’re in the same class but barely talk. Wanna… get to know each other? Oh, I’m Choi Sua.”

Behind Choi Sua, two other girls stood, hands clasped, watching.

Blinking twice, I got it.

‘Wait, what? A friend request?’

From three cute girls?

Feeling sorry for lone-wolf me?

Is spring finally here?

“Sure, I’m in.”

“Really?!”

“Got time. I’m Seol Haru, by the way.”

“We know! Thought you’d say no.”

I dreamed of a meaningful school life.

No reason to refuse.

Texting Dodam I’d go separately, we left the gate.

I spotted a familiar long-haired girl.

‘Lee Hwaseo.’

She’d gotten my number but hadn’t approached since White Day.

When our eyes met, she looked guilty and turned away.

Guilt over “erasing” my memory must be eating at her.

My Oscar-worthy acting pricked my conscience too.

Watching her walk off alone, we hit the downtown area.

“Let’s hit a café~ My treat.”

“Whoa, you’re paying?”

“Just for Haru~”

“Karaoke, karaoke!”

“This song’s trending. Haru, wanna sing?”

“Not really…”

We hopped around, having fun.

Well, I mostly watched the girls squeal and run around.

Not that they excluded me.

I just struggled to keep up.

‘Ugh, they’re draining…’

Are they all extroverts?

Girls’ stamina must hide some secret.

Their kindness put me in a bind.

Then, a chance to shine appeared.

“Ugh, this claw machine’s rigged. Oh? Haru’s trying?”

“Yeah.”

As the girls groaned over failures, I took the controls.

Click, click.

The claw followed my moves.

Pausing to get a feel, I smirked.

‘This is child’s play.’

Click, click.

Targeting a cute turtle plushie.

Click, click, click.

I’d barely used claw machines before.

But with “a bit of power,” my senses were otherworldly.

“Yes, Haru! That turtle’s adorable!”

Grabbing a plushie was nothing.

Sua clapped, excited.

I didn’t need it, so I’d gift it to her for inviting me.

Click, click, click, click.

She’d be thrilled, and we’d get closer.

As a girl, giving another girl a gift was legit.

‘Heh…’

Fantasizing, I aimed at the turtle and went to press the button.

Then, a weird feeling hit.

The claw was still.

Clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclick.

Where was that sound coming from?

Frowning, I traced it to a pile of plushies.

A clown doll, buried among them, stared with lifeless eyes.

No expression, but its mouth twitched crazily.

Clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclick.

“…What’s this creep now?”