Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Awakener Special School Ranking: 0th
Episode 23
That night, she dreamed.
“Ji-woo.”
Someone called out to Ji-woo—or rather, to Ji-woo by her former name.
“Want to eat this?”
Along with a gentle voice came an appetizing sandwich held out before her eyes.
Ji-woo had seen this scene before.
…In “Ji-woo’s memories.”
“A kid from the next class gave it to me, but I’m too full.”
She tried to look up and see the other person’s face, but it was blurred like fog had settled over it, impossible to make out.
And yet.
“Thanks. I’ll eat well.”
The moment she took the sandwich, fingertips brushed against hers softly.
Pale pink nail polish.
And the scent of deep rose perfume.
The current Ji-woo could tell exactly who it was.
‘Ji-woo, no! Don’t eat it!’
She tried to cry out, but it was no use reaching the Ji-woo in the dream.
Without a second thought, Ji-woo brought the sandwich to her mouth.
“Ugh—!”
She hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand.
Ji-woo had a carrot allergy.
And what she had just put in her mouth was a sandwich stuffed with carrot rapée.
Realizing it too late, dream-Ji-woo’s head spun around frantically.
Looking for a tissue to spit out the sandwich.
“Why suddenly? Are you okay?”
A hand with pale pink nail polish gently grasped Ji-woo’s hand.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
“Ji-woo, why are you looking at me like that? It’s scary.”
The girl let out a soft chuckle, whispering so quietly no one else could hear.
“…Just chew it well. Don’t get indigestion.”
A hand that patted her shoulder tenderly.
A voice laced with amusement.
“…….”
Ji-woo woke and slowly sat up in bed.
Thud-thud-thud—
The desk clock on the nightstand began to vibrate violently, then clattered to the floor.
Even the firmly closed window trembled faintly.
“Haa, haa…….”
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The vibrations grew stronger by the second.
A tremor as if an earthquake had struck this room alone.
Though all the windows were closed, Ji-woo’s hair whipped around as if caught in a wind.
A whirlwind centered on Ji-woo was intensifying.
In the midst of it, she pressed her palms to her eyes.
— There’s no such thing as a complete cure for you, miss. You must remember that runaway is always a possibility if you waste your Core or let your emotions run too high.
She swallowed her breath,
then slowly exhaled it.
Again.
……And once more.
After repeating this several times, the trembling in the room gradually subsided.
Only then did Ji-woo rise from her bed as if nothing had happened and gather her things.
As she walked to school, leaving the Dormitory behind, her face was expressionless.
When she finally reached the Classroom, Ji-woo opened the back door without hesitation.
Creak—
“…….”
“…….”
All eyes in the Classroom fixed on the back door swinging open.
When they realized it was “her”—Seol Ji-woo—the air in the room shifted.
Ignoring the stares and whispers that clung to her like gum, Ji-woo walked straight ahead.
She stopped before Jo Bit-na’s desk.
Click. Jo Bit-na folded her hand mirror and smiled brightly at Ji-woo.
“Good morning, Ji-woo.”
A smile as if painted in a picture. Still determined to hide her true colors, it was even brighter than usual.
Why was that?
For the first time today, Ji-woo found herself smiling back.
“I have something to ask you.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
Ji-woo asked without any beating around the bush.
“Do you remember a carrot sandwich?”
Sure enough, Jo Bit-na tilted her head and widened her eyes.
“A carrot sandwich? The kind they sell at the School Cafeteria?”
“Did you ever get one from someone, or give one to someone? Anything like that?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. I get so many gifts……. Why? Do you want one? I could ask my older brother who works at the cafeteria.”
Ji-woo didn’t soften her stern expression before the gentle smile.
She’d expected this much.
“…And your nails? Have you been painting them pale pink ever since middle school?”
“You seem really interested in my nails lately. I don’t stick to one color—I change them depending on my mood.”
“Is that so?”
It was the moment Ji-woo’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“By the way Ji-woo, you seem a bit off today. Do you have a headache or something?”
Whoosh.
Jo Bit-na reached out and placed her hand on Ji-woo’s forehead.
“Hmm, you feel a bit warm. Hey, Min-gyu. Could you take Ji-woo to the Infirmary?”
“Oh, yeah…!”
Tap!
Ji-woo lightly brushed Jo Bit-na’s hand away. It was surprising, but not a single crack appeared in Jo Bit-na’s expression.
“Oh, you startled me.”
She merely blinked her eyes and spoke in a theatrical tone.
‘…Is there something?’
Anything would do.
A weakness that would make Jo Bit-na show her true colors.
Or even a sore spot.
It was while she was mulling this over.
“Oh? It’s Han-gyeol.”
Someone said, seeing the open back door.
Glancing over, Ji-woo spotted Bae Han-gyeol—a tall male student in a hoodie.
The moment their eyes met, Bae Han-gyeol bounded toward her like a puppy.
“Ji-woo, hi!”
“Oh…….”
Ji-woo blinked, unable to return the greeting immediately.
She’d naturally assumed he’d come looking for Moon Yu-jin, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
The other students looked equally surprised.
Bae Han-gyeol was looking for Seol Ji-woo?
Ignoring their intense stares, Han-gyeol held something out to Ji-woo.
“Here, this.”
…It was Banana Milk.
“I bought it on my way to the cafeteria. You don’t usually eat breakfast anyway.”
“Oh, yeah. Thanks. But I’m kind of busy right now.”
“Oh, sorry. It’ll only take a second. Do you have a Narakbaltgi Research Reference Book? I need it next period, but I left it in my dorm.”
“No, it’s just that I’m a bit occupied right now…….”
She didn’t mind lending it, but it wasn’t the right moment. Because she still had unfinished business with Jo Bit-na…….
‘Huh?’
When Ji-woo turned her head, she stiffened slightly.
Jo Bit-na’s face had grown so chillingly cold it was shocking.
The two red eyes that usually curved with a gentle smile had turned cold like someone else’s.
Jo Bit-na was staring at something intently with eyes that held no warmth.
‘What’s she looking at so seriously…… Oh.’
Ji-woo slowly followed Jo Bit-na’s gaze.
To her palm.
To the Banana Milk Han-gyeol had given her.
“…….”
After glancing back and forth between Jo Bit-na and the Banana Milk, Ji-woo walked back to her seat.
“Han-gyeol, you said the Narakbaltgi Research Reference Book, right? Hold on.”
“Oh, sorry for the trouble.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re always looking out for me like this—lending you a reference book is more than fair.”
Ji-woo pulled the reference book from her desk and brought Han-gyeol’s palm directly over, setting it gently down.
“Here you go.”
“Oh, thanks…….”
His cheeks flushed noticeably as their hands touched.
It was an obvious reaction for anyone to see.
Jo Bit-na must have seen it too.
Ji-woo glanced sideways at Jo Bit-na.
Sure enough, her prediction was correct. Jo Bit-na’s expression control had vanished entirely, replaced by a chilling blankness as she stared at Ji-woo—or rather, at Han-gyeol.
Could it be that Jo Bit-na had a thing for Bae Han-gyeol?
While observing Jo Bit-na from the corner of her eye, Ji-woo turned her gaze back to Han-gyeol.
‘Shall I test it?’
Right before his eyes, she gently pinched Han-gyeol’s sleeve with her fingers.
“So we’re still seeing each other after school today, right?”
At the subtle physical contact, Han-gyeol grew flustered. Yet he didn’t push her away, and nodded his head.
“Yeah. Our usual spot?”
“Yes. Back of the Dormitory. Or should we go together?”
“Let’s do that. I’ll come find you after school.”
Embarrassed, Bae Han-gyeol half fled the Classroom in haste.
Still smiling gently as she watched him leave, Ji-woo turned her body back toward Jo Bit-na.
“…….”
Ji-woo’s prediction had been right.
As evidence, Jo Bit-na was no longer smiling when their eyes met.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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