I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

The Academy was indeed quite large.

The path to the dormitory was well-maintained.

The streetlights lit up at night created a certain atmosphere.

I barely saw any students.

“People who use magic are automatically classified as Awakeners.”

“Yeah.”

We chatted as we walked.

It’s been a long time since we did something like this.

Looking back at everything that had happened, it felt strange to have such a normal conversation.

“And you used magic too, Seo-Ah.”

“Mhm.”

The scene of attacking Han Si-Hoo replayed in my mind.

There was no way I could’ve won.

As I felt the cold night air, my thoughts became clearer.

I kept thinking about when I got stabbed.

I lightly touched the spot where the wound had been through my clothes.

How long am I going to keep checking it?

There’s no problem at all.

“Teacher Lee Yu-Ram did say you’re an Awakener…”

Am I really an Awakener?

The doctor said it was a drug that could cause awakening.

They said the ability wouldn’t disappear just because I stopped taking the drug.

Right?

“Do you think you can still use magic now? Like a skill or something.”

“I don’t know.”

Even though I’d asked the drug to do things for me, I’ve never handled magic myself.

It just sounds so abstract.

What even is magic?

And what are skills?

In the novels, everyone and their dog could use magic.

Why shouldn’t I be able to?

There was a reason I couldn’t.

I tried hard to feel something inside my body, but I couldn’t recreate the sensation of using the drug the doctor had given me.

“It’s not working.”

Nothing came out.

I feel like if I had that drug the doctor gave me, I’d be able to do it.

That thing that comes out like black smoke.

I feel like it would work if I just had that drug.

Please, drug, just do something.

Make something happen.

It’s not working.

Whether I beg the drug or not, nothing is coming out.

It’s not like I’m going to draw a sword here and cause a scene.

“As expected, it’s not working.”

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

Things like entering the Academy are too much for me.

That’s just how it is.

There are so many people who want to become Awakeners.

When I think about it that way, I’m probably blessed just for using magic even once.

Han Si-Hoo seems a bit troubled.

Is it a problem that I’m not an Awakener?

Was he hoping I’d be able to handle my abilities?

I’m not sure.

“But even so… can I still enter the Academy?”

“Probably.”

It’s strange.

I’m supposedly not an Awakener.

“How curious.”

Yeah, it is odd to think about being in the Academy without being an Awakener.

If I use the drug the doctor gave me, I can probably pretend to be an Awakener.

But using the drugs from the Academy wouldn’t be enough.

“When does the Academy… start?”

“The high school entrance ceremony is in a month. Until then, I’ll be staying in this dorm.”

“I see.”

“I think they’ll assign a new dorm before the ceremony. Until then, let’s stay together.”

On the way to the dormitory, the awkward atmosphere persisted.

We definitely weren’t distant before.

If anything, we were too close.

But there’s been so much weird stuff happening lately.

I don’t know if calling it weird even covers it.

While thinking about all this, we arrived at the dorm building.

Building A, third floor.

Room 308.

The dorm looked like a hotel.

Building A is where the top students at the Academy stay.

“This is my room.”

Han Si-Hoo’s dorm was tidy from the entrance.

It was exactly as I had imagined.

I didn’t think I’d ever come here.

“…Wow.”

It’s definitely better than my house.

The dorm really feels like a place where people live.

The facilities are practically at a hotel level.

This truly is a national elite training center.

“You can sleep in this room. I’ll be… right next door in the living room.”

There was a room with a bed in it.

And a TV.

It really looked like a hotel.

There wasn’t much of Han Si-Hoo’s personal belongings around.

Just a few uniforms hanging on the wall.

“If you want to wash up, you can use the bathroom here. As for clothes… they’re mine, but they’re unworn, so you can wear anything from that cabinet.”

There was a cabinet inside the bathroom.

A white shirt and black shorts were inside, still wrapped in plastic.

They were probably the clothes provided by the Academy.

They were definitely new.

The size was a bit big, but they looked okay.

“The towels are over there, and if anything happens, just call me.”

I should probably wash up.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

The bathroom even had a separate shower room.

Not bad.

Shower, huh.

It’s been a while.

Water poured over my head.

It was warm.

The reflection in the mirror was the same as always.

I’ve seen it too many times to feel anything.

Why do I have so many scars?

The bruises are unpleasant to look at.

This is why I should’ve taken the medicine properly.

I feel a bit pathetic, like a wet dog.

Well, when it comes to food, shelter, and clothing, I was probably like a stray dog.

As long as I had the drug, it didn’t matter.

There are too many injection marks on my arms.

I wanted to break the mirror, but I held back.

Once I’d changed into the new clothes, I didn’t look half bad.

The short-sleeved t-shirt exposed a lot of my scars.

There’s no need to hide it even inside the house.

Han Si-Hoo knows everything anyway.

“Si-Hoo?”

“Yeah?”

Han Si-Hoo was in the living room organizing the medicine.

“Do you have any bandages?”

It seems like my arm would draw attention.

I don’t like that idea.

“No, but I’ll buy some tomorrow along with clothes. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“No, thanks.”

It’s too late to go out now.

It’s 3 a.m. after all.

[6 hours 23 minutes]

The drug’s effect is just enough to make me barely fall asleep.

It’d be nice to use it one more time.

It would help heal the wound faster, too.

“Can I use the drug?”

“You used it 30 minutes ago…”

“But I need it to heal the wound.”

“A wound?”

“Yeah, like this.”

I lifted my shirt.

I showed him the bruise on my abdomen.

Thanks to the drug, the injury had faded compared to before.

“Oh.”

Han Si-Hoo turned his gaze away.

Why is he embarrassed?

I’m just showing him where I got hurt.

Doesn’t he want to check the wound?

…I see.

It took me a while to realize.

Well, if a girl suddenly pulled up her shirt in front of me, I’d probably be embarrassed too.

Especially since I wasn’t wearing anything underneath, it does feel a bit… much.

Aren’t we just friends?

It could happen.

I decided to consider Han Si-Hoo and lowered my shirt again.

I didn’t think much of it, though.

“Anyway, it’s too early for that now.”

“Yeah.”

[6 hours 22 minutes]

I guess it’s still manageable at this point.

I’m not feeling too bad either.

Late at night.

Or is it early morning?

I try to forget the sticky past.

I think I can sleep now.

I sat at the edge of the bed.

“Can I watch that?”

Pointing at the television, I asked, “Can I watch that?”

“Watch as much as you want.”

Han Si-Hoo handed me the remote and showed me how to use it.

It was a television I was familiar with.

It even had videos produced by the Academy, like their introduction videos.

I could also watch movies.

[6 hours 21 minutes]

Time seemed to melt away.

It was fun since it had been a while.

Even the commercials were entertaining.

There was an ad selling drugs at a cheap price.

Not the kind I use, though.

I couldn’t fall asleep.

[2 hours 18 minutes]

So I’m still staring at the screen.

Television.

It would’ve been nice to have one at home.

Then again, maybe not.

The power was unreliable, making it hard to even use my phone.

In the end, I had to sell everything because I didn’t have enough money.

“…It’s off.”

The screen was dark.

Was that a dream?

Did I fall asleep?

[2 hours 17 minutes]

“The drug…”

I felt bad waking Si-Hoo.

He’s probably sleeping in the living room.

At least my fever had gone down while I rested.

I hadn’t slept on the bed.

I’d fallen asleep while sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed and watching TV.

But for some reason, I was now on the bed.

Did Si-Hoo move me? Or did I get up myself?

I wasn’t sure.

I looked at the clock hanging in the room. It was 7 a.m.

Morning.

“Si-Hoo?”

The door to the room was slightly ajar.

I stepped out to the living room and found Han Si-Hoo sleeping, leaning against the wall.

Isn’t that uncomfortable?

He must’ve been exhausted.

Yesterday had been a tiring day in many ways.

I caused him so much trouble.

I didn’t see the vial or syringe anywhere.

I could probably guess where they were, but I wasn’t sure.

I’ll have to wake Si-Hoo to use it.

“…Si-Hoo?”

I whispered his name softly.

He didn’t wake up.

He must have been really tired.

It’s not like using the drug is that urgent, so it’s fine.

I laid him down on the floor and propped him up with a pillow.

Finishing it off by covering him with a blanket.

He didn’t wake up.

I watched him sleep for a moment.

It was a quiet, leisurely morning.

There was an air purifier here, along with an air conditioner and a heater.

The environment was so nice, it felt overwhelming.

So, this is the Academy dormitory.

I think I was told that I’m going to become an Academy student too.

I pulled out a chair and sat down at the dining table.

There was even a refrigerator.

Should I open it?

I wasn’t fully awake yet, and I wasn’t hungry either.

– Knock, knock.

I heard a soft knock on the door.

Thinking it might’ve been my imagination, I listened again.

– Knock, knock.

It was a quiet knock.

Whoever it was seemed to be careful not to wake anyone inside.

Si-Hoo was still asleep.

– Knock, knock, knock.

It was definitely a person.

I stood up to answer the door.

Maybe it’s a delivery.

Am I dressed properly?

No problem.

The clothes were a bit big, but it’s fine.

If I put my arms behind my back, the scars wouldn’t be visible.

“Yes?”

I spoke quietly.

Even if I said I was going out, I doubt anyone would hear me.

I was being careful not to wake Si-Hoo.

– Click.

The doorknob turned, and sunlight filtered into the room.

Standing at the door was a girl with long black hair, tied in a braid.

Judging by the uniform, she was an Academy student.

There were two sword sheaths strapped to her back.

“Si-Si-Hoo, I brought this as a thank you…”

She trailed off when she saw me, looking flustered.

She took a step back and checked the dormitory number.

“…Huh?”

Her expression looked like it had five question marks floating above her head.

In her hand, she held a white paper envelope.

It seemed like a gift for Si-Hoo.