The Novelist, Eisaku Siedehara.
Passed away due to longstanding colon cancer.
This is the last memory I have of Eisaku Siedehara. I may not remember which stocks rose or fell, but this much I remember clearly.
Because, then and now, literature has been my everything.
So, the sense of unease I feel right now is certainly no delusion.
Eisaku Siedehara, died at the age of 73.
So, for me, this is not a final work.
Eisaku Siedehara lived two years longer than he originally had. And during those two years, he left behind one more book.
It was only natural that I became engrossed in Eisaku Siedehara’s last book.
The fact that it was a rare new work in the otherwise repeating timeline I’d experienced was only half the reason.
This book was his new destination.
I had always agonized over where my literature should be heading, and now, before me, lay the final point someone else’s literature had reached.
So it was impossible for me to skim through this book casually.
I began reading thoroughly for the first time in a while. I placed a notebook beside me, jotting down notes as I meticulously read it sentence by sentence.
At least I wasn’t like that heretic, Gu Yuna, who would drag a highlighter across sacred books, defiling them. So, in a sense, I was exercising restraint.
How could anyone even think of putting pen to sacred books? What an absolutely terrifying and horrible thought?
Fortunately, the current Gu Yuna had been thoroughly… no, properly educated since her childhood. Thanks to this, she no longer defiles books with highlighters, nor does she stack them carelessly on her desk. She’s now a respectable reader.
Leading a fallen soul onto the path of light—surely, this too could be considered a virtuous act.
The fact that I was getting distracted with such idle thoughts while reading suggested that my concentration for the day had been entirely used up.
I closed my notebook and then shut the novel. Before I knew it, it was already 1 a.m. I had spent five hours reading since the evening. Honestly, if I studied , I could’ve gone to Seoul National University.
I chuckled softly at the joke that came to mind and then burrowed into the blanket sprawled on the floor. Wrapping myself up tightly, I surrendered to the slowly creeping wave of sleep.
The postponed trip to the U.S. was drawing closer.
It would probably be best to finish reading the book before I left…
Just before I fell asleep, my phone vibrated.
It wasn’t a text. It was a call.
I had no choice but to wake up.
Who on earth calls someone at 1 a.m.? Where did they learn such awful manners? How incredibly rude it is to contact someone at this hour when everyone’s asleep!
I glanced at the screen and saw it was Gu Yuna. So, I restrained myself from cursing her parents.
I’m outside your house.
Come out for a bit. I need to talk to you.
For a moment, I thought I might have misheard, but the tone, saying ‘come out’ instead of asking ‘can you come out?’ made it clear that it was indeed Gu Yuna.
And when Gu Yuna calls me out, I have to go. It’s just how my body is wired. So, I hurriedly threw on some clothes and went outside, only to find Gu Yuna standing there like a ghost in the dimly lit street.
Startled, I rushed over to her, but her expression was anything but ordinary.
More than surprise, concern came over me first.
What’s going on? Did she have a big fight with her sister and run away?
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
But, as always, the words that came out of Gu Yuna’s mouth were far beyond anything I could’ve expected.
“You’re… going to the U.S., right?”
“If you go, you won’t be back for a few months, right?”
Gu Yuna looked up at me like a puppy caught in the rain.
My hands and feet started trembling.
In her face, I saw something I recognized.
Gu Yuna was now in her third year of middle school. The face I knew is slowly emerging. Like Gu Yu-bin.
And I couldn’t say no to a request made with that face.
I barely managed to stammer out a rejection, but Gu Yuna pressed on with her momentum.
“I’m not saying never go. Just… wait until after the school trip.”
“Can’t you postpone it until then?”
School trip? It’s only a few weeks away. But if I postpone the schedule now, I’ll have to delay it for an entire quarter.
And that would make things difficult for Lim Yang-wook as well. Wasn’t this U.S. trip already finalized with great effort?
Obviously, it’s not possible!
Damn it. My tongue betrayed me.
But Yu-na smiled brightly, having succeeded in her tantrum.
Seeing that smile, I found myself thinking – that’s enough.
Gu Yuna disappeared into the dark night street.
Like a ghost. Quietly, just like that.
It felt like I’d been enchanted by a spirit.
The reason why Gu Yuna stubbornly insisted on dragging Moon In to the school trip.
“Lately… it feels like it’s been so hard to see you at school.”
Gu Yuna learns writing from Moon In. She’s practically his official pupil.
But it’s become troublesome since Moon In keeps running off somewhere.
“We can’t go to literary contests together like before, or even read novels at the library…”
If they don’t spend time together, how could she possibly learn anything about writing?
Of course, literature is taught at school, but Gu Yuna has already far surpassed that level.
It’s because Moon In has already awakened her genius.
And when it comes to teaching Gu Yuna, Moon In is even more qualified than Professor Gu Hak-jun.
Gu Yuna doesn’t realize it, but Moon In is someone who spent 10 years teaching Gu Yuna and 10 years being taught by her in turn.
As a result, whenever Gu Yuna tries to learn literature anywhere else, she finds it somewhat dull without Moon In’s guidance.
“Learning about novels from other people… it feels a little boring. Same with Dad and my sister…”
In short, she’s addicted to Moon In’s teaching style.
But Min Hyo-min, the one listening to this, didn’t see it that way.
“Why are you breathing like that?”
“N-no! It’s nothing!”
Min Hyo-min, whether read forward or backward, still Min Hyo-min, the adorable youngest member of the girl group Benivis.
As a veteran of the entertainment industry, she prided herself on being an expert in romance! (Despite having no dating experience.)
Thus, if dark clouds loomed over her friend’s love life, it was only natural that she would roll up her sleeves and take action.
Unable to hold back her righteous indignation, Min Hyo-min sprang to her feet in determination.
Slamming her hands on the desk in the club room, Min Hyo-min made a declaration to the world.