Today, I was excused from classes—on account of being told I should “rest in my room”—which meant I had the entire day to myself.

But then I remembered what that boy said earlier when he tried to pick a fight.

“Hey, you. I heard you tried to stab yourself after getting kicked out of your family.”

“…Stabbed, but failed?”

Wait.

Are people saying I tried to kill myself and failed?

If that’s what the rumors say… then me sitting in the cafeteria yesterday, happily devouring my lunch, must’ve looked like: ‘Tried to die yesterday, now binge-eating like a lunatic.’

Great. Just great.

That wasn’t the plan at all.

It’s unfair.

Sure, I did stab myself, but I wasn’t trying to die. I had my reasons—deep, dark, complicated ones.

That was an attempt to return to my original world.

Dramatic? Maybe. But not suicide. Definitely not.

…But how on earth am I supposed to explain that?

“Actually, I’m from another world and I needed to die to go back.”

Yeah, no. That’ll only make the “crazy girl” label stick even harder.

What’s done is done.

At this point, I’ll just pretend I don’t know anything.

“I’ve got to go back to classes tomorrow anyway. Guess I should check my schedule~”

The next morning.

I rushed to get ready—quick shower, hastily brushed hair, pulled on my uniform. Done.

I usually skip breakfast anyway. If I eat in the morning, I can’t enjoy lunch as much.

Better to go all-in for lunch.

Getting ready took less than fifteen minutes, so instead of loitering around the dorm, I headed out early.

It was going to be my first proper class, and I was—surprisingly—looking forward to it.

Last time, I was thrown into the classroom without a clue.

But last night, I reviewed the basics.

I even pulled an all-nighter, but I’d rested so much before that I wasn’t tired.

Just as I was about to leave the room, my roommate glanced over at me nervously.

…Not my concern.

We’re nothing to each other now. There’s no reason to go together.

First period: Basic Magic.

My roommate was there, too. She kept sneaking glances at me.

Every time I turned my head, she’d quickly look away.

Over and over again.

A guilty conscience, maybe?

A few other students were starting to notice her weird behavior, too.

During the break, I finally decided to ask her directly.

“Roommate. Mind telling me what’s going on?”

“……”

No response.

“Was the money I left not enough? It should’ve been more than enough to cover your sister’s treatment.”

“……”

Silent as ever.

“Alright. Got it. You’re not in the mood to talk. Then I’ll—”

Just then, she grabbed my sleeve.

With a determined look, she finally spoke.

“I’m so sorry, Aria. For pretending to be your friend while spying on you… for turning my back on you when you needed help…”

The classroom fell silent.

“…What?”

That came out louder than I meant.

I thought we were done with all this.

But she kept going.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about it since that day. I felt like it was all my fault—that you tried to kill yourself because of me. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness. But please, Aria… don’t die. If you need to blame someone, blame me. Hate me, scream at me—just don’t…”

She broke off, burying her face in her arms, sobbing at her desk.

The entire classroom stirred with whispers.

— “So it’s true… she really tried to kill herself?”

— “Damn. She must’ve been going through a lot…”

With just one tearful apology, Judy had poured gasoline on an already smoldering fire.