Chapter 324: The Parts of Rin We Don’t See [1]

I was just about to relax and enjoy that rare, blissful feeling that came with finishing exams when a familiar figure came sprinting toward us, shouting something just as familiar.

"Guys! After-party! We have to have an after-party after exams!"

Ryan.

The after-party ghost himself.

Honestly, I sometimes wondered if he was possessed by the soul of someone who died full of regret because they never got to celebrate after exams in their past life.

He definitely hadn’t been like this in the original story.

Then again... in the original, he failed to save people no matter how hard he tried. Even the smallest mistakes cost lives. Someone like that wouldn’t be able to keep this kind of carefree personality for long.

Unfortunately for him, I already had plans.

"Sorry. I can’t today."

"Huh?" Ryan blinked, clearly not expecting that. "You’ve got something going on?"

"Yeah. Nothing major. My father and my sister asked me to come home on the day the exams ended."

I could have skipped it.

But I’d promised.

And considering the money they kept sending me without complaint, the least I could do was make some effort to fix our relationship.

"Oh." Ryan scratched the back of his head. "Well... I guess that can’t be helped. Then let’s have the after-party again when Rin is free!"

"Yeah," I replied automatically. "We should."

...Wait.

Why we?

Couldn’t you just do it without me?

I didn’t bother saying that out loud.

---

After Rin left, the group lingered awkwardly for a moment.

Ryan, whose suddenly cleared schedule left him with nothing to do, was already thinking about heading off to train like usual.

That was, until—

"...I’m curious."

Everyone paused.

"Huh?" Ryan turned toward the voice.

It was Kiera.

She looked hesitant, but her eyes were bright with interest as she glanced in the direction Rin had gone.

"Rin," she said slowly, as if testing the words. "I’m kind of curious about what he’s like when he’s not with us."

The remark was abrupt, but it landed harder than expected.

"Aren’t you?" she added, looking around.

Leona, who had been adjusting her gloves, froze for half a second before scoffing. "What kind of question is that? He’s just... Rin."

"Is he?" Kiera tilted her head. "He always feels like he’s holding something back. Like there’s a version of him we never see."

Ryan frowned, arms crossing over his chest. "...Now that you mention it."

"Right?" Kiera nodded, encouraged. "Everyone here has secrets. Leon, you’re obvious. Ryan, you’re terrible at hiding yours. Even Professor Lena—"

"Hey," Leona interrupted. "Don’t lump me in like that."

"But Rin feels different," Kiera continued, unfazed. "It’s not just secrets. It’s like he’s walking around with a whole other life."

Ryan went quiet.

In the original story—or rather, in what should have been the original—Rin was just another student. Capable, sure, but nothing like this.

Leona clicked her tongue, looking away. "Maybe he just doesn’t trust us."

That stung more than she expected.

Kiera shook her head. "I don’t think that’s it. If anything, he trusts us too much."

Silence settled over the group.

Ryan exhaled, rubbing his face. "You know what’s scary?"

They looked at him.

"I don’t think Rin would ever ask us for help," he said quietly. "Even if he really needed it."

No one argued.

Somewhere far away, Rin was heading home, completely unaware that the people he’d just left behind were slowly realizing just how little they truly knew about him.

There was silence for after that short discussion.

And....

"Hey, should we follow him?"

Kiera said it with a light, teasing smile, as if she were only half-serious. Still, the suggestion made several people pause.

Leona was the first to frown. "Hey, even so, that’s crossing a line. Are you really suggesting we tail him without asking?"

Nora nodded immediately in agreement. "Leon’s right. That would be rude."

Ryen let out a small sigh and shook his head. "Exactly. Kiera, it’s fine to be curious, but think about how awkward it would be if we just showed up. Rin wouldn’t like that at all."

"...Ah. Yeah, when you put it that way," Kiera admitted, scratching her cheek.

"Better to stop here," someone else added quietly.

"Hmm?" Ryen tilted his head. "Leo?"

Leo, who had just joined them, folded his arms and spoke in a low voice. "He’s gotten a bit more lenient lately, sure—but it’s still better not to get involved when he’s with his family."

There was a brief silence.

Then Leona narrowed her eyes. "You’re talking like you know something."

Ironically, the comment had the opposite effect of what Leo probably intended. The moment he tried to shut things down, interest flared instead.

Leo clicked his tongue. "I know more than you do, at least. But it’s his business. I’m not going to spill details."

That did it.

Leona crossed her arms. "That’s basically an invitation to ask more."

Kiera leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Yeah, you can’t just say something like that and expect us to drop it."

Nora sighed, already looking tired. "Leo... if you wanted us to forget about it, you chose the worst possible way."

Ryen glanced between them, then gave Leo a helpless look. "You walked right into that one."

Leo grimaced. "I wasn’t trying to provoke anyone."

"Well, congratulations," Leona said dryly. "You failed."

Ryen laughed. "Relax. We’re not saying we’ll follow him. Just... now we’re curious."

Leo rubbed his temple. "...You people are impossible."

Despite his words, there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and that alone told them they weren’t letting this go anytime soon.

But it also provoked Leona further.

She was totally misunderstood things.

Not all but some of it.

Like for example, the way that Leo’s was taking it was as if ’I’m closer then the Rin then any of you here.’

It was bit childish but Leo truly believe that’s the truth since he knows him from there childhood.

...And Leona doesn’t like that one bit.