TRPM 41

chapter 41

It didn’t take very long to arrive at the training camp by bus.

At most, it was about 30 minutes to an hour.

But in that short time, the kids had already eaten up all the snacks they had brought.

Of course, the snacks in my bag were no exception.

‘Well, everyone on the bus shared their snacks, so it makes sense.’

Some kids had brought plenty, but others hadn’t brought any at all.

In our school, no one ostracized those who didn’t bring snacks, so everyone simply shared.

“Everyone, make sure to take your trash with you before getting off, okay?”
“Yes!”
“Okaaay!”

The teachers didn’t stop the kids either.

They probably expected the snacks to be gone before we arrived.

And so, we got off the bus and arrived at the training camp.

‘…A familiar view.’

It was the same camp I had visited before my regression.

I thought I’d end up at a different camp since I was attending a different school this time, but I guess I was wrong.

‘There was that event here where we had to use a map and compass to find the target spot.’

Orienteering, wasn’t it called?

When I was in elementary school, I remember finding it fun enough.

Well… since the terrain doesn’t change from year to year, by the time we were in middle and high school, all of us remembered the area to some extent, so it was basically just a running race.

As I was thinking about that, a few more buses pulled up next to ours.

They must’ve been from other schools.

“Kids! Grab your bags and follow your teacher!”

Our teachers quickly led us away before we got mixed up with the other schools’ students.

I wanted to check if the twins I knew were on one of those buses, but I’d have to save that for later.

We followed our teachers into the camp auditorium, where the staff greeted us.

“Teachers who just arrived, please seat your students in the chairs along the left rows. Teachers can take the seats in the back.”

With help from the teachers, the staff got us all seated.

Once we were settled, other schools’ teachers and students also filed into the auditorium in turn.

I turned in my seat to look at the newcomers entering.

‘…There they are.’

Among the sea of kids, I spotted two who stood out: a pair of identical children with snow-white hair.

The only difference was that one had long hair and the other had short hair—otherwise, they were completely identical.

‘Later on, they’ll grow to look different enough… but seeing them like this really makes it hit home that they’re twins.’

After confirming it was them, I turned back to my seat.

As glad as I was to see them again, to them, I was just a stranger.

So, I decided I’d be content with simply seeing them from afar.

“What’s up, Geon-woo? Do you see someone you know?”
“Huh? No, nothing like that.”

Sitting next to me, Lee Ha-eun tilted her head curiously.

She seemed to believe my lie.

“Geon-woo’s never lied to me before. Right, Sarang?”
“Woof!”
“……”

I felt a little guilty, but I kept my mouth shut.

Soon, what looked like the camp director came up to the stage and began explaining something.

Behind him, a big screen displayed details of the schedule and activities.

‘…No one’s paying attention.’

The kids, being kids, were restless and distracted.

The staff, having done this countless times before, weren’t paying attention either.

The teachers already knew most of the schedule beforehand, so they were more focused on keeping the kids under control than listening.

‘Kinda feel bad for the director now…’

Still, the director continued firmly, used to being ignored.

Even so, I couldn’t help thinking he’d be scarred by it.

At least I could sit properly and pretend to listen, for his sake.

“After dinner, there will be a recreation program…”

I sat up straight, but honestly, even I wasn’t absorbing his words.

It almost felt like he was using some kind of anti-focus magic.

“…That concludes the opening ceremony. Teachers, please assist the staff with assigning rooms.”

‘Ah.’

Before I knew it, the ceremony was over.

The room assignments weren’t like two-person or four-person rooms.

“Fourth graders, your rooms are here and here. This one’s for the boys, and this one’s for the girls. Got it? Drop off your bags and come back out.”

It was closer to 10–15 kids per room.

Which meant the nights were going to be noisy.

After the room assignments, we went through safety instructions and a bit of sex education.

Important stuff, sure—but honestly, boring.

It felt like every school event always included those same lectures.

Later, when we were older and at the academy, they’d probably add stuff like “drink responsibly” and “don’t force others to drink.”

By the time that dull lecture ended, it was already lunchtime.

But a lot of kids barely ate or left food on their plates.

‘…Called it.’

Obviously.

After stuffing themselves with snacks on the bus, no one had an appetite.

And it wasn’t just our school—it was the same with the other schools too.

I quickly finished my meal and left the cafeteria.

We had some free time, and we were allowed to either rest in our rooms or walk around, so I chose to stroll a bit.

“Geon-woo! Wait for me!”

Of course, Lee Ha-eun didn’t let me wander alone.

We walked around the playground together, killing time, when—

“Geon-woo, look at that girl’s hair.”
“Hm?”

I followed Ha-eun’s gaze.

There on a bench, basking in the sun, was a girl with white hair.

…The female twin, my old friend before regression.

Ha-eun seemed intrigued by her unusual hair.

“She must’ve dyed it.”
“…Not dyed. It probably changed color when she awakened.”

Rare, but it happens.

Most awakeners—including me, Ha-eun, and Yeon Mi-rae—kept our natural black or dark-brown hair.

But some awakeners’ hair changed color upon awakening.

There were even cases where native Koreans ended up blonde and got mistaken for foreigners.

The twins fell into that category.

‘If I remember right, they got subtly ostracized because of it…’

Humans tend to reject what’s different.

Kids were no exception.

So twins with hair unlike everyone else’s were inevitably pushed to the side.

Not bullied outright, but still isolated.

As they grew older, their classmates would’ve learned better and slowly accepted them, but the wall never completely disappeared.

‘It’s not something I can fix anyway.’

I’d only be around for a couple of days.

Even if I tried to help, what could I really do?

It’d be nothing more than false hope.

“What are you doing here all alone?”
“Huh?”
“……”

But Ha-eun wasn’t the type to overthink.

Considering her age, it was natural to just act on impulse.

Before I knew it, she was already walking over to the white-haired girl and talking to her.

The white-haired girl, Ryu Ah-young, hadn’t wanted to come to camp at all.

Her days at school were filled with boring classes and lonely breaks.

Just because her surroundings changed didn’t mean her life would suddenly improve.

If anything, it felt like it would be worse.

‘…I have to spend a night with my classmates without Mom and Dad around….’

She’d even tried hiding the permission slip, but it didn’t work.

Her parents found out after seeing her twin brother Ryu Ah-min’s form.

‘Ah-min made friends quickly playing soccer… so for him, camp is fun.’

But not for her.

Though she appeared to sit with the girls and “fit in,” there was an invisible wall.

The others chatted amongst themselves, while she stayed silent.

At lunch, they sat together at the same table, but she still ate quietly while they laughed and gossiped.

It was no different from school.

So, she finished eating early and left the cafeteria alone.

“Sigh…”

A deep sigh escaped the lips of a fourth grader who seemed far too weary for her age.

She sat idly, staring into space, waiting for time to pass.

Just endure. It’s no different from school. All I need to do is quietly get through the camp schedule.

‘The night will be the hardest, but I just have to fall asleep….’

She was lost in such gloomy thoughts when—

“What are you doing here all alone?”
“Huh?”

A voice snapped her out of it.

It belonged to a girl who had approached her.

And in that moment, neither Ryu Ah-young, nor Lee Ha-eun who had spoken to her, nor even Han Geon-woo, watching from behind, had the faintest idea—

That this meeting would become a turning point in Ryu Ah-young’s life.