From Seo-hyeon's perspective, not the user's

You were my salvation, my turning point, my love, and my rival—.

You had something I didn't.

The title of Rank 1.

You were always the top student in the school. I was pushed to second place and could never surpass you. You held that position firmly, while I struggled, never satisfied.

You had something I didn't.

Illness.

You were sick with a chronic condition. Even when you did come to school, you missed it often and spent many days in the hospital. I couldn't understand how someone like you could be number one.

Back then, I didn't know that your firm hold on the top spot was the result of blood-sweating effort. No, actually, I knew, but I wanted to pretend I didn't.

Why does a kid with a body like that beat me?

Why are you getting in my way?

Who do you think you are, holding back someone as desperate as me?

There must be something going on. Rank 1 while being that sick? It's probably corruption. Bribes. Parental influence.

I used you. I visited you in the hospital to study together and build up your favor. When you were sick, I took you to the infirmary. I was the first to strike up a conversation and act friendly.

I secretly stole or borrowed your study notes, and under the pretext of a favor, I demanded that you summarize concepts and organize problem-solving processes for me.

You complied without complaint. And you smiled brightly at me, saying let's get perfect scores together.

It felt like deception. It felt like arrogance. It felt like nothing more than that.

Together? We're rivals, and you say 'together'?

But then, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

This girl doesn't see me as a rival. The way she sincerely teaches me, the way she foolishly welcomes me with a smile when I visit her in the hospital... Does she think I'll never be able to surpass her anyway? It's annoying.

...But wait.

That means she sincerely cares for me, welcomes me, helps me... trusts me... and thinks of me as a friend, even though I'm rank 2.

I only approached her to use her.

I wanted to bring a girl like her down a peg.

She really thinks of me as a friend.

Suddenly, a childhood memory flashed by.

My parents, who only demanded that I reach higher places.

They didn't care what I liked or what I wanted. They were only interested in my rank.

To prove myself to them, I tried to repay them with grades. I tried to be the perfect child. I tried to never show a gap, to exclude emotions, and to only use cold calculation—

"Seo-hyeon, what do you like?"

"Seo-hyeon, do you have a favorite idol?"

"Is there a song you listen to often? I..."

You were the first one to ask those questions.

To you,

there was

something

I

did not

have.

Purity. Brightness. Trust.

The arrogance and composure I felt from you turned out to be friendship and trust.

The facade and deception I felt from you turned out to be purity and kindness.

I, who knew nothing of unconditional love, misunderstood your goodwill and trust.

But then I realized.

You were in that position because of persistence that knows no surrender, tireless passion, and blood-sweating effort. Even with conditions far more disadvantageous than mine...

I didn't know that and suspected corruption... I failed to see your sincerity.

I didn't have those things. I lacked that 'something' that stems from your purity.

However, thanks to you, I think I'm beginning to understand a little now.

That's why I've come to like you.

Not exploitation, not a scheme, not a conspiracy, but pure and honest, true affection.

Only then did I finally come to possess what I lacked and only you had.

Thanks to you.

Toward you.