Reluctant Hero ✔️

Twenty-Six

"Hanni?"

"Yeah Minji?"

The bear twiddled with her thumbs, Hanni glancing up from her study guide when Minji didn't answer right away.

"What's wrong?"

It was night time and Hanni had decided to stay a little later for some extra help, Hyein back in their shared room after her hang out with her friends while Danielle and Haerin were in the Australian girl's room after coming back home.

The maknae glanced up from her homework from their small talk, seeing that her older sister was a bit troubled.

"Do you want to spend the night tonight? I understand if it's too last minute or if you don't want to, though."

"Oh uh- sure! Since my parents are back I'd have to ask them but I'm sure they'll say yes."

Hanni's confusion turned into a cute grin as she tugged at Minji's bear hood.

"Awee, is that why you looked so troubled? You wanted me to stay the night?"

"Yeah..."

Hyein furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at Minji, the older girl avoiding her gaze.

"HANNI WHAT THE HELL IS ALL THIS."

The trio jumped from the sudden loud yell down the hall, the Vietnamese girl snickering.

"I think Haerin found the pictures I took on her phone."

Hanni stood up after giving Minji a quick kiss, "I'll be right back."

"Don't let Haerin-unnie kill you."

"She won't~ ... At least not with Dani around."

The siblings watched as Hanni left, Hyein immediately turning back to Minji when she heard the older girl talking to the cat.

"What's wrong unnie?"

"..."

"... Unnie?"

"Two weeks have already passed."

Minji gazed up at Hyein with a weak smile, "tonight's the night."

'Oh.'

Hyein's concern melted into a frown, "is that why you're wearing that?"

"... Yes."

Minji glanced out the open door to make sure Hanni wasn't coming in before looking away.

"I've been thinking about it the whole day."

She rubbed at her palm, "is it selfish of me to be with her until the end? Even if she has to feel me disappear?"

The first few times, when her death caught her off guard, Impa was in the same room as Purah.

But as time went on, she began to isolate herself when she knew her time would come.

She would die alone.

Minji didn't seem to want isolation this time.

She didn't want to be alone.

But in the end, she would always disappear into particles of light when the clock struck twelve of the fourteenth night after the evil had been sealed.

This time, Hanni would wake up with an empty onesie next to her.

"Are you going to tell her? Or Dani-unnie and Haerin-unnie?"

Minji shook her head, hanging it low, "I don't think I can."

'If I have to go... I want them to treat me like normal up until the end.'