It was through this steady, relentless accumulation that Aurora had reached her current achievements.

That was why she never allowed herself a moment of slack.

And Megan, on her end, knew Aurora’s habits all too well.

The fact that she hadn’t replied for so long could only mean one thing–she was deep in her exercises. Nothing else would explain it.

Over the years, they had come to understand each other inside and out.

If something was wrong, either of them could sense it in an instant.

But now, no one could reach Aurora.

Megan was practically pacing in her dorm, restless and uneasy.

She stood by the window, staring at the sky that had turned completely overcast, and her heart sank.

Not long ago, the sky didn’t look like this at all.

How had it changed so drastically in such a short time?

She glanced at her phone again.

There was no reply from Aurora.

It was only 1 PM.

Was this really normal?

Was this truly just a sign of incoming rain?

Megan pressed her hands together and clasped them to her chest, murmuring a quiet prayer.

“Please, let this be nothing more than a rainy day, not a disaster.”

“Please keep my Aurora safe. Let there be no accidents.”

“Dear gods, all of you, please protect my precious best friend.”

Seeing Megan so panicked, the others in the room couldn’t help feeling a knot form in their chests too.

But letting her run out now would be sending her straight into danger.

They couldn’t bring themselves to watch Megan–the bright, cheerful soul of their group–be dragged into something like this.

After all, this was a life they were talking about.

At that moment, Aurora stood silently beside Megan, watching her pray with such desperation.

Only now did she realize that she had truly misunderstood Megan back then.

She’d thought Megan had stood her up on purpose the day the accident happened.

She had even thought Megan had already left the dorm that day–just too afraid to go to the auditorium.

After being pulled from the rubble, the first face Aurora saw was Megan’s.

Back then, Megan was crying uncontrollably, tears and snot running down her face, looking utterly devastated.

Aurora had opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the guilt on Megan’s face, she swallowed her words.

From that moment on, she never brought it up again.

She truly believed Megan had gotten out and just didn’t dare come find her.

Only now did she learn the truth.

Megan hadn’t even had the chance to leave the dorm.

Now, standing beside her as little more than a soul, Aurora couldn’t help but sigh.

Time really did fly like running water.

It felt like she had done nothing at all, yet everything had already come and gone.

This misunderstanding had stayed lodged in her heart for years, a silent weight.

But now, things were different.

Now that the truth was clear, the weight lifted.

Just knowing she had been wrong–knowing Megan hadn’t abandoned her–made everything easier to bear.

As the others saw Megan praying so earnestly, they began to comfort her.

“Alright, don’t be too worried.”

“Yeah, you sent the messages–your best friend will see them.”

“Exactly. In this day and age, no one’s clueless. She knows what to do and what not to do.”

Hearing all their voices chiming in, Megan felt a little more at ease.

No matter what, they were right.