The morning sun spilled through Jin's window like it had good news to share.
For the first time in years, he wasn't dreading the day.
He blinked at the clock — 7:05 a.m. — and actually smiled.
Smiled.
Who was he?
He jumped out of bed, threw on his uniform, and even combed his hair properly this time. The mirror caught his reflection again: crisp uniform, tidy tie, bright eyes.
"Look at you," he muttered with a grin. "Almost looks like you have your life together."
His stomach growled. "Almost."
A quick breakfast later, Jin slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped out into the crisp morning air. His steps felt lighter, the world a little less heavy.
---
When he reached **Haneul Academy**, he didn't freeze this time.
He walked through the gates like he belonged there — because somehow, he did now.
"JIN! OVER HERE!"
The shout made him flinch — then laugh.
Minho was waving both arms like he was signaling aircraft. Beside him stood Taeyang, Hana, Yuri, Mina… and Soojin, her smile bright in the morning light.
"You actually came early," Minho said, pretending to faint dramatically.
"I'm not *that* lazy," Jin protested.
"Yeah, you just have that *I'd rather be asleep* energy," Mina teased.
Soojin giggled softly. "Don't bully him already, it's only morning."
"See?" Jin said proudly. "Someone's on my side."
Taeyang leaned toward Minho. "Bro, he already has *protection from the goddess.* We're doomed."
The group laughed as they walked to class together, filling the hallway with chatter. Jin couldn't help but notice — the stares were still there, the whispers still followed, but it didn't bother him anymore.
Not when he had *this.*
---
The morning classes passed in a blur of doodles, whispered jokes, and bad puns.
During literature, Mina got caught texting and blamed Taeyang.
"Miss, he forced me to send it!"
Taeyang blinked. "What—how does someone *force* you to text a heart emoji?"
Even the teacher couldn't help but laugh.
"Taeyang, I'm marking you down for 'criminal charm'."
By the third period, the class was a comedy club.
Every time Jin spoke, someone had a comment ready.
Hana whispered, "Ramen King speaks again," and Soojin had to cover her mouth to stop giggling.
It felt… normal.
*Good* kind of normal.
---
At lunch, they gathered at their usual table — though now it was unofficially "their" table because nobody dared challenge a squad with Soojin *and* Taeyang in it.
Minho slammed his tray down dramatically. "Attention! I have discovered that our Jin is secretly famous."
Jin blinked. "What?"
"He's trending in the class group chat," Mina said, scrolling her phone. "'Mysterious Handsome Transfer Guy Who Knows The Goddess.'"
"WHO names these groups?!" Jin groaned.
"Probably Taeyang," Hana said.
"Hey, I make art," Taeyang said with pride.
"Art?" Yuri raised a brow. "Your last meme was a stick figure labeled 'me after failing math.'"
"And it spoke to the people," Taeyang replied solemnly.
Soojin laughed so hard she nearly dropped her spoon. Jin handed her a napkin, their fingers brushing for a second.
Just a second — but it was enough for both their hearts to skip.
"Thanks," she said softly.
He smiled awkwardly. "Anytime."
Their friends noticed the silence, then immediately ruined the moment.
"Ooooooh," Mina sang.
"Romantic lunch alert," Minho added.
Jin buried his face in his food. "Can we *not*?"
"No promises," Hana said, smirking.
---
After lunch came **P.E.**, which started like every other gym class — loud, chaotic, and full of excuses.
"I can't run; I had spicy ramen," Mina whined.
"I can't run; I have emotional trauma," Minho added.
The coach sighed. "Everyone *will* run, or I'm running you twice."
They lined up on the basketball court. Taeyang was already spinning a ball on his finger.
"Tryouts for the school team today," he said, winking. "You joining, Jin?"
"Me?" Jin blinked. "I'm… not that good."
"Then prove it," Minho said, pushing him forward.
The coach tossed Jin a ball. "Let's see what you've got, new kid."
He hesitated, took a breath, and dribbled.
Something clicked — like muscle memory he didn't know he had.
He dashed past a defender, leapt, and sank a perfect three-pointer.
The court went silent for a second — then exploded.
"WHAT—DID YOU SEE THAT?"
"Bro didn't just shoot, he *floated!*"
Even Taeyang's jaw dropped. "...Okay, maybe you can join."
Jin scratched his head, embarrassed. "Uh, lucky shot?"
"No," Soojin said, smiling proudly from the sidelines. "That was amazing."
He blushed so hard Minho started fanning him with a towel. "Calm down, Romeo."
The rest of P.E. turned into a blur of laughter — Taeyang trying to dunk and missing spectacularly, Mina tripping over the ball and declaring she was "too pretty for sports," and Soojin cheering way too enthusiastically every time Jin scored.
By the time the bell rang, everyone was sweaty, exhausted, and happy.
---
After school, no one wanted to go home yet.
"Let's hang out!" Mina declared.
"Arcade?" Minho suggested.
"Food first," Hana said. "I'm starving."
Yuri nodded. "Finally something we all agree on."
They ended up at a street stall near the academy — the smell of tteokbokki and fried dumplings filling the air.
Soojin's eyes widened. "You guys eat *here?*"
"Yeah," Minho said. "Don't tell me you've never had street food?"
"I have!" she said too quickly — then took a bite of fish cake and instantly burned her tongue. "H-hot! Hot!!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Mina handed her a drink. "You're adorable when you panic."
"I wasn't panicking," Soojin insisted, fanning her mouth.
"Sure," Jin teased softly. "You looked like a dragon mid-fire."
She glared — then giggled. "I'll get you back for that."
They played games at the arcade after — Taeyang and Minho competing in dance battles (and losing miserably), Mina taking over the claw machine, Yuri secretly dominating every shooting game, and Soojin cheering for Jin during air hockey like it was a world championship.
By sunset, their sides hurt from laughing.
For Jin, every second felt surreal — laughter echoing, lights flashing, Soojin smiling beside him.
He hadn't felt this alive in years.
---
When they finally reached the school gate again, it was already dusk.
The sky was painted gold and purple, the air filled with the faint buzz of cicadas.
The familiar Rolls-Royce waited again.
The driver bowed. "Miss Soojin, your father requests you return soon."
Soojin nodded, a little reluctantly. "Alright."
The others whistled playfully.
"Guess our rich girl has a curfew," Minho teased.
Soojin rolled her eyes. "It's called *responsibility*."
"Fancy word for 'strict dad,'" Mina said.
Even Soojin laughed.
Before getting in, she turned to Jin.
"Today was really fun," she said softly. "Thanks for… just being you."
He blinked. "Me? I didn't do anything."
"You did enough," she smiled.
The car drove off, leaving a trail of soft silence behind.
Minho grinned. "You lucky, lucky man."
"It's not like that," Jin said — but his smile said otherwise.
The group slowly dispersed, waving goodnight one by one.
When Jin was finally alone, walking home under the orange streetlights, he let out a long breath.
The laughter still echoed in his head — Mina's chaotic energy, Minho's dumb jokes, Soojin's bright laugh.
It all felt… warm. Real. Like he'd finally found something worth holding on to.
Then —
*diiiiing.*
A faint blue shimmer flickered in front of him.
**[System Notification]**
`Gate Cooldown: Complete. Entry Unlocked.`
Jin froze. The glow reflected in his wide eyes.
The portal symbol pulsed faintly before vanishing into the night.
His heart raced — excitement, fear, curiosity all at once.
*The Gate's open again…*
He looked at his hands — still trembling from laughter moments ago, now shaking from something else entirely.
"Guess… the next chapter starts now," he whispered.
He smiled faintly — not afraid this time.
And under the fading sunset, Jin walked on.