The auditorium buzzed with confused murmurs.
Everyone was restless, from where they stood.
"For our students," he announced, "we've invited some special guests who came here just for you."
The reaction was instant.
Most of the students especially the girls froze, then erupted.
Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they anticipated, eyes wide, mouths hanging open.
"Hey, hey it's 100% happening!"
"Oh my god, oh my god, what do we do?!"
"Wait don't tell me it's idols?!"
"Shut up! If it's idols, I'm fainting!"
"My heart's racing…!Who do you think it is?!"
Hong Aera's smile stretched impossibly wide.
Hehehe… it's already too late for you all. I'm taking the VIP spot!
Excitement rippled through the entire auditorium.
Meanwhile, I chuckled to myself, already knowing what this "gift" really was.
I can't believe how thoughtful the school is toward the students hahaha.
Suwon's jaw dropped. "No way… celebs actually came."
Park Dong frowned, disbelief written all over his face.
There was no way this trash school would do something like this.
"What the…?"
Over by Seol Hyo-rim's group.
Jinkyung whispered, "Does our school even do stuff like this?"
Seol Hyo-rim stare at the stage. "No way… right?"
Irina leaned forward, eyes locked on the stage. "Then who is it??"
The disciplinary teacher turned his head toward the side of the stage.
"Alright," he said calmly, "please come out."
At once, every student's attention snapped in that direction.
Ten figures stepped out, striding confidently into the spotlight.
Their hair was perfectly styled dyed in every color imaginable.
Under the stage lights, it shimmered.
Their outfits were just as striking, polished and dazzling in a way that screamed idols.
Hong Aera's eyes went wide.
That' Susi…
the one I saw on music shows right in front of me..?!
Her heart pounded as she stared, cheeks flushing.
With that dazzling appearance and flashy outfit on stage looking absolutely stunning singing while holding hair trimmer in one hand...
Her thoughts screeched to a halt.
…hair trimmer?
She blinked.
Every student has the same realization rippled through the auditorium.
Why hair trimmers?
The disciplinary teacher's voice cut back in, perfectly timed.
"Since it seems our students don't have the time or the money to go to salons," he said, tone maddeningly reasonable, "we've invited trainee hairstylists to help the students of Sangji High."
Murmurs broke out immediately.
"Let's tidy up your appearances before the new semester," he continued, a thin smile forming, "and start the second semester properly."
The disciplinary teacher rested his elbow casually on the podium, the microphone still raised close to his mouth.
Behind him, the ten hairstylists stood in a neat line, scissors and trimmers glinting under the stage lights.
"Alright," he said flatly, voice echoing through the auditorium."Homeroom teachers bring up any students with long hair."
Silence followed.
Every student had the same thought at once.
..Crazy school!
Then, one by one, teachers began calling out names.
Students stiffened in where they stood, some instinctively reaching up to touch their hair, others shrinking back as if that might make them invisible.
Groans, gasps, and nervous laughter rippled through the packed auditorium as the unlucky students trudged toward the stage, each step heavier than the last.
Unlucky students who was in front was called first.
"You heard him, you punks. Get up there, Fast!"
A stylist draped a white cover over his body.
Well, There are a lot of us…
the student thought desperately.They'll probably just trim it a little and let us go… right?
The hairstylist leaned in with a polite smile."How would you like it?"
"Uh…" The student swallowed. "What styles are there?"
The stylist lifted the scissors, grin widening."Sport cut," she said brightly. "Or a 6-millimeter buzz cut. You've gotta pick one."
I hate both!!
At the very front, Hong Aera stared blankly at the stage.
What about Susi…?
Where's High School of Rock…?
They're not here?
Her chest sank, hope shattering piece by piece.
No way… they wouldn't go this far just for hair inspections. Any second now, Susi will suddenly step forward and say "Surprise!" and-
BZZZZZT.
The sharp, merciless sound of a hair trimmer ripped through the auditorium.
A thick clump of hair slid down the student's face and onto the floor.
A perfectly straight, brutally clean strip carved right down the middle of his head.
His eyes were lifeless, mouth hanging open, a thin line of drool slipping past his lips.
"Th-they really cut it!!!"
"They cleared a whole highway on his head!"
Yoon Seojin stared stunned chuckle in disbelief.…This is ridiculous and this was allowed in this year..?
From the back, Im Yongjin burst into hysterical laughter, tears streaming from his eyes."PWAHAHAHA this school is completely insane!!"
Beside him, Kang Hyuk watched in pure dread, face pale."Ah… please… no…"
Our homeroom teacher didn't hesitate.
"Yoon Seojin, step up. You two Park Dong, Jisuwon. Get in line."
…Shiiiit.
At other side Inseop was no exception.
"And Kim Inseop, of course you're getting your haircut."
"What?!"
Inseop's voice cracked. "You're kidding, right?!"
That was the breaking point.
"We have to run!!"
The auditorium exploded.
"Is this even a school?!"
"We have human rights too!!"
"I'm reporting this!"
"Teacher, how can you do this to us?!"
"Traitor!!"
Teachers at the front the front, faces tight with panic.
"Hey hey! Quiet down!" someone shouted, barely heard over the noise.
"I'm telling my parents everything!!"
At the very front, Hong Aera spun around and bolted.
First I just need to get away!!
If I get caught, it's 3 centimeters under the ear…!!
She barely took two steps.
A hand yanked her hair back.
"AAAAH!!"
The grip loosened for a split second. Aera stumbled, then turned
Her blood ran cold.…Buchae-kkol…!!
"Where do you think you're going?" he snarled. "You're the punk who was smoking earlier, right?"
He grabbed her wrist, crushing tight."You're caught. Haircut first then straight to the no-smoking guidance office."
"T-Teacher !" Aera panicked. "I'll go to a salon today! I swear! I'll cut it myself !"
As he dragged her forward, her eyes caught the stage.
A student was sobbing in the chair, hair hacked unevenly barely past the ears.
Desperation flooded her chest.
"I swear I'll cut it myself!! Really!! Let go of me fuc-"
Buchae-kkol's eyes hardened.
He released her wrist and grabbed a fistful of hair at the top of her head.
"What a rude little punk."
"KYYYYAAAK!!"
The students look at this in disbelief.
Someone flipped open a phone.
"I-I'm recording this!"
"Isn't this going way too far?!"
Suddenly, a hand shot out.
It clamped firmly around Buchae-kkol's wrist the same hand that had been gripping Hong Aera's hair.
The grip was steady. Unyielding.
A figure stepped forward, placing himself in front of her, blocking the teacher from view.
"Let's stop this, shall we?"
Hong Aera staggered back, chest heaving.
She looked up at his back, eyes wide noticing the distinct back hair.
…Sseuri-hyung?
He stood there calmly, shoulders relaxed, gaze level as he faced the disciplinary teacher without a trace of fear.
"If you're going to cut someone's hair, cut mine first."
"It's longer than most of the girls' anyway."
Sseuri-hyung didn't back down.
"What are you doing?" he scoffed, stepping forward. "I told you start with me."
He lifted his chin, eyes locked onto Buchae-kkol in an unyielding stare.
"For your reference," he added calmly, "I've got the longest hair among the boys in this school."
That did it.
Buchae-kkol snapped.
He snatched the scissors straight out of a stylist's hand."Hey those are my!"
"You've lost your mind, huh?" Buchae-kkol barked. "Fine then."
He clicked the scissors a few times, testing the blades.
"Since you're asking for it… I'll give your head some special treatment myself."
Then he lunged.
Snip.
A thick lock of Sseuri-hyung's hair fell to the floor.