Even at the start of winter, the breeze was cool and the sunlight warm.

The sudden cold snap that had crouched over the city for days had melted away, as if it had never happened—a trick of the weather.

A quiet park under a clear, cloudless sky.

After getting a text last night, Mujin had put some thought into his appearance. He styled his buzz cut with care, tidied up his eyebrows, and topped it all off with a recently bought jacket—fashionable, but not flashy.

Just enough to seem effortless.

Better to look clean-cut than awkwardly overdone. He trusted the advice from that YouTuber who warned that trying too hard could come off as desperate.

“This should be good enough.”

At sixteen, Mujin stood at 185 cm and weighed a solid, well-balanced 78 kg. Even without loud styling, he believed his physique drew attention.

“Would’ve been better if it were summer, huh?”

Not like he could wear a short-sleeved T-shirt in the middle of winter.

He didn’t normally care about being noticed, but during summer, the attention had definitely been there. Whenever he held the handrail on the bus, girls would sneak glances at him.

Whenever college-aged women made subtle moves to brush against him, he’d politely respond that he was still in middle school.

When they said age didn’t matter, he wasn’t quite sure how to react.

“Same with Sunyoung, too...”

Thinking no one cares just because you’re young is a big mistake.

Whether you’re a kid or an adult, looks always matter.

If babies cried just from seeing your face, life was going to be rough

The promised time.

Mujin checked the heart rate on his smartwatch. A calm 50.

Arriving fifteen minutes early and waiting didn’t feel so bad.

She’s coming… huh?

It was a familiar face with an unfamiliar presence.

Mujin watched Jisoo walking toward him, puzzled.

“Something’s off.”

She looked exactly the same as she did two days ago—yet somehow, she felt like a completely different person.

Could a person’s entire aura change so drastically overnight? The thought crossed his mind.

“She’s made up her mind.”

It made sense.

Today would redefine their relationship.

For a teenage girl, this was a major turning point.

But still, it wasn’t just a shift in mood. Her mind-energy-body was nothing like it was two days ago.

Knowing what she’d achieved, even vaguely, didn’t quite explain it.

“Why does she suddenly remind me of the ajumma next door?”

Jisoo had always tried hard to appear flawless, but there were usually rough edges.

Today, though—she was composed. Not just mature—more like a seasoned veteran.

Part of him genuinely felt happy for her awakening.

“Man, I’m doomed too, huh.”

As Jisoo approached, his heart rate jumped to 53.

Beneath her calm exterior, he could feel her fierce determination.

Like someone setting out to save the world.

“I’m not that cold-hearted, you know.”

Mujin wasn’t heartless enough to ignore the pure (or at least, innocent-seeming) feelings of a young girl.

After everything they’d been through together…

He’d already mapped out a general life plan—and with Jisoo, a comfortable future was practically guaranteed.

Unlike before, when she’d act on impulse or spiral into emotional outbursts, today’s Jisoo was taking her time.

And honestly, this must’ve been hard for her.

He understood.

She’d been hiding her feelings all this time.

Hooo...

Jisoo took a deep breath in, then out—steadying her emotions.

With great effort, she finally opened her mouth to speak.

Her firm resolve and burning passion came through loud and clear.

“Come to the Academy with me!”

“…?”

“Be my comrade!”

“…?”

This was bad.

Really bad.