In those days, Shinpo High School was known as a very prestigious institution. Many adults believed that if someone could get into Shinpo High, the path to a top university in Seoul would be wide open.
Even though the school's popularity wasn't as high as it once was, the rate at which its students got into renowned universities was still quite impressive. Shinpo was famous for its high-achieving students, but it was also known as a school that focused solely on academics.
As Ryu Ji-ho stood frozen in the middle of the schoolyard, Hwang Jae-jung approached and spoke to him.
"What are you looking at?" he asked.
"I'm feeling nostalgic, Jae-jung," replied Ryu Ji-ho with a deep sigh.
"Oh, come on, why are you talking like an old man?" Jae-jung chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm heading to the broadcast room first. After the first lesson, let's meet in the cafeteria," Ryu Ji-ho said as he walked away.
Ryu Ji-ho walked across the schoolyard with a light step, almost like he was skipping.
"That's strange, he's not usually like this," Jae-jung muttered, furrowing his brow.
The Ryu Ji-ho he knew was a quiet person, not the type to be so cheerful and energetic. Jae-jung felt he needed to have a more serious talk with Ryu Ji-ho at lunchtime to figure out what was really going on.
Ryu Ji-ho made his way through the main hall of the school building, where various trophies and flags were proudly displayed, then climbed the grand staircase. On either side of him were the teacher's room and the administrative office, with the broadcast room nestled between them.
"Hmm…" Ryu Ji-ho took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his racing heart. Carefully, he opened the door to the broadcast room.
The sight of the broadcast room and the people he had missed stretched out before him. In the center of the room was a conference table, and on one side, there was a large audio mixer separated by a glass window, as well as a soundproof studio. Along one wall, a row of cabinets lined up, used for storing various broadcasting equipment.
As soon as he entered, Ryu Ji-ho greeted everyone in a loud voice, "Good morning!"
"You're here early," a senior responded.
"Welcome," added another.
A few seniors and his classmates greeted him warmly. Some of the second-year students seemed to be checking their class schedules in the cabinets and putting books into their bags. The cabinets were originally designed to store broadcasting equipment, but the members of the broadcasting club had cleared out some of them to use as personal lockers. Only on inspection days were the cabinets returned to their original state, and the school never imposed any penalties. Back then, students didn't have personal lockers, so having a place to store personal belongings at school was something many desired.
Because of this, troublemaking students often asked the broadcasting club to store their cigarettes or adult magazines. However, the broadcasting club always refused such requests. For some of the club's alumni, the broadcast room was considered a sacred space that should not be defiled.
To Ryu Ji-ho, the seniors in the club sometimes seemed to think of themselves as a little above everyone else.
"At the end of the day, it's just another club room, a place where we don't have to worry about the teachers and can do as we please," thought Ryu Ji-ho.
For Ryu Ji-ho, his memories as a member of the broadcasting club were precious. However, the broadcast room itself wasn't all that important to him.
****
"Good morning!"
The first-year students bowed deeply, nearly at right angles, to the seniors who had just emerged from the broadcasting room. The Broadcasting Club at Sinpo High School was an organization held in the highest regard, known for its strong traditions and strict discipline. Behind its esteemed reputation, there were hard and unspoken rules that all members had to follow.
First-year students were required to undergo an extremely rigorous training period that lasted a whole year. Every single day, they were responsible for their cleanliness, polishing the broadcasting equipment until it gleamed, ensuring not a single speck of dust remained—much like working in a flawlessly clean electronics store!
Even worse, if their test scores fell, they were subject to what was ominously called 'score strikes'—physical punishment that corresponded to the number of ranks they dropped. Ryu Ji-ho, before he traveled back in time, had always been busy goofing off with his four friends, so his grades fell more often than they rose. Whenever report cards were handed out, he was the one who received more blows than any of his classmates.
"Hey, everyone!"
His voice sounded cheerful as if bubbling over with joy. In any friendship, no matter how close, if you don't see each other often, the bond can weaken. Ryu Ji-ho, who had been preoccupied with chasing a career in the film industry, had unwittingly drifted away from his friends in the broadcasting club. He remembered trying to secure investors for a film in an embarrassingly desperate way, only to be bluntly rejected. He also recalled how he avoided club meetings, feeling burdened by membership fees and pretending to be busy. Now, he regretted all of that deeply, feeling immense guilt for having distanced himself from his broadcasting club friends simply because he felt he had nothing to offer.
"Guys, it's been so long since we last met," he said, his voice carrying a tone of half-apology.
"What do you mean 'so long' ? We see each other every day," Choi Wonseok replied incredulously. Choi Wonseok, who saw himself and was seen by others as the cool kid of the broadcasting club, couldn't help but chuckle. Although he wasn't a troublemaker by any means, he paid great attention to his hair and clothing. Whenever a new product from a famous brand was released, he had to have it. Choi Wonseok was the only student at Sinpo High wearing the latest trend: snow jeans.
"Today too, let's not make the seniors angry and do our best," he said with a wide grin.
"What do you mean?" Park Sang-Eun, the head of the broadcasting club, looked at Ryu Ji-ho with a puzzled expression. He was a friend who was incredibly responsible, always prioritizing the activities of the broadcasting club above all else. His friendly personality made him popular, both within the broadcasting club and among his classmates.
"I'm just saying, let's do our best... Why is that strange?" Ryu Ji-ho felt confused by his friends' reactions.
Kim Seok-min gave Ryu Ji-ho a look that seemed to dissect him with an amused yet derisive expression. "That's not like you," he said coolly.
Kim Seokmin was a student who had entered Sinpo High with the highest ranking. His cold demeanor and condescending tone often made people misunderstand him. Because of his cynical nature, many people felt uncomfortable around him unless they got to know him well.
"What do you mean, 'not like me'?" Ryu Ji-ho asked, slightly offended.
"Are you asking because you don't know?" Kim Seokmin raised an eyebrow, as if it was unbelievable that someone could be so unaware of themselves.
"....?"
"You're the quiet type like you're there but you're not."
"Heh! Why would you say I have no presence?" Ryu Ji-ho felt a pang hearing those words like an arrow shot straight to his heart. After graduating, many of his classmates didn't even know Ryu Ji-ho was a member of the broadcasting club. He was the kind of student who was very average, the type you could find anywhere. He mostly hung out with his four friends and was somewhat isolated as an outsider. Outside of school, he half-pretended to be a bit of a rebel. Because his friends had such strong personalities, the otherwise unremarkable Ryu Ji-ho often came across as a delinquent, too.
Lee Cheol-woong, who was tan and short, chimed in. "Look! You usually never get angry."
"Hey! I'm at least a head taller than you. Why do you say I have no presence?" Ryu Ji-ho retorted, sounding indignant.
"What good is being tall if you're as skinny as a dried fish? You sardine head," Lee Cheol-woong teased with a laugh.
Lee Cheol-woong was incredibly athletic. Despite his small stature, he was very good at basketball, to the point where the basketball club often invited him to join. However, because of the senior members' rule that forbade activities outside of broadcasting club events, he was always complaining about not being able to play basketball or soccer, which he loved.
Ryu Ji-ho could only muster a rueful smile. He realized just how much these friends meant to him, how colorful his days were with them. Even though they sometimes teased him mercilessly, he knew they cared about him. And here, in this small but warm broadcasting club, Ryu Ji-ho felt he had found his true place.