Lee Cheol-Woong was widely recognized for his incredible talent in sports. Despite his small stature, his skills on the basketball court made him a sought-after player for various basketball clubs. However, there was one thing that got on his nerves his seniors at the club had forbidden him from joining any other club activities. This restriction meant he couldn't play basketball or soccer, the two sports he loved the most.
"Stop being so grumpy this early in the morning. The ceremony is about to start," Park Sang-eun reminded him as she walked out of the broadcast room.
"By the way, which class am I in?" Park Sang-eun asked before leaving.
"Class 5," Lee Cheol-Woong replied tersely.
"Thanks for the info."
After Park Sang-eun left, Ryu Ji-ho, now alone in the broadcast room, opened his locker, trying to remember something.
"Ugh! What is that smell?" he muttered.
Was it the odor of mold or something rotten? A foul stench that was hard to identify suddenly wafted into his nose. The small broadcast room was filled with lockers crammed with sports uniforms and judo outfits that had never been washed—hand-me-downs from seniors who had already graduated. Anyone could use those clothes as long as they fit, and no one made a fuss about it. These lockers also became storage spaces for textbooks and reference materials left behind by the older students.
"When was the last time I washed these clothes?" Ryu Ji-ho thought to himself.
In the past, Ryu Ji-ho never cared about the clothes in his locker. His basement room at home was practically a dump toward the end of his life. He was too lazy and indifferent. But now, there was a sudden urge within him to clean those clothes. Would he really do it? Only time will tell.
Eventually, Ryu Ji-ho left the broadcast room and headed to Class 5, following the directions he'd been given.
"Creak!"
He pushed open the back door and stepped inside the classroom. The white and gray color scheme dominated the room, giving it a prison-like atmosphere. Fifty-nine boys sat crammed together at their desks. This morning's class was mandatory for all members of the sports clubs, including the badminton club members.
Honestly, Ryu Ji-ho didn't remember who the badminton club members were. He couldn't even recall where his seat was. Scanning the room, he spotted an empty chair in the middle of the second row. Calmly, Ryu Ji-ho walked over to the chair and sat down. Since broadcast club members usually arrived late to class, it was likely that the empty seat belonged to him.
His deskmate was a chubby boy with glasses. Beneath the school badge on his uniform, a plastic name tag read "Kang Yong-seok." Ryu Ji-ho recalled that Kang Yong-seok was known for being a fun-loving guy. He was friendly and easygoing, equally at home with the studious kids as he was with the ones who took school less seriously. His social skills were almost a talent in their own right. From a young age, he had been adept at adapting to various social situations.
"Yong-seok," Ryu Ji-Ho called out softly.
"Hm?" Kang Yong-seok turned around, slightly taken aback. It wasn't every day that Ryu Ji-Ho initiated a conversation. In fact, he was known for his quiet demeanor, often keeping to himself. Hearing Ji-Ho call his name first was unusual, to say the least.
Without warning, Ryu Ji-Ho leaned in closer, his face drawing near to Yong-seok's, and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of his clothes.
"What are you doing?" Yong-seok exclaimed, startled, quickly pushing Ji-Ho's head away.
"You should cut down on smoking," Ji-Ho replied seriously.
"It'll make your bones weak."
"Have you lost your mind?" Yong-seok shot back in disbelief. Ji-Ho's words sounded utterly absurd to him.
But Ji-Ho paid no attention to his friend's reaction. His eyes began to wander, scrutinizing their classmates one by one. His gaze swept across the room before it returned to rest on Yong-Seok. A slight furrow appeared on his brow, signaling that something was troubling him.
"What now?" Yong-seok asked, irritation creeping into his voice. Ji-Ho's strange behavior was making him feel uneasy.
Ji-Ho only responded with a bitter smile.
"Nothing," he said softly.
"Let's just try to get along this year, okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"I said, let's try to get along."
Yong-seok shook his head, twirling his finger near his temple, the universal gesture for "You're crazy."
Suddenly, the classroom door swung open with a loud creak, followed by a bang.
Creak!
Bang!
Their homeroom teacher, Yeon Jeong-hoon, stepped into the room. He taught English at Shinpogo High School, which happened to be his first teaching job. His enthusiasm as a new educator was always evident in his every move.
Yeon Jeong-hoon often played the role of a big brother to his students, sometimes coming across as a wise senior. His approachable nature and friendly demeanor had left a lasting impression on all his students. For Ryu Ji-Ho, Mr. Yeon was one of the few teachers who had ever made a positive impact on his school years.
"Stand up! Bow!" commanded the class leader, prompting his classmates to follow suit.
"Good morning!" the entire class greeted in unison.
"Good morning," Yeon Jeong-hoon replied with a warm smile. He opened the attendance book and began calling out names individually to check the students' presence.
Ryu Ji-Ho listened attentively, trying to match the names being called to his classmates' faces. "That one's in the library club, this one's in the choir, that one over there doesn't talk to me much…" he thought.
"I don't have anything special to say this morning," Yeon Jeong-hoon continued,
"but there is a test next week. You all know that, right?"
"Ugh…" groans of dismay echoed from every corner of the room.
Ryu Ji-Ho's heart began to pound faster, as if someone had just struck him hard on the back of his head. His eyes stared blankly at their homeroom teacher.
"If our class ranks last in this test, you know what that means. I trust you all understand. I'm new here, so I'd appreciate a little cooperation. You will help me out, won't you?"
"We'll see," a few students mumbled under their breaths.
"If we come in last, are you going to give us some kind of physical punishment, sir?" one brave student asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.