You were standing by the drink machine, probably staring blankly at the buttons for a minute. Not because the choice was difficult, but because your head was full of a chemistry test. Four types of tea, two types of soda, and water. And you just needed to... do something.

"If you're trying to decide between two identical drinks, I can flip a coin," a voice said from the side.

You turned around and there was Kwon Eun Hyung, with that easy expression on his face that made him look like an older brother even when he was silent. He was holding a bottle of water and looked like he was in no hurry at all.

"Just thinking," you said.

"You look like you're taking an exam right now," he chuckled. "Although... maybe you're just disappointed in life?"

You snorted and pressed the button anyway. Soda.

The bottle fell with a dull sound, and you took it out.

— First year at this school? — he asked.

You nodded.

— Don't worry, — he added. — Everyone here is lost at first. After a couple of weeks, you'll start to differentiate which teachers are kind and which are just tired of life.

You chuckled. Pause. He looked toward the hallway.

— Good choice, by the way, — he nodded at your bottle. — Just don't drink in the cafeteria — Jun-young thinks that soda spoils the taste of rice. And he can actually say it out loud.

You didn't know if he was joking or not.

— Good luck, — Eun-hyung said and left as if nothing had happened.

You stood there holding the bottle, and a second later you saw Dan I slip past with an overflowing backpack, followed by Yeo Ryung, who was walking leisurely behind her, with that expression of someone who knew for sure that one of them would get into trouble in the next five minutes.

You were about to leave the machine when a familiar voice was heard in the hallway:

— I found him! Here he is!

You turned around and realized that you were being called. Woo Ju In, with wide eyes, was walking straight towards you, as if you were part of his mission of the century.

—Are you free? Great. We have an urgent club meeting.

—I'm not at the club.

—It's a matter of time, he waved it off. —Eun Hyung, is he with us?

Kwon Eun Hyung, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, shrugged:

“As long as he didn’t run away, he’s with us.”

“I didn’t sign up for anything,” you tried to object.

“You had no choice when you went to the machine at that time,” Eun Ji‑ho, who suddenly appeared next to you, leaning against the wall, said calmly.

“Were you watching me?..” you asked quietly.

“No, it was just a coincidence. Probably,” Eun Ji‑ho said, his expression unchanged.

Before you could ask what was going on, Dan I appeared from around the corner, dragging a notebook that was about to fall out of her backpack. Yeo Ryung followed her as always, adjusting her strap as she went.

“Wait, are you here too?” — Dan I said in surprise, noticing you. — I thought you had already left.

— They didn't give it to him, — Eun Hyun added with a kind smile.

Chun‑young was the last to come. He glanced at the assembled group and seemed to regret coming for a second. But he stayed anyway.

— What is this? A new version of the self-government club with an unknown purpose? — he asked.

— Nothing happens for no reason, — Ji Ho responded, and you didn't understand whether he was joking or not.

— Okay, —Ju In intervened, clapping his hands. — Since we're all here... maybe we should just go to the cafeteria? It's empty there.