At Seoul High, Hwang Hyunjin is the quiet but popular senior known for his calm demeanor, unmatched visuals, and perfect grades—except in English. He’s not cold, just reserved. His world is small: it revolves around his loud best friends, San and Wooyoung, and the ever-sunlit Sunoo.

Then one spring morning, a new student arrives. Kim Seungmin—bright-eyed, soft-spoken, carrying a pastel yellow backpack with a tiny white bear charm and a smile that could stop time. He’s instantly liked by everyone, especially Sunoo. He’s top of his English class… but absolutely hopeless at math.

Fate brings Hyunjin and Seungmin together when Sunoo introduces him by the fountain—right as San and Wooyoung are in the middle of one of their signature loud arguments.

And just like that, Hyunjin’s calm world is thrown into subtle chaos—sweet, soft chaos wearing clear braces and smiling too brightly.

⸻

The morning sun glinted off the marble fountain in front of Seoul High, water dancing rhythmically in the background as students filed through the iron gates. The cherry blossoms had started blooming again—tiny pink petals flitting down from the trees like whispers of spring.

Hwang Hyunjin sat on the fountain’s edge, legs crossed, a book on his lap. He was dressed in the school’s neatly pressed uniform, black tie perfectly knotted. His sharp jawline rested gently on his hand as he stared off into the breeze, lost in thoughts that only he knew.

Beside him, chaos.

“Stop touching my chest, Wooyoung!” San hissed, batting his best friend’s hand away.

Wooyoung scoffed, flicking lint off San’s collar with an exaggerated flourish. “It’s a thread, not your dignity. Calm down.”

“You always do this before homeroom—”

“Because you always look like you wrestled a raccoon on your way to school.”

Hyunjin sighed. “You two are too loud.”

Before San could respond with a dramatic gasp, a voice rang out across the courtyard—bright and pure.

“Hyunjin!! Guys!!” Sunoo came bounding over like sunlight in human form. His blazer flapped open, and a huge grin lit up his face.

Trailing behind him was a boy Hyunjin didn’t recognize.

He was a little shorter, with soft brown hair that curled slightly at the ends and cheeks that flushed too easily under the spring sun. His uniform was neatly tucked, his shoes too clean—clearly new. On his back was a pastel yellow backpack, and hanging from the zipper was a tiny white bear charm that swung with each step.

And then there were the braces—clear and subtle, but noticeable when he smiled.

And god, he smiled so easily.

“This is Kim Seungmin!” Sunoo announced, almost breathless. “He just transferred here! From Busan! He’s really good at English, and he already helped me find the science room!”

Seungmin bowed quickly, polite. “Nice to meet you.” His voice was soft, laced with a kind of nervous excitement. He looked up through his lashes—right at Hyunjin.

Hyunjin blinked. Then blinked again.

San, mid-grumble, went quiet.

Wooyoung raised an eyebrow.

Sunoo beamed. “Seungmin, that’s Hwang Hyunjin—he’s smart, just not in English. That’s San, he yells a lot. And that’s Wooyoung, he’s annoying.”

“Sunshine, I will sue you,” Wooyoung muttered.

Seungmin chuckled under his breath, then turned to Hyunjin again. “If you need help with English, I’d be happy to tutor you.”

Hyunjin sat still for a moment, processing the offer and the strangely warm flutter in his chest.

Then—quietly, coolly—he said, “And you? Are you good at math?”

Seungmin’s eyes widened. “No! I’m terrible at it.”

“Then,” Hyunjin said, closing his book and standing up, “let’s make a deal.”