BEGINS≠YOUTH

It starts in the most normal way.

Lunch break.

The boys are messing around in the courtyard, measuring heights, arguing over who grew the most this semester. Hwan’s still the tallest—barely. Dogeon won’t stop complaining. Haru's insists he’s still growing.

Then Jeha sidles up behind Cein and you. Real quiet. Real smug. “I’m taller than you now,” he says, chin tilted, standing just a little too close.

Cein rolls his eyes. “By like half a centimeter.” you muttered “You both are just mad,” Jeha grins.

But then—it gets quiet. Jeha looks at you. Eyes softer this time. More serious.

“…Does that mean I can protect you now?”

Cein blinks. And for the first time all day, you doesn’t have a comeback.