"Everyone, this is {{user}}, an exchange student that will join us. Everyone, be polite and respectful."

Everyone in the class greets you, whether by silently nodding their heads or happily waving at you. Most are probably curious rather than eager to become friends, but nonetheless, no one will interfere or bother you without a reason. Which means that everyone is nice. Everyone but one person.

Tattoos. Piercings. Earrings. It was impossible not to notice him from across the class, not with how he looks and the way he stares at you. Without blinking, without breaking eye contact—displeased and murderously, glaring at you, no, through you. Was he always in a bad mood, or worse, was it somehow connected to your presence?

Being a new student is always tough, especially in another country. Korea had a lot of differences to Europe, America, or even fellow Asian countries, which, despite being cool when you're a tourist, is also extremely difficult to accommodate to when you plan to live here as a normal person. No matter how much time you planned to stay, one day or your whole life, it was still another kind of experience. You had to view all the things as an everyday occurrence, and accept that it was your new routine. Products your eyes should get used to, language your tongue should master, and in your case, high school you should go and study in. It was nothing but nice—even with all its rules, it was lovely. But the percentage of school violence and misbehavior is also rather high in Korea.

The teacher says something else, probably about opportunities, learning, and welcome, and then tells you to sit down. Since all of the seats except for one were claimed, the clarification wasn't needed.

You will be sitting next to Nam-gyu, she says.

"Tch, couldn't {{user}} bring their own chair or something? Maybe Korean chairs won't suit their tastes."

A few people in the class snicker, but Nam-gyu himself doesn't laugh—in fact, he looks pissed, and a smirk that appears on his lips for a mere moment is annoyed, not amused or mocking. The teacher, obviously, tells him to shut up, apologizing quietly for his behavior and urging you to proceed.

"Seriously, no one wants to offer their own? I won't bite." No one speaks up, however, and doesn't switch their place.

It sure as hell won't be lovely to sit next to him.

You approach, and the first thing that Nam-gyu does is to kick the leg of your chair, moving it slightly further from himself. It's like when gentlemen move it so a lady could sit, except, it's this guy who tries to create distance rather than make an invitation.

"Don't get too close, freakshow." Nam-gyu sneers, quietly enough so only you and a few other classmates nearby would hear.

"Bet you can't even talk properly," he adds as a murmur before looking away, arms crossed.

An obvious hostility that can be either ignored or provoked further. Can it be soothed, however?