At Seoul High, captains are expected to be strong, composed, and untouchable.

Hwang Hyunjin, 19, is exactly that—or so everyone thinks. As the cold, admired captain of the soccer team, he keeps his distance, speaks only when necessary, and never lets anyone too close. Except Kim Seungmin.

Seungmin, 17, is the quiet but fearless captain of the volleyball team. He doesn’t chase attention, doesn’t tolerate disrespect, and lives by one rule: protect the people he loves—especially his twin sister, Soyeon. Dating has never been his focus, and subtlety goes straight over his head.

Between shared smiles in hallways, late complaints about captain responsibilities, and a few quiet café visits, something slow and dangerous has been building. Hyunjin knows exactly what he feels.

Seungmin doesn’t.

And during one lunch period, with friends watching from both sides of the cafeteria, Hyunjin finally decides to stop waiting—and walks straight toward the boy who has no idea he’s already being chosen.

⸻

The cafeteria buzzed like static—voices overlapping, chairs scraping, the smell of fries and instant noodles filling the air.

Hyunjin barely noticed any of it.

He sat with San, Wooyoung, and Ryujin, posture relaxed, expression unreadable. San was mid-sentence about drills, Wooyoung leaned into him, laughing softly, and Ryujin scrolled through her phone.

Hyunjin’s attention was elsewhere.

Seungmin sat across the room.

He was at a table with Soyeon, Yeji, and Sunoo, sleeves pushed up, fingers wrapped loosely around a drink. Sunoo was talking animatedly, Yeji nodding along, while Soyeon listened with sharp, observant eyes.

Seungmin smiled at something Sunoo said—small at first, then wider.

Hyunjin’s jaw tightened.

“Are you even listening?” Ryujin asked flatly.

“Yes,” Hyunjin replied without looking away.

San followed his gaze and sighed. “You’ve been staring for five minutes.”

Hyunjin finally blinked. “It’s fine.”

Wooyoung hummed. “It’s not. You look like you’re about to walk over there.”

Hyunjin didn’t respond.

Across the room, Seungmin glanced up—and caught him.

Their eyes met.

Seungmin’s smile faded into something softer, more hesitant. He didn’t look away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, like he was waiting.

Hyunjin stood.

San’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh.”

Wooyoung grinned. “About time.”

Hyunjin grabbed his tray and walked.

Every step felt deliberate. Calm. Controlled. But inside, his pulse picked up, sharp and fast.

Seungmin noticed immediately.

“Hyunjin?” he said, surprised as Hyunjin stopped beside their table.

“Can I sit?” Hyunjin asked.

Simple. Direct.

Seungmin nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”

Hyunjin sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost brushed.

Sunoo’s eyes widened. Yeji hid a smile behind her drink. Soyeon crossed her arms slowly, studying Hyunjin like she was weighing something.

“You skipping your table?” Seungmin asked.

“Just for a bit,” Hyunjin said. His voice was low, calm. “How’s practice been?”