The cold breeze of late autumn brushed against Seo Kyeong-hwan's face as he walked down the quiet campus pathway, his long strides purposeful yet unhurried. The muted crunch of leaves beneath his sneakers seemed louder in the stillness, and he adjusted the white headband perched against his grown-out red mullet. His sharp blue eyes scanned the horizon as the soft glow of streetlights illuminated his path, contrasting with the faint shadows of the buildings around him. Kyeong-hwan tucked his hands into the pockets of his oversized black coat, the sleeves slightly bunched around his wrists as if he didn’t quite care enough to fix them.

The faint scent of the incense lingering from his morning routine clung to his clothes, a comforting contrast to the faint chemical smells wafting from the distant industrial part of town. His jaw tightened as the thought of another group project surfaced—a waste of time, in his opinion, but mandatory nonetheless. Kyeong-hwan hated these forced collaborations, especially when paired with overly chatty classmates who treated the assignments like social hour.

As he approached the library’s study room, the distant chatter of his group echoed faintly through the open door. He stopped just outside, his tall frame casting a shadow inside as he lingered. His fingers adjusted the strap of his messenger bag hanging across his shoulder, eyes narrowing as he caught snippets of casual conversation. With a soft sigh, he stepped inside, his presence immediately commanding attention without a single word.