# Chapter 74
Perhaps because everyone was focused on what was happening at the playing field, the area around the school store was not just quiet—it was completely empty. For some reason, the store was closed too, so I got a drink from the vending machine in front and settled down nearby.
“The game is running strangely these days.”
“The game? You mean the hierarchy?”
“Yeah. Originally, the Four Heavenly Kings dominated everything, but now it’s not like that anymore, so things have gotten weird.”
“I think it’s surprising that Ji Haecheon and Kwon Dojin were ever lumped together in the first place.”
“That’s true too.”
With a click, the sound of metal hitting metal, the can was opened. The lukewarm drink flowing down my throat didn’t cool me down from the heat, but it did quench my thirst.
“Anyway, ever since Ji Haecheon and Kwon Dojin split up, these guys have lost control. The ones who used to tread carefully around Kwon Dojin and Baek Han have started running wild.”
“I see.”
“The problem is that rumors are spreading that you’re the cause of the split.”
“I se—wait, what?”
I had been responding with a disinterested gaze, but suddenly turned my head to look at Kang Jinwoo. He was looking at me with eyes that had a lot to say. There seemed to be pity in that gaze, which made me feel strangely sad.
“You’re really far from ordinary, aren’t you?”
“Don’t lie… Are people really saying that? That it’s because of me?”
“What would I gain from lying about this?”
“That’s true, but—”
I put down the can and clutched at my hair. I tried to think hard about what action of mine could have possibly been transformed into the cause of the rift between Kwon Dojin and Ji Haecheon, but nothing came to mind.
Instead, my mind went blank like a sheet of white paper, and I could only let out groans of distress.
“If you don’t want to get caught up in unnecessary trouble, stick close to Kwon Dojin. No wait, there’s Baek Han too. When Kwon Dojin isn’t around, stay near Baek Han.”
“Isn’t there a more fundamental solution?”
“You could transfer far away, or become strong enough to easily take down Ji Haecheon?”
“That’s impossible.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m saying there isn’t one.”
Kang Jinwoo was resolute. It was disheartening how merciless he was, not even allowing me to escape reality, but this was the truth. As I buried my face in my hands lamenting my situation, his sturdy hand patted my back.
“Ji Haecheon and Kwon Dojin falling out was bound to happen someday.”
“That’s true.”
“You were just unlucky enough to get caught in it. Just a shrimp getting its back broken in a fight between whales.”
“…Is that supposed to be comforting?”
I looked at Kang Jinwoo with utter disbelief, and he deliberately turned his head away.
“Anyway, be careful. It seems everything’s over now, so I’m going to take these guys who are sprawled around.”
The sound of several people moving with murmurs came over. It seemed that those who had been surrounding the center of the playing field were returning to their classrooms.
“Won’t Kwon Dojin and Baek Han still be there?”
“They’ll manage somehow. I can’t just leave them here after coming all this way; that would be disloyal. Or do you want to go with me and stop them?”
Kang Jinwoo asked with an infinitely light attitude, without a hint of expectation. I tapped the ground with the sole of my foot, thinking, when the can at my feet caught my eye.
“Alright. Let’s go together. Though I don’t know if those two will listen to me.”
I emptied the drink can and got up. Kang Jinwoo looked at me with wide eyes before chuckling and throwing the can in his hand into the trash bin.
“Reassuring.”
Ending with that lackluster conversation, we leisurely returned to the place where the fight had occurred, and saw several people sprawled on the ground and two people standing straight without a single injury.
As we got closer, I could see Baek Han’s foot stepping on someone’s back, but I pretended not to notice and fixed my gaze on Kwon Dojin. Whether what they said about him being sensitive to presence was true, Kwon Dojin turned around.
“Habin? What brings you here—”
“It’s been a while.”
“Kang Jinwoo?”
“What, Kang Jinwoo came too?”
The moment Kwon Dojin and Baek Han saw Kang Jinwoo, they lost interest in those displayed on the ground. Unlike Kwon Dojin, who knew that Kang Jinwoo and I were on good terms, Baek Han, who knew nothing, pointed at me.
“Why are you here with him again?”
“We know each other.”
“Since when do you count someone who threatened you as an acquaintance?”
“A lot has happened in the past month, but it’s tiresome, so just go along with it.”
“Right, what good would it do to find out anyway.”
Baek Han raised his eyebrows a couple of times at the unfriendly words, but soon waved his hand. It seemed like a gesture of resignation, which made me feel a bit sorry, but not enough to overcome the hassle. Kwon Dojin, as usual, ignored Baek Han and jerked his chin at Kang Jinwoo.
Seeing that gesture, I figured I wasn’t needed anymore and decided to step aside.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“I’m going to take these fans with me. Sorry for causing a scene at someone else’s school.”
“Take them?”
Baek Han was still stepping on someone’s back, but upon hearing Kang Jinwoo’s words, he finally removed his foot. Then he moved and came over to where I was.
“Kwon Dojin, you decide.”
Kwon Dojin glanced at Baek Han and sighed. He took off the black gloves he had put on at some point and roughly pushed his hair back.
Baek Han remained unfazed despite receiving Kwon Dojin’s disapproving look. He showed such insensitivity that he sat down on the dirt ground with a thump and patted the spot beside him, inviting me to sit.
Since it seemed like the conversation would take some time to finish anyway, I took a seat next to Baek Han. Meanwhile, my eyes met Kwon Dojin’s, and when I awkwardly smiled, he eventually revealed a faint smile too.
“There should be an example made.”
“I suppose. They came all the way to someone else’s school making a fuss.”
Kang Jinwoo gave a bitter smile and stretched out his arm to point at someone. Kwon Dojin turned his head to look where the finger was pointing.
“Is one enough? That one is the ringleader.”
“Then leaving just him—”
As I was quietly listening, already too familiar with these kinds of conversations to be bothered, my eyes met Kwon Dojin’s briefly again. Since he had just stopped what he was saying, I couldn’t think it was just my imagination.
“…For now, take them all, and we’ll decide on the punishment later.”
“Suddenly?”
“Ah, this is getting ridiculous again.”
Kang Jinwoo and I were confused, but Baek Han seemed to have guessed the reason and frowned. He roughly ruffled his hair and got up, even though he had only just sat down. With a crooked posture, he stared at Kwon Dojin and lowered his voice to ask again.
“Are you serious? Letting them go like this?”
“Regular classes aren’t over yet. It’s not too late to postpone it.”
“There’s less than an hour left. Surely we can handle that much at our discretion?”
As Kwon Dojin and Baek Han squared off, the atmosphere changed strangely. Feeling uneasy, I tried to reach out to Baek Han, who was at least closer to me, to stop him, but Kang Jinwoo shook his head at me.
“Baek Han is right, Kwon Dojin. The longer you postpone this kind of thing, the more foolish you look.”
Kwon Dojin’s eyes twisted at Kang Jinwoo’s point. As he clicked his tongue in annoyance, his gaze landed on me once more. By this point, I couldn’t help but understand why Kwon Dojin wanted to postpone, so I brushed off my backside and stood up.
“I’ll go back to the classroom first.”
“No, Habin. Stay with Kang Jinwoo.”
“Huh?”
“Me?”
Kang Jinwoo and I expressed our confusion simultaneously. Actually, being together itself wasn’t a problem, but Kwon Dojin’s suggestion that I stay with Kang Jinwoo was puzzling.
It seemed Kang Jinwoo felt the same way. So, I tried to express that I would be fine alone, but Baek Han was quicker than me.
“Yeah. That’s better.”
“Are you selling me out again?”
“Yeah. So go to the rooftop or somewhere with Kang Jinwoo.”
Baek Han waved his arms around. When Kang Jinwoo and I stood there blankly, unable to grasp the exact situation despite the gesture of urging, he came closer and even pushed our backs.
“As quickly as possible—alright. I’ll finish within thirty minutes and come back.”
Kwon Dojin didn’t stop Baek Han’s actions. He just estimated and informed us when it would be over.
“The last period has already started, so I can just be alone in the classroom—”
“Right. Since you’re leaving anyway, go to the rooftop with Kang Jinwoo.”
“Hey, Kwon Dojin—!”
“I’ll come find you on the rooftop when it’s done. Don’t worry and just go.”
Being pushed away, we were completely removed from the center and arrived at a place where it would be awkward to go back. Kang Jinwoo looked down at me, letting out a breath of exasperation.
“…Kwon Dojin really likes you.”
“What?”
Unlike me who was still bewildered, Kang Jinwoo seemed to have figured out the situation. Clicking his tongue in admiration, he patted my shoulder as I stood there dumbfounded.
“Alright. By rooftop, does he mean the main building?”
“Probably…?”
Kang Jinwoo moved toward the main building first. Only after he moved did I come to my senses and follow.
“Sunbae, do you know why Kwon Dojin told us to stay together?”
There was a strong sense that Kang Jinwoo had read all of Kwon Dojin’s intentions from his actions. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out, so it seemed easiest to ask him.
Kang Jinwoo glanced down at me and turned his body slightly to look in the direction where Kwon Dojin was. When I was about to follow his gaze to look at where Kwon Dojin was, Kang Jinwoo tousled my hair.
“Good times—”
I had asked a question, but what came back was an incomprehensible interjection.
