“Sigh…”

Han Jin-Seong stood still and stared at his school's main gate for a while.

'This feels really weird, doesn't it?'

On some days in the past, that gateway resembled the mouth of Hell. The dread of all the bullying he might receive once he started the day made him reticent to take another step forward.

But today, that gate imparted a slightly different… 'feeling' than usual.

How should Han Jin-Seong describe that feeling? A spoonful of mild heart-flutter was sprinkled on top of the dread?

Han Jin-Seong was nervous about the aftermath of all the 'scary' events that had happened around him recently. On the other hand, though… The knowledge that some things were changing filled him with hope and anticipation.

“Fuu-wuu-wuuph!”

Han Jin-Seong sucked in a deep breath, then willed his legs to carry him forward.

'Yes, let's be positive. Things are changing for the better!'

He didn't think things would improve just because adults got involved, but to his surprise, his environment was changing noticeably. That alone should be seen as encouraging, so…

“H-hey, Jin-Seong!”

“Eh?” Han Jin-Seong froze stiff on the spot. Before he could even step across the school gates, several of his classmates rushed toward him first.

'What's going on?'

Nervousness quickly flooded him. Would there be a reason for already-arrived students to loiter around the gate? Of course not. Besides,...