“Let’s have a talent show meeting!”
A talent show?
At those words, heard first thing Monday morning after returning from the written exams, Sihyeon showed a hint of confusion. When he asked what that was supposed to mean, the answer came back—it was for the school trip talent show. Remembering the schedule he had forgotten, Sihyeon turned his head and checked the calendar.
June 25th to 28th. Three days were circled in red pen. Beneath that, the words school trip were written in rounded handwriting—clearly Kang Haeun’s.
School trip.
For Sihyeon, who had never gone on a single school trip in all twelve years of elementary, middle, and high school, it was both a familiar and unfamiliar term.
He only knew that they were going on a school trip on those dates—he had no idea where they were going or what they would be doing.
“We’re doing a talent show on the school trip?”
“Yeah! Didn’t you hear?”
You’re the information hub of our class—what do you mean, didn’t I hear?
If there was someone in each class who gathered all kinds of rumors and information circulating around the school, then in Class A, that role belonged to Haeun. As Sihyeon looked at him with a you’re really asking that? expression, Haeun, catching his gaze, began listing off details about the trip.
“This time, the school trip’s a cruise. They said we should prepare a talent show for the full day at sea while heading to Germany.”
“We’re going to Germany for a school trip?”
“Yeah!”
“For a trip that’s only three nights and four days?”
It sounded ridiculous. But then Sihyeon realized—this was a world where supernatural abilities existed. If it was a ship using Acceleration, it might actually be possible. Still…
“…The seasickness is going to be brutal.”
When he said that in a rather serious tone, Haeun burst out laughing.
“It’s an S Corporation cruise—what are you worried about? The Awakened Association is covering the entire cost for this trip. We should enjoy a high-class cruise experience! Ah, anyway—so what are we doing for the talent show?”
The discussion, which had briefly veered off track, returned to the main topic. The idea of standing in front of students for a talent show was something Sihyeon absolutely hated. Resting his chin on his hand, he frowned and spoke.
“Do we really have to do it?”
“Every class has to participate, so we’ll have to do something.”
“……”
Tch.
Clicking his tongue, Sihyeon made it clear he wasn’t interested. It was absurd—this school preached meritocracy when sending dozens of students away, yet suddenly emphasized group participation for things like this. As he sighed, Hamin raised his hand and offered an idea.
“Battle royale.”
Is he insane?
They asked for a talent show idea, and he suggested combat. Sihyeon shot him a look of disbelief, and sensing the gaze, Hamin frowned.
“What?”
Just as Sihyeon was about to say something, Haeun spoke first.
“Hmm, it would be fun, but we’re going on a trip, not to destroy a ship, right? If we did that, it’d definitely reach Hayeok-hyung’s ears. Rejected. Anyone else?”
Sihyeon had been worried Haeun might actually accept it, but surprisingly, he said something reasonable. Hamin’s suggestion was immediately shot down, and Sihyeon quietly felt relieved. Amid the mixed reactions, Jihye raised her hand, tucking her black hair behind her ear as she spoke.
“How about a fashion show?”
“A fashion show?”
“Yeah. Everyone in our class has strong individuality, so I thought it might not be bad to wear our own styles and do a fashion show. What do you think?”
At least it was better than battle royale. Just as Sihyeon was starting to think it sounded decent, Haeun nodded.
“I think it’s good! But…”
“But…?”
“Can we win first place with that?”
We probably could.
They were, after all, the main characters of a novel. It didn’t seem impossible. As Sihyeon looked at him, Jihye asked if they really needed to get first place. Sihyeon’s eyes widened when he heard Haeun’s response.
“Of course! The first-place class gets exempted from the outdoor training in July!”
“The camping one?”
“Yeah!”
“Whoa.”
Only then did the previously indifferent students start showing interest.
Outdoor training.
From second year onward, most training was conducted alongside the Mir Military, so events like school trips were all packed into first year. And that included the camping trip.
They called it camping, but it was really a one-night, two-day combat training session under instructors—basically hell itself. Just thinking about it made Sihyeon grimace as he stared at Haeun, who had conveniently mentioned the most important detail last.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah! The first-place class just has normal classes for those two days.”
“Wow.”
“Why are you only telling us now?”
“Who are the judges?”
“No matter what, first place is the goal.”
The students who had been uncooperative suddenly became enthusiastic over the reward. Before he knew it, Sihyeon had joined in, and the discussion became lively.
Ideas ranged from puppet shows to ability performances to dressing up Baek Geonwoo, but none seemed impactful enough to guarantee first place. As they debated dance and singing, Haeun, who had been stroking his chin, suddenly slammed the podium.
“If we need impact, how about I sing?”
“Are you crazy?”
“You’re really trying hard to get us last place, huh?”
“If it’s Baek Geonwoo, I’m in. If it’s Kang Haeun, I’m out.”
“…….”
He acted like he had a brilliant idea, only to play the worst move possible. Everyone immediately opposed it, and Haeun, looking dejected, quickly backtracked.
“That was a joke… Aren’t you all being too harsh on me?”
“Your singing is just that terrible.”
At the blunt remark, he pouted briefly before quickly regaining his usual energy and scanning Class A.
“Anyway, jokes aside—this is the real point. I actually have a great idea!”
“Let’s hear it.”
“What do you think our strongest weapon is?”
“Strength.”
“Grades?”
“Um… teamwork?”
“…….”
At Jihye’s answer, everyone turned to look at her. Embarrassed under their stares, she scratched her cheek awkwardly. As the atmosphere turned slightly stiff, Haeun stepped in, approaching Geonwoo.
“It’s….”
“It’s?”
“Our faces!”
“…….”
Placing a hand dramatically on Geonwoo’s face, Haeun declared it confidently. Sihyeon rolled his eyes, his gaze moving from Geonwoo to Jihye, then to Dawoon, then to the rest of the class.
He couldn’t deny it.
Honestly, if these people just stood on stage and breathed, the audience would probably applaud and cry.
“…That’s true.”
As quiet agreement followed, Haeun returned to the podium.
“People already say Class A looks like it was picked for visuals. So shouldn’t we make the most of that?”
“How?”
“Something where we can show everything—expressive acting, visuals, everything our looks can do.”
“So what is it?”
Growing impatient, Hamin snapped, and Haeun grinned, picking up a piece of chalk. He wrote two words on the board in his usual rounded handwriting.
Couple Dance.
“Dance. But as couples!”
There’s nothing more impactful than this, right?
After all that buildup, it was still dance—just with “couple” added in front. That made it even more unappealing to Sihyeon, whose expression immediately soured. Unbothered, Haeun continued enthusiastically.
“If regular dancing isn’t impactful enough, then make it couples. Why do you think shows like ‘We Got Married’ were so popular? I guarantee this is the best way for us to get first place!”
It sounded like a sales pitch, but it was hard to argue. Attractive people pairing up, showing chemistry, and dancing? That was more than enough to captivate an audience.
Honestly speaking—if Dawoon and Hamin did a couple dance?
Even Sihyeon would vote them first place.
Out of all the ideas so far, it seemed the most likely to win. That much he admitted. But that didn’t mean he liked it.
“Does it have to be couples? Wouldn’t normal dancing work?”
“Yeah!”
“Why?”
“Because it’s more provocative!”
“…….”
He couldn’t deny that. You’d make a great broadcaster, Sihyeon muttered inwardly as Haeun kept emphasizing the camping exemption. It took less than a minute for the majority vote to settle on couple dance.
“But we have two girls and six guys—how do we pair up?”
“Hmm… couple dance doesn’t have to be male-female, so should we draw lots?”
“Or just dance with your partners.”
“Are you insane?”
At Sihyeon’s suggestion, Hamin reacted strongly. Judging by his response, there was no room for persuasion. After discussing fairness, they ultimately decided on drawing lots. Haeun took charge of preparing them.
Humming to himself, he tore paper into pieces, wrote numbers on them, and placed the folded slips into a pencil holder. After shaking it energetically, he called students up one by one.
Number 3.
Sihyeon checked his slip and looked around.
“Who has number 3?”
“Guess I’m lucky.”
The response was oddly phrased. The voice came from beside him—familiar enough to make Sihyeon frown as he turned.
Standing there with a calm expression—unlike Sihyeon’s—was Yoo Seowoo. Their eyes met, and Seowoo revealed his number.
3.
For a moment, Sihyeon thought he had misheard.
“Even I’d be hurt if you react like that.”
At Sihyeon’s obvious discomfort, Seowoo replied smoothly. It was their first proper conversation since that day. His platinum eyes curved gently in a familiar smile.
…Was it all a joke?
Since that day, Sihyeon had felt uncomfortable around him, but Seowoo had treated him the same as always—as if nothing had happened. It made everything he had said back then feel like a joke.
It felt like Sihyeon had been the only one dwelling on it—and trying not to.
Sighing, Sihyeon ran a hand through his hair.
Feels like I got played.
Shaking off the thought, he looked at the paper in Seowoo’s hand.
“Is it really 3?”
“Why would I lie?”
At his suspicion, Seowoo held out the slip, the large number 3 clearly written on it. After confirming it, Sihyeon’s gaze sank.
He had been trying to keep his distance, only to end up paired with him immediately.
The more he tried to avoid it, the more entangled he became.
As if someone was deliberately orchestrating things.
That same feeling from right after enrollment—when he kept getting tangled up with the Four Heavenly Kings—wrapped around Sihyeon once again.
