"Come on, go for it! Run already!"

"What a lousy throw!"

"Come on, don’t be such losers!"

"Okay, now that was nice – wow, really nice!"

Minjun and Hyunshik kept yelling non-stop while Siwoo, half-closing his eyes, enjoyed the pleasant autumn sunshine. He was glad they could spend some time outdoors before winter and the freezing cold arrived – their P.E. teacher had decided to take them to the nearby sports field for a game of basketball.

They were split into three teams, and while two teams played, the third could sit in the stands. Though the two boys sitting next to him weren’t particularly thrilled, Siwoo still enjoyed it. He loved the crisp air, the autumn scents, the rustling, colourful nature... And, of course, Junho, who was running around on the court, his beautiful dark hair flying in all directions. He was breathtaking, as always, though watching him play sports, Siwoo felt he was seeing a different side of him. Wearing the school’s mandatory sports uniform, blending in with the other guys as he focused on the ball, Junho seemed just like any other teenage boy. A regular high schooler who could fit in anywhere – his features were a mix of both masculine and feminine traits, which most would say was normal since he was still young. But Siwoo saw what others did not; he saw how charming Junho really was, how every movement carried an effortless grace, how his aura and beauty were almost otherworldly.

"What a bunch of idiots! Look at this! What the hell are they doing?" Minjun shook his head in frustration, slumping back onto the bench.

"Which team are you even rooting for?" Siwoo asked with amusement.

"I don’t know. They’re all hopeless," Minjun scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh yeah? And I suppose you're the one who's going to show them true professionalism?" Hyunshik laughed. "Please, you’re the same height as my thirteen-year-old sister!"

"Which is exactly why it’s embarrassing that I could still destroy you in basketball," Minjun shot back, feigning offense.

Hyunshik rolled his eyes. "Too bad we ended up on the same team."

Siwoo smiled to himself, thinking about how lucky he was to have these two. Besides them, he had no other friends – not just in school, but in the entire country. Though, to be fair, Hyunshik was only friends with him because their parents were childhood friends, and his mom had probably made him look after poor Siwoo. He wasn’t sure if Hyunshik genuinely liked him or just hung out with him out of obligation, but he didn’t really care. He was simply happy that someone had helped him through the first few weeks. And as a bonus, there was Minjun, who, as Hyunshik’s best friend, naturally tagged along. At first, things had been a bit awkward between the three of them, but over time, they had grown comfortable with each other. It was just an ordinary friendship, and that was fine – Minjun and Hyunshik had known each other for years, and Siwoo didn’t want to intrude too much. This was enough for him; at least he wasn’t alone.

"Oh, for f’s sake, look who just showed up," Minjun muttered suddenly, turning his head.

Siwoo followed his gaze and immediately felt a surge of irritation.

"I forgot that idiot was in our P.E. class," he muttered under his breath, his jaw clenching. Both boys turned to look at him curiously. They had never talked about what had happened in the cafeteria, and Siwoo had no idea how his friends felt about it. But he had noticed that neither of them seemed particularly fond of the rat currently walking up the stands, which was a relief. He wouldn’t have taken it well if the two people he trusted actually liked that arrogant prick.

"If you and Dohyun start fighting again, just so you know, I’ll be laughing," Hyunshik grinned.

Dohyun. So that’s his name, Siwoo thought, making a mental note of it – though in his mind, he would always just be "that a_hole."

"I’d actually be happy if someone finally punched that idiot," Minjun said, his gaze locked onto Dohyun, who was now talking to the coach with his usual careless posture, explaining something with exaggerated gestures. Even the way he moved his mouth was irritating, Siwoo thought.

"You guys don’t like him either?" Siwoo asked, eyeing his friends curiously.

"He’s an arrogant prick, just like his whole little gang," Hyunshik shrugged. "I don’t think many people actually like him. They’re just scared of his big mouth, or I don’t know."

"I’m definitely not scared," Siwoo chuckled. "I’ve met plenty of guys like him before. This school is full of them."

"Not everyone here is like that, even if—" Minjun started, but Siwoo cut him off.

"That’s not how I see it," he said coldly, as if he wouldn’t accept any argument. "I think all these guys believe being smart means getting good grades and being manly means showing dominance over the weak. Since this dumb high school doesn’t have any girls, they don’t have anyone to impress, no one to control – because, let’s be honest, in this disgusting world, most men want to control women whether they realize it or not. So instead, they compete endlessly with each other, trying to climb some imaginary ‘ladder of masculinity,’ all wanting to be the alpha. And some of them really overdo it," he scoffed. "Besides you two and Junho, I haven’t met a single normal person here."

He hadn’t meant to give such a speech, but the words had just poured out of him. He felt an urge to finally share his thoughts with someone, though he could only hope his friends wouldn’t be too put off. People didn’t always want to hear others’ opinions. After finishing, he glanced at them a bit anxiously. They both blinked at him in surprise for a moment. Then, Minjun suddenly laughed.

"Relax, it’s not that deep. Maybe you’re right since you’ve seen how things work elsewhere, but honestly, who cares? You’re just wasting energy thinking about this."

Siwoo shook his head in frustration. Minjun wasn’t exactly wrong, but he didn’t really get it either. Sure, Siwoo had lived in a different culture and could compare their mindsets, but that wasn’t the point. It wasn’t about different cultures – it was about people. People who adapted to whatever environment they were placed in. A rigid, rule-following environment bred rigid, rule-following people.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Hyunshik’s voice.

"You like Junho, don’t you?" he asked with a knowing smile.