While deciding whether to head to the traffic authorities office, Mansu turned to Tae.

“Do you still want to walk, or should we take a bus?” he asked.

“I’m okay with either,” Tae replied.

Mansu shook his head.

“No, tell me how you want to go.”

Tae thought for a moment.

“Let’s walk. I love walking.”

So they set off toward the traffic authorities office to pay the towing fees and retrieve the truck.

Along the way, they passed a group of students bunking school. The teenagers sat on a low wall eating ice cream while enthusiastically planning a trip to the mall.

Mansu glanced at them before looking at Tae.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why haven’t you joined school yet?” he asked. “Don’t get me wrong, but don’t you want to spend time with your new friends?”

Tae smiled slightly.

“I’m looking forward to it. Honestly, I want to see how this chapter of my life unfolds too.”

Then he added,

“Some documentation was still pending. As we speak, it’s probably sitting in the admin office. Hannah went to tour the school with our aunt and submit some paperwork. She probably toured my wing too.”

Mansu nodded.

“I just love the feeling of starting over,” he said. “A new city. New places you don't know yet but will eventually become your favorite spots. Cafés you walk past today but won't be able to pass without ordering your usual in the future. A random stray cat becoming your regular companion. Meeting people without realizing they'll become important parts of your life.”

He laughed softly.

“I live for that feeling.”

A few minutes later, Mansu stopped at a small fruit stall.

“Do you like strawberries?” he asked.

“Yes,” Tae replied.

Mansu bought a box and handed it over. The two shared strawberries as they continued walking.

“You know,” Mansu said thoughtfully, “the experiences you'll have here will be just like these strawberries. Some sweet. Some sour. Some a mixture of both.”

He popped another strawberry into his mouth.

“What matters is that every experience teaches you something. Be open to learning from them instead of wondering what could've, would've, or should've happened.”

Tae laughed.

“Wow. You make moving to a new place sound a lot less scary and a lot more fun.”

He paused before adding,

“And honestly? I feel exactly the same way.”

Mansu smiled.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Not even the unknown. Not even new people.”

“Well,” Tae replied, “I already know Zeon. Our families have known each other since we were kids.”

“Oh, right,” Mansu said. “Mrs. Kwon mentioned he used to live in New York with his parents before they moved here.”

Then his eyes widened.

“Wait. So you moved from New York? Everyone's dream city?”

Tae laughed.

“Well, yes. But I don't regret leaving.”

He looked ahead thoughtfully.

“I got so used to the hustle culture that slowing down felt impossible. Here, when I wake up, the first thing I hear is birds chirping outside my window. Sunlight filtering through the curtains. The newspaper delivery boy waving good morning. Elderly couples going for morning walks.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“The air feels fresh. There’s barely any traffic. I can still visit museums, cafés, and malls whenever I want, but life feels slower.”

Then he chuckled.

“And I get to drink Mrs. Kwon’s almond-roast hot chocolate every morning. I wouldn't trade that for anything.”

“You're staying at Mrs. Kwon's house?” Mansu asked.

Tae nodded.

“Until my mom arrives. For now, I'm staying with Mrs. Kwon and Zeon.”

He laughed.

“Growing up, I thought Zeon was incredibly shy. Turns out he's one of the funniest people I've ever met.”

Mansu suddenly looked apologetic.

“I’m sorry.”

Tae blinked.

“For what?”

“I didn't mean to hurt you,” Mansu said carefully. “I'm sorry for your loss.”

“My loss?”

“Your father,” Mansu explained. “You never mentioned him.”

Tae stared for a second before bursting into laughter.

“No, no. He's alive.”

He kept laughing.

“I probably should've clarified that.”

Relief immediately crossed Mansu's face.

“Oh, thank goodness.”

“He's away at a retreat,” Tae explained. “He'll be back.”

Then his smile faded slightly.

“Hopefully soon.”

Mansu noticed the change.

“Everything alright, son?”

Tae hesitated.

“It’s a long story.”

Mansu nodded immediately.

“You don't have to talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable. You don't owe anyone an explanation.”

Tae smiled gratefully.

“I know. And I could tell you.”

He looked toward the sky.

“I just don't think now is the time to worry about what's going to happen in the future.”

Mansu laughed.

“You're awfully wise for someone your age.”

Then he added,

“If I were that wise when I was younger, maybe I'd have ended up somewhere better.”

He glanced around.

“Though honestly, this place isn't bad either. I have no complaints about how my life turned out.”

Meanwhile, back at school, Aeryun had become unexpectedly popular.

The moment she sat down, Chaerin leaned across the desk.

“Oh my God, Aeryun. People are going to love you even more now.”

Aeryun raised an eyebrow.

“What did I do this time?”

“You got us all rid of Mrs. Um,” Chaerin whispered dramatically.

Students immediately began gathering around her desk.

Some saluted.

Others thanked her.

One student dramatically declared,

“I'll bake your favorite banana bread!”

Another invited her to play cards after school.

Aeryun felt like royalty.

Meanwhile, students passing through the corridor kept thanking her for getting rid of Mrs. Um.

Later, while she and Chaerin were heading toward the cafeteria, a student suddenly stopped in front of her.

“Are you Aeryun?” he asked.

“Yes?”

The student immediately handed her a rose.

“This is to thank you.”

Aeryun looked horrified.

“No, no. That's okay. You really don't have to—”

The boy's eyes instantly watered.

Aeryun sighed.

“Okay. Fine.”

She accepted the rose before he could cry.

The boy immediately brightened and ran off.

Aeryun carefully tucked the flower into her skirt's pocket.

Meanwhile, the students who had actually planted the banana peel watched from afar.

“It should've been us getting thanked,” one of them muttered bitterly.

“She just got lucky.”

As Aeryun and Chaerin continued walking, Zeon suddenly appeared in the corridor.

“Well,” he said with a grin, “looks like everyone's been giving you treats today.”

Aeryun groaned.

“Please don't start.”

“I mean,” Zeon continued loudly, “I hope Mrs. Um gets better soon.”

Then he lowered his voice.

“But thank you.”

Aeryun blinked.

“For what?”

“For saving my grades.”

He pressed his hands together dramatically.

“I won't have to worry about surprise quizzes or the consequences that usually follow them for a while.”

Aeryun laughed.

“It wasn't intentional. It was just one of those things that happened.”

“Well,” Zeon replied, “you two should stop by sometime.”

His eyes brightened.

“I'm working on a new batch of fortune cookies. I'm constantly experimenting, and I think you'll both like them.”

Then he checked the time.

“I should go. See you later.”

He took a few steps before turning back.

“Oh, and if you're both free this Saturday, stop by my house in the afternoon.”

“Sure,” Aeryun and Chaerin replied together.

“We'll try,” Chaerin added.

“Bye,” Aeryun called. “Your friends are probably waiting for you.”

After he left, Chaerin slowly turned toward her.

“What just happened?”

Aeryun gasped dramatically.

“I think we just got invited to try limited-edition exclusive fortune cookies before they’re officially launched?.”

From down the corridor, Liora and Jiwon had witnessed the entire interaction.

Out of the two of them, Liora looked the most affected.

She sat beside Zeon every day.

She deliberately joined group projects whenever possible.

She spent time with his friends after school, hoping he would eventually notice her.

Yet somehow, he never seemed to.

Jiwon noticed the sadness creeping across her face.

“Liora?”

No response.

“Liora?”

Still nothing.

“Are you even listening to me?”

Liora blinked and finally snapped back to reality.

“Huh? Sorry. What?”

Jiwon narrowed her eyes.

“Nothing.”

Then she sighed.

“You weren't listening to a single word I said.”

“Sorry,” Liora replied quietly. “I was just thinking about something.”

Jiwon studied her for a moment before shrugging.

“Come on. Let's go to the cafeteria.”

Liora forced a small smile.

“Yeah. Let's go.”

In the cafeteria, Aeryun, Chaerin, Liora, Jiwon, and Zeon stood in the lunch queue with trays in their hands.

Meanwhile, Myeora had already claimed a table and started eating.

A boy who attempted to sit across from her barely managed to pull out his chair before Myeora looked up.

“Who do you think you are?” she asked coldly.

The boy immediately froze.

“I might allow my friends to sit with me,” Myeora added, “but you aren't one of them.”

Everyone knew better than to argue with her.

The boy quickly stood up, tripped over his chair in the process, and nearly fell. His friends burst into laughter as he hurried away in embarrassment.

A few moments later, Jiwon placed her tray down and sat beside Myeora.

“Where's Liora and the others?” Myeora asked.

“Liora will probably join us soon; I don't know about the others,” Jiwon replied.

Further ahead, Bae Joonho spotted Chaerin and waved her over.

Aeryun immediately grinned.

“Oh, yes. Tell me everything. What happened on your very early morning date?”

“Shh!” Chaerin hissed. “Lower your voice.”

Aeryun dramatically zipped her lips.

Chaerin sighed.

“Well, it wasn't exactly a date.”

“Go on.”

“There were way too many chocolates for me to carry, so Joonho carried them to his house since it's close to the candy shop.”

Aeryun nodded.

“Reasonable.”

“He said he'll deliver them to my house later. Then he apologized and asked if I'd like to go to a café with him this evening.”

Aeryun blinked.

“Wow.”

Chaerin looked nervous.

“What?”

Aeryun smiled.

“He really isn't that bad after all.”

Chaerin tried—and failed—to hide her smile.

Aeryun pointed toward Joonho's table.

“You should go.”

“What about you?”

“I'll sit somewhere else,” Aeryun replied. “I don't want to ruin your cafeteria date.”

“It isn't a date.”

“Sure.”

“It isn't!”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Chaerin groaned.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes. Go ahead,” Aeryun laughed. “Besides, his friends are there too. It'd be awkward.”

Chaerin finally gave up and headed toward Joonho's table.

Aeryun continued moving forward in the queue, scanning the cafeteria for an empty seat.

Across the room, Zeon was sitting with a group of friends.

Their eyes met.

Zeon pointed at the empty seat across from him and gestured for her to join them.

Aeryun shook her head and mouthed,

It's okay.

The cafeteria was growing more crowded by the second.

Zeon gestured again.

Come here.

Aeryun sighed dramatically before smiling.

Okay.

She picked up her tray and started walking toward his table.

Unfortunately, someone else noticed first.

Liora.

The moment she realized where Aeryun was heading, she hurried forward with her tray and slipped into the empty seat before Aeryun could reach it.

Aeryun stopped.

Liora looked up.

“How may I help you?” she asked.

Aeryun blinked.

“Oh. Nothing.”

Then she smiled politely.

“Don't worry. I'll find another seat.”

She glanced at Zeon.

“Thanks for trying to save me a seat.”

Before Zeon could reply, Aeryun turned away and resumed her search.

Then she heard a familiar voice.

“Aeryun!”

She turned around.

It was Hannah.

Again.

Hannah sat beside her aunt and enthusiastically waved both arms in the air.

“Come sit with us!”

Aeryun placed a hand over her heart.

“You are literally an angel in disguise.”

Hannah giggled.

“You keep rescuing me from one situation after another.”

Then Aeryun looked at Hannah's aunt.

“Would it be alright if I joined you?”

“Of course,” her aunt replied warmly. “You're more than welcome.”

“Thank you.”

Aeryun happily sat down.

“After lunch, we're eating the chocolate you gave me.”

Hannah nodded enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, back at Zeon's table, Liora attempted to make conversation.

“It’s crowded today, isn't it?” she asked.

Zeon simply nodded.

An awkward silence followed.

A few moments later, Liora pointed at her soup.

“Do you like these vegetables? They're disgusting.”

“Well,” Zeon replied, “I love them.”

Liora froze.

“Oh.”

Then she forced a laugh.

“Right. I mean... they're disgustingly good.”

Zeon returned to eating.

Liora tried several more times to make conversation, but nothing seemed to stick.

Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on how she chose to look at it—some of Zeon's friends from another section called him over to the basketball court.

“Zeon!”

He immediately looked up.

“Coming!”

Without hesitation, he began eating at an alarming speed.

Liora watched in horror as he practically inhaled his lunch.

Within minutes, his tray was empty.

He cleaned up, stood, and jogged toward the basketball court.

Liora stared after him.

Then she looked down at her own tray.

Am I crushing on the wrong person? she wondered.

At Hannah's table, an entirely different battle was taking place.

Hannah was struggling with her soup.

More specifically, the vegetables floating inside it.

Aeryun noticed immediately.

However, she knew forcing children to eat vegetables rarely worked.

Negotiation worked much better.

“A question,” Aeryun said.

Hannah looked up suspiciously.

“What?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure.”

Aeryun leaned forward dramatically.

“I can only tell you if you like pretty nails.”

Hannah frowned.

“Who likes nails?”

“Not just any nails,” Aeryun whispered. “Magical nails.”

Hannah gasped.

“Magical?”

“Yes.”

Aeryun held out her hand.

Then she tilted it toward the sunlight streaming through the cafeteria windows.

Her nails gleamed.

There wasn't any color on them—just a clear coat—but they shone beautifully.

Hannah's eyes widened.

“How did you get them?”

Aeryun lowered her voice.

“I eat vegetables every day.”

It was, technically, a lie.

The shine came from clear nail polish.

But there was no reason to ruin the magic.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Hannah looked at her soup.

Then at the nails.

Then back at the soup.

Without another word, she began attacking the vegetables.

Aeryun bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

Within minutes, the bowl was empty.

Hannah immediately examined her nails.

“Are they shinier?”

Aeryun nodded solemnly.

“It takes time. You have to eat vegetables religiously for several days.”

“I will!”

Hannah declared.

“I'm drinking soup every day from now on.”

Her aunt stared at Aeryun in complete disbelief.

She had spent months trying to convince Hannah to eat vegetables.

Aeryun had accomplished it in under ten minutes.

Finally, Hannah stood up.

“Let's meet again soon!”

“We definitely will,” Aeryun replied with a smile.