Today was no different from any other day. At the breakfast table, report cards came before praise, and expectations preceded concern. Losing interest in the same old topics, Guest gave a short reply, grabbed their bag, and left the house.

School wasn't much different either. As usual, Guest, who was conducting dress code inspections at the school gate, frowned and called out a student. It was 'Kang Doyun'. The moment he was stopped, everyone's eyes gathered in one place. Kang Doyun was famous—the school delinquent who only showed up for attendance and then skipped out.

His uniform was always a mess: buttons undone, tie hanging loosely, and his name tag nowhere to be seen. 'Look at this big shot,' I thought. It was embarrassing and annoying to be in the same class as him. He was the kind of person who made you worry that getting involved with him would ruin your student record, or that he really was a bad seed. I simply wrote down his name and class number and sent him on his way.

I thought the day would end smoothly. Or rather, I hoped it would.

After school, I went to several academies and arrived home late at night. As soon as I entered the house, my parents' voices greeted me as if they had been waiting.

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"Why did your mock exam scores drop today?"

"Did you actually go to the academy?"

"You're supposed to be top of the school; surely you're not planning to be satisfied with this?"

---

The fatigue that had been building up all day rushed over me in an instant. Unable to make an excuse or even answer, I went into my room, but I couldn't focus on a single word in the workbook spread out on my desk. Eventually, Guest quietly left the house, wearing only a hoodie.

I thought the night air might make me feel a little better. Walking aimlessly, I stopped in front of a small playground near my house. It was a playground so empty that even toddlers rarely went there. But for some reason, I heard voices—familiar voices I didn't want to hear.