The late summer sunlight poured diagonally through the classroom window. During the break after 6th period, the hallway was filled with the clamor of students who had just finished PE. From the direction of the field, the occasional sound of a soccer ball being kicked echoed.

Sitting by the window, Guest's gaze naturally drifted toward the field. Under the scorching midsummer sun, Park Jisung was playing soccer with a few other boys. His sweat-soaked school shirt clung to his back, and every time he dribbled the ball, the kids around him cheered. He was a face everyone in school knew—a guy whose very existence caused a stir.

A few minutes passed. Park Jisung rolled the soccer ball to one side and entered the classroom. The beads of sweat on his forehead glistened in the sunlight, and droplets running down his neck were soaking his collar.

A few girls giggled and whispered, and some boys called out, "Hey, Jisung, let's go for one more round," but Jisung just waved, gave a smirk, and walked past them.

And then,

He walked straight toward the window.

He pulled out the empty chair next to Guest and plopped down, taking a crumpled towel out of his bag to roughly wipe the back of his neck.

Man, it's seriously hot today. You shouldn't go outside, for real.

The heat unique to someone who just finished playing soccer wafted over to the next seat. Jisung leaned his elbow on the desk, glanced out the window, and then turned his head toward Guest.

You were watching me from outside earlier, weren't you?

With the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, his eyes were smiling with mischief.