A few days passed.
Neo-Seoul pretended everything was normal, but the silence from Genesis felt louder than any explosion.
**Haneul Academy – Auditorium**
Every student was packed into the tiered seats. The student-council officers marched onto the stage like a military parade.
Student Council President Kim Dae-sung tapped the mic once.
"Good day, everyone. I'll be quick.
Three weeks from now: final exams for this academic year.
After that, we seniors graduate and hand the school to you sophomores.
To choose the next president, three candidates from the current senior class have been selected."
He read the names without ceremony.
"Soo-jin Han.
Hyun-seok Lee.
Chae-won Baek."
Soo-jin's eyes widened for half a second before she stepped forward with the others.
The president continued, "Four were originally chosen. One refused the position."
A murmur rippled through the crowd; everyone knew who the fourth had been.
**Cafeteria – Lunch Break**
Min-jun, Ji-hoon, and Soo-jin claimed their usual corner table.
Ji-hoon grinned wide.
"Yo, one of you two actually made candidate! I knew I was never getting it; I'm barely passing math. But hey, they offered me disciplinary committee leader, so I'm basically school police now."
He leaned in. "So, Soo-jin, who's your deputy gonna be? Let me guess—Min-jun, right?"
Soo-jin gave a tiny, tired smile.
"Min-jun was offered the presidency. He turned it down flat. No way I can drag him in as deputy after that."
Ji-hoon's chopsticks froze mid-air.
"What the hell, bro? Besties don't hide that kind of thing!"
He stood up dramatically, pointing at Min-jun.
At that exact moment Hye-jin walked past their table without even glancing their way.
Min-jun watched her go.
"She's still not talking to us."
Soo-jin sighed.
"I'll speak to her. She's taking everything too seriously."
Ji-hoon lowered his voice.
"There's no point. She's made her choice. Let her go."
Soo-jin's eyes flashed.
"I don't care what you say. I'm talking to her."
**School Rooftop – After Final Bell**
The sky bled orange over Neo-Seoul.
Hye-jin stood alone at the railing, arms folded, watching students stream out the gates far below.
Footsteps behind her.
"Still need advice for that fantasy world you're building?" Soo-jin's voice, gentle but firm.
Hye-jin turned slowly.
"I've outgrown fairy tales, Soo-jin. Your turn."
Soo-jin stepped closer.
"You're acting like a child."
Hye-jin's laugh was bitter.
"My turn? Listen to yourself. None of this is your fault. It's that selfish bastard Min-jun. Everything revolves around him. He quits, he drags everyone down, and he never once thinks how it hurts the people who believed in him."
Soo-jin's expression hardened.
"I thought you were more mature than this. Now you sound exactly like the rumor mill. Ji-hoon was right—talking to you is a waste of breath."
She turned to leave.
Hye-jin's voice dropped to a whisper Soo-jin couldn't hear.
"I'm sorry… but for my plan to work, I have to cut every emotional attachment."
Soo-jin walked away. The rooftop door clanged shut.
Hye-jin stayed there until sunset, eyes fixed on the horizon where Incheon's silhouette smoldered against the dying light.