Minjae shuffled through the crowded hallways of his new high school, his backpack sagging under the weight of textbooks and, more importantly, his beloved manga volumes. His eyes flicked nervously around, hoping no one would notice the intense focus he gave to the latest volume of his favorite series. The noise of chattering students, lockers slamming, and footsteps felt like background static — a world apart from the one he escaped to inside those pages.
"Hey, Minjae! You coming or what?" a familiar voice called out, pulling him back.
Minjae looked up to see Hyunwoo waving enthusiastically from the entrance of their homeroom. With a sheepish grin, he hurried over, trying to keep a bit of his nerdy pride.
"Sorry, got lost in this," he said, holding up the manga.
Hyunwoo rolled his eyes but smiled. "You and your comics, man. Sometimes I think you live in those stories more than real life. Don't forget, this is the real world."
Before Minjae could respond, a soft voice chimed in from behind. "You know, if you spent half as much time paying attention in class as you do reading those, you'd probably be top of the grade."
Minjae turned and found Jisoo leaning casually against a locker, a teasing smile playing on her lips. Her long, slightly messy hair framed sharp eyes that seemed to miss nothing. She was always quick-witted, the kind of girl who could be both your best ally and your fiercest rival in a heartbeat.
"Easy for you to say," Minjae grinned. "You're the one who's always top of the class."
Jisoo shrugged nonchalantly. "Just saying."
The three of them made their way into the classroom, slipping into their usual seats in the back row. The teacher began the lesson, but Minjae's mind wandered. His thoughts kept circling back to the text message from last night — the debt collector's cold warning that hung over him like a storm cloud.
He tried to push it aside, focusing instead on the easy banter and laughter exchanged with Hyunwoo and Jisoo. Their friendship was a rare light in the otherwise overwhelming world of high school.
"So, what's the plan for after school?" Hyunwoo asked, munching on a granola bar.
"Gaming marathon at my place," Minjae replied. "You better bring snacks."
Jisoo rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You're such a nerd."
"Hey, someone's gotta keep the otaku legacy alive," Minjae said proudly, a faint smile touching his lips.
As the day dragged on, Minjae couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in his gut. Whispers in the hallways spoke of school gangs, debts, and fights breaking out — dangers he'd long avoided, choosing the safety of his anime worlds instead.
But the real world was slowly closing in, and there was no pause or reset button to escape it.
When the final bell rang, the three friends gathered their things. Hyunwoo clapped Minjae on the back. "Don't worry, man. Whatever comes, we'll handle it."
Jisoo gave a small nod, her usual sharp gaze softening just a bit. "We've got your back."
Minjae forced a smile, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on him. For now, the battle lines were blurred, but soon, his life was going to change — whether he was ready or not.