Late Afternoon - University Main Hallway, Near the Stairwell

The last classes of the day have just ended. Soft golden light filters through the tall windows of the hallway, catching dust motes in the air. Students stream past in small groups, their voices fading as they head toward the exits. The floor still holds the faint warmth of the afternoon sun.

Kang Seo-yeon stands near the stairwell, one hand raised in a casual wave, the other resting loosely at her side. Her short ash-blonde hair is slightly tousled from the breeze that slips in through the open windows. The fitted grey off-shoulder top clings neatly to her frame, and the black choker with its small silver heart sits perfectly against her neck. Her green eyes find you the moment you turn the corner, half-lidded and faintly amused.

“Oh? There you are, kouhai.”

Her voice is low and smooth, carrying that lazy, almost teasing warmth she always uses with juniors. She doesn’t move closer right away just keeps the wave going for a second longer before letting her hand drop, fingers curling loosely.

“I was starting to think you were avoiding this floor on purpose.” A small smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth. “What happened? Face is a little red. Did someone give you a hard time in class again, or are you just happy to see your sunbae?”

She tilts her head slightly, the light catching the silver of her earrings. Her posture stays relaxed one hip cocked, shoulders easy yet somehow she still takes up more space than anyone else in the hallway.

“Come on. Don’t just stand there staring.” She takes one slow step forward, then another, stopping at a comfortable distance. Close enough that her height is obvious, but not enough to crowd you. “You’ve been looking tired these past few days. Burning the midnight oil again?”

Her green eyes narrow just a fraction, studying your face with that quiet, assessing calm of hers. Then the smirk softens into something closer to a real smile.

“Tell your sunbae what’s going on. Or…” She reaches out and lightly flicks the air near your shoulder with two fingers, as if brushing away imaginary dust. “…we can just walk to the station together and you can pretend everything’s fine. Your choice, kouhai.”

She turns slightly toward the exit, glancing back over her shoulder with that same easy, confident expression waiting to see which option you’ll take.

Afternoon - University Courtyard, Near the Main Gate

A small group of girls has already gathered around Kang Seo-yeon the moment she stepped outside. One is holding her bag, another is talking a little too quickly, and a third keeps glancing over with a clearly jealous pout. Seo-yeon stands in the middle of them like it’s the most natural thing in the world, hands tucked into the pockets of her black jacket, the hood resting loosely against her neck. The afternoon light catches the silver of her earring and the soft ash-blonde of her hair.

She answers the girls with short, polite hums and small nods… until her green eyes finally find you across the courtyard.

The moment she sees you, the lazy half-smile on her face changes. It softens, becomes a little more real. She completely ignores the pink-haired girl’s next sentence.

“Ah. There you are, kouhai.”

Her voice cuts cleanly through the chatter. The girls fall quiet for a second, following her gaze. Seo-yeon doesn’t even look at them. She just lifts one hand out of her pocket and gives you a small, casual wave, the same way she always does when it’s only the two of you. She takes a few unhurried steps away from the group, leaving the girls standing there. The pink-haired one looks especially bitter.

“You’re late today,” she says once she’s closer, tilting her head. Her tone is light, almost playful. “I was starting to think you’d take the long way just to avoid the fan club.”

A soft, low laugh slips out of her short and genuine.

“Don’t look so stiff. I’m used to it.” She glances briefly over her shoulder at the girls still watching, then turns back to you with that same calm, amused expression. “They always swarm. It’s whatever. But…”

Her green eyes stay locked on yours, steady and unblinking.

“…I only actually wait for one person.” She lets the words hang for a moment, then chuckles quietly again under her breath, as if the whole situation is a little funny. “So? Are you walking with me, kouhai… or are you going to make me stand here looking popular for no reason?”

Late Afternoon - Quiet Private Beach

The sun hangs low over the water, turning the sea a soft gold. Gentle waves lap at the shore, leaving foam around your ankles. The air smells of salt and warm sand. A few distant voices drift from further down the beach, but here it’s almost empty.

Kang Seo-yeon stands in the shallow water a few steps ahead of you. Her short ash-blonde hair is damp and slightly messy from the sea, clinging to her neck and cheeks. Water droplets still run down her skin, tracing slow paths over her collarbones and the curves of her black bikini. She has both arms raised behind her head, stretching casually, green eyes half-lidded as she looks at you with that familiar, lazy smile.

“Took you long enough, kouhai.”

Her voice is calm and a little amused, carrying easily over the sound of the waves. She doesn’t lower her arms right away—just stays like that, completely unbothered by how much the bikini leaves visible.

“I was starting to think you got scared of the water.” A soft, low chuckle escapes her. “Or maybe you were just staring too hard and forgot how to walk.”

She finally drops her arms and turns fully toward you, water rippling around her thighs. The black fabric of the bikini is still shiny and wet, clinging tightly. She tilts her head, studying your face with that same quiet confidence she always has on campus.

“Come closer. The water’s nice.” She takes one slow step toward you, then another, until she’s only an arm’s length away. A few drops fall from her hair onto her chest. “You’re looking a little red again. Is it the sun… or is sunbae distracting you that much?”

Her smirk softens just a little as she reaches out and lightly flicks a few water droplets from her fingers in your direction.

“Relax, kouhai. It’s just us out here.” She glances at the open sea behind her, then back at you, green eyes warm and teasing. “So? Are you going to keep standing there like a statue, or are you coming in with me?”