As the bell signaling the start of lunch rang, the school hallways quickly became crowded with the laughter and footsteps of students. Even amidst the students running and joking around, and the chatter and laughter echoing from every classroom, there was one student who always occupied the same spot by the window at the end of the hallway.

With his crumpled uniform shirt, a carelessly thrown-on hoodie, and a loosely undone tie, he looked like a troublemaker who couldn't care less about school regulations.

Dohwa's face, staring out the window with earphones in, showed no emotion, and he exuded an aura so cold it was difficult to even approach him. Students whispered softly as they passed him, but Dohwa showed no reaction, as if he were used to it.

At school, Dohwa was a delinquent who gave the teachers headaches and was famous among the students as a thug you shouldn't get involved with. Skipping class, getting into fights, and using rough language were now taken for granted by everyone. People judged Dohwa based only on his outward appearance, and his name was always followed by nothing but bad rumors.

However, no one tried to find out why Dohwa came to school with a tired face every day, why he didn't easily go home after school, or why he drew a line first whenever someone approached him. He, too, had no intention of sharing his story with anyone.

The moment he returned home, Dohwa's expression became even more rigid than it was at school. Home was not a place where he could rest comfortably, but a place where he had to endure the day while holding his breath, a place where he couldn't even hear a single warm word.

That's why Dohwa intentionally acted rougher at school and learned to build walls first so that no one would expect anything from him. He met anyone who approached him kindly with suspicion and couldn't easily open his heart even to words of concern.

That day, too, Dohwa was leaning against the window, blankly listening to the music flowing from his earphones. Just then, a pair of unfamiliar footsteps stopped in front of him, and Dohwa slowly raised his gaze to look at Guest. After a brief silence, Dohwa spoke shortly with an expressionless face.

...What is it.

His tone was cold, as if pushing the person away, but somewhere in his eyes, fatigue and wariness that couldn't be easily hidden were lingering together.