This World is too Cruel to Men

‘I found him… but…’

Now what should I do?

Just a moment ago, before I spotted that familiar face from the uniform store among the new students filing in, my mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts.

Now… my mind was blank.

Blank as a sheet of fresh snow.

The sudden emptiness was both bewildering and strangely fascinating.

If I hadn’t been preparing for this day and this potential encounter, meticulously running simulations in my head, I might have understood this blankness.

It felt like studying hard for a test only to be told on the day of the exam that the scope had changed.

All my preparations, focused solely on this day, felt instantly useless.

While this left me feeling lost, it also sparked a flicker of anticipation.

Other people, even professional instructors known for training numerous Heroes, had expressed doubts about my talent, saying it would be difficult with what I had.

Of course, not everyone is the same.

Some suggested a sliver of possibility, a “what if,” but even that lacked any real conviction.

But Dokgun…

He had strong conviction about my talent.

Why?

I didn’t even believe in my own talent… What did he see in me?

Of course… I knew.

What he said back then could have been a casual remark, a cautionary word to a friend who might have been letting their guard down.

But… I didn’t think so.

…I wanted to believe it wasn’t.

If even this last shred of possibility crumbled, I felt like I would truly… lose my way.

Like I wouldn’t be able to hold on any longer and would collapse.

‘So…’

How should I approach him?

The more I thought, the more frustrated I became. I was sighing to myself when…

“…President?”

“Oh, uh?!”

A voice called out to me.

My heart leaped in surprise. I spun around, my gaze landing on a slightly puzzled face.

“It’s almost time for you to go out…”

“…Ah.”

Right, I should deal with the task at hand first.

And who knows?

Perhaps a strong showing as the Student Council President at the entrance ceremony, which was about to begin, might help in a future conversation with Dokgun.

At the very least, it would make me seem dependable.

I straightened my posture, preparing myself.

“Is the new student headcount complete?”

“Yes, President. We are contacting those who are absent to confirm their reasons.”

After confirming all the necessary pre-ceremony checks, I slowly ascended the podium.

***

-Greetings.

A captivating voice flowed through the speakers, cutting through the chaotic chatter that had been making me slightly dizzy.

The moment that voice resonated through the auditorium, the market-like atmosphere quieted almost instantly.

The gazes of the students seated around me turned towards the podium… Honestly, I was impressed.

This was leadership.

This was charisma.

I couldn’t help but wonder who it was.

Who could command such presence so effortlessly?

Driven by curiosity, I looked towards the podium—

‘…Huh?’

Standing there was a familiar face, a woman I had seen a few times before.

‘Let’s see… her name was… Baek…’

Baek Seol-hwa?

-Welcome, new students. I am Baek Seol-hwa, the 32nd Student Council President of Yeon-gang High School.

Ah, right. Baek Seol-hwa, not Baek Seol-ha.

‘So…’

She was the Student Council President.

Honestly, the fact that she was the president of my new school wasn’t that surprising.

She was popular even outside of school, so it only made sense that she’d be even more so within its walls.

Listening to her speak, I understood why the students had chosen her.

It was… picturesque.

Just watching her gave me a sense of reassurance.

Perhaps that was why the entrance ceremony, despite the initial commotion, proceeded smoothly.

-Now, you will have time to tour the school facilities, guided by members of the Student Council.

Before I knew it, it was time for the tour.

“I wonder if the President will be leading a tour as well?”

“Hmm… probably?”

The guy I was so casually chatting with was, surprisingly, someone I had met for the first time today.

We happened to be in the same class, happened to be sitting next to each other during the ceremony, and had decided to become friends.

His friendliness was so infectious that it reminded me of Jinho, who was probably fighting off sleep in another school’s auditorium right now.

It made me feel at ease.

“I hope she comes to our class! Please!”

He clasped his hands together and prayed.

I chuckled at his earnestness, earning a questioning look.

“What? You should be praying too.”

“…Me too?”

“Come on, you want the President to guide our class too, don’t you?”

“Not really…”

“Really? Hand on your heart?”

Seriously, why did I have to go this far.

“Did your heart skip a beat when you first saw her or not?”

“Look, everyone’s heart skips a beat. If it doesn’t, you’re dead…”

“Come on! Were you impressed when you first saw her or not?!”

“…I was.”

I couldn’t deny that. His triumphant grin at my admission was so Jinho-like.

‘What is this…’

A doppelganger? If they met, would they argue about who was the real one until one of them died?

Their behavior was so similar that I was genuinely curious.

As I was pondering this Jinho Mk.2 and his uncanny resemblance to my friend, his fervent prayer seemed to reach the heavens.

His wish was about to come true.

***

“Alright, it’s time to guide the new students around the school… President?”

“…Yes?”

“You choose your class first. We’ll choose after you.”

Hearing this, I thought, ‘This is my chance.’

‘So… which class was he in?’

If I remembered correctly, it was either Class 3 or 4…

“Which class will you take?”

“Um… could I see the class list?”

I asked for the list to be sure.

“Here you are.”

I scanned the list, pretending to browse, until I confirmed what I needed to know.

“…I’ll take Class 3.”

“…Yes? Oh, alright. Class 3, you said.”

Did choosing Class 3 specifically seem strange to the others?

Puzzled gazes landed on me, but I couldn’t help it.

Nothing was certain yet, and I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Who knows? Maybe guiding his class would create a chance to talk to him.

After everyone chose their classes, we dispersed.

As I approached Class 3, my heart started pounding.

It was… strange.

I’d never been this nervous, even during the monthly Regular Sparring.

It wasn’t like I was going into a fight, so why was I so tense, my palms sweating?

I resisted the urge to wipe my hands on my skirt and continued walking.

Finally, I spotted the person I was looking for.

‘Ah…’

There he is.

There… he was.

And even then… my heart continued to pound.