Chapter 5

5. Is he a transfer student?

'As expected, it’s a bit awkward.'

U Jinhyuk kept pushing back his bangs that kept getting in his eyes. In his previous life, Jinhyuk would have cut his hair long ago.

There was no reason for a mercenary to have hair restrictions, but Jinhyuk always kept his hair short.

His appearance and attire were more akin to those of a regular military officer, clean and tidy. Of course, that was due to Jinhyuk's personality.

But after starting his new life, he still hadn't quite felt at home in his body, so he hadn't been able to change his style easily.

'Hmm, as expected... I should get a haircut.'

But he couldn't leave it like this forever. It was his body now. Jinhyuk decided he would definitely get a haircut today.

He had already scouted a place to get his hair cut while jogging. Jinhyuk couldn't ignore the sign in the window of the barbershop.

- 50% Special Discount for Students.

It was a small but clean barbershop. Jinhyuk cautiously entered.

"Welcome! Oh, what a handsome student! Hahaha. Come here. Sit down—"

The female barber greeted him with a loud, nasal voice. For a moment, Jinhyuk thought:

Should I leave?

It wasn't the atmosphere he had expected. He just wanted a clean, quiet haircut.

But somehow... his mercenary instincts were warning him of danger.

The barber urged Jinhyuk, who hesitated to sit down.

"What are you doing? Sit down quickly—"

Only after the barber pulled Jinhyuk's arm and led him to the chair could he finally sit down.

"Oh—Why does such a handsome student have such messy hair? It ruins your looks. I'll give you a really cool haircut!"

Sister?

...

...

Should I leave?

"What style do you want?"

"...Just short, please..."

"Hmm... short? Good choice! A handsome face shouldn't be hidden—Leave it to me!"

The barber started cutting his hair enthusiastically. Jinhyuk's hair began to fall to the floor.

"..."

It was too late to regret now. Jinhyuk just closed his eyes quietly.

How long had it been? The sound of a doorbell made Jinhyuk open his eyes.

"Big sister, I came... Mom!"

A female customer who had entered confidently screamed when she saw Jinhyuk in the mirror.

The group that followed her was also startled by Jinhyuk, though they didn't scream.

They quickly took seats on one side of the waiting area.

And.

Jinhyuk felt uncomfortable.

The two women kept glancing at his reflection in the mirror. And then,

"What? Why is he so handsome?"

"Wow, really. No kidding."

Their whispers were clearly audible to Jinhyuk.

"Wow! I thought he was handsome, but—Now that his hair is like this, he looks exactly like an actor. An actor. Hahaha."

Jinhyuk was a bit surprised himself.

The neatly trimmed face made him feel unfamiliar with his appearance, which he had just started to get used to.

The aesthetic sense he had developed as a mercenary was different from that of everyday life.

Even to Jinhyuk, his appearance looked quite good. The look of the young Jinhyuk.

It was definitely different from when he first saw his face. He had already felt the change in his appearance, but now he could really feel it after the haircut.

The barber, who had been looking proudly at Jinhyuk, finally noticed the two customers.

"Oh? When did you come in?"

"What? Big sister, you were so focused on greeting him."

"Oh, really? Sorry. I was too focused. I'm done. Just wait a moment."

What is this? This plain tone?

The barber's tone had suddenly changed. Jinhyuk glanced at her, wondering what was going on.

Suddenly, the barber's gaze returned to Jinhyuk, and her tone came back.

"How does it look? Isn't it great? Come here—Let me wash your hair and do some styling for you."

After washing and styling Jinhyuk's hair, the barber let out a sincere exclamation.

"Wow! I did it, but it's really a work of art."

The two female customers, who had been glancing at him, were now staring at him intently.

Jinhyuk got up to shake off the uncomfortable gazes.

Even as he paid and left, the female customers' gazes followed him.

Before he could fully leave the barbershop, a hurried female voice came from behind.

"Big sister, big sister. Who is he? Is he a celebrity? You said something about an actor earlier?"

And.

Jinhyuk's assumption that he could shake off the uncomfortable gazes once he left the barbershop was wrong.

"Hey, look at him."

More people were glancing at Jinhyuk. And,

"What's going on? Is he a celebrity? I think I've seen him somewhere."

"Oh, let's get closer and see."

The gazes were very obvious.

If they were gazes that threatened his life, he might have felt more comfortable.

Unfamiliar with the gazes around him, Jinhyuk quickened his steps toward home.

***

On the morning of the first day of school.

U Jinhyuk stood awkwardly in front of the mirror.

It was the first time he was wearing a high school uniform. The idea of going to school still didn't feel real.

"Jinhyuk, it's time to eat."

At his mother's voice, Jinhyuk adjusted his clothes one last time and picked up his bag.

His parents' eyes followed him as he opened the door and approached the dining table.

"Wow, our son is so handsome."

"Dear, why are you saying that now?"

Even his mother, who said that, looked at Jinhyuk with a new appreciation.

The reaction had been ongoing since he came home with his haircut last night.

Still feeling awkward with these reactions, Jinhyuk fixed his gaze on the table and busily ate.

"Jinhyuk, I've already talked to your homeroom teacher. You're going to school with Minwoo, right?"

"Yes."

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

"It must be Minwoo."

Do Minwoo. The only friend of the young Jinhyuk.

During the summer break, Minwoo visited the house at least once a week to talk about school life.

'Hey, do you really not remember anything?'

'Not at all.'

Fortunately, Minwoo was a talkative kid. He had a rough personality that didn't quite match his princely appearance,

'Jinhyuk, actually, you used to call me hyung.'

'...'

'Really, man!'

'...'

'Sorry...'

He was the type who found it hard to lie.

"Minwoo, take care of Jinhyuk."

"Ah! Don't worry, Mom! Who am I? Just trust me. Haha!"

The busy morning commute, the familiar sight of people rushing by. The morning scenery he always saw while exercising.

But today, the scenery was a bit different. The sight of students in uniforms walking to school in groups added a new element.

The road, filled with more vibrant and lively energy, was brimming with the anticipation of a new school year in the students' eyes...

"Man, I'm so tired."

"Me too."

"How can the summer break be over already?"

"Sigh, I want to die."

...wasn't there. That sparkling look in their eyes.

Who said that life is a comedy from a distance and a tragedy up close?

These young, vibrant youths were the same. From a distance, a lively walk to school. Up close, a bunch of game-addicted zombies.

'Huh.'

But Jinhyuk found even that endearing. To the eyes of a thirty-something mercenary, they were all cute and adorable.

Not all of them were game-addicted. Some lively female students were chatting with each other.

They were probably sharing memories of their enjoyable summer break.

"Hey, look at him."

"Wow, man. What is he? How can he be so handsome?"

"Right, right. He's definitely wearing our school uniform. Is there someone like that in our school?"

"Exactly. It's strange. I've never seen his face before."

"Wow, I just realized."

"What?"

"I like it when guys have short hair."

"Ah, crazy girl. Here we go again."

"Hey, you. Crazy girl is you. You and Donghyun-oppa... uh."

"Can't you be quiet? Not only quilts can be sewn with needles, you know?"

...No. Memories.

While the warm friendship of the female students, who were advising each other to get back to normal, made Jinhyuk think that his high school life might be a bit different from what he had imagined.

As Jinhyuk watched the students walking to school, they were also steadily looking at him.

When the whispers of the students became audible, Do Minwoo shook his head as if he was tired.

"Ah, really. The kids are at it again. Jinhyuk, sometimes I find my appearance burdensome."

Jinhyuk didn't bother to respond. But,

'You have long hair, Do Minwoo.'

Feeling a bit ridiculous, Jinhyuk wondered if it was because his body was in puberty.

Or was it just the mercenary U Jinhyuk's personality, which demanded clarity in facts?

"By the way, Jinhyuk, are you feeling okay? I heard that car accidents can cause pain later. And starting school is a big stress. If you feel sick at school, tell me right away. I'll take care of it. Got it?"

Do Minwoo was so excited that he talked non-stop on the way to school.

His sometimes loud voice and actions drew even more attention from the kids who were already looking at them.

The uncomfortable walk to school with kids glancing at them.

Was that it?

Jinhyuk's face did look quite handsome, but he wasn't sure if it was enough to draw so much attention.

Indeed, perhaps his outdated perspective as a mercenary who had been on the battlefield for a long time.

The discomfort didn't end with the walk to school.

Creak.

The moment he opened the classroom door and entered, dozens of black eyes gathered. Once they gathered, they didn't let go.

"What? Is he a transfer student?"

"Wow, damn. I've never felt chills from looking at a guy's face before."

"Ah, crazy guy. Is this the time for coming out?"

"What? This idiot."

Indeed, the warm conversation of the energetic teenage boys.

Jinhyuk just wanted to move quickly to his seat to avoid the gazes. But,

"Minwoo, where is my seat?"

"Oh, right!"

At Jinhyuk's whisper, Do Minwoo smiled meaningfully. He led the way with a look that said, "Just trust me."

Minwoo pointed to the second row from the back by the window.

'Here.'

As Jinhyuk sat down, Minwoo put his bag on the seat in front of Jinhyuk.

The window seat.

It was a seat he liked. As he sat down, he glanced out the window and saw a few kids running busily.

Jinhyuk looked at his desk.

My desk.

He touched the desk as if caressing it. He felt a warm sensation, not from his hands but from his heart.

Only now did he truly feel that his life as a high school student had begun.

He raised his gaze to the classroom. A few eyes quickly returned to their seats.

But among them, there were still eyes that glanced at him and one that stared openly.

'That guy. Is he in the same class?'

The boy he had met at the playground.

'His name was Lee Youngjun, right?'

Their eyes met. At that moment, a loud noise came from the back of the classroom.