The buses screeched to a halt in front of Notte World, the sprawling theme park buzzing with morning crowds. The moment the doors hissed open, students spilled out in excited clusters, voices overlapping in a rush of chatter.
Teachers yelled for order, their voices already drowned beneath the tide of sneakers and laughter.
Seong Min stepped down last from his bus, his violet eyes scanning the park gates like a general surveying new territory. He was calm, detached—but his presence drew whispers anyway.
Yui Kim trailed close behind him, her copper hair catching the sunlight. She tugged her jacket low across her skirt, cheeks still tinted with the faint flush from the ride. No one else knew why—except Zoe. And Crystal.
Seong Min shrugged off his own jacket without a word and draped it over Yui's shoulders. She looked up at him, eyes shining, a private smile flickering at the corners of her lips.
To anyone else, it looked harmless. A kind gesture.
But Zoe and Crystal both froze.
For Zoe, the image pulled her straight back into the bathroom weeks ago. Yui crouched on the tile, half-dressed, clothes wrinkled, thighs trembling, face glazed with post-shame. Zoe had thrown a jacket around her then, shielding her from stares.
Now she watched Yui wear his instead—with pride, not shame. Zoe clenched her fists.
For Crystal, it was the video. The one her phone still held, buried in her private chat. Yui's face flushed, her parted lips gasping, Seong Min's hand hidden under her skirt. And Yui's whisper, taunting, branding itself into Crystal's skull:
"See, Crystal? He only rewards loyalty."
The memory burned. Not just anger—something hotter, sharper. She forced her face into its usual mask, but her jaw tightened until her teeth ached.
The Queen's pride whispered one truth:I won't allow Yui to stay at his side.
Crystal's eyes slid toward Zoe. For once, their gazes met. They didn't need words. Both of them had seen. Both of them knew.
But neither would yield.
The teachers barked orders again, shoving students toward the entrance. The crowd surged forward, tugging everyone into the swirl of Notte World's gates.
And just like that, the field trip chaos began.
Potato High Arrives
While J High clustered inside the gates, another bus screeched to a stop. Potato High students poured out, their uniforms rougher, their accents thicker. Their chatter carried irritation more than excitement.
They weren't here for fun. They were here to prove something.
At the front of the group stood Seonong Ham, a wiry boy with puffed-up bravado and a desperate gleam in his eyes. He glanced at his reflection in the ticket booth window, brushing invisible dirt off his Potato High tracksuit.
"This is it," he muttered, puffing his chest. "Soomi'll see I'm the real man today."
Behind him, the girl in question—Soomi—was already distracted. Her eyes darted past him, locking onto Daniel Park as he stepped through the gates.
Daniel didn't even notice. His broad shoulders, his easy stride, his face that drew whispers without effort—it was enough. Soomi's heart fluttered, her attention stolen.
Seonong's hands curled into fists.
"She'll see," he hissed again.
The rides loomed ahead, colorful beasts of steel and light. Students rushed toward them, dragging friends by the wrist.
Jace stuck close to Vasco, who looked pale the moment he stepped off the bus. His stomach churned, his legs stiff.
"Hyung, you okay?" Jace asked carefully.
Vasco nodded once, jaw tight. He'd never admit weakness. Not in front of the juniors, not in front of strangers.
But then the roller coaster thundered overhead, rattling the ground. The sheer sound hit Vasco's gut like a hammer.
He bent forward.
"Hyung—"
"Bleeegh!"
The splash landed square on Seonong Ham's pristine Potato High tracksuit.
The crowd froze.
Gasps. Stifled laughs. Even Jace winced.
Seonong looked down at his dripping chest, his eye twitching. Slowly, his face turned beet red.
"You… city trash…"
The words hissed through clenched teeth. His fists trembled.
But before he could explode, another voice cut sharp.
"Oops," Zoe Park said sweetly from a few rows up, hand over her mouth. "Guess even your country fashion is puke-resistant."
Laughter erupted.
Seonong's rage doubled. His humiliation crackled in the air, his pride burning hotter than the sun overhead.
Soomi glanced his way—but her gaze drifted right back to Daniel, who was helping Zoe adjust her bag.
Seonong saw it.
And snapped.
Potato High's Challenge
Seonong stomped forward, chest heaving, every step dripping anger.
"You think you're better than us just 'cause you're city kids?" he snarled. "You think you can just laugh at me?!"
He jabbed a finger straight at Daniel.
"You. Pretty boy. Fight me."
Daniel blinked, startled. "What?"
Soomi clapped her hands together, heart-shaped eyes fixed on Daniel. "hey he's challenging you! Oh my god, he's so cool…"
Daniel's shoulders sagged. He didn't want a fight. Not here. Not like this.
But Seonong's pride demanded blood.
Behind him, Potato High boys rallied, shouting half-hearted chants, puffing their chests to look bigger.
Behind Daniel, J High shifted uneasily. Zack cracked his knuckles. Vasco stood straighter despite his pale face. Even Vin Jin adjusted his shades, muttering under his breath.
The tension drew stares from every corner of Notte World.
And still, Seong Min stood apart, watching in silence. His violet eyes flicked between Seonong's rage, Daniel's unease, and Crystal's mask of calm.
For him, this wasn't noise. It was a chessboard.
And everything were moving exactly as he expected.
Crystal stood a little apart from her classmates, her arms folded, posture perfect.
She didn't laugh at Vasco's accident. She didn't flinch at Seonong's shouts.
Her gaze had locked onto one thing only: Seong Min, standing still amidst the chaos.
The video still echoed in her mind—Yui moaning, whispering about loyalty. The sight of his jacket draped over Yui's shoulders. The smug smile Zoe gave when she noticed Crystal watching.
Crystal's mask didn't crack.
But her thoughts were sharp as glass.
If I don't move, Yui will keep that place. If I don't stop her, Zoe will try to take it too.
Her fingers curled around her phone, nails digging faint crescents into her palm.
When the moment came, she would act.
She didn't know yet if it would be in front of everyone or in the privacy of the Ferris Wheel's shadow. But one thing was certain.
I won't allow Yui to stay at his side.
And if that meant standing against him directly… then so be it.
✨ End of Chapter 74✨