The Sun-Like Senior

Club introduction time. "Our student council—" A simple introduction. The student council president gave a brief rundown of the student council ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and greeted everyone. Her movements were graceful and refined, like a noble lady straight out of some novel. The first-years in the class murmured.

"Are there nobles in Korea?"

"No way. But she said student council, right?"

"Competition's gotta be brutal. Interviews?"

They chatted in little groups. In the midst of it all, another senior stepped forward to start her club intro.

"Hey! I'm in charge of the computer club—"

. . . And so the seniors introduced their clubs one by one. Before long, the presentations were winding down, with just one person left.

Yet—

"......"

"......"

"......"

All eyes turned to the last remaining senior. The first-years instinctively fell silent under the pressure, but the one drawing all those stares?

"Hey, kids! Anyone know me?"

She bolted to the podium and thrust her arms out wide. In an instant, she seized the room's atmosphere and flipped it on its head. The first-years froze a little at her sheer energy, pushed back just a bit. But she showed no sign of intimidation whatsoever.

"I'm Sora! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Han So-ra! Nice to meet you all!"

Sora waved her arms even bigger. With the happiest smile in the world, she melted the mood with her laughter alone, pulling every gaze in the room. The kid studying, the ones chatting with friends, even those who'd already picked a club—they all looked her way. Sora stood out that much. Her God-given vibrancy was on full display.

Then, a faint mutter rose from the class.

"Senior Sora... she's in theater club this year, right?"

It was quiet, but everyone heard. Of course— the whole class was zeroed in on Sora, hanging on her every word.

Having heard the right answer, Sora thrust up a thumbs-up like it was the ultimate win.

"Bingo! Everyone, give it up!"

She naturally drew cheers from the crowd. Watching her, the other seniors all let out quiet sighs.

'She did it again.'

'Talking like a damn demagogue.'

'Regret recruiting her? Makes sense.'

The top energy source for all second-years, Sora was like the sun. Hot, intense, massive. Well, the last part meant something a bit different, but anyway—Sora fit the sun description perfectly. That's why most second-years got along with her.

As the seniors mulled over those thoughts, Sora kept the words flowing nonstop.

"Of course! Theater club isn't just for people who wanna get on stage!"

She smashed the obvious prejudice first. Deliberately avoiding "actor," she kept it vague and broad. Then she naturally expanded the scope, spreading her fingers wide and folding them one by one.

"Scripts, props, directing, lights, sound—tons of roles! We need a huge crew! I wish everyone would join theater club."

Zing. Student council president Kang Eun-seo's sharp gaze pierced right through Sora. Ignoring the prickling beam on her back, Sora shot her eyes sideways just a touch.

Hmm, is that the one? The underclassman Eun-seo's locked onto?

Sora was theater club's star actress. People on stage naturally get good at reading humans. Tiny gestures. Foot directions. Eyes moving by will or force. So Sora had noticed. Right from the start of Eun-seo's student council intro, the kid her gaze had lingered on.

Probably someone she'd marked for council. Unlike clubs that rake in activity funds with sheer numbers, student council cared about quality over quantity.

But—

Hmm~ Doesn't feel like Eun-seo's type.

That was Sora's personal take. Over 180cm tall. Face you could call handsome. An aura that made him hard to approach. But that was it. No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠proven grades or skills. From a natural gut check?

Just a pretty face? Nah, not her style...

Curiosity bubbled up at the same time. What face would Eun-seo make if she poked this guy in front of her? Her friend lived every day so rigidly. Like she wouldn't bleed even if pricked with a needle. So it was about time she showed a human expression once in a while.

"Hey~ You in the back? What's your name?"

Sora jumped straight into action. Thinking and waiting wasn't her style.

Sudden move from Sora. The pointed-out guy pointed at himself.

"Me?"

"Yup yup! What's your name?"

"Sung-hoon. Kang Sung-hoon, Senior."

"OK, locked in."

Aggro pulled for now. So, what face was Student Council President Eun-seo making? Sora flicked her eyes over. She'd fired it off on a whim—what expression would she have? Would she get mad at the meddling, or stay stone-faced?

Sora peeked at Eun-seo, heart pounding.

......Oh crap...?

She swallowed those words inwardly. The Eun-seo she saw was calmer and more serene than she'd ever witnessed.

But volcanoes go quietest right before eruption. Why did that peace look like an about-to-blow volcano to Sora?

Sora gulped. To switch gears, she slammed her palm on the desk.

"Anyoneing over clubs, come check out theater! I'll hook you up with snacks!"

She wrapped it up fast. Push any further, and she might see Eun-seo's real wrath. Sora had no hobby of courting death. Angry Eun-seo was scary enough, and she held student council power. If this became an excuse to cut theater's budget? Sora might get killed by her seniors.

With those thoughts, Sora slipped back slyly. Seeing it, the homeroom teacher chimed in.

"Everyone hear the club intros well? Write up your applications in three days and bring 'em to me."

And with that, the storm of club introductions ended.

After classes ended. Dismissal time.

"Ah... where's Eun-seo?"

Sora wandered the school, poking around. Normally, she'd either flee theater club or get caught by seniors and die, but today was different. The scene from moments ago flashed back in Sora's head.

Sora thought back and felt truly relieved. She'd expected a script to fly at her head at least, but superhuman patience had held it back.

Probably held back 'cause freshmen were there? Time to goof off big-time!

No remorse whatsoever from Sora. Unaware of what karmic backlash her antics would bring after recruitment ended.

Anyway—

"Where the heck did Eun-seo go?"

No matter how she searched the school, no student council president. Student council room. Second-year hallway. Even the bathroom at the end. She'd combed everywhere.

Maybe she'd dreamed of clocking out early and bolted home? But...

No way, second-year means less exam pressure—did she ditch first?

This school put second-years as president. Seniors got swamped with college prep. So second-years built specs, freeing up third-years. School policy.

Before she knew it, Sora's feet had taken her downstairs. Keep going, and you'd hit the first-year hallway naturally.

"Whoa! These kids already bailed!"

The first-year hall was empty. Just one year apart, but worlds different from the lingering second-years. Sora strolled the vacant corridor. Sunset dyed the classrooms red through the windows, staging a dramatic scene.

Sunset lighting would make a killer shot. Gotta tell senior later.

With that in mind, Sora kept walking.

"We don't take peddlers."

That voice rang in her ears—familiar. Sora instantly recalled who.

Sung-hoon, right? But peddler outta nowhere?

As Sora wondered, another voice cleared it up.

"Underclassman, 'peddler' is a bit harsh, no?"

"Peddler's what he is. Not wrong."

Instinctively, Sora ducked out of sight. The one talking to Sung-hoon now was the student council president.

Big scoop! Big scoop!

As Sora thrilled, their chat continued.

"You really not joining student council?"

"Nah. Sounds like a huge hassle from the start."

Eun-seo recruited, Sung-hoon refused. Normally you'd back off after that, but Eun-seo never wavered once.

"Student council needs top talent."

"President's way better, so you're good, right?"

"You mean that seriously? That I'm better?"

Sora caught every word. Zeroed in on Sung-hoon and Eun-seo, his voice suddenly dropped.

"Right now..."

What? What'd he say? The thrilling story cut off—Sora naturally straightened up.

"Ah."

Eye-to-eye with Eun-seo. Close enough you couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fit a hand between.

Eun-seo grabbed Sora's shoulder.

"Us, wanna talk over there a sec? And Sung-hoon..."

Her words cut off. Obviously—Sung-hoon was gone from the spot.

He'd ditched. Used Sora as bait to escape.

Realizing it, Eun-seo's grip on Sora tightened.

"T-Time??"

"Han So-ra. Let's have a nice, long talk today."

And so Sora got dragged off by Eun-seo. Soon after, a four-hour sermon erupted from the student council president in full earnest.

Me too! Let me go too! Sora apparently wailed inwardly in that moment.

After escaping Eun-seo's clutches.

Sung-hoon ran into an unexpected person in an unexpected place.

"Why're you here?"

"...Just?"

Park Ha-yoon said that, pulling her cap down low.