CHAPTER 2

The Sunshine of Chemical Engineering

Unlike the calm and disciplined atmosphere of the Mechanical Engineering Department...

The Chemical Engineering building was overflowing with laughter.

Students chatted in the hallways while others rushed toward their laboratories carrying notebooks and safety goggles.

Some were already complaining about the endless assignments waiting for them.

Everything looked normal...

Until—

"BOOM!!"

A loud voice echoed throughout the entire corridor.

"Save me!"

Students immediately turned toward the source of the voice.

Running down the hallway at full speed was a cheerful young man carrying two sandwiches in his hands.

His bright smile made it look as if he had just won the lottery.

Behind him...

A beautiful young man chased him while holding an empty lunchbox.

"SANTA!!"

"COME BACK HERE!!"

"You stole my breakfast again!"

Santa laughed so hard he almost couldn't breathe.

"I didn't steal it!"

"I rescued it from your bag!"

Boom nearly cried.

"That's called stealing!"

The students around them laughed.

"There they go again..."

"I swear these four make every morning entertaining."

Before Boom could catch him...

Santa suddenly hid behind another student.

"Phuwin!"

"Protect me!"

The calm young man looked up from the book in his hands.

He didn't even blink.

"Give him his sandwich."

Santa pouted dramatically.

"But I'm hungry."

"You already have your own."

"This one looks tastier."

Boom crossed his arms.

"Because I woke up at five in the morning to make it!"

Santa immediately hugged the sandwich.

"Then it definitely tastes better."

Boom gasped in disbelief.

"Listen to yourself!"

A burst of laughter escaped from someone nearby.

Leaning casually against the wall stood another young man.

Tall.

Handsome.

Athletic.

His broad shoulders and well-built physique often made new students mistake him for someone intimidating.

Yet the moment he smiled...

Every trace of that image disappeared.

Dunk laughed so hard that he had to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"You two..."

"You've been arguing over sandwiches since first year."

Boom looked at him helplessly.

"And whose side are you on?"

Dunk shrugged innocently.

"Santa's."

Boom stared at him.

"You too?"

Santa proudly threw an arm around Dunk's shoulder.

"See? True friendship."

Boom placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

"My own friends have betrayed me."

Phuwin finally closed his book with a soft sigh.

His calm voice carried just enough authority to quiet the three instantly.

"Enough."

"Class starts in ten minutes."

Santa blinked.

"...Already?"

Boom pointed accusingly.

"This is your fault!"

"My fault?"

"You stole my breakfast!"

"You chased me!"

"You ran first!"

"You stole first!"

Dunk couldn't stop laughing.

The surrounding students shook their heads with amused smiles.

"They're impossible."

"But honestly..."

"The department would be so quiet without them."

"They're basically the mood-makers."

Just then...

A middle-aged professor walked into the hallway.

The four instantly stopped whatever they were doing.

They stood straight.

Then bowed politely together.

"Good morning, Professor."

The professor adjusted his glasses before smiling warmly.

"Good morning."

He looked at Santa.

"...Did you steal Boom's breakfast again?"

Santa scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"...Maybe."

The professor sighed dramatically.

"I've been teaching for twenty years."

"I've never met someone who considers stealing sandwiches a hobby."

The entire hallway burst into laughter.

Even Boom couldn't help smiling.

The professor chuckled.

"As long as you don't steal chemicals from my laboratory."

Santa grinned.

"I make no promises."

The professor pointed toward the classroom.

"Inside."

"Now."

"Yes, Professor."

The four immediately obeyed.

As they walked toward class...

Boom quietly took another sandwich out of his backpack.

He handed it to Santa.

Santa looked surprised.

"I thought you were angry."

"I was."

"...Then?"

"I packed two."

Santa blinked.

"You knew I'd steal one?"

Boom smiled helplessly.

"You've done it almost every Monday."

Dunk laughed again.

"I told you."

"Boom always forgives you."

Santa suddenly wrapped both Boom and Dunk in a tight hug.

"I love you guys!"

Boom immediately protested.

"You're squashing me!"

Dunk laughed.

"You're too energetic this early."

Walking beside them, Phuwin simply smiled.

A small...

Gentle...

Almost invisible smile.

As he watched his three best friends fool around, one thought crossed his mind.

"I hope these days never end."

None of them knew...

That fate had already begun moving the pieces of a game much bigger than university life.

Somewhere else on campus...

Four kings walked through silence.

Here...

Four best friends walked through laughter.

Two completely different worlds.

Soon...

Those worlds would collide.

BOOM

PHUWIN

SANTA

DUNK

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