CHAPTER 3

Two Different Worlds

Monday mornings at Titan University were always busy.

The campus was alive with laughter, hurried footsteps, and students rushing to their lectures.

Outside the Mechanical Engineering building...

Everything remained calm.

Inside Classroom M-401...

The atmosphere was completely silent.

Students quietly listened as the professor explained the day's project.

Not a single unnecessary conversation could be heard.

At the back of the classroom...

Four young men sat together.

Aou listened attentively while making notes.

Pond lazily twirled his pen between his fingers.

Joong rested his chin on his palm, looking more interested in watching Pond than the lecture itself.

Perth calmly stared at the whiteboard, occasionally writing something in his notebook.

The professor suddenly smiled.

"I'll be pairing Mechanical Engineering students with Chemical Engineering students for next month's Innovation Exhibition."

A small murmur spread across the classroom.

"It'll be a joint project."

"Each team will consist of students from both departments."

Joong finally looked interested.

"Sounds troublesome."

Pond didn't even raise his head.

"As long as they do their work."

Aou calmly closed his notebook.

"We'll know once the list is announced."

Perth simply nodded.

...

Meanwhile...

The complete opposite scene unfolded in the Chemical Engineering building.

"NOOOO!!"

Santa dramatically threw himself across the laboratory table.

"I refuse!"

"I reject this assignment!"

Boom laughed helplessly.

"You haven't even read it."

"I don't need to!"

"I can already feel my grades dropping."

Dunk burst into laughter.

"You've got quite the imagination."

Phuwin calmly adjusted his safety goggles.

"You'll survive."

Santa pointed at him dramatically.

"Easy for you to say."

"You're basically a genius."

Phuwin shrugged.

"I just study."

Santa looked offended.

"See?"

"That's exactly what geniuses say!"

The entire classroom erupted into laughter.

Even their professor couldn't hide his smile.

"You four..."

"I don't know whether you're here to study..."

"...or perform comedy."

Santa proudly placed a hand on his chest.

"We can do both, Professor."

Boom immediately covered his face.

"Please pretend you don't know him."

"I heard that!"

After class...

The four friends walked toward the university café.

Santa was talking nonstop.

"So..."

"What should we eat today?"

Boom smiled.

"As long as you don't steal mine."

"I make no promises."

Dunk laughed.

"I knew you'd say that."

Phuwin quietly listened while holding four iced coffees.

The four continued walking, completely immersed in their conversation.

At the same time...

From the opposite direction...

The Four Kings left the Mechanical Engineering building.

The distance between the two groups slowly became shorter.

Ten meters.

Eight.

Six.

Neither group noticed.

Santa suddenly turned around while laughing at something Dunk had said.

Without looking where he was going...

Bang!

He bumped straight into someone's shoulder.

The force almost made him fall.

Before he could hit the ground...

A hand grabbed his wrist.

Santa blinked.

"...Huh?"

Boom quickly reached out.

"Santa!"

Phuwin looked up.

Dunk stopped walking.

Standing in front of them...

Were the four famous seniors everyone in Titan University knew.

Silence.

Students nearby immediately froze.

One whispered,

"...The Four Kings."

Santa looked from the hand holding his wrist...

To the tall senior in front of him.

Perth.

Perth slowly let go.

"...Watch where you're going."

His voice wasn't angry.

Just calm.

Santa immediately bowed.

"I-I'm sorry, Senior!"

Boom quickly apologized too.

"We're really sorry."

Pond glanced at the four juniors before speaking flatly,

"Next time..."

"Pay attention."

Joong smiled faintly.

"They're just kids."

Aou gave the four juniors one brief look.

"It's alright."

"Be careful."

With that...

The four seniors continued walking away.

Not another word.

Not another glance.

The juniors stood there for a few seconds.

Santa blinked.

"...They're scary."

Boom nodded immediately.

"Very."

Dunk rubbed the back of his neck.

"I thought Senior Perth was going to kill you."

Phuwin watched the four figures walking away.

For some reason...

He felt something strange.

Not fear.

Curiosity.

"...Let's go."

None of them noticed...

As the four seniors disappeared around the corner...

Joong glanced back for a split second.

His lips curved into the faintest smile.

"...Interesting."

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