Rain slashed against the tall windows of the headmaster's office in an old memory. A young Minjun sat in a massive leather chair, legs swinging slightly. Outside, thunder cracked. "You are the legacy of this school," came the voice of Principal Oh, deep and final. "You don't make friends, Minjun. You lead." Years later, that echo lived inside him. Now, in a shadowed stairwell, Dohyun leaned beside him. "Don't play with her," Dohyun said. "She's not one of your games." Minjun smiled faintly. "That's what makes it interesting." The next day, Yuna walked into the canteen. The students parted like water around her. She sat alone, tray untouched. Then Yuri approached, a bowl of soup in hand and fake sympathy in her eyes. "Oops!" she said brightly as the bowl tipped, scalding liquid pouring into Yuna's lap. "Clumsiness must be catching." Before Yuna could react, Ara strode over. "Funny," she said, voice low and lethal. "I thought only rats dropped food to get attention." slow clap started. Hyunwoo. "Anime moment activated," he called. "Battle mode: chaos queen," Taeyang added with a grin. Laughter erupted. Yuri stepped back, humiliated. Yuna looked at Ara. The smallest nod passed between them. The secret garden behind the west wing was half-forgotten. Ivy curled around broken statues. A small pond shimmered under the fading light. Yuna sat cross-legged on the stone edge, staring at her reflection. Footsteps. Minjun. She didn't look at him. "Do you stalk all your victims?" "Only the ones who leave a mark." "I'm not your next trophy." He sat beside her. "No. You're not. That's the problem." Silence stretched, deep and humming with electricity. She didn't move away. She thought in her head "They said the academy breaks people. But what if I break the academy first?"