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the morning air in tokyo was crisp but laced with humidity, the kind that clung to your skin and made you feel like winter was lingering, refusing to let go. the students were gathered in the hotel lobby, backpacks slung lazily over their shoulders, eyes still drowsy from the early wake-up call, ready for their trip to osaka. a soft buzz of chatter floated around the room, as groups of friends excitedly whispered about the day ahead. outside the large glass windows, the city hummed with life—people rushing to work, the distant sounds of traffic merging into a low, constant hum. it was the kind of morning where everything felt just a little surreal, like you were moving through a dream.
yuwon stood among them, her arms loosely crossed over her chest as she leaned against a pillar, her gaze scanning the lobby. her hair was still slightly damp from her rushed morning shower, sticking to her neck in places. the hotel smelled of coffee, polished wood, and the faint scent of pastries from the breakfast bar nearby. despite the bustling atmosphere, there was a calmness to the way the morning light streamed through the glass doors, casting a soft glow across the polished floor.
she was undeniably drowsy, anyone would be after tearing the streets at insane speed the night before, standing up for their reputation, proving the tokyo drift club that racer 07 was truly a name to fear. yuwon had not harmed himari of course, but she had proved her point, and certainly had made an impression.
heeseung was a few feet away, pretending to listen to one of their classmates who was rambling on about today's itinerary. he was nodding, but his attention was clearly somewhere else, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. his hair was slightly tousled, as if he hadn't bothered to do more than run his fingers through it after waking up. the dark strands fell into his eyes, and he brushed them away with an absent-minded gesture, his sharp profile catching the light. he was the picture of easy confidence, in his oversized grey hoodie that hung loosely on in lean frame and baggy ripped jeans that looked effortlessly thrown together but somehow perfect.
yuwon couldn't help but roll her eyes when he caught her staring. heeseung, always observant, shot her a teasing look, his lips curving up at the corners in that infuriatingly smug way of his. she shook her head, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had her attention. it was only because yeonjun wasn't there yet, and she had to rest her wandering eyes on a pleasant sight. there's no denying it— guys like lee heeseung were always eye candy.
"okay, everyone, let's get going!" one of the teachers called out, clapping their hands. "we'll be late for the trip if we don't get moving."
as the group began to move, there was a shuffle toward the elevators. yuwon found herself stuck in the crowd, walking alongside heeseung, who had fallen into step beside her, hands casually shoved into his pockets. when they reached the elevators, the first one was already packed full of their classmates.
