In This World, It's Us. - Daerin.

Chap. 2

Daily's Pov.

Another day, another chapter of my life unfolds. The rhythm of school has already started to settle in—late nights, half-hearted study sessions, the hum of lessons blurring into each other—and it’s only the second week. Exams, of course, loom ominously on the horizon like they always do, threatening to crash down on us all sooner than we expect.

I can already hear the anxious murmurs from some of my classmates, feel the rising tension in the air as deadlines inch closer. Yet here I am, gliding through it all like it’s nothing. No pressure, no panic—just this strange calm that clings to me. It's not like I'm ignoring my responsibilities, exactly, but I also can’t bring myself to feel the weight of them.

I haven’t really cracked open a book. In class, I drift—my mind wandering while the teachers’ voices dissolve into background noise. There’s an odd disconnect, like everything around me is happening in slow motion, and I’m just watching it unfold from a distance.

Part of me wonders if I should be concerned about my lack of urgency, but there’s an eerie comfort in the chaos. It's all just white noise to me.

But if I’m being honest, I know why I’m not freaking out. It’s because of Haiko. She’s been a steady presence in my life, this quiet, unyielding force of support. Lately, she’s been more than just a friend—she’s been a rock, holding me steady when things feel like they’re slipping out of control. Whether it’s school, life, or anything in between, Haiko always has my back. I don’t say it enough, but I’m more grateful for her than I could ever express. We’ve fallen into this unspoken rhythm: I stumble, and she’s there to catch me. Especially when it comes to school. I’ve been dropping the ball left and right, but Haiko, somehow, always picks up the pieces.

Today’s no different. The three of us—me, Haiko, and our youngest little troublemaker, Heaven (though she prefers to go by Hyein)—are making our way to the cafeteria. Hyein, with her usual mischievous grin, skips along beside us.

She's younger, but that doesn’t stop her from sneaking into our school whenever she feels like it. I swear, that girl has a talent for slipping through unnoticed. She’s so tall and quick, she might as well be a shadow, weaving her way past teachers and security like it’s a game. And for her, it kind of is. I can see the pride in her eyes every time she gets away with it.

As we walk, the conversation between us drifts from one random topic to another, our voices echoing softly down the hall.

We talk about everything and nothing at all—memes, weekend plans, the ridiculousness of school politics. It’s all light, easy, effortless. Hyein chimes in with her usual snark, and Haiko, ever the calm one, just laughs quietly at her antics. There’s something comforting about moments like this—just the three of us, our little crew, moving through the day as if nothing outside of this moment really matters.

But then, out of the corner of my eye, I spot her—Hanji. She’s standing by the lockers, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on us. Or rather, on me and Haiko. There’s something intense about the way she’s looking at us, like a simmering irritation just waiting to boil over. Her eyes narrow, and I can’t tell if it’s anger or something else, but the tension in her stare is impossible to ignore.

I’m not sure what her deal is. Maybe I’ve pissed her off without realizing it. Maybe it’s something I did, or something I didn’t do. Or maybe it’s just that Hanji has always had this weird vibe when it comes to me and Haiko. Whatever it is, I can feel the heat of her glare from where I’m standing.

I could ignore it. Probably should, actually. But instead, I do the opposite. I catch her eye and flash her a cocky smirk. It’s the kind of look that’s meant to get under her skin, just a little. And for good measure, I follow it up with a wink. Petty? Maybe. But I can’t help myself. I like pushing her buttons, seeing how far I can go before she cracks.