“Some friendships begin with a conversation.
Others begin because nobody wants to walk home alone.”
The final bell echoed through Hanyoung Middle School.
Students poured out of the classrooms.
As usual…
Heosok was the first one out.
“Freedom!”
Jisoo walked past him.
“You say that every day.”
“And every day I mean it.”
Jiwoo laughed.
“I think school is keeping him alive.”
“It’s trying.”
Heosok replied dramatically.
Outside the school gate…
The six of them gathered again.
Jiwoo looked around.
“So…”
“Who’s walking home which way?”
Heosok pointed left.
“I’m this way.”
Jisoo sighed.
“Unfortunately…”
“So am I.”
Heosok grinned.
“Fate keeps making bad decisions.”
“It keeps punishing me.”
Jisoo answered.
Jiwoo laughed.
“I’ll pray for both of you.”
Yongi quietly looked at his book.
“I usually go straight.”
Jiwoo tilted her head.
“You actually know another route?”
“I know several.”
“You always take the same one.”
“It’s the shortest.”
“That’s such a Yongi answer.”
He looked confused.
“…Is there another answer?”
“There are many.”
Jiwoo smiled.
“You’ll learn.”
Jeheon quietly stood beside them.
He wasn’t sure where he belonged yet.
He still wasn’t used to walking with people.
Heosok noticed.
“You coming?”
Jeheon looked up.
“…Me?”
Heosok frowned.
“I don’t see another Jeheon.”
Jiwoo raised an eyebrow.
“Actually…”
“There kind of is.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Yongi smiled behind his book.
Jeheon couldn’t stop smiling either.
“…Yeah.”
“I’ll come.”
Instead of taking the shortest road…
The group wandered through a small park.
Children were playing football.
An old man fed birds near a fountain.
The evening breeze carried the smell of fresh bread from a nearby bakery.
For once…
Nobody was in a hurry.
Jiwoo suddenly stopped walking.
“…Ice cream.”
Jisoo looked at the small shop across the street.
“You don’t have money.”
“I have dreams.”
“You can’t buy ice cream with dreams.”
Jiwoo looked at Heosok.
“You heard her.”
“Buy my dreams.”
Heosok sighed dramatically.
“My wallet already has enough problems.”
Jeheon quietly reached into his pocket.
“I can—”
Before he could finish…
Dong’s words echoed in his mind.
“Friendship isn’t about keeping score.”
He smiled to himself.
Then put the money back.
Heosok bought one ice cream.
Cut it in half.
And handed one half to Jiwoo.
“There.”
“Now stop looking at me like a starving puppy.”
Jiwoo’s eyes sparkled.
“…You’re nicer than you pretend.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“It’ll ruin your reputation.”
“I have one?”
“You do now.”
They continued walking.
Yongi quietly finished another chapter.
Jiwoo looked over.
“…You actually read while eating?”
“I finished eating first.”
“You scare me.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
The sun slowly began to set.
One by one…
Their roads separated.
Heosok waved.
“See you tomorrow.”
Jisoo nodded.
“Try not to lose your homework.”
“No promises.”
Jiwoo smiled brightly.
“Bye!”
Yongi gave a small wave before opening his book again.
Zaizai, who had come to meet Jiwoo after school, waited farther down the street.
Jiwoo jogged over to her, talking excitedly about something that had happened during the day.
Zaizai listened with a quiet smile, happy simply to hear her sister laughing.
Jeheon remained standing for a moment.
Watching everyone leave.
Only then did he realize…
He wasn’t walking home alone anymore.
He smiled.
A small smile.
But a real one.
Across the street…
Dong happened to see him from a distance.
He noticed that smile.
And smiled too.
Without saying a word…
He continued walking home.