6. Grade School

Kang Joon-hyuk's first day of elementary school was a mix of excitement and nervousness. At seven years old, he stood in front of the large school gates, gripping his mother's hand tightly. The school building loomed over him, its beige walls reflecting the soft morning sunlight. The playground was filled with children running and laughing, while parents stood nearby, chatting amongst themselves.

"Are you ready, Joon-hyuk?" his mother, Han Soo-jin, asked with a warm smile.

Joon-hyuk hesitated before nodding. "I think so..."

His mother crouched down to his level and gently patted his head. "You're going to make lots of new friends. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine."

He took a deep breath, trying to shake off his nerves. His father, Kang Dae-hyun, gave him a firm pat on the back. "Remember, school is an adventure. Be brave, have fun, and don't be afraid to ask questions."

With those words of encouragement, Joon-hyuk straightened his shoulders and stepped into the school grounds. The first thing he noticed was the sheer number of children around him. Some were crying, clinging to their parents, while others excitedly ran toward their classrooms. It was a whirlwind of activity, and for a moment, he felt small.

A teacher, a kind-looking woman in her mid-thirties, clapped her hands to get the students' attention. "Welcome, everyone! My name is Teacher Lee, and I will be your homeroom teacher for this year. Let's all line up so we can go to our classroom together."

Joon-hyuk quickly found his spot among the other students. Standing next to him was a familiar face—Mi-jin, his best friend from kindergarten. 

"Joon-hyuk!" Mi-jin called out excitedly. "We're in the same class again!"

He grinned. "Yeah! This is going to be fun."

Before he could say more, two other familiar faces approached. Zin and Yohan, his childhood friends from kindergarten, ran up to them.

"Joon-hyuk! Mi-jin! We're all in the same class!" Yohan cheered.

Zin crossed his arms and smirked. "Looks like we're sticking together again."

Joon-hyuk felt a rush of happiness. Having his old friends with him made the new school feel a little less intimidating.

The four of them followed Teacher Lee into their classroom. Once inside, they sat at small wooden desks arranged neatly in rows. Joon-hyuk took a seat near the window, where he could see the playground outside.

"Alright, class! Let's start by introducing ourselves," Teacher Lee said with enthusiasm. "Tell us your name and something fun about you!"

One by one, the students stood up to introduce themselves. When it was Joon-hyuk's turn, he hesitated for a moment before standing up.

"My name is Kang Joon-hyuk," he said clearly. "I like playing outside, and I want to protect the people I care about."

Some of the students tilted their heads in confusion, while others nodded in understanding. Teacher Lee gave him an encouraging smile. "That's a wonderful goal, Joon-hyuk. I'm sure you'll be a great friend to many."

After the introductions, the teacher began explaining the classroom rules and schedule. Joon-hyuk listened carefully, wanting to make sure he didn't miss anything important. The morning passed quickly, and soon, it was time for lunch.

As they walked to the cafeteria, Joon-hyuk, Mi-jin, Zin, and Yohan chatted excitedly about their favorite foods.

"I hope they have kimchi stew today!" Zin said eagerly.

"I like kimbap!" Mi-jin added.

"I just want lots of meat!" Yohan laughed.

Joon-hyuk smiled. "My mom makes the best tteokbokki. Maybe one day, she can make some for us."

Their eyes widened. "Really? That sounds amazing!" Mi-jin said.

In the cafeteria, they grabbed their trays and received their meals. Joon-hyuk was about to sit down when he noticed a boy sitting alone in the corner. The boy had his head lowered, pushing his food around with his chopsticks.

Joon-hyuk felt a tug in his heart. He turned to Mi-jin, Zin, and Yohan. "Let's sit with him."

They nodded, following him to the lonely boy's table.

"Hi," Joon-hyuk greeted. "Can we sit here?"

The boy looked up in surprise. "Uh... okay."

"I'm Joon-hyuk, this is Mi-jin, Zin, and Yohan. What's your name?"

"Choi Minho," the boy mumbled.

"Nice to meet you, Minho!" Zin said brightly. "Your lunch looks good!"

Minho hesitated before smiling slightly. "Yeah... It is."

As they ate together, Minho slowly opened up, joining their conversation. By the time lunch was over, he was laughing along with them.

In the afternoon, they had their first physical education (PE) class. The teacher split them into teams for a simple relay race. Joon-hyuk's team consisted of Mi-jin, Zin, Yohan, and Minho. They huddled together to discuss their strategy.

"Minho, you should go first to set a strong start," Joon-hyuk suggested.

Minho's eyes widened. "Me? But I'm not fast..."

Yohan patted his shoulder. "Just do your best! We believe in you."

Encouraged by their words, Minho nodded determinedly. When the race began, he ran as fast as he could, passing the baton to Mi-jin, who dashed forward with surprising speed. Zin was next, keeping up with the other team. When it was Joon-hyuk's turn, he gave it his all, sprinting to the finish line just in time to win the race.

"We did it!" Mi-jin cheered.

Minho beamed. "I never thought I could run that fast..."

"You just needed a little confidence!" Joon-hyuk said, grinning. "See? We make a great team."

As the day came to an end, Joon-hyuk walked home with his parents, telling them about everything that had happened. His mother smiled as she listened, while his father chuckled at his enthusiasm.

"Sounds like you had a great first day," his father said.

Joon-hyuk nodded. "Yeah! I made new friends, helped Minho, and even won a race!"

Han Soo-jin ruffled his hair. "I'm proud of you, my little hero."

Joon-hyuk blushed but smiled happily. He couldn't wait to go back to school tomorrow. For the first time, he truly felt like he was stepping into an exciting new chapter of his life, surrounded by friends and endless possibilities.

Little did he know, the challenges of growing up were just beginning.