Code 02: Hanseong High School

Na Jae Hoon stepped through the black iron gates of Hanseong High School, the navy blue uniform he had just put on feeling unfamiliar on his body. His black shoes stepped on a clean path surrounded by rows of cherry blossom trees whose branches had begun to fill with flower buds. The morning air was still cool, but the school was already bustling with students talking and laughing.

His steps stopped in the middle of the main page. His gaze was drawn to the magnificent four-story building, a blend of modern and classical architecture that reflected the prestigious status of Hanseong High School. Its large glass walls reflected the clear blue sky, emphasizing the elegance of the institution. White pillars stand firmly in front of the main entrance, giving the impression of elegance and authority. Gaping, Jae Hoon was mesmerized by the school's main building.

---

"Why me?"

Still standing, Na Jaehoon looked at Captain Baek, who was still busy flipping through the documents in his hands.

"You're the only one suitable for this task," Captain Baek replied without looking at the documents.

Jaehoon snorted softly. "There are many other agents who can go undercover. Why should I be the one to go into the school?"

Captain Baek finally closed the document and stared at it. "Because of your age and your skills, of course."

Jae Hoon was silent, he was indeed the youngest in the division. He could easily blend in among the high school kids. With a face that wasn't too masculine and a posture that wasn't flashy.

"This isn't just an ordinary disguise," Captain Baek continued. "Our target is inside the school. There's suspicious activity in Hanseong, and we can't investigate it as teachers and staff, they'll be suspected. The only way to get into the target environment without raising suspicion is to become one of them."

Jae Hoon just sighed. He knew there was no point in refusing. If he was chosen, they had already considered all possibilities.

"I'll do it," said Jae Hoon finally, with a slight limp.

The captain smiled slightly. "Okay. From now on, you are Na Jae Hoon, a transfer student in class 2-3 of Hanseong High School."

---

Back to the present, Jae Hoon walks into the building used for teaching. Along the corridor, there were metallic gray lockers lined up neatly along the walls. The floor was shiny, reflecting the light from the LED lights embedded in the ceiling. Classrooms had large windows overlooking the school's back garden, where students often gathered after class.

Jae Hoon had arrived in front of the teacher's lounge by now. "Excuse me," said Jae Hoon as he gently knocked on the door.

Now, a female teacher, Jae Hoon's homeroom teacher, leads him to the classroom he will be using.

"We have a new student today," said Mrs. Seo, the homeroom teacher of class 2-3, as she entered the classroom. "Come in. Introduce yourself."

Jae Hoon stepped into the front of the classroom, facing everyone. He smiled slightly, not too friendly and not too cold. All eyes were on him. He could hear the quiet whispers.

"Wow, very steady."

"Isn't he charismatic?"

"Looks like he's pretty smart."

"Hi, I'm Na Jae Hoon. Transferring from Busan," he said briefly.

Some students nodded, while others remained staring curiously. Jae Hoon also circled his gaze among his classmates and fell on a student, Han Yoo Ri, the daughter of CEO Han, the owner of the Hanseong foundation.

"Alright, sit in the empty seat next to Cha Jung Min." Ms. Seo invited Jae Hoon to sit down.

Jae Hoon walked to the seat in the fourth row from the front, right in the middle of the classroom. Although he still felt the stares of some students, he remained relaxed. He looked to his right side and found his seatmate smiling at him, and he smiled back.

He also briefly turned his head to the left and saw a student who he knew had ignored his arrival from the beginning until now. The girl was only focused on the book on her desk.

**

The bell rang, signaling the start of lunch break. The students scattered out of the classroom, some heading straight to the cafeteria while others chatted and napped at their desks.

"Soo Ji, come on!" a student called out to the girl sitting across from Jae Hoon. Jae Hoon turned to them.

Soo Ji was still tidying up the books she had used during the lesson. "Go ahead," she said flatly, without paying attention to who invited her.

Another student came from behind and slightly pushed his friend who invited Soo Ji to leave. "Don't skip meals," the student said to Soo Ji. The girl just nodded without looking again who spoke then.

"Come on, Jae Hoon," Jung Min invited Jae Hoon, who was still watching Soo Ji across from him. He then turned to his seatmate and nodded.

Jae Hoon followed Jung Min out of the classroom. But Jung Min was suddenly surprised when he just stepped out of his class. Jae Hoon, who was behind Jung Min, was also surprised to see a hint of fear in the middle of his surprise.

Jae Hoon finally stepped out.

"Attention!" With a salute gesture from the student, which surprised Jung Min upon his arrival, now it also surprises Jae Hoon.

"Hey! What are you doing?" said Jae Hoon, frowning. The student, Baek Do Hyun, simply flashed a wide smile and lowered his hand from the previous "salute" position.

The two friends behind Do Hyun were very confused about what was happening, just like Jung Min, who alternated his gaze between Jae Hoon and Do Hyun.

"Let's eat, Jae Hoon," with a big smile. Do Hyun put his arm around Jae Hoon and led him to the cafeteria.

"Oh, Jung Min, let's go," said Jae Hoon, not forgetting to invite his seatmate.

Their steps were accompanied by their three friends behind them. "What happened?" one of them asked Jung Min, who only replied with a head shake.

On the other hand, Soo Ji, who was the last to leave the class, noticed their behavior.

When Jae Hoon and his gang arrived, he was shocked by the tense, crowded atmosphere. Two people were hitting each other, and there was no one to stop them. Jae Hoon and his friends got closer to find out what was really going on.

"What's going on?" said Do Hyun as he poked his head behind the neatly coiled crowd.

Jae Hoon followed Do Hyun's movement until someone bumped into his arm, briefly turning his gaze toward the person who might have accidentally bumped into him because he was slightly blocking the road. He finds Soo Ji, who keeps walking toward the food, and she chooses a side dish to eat.

Then, Jae Hoon's gaze returned to the "show" as everyone screamed a little.

Jae Hoon let out his breath. His mission had just begun and was met with a complicated start. He didn't know if this was a coincidence or a sign that his mission would be much more troublesome than expected.

***