Jin-woo stared at Muhan and Ji-hoon, awe and admiration radiating from his gaze. The winds carried the scent of crushed flowers and scorched air—remnants of their earlier race. He exhaled slowly, voice hushed and honest.
"You two really are on another level," he murmured. "No wonder you were able to defeat See-hoo..."
Muhan glanced over, a warm smile tugging at his lips. His eyes gleamed with a quiet brilliance—the kind that didn't come from arrogance, but from a place of unshakable inner strength. "You're not too far off yourself, Jin-woo," he replied gently. "What do you say we have a friendly spar once we're back at Wysteria?"
A smirk slowly curved across Jin-woo's face, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're on," he said. Then, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he asked with a teasing lilt, "So, how long have you and Mi-cha been a thing?"
Muhan's smile softened, becoming wistful. His gaze drifted toward the sky, the last embers of the sun painting golden streaks across the clouds. "Since the day I came to Wysteria. She was the first one to welcome me. While most of the girls were warm and curious... the boys, well, not so much."
Jin-woo blinked, a thought echoing in the back of his mind like a silent scream.
That's because you're too damn handsome... and somehow beautiful at the same time.
Out loud, he grumbled playfully, "Tch. I envy you. You've got girls falling all over you, and you're insanely strong on top of that."
Ji-hoon barked out a laugh. "Same here. Back when you first transferred, I lowkey hated your guts. Every time you walked into the room, the girls acted like it was a drama premiere. But hey, I've got Soo-ah now, so I can't complain."
Muhan raised an eyebrow, expression mock-shocked. "Am I really that good-looking?"
Before Ji-hoon or Jin-woo could answer, a wave of chatter and footsteps rolled toward them. The girls' group finally caught up, with Mi-cha at the front. Her gaze locked onto Muhan's from across the clearing, and her radiant smile lit up her face like sunrise breaking through the fog. The other girls followed her line of sight—and just like that, a ripple of admiration surged through them.
Giddy squeals and giggles erupted. Some girls tried to maintain composure, brushing their hair back or adjusting their uniforms. Others simply sighed dreamily, already losing themselves in fantasy.
Mi-cha strode straight up to Muhan and placed her hand gently on his chest, the intimate gesture drawing sharp gasps from the crowd. "How are you not in a group yet?" she asked playfully, her eyes dancing with mischief.
Muhan tilted his head and gave her that look—equal parts charm and mystery. "I wanted to go solo," he said coolly, his voice a smooth hum that seemed to echo through every girl's heart.
The effect was instantaneous. Mi-cha blushed, her cheeks burning rose red. Some girls clutched at their chests. Others practically melted into the grass.
Ji-hoon sighed dramatically. "Yeah, good luck going solo," he muttered, shaking his head.
Jin-woo laughed under his breath. "You're gonna need divine intervention to survive that fan club."
Even Soo-ah, Ji-hoon's usually composed girlfriend, threw Muhan a bright smile. "Can't blame them. He's kind of magnetic," she said, teasing.
Amid the chaos, Muhan remained unruffled—his calm composure only intensifying the adoration around him.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the world in a fiery orange hue, a sharp chime rang in their systems. Flux—the nano-ship's sentient AI—spoke in its crisp, robotic voice.
"All units, please return to the ship. Dorm configurations now deploying."
In the distance, the sleek metallic surface of the Nano-ship shimmered. With a series of elegant, mechanical transformations, it reassembled itself into two seamless dormitory structures—one for the boys, and one for the girls—like a blooming flower of steel and light.
As Muhan turned to leave with Ji-hoon and Jin-woo, a gentle warmth pressed against his hand. He looked down to see Mi-cha walking beside him, her fingers intertwining with his own. The sensation was electric—tender, grounding.
He smiled down at her, feeling the fatigue of the day melt into something softer, sweeter. "See you guys later," he said to the boys, waving as they split off toward their dorms.
As he walked Mi-cha back to hers, the world around them seemed to quiet, the soft hum of nature filling the silence between heartbeats.
"You're so handsome, Muhan," Mi-cha whispered, barely audible.
He glanced at her, eyes twinkling. "Really?" he asked, voice playful and low.
Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink. "Yes, really," she nodded, unable to look away.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Thanks. You always know how to make me feel special."
Before she could respond, Mi-cha leaned up on her toes and kissed him—slow and full of meaning. Muhan's eyes fluttered closed as he returned it, the moment tender and grounding, as if the world itself paused just for them.
When they parted, Mi-cha gave him a soft smile before slipping inside her dorm, throwing him one last wave.
Muhan stood still for a moment, watching her retreating figure, a warm smile still gracing his lips.
But as he turned, he noticed another presence standing just ahead—poised, elegant, and impossible to miss.
Professor Ae-cha.
Draped in a flowing robe that shimmered subtly in the evening light, her long curly hair cascaded down her back, swaying slightly in the breeze. Her eyes—sharp, brown, and glinting with depth—locked onto Muhan's with a knowing smile.
"Good evening, Muhan," she said, voice husky with confidence and laced with intrigue. "I see you're adjusting well. Enjoying your time on the planet?"
Muhan stood straighter, instinctively respectful. "Yes, Professor Ae-cha. It's been incredible so far."
She stepped closer, her perfume subtly intoxicating, like lavender and starlight. "I'm glad," she said, her tone wrapped in velvet. "I have a feeling this trip is going to reveal a lot more than we expected... for all of us."
As her words lingered in the air, something unspoken passed between them—mystery, tension, perhaps even destiny.
And beneath the fading light of the alien sky, she smirked.