The classroom was blanketed in a suffocating silence, as if the very spirit of the students had been captured and muted. The hush was so profound that Hyun-jun could practically hear the gentle rhythm of each person's breathing.

"Okay, this is our new student, Hyun-jun," the teacher announced, prompting Hyun-jun to dip his head in polite greeting. She then instructed him to take a seat beside two of his new classmates - one boy and one girl.

While the boy greeted Hyun-jun with a friendly smile, the girl's reaction was more ambiguous. As Hyun-jun turned to her and offered a warm smile, a bashful blush crept across her cheeks, causing Hyun-jun to raise a curious eyebrow, though he refrained from questioning her about it.

Flanking this pair sat yet another girl and boy, creating a seating arrangement that blended the genders. Not that Hyun-jun particularly minded being seated beside a female classmate.

Soon the teacher began the lesson, and Hyun-jun focused his attention to the front of the room. Yet try as he might, he couldn't shake the nagging sensation that someone's gaze was fixed upon him. Deciding it was best not to dwell on the feeling for now, he redirected his concentration to the teacher's instruction.

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As the bell signaled the start of recess, Hyun-jun found himself momentarily alone. However, this solitude was short-lived as a group of three girls soon approached, their friendly smiles belying the faint blush that tinted their cheeks.

Hyun-jun returned their smiles, an instinctive sense of trust stirring within him. "Hey," greeted the girl who carried herself with an aura of confidence, clearly the leader of the trio. Hyun-jun dipped his head respectfully in response.

"So, want to hang out with us?" she asked, her smile widening. "I'm Belle, and these are Echo and Grainne."

Hyun-jun's gaze swept over the three girls, and as he stood from his seat, he couldn't help but notice how his stature seemed to tower over them. "I'm Hyun-jun, as you heard," he replied, his own smile broadening.

And so began the blossoming of a new friendship - small at first, but Hyun-jun could already sense the potential for it to grow into something deeper and more profound. As he gazed upon the path ahead, the grains of possibility seemed brighter and more visible than the potential pitfalls. If they remained true to themselves, he knew their bond would only strengthen, leading them towards a future filled with the promise of a rich, fulfilling life together.