The Next Day
The classroom buzzed with post exam tension. No one dared say it out loud, but they were all secretly counting down to the results.
Just then, a tall guy with dimples, round glasses, and a slightly clumsy aura walked in holding a chemistry textbook like a peace offering.
"Hello, kids!" he said brightly. "From today, I'll be your new chemistry teacher. I'm Kim Namjoon."
Silence.
Then he added, "So, don't worry about your grades. They don't define you." The class relaxed slightly. "...BUT, if you don't study, I will shave your eyebrows."
Relaxation cancelled.
"Anyway! Where did Mr. Kim leave off?"
"Page 71," someone squeaked from the back.
"Great," he said, grabbing a chalk from the box, only for the entire box to fall, scattering chalks like confetti across the floor.
Everyone stared. One chalk bounced off his foot. Another landed in Lia's lap.
Namjoon froze.
Then he blinked, gave a sheepish grin, and said, "I'm okay. Everything's fine. This is normal."
And just like that, he earned his classroom title, The God of Destruction.
Next Day, Results Day
Tension was THICK. Kids huddled around the results board, whispering, praying, sweating.
This wasn't just any board. This was The Board. The Big Reveal.
Lia was the first to scream.
"WHAT THE IN-SU?! TOP 4?!"
Aera's eyes widened. She stepped forward.
And there it was.
Aera – Rank 1
In-su – Rank 4
Jake – Rank 10
Section E… had breached the top 10.
The silence that followed was not silent at all it was pure, glorious shock.
"OH MY GOD," Lia squealed. "AERA! I'm proud of you, ma girl!"
Then she squinted. "Wait, I got 15th?! Whaaaat?! That's amaaajin!"
One by one, their names were up there, most of Section E scored above 80%. Some exactly 80, some even higher.
Cheers burst out like fireworks.
Aera couldn't stop smiling.
Jake, wide eyed, muttered, "We… did that? We really did that?"
Then she turned, fiery determination returning.
"Hey. Don't we have someone to find?"
Jake grinned. "You mean Mr. Kim, right? He said he might resign if we didn't improve."
In-su, arms crossed but smirking, said, "Let's go remind him… nicely."
And off they marched, Section E's, ready to hunt down a teacher and make him apologize for ever doubting them.
Mr. Kim was in the staff room, sipping tea like he hadn't once crushed an entire class's hopes and self worth.
Then the door creaked.
And in walked Section E.
Aera led the pack, calm but sharp eyed. Jake leaned casually in the doorway. Lia was munching chips. In-su? Smirk fully loaded.
Mr. Kim blinked, confused. "Can I… help you?"
Aera held up a folded paper, the results printout. "We thought you'd want to see this."
He took it.
Then paused.
Silence.
He looked again, like the numbers were trolling him.
"You… got Rank 1?"
"Yup," she replied sweetly.
"And the rest of you...Section E…?" His voice wavered.
Lia grinned. "Most of us scored above 80. Me included, sir."
In-su added, "Top 4. Not bad for a hopeless class, huh?"
Jake cracked his knuckles. "You remember saying we'd never make it?"
"And something about resigning?" Aera added innocently.
Mr. Kim's ears flushed red. "I...I well...my words were taken out of—"
"You said we were a waste of school funding," Lia chimed in, casually biting into a cracker. "I remember. I was eating when you said it."
Mr. Kim opened and closed his mouth like a confused fish.
Aera stepped forward, voice calm but steely. "We didn't come for revenge. We came for something more powerful."
"An apology," Jake said bluntly.
In-su tilted his head. "Or your resignation. Pick your poison."
Mr. Kim sighed, shoulders slumping like a deflated balloon. "You're right. I misjudged you. All of you. And… I'm sorry."
The room stayed silent for a beat.
Then Aera smiled. "Apology accepted, sir. Next time, maybe don't judge students by the section letter."
And just like that, Section E walked out.
Heads high, shoulders squared, laughter bubbling behind them.
They weren't the bottom of the school anymore.
They were the ones to watch.