[Prologue]

A bookworm.

When I entered high school, my homeroom teacher told me something: I was a bookworm. But I didn’t pay much attention to it. According to my teacher, I was a “confirmed bookworm,” and I liked reading things.

What kind? Fantasy? Essays? Romance? Humanities? Science? It didn’t matter what genre. I just wanted to read something—anything. The act of reading itself was what I enjoyed.

I’m a bookworm.

—

“Reading again?”

Soohyuk knew the question was directed at him but didn’t respond. He just kept his lips sealed, quietly engrossed in the book he was reading.

Fate, huh?

Soohyuk and Yeonjung had been in the same class since second grade in elementary school, all the way up to their third year of high school now. They’d been in the same class for a long time.

So, Yeonjung knew Soohyuk very well. He already knew Soohyuk wouldn’t answer, just as he naturally knew Soohyuk’s habits.

Thump.

Yeonjung sat down in the seat in front of Soohyuk and glanced down to check the book Soohyuk was reading.

“Oh, Force Master?”

The book’s title was Force Master.

“Didn’t you read that a few months ago?”

Yeonjung wasn’t entirely sure, but he vaguely remembered Soohyuk reading that novel a few months back.

“You’re already at volume 24, huh?”

The reason Yeonjung remembered was because he had read it too. He’d read up to volume 19 and asked Soohyuk, “You’ve got it with you, right?”

“Yeah,” Soohyuk replied, unlike his usual silence. Hearing his response, Yeonjung opened his bag.

“Alright, I’ll start from volume 20.”

In the bag were ten books, four of which were Force Master. Those four were volumes 20 to 23, which Yeonjung hadn’t read yet.

“I’ll read them and return them,” Yeonjung said, standing up and heading back to his seat to start reading.

Ding dong dang dong.

As the class bell rang through the speakers, signaling the start of the lesson, Soohyuk reluctantly closed his book with a wistful expression. He put it in his desk and checked his schedule.

Seeing the schedule, Soohyuk smiled. It was literature class. With plenty to read in the literature textbook, he wouldn’t be bored this period. He pulled out the literature book from his desk and opened it.

Creak.

“Sorry, I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”

Soon, the literature teacher, Lee Choonbok, arrived. Soohyuk, who had been reading the literature book, closed it as Lee arrived and switched back to his novel.

“Kang Soohyuk.”

It was roll call. Being number one on the attendance list, Soohyuk’s name was called first.

“Here.”

As he answered, Soohyuk immediately returned to his literature book. Even though he’d read it several times before, his eyes sparkled with interest, finding joy in the act of reading itself.

“Today, we’ll cover page 98. Page 98, everyone.”

Roll call finished, and Lee Choonbok began the lesson. Of course, Soohyuk had no intention of participating in the class or turning to page 98.

The reason Soohyuk liked literature class was simple: the literature textbook had plenty to read. He quietly continued reading the book.

“That’s it for today.”

Lee Choonbok wrapped up the lesson and, while waiting for the bell to signal the end of class, started chatting with the students seated at the front.

As the class ended, Soohyuk closed his literature book and put it back in his desk. He then pulled out Force Master volume 24. Reading was enjoyable, but reading something new was even more fun than revisiting something he’d read multiple times.

Ding dong dang dong.

The bell signaling the end of class rang, and Lee Choonbok left.

“Hey, did you see that video yesterday?”

“What, that finger thing?”

“Yeah, wasn’t it epic?”

“It was insane. Wasn’t it, like, December 31st last year?”

“You gonna buy it?”

“Obviously, it’s huge. You going back to your capsule? I don’t think I will.”

“I’m gonna beg my parents to get it for me. I passed the early admissions, so they might buy it. If not, I’ll just work my butt off at a part-time job.”

“Congrats on passing early admissions, man.”

After class, the students gathered in small groups, chatting away. But Soohyuk didn’t move from his seat. He was entirely focused on reading, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

“Only two months left until the college entrance exam. Don’t waste your time and study hard, everyone!”

Kim Pilgyo, the PE teacher and homeroom teacher for Class 5, Year 3 at Hyeonkwang High School, finished the closing remarks and left the classroom.

“Whoa, even the doctor’s heading to the bar?”

Yeonjung, surprised, stood up from his seat. Kim Pilgyo always made a point to exchange greetings, no matter how busy he was, so it was clear something urgent had come up if he left without a word.

Standing up, Yeonjung slung his bag over his shoulder and picked up the four Force Master books he’d borrowed from Soohyuk that morning.

“I read them.”

Approaching Soohyuk’s desk with the books, Yeonjung handed them over. Soohyuk, who was ready with his bag open, took the books and put them inside before zipping it up.

“You heading straight home?”

“I’m dropping by somewhere first.”

Soohyuk gave a curious look at Yeonjung’s question.

“When you’re reading, you barely talk, but when you’re not, you’re pretty chatty, huh?” Yeonjung continued, and Soohyuk gave a small smirk as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

Soohyuk started walking, and Yeonjung followed, saying, “You’ve gotta lend me volume 24.”

Yeonjung had read up to volume 23 but hadn’t gotten to the final volume, 24, because Soohyuk was reading it. However, during lunch, Yeonjung had clearly seen Soohyuk finish volume 24 and pull out another book.

“To the library,” Soohyuk replied.

“The library again?”

“I’ve got stuff to return and stuff to borrow.”

As they talked, Soohyuk and Yeonjung headed toward the library.

That’s when it happened.

“Hey, Soohyuk!”

Soohyuk looked up at the voice calling him and quickly spotted the source—Yang Jisoo, the school librarian, rushing toward him with an urgent expression. It was unusual for Yang Jisoo, who was supposed to be in the library, to be out here, which meant something was up.

“Yeah, there’s an urgent meeting, so I told Jiyul everything about what you asked for. You can borrow it from her.”

“Thanks.”

“Alright, I’m off then!”

Soohyuk and Yeonjung waved goodbye to Yang Jisoo, who disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared, and continued toward the library.

“Wonder if the meeting’s why the teacher left too,” Yeonjung mused.

“Probably.”

Soohyuk and Yeonjung, who had paused briefly, resumed walking and soon arrived at the library.

“Hey, guys.”

As Soohyuk and Yeonjung entered, Jiyul, who was organizing books, approached them. Soohyuk responded to her greeting and opened his bag, pulling out five books and placing them on the counter.

“These are for return. And can you lend me the ones the teacher set aside?”

Jiyul, already informed by Yang Jisoo, sat down, processed the returns, and handed over the books Yang Jisoo had set aside for Soohyuk.

“Why are you borrowing these?” Jiyul asked, handing him the books.

The three books The three books Soohyuk borrowed were The Importance of Stress, What If There Were No Gravity on Earth?, and Humanities for Children—books that hadn’t been checked out even once in the three years Jiyul had been in the library club. They weren’t even related to each other, and Jiyul couldn’t understand why Soohyuk would want them.

“Huh? I’m just borrowing them to read,” Soohyuk replied matter-of-factly, putting the books in his bag. He then handed Force Master volume 24 to Yeonjung and slung his bag over his shoulder.

“Thanks,” he said to Jiyul, and he and Yeonjung left the library.

“You’re gonna read all those?” Yeonjung asked, looking puzzled at the books Soohyuk had borrowed.

“If you’re asking if I’m gonna understand them all, no,” Soohyuk replied.

Yeonjung’s question was met with a straightforward answer. If someone could understand such diverse books just by reading them, they’d be a genius—a prodigy, even. But Soohyuk wasn’t a genius. He didn’t borrow them to understand them; he borrowed them to read them.

“If reading’s what you enjoy, wouldn’t it be better to read books you can understand and find fun?” Yeonjung asked again. If the act of reading itself was fun, wouldn’t it be more enjoyable to read something comprehensible and entertaining?

“They’re not completely incomprehensible,” Soohyuk replied. He didn’t always understand everything the first time, but he never read a book just once. By reading repeatedly, he’d eventually grasp things that were unclear at first.

“Ugh, I can’t understand you,” Yeonjung muttered, shaking his head.

Soohyuk smirked at Yeonjung’s mumbling and continued the conversation.

“Check this out!”

As they chatted on their way home, it was time to part ways. Yeonjung waved goodbye and headed into his apartment complex.

“See you,” Soohyuk called, waving back. Once Yeonjung was out of sight, Soohyuk started running. Honestly, just walking felt like a waste of time.

Running home would keep him healthy and save time—two birds with one stone. He sped through the residential area and soon reached his neighborhood.

In the residential area, Soohyuk stopped running and caught his breath, walking slowly.

Evening.

Soohyuk paused in front of a three-story house. Naturally, he punched in the code and opened the door.

Entering the house, he said nothing. There was no need for greetings—nobody was home. It wasn’t that he didn’t have parents; they were just always working. His parents, both busy with their jobs, left early in the morning and usually didn’t return until 10 p.m. at the earliest, or midnight on a new day.

The only time Soohyuk saw them was late at night, and even then, he’d have to stay up late to catch them. It wasn’t something that happened often.

But that was just the usual situation, and Soohyuk wasn’t your typical kid. He was used to spending most of his days alone and didn’t mind too much.

The reason he didn’t mind was that his relationship with his parents wasn’t strained. Since they couldn’t be together often, they made an effort to spend their time together warmly. Loneliness could’ve been an issue, but Soohyuk had books. With books, he was never lonely.

“Fifty thousand won.”

Taking off his shoes and checking the dining table, Soohyuk smiled at the sight of 50,000 won and a note. He approached the table and first read the note.

The note was written by Soohyuk’s mom. It said that she’d taken time off this weekend, so they should go on a trip. Soohyuk put the note down and slipped the 50,000 won into his wallet.

“Three books should be enough.”

The purpose of the 50,000 won was already decided. Soohyuk, who had a long list of books he wanted to buy, drank some water and headed to his room.

As soon as he arrived, Soohyuk opened his bag, took out the books, and started placing them on the first bookshelf to his left. After putting them all away, he left his room and went up to the second floor.

The second floor was as spacious as the first, but it didn’t feel spacious at all. That’s because it was filled with bookshelves stacked high with books. The second floor could easily pass for a small library, with countless books and shelves neatly arranged.

Soohyuk smiled broadly as he looked at the shelves brimming with books. Every time he came to the second floor, a sense of satisfaction and joy brought a smile to his face.

Ha.

But then, Soohyuk’s smile faded. He sighed because there were books he hadn’t read yet. He started walking again and headed to the third floor. Unlike the second floor, the third floor didn’t have a single book. All it had were exercise machines. If the second floor was a small library, the third floor was a small gym.