There is a man, probably in his late twenties or early thirties, who stands in the courtyard outside the main cafeteria every day during lunch and screams to everyone about religion. Kyungjin isn’t sure if he’s an older student or an ex-student, but he’s never removed by guards, so he must be allowed to stay there.

The students call him Shouty Man, and the girls know to never go near him when alone, because if there’s one thing Shouty Man hates more than atheists, it’s women.

Kyungjin knows this, but she was in a hurry, trying to catch a bus, when she almost runs into Shouty Man. It’s boiling outside so she’s wearing a short skirt, open-toed sandals, and a sleeveless top, which actually makes it worse. Shouty Man takes one look at her and starts screaming to the sky about .

Kyungjin blushes as people turn to look at her, though she isn’t sure if it’s out of embarrassment or anger. They’re not dressed any differently from her, but they somehow manage to avoid Shouty Man’s wrath.

She tries to sneak away whilst he screams to everyone about a woman’s place and what a woman should wear to revere God and be suitably dressed for her husband, but he turns on her immediately, pinning her in place with his eyes and his rage. She finds herself rooted to the ground by a feeling she doesn’t usually feel—fear.

Kyungjin is four foot eleven, has the skin of a teenager and the wide eyes of a scared ten year old, and is regularly made to feel like a small child, so she developed shields, strengths, to protect herself from harm. Cutting sarcasm is one, and a steely expression is another. She isn’t one who can be cowed easily.

But standing here, in front of this tall, angry man, she’s honestly terrified, although she’s not sure if it’s for her life or merely her sanity. Surely Shouty Man wouldn’t touch her if there are witnesses? She wishes she were sure.

The more scared she becomes, the stronger the fight or flight response within her grows. She’s more one to attack than run, and, besides, he wouldn’t let her run. She may be quick, but he is so much taller than her that he’d probably catch up to her quickly.

She shouldn’t be held accountable for anything she may do to him in her frustration.

She’s been here for nearly ten horrifying, terrifying minutes, trying to work out whether she should kick him in a place where it will definitely hurt, when the most amazing thing appears—a girl she's never seen before, dressed in a sheer white shirt showing her lacy black bra, and a short, flared black skirt paired with tall boots. She’s tall, though not quite as tall as Shouty Man, and has long brown hair dip-dyed pink. She comes straight over to them without a hint of fear in her eyes.

“There you are!” she says to Kyungjin, even though Kyungjin has absolutely no idea who she is. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“We’re busy,” Shouty Man pauses his ranting to growl at her.

“I’m really sorry,” the girl says. “The two of us are expected in a meeting in—” She makes a show of looking at her watch, and then a horrified gasp, “—three minutes! We’d really better run. I’m so sorry for inconveniencing you.” Then she grabs Kyungjin’s wrist and marches away before he can say anything else. Kyungjin finds herself almost running after her to keep up; her legs not long enough to keep time with the taller girl.

The girl takes her all the way around the cafeteria, to the other side of the building from Shouty Man.

“Are you okay?” she asks, once there’s no chance of him coming after them, and Kyungjin’s calmed down.

“I’m fine,” Kyungjin says. “Thank you.”

The girl grins. “It’s no problem! I just couldn’t let you stay there with him. He’s terrifying—I guess that’s why nobody else tried first. I don’t know why he’s allowed to stay here.”

Kyungjin shrugs. She doesn’t know either. Instead, she says, “I’m Kyungjin. Can I buy you something in thanks?”

The girl grins even wider than before, if possible. She seems to have a lot of teeth. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Kyungjin-sshi! I’m Chansook! Anyway, I’d love to, but I really do have to get to that meeting before they tell me off!”

“What’s your meeting?” Kyungjin asks before she can think better of it.

“It’s for the Pet Society,” Chansook says. “You should come and see us after we end at seven o’clock!” She pauses. “Or you could join us, now?”

Kyungjin doesn’t have any pets, but she doesn’t think Chansook needs to know that.

She looks at her watch. She’s long missed her bus. “Okay,” she says, with a smile. “I’d like that.”