Minki's chapter will kind of overlap into Dongho's chapter (as an early notification just in case you guys don't realize it by the end of the chapter).

"Do you think that Minki-ssi or Dongho-ssi will finally come today?" Daehwi nervously asked as they sat in their seats. Sewoon could only answer with, "I'm not sure. As much as I know, Minki most likely won't show up as long as he's aware of Dongho's presence anywhere near the campus."

The younger immediately looked down before Sewoon tried to cheer him up, "Um- i-it's okay. My friend, Jaehwan, he's friends with one of Minki's friends and although that would be more complicated than necessary he could talk to him to deliver to Minki his part of the project." The sentence dd seem to have its charms as Daehwi managed to laugh softly at that.

"What's this about me?"

The two froze before looking up to Minki, who was literally staring down at them as he was still standing, a hand on his hip as he glared at the two. Sewoon clarified weakly, "W-We were talking about your part of the project..." They carefully watch as the blond in front of them stares at them before asking at a painfully slow pace, "Are you guys part of my group?" to which Sewoon was dumbfounded at. As much as he would have liked to say 'Haven't we been over this before?' he was still nervous so he asks, "Um- I believe I introduced myself before... I'm Jung Sewoon?"

Minki blinked at him with those large, doll-like eyes, making him more nervous before.

"I can't remember your name. I'm just gonna call you Ponyo."

"P-Ponyo...?" Sewoon was very confused as to where a famous Ghibli character came into the blond's mind. He watched as Minki reacted so normally as he took his seat in front of him.

"'Cause you look like Ponyo."

Well then... so he soon realized that the blond was rather blunt, never beating the bush around. Maybe that was why people were intimidated by him: he spoke what was on his mind.

"U-Uh, so we decided on the topic for music history, if you don't mind..." Daehwi grew some sort of courage before letting out a 'meep!' when Minki turned to look at him. It did go a lot smoother than they thought it would as Minki agreed nonchalantly, "That's fine."

Okay so we managed to split the work with him at the very least. I guess the question is if he can finish it well, but didn't he go to that Pledis Academy? From what I've heard it has a pretty tough schooling system... Sewoon took his guitar out of his locker and closed it properly before hearing the banging of lockers at the end of the hallway. When he looked towards where the sound came from, his eyes widened at the sight of a group of bullies pushing around a small boy, who Sewoon could barely recognizeed as Kim Yongjin. He was known as a constant victim of bullying as people bullied him for his looks and for being one of Minki's fanboys, which didn't help much with his situation as Minki was feminine in appearance and the situation would just escalate as students tried to bring him down behind his back.

Sewoon was going to step in one he saw them shove Yongjin to the ground and crowd around him to beat him more. He couldn't sit still with the sight of the poor boy curling up to protect himself before he heard someone shout and made him stop in his tracks like the bullies.

"YAH BACK OFF FROM HIM!"

And then Sewoon watched out of pure confusion as Minki suddenly charged forward and swung his elbow into the bully's face, successfully giving the latter a bloody nose and knocking him down onto the ground. It was absurd but it at least worked.

The lackies looked not only shocked but also slightly scared as it was the first time anyone heard the chic boy scream and look this angry. While Minki was mumbling under his breath about how gross and unsanitary it was that he got blood on his shoe from the bully collapsing onto his foot before rolling to the ground he noticed that they were staring at him. He simply looks up and glares, successfully making the lackies pick up their leader and make a run for it.

Minki lets out a huff before turning to Yongjin, kneeling down and gently asking the small boy, "Are you okay?"

Yongjin blinked as tears were still in the corner of his eyes, "Th-That... was AMAZING SUNBAENIM!"

Oops, forgot that he was Minki's fanboy, Sewoon stifled a laugh as even Minki looked taken aback from the boy's sudden excitement.

"As I thought not only are you the prettiest and coolest student of the school but you're also brave and kind! Ah wait until the others hear about this!" Yongjin got excited quickly whereas the blond only chuckled, "Alright, I get it. C'mon, let's get you to the nurse for an ice pack now." Minki helped Yongjin stand up but before they left from Sewoon's sight, Minki turned and stared at him even while taking the turn to leave his vision. Sewoon wasn't sure as to what that stare was for.

29 days left until the presentation.

There was a tragedy that no one would forget, even three years after the tragedy took place. Many people, especially parents who lost their child in the tragedy, came to pay their respects to those who lost their life. Of course it was only respectful that Sewoon came too, nearly being swallowed up by the crowd that was there for the memorial. When the memorial ended and the crowd moved away, Sewoon barely took notice to a blonde girl with a black cap on, staying behind and... crying? He thought that maybe the girl lost someone dear to her in the incident so he slowly walks over to her, asking, "Are you okay?"

The girl sniffles before turning to him with eyes that were large with surprise, "Ponyo...?"

Sewoon tried to shake away the thought of 'crap that's not a girl that was Minki'.

The two sat on a bench near a vending machine as they watched people leaving with a solemn face or a face covered with tears. The cold cans of coffee were warm now as neither of them touched it in the silence that sat between them. Sewoon felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere so he tried to start a conversation with, "I didn't expect you to come here..."

"Of course I'd come here," Minki huffed indignantly even though his eyes were still pink from crying earlier that day.

"Did you know someone who was in the tragedy?"

"No." The short and curt answer made Sewoon look at the blond in confusion, the latter returning with a glare, "What? I'm not allowed to pay my respects?" and Sewoon immediately retracted, trying to cover with, "O-Oh no, that's not what I meant. I-I mean that it didn't seem like you would... you know..."

"Yes and I'm a normal student by day but a magical school girl by night fighting evil in the name of the moon," Minki snorted but considering the situations he's ran into with the blond he couldn't help but widen his eyes and asked, "Really?" before being flicked on the head by the blond.

"No not 'really'. Jeez I'd expect Ponyo to at least realize what sarcasm is but turns out he's just a bingu," he scoffed with the roll of his eyes, to which Sewoon couldn't help but pout at that. There was a moment of silence between the two that was too awkward for even Sewoon to deal with before Minki thankfully spoke up, "I thought you would've realized by now that I'm human too."

He was confused at that sentence because he didn't expect Minki to say something like that before remembering that he was blunt- it was in his nature. Minki continued, not even bothering to look up at Sewoon as he'd rather stare at the can of warm coffee in his hands, "Just because I'm 'cool and chic' doesn't mean I don't know how to cry for someone I don't even know... how to protect someone I don't even know... how to deal with the idea of being more flawed than anyone else..." The blond suddenly lets out a sigh, "Aisht, I don't even understand why I have fanboys or why I'm even telling this much to someone who looks like Ponyo."

"I... Should I take offense to that...?" Sewoon couldn't help but question cluelessly.

Minki giggled at the question, "Ah, you really are a bingu~..." and it was an endearing expression really, something more fitting and innocent for his face, before a dark expression took place, "How nice..." he nearly whispered as his thumb ran over a small dent in his can of coffee.

Sewoon wondered where the blond was trying to go with the discussion before he suddenly rose from his seat, looking down at the seated Sewoon- a familiar sight to the latter. Minki stared at him coldly, even more so than before, as though he was just like any other student.

"Look, I appreciate that you're trying to bring the group together for the final, but don't go using feelings just for an A to be seen on a flimsy piece of paper."

He left quickly, not even waiting for Sewoon to speak up and leaving the introvert to his own demise. To say that Sewoon was confused was an understatement before he noticed that something was left behind on the bench where Minki originally was.

A broken black bracelet with a single bright pink bead held in the center of it.

23 days left until the presentation.

"Have you seen Minki-ssi today?" he knew the question was sudden to Daehwi who was holding his guitar, even to Jaehwan and Gwanghyun who's groups didn't decide to work today in the morning but were okay with Daehwi's presence at the very least. The three simultaneously shook their heads, Sewoon sighing inwardly as the bracelet was still in his bag, having yet to be brought out, not to mention that after the conversation with Minki, he was staring at Daehwi, wondering if he was using Daehwi's feelings.

That's not true. We just grew more comfortable with each other than I thought we would... right? he wondered if Daehwi ever thought about whether he was being used or not.

"Did you find it yet?"

The four looked up to see Minhyun and Jonghyun from a far, both looking out of breath and frustrated yet panicked. Jonghyun shook his head sadly to Minhyun's question, the latter clicking his tongue in annoyance. Jaehwan spoke up since he was already on good-terms with at least Minhyun, asking, "Hey guys, you okay?" He was successful in catching their attentions as Minhyun says loudly, "No, we're having a lot of problems right now."

"Do you guys want help?" Jaehwan asked.

Minhyun and Jonghyun share a look before Jonghyun answers, "We're trying to find a black bracelet with a pink bead on it! It's Minki-yah's so we'd appreciate it if you find it and hand it to us before class because it seems like we'll have to leave school to search the town with Minki." Sewoon was recognized the description, about to tell them that he had it but it seemed like Minhyun came up with and idea, hurriedly telling Jonghyun his idea that was inaudible to them before they split up immediately afterwards. The actions left Sewoon guilty as he wasn't quick enough to react before they exhausted themselves more.

His guilt worsened when neither of the three 'cool and chic' boys were present during their history class.

School ended quicker than usual as Sewoon and Daehwi left school campus. They were talking about guitar tricks when playing when the two saw a familiar blond boy pacing back and forth anxiously outside of the campus, still in his pajamas as it would seem seeing how he had on a baggy sweater and sweatpants that were long enough to cover his feet. Minki looks up and coincidently directly at them, shouting, "Ponyo!" before jogging up to the two.

"Um- y-yeah?" Sewoon felt a bit nervous.

"When I left, did you find a black bracelet with a pink bead on it?! I've been looking everywhere for it!" Minki was extremely distressed, a similar image to how Minhyun and Jonghyun were in the morning. Sewoon immediately recognized the description, clumsily opening his bag with a hand before bringing out the bracelet, "Y-You mean this?" The blond immediately grabs the bracelet and holds it to his chest, his shoulders relaxing as a sigh of relief comes out.

"Is that bracelet precious to you?" Daehwi asked out of pure curiosity before shutting his mouth as though he made the biggest mistake of his life; however, Minki didn't react as badly as they thought he would, instead staring at his bracelet with a nostalgic smile, "M-hm, it's very dear..."

Before they could go any further into their conversation, Minhyun and Jonghyun passed them, worriedly asking Minki 'did you find your bracelet?' before both express their reliefs at the blond showing them his returned bracelet, saying, "Ponyo kept it for me."

"'Ponyo'?" Jonghyun asked before Minki pointed at Sewoon, who at least tried to offer a awkward smile before Minhyun recognized his face, angrily saying, "Wait a minute, you were with Jaehwan! Why didn't you say anything earlier?!"

"Well-"

"You had it but didn't notify us?" Jonghyun's eyebrows scrunched up, "Are you one of Minki's obsessive fanboys?"

"Um!"

Sewoon was surprised that Daehwi spoke loudly to get their attention before meekly saying, "C-Can you stop accusing Sewoon-hyung? You guys did leave too quickly for him to react on time so please don't be mad at him..." he was also surprised that Minki spoke up, sighing, "Yeah, the kid's right. What are you guys getting frustrated at Ponyo for? Besides, I don't need you guys to try to defend me, it's not like we're 7 anymore so I don't need you guys to be my bodyguards."

Minhyun and Jonghyun looked embarrassed from being told off by the blond, apologizing about their attitudes, Minki only giving another sigh before dimissing the two. Ironically, the gesture did make it seem like they were his bodyguards as they walked ahead, sneaking glances back at him every now and then.

"I should thank you for finding my bracelet, I guess," Minki's gaze drifts from Sewoon to Daehwi, "Why'd you go defend Ponyo though?"

Under the stare of the blond, Daehwi stutters, "B-Because... he needed help...? A-And he's been helping me all the time so..."

"Isn't it going to end when the project ends though?" he should've expected Minki to be blunt as usual but he didn't expect such a thing to come into the conversation.

Daehwi quickly understood what he meant though, slowly saying with a stable voice, "I... I don't think it's going to end when the project ends. A thing that's been holding us close is our love for music. I think that... as long as that common interest doesn't die... then we'll meet each other like any other friend..." the younger looks at Sewoon with a smile, the latter returning it at hearing that.

The silence between the three went tense when they realized that Minki wasn't going to let them off that easily before the blond sighs, "After school at the cafe tomorrow nearest to this school. If you're late then I have every right to make my work look like we didn't put in any team effort to put the entire presentation together." He huffs before sharply turns and goes off in the direction that his other two friends went.

It took a moment of silence before the two realized that maybe the group project wasn't going to be as bad as they thought it would be, grinning at each other for their unintentional success.

21 days left.