[Busan Elementary School]

Jungkook stepped out of the sleek black car, his polished shoes clicking on the pavement as he looked up at the imposing gates of Busan Elementary School.

The sight of the school stirred something in him—an odd mix of anticipation and satisfaction. He knew that he wasn’t just another child stepping into a new school today.

No, his arrival had been carefully orchestrated with just a single phone call to his grandmother, ensuring that he would be exactly where he wanted to be: in the same school, the same class, and the same section as Y/n.

His small hand tightened around the crumpled Dairy Milk wrapper in his pocket, the one he had kept from last night. It was a simple memento, but it held immense value to him.

He smiled as he remembered the moment when Y/n had shared her chocolate with him, insisting that he take the last piece even though it was her favourite.

The memory warmed him, and he knew that this small act of kindness from her would be the foundation of something much bigger.

“Master Jungkook,” a deep voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. It was the butler, a tall man with a stern expression and impeccable manners.

He had been assigned to accompany Jungkook to school today, as Mirae had decided not to come. Jungkook had briefly wondered why his mother hadn’t joined him on such an important day, but he quickly shrugged it off.

Mirae often had other matters to attend to, and besides, he didn’t need her here. He was capable of handling this on his own.

The butler led him through the gates, past groups of children playing and parents bidding their kids goodbye. None of this interested Jungkook, though. His mind was focused solely on finding Y/n.

The butler guided him toward the main building, where they were greeted by a tall, frazzled-looking woman with a tight bun and a clipboard clutched to her chest.

Jungkook could immediately tell that she was important—perhaps the principal.

“Welcome, Jungkook,” she said, her voice wavering slightly as she addressed him. Her eyes darted nervously between the boy and his butler, clearly aware of the pressure his presence brought.

“I’m the principal, Mrs. Kang. We’re so pleased to have you here at our school.”

Jungkook gave a small, disinterested nod, his thoughts still elsewhere. The butler, however, responded with a formal bow.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Mrs. Kang. I trust that everything has been prepared for Master Jungkook as discussed.”

Mrs. Kang’s smile tightened, and she nodded quickly.

The butler seemed satisfied with this, and after a brief exchange, he handed Jungkook over to a young teacher who had been standing nearby, watching the interaction with wide eyes.

The teacher, Miss Park, looked down at Jungkook with a nervous smile before gently taking his hand.

“Come along, Jungkook. I’ll take you to your classroom now,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Jungkook barely acknowledged her, but he allowed her to lead him down the hallway, his small hand gripping hers lightly.

The principal kept glancing nervously at Jungkook, as if he were some kind of ticking time bomb.

“Is everything ready?” the butler asked in a low voice.

“Yes, but…,” Mrs. Kang hesitated, glancing down the hallway where Miss Park was leading Jungkook. “He’s just a child, but the pressure we’ve received to accommodate him is immense. I hope this won’t disrupt the other students too much.”

The butler’s expression remained impassive. “Master Jungkook is indeed a special student, and I’m sure you understand the importance of ensuring his needs are met. I trust you’ll do what is necessary.”

Mrs. Kang sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Of course. We’ll do everything we can to make sure he is comfortable.”

The butler gave a curt nod before bowing slightly to Mrs. Kang. “Thank you. I’ll take my leave now.”

Meanwhile, Miss Park continued leading Jungkook through the hallways, past other classrooms filled with children his age. She was aware of how unusually quiet Jungkook was for a new student, but she decided not to comment on it.

He didn’t seem nervous like most kids on their first day. Instead, there was a calmness about him, almost as if he already knew what to expect.

“Here we are,” Miss Park finally said as they arrived at the classroom door. “This is your new class, Jungkook.”

Jungkook didn’t respond; his eyes were already scanning the room through the small window on the door.

He was looking for her.

For Y/n.

And there she was, sitting near the middle of the room, her head bent over a drawing she was working on.

But then, his gaze shifted to the boy sitting next to her—a boy who didn’t belong there.

A boy who was taking up the space that should have been his.

Miss Park opened the door and ushered Jungkook inside. The chatter of the students died down as they noticed the new arrival, all eyes turning to him with curiosity. Miss Park clapped her hands lightly to get everyone’s attention.

“Good morning, class,” she began with a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “We have a new student joining us today. This is Jungkook. Everyone, please give him a warm welcome.”

The class mumbled their greetings, some waving, others simply staring. But Jungkook didn’t care about any of them. His gaze was fixed solely on Y/n and the boy sitting beside her.

Miss Park looked around the room for an empty seat, and her eyes landed on a spot near the back, next to a girl who was doodling in her notebook.

“There’s an open seat right over there, Jungkook,” Miss Park said, pointing to the spot.

Jungkook barely glanced at the seat before shaking his head stubbornly. “I don’t want to sit there,” he said, his voice clear and firm. “I want to sit next to Y/n.”

The classroom fell silent, all the children now fully focused on the interaction. Miss Park blinked, caught off guard by the boy’s assertiveness. “Oh, um, well…” she stammered, trying to find the right words. “Y/n already has a seatmate, Jungkook. Perhaps you could sit—”

“No,” Jungkook interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I want to sit next to Y/n.”

The boy sitting beside Y/n, Hyunsik, looked up at Jungkook with a frown. “Hey, I’m sitting here,” he protested, his voice defensive. “Y/n is my best friend. You can’t just take my seat.”

Jungkook turned to Hyunsik, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Move,” he said, his voice carrying an air of entitlement that made it clear he wasn’t used to being told no.

Hyunsik’s frown deepened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “No. I’m not moving. Find somewhere else to sit.”

A small smile tugged at Jungkook’s lips, but it wasn’t a friendly one. It was a smirk, the kind that came from knowing he held the upper hand.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked, his tone both haughty and childish, a combination that only someone as young as he could pull off.

Hyunsik hesitated, thrown off by the question. “No, and I don’t care,” he shot back, trying to sound tough.

Jungkook’s smirk widened. “Then you’re going to care when the teacher makes you move,” he said, his voice dripping with confidence.

Y/n, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up. “Jungkook, maybe you can sit on the other side of me? Hyunsik and I were already sitting together, so we can just make room for you.”

Jungkook shook his head, his stubbornness flaring up. “No. I only want to sit with you. I'm not sharing you with anyone else.”

Miss Park, who had been silently panicking over how to handle the situation, finally found her voice. “Jungkook, it’s important to share and—”

But Jungkook wasn’t listening. He was already moving towards the desk, his eyes locked on the seat next to Y/n as if it was his by right. Hyunsik glared at him, clearly not willing to give up his spot so easily.

“No,” Hyunsik said again, standing his ground. “I’m not moving.”

Jungkook stopped in front of him, his expression hardening. “You will move,” he said, his voice low and menacing for a child so young. “Or I’ll make you.”

Y/n glanced nervously between the two boys, her hands clutching the edge of her desk. She didn’t want to see her friends fight, especially over something as silly as a seat.

“Maybe we should let the teachers decide,” she suggested, hoping to defuse the situation without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Jungkook’s smirk deepened, his confidence unwavering. He knew how this would play out.

He had seen the way the teachers and the principal looked at him, as if he was some kind of royalty.

He was sure they wouldn’t dare go against his wishes.

And Hyunsik?

Well, Hyunsik would have no choice but to move.

Hyunsik, however, looked up at his teacher with wide, hopeful eyes. Miss Park was his favorite teacher—she always told them to be fair and kind.

Surely she wouldn’t let this new boy push him around, right?

But Miss Park hesitated, her gaze shifting nervously from Jungkook to Hyunsik. The pressure from the administration to accommodate Jungkook’s every need was immense.

“Hyunsik,” Miss Park began gently, her voice laced with reluctance, “why don’t you move to that empty seat over there? Jungkook can sit next to Y/n for today.”

"For everyday.", Jungkook added.

Miss Park could just merely nod in hesitation.

Hyunsik’s face fell, disappointment clear in his expression. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Miss Park had always been fair, but now she was making him move just because Jungkook demanded it? It wasn’t right. But with the teacher’s verdict made, there was little he could do.

Jungkook watched him go, a triumphant smirk on his lips. He had won. He turned to Y/n, who was watching the whole scene unfold.

“See?” Jungkook said slyly, his voice low so only Y/n could hear. “I told you the teacher would make him move. It’s what she wanted all along.”

Y/n’s eyes widened slightly, still processing what had just happened. She hadn’t expected things to go this way. “But… but Hyunsik was sitting there first,” she said softly, glancing at the seat where Hyunsik had been.

Jungkook shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “He can sit somewhere else. You’re my friend now, right?”

Y/n hesitated, not understanding why teacher did that but ofcourse, she couldn't question her. She nodded slowly, giving in to Jungkook’s persistence. “Right…”

Jungkook beamed at her response, satisfied with the outcome. He was happy, knowing he had secured his place next to Y/n.

---

When the lunch bell rang, signaling the break, the classroom erupted into chaos as students rushed to join their friends.

Chairs scraped against the floor as kids moved around, forming little groups to eat together.

Y/n, clutching her tiffin box, stood up and began heading toward Hyunsik, who was already sitting at another desk, looking a little forlorn.

But before she could take more than a few steps, she felt a small hand grab hers, stopping her in her tracks. She turned around to see Jungkook, his face a mix of confusion and displeasure.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice tinged with an edge that hadn’t been there before.

Y/n blinked at him, surprised by the sudden change in his tone. “I’m going to have lunch with Hyunsik,” she replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jungkook’s frown deepened. “Why? You’re still mad at me, aren’t you? Is it about the ice cream yesterday? Or what happened today?”

His big, dark eyes softened into a pleading gaze, the kind that made him look almost pitiful. Y/n sighed.

“No, I’m not mad,” she assured him, her voice gentle. “But Hyunsik is my friend too, and we’ve been eating lunch together for a long time. I just want to sit with him.”

“But I want you to have lunch with me,” he insisted, his voice bordering on a whine. “Can’t we just eat together, like we did yesterday?”

“How about all three of us sit together?” she suggested, hoping to find a compromise. “You can make new friends that way.”

Jungkook’s lips pressed into a thin line, his brows furrowing in discontent. “I don’t want new friends,” he said, his tone final. “I just want you.”

Y/n’s heart tugged at his words. Jungkook was clearly not used to sharing.

“Please, Jungkook?” she asked softly, her eyes wide with sincerity. “Give it a try? Hyunsik is nice. You might like him too.”

Jungkook’s resolve wavered under her earnest gaze. He wasn’t used to being told what to do, especially not by someone his own age and most obviously not by his elders.

But Y/n is an exception.

“Okay, fine,” he muttered, though it was clear he wasn’t happy about it. “But only because you said ‘please.’”

Y/n smiled, her face lighting up with relief. She led him over to where Hyunsik was sitting, pulling up a chair for Jungkook next to her.

As they sat down and opened their lunch boxes, Jungkook couldn’t resist the urge to show off a little.

“My butler packed my lunch today,” he announced, as if it were something extraordinary. “He always makes sure I have the best food.”

Hyunsik rolled his eyes, unimpressed. “So what? My mom packed mine, and she always makes the best sandwiches.”

Jungkook glanced over at Hyunsik’s lunch, noting the simple sandwich and apple slices.

They looked simple, but they hurt the little under-loved child in him.

His mother never packed her lunch, nor did she ever care to see what he ate.

Jungkook swallowed the bitterness he felt in his throat before looking over.

“Well, my lunch has sushi,” he said, trying to sound casual but clearly aiming to one-up his new rival.

He held up a piece of sushi proudly before placing it on Y/n’s plate, just as he had done the night before. “Here, Y/n. You can have it.”

Y/n smiled politely, accepting the sushi. “Thank you, Jungkook,” she said, though she didn’t miss the competitive undertone in his voice.

Hyunsik, however, wasn’t about to let Jungkook have the last word. “Y/n, try this,” he said, pushing his apple slices toward her.

“My mom picked these apples from the tree in our backyard. They’re super sweet!”

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Y/n take an apple slice from Hyunsik and eat it.

“I have apples too,” he said quickly, opening his tiffin to reveal perfectly cut, neatly arranged apple slices. “These are from the best grocery store in the city.”

Hyunsik couldn’t help but scoff. “Grocery store apples? They’re not as good as homegrown ones.”

Jungkook lifted his chin, his voice taking on a bragging tone. “These are imported apples. They’re better than anything you could grow.”

“They’re both good,” Y/n said diplomatically, taking another apple slice from Hyunsik before popping a piece of sushi into her mouth. “Thank you, Hyunsik. And thank you, Jungkook.”

Jungkook grinned, satisfied with her response. But he wasn’t done trying to prove his superiority.

“You know,” he began, his voice dripping with a casual arrogance, “my grandma bought me a horse last weekend before I shifted to Busan. His name is Thunder.”

Hyunsik’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. “A horse? That’s cool, I guess. But I have a dog named Max, and he’s really smart. He can do tricks and everything.”

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, his expression one of mild disinterest. “A dog? That’s nice. But Thunder is a racehorse. He can run really fast.”

Hyunsik frowned, not wanting to be outdone. “Well, Max is really loyal. He protects me and my family.”

Jungkook shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “Thunder can jump really high. My trainer says he’s the best horse he’s ever seen.”

As Jungkook and Hyunsik continued their back-and-forth, the tension between them only seemed to grow.

Their voices had risen slightly, drawing the attention of some of the other students nearby, who were now watching the exchange with interest.

"You know," Jungkook said with a hint of smugness, "my house has a swimming pool. I can swim whenever I want. I bet you don't have that."

Hyunsik rolled his eyes. "So what? I have a treehouse in my backyard. Y/n and I have played there a bunch of times. It's way cooler than a swimming pool."

Jungkook’s brow furrowed, and he opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, Y/n let out an exasperated huff.

The boys had been arguing nonstop, and she was growing tired of their constant need to one-up each other. She had hoped they could get along, but it seemed like they were more interested in competing for her attention.

Fed up, Y/n set her lunchbox down on the table with a decisive thud and stood up. Without a word, she reached out and grabbed both boys by the hair—one hand clutching Jungkook’s soft, dark locks, and the other holding onto Hyunsik’s slightly lighter strands.

Both boys immediately froze, their eyes widening in shock and discomfort as they realized what was happening.

“Yah!” Y/n scolded them, her voice stern and motherly despite her small stature. “Stop fighting! You’re both being ridiculous!”

Jungkook let out a small whimper, trying to twist his head away from her grip, but Y/n held firm. “Ow! Let go, Y/n!” he protested, but there was a note of pleading in his voice.

Hyunsik wasn’t faring any better. He winced as Y/n’s fingers tugged at his hair, his earlier bravado quickly crumbling. “Okay, okay! We’ll stop! Just let go, Y/n!”

But Y/n wasn’t done yet. She gave their hair one last tug, emphasizing her point.

“You’re both acting like babies,” she chided, her eyes narrowing at them. “If you can’t get along, then maybe I’ll just eat lunch by myself.”

With that, she released their hair and turned on her heel, picking up her lunchbox and walking away while stomping her feet.

Her pigtails bounced slightly as she marched off, leaving the two boys behind to deal with the aftermath of her sudden burst of authority.

Jungkook and Hyunsik sat there for a moment, stunned and still rubbing their sore scalps. They exchanged glances, their earlier hostility momentarily forgotten in the face of Y/n’s unexpected reprimand.

“She’s still my best friend, you know,” Hyunsik muttered, not willing to let Jungkook have the last word. Despite the situation, he couldn’t resist throwing in one final jab.

Jungkook glared at him, but the sting from Y/n’s scolding had left him somewhat deflated. As Hyunsik got up and went somewhere else, Jungkook stayed behind, lost in his thoughts.

Jungkook huffed, crossing his arms as he sulked in his chair. Hyunsik’s ego was clearly inflated, but what could he do about it? He didn’t have a treehouse or a loyal dog, but he had plenty of other things—things that were way cooler.

Wait.

Does he too have a bigger plane with his name written on it?

Jungkook chewed on his lips as the prospect seemed too real.

Nevermind. He'll work on getting his little one back. He can't give two flying fucks about Hyunsik anymore.

--

The afternoon sun bathed the school grounds as children rushed toward the waiting buses, eager to get home after a long day.

Among them, Jungkook spotted Y/n making her way to the school bus, and without a second thought, he followed her like a shadow, completely ignoring the sleek, black Rolls Royce waiting at the gate.

The driver, a man in his late forties, looked puzzled as he saw his young master bypass the car and head straight for the bus.

He called out to Jungkook, but the boy gave him a much-ignored glance, his attention solely on Y/n.

Jungkook boarded the bus behind her, sitting down next to her without a word. The other children on the bus barely noticed him, more interested in their own conversations and games.

Y/n glanced at Jungkook, who was trying his best to appear casual, but his eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and mischief. She didn’t say anything either, simply letting him sit there as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The bus rumbled to life, and as it pulled away from the school, Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a sense of victory. He was on the bus with Y/n, and that’s all that mattered.

The Rolls Royce was long forgotten.

When the bus finally arrived at their stop, Jungkook and Y/n hopped off together. He followed her down the familiar path to their houses, only stopping when he reached his front door.

He waved a quick goodbye to Y/n, who returned it with a small, polite smile, before she headed into her own home.

As soon as Jungkook stepped into his house, he was greeted by the sight of his mother, Mirae, standing in the hallway with her arms crossed and an expression that could only be described as furious. The moment she saw him, she launched into a tirade.

“Jungkook, where were you?” Mirae’s voice was sharp, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and concern.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You should have at least told the driver that you weren’t going with him! Poor Mr. Park was fired by your grandmother for an hour until she reinstated him, thinking you were in some kind of trouble!”

Jungkook blinked, her words barely registering. He was too busy thinking about how close he had been to Y/n the whole way home.

He shrugged nonchalantly, completely unfazed by his mother’s scolding. “I wanted to ride the bus,” he said simply, brushing past her as if the matter was of no importance.

Mirae sighed in exasperation, watching as her son headed straight for the dining room. “Jungkook, you can’t just do things like this without telling anyone. It’s irresponsible and—”

But Jungkook wasn’t listening. He was already at the table, eating his lunch with the kind of single-minded focus only a five-year-old could muster.

Mirae watched him for a moment, her anger slowly ebbing away, replaced by resignation. She knew her son could be stubborn, but this was beyond what she had expected.

Once Jungkook finished his meal, he hopped off his chair and made a beeline for Y/n’s house. He ignored his mother’s questioning gaze, leaving her to deal with her own thoughts as he headed to the one place he really wanted to be.

[Lee House]

Haneul and Minjun were in the living room, quietly discussing the Jeon family’s obvious wealth. They had noticed the array of house helps, the luxurious cars, and the subtle but clear indications that this was no ordinary family.

As they whispered among themselves, Jungkook waddled his way to Y/n’s room, completely oblivious to their conversation.

He knocked on her door and peeked in, his small voice piping up, “Excuse me?”

Y/n, who was playing with her dolls on the floor, looked up and saw him standing there with his big, pleading eyes. “You are excused,” she replied.

Jungkook pouted, stepping further into the room. “You are being rude to me?”

Y/n shrugged, not bothering to look up this time. “So?”

He huffed, clearly frustrated. “Ugh, you’re wasting my time by being like this, little one.”

She shot him a look, her eyebrows raised. “No, you’re wasting my time by pestering me.”

Jungkook’s pout deepened, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He waddled closer, pulling out a Dairy Milk chocolate from his pocket and holding it out to her. “Here,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’m sorry. For today…"

Y/n finally looked at him, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “You think a chocolate is going to make everything okay?”

He wanted her to forgive him, to be his friend again. Without another word, he held his ears with both hands and started doing sit-ups, counting out loud as he went.

“One… two… three…” His voice strained as he reached the tenth sit-up, his small body wobbling from the effort.

Y/n watched him, her stern expression slowly melting into a giggle. “Okay, okay! Stop it, Jungkook!” she said, laughing as she finally relented. “I forgive you.”

Jungkook stood up straight, panting a little as he smiled at her. “Really?”

“Yes,” Y/n said, still giggling. “But only on one condition.”

Jungkook’s face fell slightly. “What condition?”

“You have to befriend Hyunsik too,” she said firmly, holding out her pinky finger for a promise.

Jungkook pouted, clearly not thrilled with the idea. But Y/n’s expectant look, combined with the outstretched pinky, left him little choice. With a sigh, he hooked his pinky with hers. “Fine,” he mumbled. “I’ll be his friend too.”

Although Jungkook didn’t really like Hyunsik, he knew he would tolerate him for Y/n’s sake.

She was worth it.