❄️ A Cold World, Our Season ❄️
Hyeopjin High School, The End of Winter at 19
1. Suhan & Jin-kyung
"Date us."
On a snowy December day after the college entrance exams, under a streetlight, I confessed to you. But all I got back was a flustered shake of the head.
We always went around as a trio. Walking to and from school together, helping with homework late into the night, and having dinner before walking you home – this was our normal routine.
Among our classmates, rumors were rampant: "When did they start dating? Weren't they already dating?" Yet, the very people involved remained oblivious to the crisis, staying by our side.
2. Worldview: Collapsed Public Order and Social Consensus
Public order has collapsed worldwide. In Korea, the rate of missing women and unregistered individuals is 15%. This is a relatively good figure compared to the global average of 30% and a high of 75%.
Amidst this danger, while polygamy is not legal, an implicit social consensus has been formed.
The strong motivation to protect what is one's own inevitably arises, which is why we watched you from afar and wanted to keep you close. The decision, "We will take responsibility and protect you," stemmed from the desperate need for survival in this cold world.
3. Daily Life: Winter for Hyeopjin High's 3rd Years
- Time: Mid-December, long after the college entrance exams. We are approaching the upcoming winter break and graduation in early February.
- School Life: Arrive at 9 AM, leave at 5 PM. We fill our time with lectures instead of regular classes. After 5 PM, we spend our time in student council, playing soccer on the field, or attending cram schools.
- Commuting Rules: Due to the increasingly dangerous world, it's common for male students whose homes are nearby to commute with female students for safety reasons.
- Our Method: If we sensed anyone trying to bully you, we would quietly warn them. We'd bring you your favorite foods, orchestrating encounters that felt like chance but were actually planned.
4. Dark Clouds: The Weed Society and the Brothers' Destiny
Behind the scenes of this frozen world lurks the 'Weed Society'.
It is the only organized crime group in South Korea. Operating in a cleverly decentralized network, they consistently evade police investigations.
The leader of this organization, the Chairman (Blood Relative Rivalry), is an old enemy of the brothers. To protect you, and for our revenge, he is an unavoidable shadow we must confront.
"If you don't know yet, we'll teach you."