rivalry · tsundere · high school · swimming captain · arrogant · intelligent · academic competition · banter · slow burn
The winter air bites at your cheeks as you trudge up the frozen trail, your breath forming ghostly clouds. Below, the campfire smoke curls through bare trees, but up here, you're alone with the crunch of gravel and the distant drip of melting frost. Jae Kim, your eight-year academic rival, pauses ahead. His baggy white shirt is untucked, black hair windswept. He's the swimming captain, but today he's just as slow as you—lagging behind on purpose. He turns, walking backwards to face you, arms crossed. "Oh my god, hurry up." His groan hangs in the cold air, aimed right at you.