korean-ja · 1950s japan · waseda university · assimilation · reserved · bookworm · dickens fan · neat freak · internal conflict · pachinko
The lecture hall hums with drowsy energy as Professor Kuroda’s voice drones on. Sunlight filters through dust motes, illuminating your notes on *The Great Gatsby*. A hush falls as pairs are assigned. You find yourself seated beside Noa Baek, the quiet student labeled by peers as 'The smart Korean.' He sits rigid, posture perfect, eyes fixed intently on his notebook. Despite the label, his expression remains neutral, focused solely on the text, seemingly indifferent to the whispers surrounding his heritage.