✦..WinterSketch..✦

Rain had been falling since early morning over ANPANMAN University.

Not soft movie-type rain.

This was aggressive rain.

The kind that ruined hairstyles, flooded shoes, and made students question every decision that brought them to university that day.

The campus looked grey and sleepy beneath the cloudy sky. Umbrellas moved everywhere like colorful mushrooms while students hurried through the wet pathways carrying books, coffee cups, and unfinished assignments.

Near the main gate, the university loudspeaker suddenly echoed through campus.

> "Attention students. First-year orientation will begin in five minutes."

Immediately, students started rushing faster.

Except one particular student who was already experiencing the worst morning of her life.

"WAITTTTT-!"

Vitha came running across the pathway like a small natural disaster.

Her short black hair stuck messily to her cheeks because of the rain. Her oversized hoodie sleeves covered half her hands, and her bag zip was completely open.

Pens, sticky notes, and one lonely paintbrush kept falling behind her every few seconds.

In one hand, she held a broken umbrella that barely worked.

In the other, she protected her sketchbook like it was the most valuable thing on earth.

"WHY IS THIS CAMPUS SO BIG?!" she cried dramatically while running.

Behind her, three boys followed with expressions filled with exhaustion.

Adhi was carrying her fallen ID card.

Hari held two pens and a notebook she dropped near the stairs.

And Goku-

Goku was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

"She runs like a penguin escaping taxes," he said between laughs.

"I HEARD THAT!"

"You were supposed to!"

Hari sighed tiredly while fixing his glasses.

"How do you lose this many things in one minute?"

"I'm under pressure!"

"You dropped your shoe five minutes ago."

"That was one time!"

"It literally happened today."

Rainwater splashed everywhere as the four rushed across campus.

Vitha suddenly stopped running.

The others almost crashed into her.

"What now?!" Adhi asked.

Vitha stared at a small puddle dramatically.

"My shoelace is untied."

Hari looked emotionally defeated.

"You stopped us... for that?"

"If I fall and die, remember me kindly."

"You're not going to die from shoelaces."

"You don't know destiny."

Before anyone could reply, the loudspeaker echoed again.

> "Orientation begins in two minutes."

The boys froze.

Vitha froze harder.

Then chaos restarted.

"RUNNNN-!"

She immediately sprinted again.

Her broken umbrella flipped backward because of the wind.

"MY UMBRELLA!"

"LEAVE IT!" Hari shouted.

"I PAID ONE HUNDRED RUPEES FOR THIS!"

"IT'S ALREADY DEAD!"

Students moved aside while watching the four rush through campus like a failed action movie.

Some laughed.

Some stared.

One senior whispered, "Freshers are entertaining this year."

Vitha ignored everything and continued running with full determination.

Unfortunately-

the wet stairs near the main building had other plans.

Her shoe slipped suddenly.

"AHHH-!"

For one terrifying second, everyone thought she was about to fall down the stairs dramatically.

Even Adhi reached forward in panic.

But somehow-

somehow-

Vitha regained balance by holding the railing like a survivor in an action film.

The four stood there breathing heavily.

Rain continued pouring around them.

Hari placed one hand over his heart.

"That almost became a funeral."

"I saw my ancestors for one second," Goku admitted.

Vitha proudly fixed her hoodie.

"See? Athletic skills."

"You slipped on air," Adhi said.

"That's still talent."

They finally reached the main building entrance completely soaked.

Students inside stared at them strangely.

Water dripped from Vitha's sleeves.

Her hair looked like it had personally lost a battle against nature.

And worst of all-

she slowly realized she forgot something important.

"My orientation paper..."

The boys became silent.

Vitha checked her bag once.

Twice.

Then faster.

"Oh no."

Hari looked terrified already.

"You lost it?"

"I think rain kidnapped it."

Goku leaned against the wall laughing again.

"How are you surviving adulthood?"

"I'm trying my best!"

Adhi sighed and handed her a folded paper from his file.

"You left it in the canteen earlier."

Vitha's eyes widened dramatically.

"ADHI I WILL NAME MY FIRST CHILD AFTER YOU."

"No thanks."

"Second child?"

"Still no."

Before she could continue being emotional, another announcement echoed through the hallway.

> "Orientation has started."

The four looked toward each other.

Then toward the lecture hall at the end of the corridor.

Then back at each other again.

"...We're doomed," Hari whispered.

Vitha slowly walked toward the classroom door like a criminal approaching court judgment.

The closer they got, the quieter they became.

Students inside were already seated.

A voice from inside the classroom spoke calmly through a microphone.

Deep voice.

Cold tone.

Professional.

Definitely not friendly.

Goku leaned closer to the others.

"That must be the new professor."

"I heard he's really strict," Hari whispered back.

"They said half the seniors are scared of him," Adhi added.

Vitha swallowed nervously.

"I suddenly miss school."

"You cried daily in school," Hari reminded her.

"Exactly. Comfortable memories."

The four stopped outside the classroom door.

Vitha stared at her reflection in the glass beside the entrance.

Wet hair.

Tired face.

Completely ruined dignity.

Perfect first impression.

She inhaled deeply.

Then exhaled.

Then inhaled again dramatically.

Hari looked at her suspiciously.

"Why are you breathing like you're entering war?"

"What if the professor hates us?"

"You are twenty minutes late. He probably will."

"Support me emotionally, Hari."

"I support truth."

Vitha placed one hand over her heart in betrayal.

Meanwhile inside the classroom, the professor continued speaking calmly while writing something on the board.

Even through the small glass window, his presence felt intimidating.

Tall figure.

Dark coat.

Sharp posture.

Very calm.

Too calm.

The kind of calm that made students automatically sit straight.

Vitha suddenly became nervous for real.

Not because he was handsome.

Not because he was strict.

But because she hated making bad first impressions.

And unfortunately-

bad first impressions seemed to follow her everywhere naturally.

Adhi gently pushed the classroom door slightly.

"Should we go in?"

"No," Vitha whispered immediately.

"We have to."

"What if he kills us?"

"He's a professor, not a movie villain."

"We don't know his hobbies yet."

Goku almost laughed loudly again.

Hari quickly covered his mouth.

"Please behave for five minutes," he whispered.

Vitha stared at the door dramatically like it was the entrance to another dimension.

Then finally-

with the confidence of someone absolutely unprepared for life-

she grabbed the handle.

And the moment the door opened-

the entire classroom turned silent.

Dozens of eyes landed on the four drenched students standing at the entrance.

But Vitha noticed only one person.

The professor slowly turned around from the board.

Cold eyes. Calm expression. Dark coat.

And somehow-

without saying a single word-

he already looked disappointed.

Vitha immediately knew one thing.

This orientation was about to become the most embarrassing moment of her life. ✦