Morning announcements crackled through the intercom.
> "All students, please be informed—the annual elementary Taekwondo Tournament will be held next Friday. Participants from grades 4 to 6 may sign up with their homeroom teachers."
The room erupted with chatter.
"Daehyun's totally joining, right?"
"He won last year with one kick!"
"I heard someone from Class 5 is joining too."
Daehyun's face remained neutral, but inside, something burned hot and hungry.
---
Areum turned to Raon.
"You should try it too."
Raon blinked. "Me?"
"You fought off those older kids like it was nothing," she said, smiling. "It's not just your brain that's scary."
Raon looked away, as if embarrassed.
"I'm not really the… sporty type."
Areum laughed gently. "Doesn't matter. Everyone already knows you're amazing."
---
At the back of the class, Daehyun stared at them.
He stood.
Walked up to the board.
And signed his name on the tournament list.
With big, confident strokes.
---
Lunch.
Raon sat alone on the rooftop, watching clouds roll across the sky.
His wrist clicked open a small, hidden tab in his watch. A menu appeared.
> [Martial Database Loaded]
[Combat Styles Synced: Boxing, Kendo, Muay Thai, Judo, Taekwondo]
[User Physique: Optimized]
[Estimated Tournament Difficulty: Low]
[Win Condition: Humiliate Lee Daehyun / Gain Full Trust from Areum]
He smiled.
> "Let the audience believe it's an underdog story.
Let him think this is his moment."
---
Daehyun trained into the night.
Sweat, blisters, bruises.
Over and over again.
His master watched silently.
"You're not fighting just to win," he said finally. "You're fighting like something was taken from you."
Daehyun didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because deep inside, he wasn't sure what he was trying to take back anymore.
---
Final Panel:
Tournament bracket revealed. Raon and Daehyun—opposite sides.
A storm brews behind the names.