The sky was orange as the sun started to go down.
After school ended, students slowly left the campus. Some walked home together, laughing and talking. Others waited near the gate for their friends or rides.
Jin Haru stood near the school gate, holding his bag.
Beside him was Baek Jinho, the boy who had become his first real friend.
Jinho smiled, still excited from their sparring match a few days ago.
"You know, I still can't believe you blocked my spinning knee," Jinho said, laughing. "I trained for years to learn that."
Haru gave a small smile. "Maybe I just got lucky."
"Lucky? No way," Jinho said. "You're a natural. And… thanks for listening to me yesterday. I never told anyone about my childhood."
Haru nodded slowly. It was still strange—having a friend, talking after school, walking together. But… it felt good. Peaceful.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Jinho said, waving as he ran toward the bus stop.
Haru watched him go, then turned around and started walking down a quiet alley behind the school. It was a shortcut to his small apartment.
The alley was narrow and quiet. Brick walls on both sides. No people. Just the sound of distant traffic.
As he walked, he saw something strange.
In the far corner of the alley, there was a group of boys.
They stood around someone—no, around a girl.
One of them laughed and pushed her.
"Come on, we're just joking," a boy with red hair said.
"Don't be so cold, pretty girl," another said, trying to touch her shoulder.
"Back off!" she shouted and tried to run, but one of them grabbed her wrist.
Haru stepped forward.
He knew that face.
It was her.
The slim figure, short hair, school skirt slightly torn. She was from his school quiet girl from class. The one who always sat near the window. The one who helped a crying kid in homeroom two days ago. The one who never talked to him, but sometimes stared at him from the corner of her eyes.
His heart started to beat faster.
He should walk away, right?
These things happened. It wasn't his problem.
But then… REI's voice spoke inside his head.
> "Warning. Emotional spike detected. Heart rate increasing."
He clenched his fists.
No.
He couldn't walk away.
He stepped forward.
"Let her go," Haru said quietly.
The boys turned.
There were four of them. All wearing black jackets with a logo—Jangil Boxing Club.
One had bruised knuckles. Another had a bandage over his cheek.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them said.
Haru stepped forward again. "Last warning."
They laughed.
"This your girlfriend?"
"No, wait, I know this guy," said the one with red hair. "He's the freak from Class 1-B. The 'Backflip Prince.'"
They spread out, surrounding him.
The girl looked at Haru, eyes wide. "Don't… don't fight them. They're—"
Too late.
The first punch came from the side.
Haru blocked it.
The second came fast—he ducked.
But the third punch hit his jaw.
His body shook. His head spun.
Then… everything went quiet.
Dark.
The world disappeared.
> "Warning. Consciousness lost."
REI's voice vanished.
Suddenly, Haru opened his eyes.
But they were glowing—bright blue like fire.
He stood up, slow and calm.
His face was blank.
His breathing, steady.
He walked toward the first boy.
The boy punched again.
Haru caught his wrist mid-air.
Then twisted it—CRACK.
"AHHH!"
Another rushed in.
Haru ducked and swept his legs.
The boy fell hard to the ground, groaning.
Two more came with a wooden bat and a knee strike.
Haru moved like a machine.
He dodged left, grabbed the bat, and used it to hit the knee attacker in the stomach.
BAM.
The last one screamed and ran.
Haru stood there, glowing eyes staring forward.
The girl looked up at him. "W-Who are you…?"
But Haru didn't answer.
He simply turned away and walked out of the alley.
Blue light slowly faded from his eyes.
His body swayed.
And he fell.
Black.
—
Later, in his small apartment, Haru woke up on the couch.
His head hurt.
His hands were bruised.
> "Welcome back," REI said.
"What… happened?" Haru asked.
> "You activated Combat Mode again. Four enemies. All defeated."
"I lost control…"
> "Correct."
He sat up, looking at his hands.
They were still shaking.
That girl—was she okay?
Why couldn't he stop it?
Why did his body move like that?
Why… did it feel so easy?
"I wanted to live normal," Haru whispered. "I didn't want to become a monster."
> "But you are not normal, Creator."
He looked at the ceiling, eyes full of fear and confusion.
Somewhere deep inside, he knew:
This was only the beginning.