Fight code

The morning was brisk, the sky a pale blue canvas streaked with wisps of clouds. The sun filtered through the trees lining the school courtyard, casting long shadows on the ground, as if the world itself had paused to take notice of what was about to unfold.

Jinwoo stood at the entrance to the school, the usual hum of students buzzing around him. The air felt different today—charged, as though the very atmosphere was reacting to his presence. He had expected some change after his return, but nothing had prepared him for the intensity of the attention he was receiving.

As he walked through the gates, heads turned, whispers followed in his wake. The usual gossip and laughter felt distant now, drowned out by the sharp, curious gazes fixed on him. He could feel it—the scrutiny, the judgment, the surprise. But there was something else in the air, something that made him uneasy.

Girls.

Everywhere he looked, girls were staring at him. Their eyes lingered longer than before, their smiles more inviting. He felt them sizing him up, their interest growing with every step he took. His face—no longer hidden behind the veil of insecurity—was striking, sharp with the kind of features that turned heads. His dark eyes were intense yet calm, framed by thick lashes, his jawline defined and angular. His lips, once too thin and often overlooked, now had a softness that complimented his strong features.

And then there was his body.

It had transformed from the frail, hunched figure that had once been invisible to a statue of strength. His six-pack abs, sculpted by months of relentless training, flexed under the fabric of his uniform as he moved. His shoulders had broadened, his posture, once slouched in defeat, now straight and proud, exuding an air of quiet confidence. The uniform fit him perfectly, as if tailored just for him—cutting across his lean but muscular frame like a designer suit.

At first, the attention felt like an unexpected gift. Jinwoo wasn't used to being looked at this way, and it made him feel... uncomfortable. He wasn't sure how to respond. The girls who had once ignored him now lingered in his path, their eyes tracing every inch of his body. Some gave him shy glances, others brazenly smiled at him. He could hear snippets of conversation as he walked by, whispers of admiration, jealousy, and curiosity.

"Did you see him? He looks like a model now."

"Is that really Jinwoo? He's... perfect."

"Has he always been this handsome?"

Jinwoo felt the weight of their stares like a physical pressure. He could feel his heart rate quicken, his palms slightly clammy as his thoughts swirled in confusion. Was this really the attention he wanted? The attention he had longed for in his old life?

He wished for a moment that he could return to the anonymity of his past self—where his face and body didn't matter, where he wasn't the center of attention. But that wasn't an option anymore.

As he reached the classroom, a group of girls passed by him, their heads turning as they whispered excitedly. One of them smiled at him—a radiant, almost too eager smile. Jinwoo nodded awkwardly, his cheeks burning. He didn't know what to say, how to handle this new version of himself that was suddenly the object of desire.

Despite his unease, he continued on, trying to focus on the familiar routine of the day. But the feeling of eyes on him, the pressure of their stares, lingered like a heavy fog.

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The bell rang, signaling the beginning of the next class. The hallway was bustling with the usual noise of students exchanging greetings, hastily gathering their things, and rushing to their designated classrooms. But for Jinwoo, the noise was muffled, overshadowed by the heavy beat of his own heart. He made his way through the crowded hall, the eyes of his classmates following him like a spotlight. The feeling was suffocating, but he kept his head down, focusing on the familiar routine of school, hoping it would offer him some reprieve.

As he turned a corner, he saw her—Ari, a girl from his class. She had been part of the same social circle as Joon-pyo, her reputation bolstered by her beauty and popularity. Her long, silky hair swayed with each step, and her confident, almost regal posture made her stand out in any crowd. But today, there was something different about her—a spark in her eyes, a mischievous glint that caught his attention just as much as her graceful movement.

Ari approached him slowly, her footsteps deliberate and calculated. She was clearly making her way toward him, and the brief eye contact she gave him caused a ripple of whispers from the surrounding students.

"Jinwoo," she called, her voice smooth and soft, but tinged with an unmistakable sense of purpose.

Jinwoo paused, startled. He had been hoping to make it through the day without any more of this attention, but here she was, standing right in front of him. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, and for a split second, he didn't know what to say. He had never really spoken to her before.

"Yes?" he replied, trying to keep his voice steady, though it felt foreign coming from his lips.

Ari smiled, a smile that seemed to promise something he couldn't quite grasp. "I've been noticing you lately, Jinwoo. You've really changed, haven't you?" Her gaze lingered on him for a beat too long, her eyes sweeping over his new physique, taking in every detail with an intensity that made his stomach tighten.

Jinwoo didn't know how to respond. The compliment, or whatever it was, felt alien. He could feel the weight of her stare, the attention making him uncomfortable. He shifted on his feet, forcing himself to meet her gaze, but his mind was racing, trying to find an exit to the conversation.

Ari took a step closer, lowering her voice. "How about we go out sometime? Just the two of us?" She said it casually, as though it was the most natural thing in the world, her words wrapping around him like a velvet trap.

Jinwoo froze.

For a moment, everything seemed to slow down. The students around them went silent, as if sensing the tension in the air. Jinwoo's chest tightened, his heart thumping in his ears. He had no idea how to respond. He had spent so long hiding from attention, dodging the spotlight, that this sudden shift in his life felt overwhelming.

Ari waited, her smile widening, clearly anticipating his answer. The whispers grew louder, the excitement in the air palpable. Everyone was watching—waiting for him to say something, anything.

But all Jinwoo could do was stare at her, his mind blank. The words "I don't know" were trapped in his throat, but somehow, he couldn't say them.

He turned his head slightly, his eyes avoiding hers, and finally spoke. "No."

The word felt foreign on his tongue, but it was the truth. He didn't want to be with someone because of his new appearance, because he looked different now. It wasn't real. It wasn't who he had become.

Ari's smile faltered, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes. The air between them seemed to grow colder, and the whispers in the hallway faded into awkward silence.

"Excuse me?" she said, her voice suddenly hard, as though her mask of charm had cracked. "Did you just... reject me?"

Jinwoo, still avoiding her gaze, nodded. "Yes. I'm not interested."

Her face twisted briefly with frustration, a sharp contrast to her usual composed demeanor. She had never been turned down before—not by anyone. Certainly not by someone like him.

Without another word, she turned on her heel, her expression darkening. The students around them watched in stunned silence as Ari stalked off, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she retreated to her room.

Jinwoo let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The tension left his body, but the unease remained. He couldn't shake the feeling that rejecting Ari was a decision that would ripple through the school in ways he couldn't predict.

The hallway was quiet now, but the weight of the moment still lingered.

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The school bell rang, signaling the start of the afternoon classes. The hallways once again filled with the sound of students shuffling toward their rooms, but Jinwoo was lost in his thoughts, unaware of the small crowd that was beginning to form around him. His rejection of Ari had stirred something in the air—an undercurrent of tension that clung to the walls of the school like a thick fog.

He walked through the corridor toward the gym, intent on getting to class, when he noticed a familiar face.

Lee Joon-pyo.

Joon-pyo, despite his bandaged face and bruised ego, stood at the entrance to the gymnasium, flanked by a tall figure Jinwoo hadn't seen before. The newcomer was massive, easily a head taller than Joon-pyo, his arms like tree trunks, muscles bulging from his loose athletic wear. The faint gleam of determination in the newcomer's eyes, paired with the unmistakable aura of someone who had seen countless battles, sent a ripple of awareness through Jinwoo's body.

Joon-pyo's eyes locked with Jinwoo's, and his lips curled into a grimace. The hatred was palpable, lingering between them like a dangerous storm ready to burst.

"You," Joon-pyo spat, taking a step forward. The crowd around them fell silent, their curiosity piqued as they sensed something about to unfold. "You think you can just humiliate me in front of everyone and get away with it? I'm not done with you."

Jinwoo didn't flinch. He had seen this coming. The schoolyard politics, the need to avenge lost face—he understood it all too well. But unlike before, when he would have backed down or tried to avoid conflict, something in him had shifted. The Jinwoo that stood here now was different. Stronger.

The gymnasium door creaked open, and the newcomer stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. His presence alone sent a tremor of uncertainty through the group. He was large and intimidating, with a presence that felt more like a threat than a greeting. His eyes were cold, calculating.

"His name is Jang-ho," Joon-pyo announced, his voice dripping with venom. "He's a martial artist. A real fighter. And he's here to show you what happens when you disrespect me."

Jang-ho stepped into the gym, his eyes never leaving Jinwoo. The crowd followed, spilling into the gymnasium, eager for the spectacle they were about to witness. The gym, with its large, empty space and echoing walls, felt like a coliseum. The wooden floor, polished from years of use, gleamed beneath the harsh fluorescent lights, the shadows stretching long and ominous in the corners.

Jinwoo stood still as Jang-ho squared up in front of him. The newcomer's stance was powerful, his body exuding strength and readiness. Jinwoo could see the raw energy in Jang-ho's eyes—the confidence of someone who knew they could win.

But Jinwoo wasn't intimidated.

The air felt heavy, thick with anticipation as the students gathered around, some taking seats along the bleachers, others standing near the ring. Their whispers faded into a tense silence, broken only by the sharp, rhythmic sound of Jang-ho's breathing.

"Let's make this quick," Jang-ho growled, lunging forward with surprising speed for someone his size. His fist swung toward Jinwoo's head in a wide arc, powerful enough to knock a person out cold. But Jinwoo had been preparing for this moment—months of training flooding his body with instinctive responses.

He sidestepped.

Jang-ho's fist passed inches from Jinwoo's face, but Jinwoo was already in motion. He pivoted, his body fluid and controlled, and with a swift movement, his foot shot out, landing squarely in Jang-ho's midsection. The force of the kick sent the larger man stumbling back, his breath knocked out of him. The crowd gasped.

Before Jang-ho could recover, Jinwoo was already on him, his movements precise and calculated.

With a lightning-fast strike, Jinwoo's leg swept low, catching Jang-ho's feet out from under him. As Jang-ho fell to the floor, Jinwoo took the opportunity to deliver a clean, straight punch to his chest—Kyokushin karate, honed to perfection. The impact reverberated through the gym, echoing off the walls.

Jang-ho grunted, his body jerking in surprise at the sheer power behind the blow. He tried to rise, but Jinwoo was already in position, his eyes locked onto his opponent with unyielding focus.

Joon-pyo watched from the sidelines, his disbelief written clearly on his face. He had expected Jinwoo to crumble under Jang-ho's onslaught, but the opposite was happening. Jang-ho, despite his size and strength, was being outmaneuvered and overwhelmed by Jinwoo's fluid, disciplined strikes.

Jinwoo stepped back, his breathing controlled, his gaze never wavering from Jang-ho. The massive fighter was struggling to push himself up, his face contorted with pain and frustration.

Jinwoo's muscles tightened as he prepared for the next move, the next step in this silent challenge. He walked toward Joon-pyo, his expression calm but unwavering. The tension in the air was thick, and Jinwoo cracked his knuckles slowly, a warning in every movement.

Joon-pyo's eyes widened, fear creeping into his expression for the first time since Jinwoo's return.

"I warned you," Jinwoo said quietly, his voice a cold whisper that sent a shiver through the crowd.

And with that, Jinwoo moved swiftly, his body a blur of controlled power. He struck first—an elbow to Joon-pyo's chest, sending the bully staggering backward, gasping for air. Then, with a quick flick of his wrist, he knocked out Joon-pyo's lackey with a punch to the side of his head.

The gym was silent now, except for the sound of labored breathing. Jinwoo stood tall, his knuckles still crackling, his body a symbol of strength and determination.

The once untouchable bully and his lackeys lay on the floor, groaning, unable to move. Jinwoo walked past them, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the gym as the students watched, stunned into silence.

The reign of Joon-pyo had ended.