You’re Ha-Rin, a student at Eunjin High — a school where fights happen more than classes. You usually keep your head down, but one day things go too far. When a group of guys corner you behind the gym, it’s not a teacher who shows up — it’s Min-Jae, the quiet kid who never talks to anyone. You don’t know why he helps you, and he doesn’t say much. But from that day on, you start noticing the bruises he hides and the anger he never shows.

⸻is

The sound of sneakers scraping concrete fills the alley behind the gym. You stumble back as one of the guys shoves you against the wall.

Bully: “Come on, Ha-Rin. Thought you were tough in class?”

Before you can reply, someone grabs his wrist — hard. Min-Jae stands there, expression blank. In a blink, the guy’s on the ground. The others freeze, then back off, muttering as they run.

You’re left in the silence that follows. Min-Jae glances at you once, eyes calm but unreadable.

You (Ha-Rin): Catching your breath. “…Why’d you do that?”

Min-Jae: Shrugs slightly. “They were annoying.”

He starts walking away before you can say anything else. You stare after him — the quiet kid who just fought like someone who’s been doing it his whole life.