Kwan Soo walked up to Taek Jung, who was sitting on a bench, clearly furious, and nodded toward Ming You, who stood frozen in a daze.
"You gonna let him on the court by trashing your rep, or are you keeping your word?"
Taek Jung clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Tch. Fucking show-off..."
"Don't worry, I'll keep my promise too." Ming You, his eyes hidden beneath his hair, stepped out from behind the benches and stared at Kwan Soo. "Happy now? Or do you just not believe I'd actually keep my word?"
"Your word means shit—you've got nothing to back it up. But you," Kwan Soo turned to Taek Jung, "Reputation's everything, right? No rep, no cash. Bet that makes sense to you."
"Fucking asshole!" Taek Jung shot up from the bench, fists clenched, but Kwan Soo was already slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
He walked off the court, and after a moment, Ming You turned to leave as well. But before he could, Taek Jung—still seated—called out to him.
"Hold up. Got a couple questions. Hope you're not in a rush?"
Ming You paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Talk."
"Heh, I see you're not in the mood, but I'll ask anyway. You didn't jump him for no reason, right? Unless this is all just some scheme to drag him onto the court."
Ming You, face blank, expertly faked irritation.
"I've got my own score to settle with him."
Taek Jung smirked.
"Should've come to me sooner. Me and my boys would've fucked him up beyond recognition. But not now—rep's on the line. A guy like you doesn't give a shit about that, but for me? It's everything."
"I get it. That's why I'm not asking you for shit." Ming You turned to leave, but Taek Jung stood up and called after him, voice calm.
"One more thing."
Ming You stopped but didn't turn around. Taek Jung took a step closer.
"If you just wanted to beat his ass, why'd he think you were working for me? Just curious—you a better fighter or a better liar?"
Ming You forced a smirk, his hollow black eyes locking onto him.
"Take your pick."
"Heh. Thought so."
Ming You finally walked away. His sneakers scuffed softly against the asphalt, leaving faint trails of dust behind. He moved slowly down the familiar path, past shuttered storefronts, apartment blocks, and the occasional flickering streetlight as dusk settled in.
"Heh… Knew I'd lose, but I still hoped. If I couldn't even take him in streetball, no way I beat him in a real match..."
Up the stairs, keys in hand, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. The usual silence greeted him as he entered his room. Without a word, Ming You kicked off his sneakers, dropped onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling.
"This hunger… I still haven't killed Kwan Soo. I need to kill him. Everything's set—just gotta get him there. Just need the right time and method… Match is in a day and a half, so it's gotta be before school. One skipped day won't hurt my record. So, last step—how? Hand-to-hand won't cut it, even with a weapon… A knife leaves evidence, guns are too messy, no tranqs on hand… which leaves… Taek Jung. No. This is my victim. Mine, mine, and only mine!"
…
The Next Morning
Students began gathering at the gates of Yoshido High. Some walked alone, some in pairs, while others clustered in groups. But one group stood out near the school entrance—three upperclassmen in black jackets with red trim, the words "Yoshido" emblazoned across their backs in red and white. All three wore their jackets unzipped and draped over their shoulders.
"Why the long faces?" Lu Shen started, propping one foot against the brick pillar by the school gates.
"Not all of us jerk off in the morning like you, so yeah, we're a little sluggish," Haru Lin shot back, standing beside him.
Lu Shen grinned shamelessly in response.
"Look who's talking—Onani Master Haru Lin."
Jung Ho, standing between them, rolled his eyes.
"How long are you gonna keep this up? Is everything just about jerking off now? Ran out of normal topics?"
"Oh, come on, don't even try to lie and say you don't do it."
"Lu, out of all of us, you're the only one obsessed with it."
Jung Ho crossed his arms.
"Unlike you guys, I've got better things to do."
"And what is it? You practicing techniques like the 'Dutch rudder' at the gym?" Lu Shen smirked, followed by Haru Lin's snicker:
"More like a 'bukakke'."
"Alright, Lu's a special case, but what's your excuse?"
"Haha! Hey, Lu, heard you're special!"
"Special my dick!" Less than a second after his half-hearted "angry" retort, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Seriously though, fourteen centimeters is a freakishly rare and tiny feature."
Jung Ho and Haru Lin burst into loud laughter.
"Hong Ren? Where the hell did you even come from?" Lu Shen asked through gritted teeth, a vein pulsing on his forehead.
"Same place as the rest of us, you dumb pervert!" A short girl with chestnut hair cropped at her chin appeared from behind him, followed by her friend with dark hair tied into a ponytail.
"Lee Yoon Mi? So you're saying you crawled out of a pussy too?"
Haru Lin, barely holding back laughter, answered for her:
"Well, unlike you, yeah."
Even louder laughter erupted. Lu Shen started waving his hands dismissively.
"The hell are you defending her for? Where's the bro code?"
"The bro code is the 'Dutch Rudder,' and right now, we're just stating facts."
Lu Shen smirked, while Lee Yoon Mi and her friend covered their mouths with their hands.
"Ugh, and you're joining in too?"
"Yoon Mi, let's get away from these perverts."
"Says the girl obsessed with yaoi manhwa?" Lu Shen raised an eyebrow. Lee Yoon Mi lifted her chin and fired back:
"First of all, it's shounen-ai, not yaoi! Second, you're the one reading yuri!"
"You—!"
Haru Lin was barely keeping it together:
"Yuri? Nah, he's into yaoi too! Right, buddy?"
"Fuck you!" Lu Shen flipped him off.
Haru Lin kept chuckling, Lee Yoon Mi whispered to her friend, and Jung Ho checked his phone before addressing the group:
"By the way, guys, has Ming You shown up yet?"
Haru Lin shook his head.
"Dunno, haven't seen him all weekend."
"Bet he's jerking off to chemistry again!" Lu Shen rolled his eyes. Lee Yoon Mi blinked her big blue eyes and asked:
"Wait, Ming You's your leader or something?"
"Is there another one?" He tilted his head in mock confusion.
Lee Yoon Mi's friend stepped forward, scratching her chin.
"Does he even talk to anyone besides you guys? He seems kinda… detached."
Lu Shen opened his mouth to reply, but Jung Ho cut in, turning his back to him as he looked down at her.
"Maybe. But we're probably the only ones he considers real friends."
Lee Yoon Mi crossed her arms, eyebrows shooting up.
"Kinda surprising that a guy who looks so distant is your leader."
Jung Ho smirked, as if recalling countless moments that proved his point.
"He's actually really smart. You saw our tournament games, right? Without his strategies, we'd have been screwed."
Yoon Mi's friend leaned in, eyes burning with curiosity.
"Tell us more about him! All we know is he's an honor student and your captain."
Lu Shen snorted, lacing his fingers behind his head.
"What, you gonna ship him with guys now too?"
"Why?" She puffed her cheeks. "We don't even know him, even though we're in the same class."
Lee Yoon Mi nodded, biting her lower lip thoughtfully.
"She's right. When he first showed up, he didn't talk to anyone except you basketball guys."
Hong Ren, who had been silent until now, let out a dry chuckle.
"Huh… Maybe we really are his only friends."
Lu Shen whipped around, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Only friends? You remember that time brothel—"
"Dumbass, not here!" Haru Lin elbowed him hard, but it was too late.
Lee Yoon Mi immediately tensed, fingers digging into her sides.
"Hold up! Finish that sentence!"
Haru Lin hesitated, exchanging glances with Jung Ho.
"Uh…"
"It's private," Jung Ho said flatly, but his gaze flickered past them.
Lu Shen suddenly perked up, grinning as he nodded toward the alley.
"Hey, look who's here…"
Ming You rounded the corner. His black hair was slightly disheveled, and a bloodstained beige bandage sat across the bridge of his nose. He walked toward them casually, mustering a friendly wave.
"Hi-hi."
Haru Lin immediately zeroed in on his face.
"Yo, what happened to your nose?"
"Streetball." Ming You shrugged like it was nothing.
Lu Shen snickered.
"What, you played with a brick?"
"Did you get into a fight?" Lee Yoon Mi's eyes widened.
Jung Ho clenched his fists, voice turning serious.
"If someone jumped you, just point them out."
Ming You sighed, as if tired of their concern.
"Relax. If it was a fight, I'd have called you. Just streetball—scratches come with the game."
Lu Shen's eyes lit up with a memory.
"Yeah, like that time you got shot in the leg. Still can't believe that, by the way."
"WHAT!?" Lee Yoon Mi shrieked loud enough to make passing students turn their heads.
Ming You just waved it off.
"Stuff happens."
"You got SHOT!?" Her voice trembled in disbelief.
But he was already walking away, tossing over his shoulder:
"C'mon, the bell's gonna ring."
Jung Ho fell into step beside him.
"You're right, as usual."
"Hey!" Lee Yoon Mi stomped her foot. "Why are you ignoring me!?"
Lu Shen laughed, teasingly winking at her.
"Heh, smooth dismissal!"
"Not funny! I asked a serious question!"
Haru Lin tugged at her sleeve, trying to calm her down.
"Chill, you'll see him at break."
"You—!" She nearly choked on her indignation, but her friend just shook her head, watching Ming You walk away.
"Ming You really is too detached…"
And he kept walking, never looking back, as if their words shattered against an invisible wall around him.
The team stepped through the school doors. Passing the security desk, they moved into the hallway, now buzzing with the noise of recess—laughter, gossip, the shuffle of soles against linoleum. The team crowded around Ming You, staring at his busted nose.
Jung Ho crossed his arms and tilted his head.
"Who'd you play against?"
Just as Ming You lifted his gaze to answer, Lu Shen snorted, locking his hands behind his head.
"Probably some thugs. Who else could've painted his nose like that with a ball?"
Ming You dragged a finger over the bandage and replied flatly:
"Against Gokudan's ace."
"WHAT?!" the team blurted in unison.
"One of them plays for bets, so I figured I'd test his strength early."
Haru Lin frowned.
"Please tell me you beat him."
"Six to two."
Lu Shen laughed, slapping his knee.
"Wow, so their 'ace' is actually trash if he lost even with fouls!"
"Yeah," Haru Lin smirked. "Back in middle school, they didn't even let us breathe. Lucky we've got Ming now."
Ming You calmly adjusted his sleeve, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Six to two… in his favor. I lost."
"HUH?!" The team exploded again.
Lu Shen grabbed his head.
"And you're SMILING after that?!"
Ming You barely twitched the corner of his mouth.
"But you shouldn't panic yet. I've got a plan."
"Phew…" Lu Shen exhaled, slumping. "How could I forget?"
"Glad to hear the loss didn't break you," Haru Lin chuckled.
Jung Ho clenched his fists, his voice hardening.
"This is way more serious now. So we'll be ready for anything."
"Good," Ming You nodded, face blank. "Meet me in the gym after class. We're focusing on long-range shots."
"Long-range?" Jung Ho frowned.
"Exactly. We need to keep our distance."
Haru Lin smirked and elbowed Lu Shen.
"Guess someone needs to learn how to shoot, huh, Lu?"
"Go fu—!"
Ding!
The school bell cut off the argument. The team exchanged glances, and Ming You—without waiting—was the first to stride toward class. The others followed.
The classroom door swung open, and they stepped inside under the watchful eyes of their classmates. Ming You slid into his seat by the window, brushing his hair from his eyes in one practiced motion. Jung Ho dropped into the desk behind him, arms crossed. Haru Lin flopped onto the last seat in the row, already pulling out his phone. Lu Shen, grumbling something about "long-range shots," slumped into the back.
Ming You opened his textbook for appearances, his face unreadable—as if nothing had happened.
The teacher walked in, and the last whispers died.
Silence.
As the lesson dragged on, Ming You sank into his thoughts:
"Nothing went according to plan. I was supposed to kill him—then focus on beating the rest of the team!"
After school, Ming You headed to the gym. Weaving past students and classrooms, he pushed through the gym doors.
The basketball court stood empty. Ming You walked past the hoop and opened the locker room door—met with more silence.
He stepped inside, dropped his bag, and collapsed onto a bench, tilting his head back.
"Fine. Time to focus entirely on the game. Double-teaming Kwan Soo—first thought, but useless. Their team's too strong. Quick passes? So what, they're just as fast. Cobweb? By the time we set it up, they'll outscore us. Provoking them? They're too disciplined. That leaves fouls. Two block the ref, two throw elbows and stomp feet, one steals the ball—but… physically, they overpower us. Our hits would barely tickle them. One last option…"
He jerked upright, yanked out his phone, and dialed.
"Hey? Ming?" Jung Ho's voice was calm but questioning.
"Gather the team. I'm waiting in the locker room."
"Oka—"
Ming You ended the call, stuffed the phone back, and leaned back again. A feeling clawed at him, something like withdrawal:
"This feeling… thirst… for victory? Or—or—Kwan Soo. He was supposed to be dead! Why am I planning his murder instead of the game? Damn it, what's wrong with me…"
His eyes shut. Something dark and unfamiliar raged inside.
Less than five minutes later, the door burst open, and the team piled in. Jung Ho entered first, followed by Haru Lin, Lu Shen, and Hong Ren.
"What's the full plan?" Jung Ho asked immediately, dropping his bag.
Ming You slowly lifted his head.
"Sit down first."
Haru Lin raised a brow.
"Guess it's way more serious than before."
Lu Shen smirked and shoved him.
"Just sit, or does your ass hurt?"
"You jerk off like this also?" Haru Lin shot back.
A quiet laugh rippled—but Ming You didn't smile. He waited until they'd all sat before speaking.
"Can I start?"
The team fell silent. Expectant stares locked onto him.
"Good. The plan—no, the move—is simple. We don't show up to the game."
"WHAT?!" erupted in unison.
Jung Ho scowled.
"You sure?"
"Wow, genius. And here I thought you'd actually intrigue us," Lu Shen sneered.
Hong Ren, the quietest, leaned forward.
"Care to explain?"
Ming You sighed.
"It's not surrender—it's a truce. Or do you want to get humiliated?"
Haru Lin shook his head.
"Isn't not showing up the biggest humiliation?"
"Haru's right. We should at least try," Lu Shen added.
Ming You rolled his eyes for show and continued:
"With our current level, our chances are zero. No plan outmaneuvers their defense. I might handle one of them, but with you guys? No shot. We'll train—and once each of you can beat me one-on-one, then we're ready."
Jung Ho's head snapped up.
"You're insisting we retreat? Didn't you say we do whatever it takes to win?!"
"My condition stands—want to play? Beat me first."
"But that's—" Lu Shen wavered, but Ming You cut in:
"Impossible, right? Every Gokudan player is twice as strong as me. How do you plan to face them? I'll repeat: until each of you can beat me in a game—no one plays."
Hong Ren dragged a hand down his face.
"Damn… can't even argue. We really do need to get stronger."
Haru Lin locked his hands behind his head and laughed.
"Beat you, Ming? Heh. Guess we forgot we only placed second in the tourney 'cause of you."
Jung Ho gritted his teeth, staring at his worn-out sneakers.
"Even I'd struggle against you. But shouldn't we at least try facing them?"
Ming You stood abruptly, his hollow gaze sweeping over each of them.
"Last time: until you beat me, I won't let you near that game."
Lu Shen's shoulder twitched nervously.
"So we've got one day to prep?"
"No." Ming You was already walking out. "Your time's unlimited. Forget the finals. The goal is for all of us to get strong—not just one."
He paused at the door, not turning back.
"And to convince you skipping's the right call, answer this: Can I rely on you? On your strength? I know you rely on me—maybe too much. But can I trust yours?"
Silence.
Jung Ho bowed his head.
"You… we're sorry. We're really weak. We just lean on you, while we… we…"
Ming You pushed the door open.
"Get a grip. Until you clear my hurdle—no games. See you tomorrow. Good luck training."
The door slammed.
Lu Shen punched the bench.
"Goddamn it, fuck! Why'd we act like fucking pigs?!"
Haru Lin stood, shooting him a cold look.
"Shut up, Lu. If we don't wanna be fucking pigs, we've gotta get stronger—and beat him in the game."