Jin Haru sat on the rooftop of the school building. The wind blew softly, making his black hoodie flap like a flag. He looked down at his bandaged hands. They were still shaking from last night's fight.
"They called me a monster," he thought.
He could still hear their screams, the way their faces twisted in fear when his eyes turned blue. His Combat Mode didn't feel like a tool anymore. It felt like something inside him… waiting to break free.
The door to the rooftop opened with a loud creak.
"Yo."
It was Jinho.
Baek Jinho walked over with two cans of soda. He sat beside Haru and handed him one.
"You good?" he asked.
Haru took the can. He didn't open it. "I don't know."
"You beat up five elites from the boxing gang. You didn't just win. You crushed them."
"I wasn't myself."
"I know," Jinho said, eyes serious. "I watched the footage. Your eyes changed. You didn't speak. You moved like a machine."
Silence.
Then Jinho sighed and leaned back. "You scared the hell out of me, Haru. But…"
He turned to face him.
"...you also saved me."
Haru blinked.
"I used to think fighting was everything," Jinho continued. "My dad was a Muay Thai champ. He made me train since I was five. I hated it. Every time I lost, he hit me. Called me weak."
Jinho smiled, but it was sad.
"I ran away from it all. Tried to become a normal student. But when I saw you fight… I remembered why I loved it. You fight your own way. Even when you're scared, even when something inside you is dangerous—you keep moving forward."
He stood up and held out his hand.
"So let me follow you, Jin Haru. No matter where you go, I'll be there. You saved me once. Now I'll protect your back."
Haru stared at his hand. Slowly, he stood up and shook it.
"Thanks, Jinho."
"Don't thank me yet," Jinho laughed. "This road's gonna be crazy. Especially with the rumors flying around."
Haru raised an eyebrow. "Rumors?"
Jinho smirked. "The underground fighting world is talking about a 'Blue-Eyed Monster.' Some say he's a rogue champion. Others say he's not even human."
Haru's stomach tightened.
"They're talking about me, aren't they?"
"Yup."
They both laughed, but it was nervous.
Suddenly, the rooftop door opened again.
A cold voice spoke.
"Enjoying the breeze?"
It was her.
Seo Yumi.
Top student. Ice queen. Love Interest #1.
She walked over, arms crossed, her long black hair tied back neatly.
"I heard you caused a scene. Again."
"I didn't mean to," Haru said.
Yumi sighed. "That's the problem. You never mean to. But trouble keeps following you."
She paused, then looked straight into his eyes.
"Be careful, Haru. People are watching you."
"Who?"
"Student Council. Outside schools. Even pros who shouldn't be interested in high schoolers. They all want to see the 'Blue-Eyed Monster.'"
She stepped closer, voice low.
"If you keep fighting like that, you'll attract people worse than boxing gangs."
"Let them come," Haru said quietly.
Yumi narrowed her eyes. "Don't be stupid. This world doesn't care about your feelings. It only sees strength. And monsters."
She turned and walked away, leaving the words hanging in the air.
Jinho scratched his head. "She's intense…"
Haru watched her go. "She's not wrong."
The wind blew again, cooler this time.
Jinho tossed his empty soda can into the trash. "So what now?"
Haru looked up at the sky.
"Now… I keep moving forward. One fight at a time."
Far away, in the dark corners of the city, a man with a long scar across his face looked at a blurry photo of Haru taken from last night.
"So you're the Vessel," he said with a grin. "Let's see what you can really do."