Renji's Story

The week of final exams had come to a close, leaving the students of Shinra High in a mix of relief and anticipation.

As the teacher stood in front of the classroom, her exhaustion was clear as she collected the exam papers with weary hands.

"I hope at least some of you managed to pass," she said, her tone laced with mockery as she tapped the table loudly. "You know the drill if someone fails, right?" With that, she left the room, her confident stride betraying a hint of weariness.

The students exchanged amused glances and snickers once she was gone.

"As if we care," one student muttered dismissively.

Nearby, Park Jihye's attention was caught by her friend Min Yuri, who was absorbed in her phone and giggling.

"What are you doing?" Jihye asked, peering over her friend's shoulder.

Yuri held up her phone, revealing a video of a group of idols performing on stage, with a crowd of enthusiastic fans cheering them on. Jihye raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I thought it was something important. I didn't know you were into this sort of thing."

Yuri rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Jihye. "You should learn to enjoy life a little more. Not everything revolves around textbooks and exams," she said with a playful smirk.

Jihye shrugged, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe you're right. But we do need to focus on our studies."

Yuri shook her head, her smile widening. "Sure, but don't forget to have fun once in a while. Life's too short to be all serious. And I noticed that guy who has a crush on you hasn't looked your way in a while," Yuri teased.

Park Jihye's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who?"

"Your admirer." Yuri pointed discreetly to a small guy at the back. Jihye glanced over and glared at her friend.

"Shut up! As if I ever liked that guy!" she said, disgusted by the topic.

"You never know," Yuri said with a grin.

"Will you stop? Let's not talk about him!" Jihye insisted.

"Sure, sure..."

Unaware of the conversation about him, the small guy, pertaining to Kim Daeho, was busy packing up his things. Finally, the exams were over! He couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. All the hard work he'd put in over the past few nights had finally paid off.

Another positive development was Taejoon's continued suspension and the noticeable absence of his lackeys. Additionally, the murmurs and whispers about the incident had significantly decreased, making him feel more comfortable walking through the hallways.

After ordering his lunch, he scanned the canteen for a vacant seat amid the growing crowd. His eyes widened when he spotted Woojin seated at the corner with Renji.

He hesitated, feeling uneasy around Renji. The guilt he felt for not speaking up about what he'd overheard on the rooftop weighed heavily on him. He sighed, regretting not sharing the information with Woojin and Renji.

He hoped Renji was doing okay.

Daeho took a deep breath and made his way toward Woojin and Renji's table. He tried to mask his nervousness with a friendly smile as he approached. Woojin looked up and greeted him warmly, while Renji's expression remained passive as usual.

"Hey, Daeho. How'd the exam go?" Woojin asked, gesturing for him to sit.

"Hey," Daeho replied, sliding into a seat. "It was alright. Just glad it's over, you know?"

"Yeah. I can finally breathe from all the stress!" Woojin mused as he ate.

As Daeho settled into his seat, a sudden commotion grabbed everyone's attention. Across the canteen, a fight had broken out, interrupting the students who were eating.

"They're my classmates," Daeho whispered under his breath, eyeing the two students who were fighting.

"Why are they fighting?" Woojin asked worriedly. Nearby students stood up to avoid getting caught in the chaos, and teachers hurriedly left the canteen, not wanting to witness the fight.

Daeho fell into deep thought.

"Daeho?" Woojin asked as he noticed Daeho's distracted expression.

"It seems my classmates are eager to replace Taejoon's reign," Daeho said weakly. "With his group gone, some people are jumping at the chance to grab power."

As the fight ended, the students quickly resumed their eating as if nothing happened which is very natural as they always witness the fight.

Thankfully, it it weren't for the video being viral for a few days, the school will not do anything regarding the bullying of Taejoon's group.

"Have you ever attend a meeting?" Daeho suddenly asked Renji who were a bit confused about it. "What meeting?"

Kim Daeho scratched his head. "I have heard from Taejoon that the king's of every section has some meetings to attend to with a senior leading it? I thought you have gone to one as you know..."

Renji stopped for a moment as if remembering something before he shook his head.

"I never attended one. And I have no plan to." Renji replied nonchalantly.

___________________

Renji reached his home, which was next to their gym. He frowned when he saw a man in the living room. He coldly bypassed the middle-aged man without looking at him again.

"When will you stop behaving that way?" his father demanded.

"Not until you stop telling me to pursue that path," Renji replied calmly.

His father's expression darkened. "I didn't train you so hard just for you to use it to fight with others!"

Renji remained silent as he went to his room and slammed the door. Outside, he could hear his father's angry shouts.

Renji pushed his hair back and went to the bathroom to wash his face. The image of his older brother, lying unconscious after being knocked out in the ring, haunted him.

He scrubbed his face vigorously, trying to wash away his fatigue and frustration from the past few days. His father's arrival after coaching one of his talents had distracted him, and his anger grew as he thought about how his father hadn't even bothered to visit his son, who was still in a coma at the hospital.

He lay on his bed with frustration, his appetite completely gone after seeing the man in the living room. The man he had once admired as his father, who had taught him to fight and be strong. Now, he couldn't even stand to look at him.

Renji turned onto his side and stared blankly at the wall.

At nine years old, he had first felt the thrill of boxing, largely inspired by his older brother, Jae-Hyun. Jae-Hyun was a rising star in the boxing world, and Renji idolized him. The whole family would gather at the gym to watch Jae-Hyun train and compete. Renji and his father would cheer him on, their voices blending into a chorus of support.

In those early days, Renji's enthusiasm for boxing seemed boundless. He was a diligent student, absorbing every lesson from his father and his brother's coaches. The sport became a shared passion, a bond that drew him closer to his father, who seemed to take immense pride in his sons' accomplishments.

But that unity was shattered during the national tournament where Jae-Hyun was set to compete for the championship title. It was a highly anticipated match, and the venue was packed with spectators. Renji could remember the tension in the air, the sense of expectation.

The fight started fiercely. Jae-Hyun's opponent was a formidable contender, and was twice his size but despite his best efforts, Jae-Hyun was pushed to his limits. The match took a tragic turn when, in the final round, Jae-Hyun was knocked out cold by a powerful punch. Everyone fell into a stunned silence.

Renji's father had been visibly shaken but quickly masked his worry with a stern façade. He rushed to Jae-Hyun's side, but his concern was more for his reputation than for his son's well-being. Jae-Hyun was taken to the hospital, and the diagnosis was grim—he had fallen into a coma.

In the days following, Renji's father visited Jae-Hyun only once. His visit was brief, a cursory appearance that barely masked his discomfort. He spent most of his time back at the gym, focusing on training new talents as if Jae-Hyun's condition was an afterthought. Renji's father seemed more invested in maintaining his image and continuing his career as a coach than in his son's plight.

Renji, meanwhile, was left grappling with a storm of emotions. The man who had once been his hero was now absent and detached. Renji's own training continued, but the joy he had once felt was replaced with a heavy sense of obligation. Boxing, which had once been a source of joy and family unity, now felt tainted by the trauma of his brother's injury and his father's indifference.

In the quiet moments alone in his room, Renji would replay the match in his mind, a stark reminder that the bond of their family will never happen again.