8 [Mafia Introduction(2)]

*Sungjin couldn't sleep at night, because every time he closed his eyes, the memories of those men on the ground came back to him and he woke up scared. It got to the point where he gave up and left his house in the middle of the night to run.*

Shin Sungjin: Why did Cravo take me to that place? I can't stop seeing that terrible scene. *Sungjin talks to himself as he increases the speed of his steps without realizing it.*

*As he passes in front of an alley, a groan of pain takes Sungjin out of his thoughts.*

Shin Sungjin: What was that? *Sungjin takes a few steps back and looks at the alley.*

"Are they bandits?"

*Sungjin thinks as he sees 3 boys beating up another shorter and chubby boy.*

-The money you took wasn't enough? *The boy who is on the ground being beaten asks.*

-Look at this ball of meat, it feels like I'm beating up jelly. *One of the bandits mocks him*

-Hey! *A call surprises them all who are startled and look in the direction of the voice*

Shin Sungjin: Making a mess in my area, this is an unforgivable sin! *The bandits looking against the streetlight can see a pair of green eyes shining as brightly as the light from the streetlamps*

-Your area? *The bandits laugh and look at each other*

*Sungjin goes after one of the bandits, he picks up a bottle from the ground and throws it in the direction of the first one, he misses and the bottle hits the wall which makes the bandit look away from Sungjin for a moment, enough for Sungjin to punch the young man directly in the nose who falls while bleeding*

Shin Sungjin: Next. *The adrenaline of being in a fight without any kind of support, and with his head only thinking about victory makes his dormant fighting instinct help him even though he is outnumbered*

-Bastard!

*One of the bandits grabs a piece of wood and hits Sungjin who defends with his arm*

"I didn't feel anything?"

*The adrenaline is so much that Sungjin's body can't assimilate the impulses of his nervous system, preventing him from the pain, Sungjin even knowing that he is hurt continues to go up. With his injured arm, Sungjin punches the bandit in the cheek with the back of his hand followed by a straight punch with the fist of his other arm that knocks him out*

Shin Sungjin: I don't even know how I did that! *Sungjin says euphorically with his scary movements*

*The trail of Sungjin's glowing eyes scares the only remaining bandit who tries to run*

Shin Sungjin: Bad mistake, never turn your back in a fight.

*When the bandit turned back after hearing this statement it was too late, Sungjin was in the air with a kick just a few millimeters away from hitting the bandit's face*

Shin Sungjin: I'm amazing! *Sungjin praises himself with an excited smile*

*Sungjin, in the euphoria of the moment, runs again and completely forgets about the boy he had beaten up*

-Thank you!

"How did I do it so naturally? I'm more and more impressed with myself"

*As Sungjin walks in front of a mirror, he blinks at himself*

"Until those training sessions took effect, I honestly didn't believe I would have any clear results, but after doing what I did today, I can be sure that I am capable of regaining the respect that my family's name deserves"

*Sungjin walks home skipping and humming a commercial song. When he gets home, exhaustion takes over his body. He only has time to get to the couch before he falls into a deep sleep*

*When Sungjin wakes up in the morning, he takes the Super Cravo Soldier Serum and walks to school*

"I'm still a little spaced out because of the things that happened to me yesterday, but I can't get stuck in those things. Today is a beautiful day and I have to make the most of it"

*Sungjin stretches his arms to the sky and notices his uniform holding his body*

"I really need to buy clothes new"

-He was the one who helped me yesterday. *A fat student talks to a senior in a place further away from Sungjin*

*Sungjin walks to his classroom calmly and quietly, for some reason he didn't meet Joon-Hoo or Hyun*

Shin Sungjin: I think they're scared of me. *Sungjin speaks loudly as he sits in his chair*

-Who's scared of you? *A chubby student asks as Sungjin sits next to him*

Shin Sungjin: Oh, sorry, I was talking to myself. *Sungjin scratches his head while keeping a friendly smile*

-You've been sitting here for a while and we don't know each other, my name is Lee Taekyu. *The young man introduces himself to Sungjin*

Shin Sungjin: That's right, my name is Shin Sungjin. *The young man seems surprised for a moment but soon returns to normal and continues his conversation with Sungjin*

"I think I've seen this guy somewhere before"

Lee Taekyu: Do you usually do anything after school? *Taekyu asks Sungjin who doesn't quite understand the reason for the question*

Shin Sungjin: Thinking about it, I don't do anything other than study, I have to enjoy my youth more.. *Sungjin jokes*

Lee Taekyu: Don't you want to go to the internet café with me after school? I'll go straight there with some friends. *Taekyu invites Sungjin with a look that says 'please come with me'*

Shin Sungjin: Sure, I'd love to go out for a bit and have some fun. *Sungjin accepts the request without hesitation*

Lee Taekyu: Then it's settled! *The boy seemed very happy that Sungjin had accepted, which made Sungjin feel good*

*Sungjin continued to watch the classes calmly, during the breaks whenever he saw Joon-Hoo he found a way not to be noticed by him. After the end of the classes Sungjin waits for Taekyu in front of the school*

Lee Taekyu: Sorry for the delay, I had to go to the bathroom. *Taekyu explains himself a little embarrassed*

Shin Sungjin: No problem, let's go? *Sungjin ignores the delay and leads the way*

Lee Taekyu: Sure! *Taekyu follows Sungjin*

Shin Sungjin: Why am I going first? I don't even know the way. *Sungjin laughs and slaps Taekyu on the back for him to guide us*

Lee Taekyu: True! *Taekyu laughs along*

Shin Sungjin: You said you were coming here all the time, it must be really good. *Sungjin starts a conversation with Taekyu*

Lee Taekyu: Yes, yes, it's this way. *Taekyu seems to be dodging Sungjin as he leads him down a somewhat strange path*

Shin Sungjin: Are you sure this is the way? We're going deeper and deeper into alleys. *

Lee Taekyu: That's why we're taking this path. *The answer puts Sungjin on alert*

Shin Sungjin: What do you mean?! *Sungjin is startled when he hears a whistle coming from the dark part of the alley*

-As planned, well done Taekyu, you brought the prey straight to the hunter. *A man sitting on top of a trash can speaks*

Shin Sungjin: What does that mean? *Sungjin looks at Taekyu, who is no longer there*

-It looks like he ran away, but don't worry, he's already been rewarded for bringing you here. *The man stands up and starts stretching*

Shin Sungjin: Rewarded? Did you pay him to bring me here? *Sungjin is still confused by everything that's happening*

-You're really naive, making this mess that you've been making at other people's schools and ruining a delivery, did you really think the Council would let it go? Nice to meet you, WooTay, I'll apply your punishment! *The young man goes after Sungjin*

Shin Sungjin: If it were a month ago I would be running away, but I'm not the same anymore. *Sungjin assumes a fighting stance*

*WooTay begins his attack with a straight punch that Sungjin manages to block with both arms*

"This guy is certainly stronger than the others from yesterday"

*Sungjin thinks as he feels a sharp pain in the arm where he was hit the night before, but the pain doesn't stop him from attacking WooTay, Sungjin starts a sequence of blows with his right arm, which isn't hurt, but WooTay manages to dodge them all*

WooTay: It may have changed or something, it's still weak!

"I need to fight better, I'm losing my rhythm"

*Between Sungjin's blows, WooTay finds an opening and performs an elbow strike from below, which Sungjin instinctively manages to dodge backwards, but this movement manages to break Sungjin's rhythm, opening an opening for WooTay to deliver a side kick with his right leg, Sungjin finds himself with no option but to block with his injured arm*

*The instant the kick hits Sungjin's arm, the sound of bones breaking is heard and Sungjin screams in pain, falling to the ground*

WooTay: Unfortunately, the Council is severe in its punishments, and I have to make sure that the message was given and that you won't try to get revenge or anything like that. *WooTay kicks Sungjin a few more times, who is on the ground, leaving him almost unconscious*

WooTay: We don't want to kill you, but this was necessary to make sure the message was delivered, so I'll do you a favor and call an ambulance. *WooTay takes a picture of Sungjin injured on the ground and calls an ambulance, after which he leaves the place smoking a cigarette*

*Sungjin faints and when he wakes up he is already lying in a hospital bed*

Shin Sungjin: Ouch! *Sungjin looks at his arm and it has a cast on it*

Shin Sungjin: What the hell, just when everything was starting to go well. *After reflecting a little on everything that happened, Sungjin is clearly very frustrated with the whole situation*

Shin Sungjin: Who could be calling me right now? *Sungjin picks up his cell phone and sees that Cravo is calling him*

Cravo: Hey, aren't you going to come down so we can go shopping? *Cravo speaks excitedly, which makes Sungjin break down and start crying*

Cravo: What's wrong? It was that thing yesterday, here, sorry, but it's part of your preparation. *Cravo tries to comfort Sungjin, thinking that the reason for his crying is yesterday's little outing*

Shin Sungjin: Cravo... I'm not at home... *Sungjin speaks between tears*

Cravo: Tell me where you are and I'll pick you up then! *Cravo continues excitedly*

Shin Sungjin: I'm in the hospital...