Backstory

Before the VillainVerse, before the fights and the power struggles, Hae-Won had been just another high school student, navigating the pressures and small victories of teenage life.

In his last year of high school, Hae-Won was a regular at the rooftop of Haeju High. It was where he could escape the noise of the classrooms, the never-ending exams, and the weight of his own expectations. He wasn't particularly popular, nor was he invisible. To his friends, he was reliable and quick-witted, always ready to listen.

But what made Hae-Won's high school life unique were his friends. There were three of them: *Jin-Soo*, *Mi-Na*, and *Kyu-Min*, each one filling his life with the chaos, humor, and the kind of companionship he would one day miss deeply.

---

The bell rang, and students poured out of the building in a rush. Hae-Won made his way up to the rooftop, where he knew his friends would be waiting. Jin-Soo was already there, sprawled out on the bench with his arms behind his head, a grin plastered on his face as if he hadn't just bombed his math exam.

"Hae-Won! You're late," Jin-Soo called out. "Don't tell me you were actually studying."

Hae-Won rolled his eyes and smirked. "Unlike you, I plan on getting out of this place with at least half a brain."

"Hey, life's too short for calculus," Jin-Soo retorted with a chuckle.

Moments later, Mi-Na and Kyu-Min joined them. Mi-Na was the steady one of the group, always the voice of reason when things got out of hand. She adjusted her glasses and gave Hae-Won a nod of approval. "Good to see someone here still cares about passing."

Kyu-Min, on the other hand, was the wildcard — a little reckless, full of energy, and always the first to jump into any plan, no matter how ridiculous. "So, what's the plan, guys? Are we celebrating our freedom from this place, or what?"

As they sat in their usual spot, the conversation drifted from school to dreams, future plans, and the simple things that made them laugh. For Hae-Won, these moments felt timeless, a sanctuary from the pressures that waited outside.

---

On the rare occasion when they weren't hanging out on the rooftop, the four of them would go to the arcade down the street or grab food from a small noodle shop that had become their spot. Hae-Won, as always, would listen more than he spoke, watching his friends and feeling a quiet sense of happiness he rarely acknowledged.

One rainy evening, as they huddled inside the shop, drenched from a sudden downpour, they each started talking about their dreams.

"Mi-Na, you're going to end up running this country, aren't you?" Kyu-Min teased, twirling his chopsticks.

Mi-Na smiled, her cheeks pink. "I just want to make a difference, that's all. Someone has to change the world."

Jin-Soo leaned forward, an exaggerated look of concentration on his face. "As for me, I plan on being a world-famous gamer. Who needs a boring office job when you can live on esports?"

Kyu-Min laughed, nearly knocking over his bowl. "Oh yeah, because that's super realistic. Well, when you're all famous, I'll be right here, holding the high score record at the arcade."

Hae-Won grinned, savoring the comfort of his friends' laughter. When they turned to him, he shrugged. "I don't know... I'd probably be a bartender."

"A bartender?" Mi-Na asked, her eyebrow raised. "Hae-Won, you're too good for that!"

Hae-Won simply smiled. "Maybe. But it's one of those things that sounds nice. A simple life, y'know?"

Kyu-Min punched his shoulder playfully. "Dream bigger, man. One day, you're going to do something crazy."

They all laughed, never thinking that their predictions for Hae-Won would one day feel painfully prophetic.

---

Their last year of high school passed faster than any of them expected. Graduation came, and with it, the bittersweet realization that their time together was coming to an end. Jin-Soo was moving out of the city for university, Mi-Na had secured a prestigious scholarship, and Kyu-Min had plans to study abroad.

At their graduation ceremony, the four of them met on the rooftop one last time. They sat in silence for a moment, taking in the view of the city below, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

"Guess this is it," Kyu-Min finally said, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Mi-Na tried to smile, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "We'll keep in touch, right?"

"Of course we will!" Jin-Soo declared, punching the air as if to ward off the sadness. "And one day, we'll all meet back here, just like this."

Hae-Won didn't say anything, but he felt a lump in his throat. He knew that promises like these rarely lasted, but he couldn't bring himself to break the illusion.

As the sun set on their last day together, they made a pact: no matter where life took them, they would carry these memories with them, a reminder of the days when they were free, unburdened by the weight of the world.

---

Back in the present, Hae-Won awoke from his memories with a jolt. For a moment, he thought he was still on the rooftop with his friends, laughing and talking about the future. But the cold, harsh reality of the VillainVerse came rushing back, and he found himself alone once more.

As he glanced down at his system screen, he noticed a new notification:

**[SYSTEM MESSAGE: New Skill Unlocked - "Echo of the Past." Allows the user to draw strength from past memories to enhance focus and resilience in battle.]**

Hae-Won let out a bitter chuckle. The irony wasn't lost on him — even in this twisted world, his memories of those long-gone days still had value.

"Guess you guys were right after all," he murmured to himself. "One day, I really did end up doing something crazy."

He clenched his fists, feeling a new surge of determination. His friends' words echoed in his mind, filling him with a renewed sense of purpose. No matter how dark the VillainVerse became, he wouldn't let it strip him of the person he once was.