"Anomaly"

That morning, the classroom was a complete mess. The chatter of students mixed with laughter and shouting, creating a noise level that was almost headache-inducing.

Jae Hoon sighed, covering his ears with both hands. "God, can't they calm down even a little?" he complained.

Meanwhile, Dae Hyun sat comfortably with his feet propped up on the desk, looking completely unbothered by the chaos. Seung Min also appeared relaxed, leaning back in his chair with a lazy expression, as if the noise didn't bother him at all.

Not long after, the classroom door opened, and the person they had been waiting for finally arrived.

Jin Ho stepped inside, his usual blank expression in place. But there was something different about him today.

Seung Min glanced at him before smirking. "Look who finally decided to show up," he said casually.

Dae Hyun turned and raised an eyebrow. "You look alive, Jin Ho. How does it feel to be back in this hellhole?"

Jin Ho let out a quiet sigh before answering, "Worse than I remember."

Jae Hoon lowered his hands from his ears and looked at Jin Ho with interest. "Are you okay?"

Jin Ho didn't answer right away. He simply took a deep breath before walking over to his seat.

"Let's see how my day goes," he muttered before sitting down, trying to ignore the noise that still filled the classroom.

A notorious young man, well-known in their school, had just returned after spending time abroad. The moment he stepped into the classroom, his overwhelming confidence was almost tangible.

Seung Min frowned and turned to Dae Hyun and Jin Ho. "Who is he?" he asked, unfamiliar with the newcomer.

Dae Hyun scoffed, crossing his arms. "Seriously? You don't know? He's in the same class as us."

Jae Hoon eyed the guy carefully before realization hit him. "So this is him?" he muttered. "He's also a Joker like me… Someone who isn't touched by the Ace, the King, or even Jin Seok himself."

Seung Min raised an eyebrow, now intrigued. "Interesting," he murmured with a small smirk.

Not long after, Miss Park, their homeroom teacher, entered the classroom. Her sharp gaze swept across the students, ensuring everyone was in place. However, every now and then, her eyes flickered toward Seung Min.

Noticing this, Seung Min grinned playfully. "Careful, Sis. If you keep looking at me like that, people will start to suspect something," he teased.

Miss Park let out a quiet sigh and ignored his antics. "Alright, let's begin the practical lesson," she announced, redirecting the class's attention.

During the practical lesson, Miss Park called out the name of the annoying young man who had just returned to school.

"Jung Ha Joon, step forward," she instructed.

The classroom fell silent for a moment as all eyes turned toward Ha Joon. He smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he lazily walked to the front.

Seung Min leaned slightly toward Jae Hoon and Dae Hyun. "So, what's so special about this guy?" he whispered.

Jae Hoon crossed his arms. "He's unpredictable. A wild card. Even Jin Seok doesn't mess with him."

Dae Hyun nodded. "Yeah, and the fact that he was abroad for so long? Who knows what kind of tricks he's brought back with him."

Meanwhile, Ha Joon finally stood before the class, his smirk never fading. "So, what's the lesson today, Miss Park? Hope it's not boring," he said in a lazy yet confident tone.

Miss Park sighed. "We'll see. Now, let's begin."

Ms. Park cleared her throat before addressing the class. "Alright, today we'll begin practicing assembly and machine repair techniques," she said, pointing to several machine components prepared on the front table.

Some students looked eager, while others sighed in boredom. Ha Joon, still standing at the front, glanced at the machine before turning back to Ms. Park with a casual expression. "So, I have to demonstrate something in front of the class?" he asked.

Ms. Park nodded. "Exactly. You just got back, so show us how much you still remember."

Ha Joon smirked, rolling up his sleeves. "Alright then, let's see if I still know how to handle this," he said as he started working.

Seung Min, Jae Hoon, and Dae Hyun exchanged glances. "If he's on our level, this could be interesting," Seung Min muttered, leaning back in his chair.

Jin Ho, who had just arrived, narrowed his eyes at Ha Joon. "A Joker, huh? Let's see if he's really as good as they say."

As everyone focused on Ha Joon, the classroom door suddenly swung open roughly.

Do Jin Tae Hwan and Ki Seok entered with quick strides, late as usual. However, there was something in the way they moved—like hunters searching for their prey.

Their eyes initially scanned Seung Min and the others, but the moment they landed on Jung Ha Joon, their expressions immediately changed.

Ki Seok, usually full of confidence, visibly tensed for a split second. Tae Hwan, who was always brash and aggressive, seemed hesitant to take another step forward.

Ha Joon, still busy with the practical work, simply smirked without looking up from the machine. "What? Are you just going to stand there, or are you actually here to learn?" he said casually, completely unfazed by their presence.

Seung Min glanced at them with curiosity. "Interesting... So this Joker has a history with them?" he whispered to Dae Hyun.

Dae Hyun gave a small nod. "Looks like it. And judging by their faces, it's not a pleasant one."

The practice session was intense, with the sounds of machines and tools filling the workshop. Do Jin Tae Hwan and Ki Seok finally joined, but they kept stealing glances at Jung Ha Joon. However, Ha Joon remained unfazed, acting as if he didn't even notice.

Meanwhile, Dae Hyun couldn't hide his amazement. He gawked as Ha Joon handled the machinery with incredible skill. "Damn! He's really good! I don't even understand half of what he's doing!" he exclaimed, almost shouting.

Jae Hoon, usually calm, looked annoyed. He set his tools down a little too harshly. "Tch. Acting all cool," he muttered, clearly displeased with Ha Joon's effortless dominance in the session.

Jin Ho, who had been silent the entire time, remained frozen in place, his gaze fixed on Ha Joon as if trying to decipher something.

On the other hand, Seung Min looked completely relaxed. Resting his chin on the table, he observed everything with a bored expression. "Hmm... so this is the 'second Joker'?" he murmured to himself.

As soon as the bell rang, signaling the end of practice, everyone began tidying up their tools and workstations. Ha Joon stood up straight, clapping the dust off his hands before turning to Do Jin Tae Hwan and Ki Seok with a faint smirk. "Are you two going to keep staring at me like that, or do you actually have something to say?"

Ki Seok merely scoffed, while Tae Hwan averted his gaze. "Tsk... Just wait and see," he muttered before walking off.

Jin Ho still hadn't moved from his spot.

Seung Min stretched his arms as he stood up. "What an interesting day," he said with a small grin. "But I wonder... why is it that this Joker can't be touched by anyone?"

No one answered. But one thing was certain—today was just the beginning of something much bigger.

During the lunch break, Jung Ha Joon sat alone in the corner of the cafeteria, quietly eating his meal without engaging with anyone. However, Dae Hyun, always playful, couldn't resist approaching him.

"Yo, Ha Joon! Why are you sitting all alone?" he said in a teasing tone before casually plopping down in front of him.

Jung Ha Joon barely reacted. He glanced at Dae Hyun briefly before returning his attention to his meal.

Not long after, Seung Min joined them, pulling up a chair and sitting beside Dae Hyun with a relaxed demeanor. As he ate, he noticed Ha Joon subtly observing his movements.

Jae Hoon, who had been annoyed from the start, sighed in frustration. "Seriously, Dae Hyun? Why do you always try to be friendly with people who don't even care?"

Dae Hyun just chuckled, while Jin Ho remained silent, calmly eating his food as if nothing was happening around him.

But then, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Jin Seok entered the cafeteria—an unusual sight since he rarely spent time there unless necessary. His sharp gaze immediately locked onto Jung Ha Joon, his expression unreadable yet intense.

Jin Ho, sitting nearby, clenched his fork tightly, his grip tightening with each passing second. His eyes burned with unspoken rage.

Without warning, he stood up and marched toward Jin Seok. His movements were swift, his intent clear.

Just as the fork was about to pierce Jin Seok's neck, Seung Min swiftly grabbed Jin Ho's wrist, stopping the attack in time. "Hey, relax," he said calmly, though his grip was firm.

Jin Ho panted heavily, his anger still evident, while Jin Seok remained unfazed, staring at him as if he had expected the attack.

In the midst of the tension, Ha Joon watched with an unreadable expression. His sharp eyes carefully analyzed the situation, as if something about it intrigued him.

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, Lee So Mi faced trouble of her own.

A few students had started harassing her, hiding her belongings and throwing snide remarks.

"What are you even doing here all alone, huh?" one of them sneered.

So Mi sighed, her gaze remaining sharp. She was used to this kind of treatment, but today, for some reason, it felt worse than usual.

And just then, someone stepped into the classroom, silently observing everything from a distance.

Lee So Mi stared at them fearlessly, her sharp gaze filled with caution. One of the students who had been bothering her tried to grab her bag, but she swiftly caught his wrist and twisted it behind his back.

"Argh!" The student groaned in pain, completely caught off guard by So Mi's strength.

"Don't touch my stuff," she said coldly before letting go.

The other students, who had assumed she would be an easy target, began stepping back. They hadn't expected her to fight back so calmly yet so lethally.

So Mi adjusted her bag and walked out of the classroom without paying them any more attention. She knew this wasn't over, but she also had no intention of backing down.

Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, the tension remained thick after Seung Min stopped Jin Ho.

Jin Ho exhaled sharply, his eyes burning with hatred as he glared at Jin Seok.

"Fucking psycho," he spat. "Your father killed mine."

The entire table went silent.

Jin Seok showed no extreme reaction. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "That has nothing to do with me," he replied in a calm, cold tone.

Jin Ho clenched his fists. "Don't act like you don't know!"

Seung Min placed a firm hand on Jin Ho's shoulder, holding him back. "That's enough," he said. "This isn't the place to dig up the past."

Ha Joon, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "Interesting," he muttered, his gaze shifting between them as if he were analyzing who would make the next move.

Jae Hoon still looked irritated, while even Dae Hyun—normally full of energy—couldn't hide the tension in his eyes.

Across the cafeteria, Jin Seok glanced at them all before smirking slightly. "I'll be waiting," he said quietly before turning and walking away, leaving behind an atmosphere that felt even heavier than before.

From the classroom window above, a figure in a hooded jacket observed Seung Min and Lee So Mi. Their sharp eyes glinted with calculation as they muttered under their breath, "Interesting... So they're close, huh?"

Down below, Seung Min exhaled a puff of smoke casually, glancing at So Mi, who stood with her arms crossed.

"Since when do you smoke?" So Mi asked, her tone sharp. "Since you started school here?"

Seung Min smirked, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "Since I realized this school is more toxic than the smoke itself."

So Mi scoffed. "You always have an excuse."

"I'm just realistic," Seung Min replied nonchalantly. "So, are you going to keep nagging, or should we talk about the person watching us from up there?"

So Mi immediately turned to look at the window, but the figure had already disappeared. Her expression hardened. "Who was that?"

Seung Min dropped his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his foot. "I have a guess. And if I'm right… this game just leveled up."

So Mi frowned, but before she could ask anything else, Seung Min had already put on his helmet and started his motorcycle.

"We'll find out soon," he said before speeding off, leaving So Mi staring at the window with an uneasy feeling.

The mysterious young man in the black jacket stood by the deserted classroom window, his eyes fixed on Seung Min as he rode off on his motorcycle. His fingers lightly tapped the window frame as a small smirk formed on his lips.

"Seung Min has changed," he murmured. "He's no longer the weak, nerdy kid he used to be."

His voice was low, almost a whisper, but there was a sharpness to his tone. He leaned against the wall, tilting his head slightly as he recalled how easily Seung Min had stopped Jin Ho's attack in the cafeteria earlier.

"Interesting… I wonder how much stronger he's become."

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, but the young man remained still.

He had been waiting for this moment—for Seung Min to reveal his true self.

And now, he was certain.

This game had just become far more interesting.

That night turned into a nightmare.

On the City Streets,Seung Min's father had just left his office and got into his car like usual. But during the drive, something felt off. The brake pedal wasn't working. His eyes widened as a massive truck came into view—getting closer, faster. There was no time to react.

CRASH!!

A violent collision shattered the front of his car.

At Seung Min's House In the kitchen, Seung Min's mother was cooking, filling the house with a warm aroma. It should have been a peaceful moment, but it was merely the calm before the storm.

Upstairs, Seung Min wore his earphones, lost in his own world. He didn't hear anything—not even the footsteps of someone sneaking into the house.

In another room, Lee So Mi had just finished reading. Feeling hungry, she went downstairs—only to be met with a sight that made her blood freeze.

Her mother lay motionless on the floor. A cloth covered her nose and mouth, suffocating her to death. Her clenched fists showed she had struggled before her final breath.

The security camera in the corner had been destroyed. The kitchen window was wide open—a silent sign that someone had entered and left undetected.

Lee So Mi's hands trembled. She bolted upstairs, bursting into Seung Min's room. "SEUNG MIN!!"

Seung Min yanked off his earphones, confused. But before either of them could speak further, the house phone rang.

A voice from the hospital spoke on the other end:

"This is about your father… He was in an accident. We need his family at the hospital immediately."

Seung Min's eyes widened. His world was collapsing around him.

Meanwhile, their homeroom teacher, Ms. Park, ran with ragged breaths. She had barely escaped death moments ago but was now being hunted.

In the shadows of the alley, several masked men advanced toward her. One of them—a mysterious figure in a black jacket—held up a flash drive and some documents.

"Stay out of this, Ms. Park," he said coldly. "You have no idea how deep this game runs."

Before she could respond, a THUD! echoed in the alley.

One of the men struck her head with a wooden plank.

Everything went black.

Somewhere Else…

Someone smirked in the darkness.

Everything was going according to plan.

Seung Min's House – The Police Arrive.

The sound of sirens blared in the distance before stopping abruptly in front of Seung Min's house. Several police officers rushed in, stretching yellow crime scene tape across the entrance. Red and blue lights flashed, illuminating the shocked faces of Seung Min and Lee So Mi.

Among the officers, a tall man in a long black coat stepped inside first. Seung Min's uncle—both a detective and a martial artist—stood at the doorway, his expression tense.

His eyes landed on the lifeless body of his sister—Seung Min's mother—her face pale and motionless.

He froze. For a brief moment, the world around him felt empty. But as a detective, he forced himself to remain composed. His jaw tightened as he stepped forward, inspecting every detail.

"Who did this…?" he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching.

Meanwhile – Seung Min at the Hospital,

Seung Min was still in a daze, his mind completely blank. He couldn't process his emotions—was he angry, sad, or just numb? Everything blended into one overwhelming storm inside him.

Without a word, he, Lee So Mi, and his uncle rushed to the hospital.

But when they arrived, what awaited them shattered him further.

His father lay on a hospital bed, his body wrapped in heavy bandages, his face barely recognizable. The doctor let out a sigh, giving Seung Min a look filled with pity.

And on the other side of the room, his mother's lifeless body lay cold and still.

Seung Min's gaze shifted between them. How could this happen at the same time?

Who would do this? His father's accident… his mother's murder… everything happened in a single night.

"This isn't a coincidence," his uncle's heavy voice broke the silence behind him.

Seung Min slowly lifted his head. His uncle's expression was firm—this was a planned attack.

They soon moved to the morgue, preparing for the cremation scheduled for the next day.

But deep inside Seung Min, one question echoed relentlessly.

Who wanted his family gone? And why?

Meanwhile – Ms. Park at the Hospital

In another part of the hospital, Ms. Park lay unconscious on a hospital bed, her head wrapped in bandages. The dim hospital light cast a pale glow over her face, highlighting the bruise on her forehead from where she had been struck.

A nurse adjusted her IV drip before stepping aside as the doctor checked her vitals. "She's stable for now, but the head trauma might take time to heal," the doctor muttered, flipping through the chart.

Outside the room, a shadowed figure stood, watching through the small glass window on the door.

The figure sighed, then pulled out a phone, typing a short message before slipping it back into their pocket.

"She survived."

They turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark hospital corridor.

But who were they reporting to? And why did they care if Ms. Park lived or died?

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids