"Vendetta"

The next day, the classroom was filled with the strong smell of cigarettes. Some students lounged around, chatting, while others were absorbed in their phones.

Seung Min sat by the window, his gaze drifting outside. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of Nonna Park, standing near the school gate.

His fingers unconsciously tightened around the pen in his hand. So, she's really leaving.

Nonna Park—Hae Jin's biological older sister—had been fired from her job as a teacher and homeroom advisor.

Without hesitation, Seung Min stood up and left the classroom. Jin Ho and Dae Hyun glanced at him in confusion, but he didn't offer any explanation.

As he approached, Nonna Park turned slightly, already aware of his presence.

"Hae Jin," she called out in a calm voice.

Seung Min let out a slow breath. He stopped in front of her. "Are you really leaving?"

Nonna Park gave a faint smile. "I have no other choice."

Seung Min clenched his fists. "This school… they forced you out because you knew too much, didn't they?"

Nonna Park chuckled softly, shaking her head. "That's how it is, Hae Jin. But don't worry about me. Focus on yourself."

Seung Min bit his lip. "This isn't fair."

Nonna Park placed a gentle yet firm hand on his shoulder. "You've always been stubborn, just like before. But listen to me—don't go looking for trouble. Not every battle is meant to be won, Hae Jin."

Seung Min averted his gaze for a moment before reluctantly nodding.

Nonna Park sighed. "I'll be fine. But you…" she paused, looking at Seung Min with a meaningful expression. "Be careful."

Without saying anything more, she turned and walked away, leaving Seung Min standing there, watching her figure disappear into the distance.

"Be careful, huh?" he murmured.

He took a deep breath before heading back inside the school. For some reason, he had a feeling that this was just the beginning.

Seung Min returned to the classroom and immediately rested his head on the desk. His mind was still occupied with the conversation he just had.

Jae Hoon lightly kicked his chair. "Hey, the game is about to start."

Dae Hyun smirked as he leaned back in his seat. "Let's see who will be facing off this time."

Jin Ho, sitting nearby, adjusted his glasses without saying a word.

However, the atmosphere shifted when Shin Kyung suddenly approached Seung Min. The entire class fell silent.

Seung Min slowly lifted his head, meeting Shin Kyung's gaze.

"You didn't participate in the battle yesterday." His voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it.

Seung Min remained silent.

Shin Kyung crossed his arms. "The rules are clear. Any Grand Ace who doesn't join the fight will be demoted to a lower rank. From now on, you are just—"

He paused deliberately, letting the words hang in the air before finishing, "A Rookie."

Murmurs spread across the classroom, followed by quiet chuckles from some students.

Seung Min's expression didn't change.

Shin Kyung tilted his chin up slightly. "Jin Seok wants to see you. Now."

Dae Hyun, Jae Hoon, and Jin Ho exchanged glances.

Seung Min took a deep breath before standing up. Without a word, he walked past Shin Kyung and out of the classroom.

His steps were steady.

Even if his rank had been lowered, he didn't care. But one thing was certain—this game was far from over.

Seung Min stood in the dimly lit room, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp.

Jin Seok stood calmly near the window, hands tucked into his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but his presence alone was enough to fill the room with tension.

Do Jin, Tae Hwan, and Ki Seok stood nearby, smirking as they watched Seung Min like predators circling their prey. Their eyes gleamed with amusement, as if they were waiting for a show to begin.

"So, the Grand Ace who refuses to play the game has finally shown up," Jin Seok said smoothly, his voice carrying a quiet authority.

Seung Min remained silent, his eyes never leaving Jin Seok's.

Ki Seok chuckled, tilting his head. "What's wrong? Did you think you could just ignore the rules and walk away?"

Tae Hwan crossed his arms. "Guess it doesn't matter now. You're just a Rookie now, right?"

Seung Min clenched his fists but kept his composure. He knew better than to fall for their taunts.

At that moment, the door creaked open.

Min Joon stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Seung Min. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, well… What do we have here?"

His usual carefree smirk faded slightly as he took in the tension between them.

Jin Seok finally turned to face Seung Min fully. "Tell me, Seung Min, do you really think you can just walk away from this game?"

The air in the room felt heavier.

Seung Min exhaled slowly, then met Jin Seok's gaze. "I never cared about the ranks. And I definitely don't care about your game."

A beat of silence passed.

Then, Jin Seok smiled—a slow, knowing smile.

"We'll see about that."

Seung Min stared at Jin Seok with a calm yet firm expression before saying, "Sooner or later, I'll talk to your father."

After those words, he turned around and walked away without waiting for a response.

The room fell into silence.

Do Jin and Tae Hwan exchanged glances, while Ki Seok clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Min Joon, still standing at the doorway, watched Seung Min's retreating figure before turning to Jin Seok with a knowing smirk.

"You're just letting him walk away?" Min Joon's voice carried a hint of mockery. "I know you're way stronger than him. If you wanted to, you could've beaten him down in seconds."

Jin Seok remained still, staring blankly at the door as if unbothered by Min Joon's provocation.

Min Joon's smirk widened. "Or..." he glanced at Do Jin and the others before returning his gaze to Jin Seok. "Is it because you still see him as your friend?"

Silence.

Jin Seok finally turned his head, his expression unreadable as he looked at Min Joon.

Before the tension could escalate, Shin Kyung, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke up.

"Min Joon, you should go back to your class."

His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable authority in it.

Min Joon raised both hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just kidding."

But before stepping out of the room, he glanced back at Jin Seok with a sly grin.

"But you know, Jin Seok? If you hesitate, it'll only make you weaker."

With that, he walked away.

Inside the room, Jin Seok remained standing still, his expression unreadable. But his eyes darkened slightly.

Lee So Mi walked down the hallway with Yoon Ha Rin, chatting casually as usual.

"So Mi, have you finished the basic technical assignment?" Ha Rin asked while adjusting the strap of her bag.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I finished it last night," So Mi replied casually. "What about you?"

"Almost. I just need to tidy up the practice report."

Ha Rin stopped talking when she noticed So Mi's sudden change in expression.

So Mi's eyes were fixed on Ha Rin's neck. A faint purple bruise peeked out from beneath her uniform collar.

"Ha Rin..." So Mi's voice lowered. "What happened to your neck?"

Ha Rin's body stiffened for a moment before she quickly pulled up her collar to cover the bruise.

"It's nothing," she said with a forced smile. "Maybe I accidentally bumped into something."

So Mi narrowed her eyes. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying," Ha Rin insisted, but her voice wavered slightly.

So Mi let out a sharp sigh, clearly unconvinced. She knew Ha Rin wasn't the clumsy type. A bruise like that wouldn't just appear out of nowhere.

Before she could press further, a group of students passed by, laughing and joking as they walked down the hallway.

Ha Rin quickly grabbed So Mi's wrist. "Don't talk about this here."

So Mi clenched her jaw but eventually nodded. "Fine. But you have to be honest with me later."

Ha Rin hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly. "Okay."

They continued walking, but So Mi's mind was already racing with possibilities.

Something was definitely wrong.

Yoon Ha Rin took a deep breath, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. Her voice trembled slightly as she began to speak.

"My father... he's very harsh. He never treated me like his daughter, and my brother... he went through even worse," Ha Rin admitted, her gaze fixed on the floor. "Until one day, he decided never to come home again."

Lee So Mi frowned. "Your brother?"

Ha Rin nodded slowly. "Yes... my older brother."

So Mi looked at her in confusion. "Who is he?"

Ha Rin hesitated for a moment before finally answering, "Shin Kyung."

So Mi's eyes widened in shock. "Wait—Shin Kyung? That Shin Kyung?"

Ha Rin nodded again, biting her lip. "Yes. He's my brother."

For a moment, So Mi was speechless. Shin Kyung, one of the most feared figures in school, the leader of the Kings... was Ha Rin's brother? That was completely unexpected.

"But why does no one know about this?" So Mi asked cautiously.

Ha Rin let out a deep sigh. "Because we keep our distance. He left home a long time ago, and I rarely see him. It's better that way."

So Mi could hear the pain in her voice. Ha Rin had been dealing with all of this alone.

So Mi exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "So, what are you going to do now?"

Ha Rin forced a small smile. "What else? I'll keep enduring."

So Mi clenched her fists, feeling both frustrated and concerned. This situation was far more complicated than she had imagined.

As class neared its end, several students stole glances at Seung Min. He didn't pay them much attention, resting his chin on his hand as he stared blankly out the window.

A few hours later, the dismissal bell rang. Outside the school gates, Seung Min walked alongside Jae Hoon, Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, and Lee So Mi.

Looking slightly uneasy, Lee So Mi finally spoke up. "I was talking to Yoon Ha Rin earlier."

Seung Min frowned. "Who's that?"

Jae Hoon glanced at him. "The girl who called Lee So Mi in the hallway."

Seung Min gave a small nod. "Oh, her. I already noticed the bruises back then, but I didn't say anything."

Dae Hyun's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

Lee So Mi continued in a serious tone. "Those bruises... they were from her father. He treats her terribly, and her brother too."

Seung Min listened quietly, but his expression subtly shifted at the mention of 'her brother.'

Dae Hyun was still confused. "Her brother? Who—"

Before he could finish, Lee So Mi quickly covered his mouth with her hand. "Don't say it out loud!"

Dae Hyun muffled out, "Mmmff… who?"

Lee So Mi took a deep breath before whispering, "Shin Kyung."

Dae Hyun's eyes widened in shock. Jin Ho and Jae Hoon exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

Seung Min remained silent for a few seconds before exhaling. "So that's how it is…"

The conversation created a tense atmosphere. No one had expected that the feared Shin Kyung had a younger sister who had been suffering in silence.

"Don't spread this around," Lee So Mi warned.

Jin Ho adjusted his glasses. "We're not that careless."

Seung Min looked up at the darkening sky. "If Shin Kyung finds out we're talking about this, he won't let it slide."

Jae Hoon turned to him. "Then what are you going to do?"

Seung Min shrugged. "I won't interfere, but I won't pretend I don't know either."

Silence followed. They all understood—this wasn't something to take lightly, especially with Shin Kyung involved.

As soon as he arrived home, Seung Min barely had time to rest before his aunt called out to him.

"Seung Min, can you take me home? It's getting late," she said while packing up her things.

Seung Min glanced at the clock and realized it was already quite late. Without bothering to change clothes, he quickly grabbed his helmet and motorcycle keys. "Alright, let's go."

In a hurry, he stepped outside and got on his Vespa. His aunt climbed on behind him, and in no time, they were cruising down the now-quiet streets.

Meanwhile, at Jin Ho's house, Lee So Mi and Dae Hyun were comfortably sitting in the living room, completely absorbed in their PlayStation game.

Dae Hyun leaned back on the couch, holding his controller confidently. "Get ready to lose."

Jin Ho adjusted his glasses. "We'll see about that."

Lee So Mi sighed. "Why am I even here? I don't even like video games."

Dae Hyun nudged her. "Then just watch and cheer for me."

"In your dreams," Lee So Mi retorted sarcastically.

Just as the game was starting, the door suddenly swung open, and Jae Hoon walked in.

"Yo, what are you guys up to?" he asked, dropping his bag near the door.

"Playing PS. Wanna join?" Jin Ho asked, eyes still glued to the screen.

Jae Hoon grinned, stretching his fingers. "Of course. Move over."

With a new player joining in, the competition grew fiercer, and soon, the living room was filled with cheers of victory and frustrated shouts of defeat.

As Seung Min rode home alone, his motorcycle suddenly sputtered and came to a stop. He groaned in frustration, kicking the side of the bike lightly.

"Seriously? What kind of bike is this?" he muttered, annoyed.

It was Lee So Mi's motorcycle, and now it had broken down in the middle of the road. With no other choice, he pushed it to the side and parked it near a supermarket.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Guess I'll have to wait for it to cool down or call someone to pick me up."

Just as he was about to take out his phone, a group of students from another school walked past. They were chatting loudly but immediately tensed up when they saw Seung Min's uniform.

Their steps slowed, and some of them exchanged uneasy glances. It was clear that they recognized the emblem on his blazer.

Seung Min noticed their reaction and raised an eyebrow. Do they know about my school? Or maybe… they've had bad experiences with students from here?

He didn't say anything, simply leaning against his bike while observing their reactions.

One of the students whispered something to his friend, and the entire group took a step back, as if debating whether to leave immediately.

Seung Min smirked slightly. Interesting.

On the other side of town, Shin Kyung finally arrived home after a long and exhausting day. As soon as he opened the door, a loud slap echoed through the house.

SMACK!

His eyes immediately locked onto a scene that made his blood boil—his father stood there, his face flushed from drinking, while Yoon Ha Rin winced in pain, her cheek red from the impact.

"How dare you talk back to your father?" their father growled, his voice rough and unstable.

Without hesitation, Shin Kyung stepped forward and pulled Yoon Ha Rin behind him, shielding her from their father's wrath. "Enough," his voice was cold and sharp.

His father glared at him with half-dazed eyes before scoffing. "You're defending her? That girl is too stubborn!"

Shin Kyung clenched his fists, restraining himself from lashing out. "If you were sober, you'd realize who's really being stubborn here."

Not giving his father a chance to respond, Shin Kyung grabbed Yoon Ha Rin's hand and led her out of the house. She looked up at him with teary eyes but remained silent.

As they stepped outside, Shin Kyung stared up at the dark sky and let out a deep sigh.

"From now on, I'll take care of you," he said firmly. "Don't go back to that house again."

Yoon Ha Rin bit her lip before nodding slowly.

Meanwhile, at Jin Seok's mansion…

In a spacious living room with warm lighting, Jin Seok sat calmly on the sofa, one hand holding a steaming cup of coffee. The aroma of black coffee filled the air, yet his expression remained cold and unreadable.

Across from him, Min Joon sat casually, his fingers swiftly typing on his phone. Occasionally, he smirked, either at something he read or simply enjoying the moment.

On the other side of the room, a middle-aged man with an authoritative aura stood near a bookshelf. He was Lee Joo Hyun, Jin Seok's father—a man whose name commanded respect, or rather, fear.

"Seung Min," Lee Joo Hyun's deep voice broke the silence, making Jin Seok lift his head slightly. "I heard he broke the rules."

Jin Seok raised an eyebrow, setting his coffee cup down on the glass table with deliberate ease. "Where did you hear that?"

Lee Joo Hyun's gaze was sharp. He glanced at Min Joon, who was still focused on his phone, before finally saying, "From someone well-informed about the situation at school."

Jin Seok shifted his gaze to Min Joon, who finally looked up with a relaxed expression. "Don't look at me like that. I'm just stating the facts," Min Joon said, shrugging slightly. "Besides, Seung Min is starting to attract attention, isn't he?"

Jin Seok was silent for a moment before chuckling softly. "Attracting attention, huh?"

Lee Joo Hyun stepped closer, his eyes full of authority as he looked at his son. "Get rid of that boy. I don't like people disrupting a system that has been running smoothly."

Jin Seok met his father's gaze with a blank expression. He had expected this request to come sooner or later, but hearing it directly from Lee Joo Hyun made it feel more real.

Min Joon smirked slightly, setting his phone down on the table. "So, what's the plan? Are you handling it yourself, or do you need help?"

Jin Seok lifted his coffee cup again, taking a slow sip before replying, "No need to rush. Let's see how long he can last."

Lee Joo Hyun studied his son for a moment before finally turning away. "Don't let a small problem turn into a big one. I don't want any disturbances."

With that, he walked out of the room, leaving Jin Seok and Min Joon exchanging glances.

Min Joon leaned back on the sofa, folding his arms behind his head. "This should be interesting."

Jin Seok simply stared at Min Joon with a blank expression.

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids