Season 2 - Requiem

The next morning, Hae Jin walked toward the school gate, his hands tucked into his pockets. The cool morning air felt heavier as he spotted a group of senior third-year students waiting in front of the entrance.

One of them stepped forward, crossing his arms. "Hey, you're Kieran, right?"

Hae Jin stopped, giving them a lazy glance. "Yeah. So what?"

Another senior sneered. "Is this loser the Joker everyone's talking about?" he said, prompting a few chuckles from the group.

Hae Jin's expression remained calm. "Got a problem?" he replied casually.

The first senior scoffed. "Is that how you talk to your seniors? We're third-years, Joker. Watch your mouth."

Hae Jin let out a small laugh, his eyes sharp despite his relaxed tone. "Don't get too proud," he said coolly. "Your hero act is about to end. You should be the ones scared."

One of them stepped closer, taking a deep drag from his cigarette before blowing smoke directly into Hae Jin's face. "You've got some nerve talking like that. Not afraid of getting beaten up?" he taunted with an annoying smirk.

Hae Jin smirked back, his gaze playful yet challenging. "Do whatever you want," he muttered. Without sparing them another glance, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the group momentarily speechless.

"Tch, what a cocky bastard," one of them grumbled, but none dared to follow him.

Let them talk, Hae Jin thought, his steps steady. The real game's just beginning.

In front of him, Hae Jin spotted Seung Min and the others walking slowly down the school corridor. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace and caught up to them.

"Hey!" Hae Jin greeted, waving casually. "Morning! What are you guys up to?" he asked, trying to sound friendly.

Dae Hyun glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "What's this? Acting all buddy-buddy all of a sudden?"

Jin Ho squinted suspiciously. "Since when were we that close, huh?"

Lee So Mi hugged her books to her chest, giving Hae Jin a blank stare. "Are we close? 'Cause I don't think so," she said coolly.

Hae Jin chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Man... this is hard to explain," he mumbled, glancing at Seung Min for help.

They all stopped in a quieter section of the hallway. Hae Jin took a deep breath and began, "Okay, listen. This is going to sound insane, but... I transmigrated into Seung Min's body before. I was there to help him—yeah, there was an important reason." His voice softened at the end. "But now, the real Seung Min is back. I'm not in his body anymore."

Dae Hyun furrowed his brows. "What? Transmi-what? This sounds like some fantasy novel, dude."

Jin Ho crossed his arms. "You serious? It's way too early for this kind of joke."

Lee So Mi kept her gaze on Hae Jin, studying him carefully.

Hae Jin sighed. "And now, somehow... I transmigrated again. This time into Kieran's body. I have no idea how this happened."

Seung Min, who had remained silent until now, finally nodded. "He's not lying," he said, drawing everyone's attention.

"What?" Dae Hyun blurted out, stunned.

Seung Min looked at each of them. "Everything he said... is true. When I was... gone, he was the one in my body. He helped us back then."

Jin Ho's jaw dropped. "You're not kidding?"

Seung Min shook his head. "No. I experienced it all."

Lee So Mi glanced between Seung Min and Hae Jin, her expression softening though skepticism lingered. "Why are you just telling us now?" she asked quietly.

Hae Jin shrugged. "It's not exactly easy to explain something like this. And... who would believe me right away anyway?"

Dae Hyun ran a hand down his face. "This is... crazy. Feels like something out of a drama."

Jin Ho patted Seung Min's shoulder. "You okay, man?"

Seung Min nodded. "I've accepted everything. Now... we just deal with what's ahead."

Hae Jin managed a small smile. "At least you guys know now. I wasn't trying to be weird or anything."

Lee So Mi let out a breath. "Alright... I'm still confused, but... if Seung Min says it's true, then I'll trust it."

The atmosphere lightened a little, though countless questions still swirled in their minds. One thing was clear—this was just the beginning of something far stranger.

In Class 1 Joker,The atmosphere was just as chaotic as the day before—loud voices, desks scattered, and students laughing boisterously. Jae Hoon pushed open the door, stepping inside with a laid-back gait. His face, however, told a different story: bruises and cuts from last night's beating at the hands of Do Jin were clearly visible. Despite the stares, he didn't flinch.

"Yo!" Hae Jin, seated near the window, waved a hand casually. "Rough night?" he teased, a half-smirk on his face.

Jae Hoon rolled his eyes but didn't respond. He dropped into his seat with a sigh, ignoring the curious glances from classmates. The buzzing chatter in the room carried on, though a few whispers about Jae Hoon's injuries circulated.

Meanwhile, in Class Rookie,Jin Ho sat with his arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently. Beside him, Dae Hyun sighed heavily, slumping over his desk.

"This sucks," Dae Hyun muttered under his breath. "Why the hell haven't we moved up a level yet?"

Jin Ho grunted in agreement. "Feels like we're stuck in limbo."

"Yeah, and seeing those guys in higher classes... it's annoying," Dae Hyun grumbled, resting his chin on his hand.

Their frustration lingered, the air thick with a mix of envy and impatience.

In Class Ace,Seung Min sat quietly at his desk, eyes fixed on the surface in front of him. The classroom was noticeably calmer compared to Joker's rowdy environment, but a subtle tension hung in the air.

His mind drifted as he stared at the faint scratches on the desk—his thoughts swirling with the events of the past few days, the weight of returning to his own body, and Hae Jin's unexpected reappearance in someone else's.

He clenched his fists briefly before releasing a slow breath. Stay focused, he reminded himself. There were too many moving parts now—Min Joon's schemes, Jin Seok's next move, and the unresolved shadows from the past.

The bell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. Around him, classmates started settling in, unaware of the storm brewing beyond their ordinary school life.

Elsewhere The classroom door creaked open as Nina Park strode in, her eyes scanning for a familiar figure. "Seung Min, come with me to the office," she said briskly.

The class fell silent for a moment as Seung Min got up and followed her out. Inside the teacher's office, Nina glanced at him with a serious expression. She still assumed that her brother, Hae Jin, was inhabiting Seung Min's body.

"Hey… Hae Jin?" she called uncertainly.

Seung Min sighed. "I'm not Hae Jin," he replied flatly.

Nina's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait… so Hae Jin's gone? You're back, Seung Min? Seriously?"

Before Seung Min could respond, the door swung open again. Hae Jin strolled in, now in Kieran's body, wearing the school uniform with his signature laid-back grin.

Seung Min pointed at him. "There," he said to Nina, "He's in Kieran's body now."

Nina blinked. "Wait... so you really transmigrated again?"

Hae Jin shrugged casually and plopped into a chair. "Hey, it's better than the alternative," he said with a half-smile. "If I hadn't, I'd probably be checking into the afterlife for good."

Nina stared at both of them, caught between disbelief and amusement. "This... feels like I'm stuck in a drama—but somehow, I'm in it," she muttered under her breath.

Seung Min rubbed his face in exasperation while Hae Jin casually whistled, acting like his bizarre, twist-filled life was just another Tuesday.

Hae Jin leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "Noona, we've got plenty of members to dig into this dirty game," he said with a smirk.

Seung Min sighed, rubbing his temple. "Yeah... but having people isn't enough. We need a plan. Jumping in headfirst like you always do isn't going to work this time," he replied, shooting Hae Jin a pointed look.

Hae Jin grinned. "Relax, I do have a plan... kinda."

Nina Park rolled her eyes. "'Kinda' isn't reassuring."

Seung Min crossed his arms. "Look, we can't afford to mess this up. Min Joon and Jin Seok aren't the type to play fair."

Hae Jin shrugged. "That's why we don't play fair either."

Nina sighed. "Why do I feel like I'm babysitting two troublemakers?"

Hae Jin winked. "Because you are."

Seung Min muttered, "He's not wrong…"

The three sat in thoughtful silence for a moment—well, except for Hae Jin, who casually spun his pen like he was waiting for snacks. The tension was thick, but beneath it all was the strange, undeniable bond between them… even with all the body-swapping chaos.

Elsewhere, in Jin Seok's classroom...

Shin Kyung sat beside him, watching intently. "Are you really sure about taking back the King rank like before?" he asked quietly.

Jin Seok leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. "I'm not just taking it back. I'll make sure they can't rise again," he replied coldly.

Shin Kyung sighed. "Be careful. This game isn't like it used to be."

In another class The room buzzed with chatter. Students gathered in groups, whispering.

"Why hasn't the game started yet?"

"Something's off today…"

The bell rang for lunch break, but the delay... was all part of a bigger plan that had yet to unfold.

In the cafeteria Seung Min, Hae Jin, Dae Hyun, and Jin Ho sat around a table, trays of food untouched. Their conversation was serious, standing out against the noisy cafeteria backdrop.

"So... Seung Min can't fight?" Jin Ho asked hesitantly, glancing at Seung Min.

Hae Jin grinned. "Wrong. He can now. Honestly, if he keeps it up, he might surpass me."

Dae Hyun frowned. "Seriously? But you're insanely good."

"If he memorizes the basic techniques and those forbidden strikes, trust me... mastering them will be easy," Hae Jin said casually.

Not long after, Lee So Mi and Yoon Ha Rin approached. "Hey, have you guys seen Jae Hoon?" So Mi asked.

Before anyone could answer, the cafeteria doors swung open.

Jae Hoon walked in with Min Joon, Do Jin, Tae Hwan, Ki Seok, and two others. They chose a table not far from Seung Min's group. The tension thickened immediately.

Seung Min and the others watched cautiously. Jae Hoon glanced their way—cold, expressionless—then started eating as if nothing was wrong.

But beneath that calm... something darker loomed.

Flashback - Earlier that night

In a deserted parking lot, Do Jin slammed Jae Hoon against a wall. His fist connected with Jae Hoon's face, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"If you want your mom to stay alive, stop playing the hero," Do Jin hissed.

Jae Hoon gasped for air, glaring. "You... bastard..."

Min Joon stepped forward, his voice chilling. "Betray Seung Min. Stay away from them. Or... your mother pays the price."

Back in the cafeteria Jae Hoon kept his head down, slowly eating. Seung Min watched him, his gaze filled with both suspicion and concern.

Dae Hyun whispered, "Why's he acting so cold? This isn't like him."

Hae Jin clenched his jaw. "Something's off... and I'm going to find out what."

Joo Hyuk, Seung Min's uncle, strode confidently into the school building, his polished shoes echoing against the floor tiles. Beside him walked a stern-looking man in a black suit—one of Seung Min's grandfather's trusted aides—and another man in a trench coat with sharp eyes, clearly a detective.

They moved through the hallway, which was lined with unruly students loitering and whispering among themselves. Some glanced their way; others ignored them entirely, lost in their own troublemaking.

On the bulletin board, a large poster caught Joo Hyuk's eye:

"DEATH CARD GAME"

Below the bold letters was a QR code with a caption:

"Log in... if you dare."

The aide muttered under his breath, "This is what the students have been obsessing over? Dangerous."

Joo Hyuk's gaze darkened. "So this is the root of the chaos..."

Without slowing down, they reached the faculty office. Joo Hyuk pushed the door open. The room fell silent as teachers glanced up from their desks, sensing the weight of his presence.

"We're here to speak with the principal," Joo Hyuk said firmly.

One teacher stood hastily. "Y-Yes, right this way..."

As they were led inside, the detective's sharp gaze swept across the office, noting every detail—the scattered files, the tense atmosphere, and the subtle undercurrent of fear that seemed to grip the faculty.

Something far worse than a mere school game was brewing...

Continuation...

Recess ended, and Seung Min, Hae Jin, Dae Hyun, and the others parted ways to return to their respective classes. The school returned to its usual atmosphere, though a lingering tension remained.

In the classroom, no notification for the Death Card Game had appeared yet. However, moments later, Jin Seok's phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen before calmly answering the call.

"Yeah? I already knew before the teacher could say anything. I've taken care of everything," Jin Seok said in a relaxed tone, his voice void of any concern.

Meanwhile, in Seung Min's class His gaze drifted toward Jin Seok and Jin Woo's seats, noticing they were empty. Only Do Jin remained, twirling his pen with an indifferent expression. "Where are they?" Seung Min wondered, suspicion growing.

Suddenly—

The classroom door flung open. Their teacher entered in a rush, face visibly tense despite an attempt to stay composed.

Seung Min's eyes widened the moment he saw the person behind him. "Uncle...?" he muttered under his breath.

Indeed, it was Joo Hyuk. Clad in a dark suit with a sharp gaze, he stepped forward, pulled out a business card, and held it up for the class.

"I'm Joo Hyuk, a detective from the police department," he stated firmly.

For a second, silence reigned... until a student from the back mumbled, "Hah, a detective? What's he doing here? So dramatic..."

A few others snickered under their breath.

BANG!

Joo Hyuk slammed his palm on a nearby desk, startling everyone. "Did no one teach you how to respect others?!" he barked, his voice booming across the room.

His piercing gaze swept across the class. "Or has this school become so unruly that basic manners are foreign to you all?"

No one dared to speak further. The atmosphere turned heavy, tension crackling in the air.

Without wasting another second, Joo Hyuk continued, "We're investigating the Death Card Game and the involvement of certain students in cases of violence and data breaches. This isn't a joke. If anyone here is thinking of covering things up... drop that idea immediately."

Nervous glances were exchanged among the students. Seung Min remained quiet, his mind racing. "Has the game already escalated this far...?"

A few minutes later Joo Hyuk exited the classroom, followed closely by the aide sent by Seung Min's grandfather and another detective. The hallway was eerily silent, students parting to the sides with wary glances.

"These kids... unbelievable," Joo Hyuk muttered under his breath.

The aide, a well-dressed middle-aged man, nodded. "I told you from the start—this place is a breeding ground for trouble."

The other detective clicked his tongue in frustration. "It's not just the students—even the teachers seem to turn a blind eye. This whole school needs a serious overhaul."

Joo Hyuk sighed. "Our top priority is still the Death Card Game. We need to find out who's behind this before things spiral further."

Their footsteps echoed down the corridor, leaving behind a trail of hushed whispers and wary eyes watching their every move.

Joo Hyuk paused in the hallway, his gaze fixed sharply on the bulletin board cluttered with scribbles and tattered notices. At the center, bold letters screamed "Death Card Game" accompanied by a QR code—a sinister gateway inviting students to join. Several students gathered around, some chuckling as if it were a harmless prank, while others exchanged uneasy glances.

With a heavy voice that cut through the tension, Joo Hyuk spoke, "One hundred people have been hospitalized... and six are dead."

Laughter faded. Whispers died. Faces paled as the weight of his words settled like a shadow over them.

He drew in a deep breath, fighting the simmering anger that boiled beneath his calm exterior. His eyes scanned the graffiti-stained hallway, dented lockers, and students who quickly looked away. "If this game continues," he said, voice low but firm, "that number will only rise."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel. His polished shoes echoed ominously against the floor, each step reverberating through the silent corridor. Behind a classroom window, Seung Min watched his uncle's retreating figure. His jaw tightened. "This game must end... before anyone else gets hurt," he resolved.

Elsewhere on campus, the atmosphere was strikingly different. Gangs of students loitered in every corner of the courtyard, some waving lazily at passersby, unfazed by the looming danger. Outside the school gates, members of the Joker gang leaned against the fence, cigarettes dangling from their lips. Laughter echoed as plumes of smoke curled into the chilly air. "Hey," one of them said, blowing smoke lazily, "heard Round Two starts today. Better be ready... things are about to get real."

In other corners, rival gangs exchanged information, eyes darting as they discussed their next moves. Tension thickened the air like a gathering storm.

And then—

Ding...

Phones across the school vibrated simultaneously. Screens lit up, displaying the same chilling message in bold, taunting letters:

"Death Card Game: Round 2 — Begins Now."

The school bell rang, slicing through the tension like a blade. What was once an ordinary day transformed into a battlefield. Breaths hitched. Feet shifted. No one could turn back now.

The game had begun.

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids