Season 2 - GangBorn

The next day, the atmosphere at school seemed as usual—filled with the chatter of students walking through the hallways and casual conversations echoing along the corridors. Yet for a few, the day was thick with hidden tension.

Yoon Ha Rin strolled down the hallway with earphones plugged in, trying to act normal. Her gaze subtly scanned the surroundings, searching for familiar faces. On the other side, Dae Hyun leaned against the wall near the lockers, casually playing with his phone as if nothing had happened the night before.

Lee So Mi appeared from the staircase, her freshly cut hair catching the attention of some students who glanced her way. Ignoring the curious looks, she headed straight toward Dae Hyun and Ha Rin.

"Anything suspicious?" So Mi asked quietly.

"Not yet," Dae Hyun replied with a yawn. "But I doubt they'll stay quiet for long."

Moments later, Hae Jin entered the locker area, looking relaxed. Yoon Ha Rin glanced at him and whispered, "It still feels weird seeing him... Since when is he friends with Seung Min?"

Lee So Mi offered a faint smile. "It's a long story."

The bell rang, signaling the students to head to their classes. As they made their way to their respective rooms, unseen eyes watched them from a distance, making the school's atmosphere feel heavier. The day had just begun, but everyone knew... something was about to happen.

During the lunch break, they gathered in the library—a quiet place away from prying eyes and curious ears. The shelves lined with books provided the perfect cover as they huddled around a table in a secluded corner.

Seung Min placed the documents on the table, spreading them out carefully. "Let's make this quick. We don't have much time," he said in a low voice.

Hae Jin, still inhabiting Kieran's body, leaned in with a furrowed brow. "Are we sure these are legit?"

Dae Hyun nodded. "We risked a lot last night. They better be."

Jin Ho flipped through the pages, his sharp eyes scanning every line. "These are financial records... and internal memos. Enough to expose Jin Seok's illegal activities."

Lee So Mi crossed her arms. "But the problem is, Jin Seok's smart. If we make a wrong move, he'll find a way to cover everything up."

Yoon Ha Rin, sitting beside her, glanced at the papers. "So what's the plan? Just handing these over to the police won't be enough."

Seung Min tapped his finger against the table, deep in thought. "We need more. This is good evidence, but we need something that ties him directly to the crimes—something irrefutable."

Hae Jin muttered, "Easier said than done. He's always one step ahead."

Lee So Mi sighed. "We'll figure it out. We have to."

The tension was palpable as they exchanged glances, each person aware of the stakes. Outside, the school carried on with its usual bustle, oblivious to the storm brewing in that quiet corner of the library.

The school bell rang loudly, marking the end of the break. Almost simultaneously, the phones of Seung Min, Hae Jin, Dae Hyun, and Jin Ho buzzed in unison.

Their screens displayed the same notification:

"Game Start — Death Card Game."

"Match: Ace — Jin Seok vs Joker — Ryo Takeda."

The once-quiet library suddenly felt suffocating. The six of them exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and wariness.

Lee So Mi broke the silence. "Ryo Takeda? Who is he?" Her voice was soft but firm enough to be heard.

Hae Jin nodded, his expression puzzled. "Never heard of him. Is he part of this too?"

Seung Min took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the notification before finally speaking, "Ryo Takeda... is one of the Jokers in this game." He paused as if searching for the right words. "He's no ordinary person. If a Joker appears, it means the game has escalated to a much more dangerous level. Ryo Takeda is known for being ruthless... and playing without rules."

Yoon Ha Rin suddenly spoke, her voice weighed down by something deeper. "And... Shin Kyung is his friend."

Everyone immediately turned to her.

"What?" Jin Ho frowned. "Are you sure?"

Yoon Ha Rin nodded. "I heard it from Shin Kyung himself. They have a long history. If Ryo Takeda is involved, this isn't just about the game anymore—it's about revenge."

Dae Hyun swallowed hard. "So... this is worse than we thought?"

"Much worse," Jin Ho responded curtly.

Seung Min ran a hand over his face, his mind racing. "If Jin Seok's up against someone like Ryo Takeda... this could mess up our entire plan."

"And if Jin Seok wins?" Hae Jin asked cautiously.

"—things will get even more complicated," Lee So Mi cut in, her face tense.

Silence fell over them once again. The tension was undeniable. The game had begun, and now they were racing against time—caught between uncovering the truth or being trapped in a deadly game with no room for mistakes.

The crowd roared with excitement, students cheering wildly for Jin Seok as they filled the field. The atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation and tension.

Seung Min, Hae Jin, Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, Lee So Mi, and Yoon Ha Rin quickly made their way through the crowd toward the battleground. On one side stood several Jokers supporting Ryo Takeda, while on the opposite side, those representing the Aces stood firmly behind Jin Seok.

Jin Seok and Ryo Takeda faced each other in the center of the field. Without wasting time, fists flew—Jin Seok's punches precise and powerful, while Ryo countered with wild but brutal strikes.

A particularly harsh blow sent Ryo sprawling to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. The crowd gasped.

But then—Ryo laughed.

He wiped the blood from his lips, grinning with blood-stained teeth. Slowly, he stood back up, his eyes glinting with madness. His gaze shifted toward Shin Kyung, lingering for a moment, before returning to Jin Seok's calm, unshaken demeanor.

"You know, Jin Seok..." Ryo spoke, voice rough yet clear enough to echo across the field, "you have to erase this trash game."

Seung Min's eyes widened in shock. "What...?" he whispered under his breath. "He... he wants to join us?"

Beside him, the tension among the group spiked. Confusion mixed with suspicion—it didn't make sense. Why would Ryo Takeda, a Joker, offer an olive branch?

Just then, Jae Hoon—positioned discreetly near the crowd—glanced toward Hae Jin, giving him a subtle nod.

Hae Jin caught the look, instinctively nudging Seung Min. "Check your phone," he muttered.

Seung Min quickly pulled out his phone. A new message from Jae Hoon popped up:

"Be careful. This fight isn't what it seems. Watch Ryo's next move—there's more to this."

Seung Min's grip on the phone tightened as he glanced back toward the fight. Jin Seok remained composed, fists still raised, while Ryo—bloodied but unfazed—grinned wider.

Whatever this was... it wasn't just about the game anymore. Something deeper, more dangerous, was unfolding right before their eyes.

On the other side of the field, Yoon Ha Rin stood with Lee So Mi, Jin Ho, and Dae Hyun, watching the heated battle unfold. Ha Rin's gaze was fixed on Ryo Takeda, who, despite being bruised and battered, still managed to smile as if he was enjoying the danger.

"He's kind of cool..." Yoon Ha Rin muttered without realizing it, her eyes gleaming. "Brave, strong, and... there's something mysterious about him."

Dae Hyun immediately turned toward her, looking offended. "Huh? Seriously? If we're talking about handsome and cool, I obviously outshine him," he said, puffing out his chest in a show of confidence.

Jin Ho, standing beside him, glanced over with a calm expression. "Yeah... maybe in your imagination," he commented dryly.

"What did you say?!" Dae Hyun shot back, glaring at him.

Lee So Mi chuckled softly at their banter. "Bichina... you two never change," she said, shaking her head while trying to suppress her laughter.

Yoon Ha Rin smiled but kept her gaze locked on Ryo Takeda. "Still... there's something about him that's captivating," she whispered more to herself than anyone else.

Meanwhile, the cheers in the stadium grew louder as Jin Seok and Ryo Takeda prepared for the next round. But beneath the surface of the crowd's excitement, an undeniable tension lingered—something bigger was about to unfold.

The second round began with the roaring cheers of students filling the field. Jin Seok stepped forward with a cold gaze, while Ryo Takeda—his body battered and bloodied—still stood tall, a twisted smile never leaving his face.

It didn't take long before Jin Seok delivered a powerful punch to Ryo's jaw, sending him sprawling backward. Ryo fell flat on his back, face turned toward the sky, blood smeared across his features as he gasped for breath.

The cheers quickly shifted into mocking jeers. Students unabashedly raised their middle fingers toward him.

"Loser!" someone shouted.

"What a joke! Some Joker you are!" another added.

"Acting all cool, huh? Look at you now!"

"Damn it, Ryo! You pathetic idiot!"

Yoon Ha Rin clenched her fists, visibly upset. She took a step forward, but Lee So Mi grabbed her arm. "Don't... This isn't the time," So Mi warned.

On the other side of the field, Jin Seok stood over Ryo, his expression unreadable. "You're too weak to challenge me," he said flatly.

But then—Ryo laughed. His voice was rough, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Funny... Even lying here... I feel more alive than you ever will." His eyes shifted toward Shin Kyung, who was watching with conflicted emotions.

Dae Hyun frowned. "What's with this guy? How's he laughing after that? Is he insane?"

Jin Ho, observing quietly, muttered, "People like him... aren't easily figured out."

Amid the mix of cheers, insults, and tension, the atmosphere grew heavier. The match might have ended, but the real game... was far from over.

On the other side of the field, in the area reserved for the Aces, Do Jin, Jin Woo, and Min Joon stood watching the aftermath of the match. The crowd's cheers still echoed around them, but the tension among the Aces was palpable.

Min Joon's gaze was fixed on Jin Seok, his half-brother. His expression was difficult to read—an intense mix of resentment, jealousy, and something deeper he couldn't fully understand. His sharp eyes seemed to pierce through Jin Seok's ever-calm demeanor.

"Always perfect in everyone's eyes..." Min Joon muttered under his breath, barely audible.

Behind him, Jae Hoon watched Min Joon with a look of irritation. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides. He knew exactly what was running through Min Joon's mind, and it annoyed him to no end.

"Focus on the game, not your personal grudges," Jae Hoon said coolly, his voice edged with warning.

Min Joon turned slightly, meeting Jae Hoon's gaze. "I don't need a lecture from you," he shot back, voice cold.

Do Jin glanced at both of them. "Cut it out. This isn't the time for arguments," he said curtly. Jin Woo gave a brief nod, his attention still locked on Jin Seok, who was now speaking with the match officials.

Out on the field, Jin Seok stood calm and composed amidst the mixed reactions from the crowd. He didn't glance back at Min Joon or the other Aces. For him, this was just the beginning—everyone here was nothing more than pieces in a much larger game.

Min Joon clenched his fists tighter, struggling to suppress his emotions. "One day... I'll be the one to bring you down, Jin Seok."

Jae Hoon let out a quiet scoff, as if reading his mind. "We'll see about that," he murmured, his calculating gaze fixed ahead.

Ryo slowly pushed open the bathroom door after cleaning the wounds on his face. Faint traces of blood still lingered at the corner of his lips. But his steps halted immediately. Right in front of the door, Seung Min and Hae Jin stood waiting for him.

Ryo furrowed his brows, cautious. "What is it?" he asked coldly.

Seung Min looked at him directly. "Do you want to join us?" His voice was calm but carried weight.

Hae Jin, standing beside him, crossed his arms, studying Ryo with an assessing gaze.

Ryo raised an eyebrow, then gave a faint smirk. "Are you serious? After what happened on the field earlier?" He let out a soft chuckle, though there was a hint of curiosity behind his laugh.

Elsewhere, on the deserted rooftop of the school, the afternoon breeze carried a biting chill. Jae Hoon pushed open the rooftop door and stepped inside. There were only two people there: Shin Kyung, leaning casually against the railing, and Jin Seok, standing with his back to them, gazing at the city skyline in the distance.

Jae Hoon stopped in his tracks. "I want to talk to you," he said, his voice echoing softly in the rooftop's silence.

Jin Seok turned slowly. His expression was blank, his eyes meeting Jae Hoon's without emotion. "Talk."

Taking a deep breath, Jae Hoon stepped closer. "It seems your half-brother is going to betray you," he said bluntly. "Be careful. If everything falls into his hands, your plan and your father's experiment will collapse... and end in tragedy."

Shin Kyung narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased with the direction of the conversation. "What do you mean, Jae Hoon?" he asked cautiously.

Jae Hoon kept his gaze on Jin Seok. "You'd better end this game before things get messier. Especially if Min Joon starts stirring things up. He's not just a kid looking for recognition. If left unchecked, he'll destroy everything you've built."

For a moment, only the wind's whisper filled the space. Jin Seok didn't respond immediately, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. His mind raced, dissecting every word Jae Hoon had said.

"If you were in my position," Jin Seok finally spoke softly, "what would you do?"

Jae Hoon shrugged. "I'd get rid of any piece that could become a threat... before it's too late."

Shin Kyung glanced at Jin Seok, waiting for his reaction. But Jin Seok merely smiled faintly—a smile that revealed nothing... yet hinted at something dangerous.

"Thanks for the warning," he said at last. "But I know what I have to do."

Outside the school gate, Min Joon stood with his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze fixed on the empty road ahead. The cold evening breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves above him.

Before long, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed. A young man emerged from the corner of the street—his appearance disheveled, with a faint tattoo visible beneath his jacket. Though he seemed relaxed, the sharp glint in his eyes revealed he was no ordinary person.

Min Joon narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?" he asked coolly.

The young man smirked. "My name's not important," he replied casually. "But I bring a message... from someone you'd be wise not to ignore."

Min Joon waited silently, his expression unreadable.

The young man's demeanor shifted, becoming serious. "Stop meddling in this game. Especially when it comes to Jin Seok and Lee Joo Hyun. If you keep interfering, things will only get worse—not just for you, but for everyone involved."

Min Joon clenched his jaw. "Who sent you?"

The man shrugged. "Let's just say... someone whose power is far beyond what you can imagine. If you're smart, tell Jin Seok and your father, Lee Joo Hyun, to back off before it's too late."

He turned to leave but paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Consider this a friendly warning. You only get one chance to walk away safely. Don't waste it."

Min Joon remained rooted in place, his body tense, fists clenched tightly. This... just got more complicated, he thought.

What Min Joon didn't know was that the young man wasn't just an ordinary gang member—he was an operative working under Seung Min and Lee So Mi's grandfather, a man whose influence stretched far beyond what they had anticipated.

And this... was only the beginning.

As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Seung Min, Hae Jin, Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, Lee So Mi, and Yoon Ha Rin walked slowly along the path leading away from the building. The orange hues of the setting sun stretched their shadows across the ground.

Yoon Ha Rin broke the comfortable silence. "So... Ryo's going to join us?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Dae Hyun shot her a teasing glance. "Why? You sound way too excited about that," he quipped with a smirk.

Yoon Ha Rin rolled her eyes, but a faint flush crept up her cheeks. "I'm just asking," she huffed.

Jin Ho, trailing slightly behind, clicked his tongue. "Tch... I still don't trust that guy," he muttered, clearly irritated.

Hae Jin chuckled, nudging Jin Ho's shoulder. "Relax. If he tries anything funny, we'll handle it," he said reassuringly.

Lee So Mi laughed softly at the exchange, and soon enough, their conversation dissolved into lighthearted banter. Their laughter echoed down the street, mingling with the cool breeze of the evening—at least, for now, things felt a little less complicated.

On the other side, Nina Park walked steadily toward the police station. Her gaze was fixed on the large building ahead as her hand tightly gripped the documents Hae Jin had given her. Her breathing was slightly heavy, but the determination in her eyes never wavered.

As she entered the lobby, she was immediately greeted by a muscular officer whose sharp yet professional gaze met hers. "Can I help you?" he asked.

Nina nodded and handed him the documents. "I was asked to deliver this."

The man took them, scanning the pages briefly before raising an eyebrow. "Nina Park, right? I'm Joo Hyuk," he said, offering a slight smile. "Seung Min's uncle."

Nina was a bit surprised but didn't get the chance to respond as Joo Hyuk's expression shifted to something more serious. He flipped through the papers more carefully—only to discover the contents were fake. His eyes narrowed, tension thickening the air. "Interesting... Who's playing this game?" he muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, at Seung Min's house, the atmosphere was far more relaxed. Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, Lee So Mi, and Seung Min were gathered in the living room, phones in hand, focused on the new group chat they had just created.

"I've added everyone into the group," Seung Min said, typing quickly. "Even Jae Hoon."

High above on a different rooftop, Jae Hoon sat alone, back resting against a vent. His gaze was fixed on his phone screen, displaying the buzzing group chat. The corner of his lips curled into a faint smile. "Finally, they're getting serious," he thought as he typed a response.

Hae Jin, now in Kieran's body, was the first to break the ice in the chat. "So... are we really doing this together from now on?" he texted.

Jin Ho, sitting cross-legged on the floor, frowned. "We need a cool name for this group," he said aloud while typing. "Any ideas? Nothing lame."

Dae Hyun quickly chimed in. "And jackets. We need custom designs that represent us."

The conversation picked up pace, excitement filling the room. Moments later, Yoon Ha Rin—who had just joined the chat—typed, "What if... we pick a name with meaning? Not just something that sounds cool."

Seung Min smiled at their enthusiasm. Without saying much, he added a new contact to the group—the number belonging to Ryo Tadeka.

A notification popped up: "Ryo has been added to the group."

For a brief moment, silence settled as everyone stared at their screens, waiting for Ryo's response.

This... was the beginning of a team none of them had ever expected.

On the other side, Ryo Tadeka leaned against his sleek, luxury car parked in the driveway of his lavish home. The cool evening breeze brushed against him, but his focus was on his phone. His fingers moved swiftly over the screen, a spark of excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"What if the group name is... GangBorn?" he typed with a smirk, sending the message to the chat.

For a few seconds, there was silence in the group—then notifications popped up one after another.

"Not bad," Seung Min replied.

"Sounds badass," Hae Jin added.

"I like it," Yoon Ha Rin chimed in.

Back at Seung Min's house, everyone let out a breath they hadn't realized they were holding.

"Finally, something that clicks," Jin Ho muttered, nodding in approval.

Dae Hyun grinned, turning to Lee So Mi. "GangBorn, huh?"

"Fits us perfectly," she said with a smirk.

Without another word, Dae Hyun and Lee So Mi raised their hands and exchanged a quick, satisfying high-five—an unspoken agreement that this was the start of something big.

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids