Systemism

Main Quest (7.5)

Bong: Did you hear something?

Mujuk: Rats?

Bong: Crazy?

Mujuk: I was crazy once.

Bong: They put me in a room.

Mujuk: A rubber room.

Bong: A rubber room with rats.

Mujuk: They put me in a rubber room with rubber rats.

Bong: Rubber rats?

Mujuk: I hate rubber rats.

Bong: They make me crazy.

Mujuk: Crazy?

Bong: I was crazy once.

Mujuk: They put me in a room...

The nonsensical banter between Bong and Mujuk echoed through the alley, their voices getting louder, grating on Jin Na's nerves. His patience wore thin as the pair rambled on, their back-and-forth devolving into pointless repetition.

Bong Kwang: 172 cm, 65 kg
[A+, B+, A+, C, A+]

Seok Mujuk: 160 cm, 53 kg
[S+, C, A, E, A]

Jin Na: (snapping) That's enough.

The sharpness in his tone silenced the two instantly. Jin Na exhaled deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. They were wasting time, and his mind was preoccupied with something far more pressing.

Jin Na: 179 cm, 70 kg

[A, A, S, B, A]

Jin Na: (internally) Who were they? Spies from another school? Whatever they are, they don't stand a chance. Not against Myul.

Jin Na glanced toward Myul, the towering figure standing silently in the background, his expression unreadable. Myul was a force to be reckoned with, and Jin Na knew that if anyone stood a chance of overwhelming their enemies, it was him.

Myul: 177cm, 68 kg
[B+, A, A+, C, B+]

Jin Na: (calmly) They won't be able to win against him.

Before Jin Na could finish his thought, Ken interjected, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ken: Keep on glazing or whatever, but what's up with you and that guy Kai?

Ken Nakamura: 178 cm, 105 kg
[A, A+, B, C, A]

The question took Jin Na by surprise, momentarily breaking his focused demeanour. He shot Ken a cold look, but the smirk on Ken's face told him the guy wasn't about to drop the subject.

Jin Na: (annoyed) Let's just say... we had history.

Ken: (raising an eyebrow) He's your ex?

Jin Na's eye twitched. Of course, Ken would make it weird.

Jin Na: (deadpan) I'm straight.

Ken: (shrugging) Just asking...

Jin Na let out another exasperated sigh. He didn't need this right now. He gazed up at the moon, the pale light illuminating the empty streets, casting long shadows over the group. The night air was cool, but there was a tension that lingered as if something was about to break.

Jin Na: (softly) It was like this when...

Ken: (interrupting) When you guys fell in love?

Jin Na's eyes narrowed, his frustration mounting.

Jin Na: (snapping) No. Stop interrupting me.

Ken snickered, but he fell silent, letting Jin Na continue. Jin Na cleared his throat, his tone more serious now as he recalled the past.

Jin Na: (steadily) ...when she found the crew.

Ken's interest was piqued, and he leaned in slightly.

Ken: What crew?

Jin Na didn't answer immediately, his eyes focused on the moon as memories of that night flashed through his mind. The night when everything changed. The night they were brought together under strange circumstances, forming a crew that would go on to challenge everything they knew.

Jin Na: (quietly) One night... it all started with one night.

The air grew heavier with the weight of Jin Na's words, leaving Ken, Bong, and Mujuk to exchange curious glances. Myul remained silent, but his presence alone was enough to remind everyone that whatever Jin Na was thinking, it was far from over. Something was coming, something bigger than any of them could predict.

And that night—the one Jin Na spoke of—was just the beginning.