----
The next few days became hell.
Not ordinary hell.
Not school hell.
Not even broken-leg hell.
Kayden Break training hell.
Jiwoo discovered very quickly that Kayden's idea of "five days at most" did not mean five days of reasonable preparation.
It meant five days of suffering.
Carefully structured suffering.
Scientifically planned suffering.
Suffering with lectures.
Suffering with cat treats.
Suffering that somehow began before breakfast and continued after dinner and occasionally followed Jiwoo into sleep.
"Again."
Jiwoo punched.
"Again."
Jiwoo breathed.
"Again."
Jiwoo circulated force control until his core ached.
"Again."
Jiwoo learned that "rest" did not mean stop training.
It meant sit down and practice circulation.
"Sleep" also did not mean stop training.
It meant lie down while maintaining a slow, stable flow of awakened energy through his core.
The first time Jiwoo fell asleep and his force control collapsed, Kayden hit his forehead with one paw.
Jiwoo jolted awake.
"Ow—"
"You stopped."
"I was sleeping."
"Then sleep better."
Jiwoo blinked, half-delirious.
"Is that possible?"
"It is now."
Asuka, sitting nearby with tea, looked at Kayden.
"That is unreasonable."
Kayden pointed a paw at Jiwoo.
"He has four days."
"He also has a human body."
"So?"
Asuka stared.
Kayden stared back.
Jiwoo, caught between them, tried to keep his force control moving while also not falling asleep again.
He failed.
Kayden bonked him awake.
Again.
By the second day, Jiwoo had learned to maintain a faint circulation even while dozing.
By the third, he could hold it for nearly an hour before his rhythm wavered.
By the fourth, Kayden looked almost satisfied.
Almost.
"That was not terrible."
Jiwoo, face-down on a cushion, murmured, "Thank you…"
Bonk.
"Don't thank me while half-dead."
"Sorry…"
Bonk.
"And don't apologize."
Asuka quietly slid a pillow beneath Jiwoo's head.
Kayden pretended not to notice.
Of course, Jiwoo stopped going to school during those days.
There was no avoiding it.
Even if his leg healed faster than normal because of Asuka's careful work, he was still injured, exhausted, and training until he forgot what time was.
Shinhwa noticed.
Asuka saw that too.
She saw Inhyuk Gu looking at Jiwoo's empty seat reports with concern.
Saw him checking his phone after multiple unanswered calls.
Saw him wondering whether Jiwoo had become afraid.
Saw him imagining Jiwoo hiding in his apartment, shaken by betrayal because Inhyuk had promised support, only for Jisuk Yoo to confront him and force him into a fight.
Asuka also saw Jisuk.
Specifically, Jisuk rubbing his shoulder during a Shinhwa sparring session with a deeply aggrieved expression.
Jiyoung Yoo stood across from him, calm and elegant.
Jisuk looked like a boy who had recently discovered that having an older sister who was a top ranker was less a privilege and more a recurring natural disaster.
Asuka smiled a little.
Only a little.
Then she turned off her phone.
Deliberately.
Jiwoo's phone was already off, though not deliberately in the same way.
He had turned it off during training and completely forgotten it existed.
Kayden approved of that part.
"Good. Distractions are useless."
"Mr. Kayden, what if someone calls?"
"Then they can wait."
"What if it's important?"
"They can wait importantly."
Asuka did not argue.
She had already seen who would come.
The doorbell rang while Jiwoo was resting.
Resting, in Kayden's language, meant lying on the couch with his eyes closed while force control moved faintly through his core.
Jiwoo opened one eye.
The cats lifted their heads.
Kayden, lounging on the corner of the couch with one foreleg propped against the armrest like a tiny arrogant monarch, did not move.
Asuka sat nearby with her eyes covered in bandages again.
Her phone remained off beside her.
Jiwoo carefully sat up.
"I'll get it."
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
"Maintain circulation."
"I am."
"You slowed."
Jiwoo focused.
The rhythm steadied.
Kayden looked marginally less offended.
Jiwoo limped to the door and opened it.
Inhyuk Gu stood outside.
His expression was more serious than before, and beneath that seriousness was open worry.
"Jiwoo."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Mr. Inhyuk?"
Inhyuk's gaze immediately dropped to his leg, then to the faint bruising still visible near his wrist, then to the exhaustion under his eyes.
His concern deepened.
"I'm sorry for coming without warning."
Jiwoo stepped back.
"No, it's okay. Please come in."
Inhyuk entered.
Then paused.
Again.
Because of the cats.
Again.
There were somehow more of them in view this time, though the number had not changed.
The black cat sat on the table.
The tabby was on the windowsill.
The black-and-white cat peered from behind Jiwoo's blanket.
The grey scarred cat rested near Asuka's side.
And Kayden remained on the couch, silent, round, orange, and menacing.
Inhyuk's eyes lingered on him for half a second too long.
Kayden's stare sharpened.
Inhyuk looked away.
Good.
Jiwoo led him to sit.
Asuka remained quiet, bandaged eyes turned faintly toward them.
Inhyuk bowed his head.
"I came to apologize."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Apologize?"
"Yes." Inhyuk's hands tightened slightly on his knees. "I had no idea Jisuk would go and pick a fight with you."
Jiwoo stiffened.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Asuka's mouth remained neutral, though she already knew every word before he said it.
Inhyuk continued, voice earnest.
"I was very worried, so I stopped by to see if you were alright. I tried calling several times, but your phone was off. Your sister's as well."
Jiwoo blinked.
Then slowly remembered.
"Oh."
He had turned his phone off and absolutely forgotten about it.
Asuka, meanwhile, had no such excuse.
She sat serenely with her phone purposely powered down beside her.
Inhyuk glanced at Jiwoo's exhausted face.
He had dark circles.
His shoulders looked sore.
His leg was still not fully healed.
His posture carried fatigue so deep that Inhyuk wondered if he had been sleeping at all.
It was good that he came.
The boy might be more shaken than he was willing to admit.
Asuka's shoulders almost moved.
Almost.
She could see the misunderstanding unfolding so clearly it was difficult not to find it amusing.
Inhyuk took a breath.
"I understand that I told you we would protect you. Then one of our members confronted you and forced you into a spar. I'm sure the feeling of betrayal caused you to avoid my calls."
Jiwoo stared.
Kayden stared.
Asuka's head lowered slightly.
Jiwoo's thoughts screeched to a halt.
Betrayal?
Avoid his calls?
He had only wanted to focus on training.
Also, he had forgotten his phone existed.
Jiwoo smiled awkwardly.
"Um…"
Inhyuk pressed on, clearly determined to apologize properly.
"I heard what happened by Jisuk Yoo himself."
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"Jisuk…"
"He is the younger brother of our chairwoman, Jiyoung Yoo."
Kayden's eyes sharpened slightly.
Jiyoung Yoo.
So the white-haired brat was her brother.
That explained the wind.
That also explained the arrogance.
Inhyuk continued, "Chairwoman Jiyoung Yoo is well known in the awakened world. Jisuk is her younger brother, but he is also very talented. He has been trained from a young age and has been recognized by many awakeners for his ability."
Jiwoo listened closely.
"That might be why he has been causing trouble lately," Inhyuk said with visible embarrassment. "We thought he would behave himself since the chairwoman has been watching him closely, but to think he still went and did something like this…"
Jiwoo nodded slowly.
"Ah. I see."
Kayden sat silently in the corner of the couch.
He could not speak.
Not with Inhyuk here.
Not if he wanted to remain hidden.
But his entire posture radiated offense on Jiwoo's behalf.
The way his front leg rested against the couch arm looked almost like a person leaning back while judging everyone in the room.
Inhyuk tried not to look at him.
Failed.
Looked back at Jiwoo.
"What Jisuk did was not authorized by our group. Please accept our sincerest apology."
He bowed his head again.
"The chairwoman was especially unhappy about this and personally punished Jisuk for it. He won't bother you again."
Jiwoo went quiet.
Inhyuk's chest tightened.
He expected anger.
Or distrust.
Or maybe a quiet refusal.
Instead, Jiwoo looked up with sudden concern.
"Does that mean I can't fight him again?"
Inhyuk froze.
Kayden froze.
Asuka did not, because she had seen this too, but the corner of her mouth softened.
Inhyuk stared.
"What?"
Jiwoo blinked, startled by his reaction.
"Jisuk said we would have another battle after my leg healed."
Inhyuk's expression went blank for one rare moment.
"Are you telling me you want to challenge him again?"
Jiwoo nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Silence.
Inhyuk studied him carefully.
Was this teenage pride?
Embarrassment from losing?
A desire to prove himself?
Jiwoo did not look angry.
Not exactly.
He looked nervous, yes.
But determined.
Inhyuk chose his words gently.
"I understand what you're asking, but what you're requesting may be difficult."
Jiwoo listened.
"Jisuk is strong," Inhyuk said. "I'm not saying this only because he is the chairwoman's brother. He has trained since he was young and has been acknowledged by many awakeners. There are very few people as strong as him at his age."
Jiwoo's fingers tightened slightly.
"That is why you shouldn't be too upset about losing to him."
Kayden listened silently.
Inhyuk was not wrong.
For normal standards, Jisuk Yoo was talented.
Very talented.
Among young awakeners, he was impressive.
If not for Asuka.
Kayden's gaze drifted toward her.
Asuka sat quietly with her eyes covered, hands folded neatly in her lap, looking like the gentle child Inhyuk clearly thought she was.
Gentle.
Yes.
Child.
Technically.
But beneath that calm exterior was a monster of a different order.
Her power surpassed Jisuk without question.
Likely Inhyuk too.
Maybe even Jiyoung Yoo.
No.
Kayden's eyes narrowed faintly.
Not maybe.
Probably.
Asuka was fifteen and already carried impossible force control, space manipulation, time manipulation, healing, future sight, and the ability to analyze and reproduce awakened energy structures after seeing them once.
Kayden had not seen her true limits.
That was the disturbing part.
He did not know how deep her power went.
A top hundred world ranker?
Maybe.
Eventually?
Definitely.
And the most irritating thought of all slithered into his mind.
Even if he fully recovered, even if he returned to his peak, he was not certain he could defeat Asuka Seo if she stopped holding back.
Kayden's eye twitched.
Overpowered.
Ridiculous.
Technically his apprentice.
Even though she barely needed guidance.
Still his.
He decided that part mattered.
Inhyuk was still speaking.
"The best thing for you may be to avoid another confrontation with him for now."
Jiwoo shook his head.
"That isn't why I want a rematch."
Inhyuk paused.
Jiwoo looked down at his hands.
"I'm not asking because I'm upset that I lost. I mean, I am upset, but…"
He took a breath.
"I want to test myself. I want to see how strong I am. And how much stronger I can get."
Inhyuk stared.
Kayden's eyes widened slightly.
Then narrowed in approval.
There it was.
Not arrogance.
Not revenge.
Not wounded pride.
A real awakened instinct.
The desire to measure oneself.
To stand again after loss.
To use defeat as a marker, not an ending.
Kayden smirked internally.
Good.
Inhyuk's expression softened.
"I understand."
Jiwoo looked up.
Inhyuk nodded once.
"I'll arrange a time and place for you to have a rematch with Jisuk."
Jiwoo's face lit up.
"Really?"
"Yes. Contact me when you're ready."
Jiwoo bowed slightly, still seated.
"Thank you, Mr. Inhyuk."
Inhyuk smiled.
"You're welcome."
He had been mistaken.
He had thought Jiwoo might be frightened. That being pushed into the awakened world so suddenly would make him retreat and hide.
But Jiwoo Seo was already stepping forward.
Clumsily.
Innocently.
Earnestly.
But forward.
Ready to live as an awakener.
Inhyuk's gaze drifted briefly to Asuka.
The same could likely be said of her.
Though with Asuka, readiness felt different.
Quieter.
Older.
He still did not know what she could do, but her presence spoke clearly enough.
She did not feel like someone being dragged into the awakened world.
She felt like someone who had looked at it, understood the danger, and calmly decided where to stand.
Then Inhyuk's gaze drifted again.
To the couch.
To Kayden.
The fat orange cat had not moved.
He sat against the corner of the couch, one front leg propped like an arm, eyes sharp and deeply menacing.
His belly, however, was extremely round.
Soft-looking.
Jiggly.
Inhyuk's professionalism cracked.
Just a little.
Asuka's head tilted faintly.
She had seen this too.
Her shoulders started to shake.
Barely.
Kayden's eyes immediately snapped toward her.
Do not.
Asuka lowered her head.
Her shoulders shook again.
Kayden's stare sharpened into murder.
Inhyuk cleared his throat.
"Jiwoo."
"Yes?"
"I have one more question."
Jiwoo sat straighter.
"Of course."
Inhyuk's ears turned faintly red.
"May I…"
He hesitated.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Inhyuk looked at the orange cat.
Then at Jiwoo.
Then back at the orange cat.
"May I rub his belly?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Jiwoo stared.
Kayden stared.
Asuka covered her mouth with one hand.
Inhyuk flushed harder.
"I'm sorry. I know this is sudden. It's just…"
His eyes drifted helplessly toward Kayden's stomach.
"That round, jiggly tummy…"
Jiwoo's soul left his body.
Kayden's did too, but in a more violent direction.
Inhyuk looked almost pained.
"I really want to rub it."
Kayden did not speak.
He could not speak.
He was a cat.
A normal cat.
A completely ordinary, fat orange cat who absolutely was not Kayden Break, famed destroyer of the awakened world.
So he sat there.
In silence.
Taking the humiliation.
His eyes slowly turned toward Asuka.
Asuka's shoulders were shaking now.
Harder.
She was not laughing out loud.
But only because she was fighting for her life.
Kayden glared.
Her bandaged eyes hid nothing.
Jiwoo, meanwhile, looked like he was trying to process whether refusing would be rude or whether allowing it would get him killed later.
"Um," Jiwoo said carefully. "He… doesn't really like belly rubs."
Inhyuk looked devastated.
"Oh."
Kayden's stare sharpened.
Good.
Suffer.
Inhyuk nodded quickly, trying to recover dignity.
"Of course. I understand. Cats have boundaries."
Kayden's expression said that Inhyuk was lucky cats had laws against murder.
Asuka made a tiny sound.
Kayden's head snapped toward her.
She immediately turned it into a cough.
Jiwoo looked between them with deep concern.
Inhyuk stood after a moment, still faintly flushed.
"Then I'll be going. Please contact me when you're ready for the rematch."
Jiwoo nodded.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for coming."
Inhyuk smiled warmly.
"And rest properly."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Oh. Yes."
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Rest?
What was that?
Inhyuk bowed once more and left.
The door closed.
The apartment remained silent for two full seconds.
Then Asuka finally broke.
Softly.
Quietly.
But unmistakably.
She laughed.
Kayden slowly turned his entire body toward her.
Jiwoo stiffened.
"Asuka," Kayden said, voice low and lethal now that Inhyuk was gone.
She tried to stop.
Failed.
"I apologize."
"No, you don't."
"No," she said, still laughing softly.
Jiwoo covered his mouth.
Kayden's eyes snapped toward him.
"Do not."
Jiwoo's shoulders shook.
Kayden stood on the couch, fur bristling.
"No one rubs my belly."
Jiwoo nodded rapidly.
"Of course."
"Ever."
"Yes."
"That includes you."
"I know."
"And her."
Asuka wiped one tiny tear from the corner of her eye.
"I had not intended to."
"You looked like you were considering it."
"I was imagining Inhyuk trying."
Kayden's face went blank.
Jiwoo made a strangled sound.
Kayden raised one paw.
"Training. Now."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"But Mr. Inhyuk said to rest—"
"Mr. Inhyuk wanted to rub my belly. His judgment is compromised."
Asuka laughed again.
Kayden leapt off the couch.
"Basement. Both of you."
Jiwoo grabbed his crutch, smiling despite himself.
"Yes, sir."
Asuka stood, still amused, and followed.
Kayden marched ahead with his tail high, dignity battered beyond repair.
But beneath the humiliation, beneath the irritation, beneath the absolute horror of nearly becoming Inhyuk Gu's belly-rub victim, one thing had settled firmly in him.
Jiwoo was ready.
Not strong enough.
Not skilled enough.
Not yet.
But ready.
And if Jisuk Yoo wanted a rematch, then Kayden Break would make sure the boy learned something too.
Never underestimate a newbie with the right teacher.
And never, under any circumstances, mention the belly.
----