THE KING OF ONE HIGHSOOL HERO
Chapter 7: the war in the storm
Morning hits hard.
Ryan wakes up in class, still lying on Nia's lap, her fingers lazily brushing through his hair.
He blinks, sits up slow, stretching.
"You slept like a rock," Nia says.
"Yeah… long night," Ryan mutters.
Outside the classroom window, the sky is unusually gray.
Something feels… off.
---
In the Hallway
Students chat, couples flirt, clubs gather… normal school stuff.
But Ryan notices something strange:
Teachers whispering.
Security guards moving around.
More police outside the gate.
Ryan's eyes narrow.
He walks toward his locker, and as he opens it—
A folded note falls out.
He picks it up.
"We need to talk. Rooftop. — Jun."
Ryan sighs.
"Bruh, what now?"
---
Rooftop
Jun stands there, leaning on the fence.
No jokes.
No goofy smile.
Just him… quiet.
Ryan approaches.
"You good?" he asks.
Jun doesn't answer at first.
His knuckles are still bruised from the fight.
Then Jun says quietly:
"Ryan… something's wrong with me."
Ryan raises an eyebrow. "What you mean?"
Jun closes his eyes.
"When I was beating Beom… I felt nothing. No anger. No fear.
Just… like something else took over."
Ryan studies his face.
Jun's eyes look darker than usual… hollow even.
"…You didn't kill him though," Ryan says.
Jun scoffs. "Only cause you stopped me."
Ryan puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, we'll figure it out. Just don't go fight more people today. Chill out."
Jun nods, but he doesn't look convinced.
---
Back Inside the School
The bell rings.
Students flood the hallways.
As Ryan heads toward class, he spots something strange:
A tall Korean guy with long hair, black mask, and a leather jacket walking through the main doors.
Ryan doesn't recognize him.
But the way everyone freezes… the way the teachers step back…
Something's not right.
The masked guy stops, scans the hall, then locks eyes with Ryan.
Silence.
He lifts his head slightly.
"Ryan. Nice to finally meet you."
Ryan lifts an eyebrow.
"And you are?"
The guy tilts his head.
"They call me Jong-Min.
I'm here on behalf of the Union."
Ryan sighs.
"Man… another one?"
Jong-Min chuckles.
"Unlike Sung-Jay… I'm not here to test you."
Ryan steps forward. "Then what you here for?"
Jong-Min slowly pulls a photo from his jacket and hands it to him.
Ryan looks down—
And sees an image that makes his eyes widen:
A man with tattoos, metal teeth, and one missing eye.
The same guy we saw in the jail.
The same guy who beat everyone bloody.
On the back of the photo, a message:
"Coming for the schools.
Starting with yours."
Ryan stares at it.
Jong-Min leans in.
"That guy? We call him Gator.
He escaped last night."
Ryan's jaw tightens.
Jong-Min steps back.
"The Union's getting serious, Ryan.
And when Gator comes… your school is the first thing he'll hit."
Ryan folds the picture.
His expression turns cold.
"Let him come."
Behind them, the hallway feels like it's holding its breath.
---
Outside the School Gate
A black car stops.
A man steps out—
Metal teeth shining.
One dead eye staring straight ahead.
A smile stretching his face.
GATOR.
He cracks his neck and whispers:
"First stop… Choi High."
Chapter End
