Legacy High

That night, Ji-hoon Park lay on his bed, staring up at the old ceiling of their apartment. The laughter from Mira's birthday still echoed slowly in his ears. For the first time in a long while, the house had felt like a home — warm, full of smiles, filled with love.

His mother's surprise return had changed everything. She had cooked their favorite meals, hugged them tightly, and whispered how much she missed them. Ji-hoon still couldn't believe it. Approximately 8 months, they had only spoken to her through short phone calls. And now she was here, smiling as if she had never left.

But one moment from that night kept playing in his mind.

> "Jaesung High School," he had said quietly.

He remembered the way her smile froze for a second. The sudden silence. And then her voice — soft, almost too calm.

> "Do whatever you want… I never try to change your decision."

Ji-hoon had nodded, but deep down, he knew. His mother wasn't okay with it. She had accepted it not because she wanted to… but because she believed.

Believed in what?

She still thought his older brother would return.

His brother had once walked the halls of Jaesung High. And then… disappeared. No one spoke of it. No one explained. It was as if he had vanished without a trace. Only their mother never gave up hope.

Ji-hoon sat up on his bed and looked at the picture on the shelf — all of them together, years ago, when life was better. When their family was whole.

"I'll find out what happened," he whispered to himself. "No matter what."

The next morning, Ji-hoon left the house early. The city streets were quiet, the sky gray. He walked slowly, lost in thought. The school wasn't far, but it felt like a long journey.

> "South Jaesung High isn't ruled by anyone…"

He remembered that in the restaurant that 2 man said that he united the the jaesung high school and he rules the whole high school and Yujin had told him. The South branch was different — full of chaos, students fighting for control. Unlike the North branch, which was united and powerful, the South was unstable. And in the Top hallway that man said that he was coming for south jeasung high.

Rumors said Kang Dae-hyun — the mysterious figure who had already united the North — might be coming for the South next. People whispered his name like a warning, like a storm that was slowly approaching.

Ji-hoon reached the school gates and paused. The building stood tall and clean, but something about it felt cold. The silence was heavy. There was no laughter, no sense of normal school life. It was like walking into a place where everyone was pretending to be normal but behind the walls, something else was happening.

He walked inside, glancing around. Students passed by, some in groups, others alone. Most faces looked distant, careful, alert. Ji-hoon noticed that people kept their conversations short. Their eyes watched everything. As if everyone was waiting for something.

He went to his locker and opened it. A small folded note was tucked between his books. He opened it slowly.

> "You are being watched. Stay away from the third floor."

There was no name, no handwriting he recognized. Just those words.

Ji-hoon read it twice. His fingers fold paper slowly, and he slipped it into his pocket.

> "I won't be scared," he told himself.

Later that day, during lunch break, Ji-hoon went up to the school terrace. The cold wind hit his face as he leaned on the railing. From here, the city seemed peaceful. But inside this school, things were different.

He thought about the strange silence in the halls… the way students avoided talking too much… and the locked third floor he had passed the other day.

Why was the third floor off-limits?

Why did everyone act like they knew something but said nothing?

Just then, a voice came from behind him.

> "You're not like the others, are you?"

Ji-hoon turned. A tall student stood there, someone he hadn't seen before. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp and his hairs are red.

"I'm just here to study," Ji-hoon replied without expression.

The student gave a quiet laugh. "That's what we all said… at first."

He didn't say anything more. He just walked past Ji-hoon and disappeared down the stairs.

Ji-hoon stayed there a while longer, letting the cold air clear his head.

> "This school…" he whispered. "It's not normal."

> "There are secrets. People hiding the truth."

> "Something happened to my brother here."

And now, it was Ji-hoon's turn to find out what it was.

He looked up at the sky.

> "No one rules the South yet. But someone will."

And when the time comes… I'll be ready.

To Be Continued…