Unveiled Potential

Jiro strolled into school, still reeling from what happened the previous night. The beating by Hyun-Seok's thugs was nothing to play around with, and he was quite battered: his knuckles hurt, and his muscles throbbed in several areas.

The hallway buzzed with its usual chatter, but this time, it seemed different. Conversations hushed as he passed by, and eyes darted away when he glanced at them.

Jin met him near his locker, his expression unusually serious. "Hey, you okay?"

"Fine," Jiro replied curtly, twisting the combination on his locker.

Don't 'fine' me," Jin snapped, crossing his arms. "Word's already out about what happened last night. Hyun-Seok's thugs didn't exactly keep quiet after you laid them out."

Jiro let out a heavy sigh and slammed his locker shut. "What else is new?"

"Well," Jin said softly, "you've got the Council's attention now, for real. Min-Jae's probably already planning his next move.

Jiro leaned against the lockers to process it all. For the first time, the term Council didn't feel quite so mythical. It felt real, pressing against him.

"Let them plan," Jiro said after a moment. "I am not going to stop moving just because someone is watching."

Inside the council room that sat apart in secrecy, Jiro's latest moves had been under discussion. Min-Jae was at the head of the table; calm and peaceful but storms raged within him.

"This Jiro Han is a menace already," said Min-Jae. His sharp gaze was fixed all around the room, as he went on. "Hyun-Seok might have fallen with his efforts, but the brawl at night indicates this chap's no one-time freak occurrence.

The silver-haired girl, Eun-Soo, leaned forward, gazing intently at Min-Jae. "Do we consider him a threat or an opportunity?"

"A little of both," Min-Jae responded. "He's strong, no doubt about it. But strength is not enough. If we can't make him subordinate to us, we need to eliminate him.

A boy with a wiry frame and glasses, Sun-Woo adjusted his frames thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should test him first. See what he's really capable of."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Eun-Soo asked.

"Simple," Sun-Woo said, smirking. "We dangle bait in front of him and see how he reacts.

Min-Jae nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Do it. Let's see if this Jiro Han is truly worth our time."

During lunch, Jiro found an envelope slipped into his bag. He frowned as he opened it, scanning the neat handwriting inside:

"Jiro Han, your presence is requested at the East Courtyard after school. Come alone. – Min-Jae

Jiro's first instinct was to crumple the note and toss it, but something about it made him pause. The Council, he thought, his grip tightening on the paper. So, they've finally decided to make their move.

"Looks like you've got a fan club," Jin remarked, peering over Jiro's shoulder.

"It's not a fan club," Jiro muttered, folding the note and slipping it into his pocket.

Jin's face clouded. "Watch yourself, man. If the Council's pulling you in, it's not to sit down and have a beer."

"I know," Jiro said calmly. "But I can't just ignore them, too."

Once the final bell rang, Jiro walked out to the East Courtyard. The space was eerily silent, as if everyone had somehow decided to disappear.

In the center of the courtyard stood three figures: Min-Jae, Eun-Soo, and Sun-Woo. Their presence alone was enough to command attention, but it was their composed, almost regal demeanor that set them apart. "Jiro Han," Min-Jae greeted, his voice smooth and confident. "Thank you for coming." "I didn't think I had much of a choice," Jiro replied, keeping his tone neutral.

Eun-Soo smirked, crossing her arms. "Clever. At least you know when to listen."

Sun-Woo stepped forward, his glasses adjusted. "We've been watching you, Jiro. You've been causing quite a stir lately."

"And?" Jiro asked, darting his eyes between them.

Min-Jae advanced, his eyes glinting. "We want to know if you're all that they say you are. Easy test. If you pass, we'll respect you. If not."

"You'll wish you'd never come," Eun-Soo completed with a grin.

Jiro's fists clenched at his sides. "Good. What's the test?"

Sun-Woo pointed to the far end of the courtyard, where a group of students emerged from the shadows. Each one looked tough, their faces cold and unyielding.

"You'll fight them," Sun-Woo explained. "All of them. If you can hold your own, we'll consider this meeting a success."

Jiro's eyes narrowed. "And if I don't?

"Then you'll know exactly why we're at the top," Min-Jae said, his tone casual but laced with warning.

Jiro stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. "Let's get this over with."

The first opponent rushed at him, a wiry boy with quick footwork. Jiro dodged the initial punch, countering with a swift elbow to the ribs that left the boy gasping for air.

Even as Jiro's defense readied to recover, two other assailants rushed in. The Perception Field buzzed, alerting him to the incoming strike. He dodged with fluid movements, striking first an incoming kick aimed at one's knee, then a punch at another's jaw. Both collapsed.

The crowd fell quiet as Jiro continued disassembling his opponents methodically. His movements had become fluid, and every strike was precise.

By the time the last opponent hit the ground, Jiro was breathing heavily, his body glistening with sweat. He turned to face the Council, his expression defiant.

"Well?" he asked, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.

Min-Jae clapped slowly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Impressive. You're not just strong—you're disciplined. That's rare."

Eun-Soo nodded, her smirk replaced with a more neutral expression. "You've earned our attention, Jiro Han. But don't get cocky. This was just the first step."

Sun-Woo adjusted his glasses, his gaze thoughtful. "We'll be in touch. For now, consider yourself. on probation."

As the Council turned to leave, Min-Jae glanced over his shoulder. "Be careful, Jiro. The higher you climb, the further you have to fall."

As Jiro walked home that evening, he couldn't shake the feeling that the ground beneath him was shifting. The Council had acknowledged him, but their intentions were far from clear.

He knew one thing for sure: this wasn't about fights anymore. The stakes were rising, and the game was getting deadlier day after day.

But Jiro wasn't one to back down. If they wanted to test him, he'd show them exactly what he was made of.