….
After finishing their coffee, Jin-Ho and Jin-Hee verified their boarding passes and were about ready to head inside.
That was when a familiar voice rang out from behind.
They turned - and there stood Cha Hae-In, with Jin-Woo just a step behind her.
Jin-Hee's eyes flickered with curiosity, a mischievous thought bubbling up at the sight of the striking young woman beside her brother. But before she could tease him, Jin-Ho beat her to the punch.
"What are these two lovebirds doing here?"
The security guards moved in to block him, but Jin-Ho casually raised his hands, his grin not fading.
Behind him, Jin-Hee's voice chimed in, honey-sweet. "Go ahead, talk to your little lovebirds. But don't forget, I expect to meet your bird later. Don't keep me waiting, okay?"
Jin-Ho didn't even glance back. "Yeah, yeah."
He sauntered up to Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In, eyes sparkling with mischief. "So… on a date? You guys sure picked the most romantic place—"
Cha Hae-In's face turned pink, her eyes snapping wide. Before anyone could blink, her hand shot out and smack! - caught him square across the back.
"Shut it, Jin-Ho!"
"Uug, hey! That's assault! In public!" Jin-Ho groaned, dramatically rubbing his shoulder. "I could sue for emotional damage!"
A few passersby turned to stare; some whispered, others giggled.
"Can you two maybe… not?" Jin-Woo muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "You two are giving me secondhand embarrassment."
"Hey, don't lump me in with her." Jin-Ho said quickly.
Cha Hae-In glared. "Keep talking."
"…Never mind." Jin-Ho murmured.
….
The three of them talked for a few minutes - idle chatter, small jokes, and a few awkward silences - but soon the boarding announcement ringed over the speakers.
Jin-Ho glanced at the gate, then back at them.
"Alright, guess that's my cue." He paused, his expression shifting into something uncharacteristically serious. "Hey, Jin-Woo… take care of Cha Hae-In, okay? I mean that."
Jin-Woo blinked, momentarily thrown. Take care of her? The idea sounded absurd, an E-Rank protecting an A-Rank, but he didn't argue. He just gave a small, wordless nod.
"Anyway… if you ever need help, I already gave you my card. Just say your name - everything else will be handled."
Cha Hae-In crossed her arms, muttering just loud enough for them to hear. "As if he would ever ask. Jin-Woo's too stubborn for that."
"Hah, I know." Jin-Ho chuckled. "That's why I said if." Then his tone softened again, the joking edge fading. "Think of it as a deal. I help you now, someday you help me. Fair trade."
For once, he wasn't teasing.
He raised a hand in a loose wave, first to her, then to Jin-Woo. "Don't get yourself killed before I am back, alright?"
Cha Hae-In's lips curved faintly. "Little brother… just focus on studying. And don't cause trouble overseas."
The words caught him off guard. Little brother? He almost laughed, but instead just nodded.
"Trouble? Me?" He spread his hands, all mock innocence. "I am the definition of nobel student."
"Yeah, sure you are." Jin-Woo jabbed him.
With that he walked down the boarding lane without looking back.
The crowd swallowed him up, leaving only the echo of his cocky voice in Jin-Woo's memory.
For a while, the three, Jin-Woo, Cha Hae-In, and Jin-Hee, stood watching the gate, each caught in their own thoughts.
….
Soon, he joined his sister, both of them settling into their seats as the flight prepared for departure.
Jin-Ho leaned back in his chair, letting out a slow breath.
The reason for this journey?
The sudden school transfer?
Everything seemed tied to the new locket resting against his chest and the faint glow of the 'unfamiliar' window screen hovering before his eyes.
◤-----------------------◥
「INVENTRY:」
[-> Pan'ku Locket:]
•••
[[Portal 001] Location: Tokyo Bay, Japan
- Site: Courtyard, Castle Complex
- Status: IN-ACTIVE]
•••
[[Portal 002] Location: Los Angeles, California
- Site: Skid Row, Downtown LA
- Status: ACTIVE | Will be opened in: 2D, 12H, 45M
•••
[[Portal 003] Location: Hollywood, California, USA
- Site: Costume Department, Mega-galactic Studios
- Status: INACTIVE]
•••
[[Portal 004] Location: High Earth Orbit
- Site: [REDACTED ORBITAL INSTALLATION]
- Status: INACTIVE]
•••
[[Portal 005] Location: Countryside near Pamplona, Spain
- Site: Exterior, Abandoned Villa
- Status: INACTIVE]
•••
[[Portal 006] Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Site: Public Restroom Entrance, Fenway Park
- Status: INACTIVE]
•••
[[Portal 007] Location: Rome, Italy
- Site: Hypogeum, Colosseum Underground Chambers
- Status: INACTIVE]
•••
[[Portal 008] Location: Hong Kong, China
- Site: Front Gates, Moose World Theme Park
- Status: INACTIVE]
◣-----------------------◢
….
[Two days Later]
Private School, South of Boston - USA.
Jin-Ho had settled in within the first couple of days.
It was strange - high school life carried on as if nothing had changed, even in an age where Hunters with supernatural abilities walked among them.
Still, it made sense.
Only a tiny fraction of the population awakened as Hunters, and the government had clear reasons to keep the education system intact.
Most people still lived ordinary lives, after all.
So despite being an awakened Hunter, Jin-Ho moved through these halls like anyone else.
Being a Hunter didn't mean giving up school. Institutions generally gave awakened students some leeway - excused absences for training or evaluations, but unless they chose to go full-time, they remained students first.
But the real question lingered:
Did Jin-Ho enjoy this? Spending his days among teenagers while carrying the weight of far more than they could imagine?
Absolutely not.
Especially when he had to witness scenes like this–
"Heeh, where is this week's allowance, you pig?"
"I-I already gave everything I had…!"
Thud—!
"Look at this shithead. Thinks he can talk back now?"
"I didn't mean to… I apologize."
"Haha, listen to him squeal like a pig."
Three boys - a redhead, a blonde, and one with a greasy ponytail - circled a chubby kid like predators.
Normally, Jin-Ho wouldn't have cared. But - he recognized the boy.
On his first day here, Jin-Ho hadn't brought any change, and the boy had quietly lent him a few coins. Right, being too rich has its own problems.
Every time Jin-Ho tried to repay him, the boy vanished - absent one first class, back the next, gone again.
Jin-Ho didn't intervene at first. But the scene before him made him decide otherwise.
With a slow stride, he stepped toward the boy being bullied.
"What's your name again?
"Here. Take this." He dropped a stack of bills into the boy's palm. "Now I don't owe you anything."
Before anyone could process what he meant, Jin-Ho turned and started walking away.
The bullies exchanged glances, first confused, then irritated. One of them took a step forward, muttering, "Who the hell does he think he—"
Jin-Ho stopped, turned slowly.
He cracked his knuckles once, the sound sharp in the silence. "You want to go at it?"
Something in his tone wasn't bluffing, it was a quiet promise of violence. The kind that made even idiots think twice.
They froze.
Everyone in school had heard about a new transfer student from overseas, rumored to have a Hunter's license. The way Jin-Ho stood there - fit the rumor a little too well.
One of them tried to laugh it off. "You know using Hunter powers on civilians is a crime, right?"
Jin-Ho's expression didn't change. "Then I will make sure I don't need powers."
That did it.
They all took a step back. One muttered. "Freakin' psycho" under his breath before dragging his friends away.
As they disappeared down the hall, one of them shouted. "Don't think this is over, foreigner!"
Jin-Ho smirked faintly. "Sure, sure. I will be waiting."
He turned back to the chubby kid, who was still standing there, stunned, clutching the cash. "You alright?"
The boy nodded nervously. "Y-Yeah… but, um… I can't take this—"
"Then don't think of it as a debt paid. That's all."
Jin-Ho walked off before the kid could reply, hands in his pockets, the same lazy gait as before.
By the time the disciplinary officials came around asking about a commotion, it was already over.
….
As Jin-Ho walked back to his class, he muttered under his breath,
"...So tomorrow is the day."
He pulled up his System panel, eyes scanning the details.
◤-----------------------◥
[[Portal 002] Location: Los Angeles, California
- Site: Skid Row, Downtown LA
- Status: ACTIVE | Will be opened in: 0D, 12H, 30M]
◣-----------------------◢
….
.
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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