The late July heat pressed down on Noryangjin-dong, the air thick with the scent of sizzling street food and the drone of cicadas as Jang Taesan made his way to school. His frayed backpack, heavy with textbooks and his notebook of future plans, bounced against his shoulder, a reminder of the empire he was building—coin by coin, kick by kick, answer by answer. It was his twentieth day back in 2008, and the fire of his second chance roared within him, fueled by the roots of his ambition: the growing savings from tutoring and market gigs, the strength hardening in his body at Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy, and the alliances with Han Do-jin and Noah Park. His stand against Min-soo Kang had shifted the school's dynamics, earning him respect but also new pressures—Min-soo's lingering menace, Sophie Leclerc's relentless scrutiny, and the mystery of his rebirth after saving Emma Kim. The path ahead was branching, and Taesan knew every choice would shape his destiny.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Pocari Sweat, or rushing to cram schools. Taesan's eyes swept the crowd, alert for Min-soo or his cronies, Ji-hoon and Dong-min, whose lurking presence had become a constant shadow. The bully's silence since the alley clash, amplified by Sophie's intervention, was a coiled threat, and her warning—"You're hiding something big"—echoed like a puzzle he wasn't ready to solve. His plan—acing the CSAT, building wealth from the 2008 market crash's aftermath, forging alliances—was gaining momentum, but the mystery of his return gnawed at him, a question with no clear answer.
In science class, Taesan tackled a physics problem on projectile motion with a precision that left Mr. Kim blinking in surprise. "Jang, you're making this look effortless," the teacher said, adjusting his glasses with a rare smile. Whispers spread among his classmates, and Sophie, seated near the front, shot him a glance—her eyes sharp, her pencil pausing as if she were dissecting his every move. Taesan kept his expression neutral, but her scrutiny was a growing pressure. His brilliance was rewriting his reputation, but every step into the spotlight made him a bigger target.
At lunch, the cafeteria pulsed with noise—students shouting over trays of bibimbap, the air thick with the scent of gochujang and sesame oil. Taesan sat alone, his notebook open to a new page: a plan to diversify his income streams. The 20,000 won from yesterday's tutoring session with Ji-woo and Soo-jin, plus the 12,000 won from the bookstore job, were seeds for his savings account, which he'd use to seize opportunities like Samsung's smartphone surge and Kakao's rise. He was jotting down ideas for a weekend gig at a local PC bang when Han Do-jin slid into the seat across from him, his tie a mess, a stolen piece of Taesan's kimbap in his hand.
"Yo, Taesan, you're basically a legend now," Do-jin said, grinning as he chewed. "Min-soo's been quiet, but everyone's talking about you. You're, like, the king of Noryangjin High."
Taesan closed his notebook, forcing a smirk. "Not a king, man. Just done being a nobody." The sight of Do-jin, alive and oblivious to the car crash that loomed in his future, was a bittersweet ache. Taesan couldn't tell him about the time-travel, the markets, or the vow to save him. Not yet.
Do-jin leaned forward, his grin softening into concern. "For real, though, you okay? You're pushing yourself hard—school, that dojang, whatever you're scribbling in that notebook. Don't burn out, yeah?"
Taesan met his gaze, the weight of his knowledge pressing hard. "I'm fine," he said, his voice steady. "Just got a lot to prove." Do-jin's faith was a spark, but it came with a weight—the pressure to protect him, to rewrite his fate.
Do-jin nodded, clapping his shoulder. "You're a beast, man. Just don't forget to chill sometimes. Let's kick the ball around later, okay?"
Taesan laughed, the sound easing the tension in his chest. "Deal. But you're buying the soda when we're rich."
After school, Taesan headed to a small tutoring session at a café near the market, where he met Ji-woo, Soo-jin, and a new student, a quiet middle schooler named Min-ho, struggling with geometry. The cramped space smelled of instant coffee and old books, and Taesan guided them through angles and proofs with a patience drawn from his past life's struggles. Min-ho's hesitant nod as he grasped a concept was a small victory, and the 25,000 won from the session felt like gold—a step toward his empire. As he left the café, he caught sight of Min-soo Kang's cronies, Ji-hoon and Dong-min, lurking across the street, their eyes tracking him. No Min-soo, but their presence was a warning, a reminder that the tide could shift again.
At Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy that evening, Taesan channeled his unease into training, the dojang's thwack of kicks and shouts of effort a release for his tension. Master Choi's voice boomed as Taesan practiced a taekwondo side kick, his form sharper, the movement flowing from his core. "Jang! Good! Now add precision!" Choi barked, his stern face betraying a flicker of pride.
Across the mat, Noah Park worked through a hapkido joint lock, his lanky frame steadier, his focus razor-sharp. Taesan caught his eye, offering a nod, and Noah returned it, their bond growing stronger with each session. Taesan's mind flashed to Noah's future—a tech titan who'd reshape industries. He's not there yet, but he's mine to guide.
Choi paired Taesan with Hye-jun for sparring, the wiry senior grinning as they squared off. "Heard you're a legend now, Jang," Hye-jun teased, lunging with a quick jab. "Let's see if you fight like one."
Taesan blocked, his reflexes honed by weeks of drills, and countered with a side kick that caught Hye-jun's ribs, earning a surprised grunt. "Not bad," Hye-jun said, rubbing his side with a grin. The spar continued, each move a testament to Taesan's growing strength, though the bruise on his shoulder ached with every block.
As the session ended, Noah approached, wiping his brow. "People are saying you're untouchable now," he said, his shy smile tinged with awe. "Standing up to Min-soo like that… it's inspiring."
Taesan grinned, slinging his towel over his shoulder. "He's not done yet, Noah. But neither am I. You're getting tougher too—keep it up, and you'll be unstoppable."
Noah's eyes lit up, a flicker of confidence breaking through. "Thanks, man. Feels good to have someone pushing me."
Choi's voice cut through. "Jang! Park! Save the hero talk for after class!" They bowed, sharing a quick laugh, and Taesan felt the pieces of his plan solidifying—Do-jin's trust, Noah's potential, Choi's guidance, the coins in his pocket.
Walking home under Noryangjin's neon glow, the stars faint against the city's electric haze, Taesan felt the branching path ahead. Min-soo's cronies, Sophie's scrutiny, the mystery of his return—they were challenges he'd face head-on. The coins in his pocket, the strength in his body, the alliances he was forging—they were the foundation of something unstoppable.
He clenched his fists, his lips curling into a determined grin. The path is branching, and I'll choose the one that leads to the top.