The late July sun beat down on Noryangjin-dong, its relentless heat shimmering off the asphalt as Jang Taesan trudged toward school, his frayed backpack heavy with textbooks and the notebook that held his future plans. The air was thick with the scent of grilled squid from street vendors and the distant hum of summer cicadas, a pulse that matched the fire burning in his chest. It was his nineteenth day back in 2008, and the seeds of change he'd planted—coins from tutoring and market gigs, strength from Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy, alliances with Han Do-jin and Noah Park—were taking root. His stand against Min-soo Kang had shifted the school's dynamics, earning him respect but also new enemies. The tide was turning, but Taesan knew the current could shift again, and the weight of his future knowledge, Sophie Leclerc's scrutiny, and the mystery of his rebirth after saving Emma Kim pressed harder than ever.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Lotte Milkis, or hurrying 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"—lingered like a challenge he couldn't yet answer. 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 puzzle with no clear solution.
In math class, Taesan tackled a set of logarithmic equations with a precision that left Mr. Lim shaking his head in quiet awe. "Jang, you're making this look too easy," the teacher said, a rare smile breaking through his stern facade. 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 jjajangmyeon, the air thick with the scent of black bean sauce and fried dumplings. Taesan sat alone, his notebook open to a new page: a detailed plan to streamline his income streams. The 10,000 won from yesterday's bookstore job and the 15,000 won from Ji-woo's math session 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 a schedule for three new tutoring clients 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 myth 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 and a new student, a shy middle schooler named Soo-jin, struggling with algebra. The cramped space smelled of instant coffee and old books, and Taesan guided them through equations with a patience drawn from his past life's struggles. Soo-jin's hesitant smile as she solved a problem was a small victory, and the 20,000 won from the session felt like gold—a step toward his empire. As he left the café, he caught sight of Min-soo'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 turn 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 front kick, his form sharper, the movement flowing from his core. "Jang! Good! Now add speed!" 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 roots of his ambition deepening. 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 roots are set. Now I build the tree.