The late July heat clung to Noryangjin-dong like a second skin, the air thick with the scent of roasting chestnuts and the hum of cicadas as Jang Taesan trudged toward school. His frayed backpack, stuffed with textbooks and his notebook of future plans, bounced against his shoulder, a constant reminder of the empire he was building—coin by coin, kick by kick, answer by answer. It was his twenty-first day back in 2008, and the fire of his second chance burned fierce, 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 was branching, but a shadow of doubt crept in, whispering questions about the cost of his ambition and the limits of his knowledge.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Hite soda, 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"*—echoed like a puzzle he couldn't yet 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, sowing seeds of doubt. *What if I can't change everything? What if I fail again?*
In Korean literature class, Taesan analyzed a passage from *The Cloud Dream of the Nine* with a depth that left Ms. Lee blinking in surprise, her pen pausing mid-note. "Jang, you're turning into a scholar," she said, her tone a mix of awe and curiosity. Whispers spread among his classmates, and Sophie, seated by the window, 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, feeding his doubt. His brilliance was rewriting his reputation, but every step into the spotlight made him question how long he could keep his secrets hidden.
At lunch, the cafeteria pulsed with noise—students shouting over trays of kalguksu, the air thick with the scent of noodle broth and garlic. Taesan sat alone, his notebook open to a new page: a refined plan to balance his tutoring, market gigs, and studies. The 25,000 won from yesterday's tutoring session with Ji-woo, Soo-jin, and Min-ho was a step toward his savings account, which he'd use to seize opportunities like Samsung's smartphone surge and Kakao's rise. But as he jotted down a schedule, the shadow of doubt crept in—could he really pull this off? The markets were volatile, and his teenage self was still limited by age and resources. He pushed the thought down, but it lingered.
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," he 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 invisible." 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. But Do-jin's carefree grin stirred the doubt—what if he couldn't save him? What if his knowledge wasn't enough?
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. You look… I don't know, tense."
Taesan met his gaze, the weight of his knowledge pressing hard. "I'm fine," he said, his voice steady but tinged with strain. "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, and the fear of failing.
Do-jin nodded, clapping his shoulder. "You're a beast, man. Just don't burn out, yeah? 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 Min-ho, guiding them through algebra and geometry with a patience drawn from his past life's struggles. The cramped space smelled of instant coffee and old books, and Min-ho's hesitant smile as he solved a problem was a small victory. The 25,000 won from the session felt like gold—a step toward his empire. But as he left the café, the shadow of doubt crept in again. Min-soo's cronies, Ji-hoon and Dong-min, were nowhere in sight, but their absence felt like a trap, a reminder that the bully's silence was temporary.
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 roundhouse kick, his form sharper, the movement flowing from his core. "Jang! Good! Now add power!" 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.* But the doubt whispered: *What if I'm wrong about him? What if I can't build the alliances I need?*
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, and the shadow of doubt lingered, questioning his limits.
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, pushing the doubt aside. "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 shadow of doubt lingering. Min-soo's silence, 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. But the doubt whispered: *Can you really do this? Can you change it all?*
He clenched his fists, his lips curling into a determined grin. *The shadow's there, but I'll outshine it. This is my path, and I'm walking it.*