The late July heat draped Noryangjin-dong in a stifling embrace, the air thick with the scent of sizzling fish cakes and the relentless drone of cicadas as Jang Taesan trudged toward school. His frayed backpack, heavy with textbooks and his notebook of future plans, bounced against his shoulder, a tangible link to the empire he was building—coin by coin, kick by kick, answer by answer. It was his twenty-second day back in 2008, and the fire of his second chance blazed fiercer than ever, 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 shadow of doubt had crept in yesterday, whispering questions about his limits, but today, a spark of resolve burned it away.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Vita 500, 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 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 that fueled both doubt and determination.
In English class, Taesan tackled a reading comprehension quiz with a precision that left Ms. Cho blinking in surprise, her usual skepticism replaced by a nod of approval. "Jang, you're raising the bar," she said, her tone tinged with curiosity. 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. The doubt lingered—*Can I keep this up?*—but he crushed it with resolve. He *would* keep it up.
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 refined plan to optimize his tutoring and market gigs. 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. He was jotting down a schedule for a new 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 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. But Do-jin's grin sparked his resolve—he *would* save him.
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, driven."
Taesan met his gaze, the weight of his knowledge pressing hard but igniting his resolve. "I'm fine," he said, his voice steady. "Just got a lot to prove." Do-jin's faith was a spark, and Taesan wouldn't let it flicker out. The doubt from yesterday—*What if I fail?*—was drowned by the fire in his chest.
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 Soo-jin's shy smile as she solved a problem was a small victory. The 25,000 won from the session felt like gold—a step toward his empire. As he left the café, he scanned the street for Min-soo's cronies, but the absence of Ji-hoon and Dong-min felt like a trap, a reminder that the bully's silence was temporary. His resolve hardened—he'd be ready when they came.
At *Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy* that evening, Taesan channeled his energy 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.* The doubt from yesterday—*What if I'm wrong about him?*—was silenced by the spark of resolve.
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. The doubt faded, replaced by the fire of resolve—he was stronger than he'd been, and he'd only get stronger.
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, his resolve burning bright. "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 spark of resolve burning away the shadow of doubt. 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.
He clenched his fists, his lips curling into a determined grin. *The doubt is gone. The fire's lit, and I'm charging forward.*