It started small—an email here, a message there.
Then suddenly, UniTrade wasn't just a college app anymore. It was everywhere.
Students from other universities joined. Small businesses started listing items. Even a few professors contacted us about official partnerships.
The numbers on Min-jun's screen looked unreal. "We just hit fifty thousand users," he said, eyes wide. "Fifty. Thousand."
I leaned over his shoulder, watching the graph climb like a rocket. "Guess people really needed this."
He laughed. "Needed you, more like."
I pretended not to hear that.
Nova's voice chimed in that night while I was walking home.
[You're doing well, Rin. Very well. But there's a pattern forming.]
"What kind of pattern?" I asked.
[People talk. And when people talk, power listens. You're making waves. Someone important will notice soon.]
I frowned. "That sounds like a threat."
[Not yet. Just a warning.]
Nova's tone was unusually serious. It sent a shiver down my spine.
Two days later, the first email arrived.
It wasn't from a student. It was from a company—HanTech Ventures, a well-known tech investment firm in Seoul.
They wanted a meeting.
They wanted me.
"Rin," Min-jun said, staring at the email on my screen. "This is huge. They invest in real companies. Are you sure we're ready for that?"
I wasn't. Not even close. But part of me was curious—if they were reaching out, maybe I was already playing in their world.
The meeting was set for Saturday.
It was held in a shiny glass building downtown, the kind of place that screamed money. A woman in a sleek black suit greeted me in the lobby.
"Mr. Hayashi, welcome. The director will see you now."
Inside, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes waited behind a mahogany desk. He gestured for me to sit.
"So," he began, "you're the one behind UniTrade. Impressive for someone so young."
"Thank you," I said quietly.
He leaned forward. "We've been watching your progress. I'll be direct—we want to invest. Or, better yet, buy your company outright."
I froze. "Buy it?"
"Yes. We'll handle everything—development, marketing, expansion. You'll make more money than you can imagine."
I nearly laughed at that last part. More money than I can imagine.
If only he knew.
Nova's voice whispered in my head.
[He's lying. They'll take your idea and bury your name. Walk away.]
I smiled politely and stood. "I appreciate the offer," I said. "But I'm not selling."
The director's smile vanished. "You might regret that decision, Mr. Hayashi."
"Maybe," I said. "But I'll take the risk."
Outside, the air felt cleaner somehow. I walked down the street, hands in my pockets, and Nova spoke again.
[That was bold.]
"I'm done letting people decide what I should do," I said.
[Good. Because they're not the only ones watching now.]
I stopped walking. "What do you mean?"
[You'll see soon enough.]
The words hung in my mind as I glanced up at the Seoul skyline—bright, endless, full of possibilities.
Something was coming. Something big.
And for the first time, I didn't feel afraid. I felt ready.