Talk with Fist

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___________The sun hung low, casting long shadows across the schoolyard. The bell had rung not long ago, and the crowd of students slowly trickled out of the gate in clusters — some laughing, some grumbling about homework, and others moving like ghosts, heads low and earbuds in.

Hyunwoo walked alone.

His bag was slung over one shoulder, the wind brushing past his school uniform. He had kept quiet most of the day after that morning incident, tuning out the stares and whispers. He didn't care. He never did.

But just as he stepped past the front gate, someone stepped into his path.

A student he hadn't seen before. Older — maybe a third-year like him. Leaner build, but a cocky smirk played on his lips.

He had a group behind him. Four kids. Not uniformed. Outsiders.

Hyunwoo lingered by the gate, the buzz of the last school bell fading into the hum of the city. Just as he was about to head home, a voice cut through the noise.

"Hey. You're Hyunwoo Kim, right?"

He turned.

A boy with dyed ash-brown hair and an unbothered smirk approached. He had the posture of someone who didn't care about rules — the kind who caused trouble not because he had to, but because he enjoyed it.

Behind him, three others followed casually, like this was routine.

One of them, a tall guy with messy black hair and a perpetually bored expression, flicked a butterfly knife open and shut with practiced rhythm.

Another walked like a boulder with legs, broad shoulders swinging with each step. He yawned without covering his mouth. He looked more suited for a boxing ring than a school hallway.

And the last — a girl — stayed a few steps back, arms crossed. Her sharp gaze darted between everyone, but she said nothing. There was something calculating in the way she scanned the scene, like she was already five steps ahead.

Taegeun — that had to be the leader — finally stopped in front of Hyunwoo and grinned.

"You must be Hyunwoo Kim. I've been wanting to meet you."

Hyunwoo raised a brow. "Do I know you?"

"Not yet," Taegeun said. "Name's Yoon Taegeun. I used to run the underground sparring scene at Seongwon Middle. Then I heard a Kim joined Gangseo... after Gabryoung's funeral."

He cocked his head. "People say you're one of the sons. But no one's seen your face. Until now."

Hyunwoo stayed silent, eyes calmly assessing him.

Taegeun gestured behind him.

"That quiet guy flipping the knife — Min Dojin. Doesn't speak unless it's necessary. Fast as hell. No wasted movement."

Dojin gave a half-shrug, then sheathed the knife with a click.

"The gorilla beside him is Nam Jihwan. Don't bother arguing with him. Just move out of the way before he swings."

Jihwan scratched his head. "That's... fair."

"And her?" Taegeun nodded toward the girl. "That's Ha Yuri. Sharpest eyes I've ever seen. Quiet, sure — but she notices everything. Probably already read your stance."

Hyunwoo kept his expression unreadable.

"We call ourselves Side C," Taegeun continued. "Side A gets all the attention. The glory. We're not interested in that. We handle things in the shadows. The real way."

He took a step forward, eyes gleaming.

"I came to understand you, Hyunwoo. Fighting just happens to be the best way I know."

Hyunwoo let out a small breath, his eyes locking with Taegeun's. "You could've just introduced yourself like a normal person."

Taegeun laughed. "Where's the fun in that? Words lie. Fists don't."

For a moment, the wind picked up, rustling leaves and jackets.

Then Hyunwoo dropped his bag to the side.

"Fine," he said. "Let's be honest, then."

________

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the school courtyard. The court had mostly emptied, except for a small circle of students still lingering after class — drawn by the tension crackling in the air.

In the center, Taegeun rolled his shoulders, already loosening his limbs. He stood barefoot on the faded court lines, breathing steady. His stance was sharp, grounded — a blend of Kyokushin Karate and raw experience.

"Let's go," Taegeun muttered, eyes locked onto Hyunwoo. "I've been itching to see what the 'son of Gabryoung Kim' can really do."

Hyunwoo stood at the other end of the court, arms by his sides, calm as still water. He gave no reply. Just slid into a relaxed southpaw stance — elbows tight, chin low.

Dojin leaned on the fence nearby. Yuri crossed her arms, silent. Jihwan stood just behind Taegeun, clearly nervous.

Taegeun struck first.

A swift low kick to test distance — Hyunwoo stepped out with ease.

Then a jab — Hyunwoo parried, countered with a short hook that grazed Taegeun's cheek.

Taegeun smirked. "Not bad."

He launched forward again — a spinning heel kick, sharp and fast. Hyunwoo ducked low, stepped in, and clinched him around the waist.

With one sharp pivot, he swept Taegeun to the ground.

Thud.

"Damn—!" Taegeun slapped the ground and rolled up. "You learned grappling too?"

Hyunwoo didn't answer. He just stared.

Taegeun adjusted his stance, this time tighter. "Fine. I'll go all in."

He rushed in — a combo of left jab, right body shot, then a quick elbow to the head. Hyunwoo blocked the first two, but the elbow clipped his shoulder.

The impact made him stumble back half a step.

Taegeun kept pushing — now using Muay Thai-style knees in close. One hit Hyunwoo's ribs.

But Hyunwoo caught Taegeun's leg, locked it, and slammed his forearm down onto his thigh before shoving him away.

Taegeun winced, pain flashing in his eyes.

"You've got good control," he said through gritted teeth, "but I'm not backing off!"

He circled, then leapt forward with a flying knee — dangerous and fast.

Hyunwoo side-stepped it at the last second and slammed a rear hook right into Taegeun's jaw.

CRACK.

Taegeun hit the court hard.

Silence.

The group tensed.

Taegeun groaned, tried to push himself up — but collapsed back onto one knee.

His breath was shallow. One eye already swelling.

Hyunwoo walked up to him, slow and calm.

"You done?" he asked quietly.

Taegeun panted, then chuckled bitterly. "You fight like it's personal."

"It's not," Hyunwoo said flatly. "You just don't know when to stop."

Taegeun's smirk faded. "...Right."

Hyunwoo turned to walk away.

"You're not even gonna say something cool?" Dojin called.

Hyunwoo paused and looked over his shoulder.

"I didn't come here to prove anything. You wanted this fight. Remember that."

And then he left the court.

Taegeun stayed kneeling for a while, staring at the ground.

Yuri said nothing — but her eyes lingered on Hyunwoo's back as he walked toward the school gate.Jihwan finally knelt beside Taegeun. "You okay?"

Taegeun nodded. "He's strong... but it's not just strength."

Dojin muttered, "That guy's... something else."

They didn't know it yet, but that was the first moment something unspoken began to change between them.

But for Hyunwoo, it meant nothing yet.

________

The sky was a dusky red as the sun dipped behind the tall apartments of Gangseo.Hyunwoo walked along the cracked sidewalk, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder, still faintly bruised from the court fight.

Just then his phone buzzed.

[CALL – Jake Kim]

He raised a brow. "Jake?"

He swiped to answer."Sup Jake. How are you?"

"Hyunwoo, need help. Fast." Jake's voice was clipped, out of breath. "You know Big Deal Street?"

"Yeah... why?"

"Bring your fist. Now."

"Wait, are you fighting?" Hyunwoo blinked, slowing down. "Didn't you hate fighting?"

"No time to explain. Just come."

Hyunwoo sighed, already turning around. "Huff... fine. You better pay me."

The line cut.

He picked up his pace, slipping his phone into his pocket.

Big Deal Street was nearby — a ten-minute walk. The streets were mostly quiet, but tension buzzed in the air as if the city itself knew what was about to unfold.

And as he neared the familiar graffiti-stained alleyways, memories surged, the scenario happened in front of him is familiar.

"Wait... this plot... I know this."

Jake... Jerry... Jason... Brad. Four against Gangseo Union. Led by Samuel Seo... back then, it was a stalemate."

But something felt off.

Shouts echoed down the alley. A harsh grunt. The metallic ring of fists slamming flesh.

Hyunwoo turned the corner — eyes narrowing.

There they were.

In the middle of Big Deal Street's cracked pavement, Jake Kim was trading blows with Samuel Seo — leader of the Gangseo Union.

But this wasn't the even match Hyunwoo remembered.

Jake was winning.

His movements were sharp, filled with purpose and precision. He weaved past Samuel's strikes, answering each one with brutal, calculated counters. Blood trickled from a cut on Samuel's brow.

Around them, the battlefield was chaos. Jerry held off two Gangseo members with unpredictable kicks and wild laughter. Brad and Jason fought back-to-back, bruised but still standing.

But everyone was watching Jake and Samuel.

Samuel roared, throwing a heavy elbow — Jake ducked and delivered a clean uppercut to Samuel's chin, staggering him.

"...Jake," Hyunwoo muttered, stepping closer. "You're different."

He didn't join the fight yet. He just stood at the edge of the chaos, hidden in the shadows.

Something was happening.

He stronger than original plot