Kai walked down the hallway, trying to shake off the dark thoughts that clung to him. His hands tightened around the straps of his backpack as he passed groups of students, their laughter and chatter buzzing in his ears like a constant reminder of his isolation. He could still hear Jin’s mocking voice echoing in his mind—the sneers, the cruel words—it was always the same.

As he rounded the corner, someone stepped into his path. It was Minseo, a quiet girl from his class. She stood there, her dark eyes filled with concern as she looked at him, searching his face as if she could see the storm brewing inside him.

"Kai, are you okay?" Minseo’s voice was soft, cutting through the noise around them.

Kai glanced at her, taken aback. It was rare for anyone to acknowledge his presence, let alone ask how he was. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. His instinct was to brush her off, retreating back into the walls he had built around himself. But something in her eyes made him pause.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, turning his gaze to the floor.

Minseo didn’t move. “You don’t look fine. I saw what Jin did earlier... He’s always picking on you. Why don’t you tell someone?”

Kai let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “What good would that do? People like Jin don’t stop just because you tell on them. It’ll only make things worse.”

Minseo frowned, her brows knitting together. “You don’t have to take it, you know. There are other ways to deal with people like him.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed as suspicion crept into his mind. “What do you mean? What ways?”

Minseo shrugged slightly, her expression turning serious. “I don’t know... But you’re not powerless, Kai. You don’t have to let him push you around.”

A knot tightened in Kai’s chest. He wasn’t powerless. Not really. He had the Ledger. He had the power to end all of this, to stop Jin and anyone else who ever thought they could hurt him. But that power came with a price—one he wasn’t sure he was willing to pay.

“What would you do if you were me?” Kai asked, surprising himself with the question.

Minseo hesitated, her gaze flickering down the hallway before meeting his again. “I don’t know. I guess I’d stand up for myself, but... it’s hard, right? Especially when it feels like no one’s on your side.”

Kai nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her words. “Yeah... it is.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, the world around them fading into the background. Kai could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Did he really want to follow the same path as Hana? To use the Ledger to get revenge? Or was there another way?

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“I have to go,” Minseo said, breaking the silence. “But if you ever want to talk or... need help, I’m here, okay?”

Kai watched her walk away, her words lingering in his mind. For the first time in a long time, he felt something other than anger or fear. He felt a faint spark of hope. Maybe he wasn’t as alone as he thought.

But then Jin’s voice echoed in his mind again, taunting him, reminding him of everything he had endured. The anger bubbled up again, stronger than before, and Kai’s hand instinctively moved to his bag, feeling the outline of the Ledger through the fabric.

Could he really resist the pull of that power? Could he really walk away from the chance to make Jin pay for everything?

As he walked out of the school, his footsteps heavy with indecision, one thing was clear: the Ledger was not done with him. And soon, he would have to make his choice.

Later that evening, Kai sat on the edge of his bed, the Ledger resting on his lap. The room was dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of his phone screen. His fingers traced the cover of the Ledger, the power inside it practically humming under his touch. It was intoxicating, this feeling of control, of having the ability to change everything.

He thought about Minseo’s words—about standing up for himself. But standing up to Jin in a normal way didn’t seem like an option. Jin was ruthless, and there was no way Kai could take him on without something like the Ledger.

His phone buzzed with a message. Kai glanced at it, his stomach twisting as he saw Jin’s name flash across the screen.

"See you tomorrow, loser. Can’t wait to make your life hell again. Lol."

Kai’s blood boiled as he stared at the words. His hands shook as he opened the Ledger, the blank pages waiting for him, whispering to him, urging him to take control.

All it would take was a few strokes of the pen. Just write his name. Write what happens to him.

Kai’s grip tightened on the pen, his heart racing. Could he really do it? Could he really use the Ledger like that? He had seen what it could do—what it had done to Hana. The power was real, and the cost... he wasn’t sure he could pay it.

But then Jin’s taunting voice echoed in his mind again, louder this time, more vicious. The memories of every shove, every insult, every time he had been humiliated flashed before him, burning hot in his chest. He couldn’t take it anymore.

His hand hovered over the page, trembling. Just one name. One stroke of the pen.

He could feel the Ledger's energy pulsing under his fingers, almost begging to be used.

Suddenly, the door to his room creaked open. Kai snapped the Ledger shut, his heart pounding as he looked up to see his mother standing in the doorway.

"Kai? Are you okay? You’ve been in here for hours," she said, her voice laced with concern.

Kai swallowed hard, trying to calm himself. “Yeah, I’m fine, Mom. Just... doing homework.”

His mother frowned, her gaze flicking to the closed book on his lap. She didn’t push it, though. “Alright. Just don’t stay up too late.”

As she left, closing the door behind her, Kai let out a shaky breath. His heart still raced, his mind swirling with indecision. The Ledger sat on his lap, heavy with temptation. He knew what it wanted him to do.

But what would he become if he gave in?

He glanced at his phone again, Jin’s message still on the screen. The anger flared up again, but this time, it wasn’t enough to move his hand. The Ledger remained closed, the power inside still, waiting for his command.

Kai slumped back against his bed, staring at the ceiling. Could he really resist this? Could he really walk away from the chance to make Jin pay for everything he had done?

Maybe. But for now, he wasn’t ready to make that choice