Kai’s fingers twitched, still hovering over his bag, the weight of the Ledger feeling heavier than ever. He couldn’t shake Hana’s voice from his mind, her words wrapping around his thoughts like a dark fog.

“You could end this, Kai,” Hana whispered again, her tone as smooth and deadly as ever. “You know what Jin is capable of. If you don’t stop him, he’ll keep coming after you. He’ll humiliate you, break you down until there’s nothing left.”

Kai clenched his jaw, his breathing growing shallow. He didn’t want to believe her, but the truth was that part of him did. He had seen that cruel look in Jin’s eyes, the one that promised more pain, more suffering. Minseo’s words from earlier that day echoed faintly in the back of his mind, but they were drowned out by the louder, more forceful whisper of Hana.

“Don’t be weak, Kai,” she continued, her voice growing sharper. “You can’t afford to be weak anymore. You’ve spent too long being the victim, letting people like Jin walk all over you. But you have the power now. You can change everything.”

Kai took a shaky breath, trying to regain control of his thoughts. He looked around the hallway, his vision blurring slightly as the students around him continued with their lives, unaware of the internal battle raging inside him. His hand brushed the zipper of his bag, and he could feel the Ledger’s pull growing stronger.

“I don’t want to be like you,” Kai muttered under his breath, his voice so low that no one around him could hear. “I don’t want to go down that path.”

Hana’s voice was icy, her disappointment palpable. “You think you have a choice? You think the world will magically change if you ignore the power you’ve been given? You’re not like them, Kai. They’ll never understand what it feels like to be powerless, to be pushed around. But you do. You can stop it all, right now.”

Kai shook his head, his heart pounding. “Minseo… she said there’s another way. I don’t have to use the Ledger. I don’t have to hurt anyone.”

Hana’s laugh was cold and mocking. “Minseo? You think she can protect you? You think anyone can protect you? You’re alone, Kai. You’ve always been alone. People like Minseo, they’re just trying to save themselves from feeling guilty when Jin finally breaks you. But when it comes down to it, no one’s going to risk themselves for you. You’ll see.”

Kai squeezed his eyes shut, feeling the overwhelming pressure in his chest. He wanted to believe that Minseo was different, that she truly cared. But Hana’s words were like a venom, poisoning his hope, making him doubt.

“I’m not alone,” Kai said quietly, though he wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince Hana or himself. “Not anymore.”

Hana’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “You’re lying to yourself. And the sooner you realize that, the sooner you’ll understand what needs to be done. Jin isn’t going to stop. The only way to make him stop is to make sure he never gets the chance to hurt you again. You know what you have to do, Kai. Write his name. End this.”

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Kai’s hand trembled as he reached into his bag, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the Ledger. His pulse quickened, and for a moment, the temptation was almost unbearable. He could see it so clearly—Jin’s smug face twisted in fear, his power over Kai crumbling into nothing. All it would take was a few strokes of the pen, and Kai would never have to worry about Jin again.

But then Minseo’s voice broke through the fog, faint but persistent.

“You don’t have to do this alone. You’re stronger than you think, Kai. Yesterday proved that.”

Kai blinked, his hand freezing over the Ledger. He remembered how she had stood there, looking him in the eyes with genuine concern, telling him that he wasn’t powerless. That he wasn’t alone.

“I… I don’t need this,” Kai muttered, his voice barely audible.

“What?” Hana’s voice snapped in his mind, sharp and demanding. “What did you say?”

Kai swallowed hard, his hand shaking as he pulled it away from the Ledger. “I said, I don’t need this. I don’t need the Ledger to stop Jin.”

Hana’s voice turned icy, filled with anger and disbelief. “You’re a fool, Kai. You think you can fight this battle without the Ledger? You think Jin will stop just because you hope for the best? You’ll regret this. Mark my words.”

Kai’s chest felt tight, but he stood his ground, even as the fear gnawed at him. “Maybe I will,” he said, his voice stronger than before. “But I’m not ready to give up on myself yet. And I’m not ready to become like you.”

Hana was silent for a moment, and Kai could almost feel her rage simmering beneath the surface.

“You think you’re better than me,” she hissed, her voice filled with venom. “You think you can walk away from this without consequences. But you’ll see, Kai. You’ll see what happens when you try to fight this on your own. The world doesn’t reward people like you. It crushes them.”

Kai stood there, his breathing uneven, but he felt a strange sense of clarity. For the first time in a long time, he had made a decision—one that didn’t involve running away, or giving in to the darkness. He wasn’t sure what the future held, or if he could really handle what was coming next. But he knew one thing: he wasn’t going to let the Ledger control him. Not anymore.

“I don’t have to be like you,” Kai whispered, more to himself than to Hana. “I can choose a different path.”

With that, he zipped up his bag, refusing to give the Ledger another glance. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, and then walked down the hallway, his footsteps feeling lighter, though the road ahead felt uncertain.

As he turned the corner, he almost collided with Minseo, who was walking toward him with a worried expression.

“Kai,” she said, her voice full of concern. “You okay? You kind of disappeared after lunch.”

Kai forced a small smile, feeling the weight of his decision still pressing on him. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… needed some time to think.”

Minseo tilted her head, studying him closely. “You sure? You look like you’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Kai hesitated, then nodded. “It feels like that sometimes. But I think… I’m figuring it out. Slowly.”

Minseo gave him a soft smile, one that made the tension in his chest ease just a little. “That’s all anyone can do, right? Figure it out, one step at a time.”

Kai nodded, feeling a sense of relief that, for once, he didn’t have to carry the burden alone.

“I just want you to know,” Minseo added, her voice sincere, “that whatever happens, I’m here. You don’t have to go through this by yourself.”

Kai felt a lump in his throat, but he nodded again, grateful for her words, even if he didn’t know how to express it.

“Thanks,” he said quietly. “That… that means a lot.”

They stood there for a moment, the noise of the hallway fading into the background as they shared a rare moment of understanding.

Kai wasn’t sure what would happen next, or if he could truly avoid the path Hana had laid out for him. But for now, he knew one thing: he wasn’t alone. And that was enough to give him the strength to keep going.