The next day, Kai trudged down the school hallways with a sense of heaviness hanging over him. Every step he took felt burdened by the events of the previous day. He had stood up to Jin—something he had never done before—but there was no denying the sinking feeling that it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

The whispers were already circulating, students casting furtive glances his way as he passed. He could almost hear their words, dripping with curiosity and doubt.

"Did you hear what happened yesterday? Kai actually stood up to Jin."

"He did? No way. I thought he was always too scared to fight back."

"Yeah, but do you think Jin’s going to let that slide?"

Kai clenched his fists, willing himself not to let their words get to him. He had done what he had to do, but now came the real challenge—surviving the aftermath.

As he neared his locker, he caught sight of Minseo leaning against the wall, her arms crossed and her eyes scanning the hallway. When she spotted him, her face softened, and she pushed off the wall to meet him halfway.

"Kai," she called out, her voice calm but carrying a note of concern. "I heard about what happened with Jin yesterday. Are you okay?"

Kai glanced at her, surprised by her directness. He hadn’t expected anyone to care—least of all Minseo, who had always been more of an observer than a participant in the chaos of high school life.

"Yeah, I’m fine," he replied, though his tone lacked conviction. He quickly looked away, focusing on the combination lock on his locker.

Minseo stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You don’t have to pretend, you know. I saw the way Jin looked at you after. He’s not just going to let it go."

Kai’s fingers fumbled with the lock for a second before he managed to open it. He grabbed his books, avoiding her gaze. "I’m not pretending. I just... I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it."

"You should be careful," she said, her voice softer now. "Jin... he’s dangerous when he feels threatened. You stood up to him, and that’s a big deal. But it also means he’s going to come after you harder."

Kai finally looked at her, meeting her concerned gaze. "What am I supposed to do then? Just keep running? Let him push me around forever?"

Minseo shook her head. "No, of course not. But there’s a difference between standing up for yourself and getting dragged into a fight you can’t win. I just don’t want to see you get hurt."

Kai sighed, leaning against the lockers as the weight of her words sank in. She was right—Jin wasn’t the type to just let things go. And if Kai wasn’t careful, this could escalate into something much worse.

"I don’t know what else to do, Minseo," he admitted quietly. "I’ve tried ignoring him, I’ve tried staying out of his way... but nothing works. He’s always there, waiting to humiliate me."

Minseo’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on his arm, a gentle, reassuring touch. "You don’t have to do this alone, you know. There are people who can help. Teachers, counselors... even me. You don’t have to face Jin by yourself."

Kai let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You really think telling a teacher is going to fix anything? It’ll just make it worse. Jin will find out, and then I’ll be his favorite target again."

Minseo frowned. "It’s not about fixing it overnight. It’s about showing him that you’re not alone, that there are people who have your back. Bullies like Jin thrive on isolation, on making you feel like no one cares. But that’s not true."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Kai looked down, conflicted. Her words made sense, but there was still that gnawing doubt in the back of his mind—the doubt that came from years of feeling like an outcast, of being treated like he didn’t matter. The doubt that told him no one really cared.

"I appreciate that," he said after a moment, his voice low. "But it’s not that simple."

"It never is," Minseo replied, her tone kind but firm. "But you’re stronger than you think, Kai. Yesterday proved that."

Kai looked at her, searching her face for any hint of insincerity, but all he saw was genuine concern. It was strange—he wasn’t used to people caring about him, let alone standing by him.

"Thanks," he mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

Minseo smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Just... promise me you’ll be careful, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt."

Kai nodded, feeling the weight of her words. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this up—standing up to Jin, resisting the pull of the Ledger, trying to figure out where he stood in this battle between light and dark.

As Minseo turned to leave, Kai felt a sudden urge to ask her something. He wasn’t sure why—it was impulsive, but it felt important.

"Minseo," he called out before she could walk too far. "Why do you care? About me, I mean."

Minseo stopped, turning to face him again. Her expression softened, and she took a few steps closer, hesitating before she spoke. "Because I know what it feels like to be alone. And I know what it feels like to want to fight back but not know how."

Kai stared at her, taken aback by the vulnerability in her words. He hadn’t expected that.

"Is that why you don’t talk to people much?" he asked, the question slipping out before he could stop himself.

Minseo gave a small, sad smile. "Maybe. It’s hard to let people in when you’ve been hurt before. But that doesn’t mean I can’t see when someone else is struggling. And I can’t just stand by and watch."

Kai felt a lump form in his throat. It was rare for anyone to be so open with him, to show genuine care. He wasn’t used to it, and part of him didn’t know how to respond.

"I... I’m not good at this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Letting people in. Trusting them."

Minseo nodded. "I get that. But you don’t have to do it all at once. Just... don’t shut people out completely. There are people who want to help, Kai. You just have to give them a chance."

Kai stood there for a moment, processing her words. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to trust anyone, to let them in, but Minseo’s kindness stirred something inside him—a tiny flicker of hope, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

"I’ll try," he said finally, his voice quiet but sincere.

Minseo smiled again, this time a real smile, and she nodded. "That’s all I’m asking."

As she walked away, Kai watched her go, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside him. For the first time in what felt like forever, someone had reached out to him, offering not pity but understanding.

But even as her words echoed in his mind, another voice, far more sinister, whispered in his thoughts. Hana’s voice.

"You’re still thinking about Jin, aren’t you?"

Kai’s hand tightened around the strap of his bag, where the Ledger lay hidden. He had resisted the temptation last night, but the pull was still there, stronger than ever. The idea of writing Jin’s name, of ending the torment once and for all, was intoxicating.

"She’s wrong, you know," Hana’s voice continued, soft and persuasive. "Minseo’s wrong. People can’t help you—not the way I can. Not the way the Ledger can."

Kai bit his lip, his steps growing slower as he felt the familiar weight of the Ledger in his bag. It was like carrying a dark secret, a burden that no one else could understand.

"You don’t have to play by their rules anymore, Kai," Hana whispered, her voice sliding into his thoughts like a serpent. "You don’t have to be the victim. You have power. Real power. You felt it when you opened the Ledger. You know what it can do. You know what you could do."

Kai’s heart raced as he tried to push her voice away, but it was relentless, digging into the deepest parts of his mind.

"Jin won’t stop," Hana warned. "He’ll come after you again. He’ll hurt you, Kai. You saw the look in his eyes. He’s dangerous. But you could stop him before he ever gets the chance. All it takes is a name."

Kai’s hand hovered over his bag, his thoughts swirling with confusion, fear, and temptation. He knew he was at a crossroads—one that would define his future, for better or worse.

"Write his name, Kai," Hana urged, her voice a gentle, poisonous whisper. "End this."

Kai closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. His fingers twitched as they brushed the edge of the bag, the Ledger’s dark power humming beneath the surface. But then he remembered Minseo’s face, her words of hope and understanding.

Could he really trust someone else to help him? Could he resist the pull of the Ledger’s power and try to find a different path? Or would he give in, just like Hana had?

Kai opened his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. The choice was his, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to make it.