One morning, as Jung traversed the forest in the early hours of the new day, a massive oak tree fell over his usual path on his way to school. He studied the fallen tree for a moment, and a myriad of plans automatically blossomed inside his mind on ways he could use the trunk for various projects he was already working on or planned to work on.

But this is not the time for this. Jung did not have a watch he could look at but there was always an internal body clock that he learned to trust over the years, and he just knew that he had less than an hour before he was late for the school morning ceremony.

He was thinking about this when a system prompt interrupted him.

Would you like to activate your skill, “Pathways” level 1? Y/N

Jung blinked in surprise. He had a vague idea about the skill. He has had it for years now, but it was only recently that he invested 1 skill point in it to make it at least level one and therefore usable. So he shrugged and selected yes.

A bright blue arrow appeared on the dirt floor of the forest, and it slung behind him. Curiously, Jung followed the arrows until they led to a nearby intersection, which led to an even more obscure goat trail. The arrow branched out into three different arrows going in 3 different directions. They each have their own colors: blue, green, and red. When Jung’s eyes lingered on the blue arrow, a new pop-up came up to give him more information.

The blue path is the calculated path deemed by the system to be the safest path. It might not exactly be the fastest one available for you.

Oookay, thought Jung. That was slightly informative.

Just to be sure, Jung concentrated on the green path and the red one as well. The red path offered the fastest route to his destination, but it was not exactly the safest. Jung is also informed that the system calculated his current skill sets and applied them to the route he was given. He didn’t know it then, but that includes climbing 90-degree stone cliffs. The green path is a combination of the safest and fastest route but is also neither.

Jung shrugged and decided to choose the fastest path, and both the blue and the green paths dissolved from his view. Taking a deep breath, he started running as he followed the red arrow towards his school. Besides the fast-forwarding negotiation skill, this is actually the most ”magical” skill he's ever seen in his life. Quickly, he found himself jumping over and parkouring his way out of obstacles inside the forest.

Jung easily vaulted another dead tree with one hand. He ran for 30 meters on a moss-covered boulder before catapulting over a thick branch, swinging away from it, and leapfrogging over a deep ravine. Jung slid down a soft, rundown cliff face for 40 meters before doing an acrobatic jump twist to vault over another dense group of bushes, only to land in a roll and use that momentum to stand up and smoothly continue his run.

To Jung, being exposed to the system and seeing all of the improvements in his skills is a gradual experience. This made him mostly unaware of his almost superhuman capabilities at this point. Besides, his natural instinct was to downplay himself because he wanted to be seen as normal and someone who belonged to his society. Being special means you are not one of them. Being special means you are an outsider.

But every now and then, he is compelled to actually exert himself, and the outcome of such an endeavor always surprises him. When he was 8 or 9 years old, the walk from home to school took at least 2 hours. But now, when he put his entire effort into it, Jung could get to the outskirts of town in less than 12 minutes, and it took him another 4 minutes to go to school.

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He was relieved to see that the kids were still gathering for the school ceremony. Jung didn’t bother to go up to his classroom and deposit his bag. Instead, he hurried up to the line of students in his class. He already saw Kwang’s big frame in the middle of the line talking to Sang-ki, his other friend in the wheelchair. The duo is always recognizable, even from afar. In the other line to their left is the next class, and he sees Eun Mei talking to Garam, the new guy.

Good, I'm not yet late, he thought to himself with relief as he jogged towards his friends.

But before he could get to them, an arm snaked out and grabbed him by the neck collar of his uniform.

Jung saw it coming a mile away, but his “what the fuck” moment took a bit longer, and he let the arm grab him instead. “You again?!” the boy said right into his face. “Why the fuck are you running inside the school grounds, huh?”

Jung recognized him automatically as one of Bon Won’s friends. Unfortunately, he hasn’t formally learned his name yet because, well, Bon Won is busy, and so is he. He always wanted to meet them, of course, but with the junkyard, the repair services he offered, the appliance restoration side job, and now the clinic, he is simply too swamped with his responsibilities that he doesn’t have the time to meet and befriend other people.

Jung Hee recognized instantly that the dude was angry, and he was in that limbo where he was sure he did something wrong, but he could not remember what he did wrong. This made his face dorkier than ever, and it increased the anger from the other kid, who never liked him in the first place. “I don’t know who you are, but you’ve been pissing me off ever since-“

“Just let him go, Chung Ho." A voice behind the angry boy made him flinch. Bon Won, the delinquent leader, was in the process of tying his shoes, but the warning was unmistakable.

The angry boy whirled at Bon Won. “Who the fuck is this boy to you, anyway? You’ve been defending this sissy for almost a year now. Is he your boyfriend or something?”

There was a gasp from the other two delinquents flanking Bon Won. Jung’s friend, meanwhile, unhurriedly finished his shoelaces before turning to face his friend with a bored expression. His two followers were glaring daggers at the boy named Chung Ho, who accosted Jung Hee. He let go of Jung now and Chung Ho's eyes were completely aimed at his “leader.”

There is this easy, smug look on Bon Won’s face, showing how unaffected he is by his friend’s outburst. “You know, you don’t get street creds just because you raised your voice at me. It doesn’t make you brave or some shit; it just makes you a temperamental idiot. If you want to challenge me, then come at me." Bon Won's eyes were now burrowing into Chung Ho’s own, and an aura promising nothing good to Chung Ho began to emanate around him. Chung Ho glared back at him. His weight on both legs, fist like granite. He knew he was ready. He just knows he can beat Bon Won in a fair fight. A year ago, that was just a pipe dream for him. But he is now more cunning and experienced. While Bon Won looks so tired these days and so weak.

But the gang is still firmly on Bon Won's side. If he jumps him now, the other idiots will pile up on him. Why can’t they see what I see? Bon Won is passed his prime. He is an old alpha dog ready to pasture.

Unseen by the others, the veins in Bon Won’s temple were throbbing as he squared off with his friend. And yet he showed nothing but unerring confidence as he stared his friend down. People around them sort of sensed the possible violence between the two, and they unconsciously started stepping away from the would-be combatants.

No, not a friend, but an enemy. Actually, no, not an enemy. Only someone who is no longer a youth. A young man who challenges society and the natural order of things. Bon hated Chung Ho for making him decide to either cast him out or stand down from his own position. If he is honest with himself, he is also proud of Chung Ho for standing up to him when he knew beyond doubt that he was more cunning in the art of fighting than his former friend ever would be.

Meanwhile, almost unseen in the background, a chibi that remarkably has all the features of Jung Hee was still adorably jogging in place and awkwardly raising his hands. “Aaah, I like to stay and meet your friends, Bon Won, but aaah, ... the school ceremony is about to start and I’m a bit late. So, maybe I’ll meet your friends next time.”

A small upward twitch in Bon Won's face rebelliously appeared despite the situation and made him sigh. “Just… just go, you idiot,” he said. Jung saluted and left.

Then his attention returned to his former friend. Bon Won studied him for a while and then gave him an expectant look. His arms are wide open a if welcoming the other boy. "Well? Are you gonna do anything?" he said.

Chung Ho just stayed rooted where he stood, his eyes glaring at Bon Won, hating him.

Bon Won sighed and shook his head. "You disappoint me,“ he said.

"It takes more than a simple stare down to become a leader, Chung Ho. Just remember that,” Bon Won said almost sadly. Then, without fear, he contemptuously turned his back on the other kid and unhurriedly walked away from the school grounds. The guard that day not only didn’t stop them but also decided not to look them in the eye. It was the best survival strategy he could think of.

The other two members of Bon Won’s Gang glared at Chung Ho as they left and followed their leader. One even hawked a loogie right next to Chung Ho's shoes before sauntering out.

Chung Ho was left there, seething. With an effort, he forced to slow down the pumping of his heart. One day, he promised himself. There will be a reckoning. Then he too left the flag ceremony in the opposite direction, shoving an unfortunate kid who didn't avoid him fast enough, just as it was about to start. "Out of my way, asshole!"

Maybe it was for the best for him to leave at that time, because he didn’t hear the enthusiastic singing of one particular boy in the midst of it all.