The sunlight came through the curtains. Jin Haru slowly opened his eyes. His body felt heavy, but there was no pain. He sat up and looked around. This was his small room. Everything was quiet. Too quiet.
He touched his head. "Was that… a dream?"
Suddenly, REI's voice came from inside his mind.
[Good morning, Creator. You are awake. Would you like to review last night's incident?]
"…Show me."
A screen appeared in front of his eyes. REI played the video. It showed everything. Him walking home. The group of boxing boys surrounding him. One of them punched him in the face—hard.
Then… something changed.
His eyes turned glowing blue. His face showed no emotion. His body moved like water and fire at the same time. He dodged every hit. He attacked with perfect form. Fast, strong, ruthless.
He defeated every enemy in under a minute.
Jin Haru's hands started to shake. "That… wasn't me."
[It was you. You entered Combat Mode. Your body moved based on the martial arts data stored inside me. It protected you.]
"But I couldn't feel anything… I wasn't even awake."
[That is Combat Mode's current setting. When your life is in danger and you lose consciousness, I take over.]
Jin Haru sighed and lay back on his bed. "So I become a monster when I sleep…"
[You become efficient.]
"Same thing."
He stared at the ceiling. Was this the price of rebirth? A new life, but filled with danger and violence?
But he also remembered something.
One of the girls in the group he saved… She looked at him with wide eyes. She didn't run. She didn't scream. She just watched him.
Did she know who he was?
---
At school, everything felt different.
Students turned their heads when he walked past. They whispered, stared, and some even tried to take pictures.
"Is that the guy?"
"Yeah, the one who beat the boxing club."
"I heard he used Taekwondo, no—Muay Thai—wait, maybe Judo?"
"He backflipped like in a movie!"
Jin Haru walked quietly, keeping his head low. He didn't like this. Attention was dangerous.
When he entered the classroom, even his classmates looked at him with strange eyes.
A girl in the back whispered to her friend, "He's hot and strong."
"I heard someone called him the 'Backflip Prince.' So cool."
He sighed and sat down.
Jinho leaned toward him and grinned. "Yo, you've got fans now. The Backflip Prince, huh?"
"Don't call me that," Haru said quietly.
"Why not? You earned it. Word spread like wildfire. Even the seniors are curious."
"I didn't do anything."
"Oh, you did something, alright."
Jinho leaned closer and whispered, "But hey… You okay? You looked out of it when I saw you after school yesterday."
Haru hesitated, then nodded. "Just tired."
Jinho didn't push. He gave a small smile and patted Haru's shoulder. "Well, if anyone gives you trouble again, let me know. I've got your back."
---
During lunch, things didn't calm down.
Girls tried to talk to him.
"Hi~ Are you in any clubs?"
"Can I take a picture with you?"
"Wanna sit with us?"
He politely refused all of them. He just wanted peace.
He noticed someone watching him from across the cafeteria. A girl with sharp eyes and black hair tied in a ponytail. The top student.
The cold girl.
She didn't say anything. She just watched.
Then, she stood up and walked away.
Strange.
---
After school, as he packed his bag, a voice spoke behind him.
"You're not normal."
He turned around.
The cold girl stood there, arms crossed.
"First day, you're perfect. Next day, you fight like a pro. Now everyone's talking about you."
He blinked. "So?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I don't like noise. And you're creating too much of it."
"I didn't ask for it."
"Doesn't matter. If you want to stay here, stay quiet. I won't let you ruin my peace."
She walked away without waiting for a reply.
Jin Haru stared at her back. "What's her problem?"
REI's voice echoed inside.
[That is Elina Yoon. Top student. Ranked first in every subject. Also known as 'The Ice Queen.' She dislikes distractions.]
"I noticed…"
---
That night, Jin Haru couldn't sleep.
He stood on his balcony, looking at the city lights.
He touched his chest.
"I just wanted to go to school… make friends… live a normal life."
The wind blew softly.
"But normal doesn't seem possible anymore."
Far away, in a dark room, a phone screen lit up.
A man with sharp eyes looked at a video of the fight. The one with the blue-eyed boy.
"Who are you…?" he whispered.