Revenge Belly-Punch Laden with School Bullying Grudges!
My heart sank.
Starting my fourth life in prison?
"And whether it's a fine or jail time, you'll have a criminal record."
Criminal record...
I'm barely scraping by playing games for rice money, and if I end up with a record, how the hell am I supposed to live from now on? A proper job would be out of the question. Part-time gigs... probably tough too.
"Can we reach a settlement?"
"The victim's side said they'd show up today, so maybe they do want to settle if they're coming to meet you. Just talk to them face-to-face at least. It's your only shot."
About ten minutes of waiting in front of the detective...
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and in walked a man in a suit. A mid-thirties guy carrying a briefcase.
"Moon Yujin, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm the victim's legal representative."
He sat across from me at the table and pulled out a few sheets of paper, setting them down. Documents crammed with legal jargon. Looked like a copy of the complaint.
"Can we... settle?"
"Settle?"
The lawyer looked me straight in the eye for the first time.
"My client intends to follow every legal procedure to the letter."
"But the detective said if they're coming to meet me, they must want to settle—"
"That's the police's perspective. My client's is different."
"W-wait a second. I'll apologize, and pay whatever settlement you want."
"They said it's not necessary. My client wants this case to set a clear precedent. I recommend you get a lawyer."
He stood up after saying that.
"Any questions, ask the detective. I'll be going now."
The door clicked shut.
"......"
I was speechless.
Why bother coming all the way to the station if they had no intention of settling? Anyway, the other side had no plans to settle. It was straight to trial. I'd be found guilty and branded a criminal.
I'm fucked.
The detective said some consoling words, but they didn't register.
……………
I don't even remember how I left the station. I took the subway, got off at my stop, and walked back to my place.
Criminal.
The word echoed in my head. How do you live as a criminal? Game streaming has its limits eventually. Rice prices are dropping already anyway. If I can't stream anymore... then what?
"Ah— this is the worst, seriously."
Han Minseo was the lead researcher at a unicorn company. Yeoreum blew up with emoticon art. Ma Hyuksu made ten times his money on stocks.
Me? Moon Yujin? I started at rock bottom. And now, turns out there's a basement below that—I'm heading down to it.
I reached my one-room door. Fished out my key and unlocked it. A cramped, dim space. This was the only place Moon Yujin had to come back to.
I stepped inside. And just as I was about to close the door—
A presence right behind me.
What the—?
Before I could turn, someone shoved my back.
"Whoa!"
Hot body heat and something soft pressed against my back and the nape of my neck. I stumbled forward, off-balance. Whoever it was came in with me.
Bam!
The door slammed shut, and I heard the deadbolt lock from behind.
"Yujinnie."
A woman's voice. Bright and lively, but with a strangely low, husky undertone.
No way.
My heart nearly stopped. I turned around slowly.
There she stood— Kang Haneul.
My classmate from the Awakener Training Academy days, the one who'd tormented... Moon Yujin. An EX-rank Awakener. And the victim who'd filed charges against me.
She was tall. At least 180cm. A lean yet solidly built frame, and massive breasts that even a sports bra couldn't hide. Her face... exactly as I remembered. A striking beauty with a refreshing vibe, wearing a mischievous smile.
"Found you, Yujinnie."
She took a step closer. I instinctively backed up a step. But in this tiny one-room, the only exit was the door she was blocking. Nowhere to run.
Why are you here...?
The question rose in my throat but wouldn't come out. Kang Haneul was still smiling.
"Long time no see."
……………
Kang Haneul stood with her back to the door. Just two steps between us. In the cramped one-room, her presence was overwhelming.
"Man— it's really been forever, huh? Exactly one year and eight months."
She said it again.
"Uh... how'd you find me?"
"How? I followed you from the station, sighing your guts out."
"......"
Kang Haneul was 180cm tall with a killer body— a beauty you couldn't miss. Not noticing her was pure carelessness on my part. Even if I had spotted her first, shaking off a determined Kang Haneul would've been impossible.
She took another step forward. I backed up on instinct.
"What's wrong? Scared of me?"
As if I wouldn't be. In Moon Yujin's memories, Kang Haneul was a monster. Dragging people around like puppies, smashing tanks barehanded, wrecking everything in fits of rage.
And that monster was standing right in front of me.
"No calls, deleted all your SNS, changed your number... ditched your one and only friend to hide out here? Why?"
Friend?
I couldn't believe my ears.
"Friend...?"
"Yeah. We're friends, right? Besties."
Kang Haneul tilted her head. She looked genuinely baffled.
"We were always together in school. Ate together, hung out during breaks."
That was you stalking me one-sidedly!
But her face showed only sincere curiosity. Like she had no clue what she'd done wrong or why Moon Yujin had run away. No guilt at all.
Yeah. Not a shred.
You really don't know? Jesus.
Suddenly, something hot boiled up in my chest. This must've been Moon Yujin's pent-up injustice. Rage. Resentment.
"Friends?"
"Yeah."
"Do friends do that to friends? Follow you everywhere, stop you talking to anyone else, smash everything if you don't like it?"
Kang Haneul froze.
"Yujinnie...?"
"You wrecked that other girl's stuff just for getting close to me in school. And the tanks and armored cars that came to stop you!"
"That was—"
"But you never reflected on it. You just threatened me not to make you mad!"
Kang Haneul said nothing. Just stared at me.
"I'm not your pet or your doll. How I live, where I live, who I see— that's none of your business!"
Only after spilling it all did my chest feel a little lighter. Words Moon Yujin himself never could've said. He was truly terrified of her.
But I did it. Blurted it out without thinking of the consequences.
Even as I panted from the outburst, Kang Haneul stayed silent. Her expression... unreadable. Not blank, not angry. Just staring dazedly at me.
...Ugh.
Scary. She always had that smile before— this blank face was worse.
What was she thinking? Mad? Or...?
The silence dragged on. Ten seconds, twenty, thirty.
"Puhahaha!"
Suddenly, Kang Haneul burst into laughter. A booming, hearty laugh that filled the tiny room. She clutched her stomach, laughing like it was the funniest thing ever.
"Wh-what... what's so funny?"
"You were sulking over that?"
She stopped laughing and looked down at me.
"God, you're adorable. First time seeing you mad— so cute. Even your shaky voice is cute."
Kang Haneul wiped her eye with the back of her hand.
"Why didn't you just say so? That you hated it."
"I did say!"
"You did? Don't remember."
"........."
Is this woman insane?
"Fine, let's do this."
Kang Haneul suddenly hiked up her training top. Under her pale skin, chiseled abs gleamed— an perfect 11-pack. Smooth skin, not a drop of sweat. Magazine-model perfect.
"Hit me."
"...Huh?"
"I get it—you're pissed at me. So hit me. Until you feel better."
She patted her stomach.
"If fists don't cut it, grab a steel pipe or whatever. Go wild."
What the hell?
"You're crazy?"
"Don't wanna? Fine. But then you won't feel better, right? Just hit me. I'll take it."
She grinned wide. It pissed me off so much.
"You think... I can't!?"
"Ooh, gonna do it? Great."
Kang Haneul spread her arms.
"Come on."
Fine. Your funeral.
I clenched my fist. And swung at her pale abs.
Thud.
A dull sound. But... Kang Haneul didn't even blink. Didn't look hurt at all.
Harder.
I swung again. And again.
Thud. Thud. Thud-thud.
I hit her repeatedly, putting every ounce of strength Moon Yujin's arm could muster.
Nothing changed. Her ironclad abs showed not even a red mark. My punches were just pats.
"Haha, tickles."
Kang Haneul laughed.
Damn it.
I hit harder. With everything I had. My fist started to hurt. Knuckles throbbed.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
"Ooh, stronger now? Still tickles, though."
She was still laughing. My arms grew heavy. Breath came in gasps. Sweat soaked me. Moon Yujin's body was as frail as Yeoreum's—no chronic illness was a small mercy.
Thud. Thud.
My punches slowed. No more strength left. I dropped my hands.
"Haa... haa..."
Panting, I looked up at Kang Haneul. She was fine. Not a bruise. Her abs as perfect as before.
"Feel better now?"
She asked, still smirking.
I couldn't answer. Only crushing defeat remained.
They say frustration makes a man grow, but could Moon Yujin really improve? The idle thought flitted through my mind.