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"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."
- Unknown
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The sky was a bright, cloudless blue as the members of the Allied Crew began gathering at a small park in the city, their first time all together after months of training apart. The atmosphere was light, filled with laughter and teasing, as everyone caught up on the time they had spent away, each sharing their progress and experiences.
Daniel Park, standing near a bench, his sharp eyes scanned the area as his lips curled into a smile. Next to him was Mary Kim, who wasted no time as she slid her arms around his waist from behind and kissed his cheek, leaving Daniel momentarily caught off guard. He chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"I think someone missed me," Daniel teased, pulling her closer as they stood together.
"You wish," Mary shot back with a playful smile, though she leaned into his embrace. Their chemistry was different now, more intense, as though they had become even closer in the time they had spent apart.
Meanwhile, Zack Lee and Mira Kim were seated on a nearby bench, Zack's arm casually draped around Mira's shoulders. His physique had grown even more defined after the brutal training, and Mira seemed to be admiring it with a shy smile as she rested her head against his shoulder. Zack, always slightly awkward in these intimate moments, looked down at her with a soft expression.
"I'm glad you're back in one piece," Mira whispered, hugging him tightly.
Zack smirked, flexing his arm jokingly. "I had to come back. Can't let you miss out on this," he said, earning a playful punch to his chest from Mira as she rolled her eyes.
Jay Hong stood a few feet away, his usual stoic expression in place, though it was betrayed by a small smile as Zoe Park bounded up to him, pinching his cheeks playfully.
"Jay, you look like you haven't eaten in months! What were they feeding you? Air?" Zoe teased, pinching harder as Jay tried to keep his composure, his face blushing slightly at her teasing.
"Zoe," Jay mumbled, rubbing his cheek as he gave her a timid smile, "I've been training, not eating burgers."
Zoe shook her head, laughing. "Yeah, well, you better not skip any more meals, or I'll make sure to stuff you with food until you can't move."
Meanwhile Vasco was being feed with a bashful smile by Leonn who blushed at this.
Standing a bit further off, Warren Chae had just arrived, his eyes searching the group. He spotted Sally Park standing near the edge of the gathering, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. Warren, ever the bashful one, felt a rush of heat rise to his cheeks as Sally approached, her smile warm and full of admiration.
"You've grown stronger," Sally said softly, her hand gently touching his arm. Warren swallowed nervously, his usual tough-guy attitude melting in her presence.
"Y-Yeah… Thanks," Warren stammered, scratching the back of his neck as he avoided eye contact, though the blush on his face was obvious.
Nearby, Daniel took full advantage of the situation, throwing his arm around Eli Jang's shoulders as he pointed at Warren, winking at Eli.
"Look at that, Warren's getting all shy. Meanwhile, here's Eli~ iiiisssssss still single~" Daniel teased, making exaggerated faces. "Maybe if you smiled more, you'd have a girl hanging off you by now."
Eli rolled his eyes, shoving Daniel's arm off him. "Shut up, Daniel."
The group burst into laughter, the easy banter flowing between them as they enjoyed the reunion. The lighthearted atmosphere filled the air with warmth, as though the trials of the last few months had only served to strengthen their bonds.
But the laughter came to a sudden halt when an unfamiliar figure approached.
The figure walked with a confident stride, his eyes sharp and his posture upright. As he got closer, the group's eyes widened in shock. It was Vin Jin, but not the Vin they remembered. His long, jet-black hair had been cut short, and most notably, his signature glasses were gone. His face, free of his previous insecurity, looked stronger, more assured. The hesitation and self-doubt that once clouded his features had vanished.
"Vin?" Zack said, his eyes widening as he stared at his friend.
Jay blinked, barely recognizing the man standing before him. "Is that really him?"
Vin smirked, giving a casual wave as he approached. "Told you I'd come back stronger," he said confidently, his voice steady and calm. His posture reflected the inner growth he had gone through during his time in Cheonliang. The boy who once hid behind his glasses and insecurities was gone, replaced by a man who stood tall, unshaken.
"You… you look different, Vin," Zoe said, her eyes still wide with surprise.
Vasco opened his eyes and gave him an approving look, his usual slow eyes were more sharper than before: "Your glasses."
"Yeah, no more hiding," Vin said, running a hand through his now-short hair. "I've left that version of me behind."
Daniel crossed his arms, looking Vin up and down with approval. "I'll give you credit for this one, Vin. You look like you've put in the work."
"That's because I have," Vin replied, his voice firm. "No more running away from who I am."
With the entire group now gathered, the mood shifted slightly as conversation turned to more serious matters. They had all trained hard, but there was something weighing on their minds, Jinho. The last time they had seen him, things had been chaotic, and his disappearance had raised concerns.
"So, what's the news on Jinho?" Zack asked, his expression turning serious. "I've heard some things, but I figured you guys might know more."
Warren and Eli exchanged glances before Warren spoke up. "During our last month of training, we started hearing rumors…"
"About what?" Daniel asked, leaning in, sensing the gravity of what Warren was about to say.
"A new star has risen in the underground circles," Eli continued, his tone grave. "For months, people have been talking about this fighter, ruthless and skilled, taking down everyone in his path."
"Rumor has it," Warren added, "that he got taken in as a disciple by some blonde guy a few days ago."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Blonde guy?"
Eli nodded. "Yeah. We couldn't confirm it, but from what we overheard… it sounds like it's Goo. And if that's the case, Jinho's under his wing now."
The group fell silent, the weight of the information settling over them like a cloud. If Jinho was with Goo, that meant he was far from the weak, uncertain kid they once knew. He had likely grown stronger, and if he was being trained by Goo, then he was potentially more dangerous than they had anticipated.
"So what do we do now?" Jay asked, his voice steady.
"We need to get more information," Daniel said, his eyes flashing with determination. "If Goo has Jinho, then we need to know why. We'll start with the Workers. They're bound to have the intel we need."
The group nodded in agreement, each of them steeling themselves for the road ahead. They had trained for months, preparing for whatever challenges lay in their path. Now, it was time to put that training to the test. Jinho was no longer their weak link, he was an unknown force, and they would need to tread carefully to uncover the truth behind his new alliance with Goo.
The Allied Crew and their allies stood united once more, their eyes set on the Workers and the secrets they held about Jinho's whereabouts. The hunt for answers had begun.
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End of the arc.
End of the chapter
Author Out!