Jacob's POV
The tension in the air was palpable as Jacob barked orders into his earpiece. He had the members of the Division surround the area where Toji's sister, Kirara, studied. Every corner, every alley near J High was covered. He wasn't taking any chances. Big Deal had shown their hand, and there was no way they would let Toji's sister become a target. That thought alone filled Jacob with an intense wave of anger. He glanced over at Kevin, feeling a burning frustration build up in his chest.
How could they have left Toji like that? They had dumped him in the middle of the enemy without thinking. Toji had been left to handle Big Deal alone, and now Jacob feared what their leader must be thinking. Did Toji see them as weak? Despite all the rigorous training they'd gone through, was it possible that Toji still thought they weren't capable of standing by his side? Jacob clenched his fists, the weight of those thoughts pressing down on him like a boulder. The mob they faced earlier was nothing compared to the responsibility they now carried.
Jin Young, No. 3, must have sensed Jacob's turmoil. "Listen," he said, his voice steady but firm, "Toji sent us to secure his sister because he trusts us more than any of the other members of the Division. He could've sent anyone else, but he chose us."
Jacob remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as they neared J High. Jin Young wasn't finished. "This isn't about us being weak or strong. It's about loyalty. He knows we'll do whatever it takes to keep his sister safe. We're his most trusted, and if we do this right, we'll prove that we can stand beside him."
Kevin, who had been unusually quiet until now, nodded solemnly. Jacob could see it in his eyes—the same determination, the same frustration. Kevin knew they had messed up earlier, and this was their chance to make it right.
Jin Young continued, his voice now carrying the weight of their unspoken fears. "Even if Big Deal sends 500 or 1,000 men, Toji isn't someone who crumbles easily. You saw him back there—he's in control. He will win because, as the leader of the Division, he must win."
Jacob knew that Toji bore the weight of the Division on his shoulders, and it was up to them to lighten that load, to make sure that he didn't have to face every battle alone.
Soon, they arrived at J High, the school where Kirara studied. The Division members were already there, arranged in front of the school like a protective wall. Jacob and Kevin exchanged clothes with some of the other members, slipping into more inconspicuous outfits. They couldn't risk drawing too much attention. This was Kirara's school, and the last thing they needed was a scene.
As they walked through the parking lot, scanning their surroundings, they finally spotted her—Kirara. But the sight before them made Jacob's blood run cold.
She wasn't alone.
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Gun Park POV
I stood by the car, arms crossed, waiting for Crystal to finish with her school festival. It wasn't anything new—another day, another group of boys trailing after her like lost puppies. Crystal was beautiful, sure, but the attention she got was always the same. Annoying.
Today wasn't any different. Some pretty boy was trailing her, trying to act bold. I didn't even bother to pay much attention to him at first. But then he reached out—actually tried to grab her shoulder.
"Wait!" he shouted, like that would make her turn around.
I felt my patience snap.
In one smooth motion, I grabbed his wrist, twisting it before he could even register what was happening. He yelped, his eyes wide with shock, but I wasn't done. My foot came up, a Brazilian kick aimed straight for his head. But this kid—he moved. Quick reflexes. He dodged, barely.
Interesting. Most kids like him would be on the ground by now, crying about a broken wrist. But this one, he had some fight in him. Not enough to really matter, but still. It caught my attention for a second.
Before I could decide whether to smack him again or let him go, another kid showed up. He was accompanied by a girl, and from the moment she opened her mouth, I knew she was going to be trouble.
"What do you think you're doing, attacking a student near the school premises?" she said, wagging her finger at me like I was some kind of school bully.
I almost laughed.
Crystal, as calm as ever, stepped in before I could respond. "Don't make a scene, Gun. Let's leave, or I'll tell my father."
I glanced at her, then back at the pretty boy clutching his wrist. She was always quick to pull the Charles Choi card, like that would stop me from doing my job. I wasn't worried about what her father thought. I was here to protect her, and if that meant breaking a few bones along the way, so be it.
But then the guy with the girl stepped forward, taking a boxing stance. His fists were up, and he looked serious. I glanced at him, unimpressed. Another wannabe tough guy. These kids just didn't know when to quit.
I didn't even hesitate. My fist flew forward, a straight punch aimed for his face. He took the hit, stumbling back but staying on his feet.
Tougher than he looks.
The girl—who had been so confident a moment ago—screamed his name. "Vasco!" She jumped between us, trying to shield him.
I didn't care about her. She wasn't my target. But as I stepped forward, ready to move her aside, something caught my attention.
There were two more kids standing off to the side. And their eyes—no, his eyes. They were focused on me, filled with an intensity I hadn't felt in a long time. I paused mid-step, my instincts screaming at me to take this seriously. That kind of look wasn't something you saw every day.
Ignoring the girl and her screaming, I turned to face the guy with those weird eyes, the eyes same as mine.
"You've got some interesting eyes," I said, locking onto his gaze. I couldn't ignore it—the same kind of intensity I'd seen before, in fighters who had more than just potential.
He wasn't as big as the guy standing beside him, who looked like some kind of gorilla, but he had something else. Something more dangerous. Ultra Instinct.
Before I could size him up any further, I felt it—a strong grip on my shoulder. My eyes widened slightly. Whoever grabbed me had unnatural strength, the kind that reminded me of the old soju drinker I know. It was just brute force. He lacked experience.
I reacted on instinct, twisting his arm and using an aikido move to throw him off balance. His body lifted off the ground, and I slammed him down hard. But he wasn't done. He got up faster than I expected, keeping a good distance between us now.
Crystal's voice cut through the tension. "Gun! Stop! You're causing a scene!"
I didn't take my eyes off the kid. The one with those intense eyes, same as mine.
"You guys are from Division, right?" I asked, piecing it together.
"Tell your boss I'm coming for a visit."
If they were this strong, what kind of monster was leading them? Division had been on my radar for a while now, ever since rumors started swirling about their leader. I was curious. If he was strong enough to command people like this, maybe he'd be worth my time—or even my successor.
Even Goo was interested.
I checked the time on my watch. Enough of this for now. I looked at the kid with those special eyes one more time, the kind of eyes I had and only a certain bloodline carried.
"If you want to get stronger, find me," I said, before turning away and heading for the car.
Crystal climbed in beside me, still fuming from the scene. As I drove off, she asked,
"Who were they?"
I smirked. "Some really interesting individuals."