As Jae-Hoon stepped off the bus, memories of the past few weeks flashed through his mind.
The early morning training sessions, where he'd pushed his young body to its limits, relearning techniques he once knew by heart.
The joint practices with other schools, including the intense session with Daehan High that had tested their resolve.
His growing friendship with Min-Jae, built on mutual respect and shared experiences of pressure and expectations.
He remembered the countless hours spent with his teammates - Jun-ho's steady leadership, Yoon-Seo's fierce determination, Dong-Wook's improving techniques.
Jae-Hoon's thoughts turned to Yong-Soo, his former friend and betrayer, now a star at Daehan High.
Their brief encounter at the joint practice had sent chills down his spine, stirring memories of his past life.
As he approached the tournament venue, Jae-Hoon felt the weight of his experiences - both from this life and his previous one.
The support of Mrs. Kim and the orphanage kids, especially young Sung-Min, gave him strength.
This tournament wasn't just about him anymore; it was about proving what Seonghwa High was capable of.
The crisp autumn air nipped at Jae-Hoon's face as he stepped off the bus, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
The tournament venue loomed before him, a modern sports complex bustling with activity.
Taekwondo practitioners from various schools milled about, their colorful doboks a stark contrast to the gray concrete.
Jun-ho waved the team over, a large box tucked under his arm. "Gather 'round, everyone," he called out, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
As the team huddled close, Jun-ho opened the box, revealing a set of pristine white doboks with Seonghwa High's emblem emblazoned on the back in silver and blue.
Yoon-Seo's eyes widened as she ran her fingers over the smooth fabric. "These are top-quality," she whispered, awe evident in her voice.
Dong-Wook let out a low whistle. "How did you manage this, Captain? These must have cost a fortune."
Jun-ho's cheeks reddened slightly. "Let's just say I called in a few favors. We're a team, and we deserve to look like one."
As they changed into their new uniforms, Jae-Hoon couldn't help but notice how the fabric seemed to move with him, light yet sturdy. It felt like a second skin, a physical representation of how far they'd come as a team.
Kim Seo-yeon approached the group, her notebook in hand and a determined look on her face. "I've got the latest intel," she announced, her eyes scanning her hastily scribbled notes. "
Daehan High is still ranked first, but their star player, Yong-soo, is rumored to have a minor ankle injury."
The team leaned in closer as Seo-yeon continued. "Hansung Academy is right behind them, with Min-jae leading their charge.
They've been focusing on speed drills, so watch out for their quick combinations."
Jun-ho nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. "What about the other schools?"
Seo-yeon flipped a page in her notebook.
"Seoul National Taekwondo Institute is ranked third. They're known for their textbook-perfect techniques.
And don't underestimate Gangnam High - they're fourth, but they've got a reputation for unpredictable strategies."
Yoon-Seo leaned in, her eyes scanning the notes. "What about the other schools in our tournament?"
Seo-yeon nodded, turning to another page.
"Gyeongju Technical High is ranked 89th. They've been steadily improving over the past year.
Daejeon Central High is around 120th, but they've got a couple of standout performers.
And keep an eye on Sejong Science High - they're ranked around 110th, but they've been using some innovative training techniques."
"And us?" Dong-Wook asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seo-yeon's expression softened. "We're at 143rd. It's a small improvement from where we were, but..."
"But we're still underdogs," Jae-Hoon finished.
Jun-ho clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Listen up, team. Rankings are just numbers.
What matters is what we do out there on the mat. We've trained hard, we've grown together, and we're ready for this.
Let's show them what Seonghwa High is made of!"
The squeak of sneakers on polished floors echoed through the Daejeon Sports Center as Jae-Hoon stepped inside. His eyes widened, taking in the scene before him.
Two blue mats dominated the center of the gym, surrounded by a handful of folding chairs where stern-faced judges sat, clipboards in hand.
A modest set of bleachers lined one wall, filled with a smattering of spectators whose excited chatter created a low hum in the air.
Jae-Hoon's nostrils flared, catching the familiar scent of vinyl mats mingled with sweat and the faint trace of cleaning solution.
His gaze swept across the gym, noting the clusters of students in various colored doboks huddled in corners, some stretching, others engaged in hushed conversations.
Near the entrance, a large board displayed the tournament brackets. Jae-Hoon's heart raced as he scanned the names:
Daehan High
Hansung Academy
Seoul National Taekwondo Institute
Gangnam High
Gyeongju Technical High
Daejeon Central High
Sejong Science High
Gongju Girls' High
Chungnam Agricultural High
Seonghwa High
His eyes lingered on Seonghwa High's name, positioned at the bottom of the list.
The gap between their ranking and the top schools seemed to stretch.
Coach Kim's hand on his shoulder startled him. "This way," the coach murmured, guiding the team towards a small area marked by a hand-written "Seonghwa High" sign taped to the wall.
As Jae-Hoon set down his gear bag, the thud of it hitting the floor seemed to reverberate through his body.
His eyes met those of a competitor from another school – a face he vaguely recognized from a joint practice.
The other boy nodded slightly, a mix of acknowledgment and challenge in his eyes.
Jun-ho's voice, low and intense, cut through Jae-Hoon's observations. "Huddle up, team."
As they formed a tight circle, Jae-Hoon could feel the nervous energy radiating from his teammates, see the slight tremor in Dong-Wook's hands, hear the controlled, steady breathing of Yoon-Seo beside him.
A crackle of static pierced the air, followed by a tinny voice through a megaphone. "All teams, please prepare for the opening ceremony."
Jae-Hoon's heart pounded against his ribcage as they lined up along the edge of the mats.
The vinyl surface gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights, seeming to stretch endlessly before him.
A bead of sweat trickled down his back, and he clenched his fists, feeling the familiar calluses on his palms.
From the bleachers, a voice called out, "Go Seonghwa!" Jae-Hoon's head snapped up, catching sight of Mrs. Kim waving enthusiastically, surrounded by a group of younger kids from the orphanage.
Sung-Min's gap-toothed grin beamed down at him, and for a moment, the weight of expectation on Jae-Hoon's shoulders seemed to lighten.
As the ceremony began, Jae-Hoon's gaze drifted to the other teams. Some stood tall and confident, others shuffled nervously. But in that moment, rankings and reputations faded away.
The squeak of sneakers on the polished floor echoed through the gym as the tournament organizer stepped forward, megaphone in hand.
His voice crackled through the device, "Welcome, everyone! We have ten schools competing today. Let's give them all a round of applause!"
A smattering of applause filled the modest gymnasium, punctuated by enthusiastic cheers from the orphanage kids. Jae-Hoon's eyes swept across the lineup, taking in the faces of his competitors.
The crisp white doboks of Daehan High's team stood out in stark contrast to Seonghwa's uniforms.
Yong-soo caught Jae-Hoon's eye, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. Jae-Hoon's fists clenched involuntarily at his sides.
Next to Daehan, Hansung Academy's team exuded quiet determination. Min-jae stood among them, his gaze meeting Jae-Hoon's for a brief moment.
A slight nod passed between them - a silent acknowledgment of their friendship and rivalry.
As the organizer began calling out the schools, Jae-Hoon felt a hand on his shoulder.
He turned to see Jun-ho, jaw set and eyes focused. "Remember," Jun-ho whispered, his breath warm against Jae-Hoon's ear, "we've trained for this. We're ready."
Jae-Hoon nodded, drawing strength from his captain's words. He glanced at his teammates - Yoon-Seo bounced lightly on her toes, eyes blazing with determination.
Dong-Wook's usual nervous energy had transformed into focused intensity, his gaze fixed on the mats ahead.
"And finally," the organizer's voice rang out, "Seonghwa High!"
As they stepped forward, Jae-Hoon's heart pounded in his chest. The small crowd's applause, led enthusiastically by Mrs. Kim and the orphanage kids, echoed through the gym.
The organizer's voice faded as he moved on to explain the tournament structure. Jae-Hoon's focus sharpened, his senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The vinyl mats gleamed under the harsh gymnasium lights, their familiar scent mingling with the tang of nervous sweat and anticipation.
Across the gym, Yong-soo's smirk widened as he caught Jae-Hoon staring. He mouthed something that looked suspiciously like
"You're going down," before turning back to his Daehan High teammates.
The first matches were announced, and the gym erupted into a flurry of activity.
Competitors moved towards their designated areas, the sound of bare feet on mats joining the cacophony of voices and last-minute instructions.
"Seonghwa High versus Gyeongju Technical High, Mat 2!"
The announcement cut through the noise, sending a jolt through Jae-Hoon's body.
Jun-ho's hand clapped on Jae-Hoon's shoulder, startling him. "Dong-Wook, you're up," the captain said, his voice low and intense. "Show them what we're made of."
Dong-Wook nodded, his earlier nervousness replaced by a steely glint in his eyes. He stepped onto the mat, the vinyl surface squeaking under his bare feet.
Across from him, a Gyeongju Technical High student took his position.
The referee raised his hand, the gym falling silent in anticipation. As his arm dropped, both fighters exploded into action.
The sharp slap of impacts echoed through the space, punctuated by the occasional gasp from the small crowd.
Jae-Hoon's fingers dug into his palms as he watched, his body instinctively tensing with each near miss.
Beside him, Yoon-Seo bounced on her toes, her whispered encouragements barely audible over the sound of the match.
A resounding thwack cut through the air as Dong-Wook's roundhouse kick connected.
The referee's arm shot up, signaling a point.
The Seonghwa High section erupted, their cheers drowning out the disappointed groans from the Gyeongju supporters.
As the final whistle blew, Dong-Wook's chest heaved with exertion, sweat glistening on his brow.
The referee raised Dong-Wook's arm, declaring him the victor.
Jun-ho leapt to his feet, pumping his fist in the air, while Yoon-Seo's excited shriek pierced through the cacophony of cheers.
Jae-Hoon's eyes scanned the gym, catching sight of Min-jae among the Hansung Academy team.
His friend gave a slight nod, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. The message was clear: the real challenge was yet to come.
"Next up in the men's flyweight division, Seonghwa High versus Gyeongju Technical High!" The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers.
Jun-ho's hand clasped Jae-Hoon's shoulder. "You're up. Show them what you've got."
Jae-Hoon nodded, his heart racing as he stepped onto the mat. Across from him, a Gyeongju Technical High fighter took his place, both of them similar in size and build.
The referee's arm sliced through the air. At the shrill whistle, both fighters exploded into action.
The sharp slap of impacts echoed through the gym, punctuated by the occasional gasp from the crowd.
Dong-Wook and Yoon-Seo watched intently from the sidelines, their bodies tensing with each near miss.
Coach Kim stood nearby, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he observed Jae-Hoon's technique.
A resounding thwack cut through the air as Jae-Hoon's roundhouse kick connected with his opponent's body protector.
The referee's arm shot up, signaling a point. The Seonghwa section erupted in cheers.
Jae-Hoon reset his stance, his gaze locked on his opponent. As the match resumed, his movements became sharper, more focused, drawing from both his current training and the muscle memory of his past life.
The final whistle pierced the air. Both fighters stood, chests heaving, awaiting the referee's decision. The gym fell silent, the tension palpable.
The referee's arm sliced through the air, signaling the end of the match.
Jae-Hoon's chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, sweat dripping from his brow.
Across the mat, his opponent from Gyeongju Technical High mirrored his exhaustion, hands on knees as he gulped for air.
A hush fell over the gym as the referee stepped forward. The tension was palpable, spectators leaning forward in their seats.
Jae-Hoon's heart pounded in his ears, drowning out everything else.
The referee's hand shot up, pointing towards Jae-Hoon's side of the mat. "Winner, Seonghwa High!"
The Seonghwa section erupted in cheers. Jun-ho leapt to his feet, pumping his fist in the air. Yoon-Seo's excited shriek pierced through the noise.
Dong-Wook clapped Jae-Hoon on the back as he stumbled off the mat, grinning from ear to ear.
Coach Kim's face remained impassive, but a slight nod betrayed his approval.
He handed Jae-Hoon a water bottle, which Jae-Hoon gratefully accepted, gulping down the cool liquid.
The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers once more. "Next up in the men's welterweight division, Seonghwa High versus Gyeongju Technical High!"
Jun-ho stepped forward, rolling his shoulders as he made his way to the mat.
The Seonghwa team huddled around him, offering last-minute advice and encouragement.
As Jun-ho took his position, Jae-Hoon felt the familiar buzz of anticipation in the air. The next match was about to begin