---
West Gangbuk High
"Wow, what a handsome guy!"
"Should I ask for his number?"
Girls clustered in the hallway, their eyes following a tall, confident figure walking past them. Suhyeon listened to their murmurs but shrugged them off, unfazed.
'School, huh? Some things never change,' he thought as he navigated the familiar hallways. Just then, he accidentally brushed shoulders with Baek Chaerin, one of the school's most admired girls.
Suddenly, a panel blinked to life in Suhyeon's mind's eye.
[A Tutorial Quest is being generated.]
'Oh, it's here,' he thought, half-amused.
[Reward for completing the quest: 1 Gold Card and 1 Silver Card]
'Another Gold Card? And a Silver one too? Isn't this a bit much for an easy quest?' Suhyeon mused, but then his eyes widened as he read the quest.
[Quest: Kiss Baek Chaerin]
[Reward: 1 Gold Card, 1 Silver Card]
'Huh? What kind of quest is this?!' Suhyeon froze in place, his mind racing.
Chaerin looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Wait… Kim Suhyeon?" Her gaze swept over him, curiosity mixed with a hint of surprise. "Did you get taller or something?"
"Oh, Chaerin," Suhyeon said, snapping out of his daze and trying to act natural.
She frowned, giving him a skeptical look. "You're giving me creeps, talking to me like that." With a flip of her hair, she strode off down the hallway.
---
Back in the Classroom
The quest reminder kept flashing in his mind, almost taunting him.
[Quest: Kiss Baek Chaerin (Reward: 1 Gold Card, 1 Silver Card)]
'Is it telling me to kiss her without her consent? There's no way I'm doing that,' Suhyeon thought, slightly panicked. Just then, his friend Kuza leaned in with a mischievous grin.
"You want a kiss?" Kuza teased.
"For real?" Suhyeon nearly jumped out of his seat, startled.
"Relax, man, I was just joking," Kuza laughed, then paused, noticing Suhyeon's serious expression. "What's going on?"
Suhyeon sighed. "If you were given a mission to kiss a girl, what would you do?"
Kuza raised an eyebrow. "Simple. Just be honest and ask her. Or… pay her!" he joked, grinning. "Who doesn't like money?"
"Genius!" Suhyeon grinned, momentarily cheered up. "Money solves everything!" He leaned closer. "Kuza, you got any cash? Lend me some, I need it for the quest."
Kuza held up his hands, laughing nervously. "Whoa, man, maybe we're going a little far here."
Suhyeon chuckled, realizing how absurd it sounded. 'Actually… maybe there's another way.'
He remembered Chaerin often stayed behind in class during PE. Maybe he didn't need to go for a direct kiss after all.
---
In the Classroom After PE
Suhyeon hung back, pretending to organize his desk while Chaerin sat alone, scrolling on her phone. He saw his water bottle and got an idea. Maybe, just maybe, this would satisfy the quest.
"Hey," Suhyeon said, approaching her casually. "I noticed you're always here after PE. You must get thirsty, right? Here, have my water if you want."
Chaerin looked up, eyeing the bottle suspiciously. "What, did you poison it or something?" she asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Suit yourself," Suhyeon shrugged, keeping his expression casual. "Just thought I'd offer."
Chaerin rolled her eyes but, after a moment, reached out, took a small sip, and handed it back. "Thanks, I guess."
As the bottle touched her lips, Suhyeon felt the familiar flicker of the system's panel.
[Quest Completed: Kiss Baek Chaerin (Indirectly)]
[Rewards: 1 Gold Card, 1 Silver Card]
He held back a grin as he felt the cards' powers merge into him. Enhanced Agility from the Gold Card, Stamina Boost from the Silver—he could feel the surge of energy coursing through him.
Chaerin noticed his subtle smile and frowned. "What are you grinning about?"
"Nothing," he replied, pocketing the water bottle. "Just feeling good."
She narrowed her eyes, a little flustered, and returned to her phone. Suhyeon felt a sense of triumph—he'd completed the quest in his own way, without crossing any lines. But as he left the classroom, he realized not everyone had missed the interaction.
---
In the Hallway
"Oh, is Suhyeon dating Baek Chaerin?" a voice sneered from behind.
Suhyeon turned to see Choi Changdong, the loud-mouthed bully, holding up his phone. "Guys! Suhyeon has a thing for Baek Chaerin!" Changdong announced, laughing as his friends joined in.
Chaerin's face turned red with embarrassment as she glanced at Suhyeon, but he only stepped forward, calm and composed.
"Delete it," Suhyeon said, his voice low and steady.
Changdong's laughter stopped, replaced by a sneer. "What did you say, Kim Suhyeon? You think you're hot stuff now, huh?" His face twisted in anger. "Let's see if you can back it up."
Changdong threw a punch, but Suhyeon didn't even blink. His S-level boxing skills kicked in, and he sidestepped the attack with ease. His eyes narrowed as he faced Changdong and his friends.
"Big mistake," Suhyeon said calmly.
Before Changdong could react, Suhyeon launched a clean jab that struck Changdong in the chest, sending him stumbling backward. His friends jumped in to help, but Suhyeon moved with precision and speed, blocking and countering each attack. One by one, they fell back, doubled over from a series of quick jabs and hooks that had them gasping.
With a final sweeping kick, Suhyeon sent the last one sprawling against a desk. Changdong struggled to his feet, his face red and bruised, a look of fear mixed with disbelief in his eyes.
"You… you think you're tough now? This isn't over!" he spat, wiping blood from his lip.
Suhyeon stepped closer, his gaze unyielding. "Delete the video," he repeated. Changdong, finally defeated, unlocked his phone and deleted the clip under Suhyeon's watchful eye.
As they limped out of the room, Suhyeon smiled to himself, feeling the satisfaction of a well-earned victory. It wasn't just the fight he'd won, but a newfound sense of confidence. The system might keep throwing him curveballs, but he was ready for whatever came next.
---