Jiro couldn't get over what had happened in the cafeteria. It was like the world had shifted and exposed something that had been there all along, an invisible layer he had never seen before. The weird, heightened awareness, the way everything seemed to slow down in those critical moments. It didn't feel like luck.
He kept his head down the rest of the day, walking through the school's hallways like he was in a dream. Slamming lockers, conversations between groups of students, and the occasional laugh were all so much more vibrant than usual. The sensation of being in a swarming crowd yet being completely alone was nothing new to him. But now, it felt different. He was not just walking through a sea of people; he was observing it-–processing it. "Jiro!"
He came out of his thoughts and looked up. Min-Seo Kim was standing by the entrance of the schoolyard, waving at him. A bright smile spread across her face, and despite everything that had happened in the cafeteria, Jiro felt a slight warmth spread through him. Min-Seo had always been the one person in school who treated him like a person, not just a target.
"Hey, you alright?" she asked softly.
Jiro nodded, but his attention wasn't on the words. He was reliving the moment in the cafeteria over and over again.
"I'm fine," he said, which was a lie. He had no idea what he was.
Min-Seo raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but she didn't press. "Okay… just don't skip out on lunch today. I brought something extra for you." She handed him a small brown bag, and he took it automatically, though his mind was elsewhere.
She didn't push him any further. "Well, I'll see you later, Jiro. Don't get too lost in your head, okay?"
Jiro gave a little smile, the first real smile of the day, as he watched her walk off. Her kindness was a weird beacon in the chaos that filled his head. She disappeared into the crowd of students soon after, however, and he was left again to his own thoughts.
He walked through the school courtyard toward the back where he usually sat in silence. But as he passed by the entrance to the gymnasium, he caught sight of someone. Kyung-Ho Park. The bully. The king of the school.
At first, Jiro thought he would ignore him after all, he had already humiliated him earlier. But something in the back of his mind urged him to pause.
Kyung-Ho was encircled by his usua group of sycophants, but he seemed different this time round. They were whispering amongst themselves, their whispers very low. Kyung-ho's presence was imperative, but there was subtlety in the way they looked at him.
As did his senses. It was like this alarm bell went off within his head. His Perception Field, that strange something that had awakened in him within the cafeteria, fired up once more. And as such, he felt he could feel the tension brewing within the air; feel see how Kyung-Ho seemed to shift in posture by giving just a slight twitch from his eye.
They're planning something.
But what?
Jiro's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, he fixed his gaze onto Kyung-Ho. He studied him as an animal would observe its prey.
Kyung-Ho turned around and their eyes met. Suddenly, everything became a still image. All that Jiro could notice in Kyung-Ho's face was the look of anger there, but what he detected behind this was something other, much colder and calculated. As if the bully had made his mind already that the victim is someone who had to be gotten out of his life.
Jiro felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know what Kyung-Ho was planning, but it didn't matter. He wasn't about to let himself be a victim again. Not this time.
Turning himself and walking briskly toward the back of the school was when he felt Kyung-Ho's eyes locked on him. The gaze was like a heavy weight on his back, which let him know that this may not be over yet for Jiro.
The end of the school day had just rolled around when Jiro found himself on edge. His mind kept replaying the encounter with Kyung-Ho. He didn't know what to expect, but one thing was clear: the Perception Field wasn't just a gift. It was a tool. A weapon. And Kyung-Ho had taken notice.
As he crossed the school gate, Jiro looked at his phone, and to his surprise, the time went by so fast. He had wanted to go directly home but, as soon as he stepped out on the street, he noticed a figure leaning against the streetlight that he could not recognize. It was Kyung-Ho.
The bully was now alone. His gang left him standing there, waiting.
Jiro's heart pounded. He felt something was coming, and he didn't know if he was prepared for it. But he could not turn back now.
Kyung-Ho moved forward, his movements slow and deliberate. "You really thought you were going to get away?" he said, his voice even but full of venom. "You humiliated me today, Jiro. In front of everyone. Do you think that is something that is going to be forgotten?"
Jiro didn't say anything. His mind was racing, trying to process the situation. He was alone. Kyung-Ho was bigger, stronger, and more experienced in fights. But Jiro had something Kyung-Ho didn't. He had his Perception Field.
"You should've known your place," Kyung-Ho continued, his voice growing more menacing. "But now, I'm going to teach you a lesson. A real lesson."
Jiro's heart pounded, but he stood his ground. He could feel Kyung-Ho's intent the tension in his muscles, the faint shift in his weight. The bully was going to strike.
And Jiro would be ready.
As Kyung-Ho lunged forward, Jiro's Perception Field flared. He could see every detail—the way Kyung-Ho's arm moved, the slight tilt of his body as he aimed for a punch.
Without thinking, Jiro shifted to the side with a fluid precision in movement that felt like the manipulation of a puppeteer who tugs on the strings. He could see the punch, and in this split moment, it seemed that time was moving slowly for him.
Kyung-Ho's fist barely missed him, but Jiro was already behind him. He reached out and grabbed the back of Kyung-Ho's jacket, using the momentum to push him off balance.
The bully stumbled, but he quickly regained his footing, spinning around with a roar of frustration. This time, he didn't hesitate. He charged again, but Jiro was already one step ahead.
As Kyung-Ho swung, Jiro dodged leftward, twisting his body into a flowing motion. He caught Kyung-Ho's wrist in mid-air, pinning it downwards. The bully attempted to withdraw, but Jiro did not release his hold. There was just that flash of contact where Jiro felt Kyung-Ho's shock. It wasn't purely physical power but the shock of being outmaneuvered.
Kyung-Ho growled, pushing himself away and wiping the sweat from his brow. "What the hell…?" he muttered at Jiro, looking like he had seen a ghost.
Jiro did not say anything. He merely stood there, observing Kyung-Ho intently, every muscle in his body ready for the next move.
After a few tense seconds, Kyung-Ho huffed in frustration. "This isn't over, Han," he said through gritted teeth. "You think you've won? You're nothing. Just wait until the others find out what you did to me."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, his pride wounded, but his resolve firm.
Jiro stood there for a moment, his mind still reeling from the encounter. It had happened so fast, but now, as the adrenaline began to wear off, he could feel the exhaustion in his bones.
He wasn't sure what this ability meant, or what he was supposed to do with it, but one thing was certain: his life was never going to be the same again.