Next Morning
The smell of eggs and toast filled the house, Sun streamed through the wide kitchen windows.
Zoe was the first to stumble in, hair messy, rubbing her eyes, She froze when she saw Hana already busy at the stove, flipping pancakes like she'd done this a thousand times.
"G-Good morning…" Zoe mumbled, she looked compared to Hana, who somehow managed to look radiant even in an apron.
"Morning" Hana beamed, setting down a plate "You're just in time Sit, breakfast is almost done."
One by one, the rest wandered in Mira trying to hide that she had drooled on the couch pillow, Vasco stretching like a bear, and Zack grumbling, Minsoo came in last, freshened up, with a faint grin at the sight of his friends gathered in the kitchen.
The table quickly filled with food pancakes, eggs, kimchi, rice, and even miso soup Hana had made early.
Vasco clasped his hands together dramatically "This… this is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen."
Zoe smacked his arm "Stop drooling, It's just food."
"Food is life!" Vasco retorted, already stuffing his mouth.
Zoe laughed, shaking her head "Hana, you're amazing Honestly, I didn't expect this."
Hana smiled "Well, get used to it You'll be seeing more of me soon."
Everyone looked up "Huh?"
Hana set down her fork "I'm joining J-High starting next week, Transferred everything already."
The table went silent for a beat before Zack nearly choked on his drink "Wait, WHAT?! You're coming to our school?!"
Zoe and Mira exchanged quick glances, Vasco, meanwhile, had literal sparkles in his eyes "Another strong ally at J-High! Yes! This is fate!"
Minsoo chuckled "Don't make it sound like she's joining a crew, Vasco She's just transferring schools."
After cleaning up, everyone started gathering their things to head out, Minsoo jingled his keys casually "I'll drop you guys off, It's easier than walking."
Zack raised an eyebrow "Drop us off? What, you have car or anything?"
Minsoo smirked "Yes, My own."
Sure enough, when they stepped outside, parked in the driveway was a sleek black car that looked fresh out of a catalog.
Zoe's jaw dropped "You... have a car then Why you come without It at School?!"
Mira blinked "Wait… do you even have a license? You're in high school."
Minsoo just shrugged, unlocking the car with a beep "Yeah, I got mine Don't worry, it's all legal."
Vasco's eyes practically sparkled again "Minsoo, you're so reliable!"
"Stop hyping him up," Zack muttered, though he climbed into the passenger seat before anyone else could claim it, The others squeezed into the back, Zoe and Mira forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Vasco, who didn't seem to mind at all.
The engine On smoothly as Minsoo pulled out of the driveway, one hand casually on the wheel For a while, the car was filled with chatter, music humming softly in the background.
Then Minsoo glanced at Vasco and Zack with a small grin "So… you guys have been fighting a lot lately, right? Improving?"
Zack raised an eyebrow "Yeah, What about it?"
"Well," Minsoo said, eyes still on the road, "your footwork still needs work, Zack You leave your right side too open when you swing, And Vasco, you rely too much on pure strength, It works, but against someone trained, you'll get countered easily."
Both of them froze.
"Wait," Zack said slowly "How the hell do you know that?"
Vasco leaned forward "Don't tell me you… you're a fighter?!"
Minsoo chuckled, finally glancing at them through the rear-view mirror "More than that I'm a martial artist actually."
"No way" Vasco's eyes went wide "That's… that's incredible!"
Zoe leaned forward between the seats "You mean all this time, you could fight like that and you didn't say anything?! Only to let Them do it."
Mira cleared her throat loudly, interrupting the conversation "Can we not talk about fighting for once?"
As the drive went on, Zoe suddenly asked the question that had been on everyone's mind since yesterday "By the way Minsoo How do you even have that house? And everything else? You're not exactly living like a normal student."
Minsoo said simply "It's because of Sun-ho."
"What about him?" Zoe asked.
"He's not just my brother, He's the CEO of a company we built together, Wealth Investment."
"International wealth… Investment?!" Zoe stammered.
"Like… a real company?" Zack blinked in disbelief.
Minsoo nodded "We co-own it Sun-ho and I each hold 40% of the shares, Hana owns the other 20%."
Silence.
Zoe's mouth hung open "you're saying the three of you run an actual investment company?"
Minsoo shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal "Yeah, It's our livelihood, That's why we live the way we do."
They were left speechless, staring at him like he was someone completely different from the quiet classmate they thought they knew.
Vasco eventually broke the silence "Minsoo you're amazing!"
Minsoo only smiled faintly, his eyes on the road ahead.
---
A day Before the hangout
The living room was unusually quiet that evening, the glow of the Tv-screen illuminating the room as Minsoo and Hana sat cross-legged on the floor, controllers in hand.
Minsoo stretched his arms behind his head before glancing at Hana with his usual calm expression "It's here," he said "The arrival of Daniel Park, Zack and Mira they're going to meet him soon, I'd say Sunday, right in Zack's little date And if I'm right, Daniel will have cut his hair by then."
Hana shifted her focus from the screen to him.
"Anyway, you'll be transferring on Monday too You'll be in my class along with Daniel Park, Things are going to heat up quickly after that."
Hana nodded, her voice softer now "Yeah."
For a moment, the room was filled only with the sound effects from the console Then Minsoo leaned forward, smirking as he picked his character "Alright, Enough talking about these things, I will definitely defeat you this time."
Hana snorted "You wish, I'm still a league above you, noob."
Minsoo's character lunged forward aggressively, but Hana dodged with ease, countering every move with precise, almost mocking timing Within minutes, his health bar was slashed down to nothing.
"Victory!" Hana cheered, tossing her hands in the air as her character delivered the final blow.
Minsoo stared at the screen, blinking in disbelief "Wait, That doesn't count, I wasn't even Locked In."
"Ha! Excuses, excuses!" Hana burst out laughing, her voice loud She leaned back on her hands, head thrown back.
The laughter hit Minsoo harder than the defeat itself, His calm mask cracked, and a vein twitched on his forehead "You're laughing way too much for someone who just got lucky."
"Lucky?" Hana smirked, her cheeks pink from laughing so hard "No, Minsoo That was pure skill, You're just terrible."
Minsoo narrowed his eyes "Alright, That's it."
He dropped the controller and suddenly lunged at her, Hana yelped, scrambling to her feet as he chased her around the house.
"Stop running!" Minsoo barked, his rare irritation mixed with an almost childish competitiveness.
"Then stop losing Noob!" Hana teased, darting around the couch.
They ran through the living room, around the dining table, even halfway up the stairs before Hana tripped slightly and Minsoo seized his chance With a quick grab, he caught her wrist, pulling her off balance, Both of them tumbled onto the carpet, landing in a messy heap.
Minsoo ended up on top of her, pinning her down gently but firmly His breath was slightly uneven, his dark eyes locked onto hers. "Laugh now" he muttered, his voice low.
The laughter died in Hana's throat, Her chest rose and fell quickly as she blinked up at him, Their faces were close.
For three long minutes, neither moved, The playful atmosphere dissolved into something heavier, The silence between them was filled only with the sound of their breathing.
Hana's cheeks flushed crimson, Realizing how compromising the position was, she shoved at his shoulder. "G-Get off me, idiot!"
Minsoo, however, didn't move right away, A small, mischievous smile tugged at his lips "Why? You seemed fine just now."
"Don't tease me!" she snapped, turning her head to hide the deepening blush.
Finally, he shifted off her, sitting back casually as if nothing had happened, But his calm expression carried a hint of mischief now "You're really cute when you panic, you know."
Hana sat up quickly, hugging a pillow to her chest, her face red as she avoided his gaze.
Minsoo leaned back against the couch, his tone teasing "I could always chase you again if you want."
She threw the pillow at him, He caught it easily, smirking.