A message popped up on my phone saying that the Opportunity had been activated, and then—
A new window appeared right before my eyes.
=
Person: [Yong Sang-jae]
1. Step 1 – "Hold both of Yong Sang-jae's hands." (Incomplete)
2. Step 2 – Locked.
=
'…What the hell is this?'
I frowned at the strange message.
Grab his hands with both of mine? What kind of nonsense is that?
"Baek Kang-hyun, are you okay? You look a little strange."
"Huh? Oh."
Yong Sang-jae was giving me a puzzled look.
Guess I was scowling without realizing it.
But seriously, who wouldn't pull a face after reading something like that?
"Kang-hyun?"
He called my name again.
If I kept acting weird, he might get suspicious.
I quickly shook my head.
"No, no. He just suddenly charged at me, so I gave him a little payback, that's all."
"…You hit him?"
"I hit him too."
It was true—I smacked the back of his neck once.
"You're not exactly the type who's good at fighting, though."
Right, up until middle school, I was hopeless at fighting.
Back then, this guy even used to check if I carried a taser with me every day.
Come to think of it, he really knew my younger self far too well.
"…And then you zapped him with electricity."
Damn my mouth.
Why do I always phrase things like that?
But honestly, nothing else came to mind.
Fortunately, Yong Sang-jae didn't press me further. He just… looked at me blankly.
"Kang-hyun. Did your talent awaken, by any chance?"
"What? A talent?"
Right on cue. This guy never sugarcoats anything.
"Why would you think that?"
"I heard that when someone awakens their talent, their personality can change."
That's just a rumor.
In reality, people just show their true nature once they gain power.
Still, I could see how he might misunderstand.
After all, I never actually used my taser even once in the past.
'So… should I tell him, or not?'
I hesitated.
To speak, or to stay silent?
Because the truth is—I had awakened.
A talent called Opportunity.
The problem was, I had no idea what kind of talent it was.
Even the grade listed in my status window was marked as "Under Adjustment."
And on top of that—there were bizarre conditions attached.
Like this one: "Hold both of Yong Sang-jae's hands."
What was that even supposed to mean?
What would change just because I grabbed his hands?
'And come on, how am I supposed to hold another guy's hands like that?'
A handshake, sure—but clasping both hands?
That's basically telling me not to do it.
How the hell was I supposed to do something so awkward?
"Kang-hyun. You've been acting weird since earlier."
"Oh? Ah, I was just… thinking."
"…Thinking?"
Even now, I was torn.
Should I tell him or not?
But in the end, the answer came quickly.
I pulled out my taser and smirked.
"Like you said, maybe I'll awaken soon. You know I've never actually used this thing, right?"
Yeah. No need to tell him.
I knew Sang-jae wasn't a bad guy, but that didn't mean I owed him all my secrets.
Besides, even I didn't fully understand my own talent yet. How could he?
"That might be a sign."
"…A sign?"
"Like I said earlier, people often change when they awaken their talents."
That rumor again.
But I had to admit—hearing him twist things to fit his own logic was kind of impressive.
"Y-yeah, maybe…."
I gave a vague answer to avoid suspicion.
Technically, his reasoning wasn't wrong—sometimes people did show signs before awakening.
"It's getting late. Let's head back."
"…Go where?"
"Home. You were waiting for me, weren't you?"
"Oh? Uh… yeah. Right."
Back in the day, I'd always wait for him at the school library while studying talents until his classes ended.
I glanced at the guy still sprawled on the ground.
"…What about him?"
Kang Woo-hyuk was still lying unconscious.
"Leave him."
"…Just leave him there?"
Sang-jae sounded unusually cold.
Had my memory been warped by all the TV programs glorifying him as a hero?
Or was this simply his true nature?
Hard to say.
"He's not dead."
"Well, yeah, he's not dead."
After all, he was a talent-holder.
A taser shock alone wouldn't kill him, especially with his endurance skill.
"He picked the fight, didn't he?"
"…That's true."
"Then he won't be able to talk about it. It was self-defense."
I had to agree.
If word got out that Kang Woo-hyuk was knocked out by a taser-wielding nobody, his pride would never recover.
'And more importantly—there's him.'
I glanced at Yong Sang-jae.
The one who had awakened an S-rank talent.
Korea's promising hero of the future.
The guy destined to achieve countless feats.
"Kang-hyun. Don't worry about Woo-hyuk. An incident like today won't happen again."
"…Why not?"
"Because I won't let it."
Hearing that was oddly reassuring.
When I thought back, he was always the one who looked out for me.
And me? I was the idiot who pushed him away out of jealousy.
'Yeah. Jealousy was the real crime.'
But this time, I wouldn't repeat that mistake.
[Later, at the convenience store]
We sat side by side, slurping down cup ramen.
Back then, this was routine—6 PM hunger solved by Shin Ramyun for me, and Sari Gomtang for him.
"Today they told me to try releasing cold air. But I couldn't manage it."
Every time we ate together, Sang-jae would talk about his training or the talents he encountered.
And I, obsessed with talents, always listened with eager eyes.
"So? Did you manage it?"
"No. I can gather and release it from my hand, but not from my whole body."
"Sounds tricky."
"Probably just inexperience. But I need to master it before the Polygon exam…."
"You'll get it soon enough."
I wasn't lying.
In fact, I knew he would master it just in time for the exam.
Funny thing—he was always more talkative when it was just the two of us.
On TV, he barely said two words.
That's why people called him the "Frost King."
What a grand nickname.
"Sang-jae. When's the entrance exam again?"
"March 3rd. Three weeks from now."
"So… March 3rd, 2067."
I downed the last of my soup, running through my thoughts.
Three facts became clear:
1. I'd returned to my third year of middle school.
2. Unlike before, I now had a talent.
3. The Polygon entrance exam hadn't begun yet.
And with Opportunity, I qualified to take it.
Even if I didn't know exactly what it did yet.
I sneaked a glance at Sang-jae.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"…I'm just… jealous."
"Jealous? Of what?"
"You've got an S-rank talent. You don't even need to worry about the exam. Meanwhile, I've got nothing."
"…You've been judged S-rank too, you know."
His words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Yes, the judgment was there.
But reality never matched it—at least, not in my original timeline.
"Honestly, I wish I had your talent. I'd know how to use it properly."
"You would, probably. You're smarter than me. I still can't figure out half the formulas…."
"That's because you've got four skills. If you sync them properly, it'll all click into place."
"…You think so?"
"Yeah. Besides, ice is badass."
He grimaced. "No. It's harder with four. People expect too much."
Typical.
Only someone who had everything could say that.
And then I remembered the condition.
Step 1 – "Hold both of Yong Sang-jae's hands."
Maybe… just maybe, I should try it.
After all, we were friends. Holding hands wasn't that weird. Right?
I steeled myself.
But how was I supposed to start?
"Damn it. If you don't want them, then just give them to me! I'll put them to good use!"
I regretted the words the instant they left my mouth.
What kind of idiot blurts that out?
"If I could, I would."
"Pfft—!"
I almost spit out ramen.
I was joking, but he was serious. His eyes said so.
"Honestly, four is too much for me. Even two feels heavy. If I could give you one, I would."
…What?
This condition… might be easier to fulfill than I thought.
"Don't joke like that. Makes me want one too."
"Does it sound like a joke?"
He smiled faintly at me.
"Seriously. If I could give one away, I'd give it to you. Because we're friends."
"…"
I hadn't realized until then—
That in his heart, I'd already been like family.
And in the original timeline… I'd thrown that away.
Not this time.
"Hey, Sang-jae."
I put my chopsticks down, exhaled, and reached across—
Grasping both of his hands.
Awkward as hell. But I did it.
"Don't worry so much. If anyone can do it, it's you. I guarantee it."
Because the truth was—
I knew better than anyone just how far he would go.
And then—
[Condition for Opportunity fulfilled: Step 1 – Hold both of Yong Sang-jae's hands. Completed!]
[Yong Sang-jae's skill has been added to your selection slot!]
I froze.
No way.
Did I really… just steal his skill?
An S-rank skill?
"Kang-hyun?"
"Huh? Y-yeah?"
"…Your hands."
"Oh, s-sorry!"
I'd been holding on the whole time like an idiot.
"You keep zoning out. Are you sure you're okay? If you're unwell, I can call my doctor—"
"No, no, really! Just lost in thought!"
"…If you say so. Anyway, tomorrow—"
His phone buzzed.
"Sorry. Give me a minute."
"Yeah, go ahead."
While he answered, I finished my ramen.
I was dying to check my status, but with Sang-jae right there, I couldn't risk it.
Still, my thoughts were in chaos.
If his skill was in my slot… then what the hell was Opportunity really?
"Sorry, Kang-hyun. Something came up."
Perfect timing, huh.
"Go ahead. I'll clean up."
"…Thanks. You always—"
"Don't sweat it. That's what friends are for."
"…Friends, huh."
He gave me a strangely moved look.
And then he was gone.
Left alone, I checked my calendar.
February 19th, 2067. A Friday.
Tomorrow was free.
No appointments, no plans.
Which meant—
'Perfect. Time to start putting my own life in order.'
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