The taxi pulled up to the curb in front of a sushi restaurant.
Joe Yabuki climbed out of the backseat. He reached into his pocket and flipped open his wallet. It was completely empty.
He didn't have a single bill to pay the driver.
The man in the front seat watched him through the mirror with a look of growing suspicion.
"Hey, kid. You going to pay me or what?"
The restaurant door creaked open before Joe could answer.
An old man wearing a white chef's jacket stepped onto the sidewalk.
The cook looked at Joe and then at the idling car. He walked over and tapped Joe on the shoulder.
"Is there a problem here?"
Joe turned around to face him. "Who are you?"
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Hwang Yang-jung. I work for President Choi Tae-ho."
Joe gave a slow nod.
The driver leaned out the window and shouted. "I'm still waiting on my money!"
Yang-jung saw the empty wallet in Joe's hand. He reached into his own pocket and handed the driver a few bills to cover the ride.
Joe started to say something but the words caught in his throat.
He really didn't have the money to pay him back.
The driver grumbled something under his breath and hit the gas.
Yang-jung turned his back and walked toward the entrance. He got a few steps away and realized Joe was still standing on the pavement like a statue. He looked over his shoulder. "Are you going to stand out there all morning?"
Joe cleared his throat and looked at his shoes. "I just..."
Yang-jung pulled the door open and waved him in. "Get inside. It is freezing out here."
Joe followed him into the shop.
The place was quiet and empty of customers. Yang-jung went straight behind the wooden counter and into the kitchen area.
Joe lingered by the doorway for a second before following him.
The only sound in the kitchen was the steady rhythm of a knife hitting a wooden cutting board.
Yang-jung kept his head down while he sliced through raw fish. He didn't say a word.
Joe watched him work for a few minutes. "When is President Choi coming?"
"There is one more person coming so the meeting was pushed back." Yang-jung still didn't look up. "You have to wait."
Joe nodded and stayed silent.
The kitchen went quiet again except for the slicing of the blade.
Yang-jung eventually slid a small wooden plate of sushi across the counter toward Joe.
"Eat."
Joe thought about saying no but his stomach felt hollow. He hadn't eaten a real meal all day.
"Thank you."
He picked up a pair of wooden chopsticks. Just as he was about to eat, his phone started vibrating in his pocket.
It was Gwang-mu.
Joe pressed the phone to his ear.
"Hey kid. Did you meet the President yet?"
"The meeting was delayed."
Gwang-mu let out a loud laugh. "Oh? Really? I must have forgot to mention that. My bad."
Joe could tell from his voice that he hadn't forgotten anything. It was a prank because of the fight they had.
Joe didn't really care.
At least he was getting a free meal out of the wait.
He popped a piece of fish into his mouth and chewed. "Who is the other person coming?"
"There should be two of you."
"I think the President only wants to meet one guy. That is what I heard."
"How do you know that?"
"Hwang Yang-jung told me."
The line went dead quiet for a second.
Gwang-mu suddenly sucked in a sharp breath. "You are standing with Hwang Yang-jung right now?"
"Yeah."
"Listen to me." Gwang-mu's voice turned very serious. "Be careful. That guy is the President's top man. He is part of the knife corps. He is dangerous."
Joe looked at the old man who was currently just dicing vegetables.
"Got it."
"Good. Watch yourself."
The call ended.
Joe put his phone on the counter and went back to his food.
His hand started to shake again. He almost dropped his chopsticks on the floor.
Yang-jung had been watching him the whole time.
He had seen Joe's hand tremble three or four times since he walked in.
The chef put down his knife and wiped his hands on a towel.
Joe finished the last bite and opened his mouth to say thanks. Yang-jung spoke first.
"You should leave."
Joe stopped moving. "What?"
"The President does not need a sick man for a bodyguard."
Yang-jung spoke in a flat voice but the words hit hard.
Joe didn't say anything back.
He had hidden his tremors from Gwang-mu to get the interview.
No boss would hire someone with Parkinson's to protect them.
Yang-jung stared at him with cold eyes.
Joe stared right back and didn't blink.
He couldn't afford to walk away from this job.
The tension in the kitchen grew heavy.
The sound of a car engine idling came from the street outside.
Yang-jung turned and headed for the front door.
"The President is here."
He ignored Joe and pushed the door open.
Joe stood by the counter and squeezed his hands into tight fists.
A black sedan was parked right in front of the window.
The driver hopped out and opened the back door.
Yang-jung went to help. Together they moved an old man into a wheelchair.
That was President Choi Tae-ho.
His legs didn't work but he looked sharp and energetic.
The driver pushed the chair while Yang-jung walked beside him. The three of them entered the restaurant.
President Choi looked happy to be there. He smiled at the chef. "Is the fish fresh today, Yang-jung?"
"Of course it is, President."
"Good." The old man nodded. "Did the applicants show up?"
"One did." Yang-jung looked toward the kitchen. "But he isn't right for the job."
President Choi tilted his head. "Why is that?"
Yang-jung walked to the kitchen door and pointed at Joe.
"He has Parkinson's."
The President stopped smiling.
He looked at Joe and narrowed his eyes.
Joe didn't say a word. He just looked back.
The room was silent for a long moment.
"Joe Yabuki, right?"
"Yes, President."
"I saw your file." Choi spoke very slowly. "You were a champion. You almost had the world belts. You quit when you were twenty-one."
Joe gave a short nod.
"Did you quit because of the sickness?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell us."
"No."
President Choi smiled but it wasn't a friendly look.
"Kid, do you think I want a guard who might freeze up in the middle of a fight?"
Joe took a deep breath to steady himself.
"I can do the job."
"Why should I believe that?"
"Because I am still standing here."
The President's eyes got sharp.
"I like that."
He looked at his chef. "What do you think, Yang-jung?"
Yang-jung kept his face blank. "He has skill but he is a risk."
The President looked at Joe one more time.
"I will give you a chance."
Joe felt a spark of relief in his chest.
"But if you mess up once, you are gone. No second chances."
"I understand."
"Good." The President grinned. "I need someone to watch a girl. She is learning my business."
Joe nodded. "I see."
"We aren't blood relatives but she is like family to me."
"Okay."
"I worry about her being out there by herself. I want someone who will stay close and keep her safe."
"I can do that."
"Fine. Start tomorrow at ten. Someone will send you the address."
Joe bowed his head. He turned around and started for the exit.
He reached the handle but Yang-jung's voice stopped him.
"Yabuki."
Joe looked back.
The chef was staring at him with a warning in his eyes.
"Do not let the President down."
Joe nodded and walked out into the cold night.
Yang-jung watched the door close and frowned.
'Something about this kid...'
The President let out a short laugh. "You don't trust him, do you?"
"His health is a problem, sir."
"I know." Choi looked at the door. "But sometimes people fight hardest when they have nothing left to lose."
Yang-jung didn't say anything to that.
The President turned his chair toward the window.
"I can see it in his eyes. He still has the fire."
Yang-jung bowed his head. "Yes, President."