----
Jaehyuk stayed on the floor for several seconds longer than anyone expected.
Not because he was unconscious.
Unfortunately.
His pride had simply suffered a far more serious injury than the rest of him.
His breathing was uneven.
His cheek throbbed.
His ribs hurt.
And somewhere behind all of that—
Jisuk was laughing.
That was probably the worst part.
Jaehyuk pushed himself upright.
Slowly.
One hand braced against the floor.
Then the other.
His legs trembled once before he forced himself fully to his feet.
"What the hell was that?"
Jiwoo blinked.
Jisuk turned toward him.
Then grinned.
"Oh?"
Jaehyuk glared.
Jisuk immediately looked delighted.
"Jaehyuk."
He tightened his arm around Jiwoo's shoulders.
"That was fun to watch."
Jaehyuk's expression twisted.
"I'm not done."
Jisuk's grin faded.
"Huh?"
Jaehyuk wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
"What did you say?" Jisuk asked.
Jaehyuk's eyes stayed on Jiwoo.
"Don't act like this fight is over just because I got hit a few times off guard."
Silence.
Boyoung's shoulders sank.
Oh no.
Again.
Jisuk stared at him.
Then laughed.
Not kindly.
Not even a little.
"Bullshit."
Jaehyuk's eyes snapped toward him.
Jisuk pointed lazily.
"You got knocked out before you could throw a punch."
"I was not knocked out!"
"You got blasted into a wall."
"I was caught off guard!"
"You lost."
"I didn't know anything about him!"
"You lost."
"Shut up!"
Jisuk's grin widened.
"Still lost."
Jaehyuk pointed at him.
"Shut up! It's because I didn't know anything about him!"
Jisuk waved one hand.
"Yeah, yeah."
Then he turned away with Jiwoo still tucked under one arm.
"What a sore loser."
Asuka, still leaning against the wall nearby, tilted her head.
Then nodded.
"He is."
Jisuk stopped.
Slowly.
His head turned toward her.
"You agree with me?"
Asuka looked at him.
"Yes."
Jisuk's chest puffed out immediately.
Boyoung stared.
He actually looked proud.
Not subtly.
Proud.
As if Asuka agreeing with him had validated his entire existence.
"I knew it."
Asuka's mouth twitched.
"You are enjoying this too much."
"Let me have this."
"It is a rare event."
"Exactly!"
Kayden looked between them.
"Pathetic."
Jisuk looked down at him.
Then wisely did not respond.
"Hey!"
Jaehyuk's voice cut across the room.
"Jiwoo."
Jiwoo looked back.
"What?"
Jaehyuk's jaw tightened.
"It's not over yet."
Jiwoo stared.
Jisuk's expression darkened immediately.
"What the hell is he saying now?"
Jaehyuk ignored him.
"You know I was caught off guard."
Jiwoo blinked.
Then nodded honestly.
"Yeah."
Jisuk's head snapped toward him.
"Hey."
Jiwoo looked at him.
"What?"
"Why are you agreeing with him?"
Jiwoo tilted his head.
"Because I did surprise him."
Jisuk stared.
Then grabbed Jiwoo's shoulders with both hands.
"Stop helping him make excuses!"
Jiwoo looked confused.
"But it's true."
"You beat him!"
"I know."
"Then act like it!"
Jiwoo smiled awkwardly.
"I don't know how."
Jisuk made a strangled noise.
Asuka covered her mouth with one hand.
Very Oppa.
Jaehyuk's expression eased into something smug.
"I'm glad you understand."
Jiwoo looked at him.
Jaehyuk straightened as much as his bruised ribs allowed.
"You don't want everyone thinking you won because of chance, do you?"
Boyoung's eye twitched.
Jisuk looked ready to murder him.
Jaehyuk continued.
"So let's do it again."
Jiwoo stared.
Boyoung immediately looked toward him.
He'll probably accept.
That was the problem.
Jiwoo was too accommodating.
Too nice.
Too willing to understand someone else's position.
He had accepted the first challenge for exactly that reason.
Boyoung could already imagine it.
Jiwoo smiling.
Saying okay.
Giving Jaehyuk another chance.
Maybe even apologizing for winning too quickly the first time.
Then Jiwoo said—
"No."
Silence.
Boyoung blinked.
Jaehyuk blinked.
Even Jisuk's expression changed.
Jaehyuk frowned.
"What?"
Jiwoo looked at him calmly.
"I said no."
The room became very quiet.
Boyoung stared.
Not because Jiwoo sounded harsh.
He didn't.
He sounded exactly like Jiwoo.
Soft.
Polite.
Certain.
That made it land harder.
Jaehyuk's face darkened.
"Why?"
Jiwoo's expression shifted.
Not colder.
More serious.
"I heard something recently."
Jaehyuk stared.
Jiwoo continued.
"Losing because you let your guard down still counts as losing."
Jisuk's eyes widened slightly.
Kayden's ears perked.
Asuka's expression softened.
Jiwoo looked directly at Jaehyuk.
"Because that moment…"
A pause.
"Can cost your life."
Silence.
No one joked.
No one interrupted.
Jiwoo's voice remained calm.
"You might not want to admit it."
His hands rested loosely at his sides.
"But this is my win."
Jaehyuk went completely still.
Boyoung stared.
Inhyuk's expression changed.
Jiyoung watched him with quiet approval.
Kayden's mouth curved.
And Asuka—
Asuka smiled.
Proud.
Not because Jiwoo had refused another fight.
Not because he had won.
Because he remembered.
He listened.
He took everything seriously.
Every lesson.
Every warning.
Every mistake.
Every piece of advice Kayden gave him.
Every piece of advice Asuka gave him.
Everything he heard and witnessed so far.
Jiwoo always absorbed more than people realized.
He looked gentle.
Naive.
Sometimes painfully sincere.
But he learned.
And once something became important to him—
he carried it.
Asuka's mouth softened further.
Good, Oppa.
Very good.
Jisuk recovered first.
He slapped Jiwoo hard on the back.
Jiwoo jolted.
"Ah!"
Jisuk grinned.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
Jiwoo rubbed his back.
"That hurt."
"You'll live."
"Probably."
Jisuk hooked his arm around Jiwoo's shoulders again.
"Come on."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Where?"
"Picture."
"What?"
"A picture."
Jisuk already had his phone out.
Jiwoo stared.
"Now?"
"Yes, now."
"Why?"
"Because this is historic."
Jiwoo looked deeply confused.
Jisuk pointed toward Asuka.
"You too."
Asuka's expression went flat.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Come on."
"No."
"You're his sister."
"I am aware."
"You have to be in it."
"I do not."
Jisuk narrowed his eyes.
Asuka stared back beneath the bandages.
A silent battle.
Then Jisuk pointed dramatically.
"Get over here."
Asuka sighed.
Long.
Tired.
Then—
she moved.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
One second, Asuka was against the wall.
The next—
she was standing beside Jiwoo.
No buildup.
No visible burst.
No dramatic sound.
Just—
there.
Boyoung froze.
Jaehyuk's eyes widened.
Inhyuk's gaze sharpened instantly.
Even Jiyoung's attention shifted.
That had been fast.
Very fast.
Faster than Jiwoo.
Clearly faster.
Boyoung's earlier suspicion snapped into place.
Speed.
She had speed too.
Except—
no.
Something felt wrong with that explanation.
Jiwoo's movement had pressure.
Momentum.
A clear acceleration.
Asuka's—
felt cleaner.
Almost too clean.
Like the distance between the wall and Jiwoo had simply ceased to matter.
Boyoung's instincts prickled again.
Jisuk, meanwhile, did not react at all.
Neither did Jiwoo.
Which somehow made it worse.
Jisuk simply shoved himself between them.
"All right."
Jiwoo laughed.
"Asuka, you came."
"You were going to complain until I did."
"Yes."
"That is not something to be proud of."
Jisuk lifted the phone.
"Smile."
Asuka gave him the most unimpressed expression possible.
Jiwoo smiled brightly.
Jisuk grinned.
Then he glanced over his shoulder.
At Jaehyuk.
Still standing in the background.
Bruised.
Angry.
Defeated.
Perfect.
Jisuk's grin widened.
"Oh, this is even better."
Boyoung already knew.
"Jisuk…"
"With that loser in the frame."
Jaehyuk's face turned red.
"What did you say?!"
Jisuk snapped the photo.
Jiwoo laughed.
Asuka's shoulders shook softly.
There it was again.
That familiarity.
That ridiculousness.
The way Jisuk smiled after doing something obnoxious.
The absolute confidence.
The shamelessness.
The annoying ability to fill an entire room with his presence.
For one brief second—
Satoru flashed through Asuka's memory.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
A grin that always promised trouble.
Take another one. I looked too handsome in that one.
That sentence makes no sense.
Exactly. Take another.
Asuka's smile softened.
Jisuk lowered the phone.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
"You're doing the face again."
"What face?"
"The one where you look like you're remembering something."
Asuka paused.
Then shrugged.
"Someone troublesome."
Jisuk looked offended.
"Why'd you look at me when you said that?"
"Pattern recognition."
Jisuk pointed accusingly.
"You're doing it again."
Jiwoo laughed.
Jisuk looked down at the photo.
"Oh, this is good."
He immediately started typing.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
"Sending it."
"To who?"
"The group chat."
Jiwoo blinked.
"We have a group chat?"
Jisuk stopped.
Slowly looked at him.
"You're in it."
"Oh."
Asuka tilted her head.
"You muted it."
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"I did?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"When Subin sent thirty-seven messages in six minutes."
Jiwoo thought.
"Oh."
Jisuk snorted.
"Fair."
A second later—
the picture was sent.
Somewhere, phones began vibrating.
Jisuk looked very satisfied.
Unfortunately—
Jaehyuk was not finished humiliating himself.
"Asuka Seo."
The room quieted.
Asuka turned her head slowly.
Her expression had already returned to neutral.
"Yes?"
Jaehyuk stared at her.
His pride was bleeding from every possible direction.
Jisuk had beaten him yesterday.
Jiwoo had beaten him today.
Everyone had watched.
Everyone had laughed.
And now—
somehow—
his brain decided the answer was more fighting.
"I challenge you."
Silence.
Asuka's face changed.
Not surprise.
Not fear.
Not interest.
Just—
tired.
Deeply.
Visibly.
Spiritually tired.
Her entire expression said—
Why.
Boyoung immediately put one hand over her face.
Of course.
Of course he did.
Jisuk turned.
"You cannot be serious."
Jaehyuk ignored him.
Jisuk stared.
"Your ego has to have a limit."
Jaehyuk's jaw tightened.
"I'm not talking to you."
"Yeah, but unfortunately I can hear you."
"Stay out of it."
"No."
Inhyuk pinched the bridge of his nose.
Boyoung groaned softly.
"Jaehyuk."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"What are you doing?"
"I'm being consistent."
"No."
Boyoung stared.
"You're being stupid."
Jisuk pointed at her.
"Finally. Someone else said it."
"Don't make this about you."
"Too late."
Jaehyuk looked back toward Asuka.
"I tested your brother."
Jisuk muttered, "And failed."
Jaehyuk ignored him.
"So I should test you too."
Asuka stared.
"Why?"
"Because you're both going to the academy."
Asuka's expression remained completely flat.
Jaehyuk continued.
"If Jiwoo had to prove he deserved the spot, then so should you."
Boyoung closed her eyes.
Please stop talking.
Jaehyuk's gaze moved toward Asuka's blindfold.
"You came here with no affiliation."
A pause.
"And you haven't shown anything."
Asuka's mouth twitched faintly.
There it was.
He still thought she was blind.
Still thought she was probably weak.
Still thought he was doing something noble.
Jisuk looked toward Asuka.
Then back at Jaehyuk.
His irritation slowly transformed into curiosity.
Because—
as much as he wanted Jaehyuk to shut up—
he also wanted to see this.
Badly.
Very badly.
He remembered the Klein brothers.
Remembered Asuka moving with him.
Calm.
Precise.
Dangerous.
Remembered how little she had shown.
How much she had hidden.
Jiwoo had not been lying.
Asuka was stronger than him.
Much stronger.
Jisuk had known that for a while.
And seeing Jaehyuk discover that fact firsthand?
Tempting.
Extremely tempting.
Jisuk crossed his arms.
"You know what?"
Boyoung turned toward him.
"No."
"I didn't even say anything yet."
"I know you."
Jisuk ignored her.
"I kinda want to see this."
Asuka slowly turned toward him.
Jisuk paused.
Then cleared his throat.
"Respectfully."
Kayden snorted.
Asuka stared at Jisuk for another second.
Then looked back toward Jaehyuk.
"No."
Jaehyuk blinked.
"What?"
"I said no."
His expression darkened.
"Why?"
Asuka tilted her head.
"Because I do not want to waste my time fighting a sore loser who cannot accept a loss."
Silence.
Jisuk's mouth dropped open.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
Jiwoo looked toward Asuka.
Inhyuk coughed into one hand.
Kayden's grin appeared instantly.
Jiyoung's gaze sharpened with faint amusement.
Jaehyuk's face went red.
"What did you—"
Asuka continued.
Calmly.
Mercilessly.
"Suppose I accept."
She lifted one finger.
"You lose."
A second finger.
"You will say you were already injured by Oppa."
Another.
"You will say you had already fought."
Another.
"You will say you were tired."
Jisuk's grin widened with each point.
Boyoung looked away because she did not want to laugh.
Asuka tilted her head.
"Perhaps you will say you underestimated me because I am blind."
Jaehyuk went still.
Ah.
So she noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Asuka continued.
"Then what?"
Silence.
"You ask for another match?"
Jaehyuk said nothing.
"And another?"
Nothing.
"And another?"
Her tone remained perfectly even.
"Until you eventually receive the result you wanted?"
Jisuk whistled quietly.
Boyoung winced.
That was brutal.
Not loud.
Not cruel.
Just accurate.
Asuka lowered her hand.
"It would not have mattered whether you fought me or Oppa first."
Jaehyuk's brows furrowed.
Asuka's covered gaze settled directly on him.
"Your loss was predetermined the moment you challenged our place here."
The room went quiet.
Jaehyuk's face hardened.
"What?"
Asuka's voice did not change.
"You wanted proof."
She gestured toward Jiwoo.
"You received it."
A pause.
"Oppa beat you."
Jaehyuk's jaw clenched.
"Cleanly."
Another pause.
"You asked whether he deserved the opportunity."
Her mouth curved faintly.
"He answered."
Jiwoo scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed.
"Asuka…"
She ignored him.
"And now that he proved he belongs…"
Her voice cooled.
"You cannot accept the answer."
Jaehyuk glared.
Asuka tilted her head.
"If anything…"
A pause.
"This behavior is doing more to question whether you deserve your place than whether we deserve ours."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
Even Jisuk stopped grinning for a second.
Because that landed.
Hard.
Jaehyuk's face shifted.
Anger.
Embarrassment.
Humiliation.
All fighting for space.
Asuka sighed.
There was no satisfaction in it.
That was almost worse.
She simply looked tired.
"Being strong does not mean never losing."
Her tone softened by a fraction.
"It means learning what the loss tells you."
Kayden glanced toward her.
Jiyoung's eyes softened slightly too.
Asuka continued.
"You were defeated."
"Accept it."
"Learn."
"Improve."
A pause.
"Or do not."
Her shoulders rose in a small shrug.
"It makes no difference to me."
Jaehyuk stared.
For a moment—
no one spoke.
Then Jaehyuk clenched his fists.
"I still want the spar."
Boyoung's face fell into her hand.
"Oh my god."
Jisuk looked almost impressed.
"Dude."
Jaehyuk kept his eyes on Asuka.
"If you're so confident…"
Asuka sighed.
There it was.
Persistence.
Stubbornness.
Ego.
Trouble.
The four pillars of her least favorite kind of person.
Her mind drifted briefly to another lifetime.
To endless challenges.
Endless requests.
Fight me.
Prove it.
Show us.
Demonstrate your technique.
The higher-ups want confirmation.
The clan wants evidence.
You have to prove—
Asuka's expression cooled.
God.
She was tired of proving things.
She had spent an entire life being measured.
Observed.
Tested.
Ranked.
Used as a standard other people could point toward.
She had absolutely no desire to repeat that here.
But—
Jaehyuk was still standing there.
Still asking.
Still insisting.
Still apparently determined to run headfirst into the wall.
Asuka exhaled.
"Fine."
Jiwoo looked toward her.
"Asuka?"
Jisuk's eyes lit up.
Boyoung slowly lowered her hand.
Jaehyuk straightened.
Asuka held up one finger.
"But understand something."
He stared.
"I am not accepting because I need to prove I deserve the academy."
Her voice was flat.
"I do not care whether you think I deserve it."
A second finger.
"I am not accepting because Shinhwa needs confirmation."
Her head tilted slightly toward Jiyoung and Inhyuk.
"They already invited me."
Neither contradicted her.
A third finger.
"I am accepting because you are persisting."
A pause.
"And if I refuse again, I suspect you will continue talking."
Jisuk burst out laughing.
Boyoung choked.
Jaehyuk's face darkened.
Asuka's expression remained painfully sincere.
"So."
She lowered her hand.
"I might as well finish this now."
Kayden's eyes gleamed.
Jiwoo looked faintly concerned.
"Asuka…"
She turned toward him.
"I will be gentle, Oppa."
Jisuk immediately said, "Don't."
Jiwoo looked at him.
"Jisuk."
"What?"
"You're encouraging her."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he asked for it."
Boyoung muttered, "Unfortunately, he did."
Jaehyuk's eye twitched.
Asuka looked back toward him.
"But…"
Her voice softened.
Almost pleasantly.
"You should not be disappointed afterward."
Jaehyuk frowned.
"About what?"
"Your performance."
Silence.
Jisuk slowly covered his mouth.
Boyoung turned away entirely.
Asuka continued.
"And please do not cry about the result."
Jaehyuk's face went scarlet.
"I'm not going to cry!"
"Good."
"I won't lose!"
Asuka hummed.
"That is less likely."
Jisuk doubled over laughing.
"Holy shit."
Inhyuk covered his face.
"Jisuk."
"I'm sorry, but come on!"
Jiyoung's lips pressed together.
Barely.
It was the closest she came to openly laughing.
Boyoung saw it.
Again.
Her eyes widened.
Chairwoman Yoo was enjoying this.
Just a little.
That was almost more shocking than the upcoming fight.
Jaehyuk pointed toward the training floor.
"Then come on."
Asuka stared.
Then sighed one last time.
She reached up.
Adjusted the edge of her blindfold.
And stepped forward.
No pressure.
No dramatic release of energy.
No display.
Nothing.
Just a quiet girl walking toward the center of the room.
And yet—
Boyoung's instincts screamed louder with every step.
Her shoulders tightened.
Something was wrong.
No.
Not wrong.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Jisuk's grin slowly faded into something more attentive.
He had seen Asuka fight before.
But not like this.
Not one-on-one.
Not when she had actually agreed to a spar.
Jiwoo watched his sister with complete trust.
Kayden sat down.
Interested.
Very interested.
Inhyuk's expression became serious.
Jiyoung's gaze followed Asuka carefully.
And Jaehyuk—
still angry—
still bruised—
still utterly unaware—
stepped forward to meet her.
Asuka stopped across from him.
Her hands remained at her sides.
Relaxed.
Almost lazy.
Jaehyuk narrowed his eyes.
"You're not taking a stance?"
Asuka tilted her head.
"No."
His face darkened.
"You're underestimating me."
"No."
"Then get ready."
"I am."
Jaehyuk stared.
Asuka sighed.
"You really do need everything explained."
Jisuk made another strangled sound.
Boyoung covered her face again.
Jaehyuk clenched his jaw.
Fine.
He would wipe that calm expression off her face.
Asuka, meanwhile, stood there thinking about strawberry ice cream.
And whether Jiwoo had remembered to buy more.
Because the outcome of this spar—
unlike dessert—
was not particularly uncertain.
The first thing Asuka decided—
was that she would not end it immediately.
She could.
Obviously.
That was not arrogance.
Just fact.
Jaehyuk had already been injured by Jisuk.
Then beaten by Jiwoo.
His energy was not at full capacity.
His confidence was fractured.
His concentration was uneven.
And even if none of those things were true—
the gap between them was still ridiculous.
But that was exactly why ending it immediately would be pointless.
Jaehyuk wanted proof.
Fine.
Asuka could give him something better.
Perspective.
She had taught students before.
A different world.
A different school.
A different form of power.
But students remained students.
Pride.
Fear.
Potential.
Insecurity.
Ambition.
The desperate need to know where they stood.
Haruka Gojo had spent years watching young sorcerers stumble through exactly those things.
Sometimes gently.
Sometimes loudly.
Sometimes through lectures.
Sometimes through training.
And sometimes—
unfortunately—
through violence.
This would simply be the latter.
Asuka exhaled softly.
Fine.
If Jaehyuk insisted on turning this into a lesson—
then she would teach.
Inhyuk moved toward the center.
"Both of you understand this is still a controlled spar."
Jaehyuk nodded.
"Yes."
Asuka hummed.
"Mhm."
Inhyuk looked at her.
"You'll stop when I call it."
Asuka tilted her head.
"Yes."
Jisuk snorted.
"That sounded suspicious."
Asuka turned toward him.
"It was agreement."
"It sounded like lawyer agreement."
"It was still agreement."
Kayden looked deeply amused.
Inhyuk sighed.
"Just don't destroy the room."
Asuka considered that.
Then nodded.
"I will try."
Inhyuk's eye twitched.
"Why did you say it like that?"
Jisuk immediately laughed.
Boyoung covered her face.
Jaehyuk's expression darkened.
"Can we just start?"
Inhyuk looked at him.
Then back at Asuka.
"All right."
He stepped away.
Jaehyuk lowered his stance.
This time—
properly.
No underestimation.
No immediate attempt to overwhelm with one flashy attack.
He had learned at least that much from Jiwoo.
Asuka noticed.
Good.
Very good.
Maybe getting punched in the face repeatedly had finally created room for information.
She remained standing casually.
One hand loose at her side.
The other near the pocket of her oversized jacket.
No stance.
No visible preparation.
Jaehyuk's eye twitched.
He still hated that.
Jisuk leaned toward Jiwoo.
"She's doing that thing."
Jiwoo blinked.
"What thing?"
"The 'I don't need a stance because I'm better than you' thing."
Jiwoo looked toward Asuka.
"She doesn't mean it like that."
Jisuk stared.
"She absolutely does."
Jiwoo smiled.
"She's just relaxed."
"That is worse."
Kayden muttered, "Correct."
The first signal sounded.
Beep.
Jaehyuk gathered his energy.
The second.
Beep.
Wind curled around his legs and shoulders.
Tighter than before.
More disciplined.
He had stopped wasting force.
Asuka noticed that too.
Better.
Third.
Beep.
Jaehyuk moved.
Not directly.
He angled to the side first.
Wind compressed beneath his feet, giving him a short acceleration.
Boyoung's eyes widened slightly.
"He changed his approach."
Jiyoung nodded.
"He learned from the first match."
Inhyuk watched carefully.
Jaehyuk attacked from Asuka's blind side.
At least—
what he assumed was her blind side.
Asuka did not turn.
The wind blade came toward her shoulder.
She shifted half a step.
That was all.
The attack missed.
Jaehyuk's eyes widened.
He followed immediately with another.
Asuka leaned backward.
Missed.
A third.
She rotated slightly.
Missed.
A fourth.
Asuka stepped around it.
Again—
missed.
Jaehyuk's expression tightened.
Boyoung slowly leaned forward.
Asuka was not moving fast.
That was the strange part.
Jiwoo had been visibly fast.
Blindingly fast.
Asuka?
No.
She was simply never where the attack landed.
Not one wasted movement.
Not one unnecessary dodge.
Every adjustment looked almost lazy.
Half a step.
A tilt.
A turn.
A shift of her shoulders.
And somehow—
nothing touched her.
Boyoung's skin prickled.
She's reading him.
Not predicting generally.
Reading everything.
Jaehyuk's feet.
His shoulders.
His breathing.
His energy.
All of it.
Inhyuk noticed too.
"She isn't dodging after he attacks."
Jiyoung looked toward him.
Inhyuk's expression sharpened.
"She's moving before the technique is fully released."
Boyoung heard that.
Her eyes widened.
That was absurd.
Jaehyuk changed direction.
Wind gathered around his hand.
He thrust forward.
Asuka raised one hand.
Not to block.
She redirected his wrist.
Barely.
His entire attack passed beside her.
Then—
Asuka's fist stopped an inch from his ribs.
Jaehyuk froze.
She did not strike.
Just held it there.
"Here."
His eyes widened.
Asuka stepped away.
Jaehyuk stared.
"What?"
She tapped her own ribs.
"You opened this side."
His face twisted.
"Don't lecture me."
Asuka sighed.
"Then stop providing material."
Jisuk choked on a laugh.
Jaehyuk immediately attacked again.
Asuka moved.
Two punches.
A wind strike.
A low sweep.
Another compressed burst.
Asuka avoided each one.
Then she stepped in.
Her fist stopped beside Jaehyuk's jaw.
"Here."
She shifted.
Another punch stopped near his sternum.
"Here."
A pivot.
Her elbow hovered beside his temple.
"Here."
Then she stepped back.
Boyoung stared.
Jiwoo's eyes were wide.
Not because Asuka was winning.
He knew she would.
Because—
she was showing him.
Exactly like she had earlier.
Spacing.
Angles.
Openings.
Where Jaehyuk's balance shifted.
Where force disappeared during transitions.
Where a speed user could enter.
Where someone slower could still counter if they understood timing.
Jiwoo leaned forward.
Asuka knew he was watching.
Of course she did.
That was partly why she was doing it.
Jaehyuk, unfortunately, interpreted the entire lesson as disrespect.
His face reddened.
"Stop holding back!"
Asuka tilted her head.
"I am fighting."
"No, you're not!"
"I am."
"You haven't even hit me!"
"That is intentional."
His expression twisted.
"Why?"
Asuka almost sighed.
Again.
"Because you asked to prove yourself."
Jaehyuk stared.
"So prove yourself."
That stopped him.
Only for a second.
Asuka continued.
"Use your power properly."
Her voice had changed.
Still calm.
But different.
Less teasing.
More teacher.
"Your reserves are good."
Jaehyuk blinked.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
Jisuk turned slightly.
Asuka continued.
"Better than average."
Jaehyuk's jaw tightened.
"But?"
Asuka's mouth curved faintly.
"But nowhere near Jisuk's."
Jisuk's chest immediately puffed out.
"Damn right."
Boyoung sighed.
Of course that was what he took from it.
Jaehyuk looked furious.
Asuka ignored him.
"You compensate with control."
A pause.
"Or at least you should."
His expression shifted.
"You waste too much energy forcing output."
Inhyuk's eyes narrowed.
That assessment was accurate.
Very accurate.
Asuka continued.
"Wind does not need to overpower everything."
Her fingers lifted slightly.
"It moves."
A small gesture.
"Redirects."
Another.
"Cuts."
Another.
"Pressures."
She tilted her head.
"You keep trying to make it a hammer."
Jaehyuk stared.
Asuka's voice softened.
"It is not."
For one moment—
he listened.
Actually listened.
Boyoung noticed.
So did Jiyoung.
Asuka did too.
Good.
There.
A crack in the ego.
Enough room for something useful.
Then Jaehyuk clenched his teeth.
"I don't need you teaching me."
Asuka's expression went flat.
And there it went.
The crack closed.
Jisuk groaned.
"This guy is impossible."
Asuka shrugged.
"He is young."
Jisuk stared.
"We're all young."
"Emotionally, you are all approximately twelve."
Jisuk pointed out.
"You're one to talk. You're the youngest one here!"
Asuka merely shrugged, which made Jisuk look offended.
Jaehyuk gathered more energy.
This time—
a lot more.
Wind wrapped around him in visible layers.
The pressure in the room shifted.
Boyoung's expression sharpened.
"He's using more."
Inhyuk nodded.
"He's finally showing what he can actually do."
That was the point.
Jiwoo had overwhelmed him too quickly.
Never gave him the chance to build momentum.
Never let him use his strongest techniques.
Against Asuka—
he had time.
Space.
Opportunity.
And Asuka wanted him to use it.
Needed him to.
Not because she cared about the outcome.
Because if she was going to teach him something—
she wanted to see everything first.
Jaehyuk thrust both hands forward.
Wind surged across the floor.
Not a narrow attack this time.
A wide compressed wave.
Powerful.
Fast.
Boyoung's clothes snapped backward from the pressure even at a distance.
Jisuk's eyes sharpened.
"That's better."
Asuka remained still.
The wind roared toward her.
Then—
she stepped through it.
Boyoung froze.
Not around.
Through.
Her body slipped through the weakest channels between pressure layers.
One step.
Then another.
Her cream hair lifted wildly behind her.
Bandages unmoved.
Jaehyuk's eyes widened.
"What—"
Asuka appeared directly in front of him.
Her hand rose.
He flinched.
But she stopped.
Two fingers hovering near the center of his chest.
"If Oppa had entered here…"
Jaehyuk froze.
"…you would already be down."
She lowered her hand.
Then stepped away again.
Jiwoo nodded slowly.
He understood.
Jisuk stared at him.
"Are you seriously studying right now?"
Jiwoo looked confused.
"Yes?"
"Your sister is fighting."
"Yes."
"And you're studying."
"Yes."
Jisuk stared.
Then sighed.
"Of course you are."
The spar continued.
Jaehyuk attacked.
Asuka moved.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Wind blades cut through the air.
Compressed bursts slammed into the training floor.
Jaehyuk began using layered attacks.
Feints.
Redirects.
Changes in pressure.
Better.
Much better.
Asuka's expression softened faintly.
There.
He was learning.
Not consciously from her, maybe.
But he was adapting.
Each failure pushed him toward a better choice.
Each missed strike sharpened the next.
His footwork improved.
His use of wind shifted from brute force to control.
His reserves were still draining too quickly.
But less.
Good.
Very good.
Boyoung noticed too.
"Jaehyuk's actually fighting better."
Inhyuk nodded.
"Yes."
Jiyoung watched Asuka.
"She's making him."
Boyoung glanced toward her.
Jiyoung's expression remained calm.
"She isn't simply avoiding him."
A pause.
"She's forcing him to adjust."
Inhyuk smiled faintly.
"She's teaching him."
Boyoung's eyes widened.
Once he said it—
she could not unsee it.
Every opening Asuka left was deliberate.
Every dodge guided Jaehyuk toward another choice.
Every almost-strike showed him exactly where he was vulnerable.
Every retreat created distance so he could use another technique.
She was not fighting to win.
She was giving him room to learn.
Boyoung slowly looked toward Jiwoo.
He was watching intensely.
And she realized—
Asuka was teaching both of them.
At the same time.
Her brother from observation.
Jaehyuk through experience.
Boyoung's throat tightened.
Who is she?
Jisuk, meanwhile, had one concern.
"Use the fire already."
Asuka ignored him.
Jisuk leaned forward.
"Come on."
Nothing.
"I know you can."
Asuka dodged another wind blade.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I do not need it."
"That's not the point."
"It is exactly the point."
Jisuk groaned.
Kayden looked amused.
He knew what Jisuk wanted.
A show.
Of course.
Jaehyuk heard him.
His eyes narrowed.
"Fire?"
Asuka sighed internally.
Wonderful.
Now he knew.
Jisuk immediately froze.
"…Oops."
Boyoung slowly turned toward him.
"You knew?"
Jisuk looked away.
"No."
"You literally just said—"
"I know nothing."
Asuka sighed.
"Excellent recovery."
Jisuk pointed.
"Don't start."
Jaehyuk's expression sharpened.
"So you've been hiding another ability?"
Asuka tilted her head.
"Among other things."
Everyone went still.
Jisuk stared.
Boyoung stared.
Inhyuk stared.
Even Jiyoung's brows lifted slightly.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Asuka paused.
Then realized.
"…That sounded more revealing than intended."
Jisuk burst out laughing.
Jiwoo smiled awkwardly.
Boyoung's head hurt again.
Among other things?
How many?
What did that mean?
Jaehyuk gathered wind again.
This time—
he was angry.
Too angry.
His control started slipping.
Asuka noticed immediately.
The flow changed.
Messier.
More turbulent.
Wasteful.
She sighed.
Lesson almost over.
He had already shown enough.
She had shown Jiwoo enough.
And there was something else she wanted to try.
Something she had been thinking about for a while.
Because beneath the bandages—
Asuka could still sense it.
Not perfectly.
Not with the overwhelming clarity she had when they were removed.
But enough.
Awakened energy.
Not as simple light.
Not just pressure.
Flow.
Threads.
Channels.
Lines.
Like veins moving through the world.
From the core.
Through the body.
Into the technique.
Outward.
And back.
Everything connected.
Everything moved somewhere.
Without the bandages, it was effortless.
Too effortless.
Almost unfair.
But Asuka had no intention of removing them.
That would be ridiculous.
This was Jaehyuk.
Not some world-ending threat.
She could make do.
More importantly—
she wanted to see if the principle still worked without full visual clarity.
A test.
Nothing more.
Jaehyuk thrust his hands forward.
Wind exploded toward her.
This attack was stronger than the others.
Broad.
Dense.
Fast.
The flow of awakened energy extended from Jaehyuk like a river.
Asuka saw it.
Faintly.
Beneath the fabric.
A line.
No.
Several.
Braided together.
From his core.
Through his arms.
Into the wind.
Toward her.
Asuka's fingers twitched.
There.
She lifted one hand.
A small flame appeared.
Orange.
Warm.
Controlled.
Not blue.
Absolutely not blue.
That would be catastrophic overkill.
Jisuk's eyes lit up.
"There!"
Boyoung stared.
Fire.
So she really did have fire.
Jaehyuk's expression twisted.
"Then let's see how your fire handles this!"
The wind surged.
Asuka looked at the flow.
And touched it.
Not physically.
Energetically.
The flame flickered.
Then—
caught.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
"What?"
The fire did not strike the wind.
It entered it.
Not burning the air randomly.
Not being scattered.
Following something.
Something invisible.
A narrow orange flame raced backward through the wind.
Against the attack.
Along the exact current of awakened energy.
Jaehyuk's eyes widened.
"What the hell—"
The flame moved faster.
Down the channel.
Back toward him.
Inhyuk's expression changed instantly.
"Wait."
Jiyoung's eyes sharpened.
That was not normal.
Not at all.
The fire reached the origin point.
Jaehyuk's released energy.
Then—
BOOM.
The entire technique detonated.
Not from Asuka overpowering it head-on.
From inside.
The wind pressure collapsed violently.
Fire and compressed air burst outward.
Jaehyuk's body was thrown backward.
Boyoung gasped.
Jisuk yelled—
"YES!"
Jaehyuk flew several meters before slamming onto the padded floor.
Hard.
Then rolled once.
Twice.
Stopped.
Silence.
A curl of smoke drifted upward.
Jiwoo stared.
Boyoung stared.
Inhyuk stared.
Jiyoung stared.
Jisuk raised both arms.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!"
Inhyuk snapped toward him.
"Jisuk!"
"What?! It was!"
Kayden did not speak.
His eyes were locked on Asuka.
Because unlike the others—
he had an idea.
A very good idea.
Of what she had just done.
And naturally—
of course—
his ridiculous disciple had discovered another completely unreasonable application of her perception.
Asuka stood there.
One hand still slightly raised.
The flame gone.
Her head tilted.
She thought.
Then quietly—
"Oh."
Kayden's expression darkened.
He knew that tone.
That was the tone Asuka used when she discovered something terrifyingly useful.
Jiwoo blinked.
"Asuka?"
She looked toward her hand.
"So that works."
Silence.
Inhyuk stared.
"What works?"
Asuka paused.
Then slowly lowered her hand.
"Nothing."
Jisuk pointed.
"That was not nothing!"
Boyoung nodded quickly.
"Definitely not nothing."
Asuka hummed.
"Interesting."
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
She looked down at him.
Then shrugged.
"Later."
Kayden's tail lashed.
"Asuka."
"Later."
He glared.
She ignored him.
Classic.
Jaehyuk groaned.
Good.
Alive.
Asuka had already known he would be.
She walked toward him.
Boyoung watched carefully.
Jaehyuk's eyes fluttered open.
For several seconds—
he looked confused.
Then he remembered.
His face twisted.
Asuka stopped a few steps away.
"You are awake."
Jaehyuk stared up at her.
"What…"
His throat felt dry.
"What did you do?"
Asuka considered the honest answer.
I perceived the flow of your awakened energy, introduced combustion into the channel, and propagated ignition backward along your released technique until the pressure differential caused an internal detonation at its point of origin.
She decided against it.
Too much explanation.
Also—
none of his business.
"I used fire."
Jaehyuk stared.
"That wasn't just fire."
Asuka tilted her head.
"No?"
"No!"
Boyoung almost laughed.
Asuka crouched slightly.
"Then perhaps you should study it."
Jaehyuk went quiet.
That landed differently.
No insult.
No mockery.
Just—
an answer.
Study it.
Learn.
Understand.
Improve.
Exactly what Asuka had told him earlier.
His expression shifted.
Not fully.
The ego was still there.
But something else had entered beside it.
Thought.
Good.
That was enough.
Inhyuk walked closer.
His expression was serious now.
Very serious.
"Asuka."
She turned toward him.
"Yes?"
"What exactly happened?"
Asuka tilted her head.
"My fire interacted with his technique."
Inhyuk stared.
"I saw that."
"Yes."
"That's not what I mean."
"I know."
Boyoung looked between them.
Jiyoung stepped forward slightly.
Her gaze stayed on the scorched section of floor.
"The wind attack did not lose to the flames."
Asuka said nothing.
Jiyoung continued.
"The flames followed it."
Asuka's mouth curved faintly.
Sharp.
Very sharp.
Inhyuk looked toward Jiyoung.
Then Asuka.
"It traveled back through the technique."
Asuka remained silent.
Boyoung's eyes widened.
That sounded impossible.
Jisuk's grin slowly faded as he actually thought about it.
"Wait."
He looked toward Asuka.
"You mean you burned his wind?"
Asuka sighed.
"That is not exactly—"
"You set wind on fire."
"No."
"That is what happened."
"No."
Kayden muttered, "Idiot."
Jisuk immediately straightened.
"Respectfully, I may have oversimplified."
Asuka nearly smiled.
Jiyoung's attention never left her.
Because she understood enough to know the terrifying implication.
If Asuka had not overpowered Jaehyuk's technique…
If she had instead interacted with the energy sustaining it—
then this was not simply elemental superiority.
It was something deeper.
Something closer to interference.
Manipulation.
Perhaps even control.
Jiyoung's eyes sharpened.
And Asuka had done it blindfolded.
Again—
the memory of those uncovered sky-blue eyes returned.
Clear.
Strange.
Too perceptive.
Jiyoung said nothing.
But her evaluation shifted again.
Asuka Seo was not merely powerful.
She understood energy itself.
That was far more dangerous.
Kayden, meanwhile, was almost offended.
Not by the technique.
By how casually she had discovered it.
He stared at her.
Jiwoo hurried toward Asuka.
His face was bright.
"Asuka!"
She turned.
"Yes, Oppa?"
"That was amazing."
Her expression softened instantly.
"Thank you."
Jiwoo gestured excitedly.
"The way you dodged his attacks—"
Asuka nodded.
"You understood?"
His eyes lit up.
"Yes!"
Jisuk groaned.
"Of course he did."
Jiwoo continued.
"When you stopped your punch near his ribs, that was because his right shoulder was too far forward, right?"
Asuka smiled.
"Yes."
"And when you stepped through the wider wind attack, it was because there was a short gap before the pressure fully connected?"
"Yes."
Jiwoo's excitement grew.
"And the elbow near his temple—"
"His posture collapsed after the turn."
Jiwoo nodded rapidly.
"I saw it!"
Asuka's smile warmed.
"Good."
Boyoung watched them.
There it was again.
Not simply a sister showing off.
A teacher.
Asuka had been teaching Jiwoo throughout the entire spar.
No wonder his movement had improved so quickly.
He had someone at home who could look at a fight and break it into pieces.
No wonder Shinhwa valued them.
No wonder Chairwoman Yoo trusted them.
No wonder—
Boyoung paused.
Actually, no.
There was still plenty she did not understand.
Especially the cat.
Always the cat.
Jaehyuk finally pushed himself upright again.
Slower this time.
Much slower.
No immediate challenge.
No angry demand for another round.
Progress.
Asuka looked toward him.
"Are you hurt badly?"
He glared.
Then hesitated.
"…No."
"Good."
A pause.
"You did better."
Jaehyuk blinked.
Boyoung blinked too.
Asuka continued.
"Much better than against Oppa."
Jaehyuk's expression twisted at the reminder.
But—
he listened.
"You adjusted."
She lifted one hand.
"Your second and third sequences were better."
Another finger.
"You stopped wasting as much energy on broad output."
Another.
"You started using wind to control space instead of just attack."
Jaehyuk stared.
Asuka's voice remained calm.
"Keep doing that."
Silence.
Jaehyuk looked away.
His jaw tightened.
But this time—
not from anger alone.
Because he knew she was right.
And worse—
he knew she had actually paid attention.
Not mocked him.
Not dismissed him.
Evaluated him.
Seriously.
Even though she could have ended the fight immediately.
That realization settled uncomfortably.
Boyoung saw it too.
Jisuk did.
Inhyuk.
Jiyoung.
Even Kayden.
Jaehyuk muttered—
"…Whatever."
Jisuk immediately opened his mouth.
Asuka lifted one finger toward him without looking.
"No."
Jisuk stopped.
"What?"
"Do not ruin it."
"I wasn't gonna—"
"You were."
He stared.
Then folded his arms.
"Tsk."
Asuka looked back toward Jaehyuk.
"You are not weak."
He looked at her.
"But strength without the ability to accept loss becomes stupidity."
Jisuk made a choking sound.
Boyoung covered her mouth.
Asuka continued calmly.
"You have good reserves."
"Decent control."
"Useful instincts."
A pause.
"And an exhausting personality."
Jaehyuk's eye twitched.
Jisuk burst out laughing.
Asuka ignored him.
"You can improve."
She tilted her head.
"If you stop treating every defeat as an insult."
Silence.
Jaehyuk said nothing.
But he also did not argue.
That—
was enough.
For today.
Asuka turned away.
Lesson over.
Jiyoung watched her return toward Jiwoo.
Quiet.
Relaxed.
Already mentally finished with the situation.
Like teaching one of Shinhwa's younger members during a spar was no more significant than helping someone with homework.
Inhyuk exhaled.
"She really is…"
Jiyoung looked at him.
He struggled for the word.
"Strange."
Jiyoung's mouth softened faintly.
"Yes."
Inhyuk glanced toward her.
"That sounded fond."
Jiyoung looked at him.
He immediately straightened.
"I said nothing."
Across the room, Asuka's head tilted.
Jiyoung felt her gaze despite the bandages.
A pause.
Then Asuka's mouth curved.
Barely.
Jiyoung looked away first.
Inhyuk noticed nothing.
Probably for the best.
Boyoung stood silently beside Jaehyuk.
Her brain was still catching up.
Jiwoo—
absurdly fast.
Better trained than expected.
Calm under pressure.
Asuka—
faster.
More experienced.
Could use fire.
Could apparently do something incomprehensible to other people's techniques.
And had spent half the spar teaching instead of fighting seriously.
Boyoung looked at Jaehyuk.
Then Asuka.
Then Jiwoo.
Then Jisuk.
Then Kayden.
Then Jiyoung.
Then Inhyuk.
Her head hurt.
Again.
She sighed.
Jaehyuk glanced at her.
"What?"
Boyoung shook her head.
"Nothing."
A pause.
Then—
"You really should've stopped after Jiwoo."
Jisuk immediately yelled from across the room—
"THANK YOU!"
Jaehyuk's face darkened.
"Shut up!"
Jisuk grinned.
"Still a sore loser!"
Jaehyuk stepped forward.
"Say that again!"
"I SAID—"
Inhyuk's voice exploded through the room.
"ENOUGH!"
Silence.
Jisuk sat down.
Jaehyuk stopped.
Boyoung looked away.
Jiwoo smiled awkwardly.
Asuka sighed.
Kayden looked pleased.
Normal.
Completely normal.
Asuka returned to the wall.
Reached for her book.
Opened The Meaning of Life exactly where she had left off.
Jisuk stared.
"You're seriously reading now?"
"Yes."
"You just blew someone up."
"Yes."
"And now you're reading philosophy."
"Yes."
He stared.
Asuka turned a page.
"Is there a problem?"
Jisuk looked at Jiwoo.
Jiwoo smiled.
"She likes that book."
Jisuk slowly looked back at Asuka.
Then at Jaehyuk, who was still smoking faintly around one sleeve.
Then at the book.
Then at Kayden.
Then at the ceiling.
"I hate all of you."
Asuka's mouth curved faintly.
"No, you do not."
Jisuk immediately pointed.
"Stop doing that."
And despite everything—
Boyoung laughed.
Small.
Unexpected.
But real.
The tension finally broke.
Even Jaehyuk only looked away instead of snapping.
Asuka heard it.
And beneath her bandages—
her sky-blue eyes softened.
Maybe the lesson had worked after all.
----