J-High I

Three days had passed since the incident, and Daniel couldn't help but feel uneasy. The empty seat in front of him—Kiriko's seat—remained vacant, and her absence weighed on him more than he cared to admit. He had gotten used to her presence, and the fact that she hadn't been around made him feel unsettled. Where could she be? The thought nagged at him constantly.

Then, the door to the classroom slid open, and to his relief, Kiriko walked in, smiling as if nothing had happened. Daniel shot up from his chair, the words spilling out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"Kiriko! Where have you been?" His shout made the entire class turn to stare at him, eyes wide, some curious, others amused. It wasn't just what he said—it was the way he said it, his tone laced with worry that made it seem like he was her concerned boyfriend. A few students exchanged glances, some chuckling under their breath.

Kiriko, however, didn't seem to catch on to the underlying meaning. She just smiled warmly at Daniel, mistaking his concern as that of a close friend.

"I've just been busy," she replied lightly, brushing off the attention as if it was no big deal. But before Daniel could ask more, Mira and Zoe swooped in, bombarding Kiriko with questions.

"Where were you, Kiriko? We've been worried sick!" Mira asked, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Yeah, you just disappeared without saying anything!" Zoe added, looking at her with equal concern.

As Kiriko answered, Daniel could feel the eyes of the class on him, especially from a few envious students who had noticed how attentive he was toward Kiriko. They whispered among themselves, casting jealous glances in their direction. But Kiriko remained unfazed by it all. She took her seat and calmly explained, "My brother had some issues with another group, so his friends came to make sure I was safe."

The explanation seemed to satisfy her friends, and soon after, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. But the curiosity lingered in the air.

When the lunch break came, the group headed to the cafeteria as usual—Daniel, Vasco, Crystal, and the others. They gathered around their usual table, and naturally, the questions started up again. This time, though, Crystal looked especially curious.

"So, what's your brother's name?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

Kiriko didn't hesitate. "Toji Park."

At the mention of his name, Crystal's eyes narrowed. "Toji…" she repeated, sounding as if the name was familiar to her. "I think I've heard my father mention that name before."

But it wasn't just Crystal who reacted. Jace, the vice leader of Burn Knuckles, practically jumped out of his seat, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Wait—you're Toji Park's younger sister?!" Jace exclaimed, his voice louder than he intended, drawing the attention of everyone at the table.

Kiriko blinked, slightly taken aback by the intensity of his reaction. "Yeah… why?"

Vasco, who had been quietly munching on his lunch, looked at Jace with a raised brow. "What's up with that? Why're you acting so weird, Jace?"

Everyone else—Daniel, Zack, Mira, and Zoe—turned their attention to Jace, waiting for an explanation. Jace took a deep breath, realizing he had their full attention now.

"You guys don't know?" Jace started, looking at them seriously. "Seoul is divided among four major crews: The Workers, Big Deal, Hostel, and God Dog. Each of them controls a different part of the city. But last year, a new crew formed right in the center of Seoul. They're called Division. And the person who created it? Toji. He formed it with his strength alone."

Jace paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. The others listened intently, clearly intrigued but confused.

"H-High," Jace continued, "was the worst school in all of South Korea. But Toji… he single-handedly turned it around. He cleaned up the whole place, and now it's under Division's control."

Daniel frowned, confused. "Is he… a bad guy?"

Jace shook his head, looking conflicted. "Not exactly. He straightened out all the delinquents in central Seoul. Unlike the other crews, Division runs more like an organization—they're into money laundering, gambling, and other stuff. But Toji… he's known for being violent. Really violent. They call him the Devil Child."

Kiriko chuckled at that, shaking her head. "The Devil Child? What are you even talking about? My brother's strong, sure, but he's the laziest person I know. He only does something when he has no other choice."

But Jace didn't laugh. His expression remained serious. "Princess, you don't get it. Your brother just took down Big Deal. Alone. He tore through over a hundred of their men by himself. That's not normal. That's why he sent his crew to escort you home. He didn't want them coming after you."

The table went silent at Jace's words. Even Crystal, who had initially been curious, now seemed to be processing the weight of what Jace had just said.

Daniel's heart pounded in his chest. Toji, the guy who sent those intimidating bikers to pick up Kiriko, was more than just some overprotective brother.

A man who had single-handedly dismantled one of the most powerful crews in Seoul. And he wasn't someone you crossed lightly.

Everyone sat in stunned silence, realizing just how deep Kiriko's connection ran and what kind of person her brother truly was.

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Toji was lounging on the rooftop of H-High, their usual hangout spot, with a lazy smile on his face. The rise of Division had been meteoric. After dismantling Big Deal, his reputation across Seoul had skyrocketed. It wasn't just the sheer number of members flocking to Division—Toji had become somewhat of a celebrity, especially among the girls at H-High. He wasn't a typical troublemaker or delinquent; he didn't bully or disrupt classes, nor did he show disrespect to teachers. But when the need arose, when arrogant thugs or rival crews like Big Deal messed with them, Toji crushed them without hesitation.

For the students of H-High and the members of Division, he was a leader to be respected. And the fact that he was the son of the chairman of the T-Group further solidified his status. But while the city buzzed with talk about him, Toji couldn't care less about the attention. He was far more focused on the simple pleasures of life—like dozing off on a couch under the sun.

Life was good, he thought. He had a loving mother, a father who gave him space, a doting sister, and more wealth than he could spend. He didn't even remember his past family from his previous life, but he didn't care. This was his true family now. His greatest treasure. After reincarnating into this world, all Toji wanted was to enjoy the peace he had built.

His peace was interrupted by his bread shuttle No. 3, Jinyoung, who came scurrying over with Toji's favorite snacks and a steaming bowl of udon, specially prepared by Division's private chef.

"Hyung, here's the udon you ordered," Jinyoung said, carefully setting down the food.

Toji sat up, stretching. "This is the life," he muttered under his breath, picking up the chopsticks and digging into his meal. The rest of Division's inner circle sat in a line next to him, each eating quietly like loyal members of a yakuza family, but Toji remained in his own world, texting with Miss Lin on his phone.

Miss Lin was an international actress, a national treasure—Korea's "It Girl." She'd been shooting overseas but had texted Toji earlier, teasing him with a flirty message and an enticing photo. Toji, ever the seasoned player from his past life, knew how to handle it, responding smoothly. As he slurped his udon, he grinned. He had already convinced her to let him pick her up from the airport this weekend. His junior started to stir at the thought—been a while since he'd let off steam, and Miss Lin was more than enough to set him off.

As he enjoyed his meal, Jinyoung spoke up again, disrupting his thoughts. "Hyung, what should we do about Big Deal now?"

Toji barely looked up. "Leave them alone. I've already dealt with them." He wanted nothing more than for Big Deal to keep their distance, especially from his father's business. Toji's goal was never territorial conquest—it was just peace.

But the rest of Division misunderstood his intentions, interpreting his words as absolute dominance. After all, he had crushed Big Deal so thoroughly that it made sense for them to assume Division now controlled some parts of their territory.

While Toji wanted to avoid any more mess, the rest of Division was already moving to expand. They had begun absorbing Big Deal's territory as compensation for the defeat. Meanwhile, Toji continued savoring his udon, blissfully unaware of the empire growing around him.

Suddenly, he looked up at Jinyoung again. "Hey, do you guys know Miss Lin?"

In unison, the members of Division shouted, "Yes, Hyung-nim!"

Toji raised an eyebrow. "She's that famous, huh?" He chuckled, impressed. "Well, she's coming to visit me this weekend. Arrange some cars to pick her up and book a good hotel."

The room went silent. The members were stunned. Toji wasn't just a fierce leader, but he was also a smooth player. Miss Lin was a national crush, a star who had won countless awards, both in Korea and internationally. To think she had fallen for their leader, Toji… The group was in awe, realizing their leader's influence extended beyond just the streets of Seoul.

Kevin and Jacob, sitting nearby, exchanged shocked glances. They were still single, focused on getting stronger, and had no time for girls. Yet here was their leader, effortlessly landing a national icon.

Jinyoung, however, was more pragmatic. "Wouldn't a private villa be better than a hotel? I mean, she's a celebrity. If paparazzi catch wind of her, it could cause a scandal."

Toji paused mid-slurp, nodding at the sound logic. "Yeah, good point. Do that then."

What Toji didn't know was that Jinyoung, who controlled the money flow of the Division, had already anticipated such needs. The division wasn't just a gang—it was a growing empire, handling millions every week. Jinyoung had been making strategic investments in properties for Division's expansion.

They already owned several seaside villas and luxury buildings, all in secret, to increase Division's power and wealth. He had already selected the most luxurious, private villa for Toji's upcoming rendezvous with Miss Lin.

As Toji finished his meal, unaware of the machinations of his underlings, he sighed contentedly. This was the life—food, money, and a beautiful woman waiting for him.