Chapter 1: At The Gates

As I arrived in Dosung Station, I noticed the rain getting heavier and louder.

My wounds themselves weren’t completely healed either.

But it's fine, I’m not expecting to fight anyone anyways.

Why else would I choose after school to go to Gung High in the first place?

Practically no one stays after school, especially during rainy days.

Perhaps this rain storm was a stroke of luck.

But that luck would soon be tested.

As I left the station I could see a familiar face, although covered with a scarf his plain face was recognizable.

Freshmen War Committee Chair, Thunder Cracker

I didn’t try to make any eye contact or get him to notice me.

Perhaps he’s surveying the area for the upcoming battle.

Or maybe he’s planning a sabotage against the Gung High. 

As I walked to Gung High, however I noticed I was being tailed by Thunder Cracker

The worst part is that there are some Gung High students, still loitering around. 

It was a situation where I couldn’t really talk my way out of.

The only saving grace was that everyone was wearing a raincoat which covered most of the uniforms, concealing their identity.

I made my way before the gates of Gung High. 

It was closed unfortunately but, judging from the lights coming from some of the classrooms, it appeared as if some after school clubs still remained.

I saw a nearby tree, with just enough foot leverage to climb.

It was right next to the fence that surrounded Gung High, perhaps I could jump over if I climbed it, I thought.

As I tried to climb the tree I noticed a sharp pain in my chest.

Of course… I’m still wounded.

Before I could even climb I realized the impossibility of it. 

I needed to find another way in, but ho-

Someone yanked my shoulder

(WACK!)

I don’t know what happened but I was punched in the face.

It was fast and heavy.

As if a book was slammed against my face.

Afterwards, I could hear a faint voice call out.

“Oh, shit”

“My bad, umm June was it?”

It was the Committee Chair Thunder Cracker.

He dragged me into a nearby alleyway right next to the South Gung High School.

As I was resting from the punch, he explained his purpose here.

It appears he was hunting down a Gung High student who gave Thunder a black eye last tuesday.

Perhaps that Gung High student didn’t know of the legacy of our Committee Chair.

But it just so happens I appeared to be around the same height as the person Thunder was looking for.

Feeling safe, I explained my side of the story.

“Heh, I think I might know where your friends are June.”

“Huh? Where?”

“See that over there?”

He points to the school gymnasium of Gung High.

“I hear the guys from Gung High bring over prisoners from other schools to that gym to ‘train’ their freshmans on how to be ruthless.”

“Jesus Christ, man really?”

“Heh, at least that's the rumors I heard.”

“W-What about the torture’n shit that they do.”

“Ah, you mean those videos and recordings where they beat the shit out of other students?”

“Ye’a”

“They usually do that on high profile individuals--most of the time.”

“I think it’s one of their clubs that does that stuff tho.”

“Y-Yea their film club is ran by one of their War Committee Chairs.”

Thunder seemed unstressed by the sick practices of the Gung High.

Perhaps he felt as though he himself would never be captured and humiliated.

Seeing as there is no other opportunity, I ask for his help.

“Umm, Sunbae(Senior*) d-do you know any way to get inside?”

“N-No not really…”

“Climbing that tree you were about to climb seems like a good idea tho.”

“Nah- I can’t, too injured from a previous fight.”

Thunder took a good look at my slumped up body.

Although I fail to see how that could be any use as my wounds were covered with clothes.

“Did you lose?”

“Hu-h?...”

“Yea…”

“Ah, I think I remember you laying on the medical ward quite often, now that I think about it.”

My eyebrow twitched with slight irritation, “Ya…”

“It’s alright, I don’t always win my battles either, why do you think I’m hunting down a bastard who gave me a black eye?”

I wanted to reply back saying that he was a psychopath but the thought left me as I noticed movement in front of the gates of Gung High.

There were about eight Gung High students gathering in front of the gates, 3 of them were carrying unconscious bodies.

“S-Shit, what’s going on? More prisoners?” I whisper to myself.

“Nah, looks like injured Gung kids, look at how they're carrying them.”

“Aren’t schools closed though? It’s already pretty late.”

Thunder quickly replies, “Most* schools are closed by now, I know that for sure, but these Gung High guys have already proven themselves to be quite the rule breakers already, so I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Rather, I think this is our chance, you're injured aren’t you? Go in after them, I’ll tag along from behind.”

Thunder showed his teeth as he smiled, seemingly oblivious to the risk and danger I would be in.

But I didn’t really want to go empty handed, so I nodded in agreement.

(Sigh) “Alright let's go.”

Chapter 2: South Gung High School

I limped my way to the gates of Gung High.

One of the Gung High students turned around and noticed me struggling to get to them.  

To avoid suspicion, I started a conversation, “It’s not n-nice to leave a fellow man behind, you know?”

“Hm? Who the hell are you?”

“I-I’m a freshman, s-sorry I-I’m just really tired.”

One of the students nodded at another, presumably to allow me to get it.

Perhaps they just wanted to get out of the rain, or maybe it was because of the fact that I was actually injured.

One of them came to my aid and helped me inside.

I was unironically becoming a ninja already, I thought to myself.

The Gung High infirmary was not really too different from Han High. 

Most of the equipment seemed the same, but perhaps that was because all the schools in the district had a standardized set of tools and funding.

There was a tense atmosphere though.

Even after school there were some patrols walking within the school.

No one really talked, audibility.

They would whisper as if not to get caught.

Since I drenched in water, I was told to dry off, in the locker room next to the gym before heading to the medical ward.

I took the time to change my Han High uniform, underneath my raincoat, and wore some PE clothes I saw lying around.

As for my backpack, I left it with Thunder outside the Gung High School grounds.

It wasn’t ideal, but it got the job done.

While in the infirmary, I used the oldest trick in the book. 

I made my way to the door of the infirmary; the other Gung High students didn’t question or care.

I asked one of the student guards in the hallway where the bathroom was. 

I was allowed to roam, or atleast to the bathroom, which was visible from the hallway.

A nice start to my interloping.

On my way to the infirmary, I saw at least 2 Gung High guards per floor.

If I could just avoid their line of sight and make my way to the Gym, I think I would do alright.

I just need to hope, the committee chair somehow helps me out while I’m here.

I was currently in the bathroom on the ground floor, which was nice.

However, the window was quite small. 

It was a square window around head level.

If I can squeeze past this window I could potentially run straight to the Gymnasium without having to deal with any of the patrols directy.

But I had nothing to stand on to help me get through.

I wasn’t even sure if I could get through it all without wiggling wildly.

My head could easily get through, rather it was my shoulders I was worried about.

As I was plotting while facing the mirror in the bathroom another student came in stretching his arms.

“AYGO~ Another day of hard work I guess~”

Through the reflection of the mirror I could see the individual.

He had a pair of glasses, but his dark green Gung High uniform had a purple armband.

It read, Committee Chair?!?

Although I couldn't get a good line of sight from the mirror..

“Ah? Someone was here?”

I quickly responded while washing my hands, “Y~ya, I… was about to head back to the infirmary, w-what are you doing here, Hyung-nim(Formal way of saying Older Brother)”

My speech was broken as I was definitely nervous. 

I could hear his footsteps as he went to a urinal to take a piss.

The man with glasses didn’t respond right away, in fact it felt as though he was ignoring me.

I took the chance to dry my hands and tried to leave.

But just as I was walking out, he spoke as he went to wash his hands.

“What's your name?”

Unfortunately I didn’t want to pause and think, nor did I plan anything creative as making a fake name beforehand.

I responded, “June-” and quickly left.

Chapter 3: Run For It

I was back at the infirmary.

The 3 other injured Gung High students were sleeping.

I got off my bed and pulled out my phone.

I used the camera to peek around the corners into the hallway.

I could see the guard but he was at the far end of the hallway.

Thanks to the fact that these guys are sleeping, I decided to go out the infirmary window instead.

The infirmary at Gung High was located on the ground level, all I had to do was avoid that one guard who walks up and down the hallway.

I decided to blockade the doorway.

Once I saw the guard at the far end, I jumped into action.

I moved one of the beds with wheels in front of the door and began opening the window.

The cold wind blew at my face, as well as the rain.

Even the sleeping Gung High kids were getting irritated.

I hopped over and started limping my way over to the gym.

There was light coming from the gym, perhaps a club was active I thought.

“AHHHHHHH!!!”

“STOP STOP!!”

(CRACK!) (BASH!)

I heard screaming from the gym, multiple students at least.

I opened the gym door as silently as possible, and peaked inside.

There were multiple Gung High students on the ground.

One kid was pinned to a wall, being repeatedly bashed with steel knuckles.

“Thunder Cracker, you son of a bitch” I whisper.

I open the door and enter.

What I found inside was as horrific as the stories, I guess.

Multiple students were locked inside those cages that store basketballs.

There were 4 people locked up. 3 People on the ground beaten nearly to death.

And to my glee I found Kim, Boshik, and B-Young.

B-Young, however, was one of the 3 that was on the ground. 

I called out to my senior, “Hey, Thunde-”

He tossed a pair of keys onto my feet.

I grabbed it and opened one of the cages with Boshik and Kim.

They don’t seem too heavily beaten, but they look tired.

“T-Thanks, June”

“S-same here, thax…”

I looked over at the other cage.

2 people were in that cage and they seem to be in a similar state of tiredness.

“Forget about it June-”

It was the Committee Chair, he was taking a sip of water by a water fountain next to the bathroom.

“Or do you think you can carry all the bodies?”

I threw the keys near the last cage and went towards B-Young. 

His face was like some burnt down forest or something.

He was covered in bruises and blood flowed from his nose.

The Committee chair got 3 bottles of water from the backpacks of the Gung High students that he just beat up and handed it to each of us.

Afterwards he took his phone out to check the time.

“The last train is gonna leave soon, I’ma go.”

“W-Wait what?”

“As War Committee Chair I can’t be late for the morning meetings.”

“Isn’t that shit tomorrow though? Why you leavin right now?!”

“I have to sleep early or else I will miss school.”

Kim after drinking his bottle of water responded, “W-What about us? Aren’t you supposed to represent us or something?” (Cough, Cough)

“Dude, my home is like a 50 min walk from here and I’m already pretty damn tired you know.”

Boshik stood up and walked towards me and B-Young.

He bent down and put B-Young over his shoulder, “I’ght, what are we waiting for?”

Me and Kim froze because of this sudden act.

Perhaps Boshik understood something that we didn’t.

Perhaps he was trying to tell us to stop complaining.

Maybe it was something like strong people don’t complain or whine.

Kim and I were somewhat inspired by the act.

We emptied the bottles of water and stood up and followed our committee chair.

Chapter 4: Run Like You Mean It

Our committee chair kept a steady jog towards the Gung High Gates.

Me and the bois tried to keep pace, but lagged behind.

As our clothes began to get wet and the ground became more drenched, our speed was basically that of speed walking.

Our committee chair got to the gate first and started to use the keys that he got from the gym to unlock it.

We caught up to him, but the gate was still closed.

(Huff) (Puff) “W-What now?”

“There’s still one last key hold on.”

As the committee chair flipped the key chain to the last key a loud crack could be heard.

(CRACK!)

The key fell behind the gate, it was knocked over there.

“AHHHHHHHGGHHH”

Thunder’s hand was bruised badly.

“W-What?”

“What the fuck happened, Sunbae(Senior Refering to Thunder)”

No one knew what happened, and we started to look around.

On the ground were little fragments of glass.

Boshik, pointed towards the roof of Gung High.

There was a man with glasses and a purple armband.

He gripped something on his left fist.

“Sling…shot”

“Fuck get to cover!”

Marbles howled as they flew by us.

(CRACK!) (AGHHHHHGGHH!!!)

We would cry out in pain once hit, but it was nothing enough to take us down.

I could only imagine the pain you would feel if you were shot point blank with those things.

“June, get the fucking key!”

Kim said this as he backed against the wall, and readied to give me a boost up.

I took the opportunity and ran towards him and got boosted up.

I crashed onto the floor as the rain pelted me.

I could feel my entire body in pain.

I took a moment to breathe and started to crawl to the key.

As I reached for the key I heard a marble howl by as it just missed my head. (WHOOSH!)

My heart beated loudly, “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” but I continued to reach for the key.

Grabbing it I threw it inside the gate.

Our committee chair got it and opened the gate immediately.

With the gates opened we ran as fast as we could to the Dosung Station.

That Gung High guy with glasses didn’t give chase.

As we got on the last train and sat down on the empty seats as we were all exhausted.

I looked over at our committee chair who was looking at his wounded hand.

And then I remembered something.

“Oh ya, Sunbae? Where did you put my backpack?”

“Oh…”

“I left it in the alleyway”

(Sigh~) “Damm..”

(3 Days Left Till The Assault on South Gung High)