Jin-ho walked toward the entrance door.
His hair was still messy from sleep, and his eyes had yet to fully open.
As soon as he opened the door, his eyes widened.
Standing in front of him were his parents.
He instantly woke up.
“Oh, Mom and Dad.
You both came earlier than I expected,” Jin-ho said, trying to hide the fact that he had just woken up.
His father raised an eyebrow.
“I told you last night that we’d be coming today, remember?”
Then his father looked at him more carefully.
“Did you stay up late again?”
Jin-ho could only nod.
Meanwhile, his mother sized up her son from head to toe.
Seeing the changes in him, she nodded approvingly after noticing his impressive physique.
“You have to maintain this, my son.
With that face and body of yours, girls will be flocking around you.”
She spoke proudly.
“I’ll try my best, Mom,” Jin-ho replied without disagreeing.
He was fairly confident in his appearance.
Both of his parents entered the apartment.
Not long after, they noticed the arcade stick box still lying on the floor.
Jin-ho had completely forgotten about it after getting too absorbed in playing Tekken 7.
His mother immediately started nagging him about not cleaning up properly.
His father sat down on the sofa while his mother headed straight toward the kitchen.
Jin-ho quickly cleaned the area.
After putting away the box, he found himself sitting across from his father.
And the interrogation began.
“So, how’s Ji-min doing these days?” his father suddenly asked.
The question caught him off guard.
“She’s doing well, although she’s really busy because of her comeback schedule,” Jin-ho answered.
His father nodded.
“Anything else to say about her?”
This time, Jin-ho became suspicious.
Why was he asking so much?
“There’s not much else.
She’s still the same person I knew before…
except now she’s famous across the country.”
His father stared at him carefully.
Searching for any reaction.
Anything at all.
But there was nothing.
“…So nothing’s happened between the two of you yet, huh?”
That thought silently crossed his father’s mind.
Meanwhile, his mother had started preparing food.
She cooked the instant noodles Jin-ho had bought yesterday for the three of them.
Then she opened the refrigerator and took out kimchi.
After seeing the lack of food variety inside, she let out a disappointed sigh.
Both of Jin-ho’s parents were busy people.
His father ran a company, while his mother worked in the broadcasting industry.
Because of that, they rarely had much time together as a family.
While waiting for the food, Jin-ho and his father talked.
Mostly about military life and how things had been recently.
Jin-ho answered each question normally.
Not too much.
Not too little.
Eventually, his mother finished cooking.
“Come eat.”
The two got up and headed to the kitchen.
Bowls and utensils had already been prepared.
As soon as everyone settled down, they began eating.
The room was filled with sounds of slurping and occasional conversation.
“Ji-min has been working really hard lately.
I heard her schedule is packed,” his mother said casually.
“Ji-min’s always been a diligent kid.
Unlike our son.”
His father glanced at Jin-ho.
Jin-ho simply continued eating.
He was already used to comments like that.
His mother smiled faintly.
To be fair, Jin-ho was not much different from Ji-min when it came to effort.
He just got distracted easily.
Then his father suddenly asked a question that made Jin-ho stop eating.
“So, what are your plans now?”
Silence.
Jin-ho already had an answer.
The problem was whether he should say it.
Both of his parents noticed the hesitation on his face.
But neither interrupted.
They simply waited.
Finally, Jin-ho looked up.
“I don’t want to go to university.”
The atmosphere instantly changed.
His father narrowed his eyes but surprisingly did not get angry.
Instead, he calmly asked:
“Why?”
Jin-ho felt like he was walking on a tightrope.
After thinking for a while, he finally spoke honestly.
“I want to do something else with my life.”
He looked directly at them.
“I want to become a professional esports player.”
Silence.
The atmosphere turned cold.
His mother clearly disagreed.
His father’s expression, however, remained unreadable.
Before either of them could respond, Jin-ho spoke again.
“Give me one year to prove myself.”
“If I fail, I’ll do what you originally wanted.”
“I’ll go to university, study properly, and eventually inherit the business.”
His father stared at him quietly.
Carefully processing every word.
Beside him, his mother glanced at her husband.
She had no idea what he was thinking.
Several long seconds passed.
Jin-ho felt pressure building in the air.
But he did not look away.
This was what he wanted.
And he intended to prove he could succeed.
Unexpectedly, his father spoke.
“Fine.”
“I’ll let you pursue becoming a pro player.”
Jin-ho’s eyes widened.
But before he could feel happy, cold water immediately followed.
“But I’ll cut off your allowance.”
“Don’t expect money from me.”
His father smiled.
His mother stared at him in disbelief.
Jin-ho froze.
“If you accept those terms, then I’ll let you do as you wish.”
Before Jin-ho could even answer, his father suddenly got smacked.
“Do you want our child to starve?!”
His mother hit his arm with full force.
His father immediately defended himself.
“If our son wants to do this, then he needs motivation.”
“He needs to push himself.”
“Besides, he doesn’t even pay rent.
We already own this place.”
“He already has a better starting point than most people.”
Hearing that, Jin-ho fell silent.
Because his father was right.
He did not need to worry about rent.
That alone was already a massive advantage.
Then he raised his head.
“I accept.”
His eyes were filled with determination.
No hesitation.
No regret.
His father smiled.
“Then…
good luck.”
After saying that, he casually resumed eating.
Jin-ho did the same.
His mother placed a hand on her forehead and sighed.
But eventually, she accepted reality.
Her son…
Wanted to become a professional esports player.
No one talked as they ate.
After finishing their meal, his mother cleaned the dishes while his father walked toward Jin-ho’s room.
Jin-ho followed behind him.
As soon as his father entered, he immediately looked around the room.
The number of boxes made him quietly estimate how much his son had spent.
“You… really went big, huh,” his father said, glancing at the PC setup and arcade stick.
The livestreaming equipment Jin-ho had bought was still unopened.
He did not ask how much money his son had left.
He simply guessed it would last a few weeks at most.
Neither of them spoke as his father slowly walked around the room.
Aside from the boxes on the floor and the unmade bed, everything else was relatively clean and organized.
Soon after, they returned to the living room.
His mother had already finished washing the dishes and was watching a variety show.
Coincidentally, Karina and Winter from aespa were guests.
She smiled and laughed as the show played.
The three of them sat together on the sofa and watched.
Occasionally, both parents made comments.
“The camera angle makes Karina look even prettier.”
“Karina’s witty remarks really made everyone laugh.”
They somehow could not stop mentioning her in front of Jin-ho.
He sighed internally but kept watching quietly.
After the program ended, it was time for his parents to leave.
They still had matters to attend to.
At the entrance, his father stepped out first.
Before following him, his mother glanced around to make sure he was not nearby, then leaned in and whispered to Jin-ho.
“Don’t worry.
I’ll secretly send you some allowance.
Make sure you eat properly and don’t go hungry.”
Her tone left no room for refusal.
Jin-ho felt warmth in his chest and nodded gratefully.
“I don’t know why you chose this path, but I’ll support you either way,” she said softly.
“So do your best… and make us proud.”
She hugged him tightly.
Jin-ho hugged her back.
While they embraced, his father peeked inside and sighed, already guessing what she had said.
She had always spoiled their son too much, unable to see him struggle.
The door opened, and both parents stepped out.
Before leaving, his father looked at Jin-ho one last time and said nothing, only patting him on the shoulder as a quiet gesture of support.
Then they left.
Now alone, Jin-ho stretched and picked up his phone.
The message about his parents visiting had already been resolved.
Next, he checked Ji-min’s message.
It was an image.
She was fully made up, her visuals enhanced, wearing her stage outfit while smiling and posing with a V sign.
She was at a music show.
In the background, Giselle and Ningning were sitting and preparing for their performance, unaware she was taking a selfie.
Jin-ho replied:
“You look great” with a thumbs up emoji.
This was not the first time he had received such images.
From her debut era, Black Mamba, Next Level, and up to now.
She had consistently sent him selfies over time.
At the waiting area,
Ji-min’s phone lit up.
She picked it up while sitting and waiting for her turn to perform.
It was a message from Jin-ho.
She opened it and read it.
Then she frowned slightly.
“Always the same response…”
Still, she was not upset.
She was already used to his short replies.
She quickly typed:
“Say a bit more next time.
It feels like you’re just copy-pasting your responses.”
A moment later, she received a thumbs-up emoji.
“Tsk,” she let out softly.
Suddenly, someone leaned over her shoulder.
It was Winter.
“Texting your boyfriend?” Winter asked teasingly.
Ji-min immediately reacted.
“We’re not like that!
We’re just great friends.”
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
“Shoo, mind your own business,” she said, waving her hand to push her away.
Winter only smiled and walked off without replying.
“…Boyfriend, huh.”
Ji-min thought to herself.
Under her contract, she was not allowed to date for a certain period of time.
It was meant to keep her focused on her career.
No distractions.
A knock came at the door.
Then it opened.
“aespa, please prepare.”
The staff’s voice cut through her thoughts.
Ji-min immediately stood up.
“Everyone, let’s go.”
Her tone changed instantly.
Idol mode.
The group left the room and followed the staff toward the stage.
Nearby, another performance was still ongoing.
She glanced back at her teammates.
“Let’s do our best.
We’ve practiced this many times, so stay confident.”
All of them nodded.
“Unnie, who were you chatting with earlier?”
Winter suddenly asked again, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Giselle and Ningning also turned to look at her.
Ji-min had expected this, just not right before going on stage.
“Just a friend,” she answered.
None of them believed her.
But they did not press further, choosing to focus on the performance instead.
They stepped onto the stage as fans cheered loudly.
Once in position, Ji-min took a deep breath.
Exhale.
Her eyes sharpened.
Ready.
The music started.
The cheers grew even louder.
As they performed, their visuals and choreography immediately captivated the audience.
Back at Jin-ho’s place,
He leaned back on the sofa, watching the performance intently.
When the camera focused on Ji-min, his gaze sharpened slightly.
Without realizing it, he moved his head subtly to the beat.
Her teammates were impressive as well, each showing strong stage presence alongside her.
When the performance ended, the camera cut between members for fan service.
The crowd roared.
When Ji-min appeared on screen, she gave a wink and a bright smile.
Click.
Jin-ho took a photo.
Then he sent it along with a message:
“You did great.
I liked the performance.”
After sending it, he stood up and returned to his room.
He needed to register for the local small tournament.
He planned to bring his arcade stick with him and complete the registration process properly.
He was also curious about the arcade that had opened a few months ago.
He took a shower and freshened up.
Then he changed clothes and packed his arcade stick into a bag.
It was a bit tight, but it fit.
Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang.
A message.
From Ji-min.
“Thank you!
Don’t forget to buy our mini-album!”
Jin-ho smiled as he read it.
He did not reply.
At the waiting room, aespa had just finished their performance and were resting.
Ji-min giggled softly while looking at her phone.
Then she felt something behind her.
Winter.
Giselle.
Ningning.
All three were silently peeking at her screen.
Seeing the messages between her and Jin-ho.
Ji-min immediately locked her phone and stood up.
“Yah!
Why are you sneaking behind me?!”
The trio smiled but said nothing.
“We won’t tell anyone.
Your secret is safe with us,” Winter said proudly.
“It’s not what you think!” Ji-min tried to explain.
But they were already convinced.
“What we saw is what we saw,” Ningning added with a grin.
“No wonder you went out yesterday.”
Then she tilted her head.
“Did you two date?”
“No, I didn’t!
I just picked him up and went to his place—”
Silence.
Ji-min froze.
She realized too late what she had just said.
“…Shit.”
She had made it worse.
Much worse.
There was no recovering from that.
She sighed in defeat.
“Just… don’t tell anyone.
Okay?
I trust you all.”
The three exchanged looks and nodded.
Winter even mimed zipping her mouth shut.
Ji-min smiled weakly.
But deep down, she had learned her lesson.
She needed to be more careful with her words.
Jin-ho, unaware that he was already involved in a major misunderstanding, made his way to the address the shopkeeper had given him the day before.
He walked with a bag slung behind his back, containing his arcade stick.
The arcade was not far from his place, but the trip still took time since he went on foot.
As he got closer, the building finally came into view.
It was larger and more well-maintained than the one he had visited the day before.
Inside, several people were already playing.
He noticed arcade cabinets for Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Tekken 6.
There were also setups for Ultra Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
As he looked around, he saw a small crowd gathered in one area.
A match was ongoing, played on a console setup.
A PS4 Pro, to be exact.
On the screen, Tekken 7 was being played.
The match was intense.
Both players had serious expressions.
One used Heihachi, the other Kazuya.
A classic rivalry match.
Heihachi held the advantage, with better health and positioning.
Kazuya was trapped near the wall, struggling to escape as Heihachi maintained pressure with homing attacks.
Slowly but surely, Heihachi secured the win.
“Woo!” the crowd cheered as the player stood up in celebration.
Jin-ho glanced at the scene, then moved on.
He needed to register for the tournament first.
He walked toward the clerk and noticed a tournament poster displayed nearby.
It was cleanly designed and clearly structured.
He took a brief look before speaking.
“I want to join the tournament,” he said, pointing at the poster.
“How do I sign up?” he asked.
The clerk explained the registration process.
He only needed to provide his name and pay the entry fee.
Simple enough.
After completing the registration, the clerk proceeded to explain the rules.
Controllers could be provided by the arcade, but players were encouraged to bring their own.
Call time was set at 11 AM, with the tournament starting at 1 PM.
The format was double elimination, first to two games.
Top 8 matches were first to three.
Winner could not change characters; only the loser could switch.
Stages were set to random.
Character customization was not allowed; only default appearances could be used.
If players wanted to choose sides, a coin toss would decide it, with the winner selecting position.
Matches would be played in tournament mode to prevent accidental pauses.
The list continued with additional standard rules.
Jin-ho listened carefully and nodded.
“I understand,” he said.
After securing his slot, he moved toward the area where Tekken 7 matches were being played.
There, he saw a player sitting alone at the character select screen.
Jin-ho approached and spoke.
“Are you free for a match?
Let’s play,” he said.
He lightly tapped the player to get their attention.
The player, unfamiliar with him, looked up but did not refuse.
“Sure.
I’ll take the left side,” he replied.
“Okay,” Jin-ho agreed.
He opened his bag, took out his arcade stick, and unzipped it carefully.
He connected it to the PS4 Pro and pressed start.
His first match at the local arcade was about to begin.
He was ready.
Quite surprising that I’m still writing hahahaha.