Two Years Later
Kyoto's cherry blossoms bloomed fiercely, their pink haze softening Seiran's crisp air. Jiwon, now 17, leaned against a courtyard tree.
Junior high's final year had been a grind—missions, training, secrecy—but his Level 25 reflected the cost.
'Two years of blood and sparks' he thought, replaying the journey.
Seoul loomed, Eleceed's canon ticking closer, Jiwoo Seo's story unfolding somewhere across the sea. 'I'm ready.'
The SYSTEM had been relentless, missions piling like Kyoto's autumn leaves:
"DISMANTLE GION SMUGGLING RING. REWARD: ATK +1, MARKET POINTS +30"
"NEUTRALIZE ROGUE ELECTROKINETIC IN KAMOGAWA. REWARD: DEX +1, EXTRA STAT POINT +2"
"SABOTAGE TSUBASA CLAN OUTPOST. REWARD: INT +1, MARKET POINTS +40"
Jiwon's ravine became a fortress, Super Speed blurring through bamboo, Electric Control frying foes with surgical arcs, Energy Shield deflecting blasts. Healing Control mended scars, Animal Synergy turning strays into spies. And a new ability 'Telekinetic Control' evolved from an ability he bought from the system market, 'Telekinetic Push' which lets him hurl debris or pin foes mid-fight.
Market Points hit 500, Extra Points 75, his Inventory packed: his katana, upgraded battle gear, medical kits, and Recovery Elixirs.
Aiko joined his sessions a year ago, her wind aura a storm in the ravine's seclusion.
At 19, now a high schooler, she was Seiran's untouchable heartthrob, but in training, she was a prodigy unleashed. Her wind blades sliced boulders, her control rivaling top-tier Awakened.
Jiwon watched, his past memories drawing parallels to Eleceed's Jiyoung Yoo, Shinhwa's chairwoman—calm, commanding, a force to shake the Awakened world.
"You're scary, you know that?" he teased once, dodging her gusts with his super speed.
Aiko's cool laugh rang like wind chimes. "Says the lightning ghost, Hero."
Her wind control synced with his Electric Control, their sparring a dance of storm and spark. 'She'll outshine Hikari soon.'
Hikari's duo, Daichi and Reina, had changed. Six months after Aiko's beatdown, Daichi approached Jiwon, earth aura subdued. "Sorry, Yamamoto," he mumbled, scratching his neck. "We were jerks."
Reina, her telepathic hum blocked by Protected Mind, nodded stiffly. "You're… not bad."
Jiwon's Hiro grinned . "No worries, senpais! Water under the bridge."
They warmed up, Daichi sharing cafeteria snacks, Reina debating manga with him, unaware of his Awakened status.
'They're chill now' Jiwon thought, Animal Synergy catching their sincerity.
'But they'd flip if they knew I'm the ghost.'
Organizations still hunted that ghost—Hikari, Kage, Tsubasa Clan—chasing lightning trails across Kyoto.
Reports grew frantic: a rogue telepath fried in Gion, a Kage safehouse wrecked, no face, no name. Jiwon's Aura Suppression and Protected Mind kept him invisible, his Enhanced Senses dodging trackers.
'They're getting closer, but I'm faster.'
Last week, Jiwon applied for Seiran's student exchange program to Seoul.
He had planned it for years: Seoul, Eleceed's heart, where Jiwoo Seo, Kayden, and the Awakened world collided.
Aiko protested when he told her, her poker face cracking.
"Seoul? Why leave, Hiro?" Her wind aura flared, sharp with worry, in their ravine.
Jiwon dropped the Hiro act, voice low. "I've got reasons, Aiko. Trust me."
Her eyes searched his, Enhanced Senses catching her steady heartbeat. She sighed, breeze-like, tucking her hair back. "Fine, Hiro. But you better not forget me."
Jiwon smirked, "You? A prodigy shaking the Awakened world? We'll meet again, Aiko, sooner or later. You'll be a star."
Her cool smile returned, tinged with resolve. "I'll hold you to that."
'She's gonna shake the world, like Jiyoung Yoo.'
========================
Settling into a corner, Jiwon opened his SYSTEM, the glowing panel unfolding like a map of his grind.
[World]Eleceed
[Character Info]
〔Name〕Seo Ji-Won
〔Age〕17
〔Level〕25「Exp」■■■■■■■□□□
『HP 2000/2000』
『MP 1400/1400』
"Stats"
『ATK』28
『DEF』20
『DEX』40
『INT』30
「Extra Points」75
「Market Points」500
[Abilities]
●Super Speed - lvl.25
●Kinetic Absorption/Release - lvl.22
●Force Control (Unique) - lvl.20
●Healing Control (Rare) - lvl.15
●Animal Synergy (Rare) - lvl.15
●Electric Control (Rare) - lvl.24
●Aura Suppression (Rare) - lvl.15
●Energy Shield (Uncommon) - lvl.10
●Enhanced Senses (Uncommon) - lvl.12
●Protected Mind (Rare) - lvl.8
●Telekinetic Control (Rare) - lvl.8
His stats loaded, a testament to two years of blood, sweat, and sparks.
'I am such a grinder-...wait' Jiwon didn't finish the thought and just closed the system.
============================
Departure Day
Seiran's courtyard bloomed, cherry petals drifting like snow. Jiwon stood with Aiko near the school gate, his backpack light, Neko's carrier at his feet.
Aiko, with sleek hair tucked back, serene smile masking a storm. Her wind aura hummed softly.
'She's stronger than most Hikari agents now.'
Jiwon dropped the Hiro act, his voice low. "Aiko. Thanks—for everything."
Aiko's poker face softened, eyes glinting. "You're my Hero, Hiro. Seoul's lucky to have you." Her breeze-like laugh hid a tremor. "Don't get cocky, yeah?"
Jiwon smirked, "Me? Never. We'll meet again—count on it."
She nodded, wind aura flaring briefly, a silent vow burning in her gaze: 'I'll be stronger.'
They parted, Aiko's silhouette fading into Seiran's blooms, her vow a whisper in the wind.
"Goodbye, Hero(Hiro)"
=============================
Jiwon's phone buzzed—Hana and Taro on a group call.
"Ji-Won, an international student!" Hana's voice glowed with pride. "You're making us so proud, son." Taro's gruff laugh followed. "Seoul's fancy, huh? Don't forget your old man's cooking!"
"Wouldn't dream of it, Dad. I'll call soon." Their excitement fueled him, his vow—money, safety, power for them—burning brighter. 'I'm doing this for you guys.'
At Kyoto Station, Jiwon boarded the Shinkansen to Tokyo, then a flight to Seoul.
=========================
Seoul, South Korea
The plane touched down at Incheon International Airport, Seoul's skyline a glittering promise beyond the tarmac. Jiwon, 17, stepped off, Neko's carrier in hand.
'Seoul' he thought
'Eleceed's heart. Jiwoo Seo's out there. Has he met Kayden yet?'
His transmigration knowledge churned: Jiwoo's encounter with Kayden, a top-tier Awakened in cat form, sparked the Eleceed plot.
'If it hasn't happened, I'm early. If it has… I'm in the thick of it.' His core pulsed with readiness, but caution lingered. 'No slip-ups.'
At the airport, a Seiran exchange program coordinator guided Jiwon to a shuttle bound for his dorm near Yeouido, Seoul's bustling hub.
The city thrummed—neon signs, K-pop blaring, street food scents.
Animal Synergy caught Neko's curiosity, her eyes wide in the carrier. 'You like it, huh?' Jiwon mused, smirking.
At his new dorm, Jiwon unpacked swiftly—clothes, Neko's bowls, and other appliances.
Neko prowled the room, Animal Synergy syncing her excitement with his. 'Good girl.'
The next day, Jiwon explored his school, a sleek campus in Seoul's Gangnam district. Seiran's exchange program had placed him here, a prestigious academy buzzing with students.
Enhanced Senses caught faint aura traces—Awakened.
'This place is a hub.' He mused.
Roaming the courtyard, he froze. A girl with short, dark hair and a sharp grin tossed a soccer ball, her ice-blue aura crackling faintly.
'Is that....Subin Lee??'
Jiwon's past memories confirmed it—Eleceed's firecracker, Awakened Union's heir, a main character.
'She's here. This is her school.' His pulse quickened, Protected Mind shielding his thoughts, Aura Suppression keeping his energy unnoticeable. 'The plot's close.'
Jiwon lingered, observing. Subin bantered with classmates, her ice aura subdued but potent.
'She hasn't met Jiwoo yet' he deduced, his mind piecing together her casual vibe—no trace of the loyalty she'd later show Jiwoo.
'We're pre-canon, or just starting.' Kayden's meeting with Jiwoo, the spark of Eleceed's story, was either imminent or weeks away.
'I've got time to set the board.'
His plan formed: befriend Subin, stay "normie," but drop a hint of power to draw her in.
'She's sharp. A spark'll get her curious. '
Over the next week, Jiwon settled into classes, his Hiro Yamamoto grin charming peers.
He "bumped" into Subin during lunch, offering a clumsy apology. "Sorry, uh, I'm new—Hiro, from Japan."
"Watch it, rookie." she furrowed her eyebrows, slightly annoyed, then proceeded to walk away. Jiwon just bowed 90 degree's still apologising, keeping his clumsy Hiro act. 'Sheesh, what a personality'
They crossed paths again—hallways, soccer field—Jiwon playing the friendly exchange kid.
Animal Synergy caught her relaxed vibe, no suspicion yet.
His chance came during a rainy gym class, students sprinting laps outside. Jiwon, trailing Subin, "slipped" on wet pavement, Super Speed slowing his fall to a blur.
As he caught himself, Electric Control sparked faintly from his hand, a deliberate flicker of lightning arcing to the ground.
Subin, meters ahead, froze, her ice aura spiking. Enhanced Senses caught her glance—sharp, calculating.
'Gotcha' Jiwon played dumb, shaking his hand."Ow, that hurts!"
Subin's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing, jogging on.
Two days later, she cornered him near the school's rooftop, ice aura humming. "Yamamoto," she said, voice low, "those sparks, theyre not normal...are you Awakened?"
"Awakened? What's that, Subin? Like, superpowers? You watch too much anime!" He laughed.
Subin's ice aura flared, her frustration clear. "Don't play dumb. That was lightning!"
Jiwon shrugged, leaning casually against the rail. "Maybe I'm just… electric? Haha, no clue what you're talking about." Jiwon answered flirtingly, which made Subin shiver in cringe.
Subin scowled, her mind wrestling with doubt.
'She's not buying it fully' Jiwon noted.
"You're weird, Hiro," she muttered, stepping back. "If you're a late Awakener, you'll need help." she muttered with a low voice.
Jiwon tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Late what? You're intense, Subin!" still acting dumb.
She huffed, ice aura cooling, and walked off. "Whatever! Just don't go around bothering me again". Said Subin as she walked away.
'...but you were the one who cornered me...' Jiwon let out small chuckle.
'She thinks I'm a late bloomer' Jiwon smirked.
'She'll probably investigate me now that I got her attention.'
Jiwon's brain buzzed with plans.
'Befriending Subin gets me closer to Jiwoo's circle.' If Jiwoo hadn't met Kayden, Jiwon could watch Subin, sense the plot's kickoff.
'If they have met, Subin's ties to Union might lead me to them.'
'I'll protect them all.'
=========================
Subin Lee's POV
Subin Lee kicked the soccer ball against the courtyard wall, the rhythmic thud matching her thoughts.
Gangnam's academy was same-old, same-old—chatty classmates, boring lectures, and the faint hum of Awakened auras she could pick out blindfolded.
As Union's heir, she'd been trained to spot power, to size up threats.
But today, her mind wasn't on school or her ice control. It was on that weird exchange kid, Hiro Yamamoto.
'Pretty face, zero substance.' That's what she'd thought when he first bumped into her at lunch, all clumsy bows and goofy apologies.
"Sorry, uh, I'm new—Hiro, from Japan," he'd said, his grin too bright, eyes too warm.
'Tch. Just another normie tourist.' Sure, he was handsome—tall, lean, with messy hair that screamed K-drama lead—but Subin had seen plenty of good-looking guys!
Hiro was just… there, blending into the crowd like a nobody.
'Nothing special, except maybe his face.'
But then came gym class, that rainy mess of a day. She'd been jogging laps, half-bored, when she caught it—a flicker of light behind her, sharp and electric.
Her ice aura spiked, instincts screaming. She'd glanced back, and there was Hiro, "slipping" on the wet pavement, catching himself way too smoothly for a normie, albeit still clumsy.
And his hand—sparks. Tiny arcs of lightning, crackling to the ground before he shook it off, whining about "hurting."
'Bullshit!' Subin's eyes had locked on him, her awakened senses tingling. 'That wasn't static. That was power!'
She'd watched him closer after that. Hiro kept up his normie act—grinning in class, fumbling chopsticks at lunch, chatting about manga like he didn't have a care.
But Subin wasn't dumb. His movements were too clean, too controlled, like he was holding back. 'Is he hiding something?'
Two days ago, she'd cornered him on the rooftop, her ice aura humming, ready to call him out.
"Yamamoto, those sparks—they're not normal. Are you Awakened?" She'd expected denial, maybe panic, but not… that.
"Awakened? What's that, Subin? Like, superpowers? You watch too much anime!" His laugh was so carefree, his eyes so wide, she almost bought it. Almost.
Then he'd leaned against the rail, all casual, and hit her with that flirty "Maybe I'm just… electric?" line.
'Ugh, cringe.' Her skin crawled, but her ice aura flared, picking up nothing—no aura, no threat. Just a normie vibe, like he was empty.
'How's he doing that?' She'd pushed harder, warning him about late Awakeners needing help, but he just tilted his head, all "Late what? You're intense, Subin!"
'Tch. He's good at playing dumb.'
Subin stormed off, her ice aura cooling as she muttered, "Whatever! Just don't go around bothering me again." But Hiro's chuckle followed her, light and teasing.
'He's messing with me!' She was sure of it—those sparks were lightning, Awakened-grade.
But if he was Awakened, why hide? Why act like he didn't know the world of powers, organizations, fights?
'Maybe he's a late bloomer?' she thought, her Union training kicking in.
Some kids didn't awaken till their teens, powers sparking out of nowhere.
'If he's one, he's clueless. He'll need help'
Now, leaning against the courtyard wall, Subin juggled the soccer ball, her mind racing. 'Hiro's not just a pretty face.'
That lightning, that too-smooth dodge in gym—he had control, even if he didn't know it.
'Or he's faking the whole normie thing...' Either way, she needed answers.
Union didn't tolerate unknowns, especially not in Seoul, where Shinhwa, and rogues like her uncle's enemies stirred trouble.
'If Hiro's Awakened, he's on someone's radar—or he will be.'
She pulled out her phone, texting her uncle, Seongha Park, A respected Union agent. "Got a weird exchange kid at school. Might be Awakened, but he's playing dumb. Can you check him?"
Subin's fingers hovered over her phone, the soccer ball now still at her feet.
The courtyard's chatter faded, her ice aura humming as she typed out the rest of her message to her uncle.
"Name's Hiro Yamamoto. From Japan. Check if he's with Hikari, Kage, or any orgs. Something's off."
She hit send, her lips curling into a scowl.
'Hiro, you're not slipping past me that easy.'
Minutes later, her phone buzzed.
Seongha's reply. "Hiro Yamamoto? I'll check the database. Japanese orgs like Hikari and Kage are tight-lipped, but we've got channels. Stay sharp, Subin. Don't engage till I get back."
Subin smirked, pocketing her phone. Uncle's on it. Seongha Park, a Union heavy hitter, had connections deep enough to dig into foreign records.
If Hiro was registered with Hikari, Kage, or some rogue group, they'd find it. If not…
'He's either a ghost or a nobody who just woke up.' Both options made her uneasy.
Subin scooped up the soccer ball, her ice aura flaring faintly.
'I'm not dropping this.' Hiro's grin flashed in her mind—too perfect, too disarming.
'tch, that pretty face is pissing me off!' grumbled Subin, still embarrassed from the flirty line Jiwon let out.