Romanticism System

The hallway lights flickered half-broken, half-alive like this school’s dying soul trying to rememberwhat it once was.Paint peeled from the walls in thin, curling strips. Lockers were dented, some streaked with rust, others with dried blood that no one bothered to clean. Far down the corridor, something heavy crashed a desk, a chair, or maybe a body and the echo rolled like thunder trapped indoors.This wasn’t a school anymore.This was a battleground.And at the front of it all, standing as if it were just another Monday, was Lee Seojun, third-year, infamous vice leader of ROMZ, the gang everyone either feared, respected, or secretly wished to join. His uniform jacket hung half-open, his tie long abandoned, and his face was a mess of cuts and purple bruises that hadn’t yet learned to fade. Still, he smiled that reckless, wolfish grin that said he’d already accepted the price of fighting.He looked over his shoulder, voice calm but carrying the sharp edge of command.“We’re ready.”

It’s tomorrow.And somehow, despite everything...I slept like a baby.No dramatic nightmares. No floating memories.The kind of sleep you only get after falling in the shower, questioning your existence, regaining your memories from a past life, and eating the best kimchi stew known to man.I woke up feeling...Alive.Like something clicked into place. Like my body Seo Joonwoo’s body was finally mine.I sat up in bed, stretched, and looked out the window.A golden ray of sunlight slipped between the curtains.First day of school.I could hear Mom in the kitchen. The clinking of plates. The soft hum of morning news. My dad coughing dramatically like he’d never learned how to drink hot soup without choking.“Joonwoo! Hurry up or your rice will get soggy!” my mom called.“Coming!”I slipped on my uniform light gray blazer, white undershirt, navy slacks. Clean, but a little loose. Fitting. I wasn’t the tight-sleeves-tucked-in type anyway.Looked in the mirror one last time.Jet-black hai

The air around Seo Joonwoo shifted.[Romanticism System Activated.]“The stronger your conviction... the stronger your punch.”Joonwoo’s eyes widened.(What the… Is this the so-called gift every reincarnator gets?)Before he could process it fully, Kang Daejin stepped in front of him—cocky, confident, and ready to pounce.“What are you spacing out for?” Daejin sneered, sliding into a loose stance.“Mesmerized by my pose?”But in that very moment, Joonwoo felt it.[Conviction: 60%][Beginner’s Pack: Unlocked]A soft burst of light surged around Joonwoo’s fists and legs. His chest tightened—not with fear, but with rising anticipation.His body moved before thought could catch up. As if his courage was being given form.고백권 (Go-baek Gwon / Confession Fist):A straight punch that grows stronger the more emotionally courageous the user becomes.파도차기 (Pa-do Chagi / Wave Kick):“Let my feelings reach you.” A sweeping kick that rises like an emotional tide. When conviction is high, it emits a

After School…The sky was painted orange, the last traces of sunlight bleeding into the quiet neighborhood.Seo Joonwoo stood in front of the modest gate of his house. His bag hung loosely over one shoulder, and his uniform was slightly wrinkled from the long day. He let out a deep breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.(What a day… cafeteria stares, that pink-haired guy—Seungmin—suddenly showing up, and people whispering about me like I’m some big deal.)He scratched the back of his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.(Still… he seemed like a good guy. Friendly.)The door creaked open.“I’m home,” Joonwoo called out, slipping off his shoes and neatly placing them by the rack.From the living room, a cheerful voice rang out.“How’s your day, son?”Seo Junghwan peeked his head around the couch. His thinning hair stuck up at odd angles, like he’d just lost a wrestling match with a pillow. A faint soy sauce stain decorated the collar of his T-shirt, proof of his careless lunch

The morning sun spilled across the schoolyard, the chatter of students buzzing like a hive. Joonwoo stepped onto campus, adjusting the strap of his bag. He was halfway to class when a familiar pink blur slid into view.“Joonwoo!”Joonwoo blinked, recognizing the bright grin and dyed hair immediately.“…Yoon Seungmin?”“Hello~” Seungmin sang, throwing him an exaggerated wink.Joonwoo gave a half-smile, unsure if he should laugh or sigh. (Does he greet everyone like that?)Without missing a beat, Seungmin fell into step beside him, hands in his pockets, almost too casual.“Did you know,” Seungmin began, voice lilting like he was gossiping, “that one of our classmates is coming back today?”Joonwoo tilted his head. “Back?”Seungmin smirked knowingly. “Oh, right… you wouldn’t know. You’re the transferee, after all. That guy—” he lowered his voice, eyes flicking around as if sharing a dangerous secret, “—was our leader back in 2nd year of middle school.”Joonwoo slowed his steps. “Leader?”