Nagasaki, Japan – Five Years Later
The dawn sea glittered under a pale sky, its waves lapping at the hull of Taro's fishing boat. Jiwon Seo—Hiro Yamamoto to all but his own heart—stood at the bow, his now-lean 13-year-old frame steady despite the rocking. His cream-colored hair, longer and tied back, whipped in the salt-soaked breeze, his amber eyes sharp as he hauled in a net heavy with mackerel.
His movements were precise, muscles honed by years of secret training, though he kept his kinetic powers tightly leashed around Taro.
"Nice haul, Hiro," Taro grunted, his weathered hands deftly sorting the catch. The fisherman's gruff tone hid a quiet pride, and Jiwon flashed a grin, fluent Japanese rolling off his tongue.
"Thanks, Dad. Think we'll beat last week's load?" He'd called Taro "Dad" for years now, the word natural yet bittersweet.
Taro snorted, tossing a fish into a crate. "Keep dreaming, kid. But you're getting better at this."
Jiwon laughed, the sound bright against the sea's murmur. Five years in Nagasaki had changed him. At 13, he was taller, stronger, his 8-year-old frailty a distant memory. But beneath his easy smile lay a transmigrator's resolve, shaped by Eleceed's story and his vow to protect Jiwoo's destiny. He'd stayed away, a ghost in his brother's world.
'Four more years' Jiwon thought, his gaze drifting toward the horizon.
'Then I'll go to Seoul as an exchange student, just when the plot kicks off. I'll watch over you, Jiwoo, from the shadows.'
Back home, the Yamamoto house buzzed with morning routine. Hana, her gray-streaked hair now in a neat bun, hummed as she set out breakfast—miso soup, rice, and grilled fish. Jiwon helped, wiping down the low wooden table, his hands quick but careful.
"Hiro, you'll be late for school," Hana teased, her maternal warmth unchanged despite the years. She handed him a bento wrapped in a blue cloth, her eyes soft. "Study hard, okay? You're our star."
"I will, Mom," Jiwon promised, the word "Mom" still tugging at his heart. He owed Hana and Taro everything, their kindness a lifeline he'd never repay. But he kept his secrets—his powers, his past, the SYSTEM—locked tight, protecting them from the Awakened world.
Neko, now a sleek gray cat with a slight limp, wove between his legs, meowing for scraps. Jiwon crouched, scratching her ears. "Greedy as ever," he murmured, slipping her a bit of fish. Neko purred, and Jiwon's smiled.
At school, Jiwon was a model student, his desk piled with perfect test scores and teacher commendations. He aced every subject—math, Japanese literature, even kendo, where his speed (carefully restrained) drew gasps from classmates. Being top student wasn't just pride; it was strategy.
At 17, he'd apply for an exchange program to Seoul, timing his return to coincide with Eleceed's main plot. He'd blend in, a foreign student with no ties to Jiwoo Seo, watching from afar as his brother became a hero.
'I won't interfere, he vowed, scribbling notes in class. But I'll be there if you need me.'
But Jiwon's true growth happened in the dark, far from Nagasaki's lights. Every night, he slipped out, biking to a secluded cove framed by jagged cliffs, where the sea drowned out his training. The SYSTEM, his transmigration cheat, had become his guide. Over five years, he'd unraveled its functions—missions, stat boosts, skill upgrades—turning its game-like interface into a tool for mastery. The blue screen, invisible to others, was as familiar as Neko's purrs.
His kinetic powers, once wild and painful, were now a controlled storm. The SYSTEM's Character Sheet reflected his progress:
[World]Eleceed
[Character Info]
〔Name〕Seo Ji-Won
〔Age〕13
〔Level〕9「Exp」■■■■■□□□□□
『HP 700/700』
『MP 500/500』
"Stats"
『ATK』13 (+8)
『DEF』10 (+7)
『DEX』19 (+9)
『INT』13 (+6)
「Extra Points」25
"Abilities]
●Super Speed
●Kinetic Absorption/Release
●Force Control (Unique)
The Syncing five years ago had been agony, but it unlocked his potential. Assimilating his kinetic force into his core, as the SYSTEM demanded, stabilized his powers, earning him +5 stat points he'd split across ATK, DEF, DEX, and INT.
But the real surprise was Force Control, a unique ability only for him born accidentally during assimilation. Jiwon had struggled to tame the rampant energy, instinctively shaping it into precise bursts rather than raw explosions. The SYSTEM rewarded him with another +5 stat points and a notification:
"NEW ABILITY CREATED: FORCE CONTROL. REWARD: +5 STAT POINTS"
His force control let him manipulate kinetic energy with finesse—redirecting impacts, softening his landings, or channeling force into pinpoint strikes. A sprint no longer cracked pebbles; a punch could dent steel without shattering his bones.
Tonight, at the cove, Jiwon tested his limits. The SYSTEM prompted:
"MISSION: EXECUTE 100 CONTROLLED KINETIC STRIKES. REWARD: +1 DEX"
He grinned, his sneakers crunching on wet sand. 'Let's do this.'
He blurred into motion, his body a streak under the moon, each punch a glowing pulse of energy. The cliffs echoed with soft thuds, not thunder, his Force Control keeping the force tight. He leaped, absorbing the fall's energy, redirecting it into a spinning kick that carved a shallow groove in a boulder. No nosebleeds, no aching muscles—just a steady hum in his core, the SYSTEM's approval.
"Hiro? You awake?" Hana's voice echoed in his memory, a reminder to be cautious. He'd nearly been caught once, sneaking back with sand on his yukata, but he'd lied about stargazing. The Yamamotos trusted him, and that trust was a weight he carried alongside his guilt over Jiwoo.
Jiwon paused, breathing hard, the sea's salt stinging his lips. The SYSTEM's screen glowed: "MISSION COMPLETE. DEX +1"
His DEX was now 20, his speed and precision nearing superhuman. 'Not bad for a 13-year-old' he thought, smirking.
But his amusement faded as Jiwoo's face surfaced in his mind—those amber eyes, that selfless heart. 'Are you stronger now, Jiwoo? Are you safe? Five years without contact felt like a lifetime' but Jiwon clung to his Eleceed knowledge: Jiwoo's story hadn't started yet. At 17, when the plot began, Jiwon would be there, a silent guardian.
Back home, he slipped into his room, Neko greeting him with a sleepy meow. He showered off the sand, changed into a clean yukata, and sat at his desk, textbooks open but ignored. His gaze drifted to the wooden boat Taro had carved years ago, now polished from his restless fingers.
'Hana, Taro, Neko… they're my family now' he admitted, the thought both comforting and painful.
The SYSTEM flickered, unbidden:
"NEW MISSION: MAINTAIN TOP ACADEMIC RANK. REWARD: +2 INT"
Jiwon chuckled, the sound soft in the quiet room. 'Even my cheat's pushing me to study.'
He accepted, his resolve hardening. He'd be Hiro Yamamoto, top student, fisherman's son, cat dad. But beneath it, he was Seo Ji-Won, transmigrator, brother, protector. In four years, he'd return to Seoul, not to change Jiwoo's story, but to ensure it shone as brightly as he knew it could.