doesn't follow canon chapters

Ae-ri walked down the street. Clothes were out for display, handbags and hair accessories. Not that she had the money for all that...

She huffed, mentally drained from school and fighting. She was planning to drop out soon, even if education mattered to her. She was about to leave when she caught a glimpse of a small brunette headed boy. And a white dog.

He had just left one of the stores in tears, looking like he had just finished crying. And Ae-ri didn't have the heart to simply walk away. Instead, she casually approached him with a smile.

"Where are your parents?" She spoke, leaning forward slightly to see his expression. He's small. "I-I ran away from home..." His words slurred at the end, his hands shaking as he held his dog and a wallet.

She was silent, her smile slowly dropping before returning. "Come with me, then?" She held out her hand to the shorter boy, seeing him nod and hesitantly take her hand.

"So, how old are you?" She started small talk.

"I'm 15..." The boy replied, making her eyes widen and breath hitch. He didn't look 15!

She kept her gaze on the ground before glancing at him. "... Okay." She retorted softly, making her way with him to a restaurant. He needed to eat more so he could grow.

What Ae-ri didn't expect was for him to chomp down on everything, wolfing everything down. "Why did you leave home?" She asked out of curiosity, not expecting an answer since it could be a sensitive question.

But the boy stopped. He put down the bowl and looked at her. "I didn't know what I was doing there... I lost everything." Ae-ri perked up, resting her hands on her lap. "Hmm. What's your name?"

"Johan."

" Johan. "

Ae-ri called out, her gaze kept on his back. There he was, stealing shoes again. She didn't know why he went down this path, she doesn't even know if she did the right thing teaching him some moves.

Johan turned around, "Yeah, noona?" He still had an innocent smile with that babyface. Ae-ri sighed, walking over to him. The street lamp flickered above them, the moonlight barely enough to provide light for the world.

" You shouldn't keep doing this." Ae-ri muttered, feeling bad to perhaps have influenced him down this path. " Weren't you a boxer back in middle school? You can try again." She continued.

Johan just stared at the ground. "If the tournaments need money, I'll support you." Ae-ri smiled. "So... Don't fight for no reason." Johan scoffed, tying the shoes together and holding them at his shoulder.

" I have a reason. What would you know, noona?" Ae-ri's eyes widened slightly. Perhaps she had offended him, watching him walk away. Her brows furrowed, disappointment evident on her expression.

"Why don't you visit Minseong anymore? He misses you." Ae-ri clasped her hands together, walking awkwardly beside Johan. Johan clenched his fist around the shoes. "Noona, why do you support me if you can't even support yourself and your brother?"

Ae-ri stopped in her tracks, eyes widening and mouth agape slightly. What made him so mad? Those words stung at her heart, blinking twice as her eyes got shinier.

Johan still kept his gaze forward, making Ae-ri grit her teeth, her jaw clenching as he held back her frustration. She grabbed Johan's shoulder, her grip tight to stop him from moving.

"You will go back for your tournament, Johan. If anything, you want to be greater, right?"

Johan had never even seen her like this apart from fighting. But she wasn't wrong.
"If I go back for that, I might not ever see you again." Ae-ri slowly released him, pulling her hand away from him.

"... Why?"

"I've received a better offer, noona. I don't really need you now."

It felt like years had gone by as she stared at the little boy she once took in, now independent and being able to solve his own problems. She smiled.

For his sake, she was letting him go. For his mother's sake, he was pushing her away.

"You've grown up. Take care of yourself." Ae-ri spoke bluntly, patting his head and turning away. She never looked back, leaving him and the memories they shared in the dim alleyway.

bonus: Ae-ri had actually walked down the streets of Big Deal at the time.