The Best MC Netori

Sung-Min woke up Thursday morning with a buzz in his veins, the kind that came from knowing he was walking a razor's edge—and loving it. Last night with Ji-Yeon had been a fireworks show, and Soo-Jin's morning "rescue" loomed like a delicious encore. But the real game today was at 4 p.m.: yoga class with Choi Eun-Ha, the engaged yoga goddess who'd just jumped to the top of his netori hit list. Hard difficulty. A fiancé with money and muscle. This wasn't a sprint—it was a chess match, and Sung-Min was ready to play.

He rolled out of bed, stretching until his joints popped, and checked his phone. Two texts waiting:

Soo-Jin: "Min-Soo's still a mess. See u at 8. Don't be late, hero."

Ji-Yeon: "Tae-Ho's working late tonight. Thinking round 3 tomorrow? U owe me."

Sung-Min grinned, typing quick replies—"Wouldn't dream of it" to Soo-Jin, "Count me in" to Ji-Yeon—before tossing the phone aside. His life was a juggling act, and the balls were multiplying, but damn if he wasn't getting good at it. Charm 22, Confidence 5, Stamina 18—the system was turning him into a machine, and he felt every upgrade in his bones.

A quick shower, a protein bar, and he was out the door by 7:45, heading for Café Luna. The streets were alive with morning chaos—honking cars, chattering students, the sizzle of street vendors frying tteokbokki. He pushed through the café door at 8:01, the bell chiming his arrival. Soo-Jin was behind the counter, pouring milk into a latte, and when she saw him, her eyes lit up with that sly, knowing spark.

"Morning, trouble," she said, sliding an iced americano across the counter. "On me, as promised."

"You're a saint," he replied, taking a sip and leaning in. "Min-Soo still whining?"

She rolled her eyes, wiping her hands on her apron. "Worse. He showed up here at open, begging me to 'talk.' I told him to get lost—I've got work. He's lurking outside now, probably plotting his next sob story."

Sung-Min glanced out the window. Sure enough, Min-Soo slouched against a lamppost across the street—lanky, messy-haired, scowling at his phone. Pathetic, but persistent. "Guy's got no chill," Sung-Min said, turning back to her. "Need me to handle him?"

Soo-Jin smirked, leaning closer. "Tempting, but no. He'll sulk off eventually. Just keep me sane 'til my break at 10. Stick around?"

"Wouldn't miss it," he said, winking. "Gotta keep my hero streak alive."

She laughed, and he grabbed a table, settling in with his drink and a half-hearted attempt at studying. The next two hours dragged, but Soo-Jin's flirty glances and the occasional middle finger she flicked at Min-Soo through the window kept him entertained. By 10, Min-Soo had vanished—probably to cry into a convenience store beer—and Soo-Jin slipped out from behind the counter, nodding at him.

They met in the alley again, but this time it was quick—a heated kiss, her hands in his hair, his gripping her hips through her jeans. No time for more, just enough to leave them both grinning and breathless. "See you tomorrow," she said, slipping back inside with a wink. Sung-Min adjusted his jeans and headed home, the taste of her still on his lips.

The rest of the day was a blur of prep. He napped, ate, and dug out his gym shorts again, psyching himself up for yoga. By 3:45, he was outside Lotus Studio, the glass windows reflecting the afternoon sun. The receptionist recognized him—"Back for more, huh?"—and he paid his ten bucks, grabbing a mat and setting up near the front again. Prime spot to catch Eun-Ha's eye.

The room filled up fast: legging-clad women, a few guys, the air warm and thick with anticipation. At 4:00 sharp, Eun-Ha swept in, and Sung-Min's breath caught. She was a vision—black yoga pants hugging her endless legs, a teal crop top showing off her toned abs, that auburn ponytail swishing like a metronome. Her smile was calm, serene, but there was a quiet power in her stride that made his pulse kick up.

"Welcome back, everyone," she said, voice smooth as silk. "Let's start with some sun salutations. Follow my lead."

Sung-Min mirrored her movements—downward dog, plank, cobra—his muscles protesting but his focus razor-sharp. She moved through the class, adjusting poses, her hands gentle but firm. When she reached him, her fingers brushed his shoulders, pressing lightly. "Lift your chest a bit more," she said, and her touch sent a jolt through him, electric and fleeting.

"Thanks," he managed, flashing a grin. She nodded, moving on, but he caught the faintest flicker in her eyes—curiosity, maybe?

The class was a grind—sweat dripped, his legs shook—but he pushed through, determined to stand out. By the end, as they settled into savasana, he was a puddle, but Eun-Ha's "Great work, front row" made it worth it. She'd noticed him again. Step one: check.

As the class emptied out, Sung-Min lingered, rolling up his mat slowly. Eun-Ha was at the front, wiping down her own mat, and he seized the chance. "Hey, Eun-Ha," he called, strolling over. "You weren't kidding about this being tough. I'm dead."

She laughed, a soft, musical sound. "You held your own, Sung-Min. Not many newbies keep up like that."

"Guess I've got a good teacher," he said, dialing up the charm. "How'd you get into this? You're, like, next-level."

Her smile warmed. "Thanks. I started in college—stress relief, you know? It just stuck. Now it's my life."

"Shows," he said, leaning casually against the wall. "Bet your fiancé's proud, huh?"

Her expression shifted—just a flicker, a shadow crossing her face. "Joon-Hyuk? Yeah, he… supports me. In his way."

Sung-Min's radar pinged. In his way? Trouble in paradise? He kept his tone light. "Big shot like him, probably busy, right? Leaves you to rule the studio."

She chuckled, but it was tighter now. "Something like that. He's out of town this weekend, so I've got the place to myself."

[Mission progress: 10%. Intel gained: Fiancé tension confirmed. Joon-Hyuk's absence is your window. Build trust.]

"Nice," Sung-Min said, nodding. "Free time's gold. What do you do with it?"

"Honestly? Catch up on sleep," she admitted, relaxing again. "Maybe some tea and music. Nothing wild."

"Sounds perfect," he said, locking eyes with her. "See you Tuesday, then? Gotta keep this newbie streak going."

"Wouldn't miss it," she replied, and there it was again—that spark, faint but real. She turned to pack up, and Sung-Min headed out, a grin spreading across his face.

The system pinged as he hit the sidewalk.

[Progress update: Eun-Ha's warming to you. Next step: Deepen the connection. Weekend absence confirmed—plan an encounter outside class.]

"Outside class," Sung-Min muttered, mind racing. Tea and music, huh? Maybe a "casual" run-in at a café, play the friendly student angle. He'd need to scout her haunts, but with Joon-Hyuk gone, the timing was perfect.

Back home, he collapsed onto his couch, sweaty and smug. The day had been a win—Soo-Jin's kiss, Eun-Ha's spark, Ji-Yeon on deck for tomorrow. His phone buzzed—Soo-Jin again.

Soo-Jin: "Min-Soo's stalking my texts now. Might need u to steal me away tomorrow. U game?"

Sung-Min laughed, typing: "Always. Name the time."

Soo-Jin: "10. Alley again. Don't flake."

"Never," he mumbled, setting the phone down. Then another buzz—Ji-Yeon.

Ji-Yeon: "Tae-Ho's bitching about work. I'm bored. Tomorrow's still on, right?"

"Hell yes," he sent back. "Get ready for round 3."**

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Three girls, three missions, three boyfriends—or fiancé, in Eun-Ha's case—circling like sharks. Tae-Ho was suspicious, Min-Soo was clingy, and Joon-Hyuk was a wildcard. The netori life was a house of cards, and he was stacking it higher every day.

The system pinged, unprompted.

[Warning: Multiple targets active. Risk level rising. Maintain control, protagonist.]

"Control's my middle name," Sung-Min said, smirking. But as he drifted off, the shadows of Tae-Ho's fists, Min-Soo's whining, and Joon-Hyuk's money loomed in his mind. He'd built a kingdom of chaos—and one wrong move could bring it crashing down.

For now, though, he'd sleep like a king. Tomorrow was another day to conquer.