Episode 1 of "Weak Hero Class 2" kicks off with Yeon Si-eun engaged in a poignant conversation with a psychiatrist, grappling with insomnia that plagues his nights. His restless slumber is haunted by harrowing visions of his comrade, Su-ho, still trapped in a coma. Transferring to Eunjang High School, Si-eun finds himself in an environment as tumultuous as his previous one. Malicious whispers weave through the corridors, fabricating tales of his past—that he was the perpetrator of a tragic event at his old school, prompting his relocation. Consequently, the majority of the male students steer clear of him, their fear palpable.
Hyo-man reigns supreme as the school's bully, with Seo Jun-tae acting as his faithful underling. Jun-tae, burdened with a litany of tasks handed down by Hyo-man, roams the school halls, distributing snacks to students as per his master's bidding. Among these directives, a sinister one stands out: the theft of classmates' phones. By the day's end, Hyo-man peruses the ledger and discovers that Jun-tae has designated Si-eun as a figure to be avoided. Fury ignites within Hyo-man; he brutalizes Jun-tae and issues an ultimatum—retrieve Si-eun's phone by sunset.
Jun-tae, also the class monitor, operates within the school's framework where students surrender their phones at the morning bell, reclaimed only when the final bell tolls. As the day progresses, Jun-tae seizes Si-eun's phone from the teacher's custody and surrenders it to Hyo-man. When Si-eun inquires about his missing phone, Jun-tae puts on an innocent face, pretending ignorance. However, guilt gnaws at him as Si-eun fails to raise a commotion, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Jun-tae's trepidation.
After school, Jun-tae trails Si-eun, driven by a yearning to apologize for the theft. But Si-eun, already privy to Jun-tae's actions, scorns him, branding him a coward for underestimating his intelligence.That evening, Si-eun's mother accompanied him on a mission to procure a new phone, their conversation weaving through the threads of his future abroad for studies. She voiced her apprehension about the impending scarcity of shared moments, her worries lingering like a soft echo in the air.
The subsequent morning dawned, and Si-eun found himself at Su-ho's bedside in the hospital, where the latter remained entwined in the slumber of a coma. Si-eun poured his heart out, confessing his insomnia and his harsh words towards Jun-tae, labeling him a coward, yet acknowledging within himself a deeper cowardice. As he kept a vigilant watch, Si-eun digitally penned his thoughts into messages for Su-ho, the tap-tap of keys resonating in the hospital's hush.
At school, the tableau of bullying unfolded on the stairs, with Hyo-man and his cronies subjecting Jun-tae to their cruelty. Memories of Si-eun's past school experiences flashed before him, and for an ephemeral moment, he envisioned himself rising up to thwart the bullies. Yet, Si-eun's resolve remained unacted upon; he merely navigated past them, en route to his classroom.
During lunchtime, Jun-tae approached Si-eun, bearing snacks and beverages, considering Si-eun's propensity to sleep through mealtimes. Jun-tae's confession tumbled out—he had been stealing phones and handing them over to Hyo-man, driven by a perceived lack of alternatives. He expressed a burgeoning desire to shed his cowardice and beseeched Si-eun for mentorship. In response, Si-eun invoked Newton's third law, reminding Jun-tae that action precedes reaction, a truth as immutable as the laws of motion.
On his way home, Jun-tae delved into the nuances of Newton's law of motion. Meanwhile, Si-eun let a call from one of the bullies ring out unanswered. The bullies, engaged in a drinking spree at a bar, demanded Jun-tae's payment. His silence prompted Hyo-man to foot the bill, excusing himself thereafter to attend to the business of merging their gang with another, led by Seong-je.
This union, it transpired, was a formidable gang of school bullies headed by Seong-je. Hyo-man aspired to join their ranks. At a cybercafé, Seong-je was immersed in gaming, his fingers dancing over the keyboard. Hyo-man solicited additional tasks, the latest of which was to steal a hundred phones. Within the café's confines, an elder man disparaged Seong-je, dismissing him as a mere high school student. Seong-je retaliated with a grin, his head crashing into the table with a thud that sent shivers down Hyo-man's spine. Terrified, Hyo-man hastily departed the café, the scene of violence etched indelibly in his mind.
The following morning, Jun-tae arrived at school well ahead of the bell. Driven by his grasp of Newton's first law of motion, which speaks of inertia, he ventured into the restricted cabinets where Hyo-man's gang had concealed their ill-gotten cache of stolen phones. With a steadfast resolve, Jun-tae restored each phone to its rightful owner, accompanying each with a heartfelt apology note. Exhausted by his noble deed, he retreated to a quiet corner for a much-needed nap.
Later, Si-eun entered the school grounds, his ears catching snippets of conversation among students about Jun-tae's bravery in returning the phones. An undercurrent of anxiety flowed through their words, a collective dread of Hyo-man's inevitable fury upon discovering Jun-tae's actions. Indeed, upon hearing the news, Hyo-man stormed towards his classroom, fury etched across his face. Anticipating this confrontation, Jun-tae had taken precautions, popping a bun into his mouth as a makeshift mouthguard and removing his glasses for better mobility.
Despite his intentions to stand his ground against Hyo-man, Jun-tae was swiftly overwhelmed and severely beaten. Si-eun stood by, a silent observer to the unfolding violence, his mind drifting back to a pivotal moment with Su-ho. He recalled how Su-ho once intervened to prevent him from swinging a chair at another student. This memory stirred something deep within him. As Hyo-man reached for a chair, poised to strike the helpless Jun-tae lying on the ground, Si-eun could stand by no longer. He stepped forward, determined to halt the cycle of violence.
