"You are a first-year, right? So you might not know how we operate in this school. So pay close attention."
A second-year student grabbed the scared first-year and pulled him closer as if he were a close friend.
"Disobey us and you will find yourself with more than just a nosebleed."
As stated by the second year, he was having a nosebleed due to a punch he endured. One side of his cheek was swollen and the cause of it was that boy beside him.
The location was behind the school near the school's sports club storage. It was an infamous spot for the delinquents to hang around. Mainly the 4 second-year students that were using it at this moment.
The one who used brute force on the scared boy was named Hatanabe Juzo. The aggressive fire of the group.
A well-built 17-year-old who learned boxing from videos on the internet. His instinct, quick reflex, and flexible body make up for his lack of experience and training from an actual coach.
He is feared for his strength amongst the sophomores.
"Calm down with the threat Juzo, look at him. He is quivering so much that he might as well just piss himself."
Another guy laughed at the battered boy. This one was the prankster...., let me correct myself here. The happy-go-lucky guy of the group.
His name is Wakatoshi Arisu.
More of an entertainer who likes to show off in front of everyone else to make himself look more funny.
Up until now, his high school career has been a hit-and-miss success.
However, when matters become serious, they can rely on him. Some rumors say that he has a gym and fighting equipment at home. Maybe that's why has some strength and confidence behind his rash and provoking words.
The bullied boy was having enough of the threats because he seemed to be losing strength in his knees.
Noticing that, another guy who was sitting on the staircase leading to the sports club storage building, refrained Hatanabe and Wakatoshi from dealing with him anymore.
The one who instructed both of them to leave the matter right there was the leader of the group.
He did not consider himself as one but they mutually accepted it when they were dealing with some problems.
The person in question is named Tobiyama Jun.
"You, come here."
The boy weakly obeyed at Tobiyama's order.
"Kneel on all fours."
Slowly but surely, the boy, while holding in his tears, heeded to his cold-hearted voice.
Tobiyama got up from the staircase he was sitting on and proceeded to have a seat on the boy's back.
"Huk....!" Groans of pain emerged from the boy's mouth but he dared not to utter any more sounds.
*Sigh*
"Way better than the hard concrete."
Wakatoshi Arisu chuckled then moved on to a more normal conversation while the boy was enduring the pressure.
"Jun, let's go to the arcade after school. I am getting bored with these nerds. At least the arcade is going to make me thrilled with some action."
"I completely agree with Arisu, " Said Juzo, "Maybe I can even defeat you for the first time."
Sparks flew between Hatanabe and Wakatoshi, insinuating the rivalry they had between them.
Tobiyama Jun, their 'leader' chuckled and deemed it a good idea.
Those three boys were infamous as they were skilled combatants.
Yes, Jun was not excluded from that. He wasn't some leader that his money was backing him up or the 'All bark and no bite' type of display.
He was a full-fledged karate member who went rogue. The stain of the Karate Club in Shizuoka High School so to say.
That's quite the title he gained after tarnishing his reputation for straying from the 'right path,' I presume. Anyway, he doesn't dwell on the negative part of that nickname.
Quite the opposite happens; Tobiyama Jun puffs his chest higher when someone mentions him by that nickname. The oil to the fire of his confidence. Truly a catalyst for his reputation.
The little commotion that they were having more of an assertion.
An assertion of who to not mess with. Other than that, it was just a warning to not cause trouble for them.
Well, I would rather say that it was a weird and stupid way of dealing with future problems.
However, it was the identity of the group to be like that. Frivolous, nonchalant, and enjoying everything that suited them to their preferences. Such were the ways they agreed to continue to cope with this high school life.
"K-Kuh!!"
The boy's moan was ignored.
"You boys just always go to the arcade. Why don't we go somewhere else like a park with a bouncy castle or the beach."
Just then, a girl sat on the boy's back, next to Tobiyama Jun like it was undoubtedly a sofa.
"Or maybe I and Jun-kun can somewhere else. What do you say, Jun-kun~"
*Hmph*
I almost let out a laugh from the scene I was watching.
How could I forget about Hayashi Rika?
She has many aliases.
The princess of the group, the thorny, glamorous, and evil villainess that captivates everyone with her beauty, Tobiyama Jun's girlfriend, and many more.
I sneered as I looked at her and murmured.
"Probably the most dangerous one amongst them."
The wind blew on my hair gently as if to agree with my comment.
I was watching those groups of delinquents from the 2nd floor of the building close to the sports club storage. Ideally, it was where the emergency stairs were the situation, so I was leaning onto its guardrail.
The best view for the commotion to be honest.
Well, speaking of view, I spotted two individuals who were closing in on the bullies' group.
Seems like a teacher and a female student. Well, I roughly know the gist of it. That student must have informed the teacher about the unfairness the bullied boy was experiencing.
Anyone watching this scenario unfold would be like 'Those scums deserve it.'
Well me?
I pulled out a coin from my back pocket and threw it near those guys. It made a small noise upon impact with the concrete flooring.
They all noticed it and the first one to look up and found me was Hatanabe Juzo.
"Isn't that....Morikawa?"
Hayashi Rika confirmed it by cheerfully waving at me, "It is him. How are you doing Morikawa-kun!"
They were all smiles when they knew it was me. But I didn't get their attention just to say hi.
I faintly smiled before lightly tapping my head thrice.
"Huh? What is he trying to say?" Wakatoshi did not understand a thing but everyone else did.
"Someone's coming."
Tobiyama got up from the boy's back and even held his girlfriend's hand to help her get off her 'seat'.
Just like a love couple who went to dinner in a fancy restaurant.
Next, Tobiyama grabbed the collar of the battered and weak boy vigorously.
"You say a thing about this to anyone, your mom, your dad, your friends, the teachers, or anyone else, I will make your life more miserable than it is now."
He shook his collar one more time to ascertain the warning in his head.
"...O-Ok...ay..."
"Good."
Tobiyama released him, promptly urging him to get out of there. But the teacher and the student already arrived at the site.
"There!" The girl pointed at Tobiyama and the rest.
The teacher stood his ground with an authoritative stance.
"What's going on here! What are you guys doing?"
"What do you mean what we are doing? We were playing amongst ourselves," Wakatoshi said with reassurance.
"Playing? Then why is he all beaten up like that."
"Oh, that? Yeah, we were being a little rough, but it is all good, " Wakatoshi turned his head to the boy and devilishly smiled, "Right?"
Out of fear, the scared boy forced a smile to the teacher.
"It's fine... It is just...a few bruises."
The girl, angered by this, shouted at the boy.
"You have a nosebleed! Were you really playing? Did they not do anything to you!??"
Even I could hear it clearly from that distance. The frustration was lingering in her voice. As if she has been trying to catch them for some time.
"It is not nothing....really. "
"Ara~ A small nosebleed like that is not something to be exaggerated about."
Hayashi came up behind the boy, grabbed his shoulder gently, and wiped it with her handkerchief.
She was truly a saint for people who didn't know her intentions. Even the teacher was having some doubts because the victim in question was denying the accusations towards his assailants.
There wasn't much to the case because of the lack of evidence. So there was nothing to do in a sense. Just letting them go.
Hayashi finished wiping his nosebleed and nudged him from the back to walk out of there.
The other boys followed.
Hayashi walked next to the girl who reported this incident.
"Serizawa Kana, is it?
She wasn't exactly shocked by how Hayashi got her name since she had connections.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding. Teacher, we will try to be more gentle with our new friend."
"Let's go play some arcade."
"I'll defeat you this time!"
"We'll see each other next time."
Hayashi, Wakatoshi, Hatanabe, and Tobiyama, respectively, passed by the teacher and the girl with comments that aggravated the girl mostly.
Tobiyama glanced above to where I was and winked at me for the signal.
I just heaved a big sigh and waved my hand, gesturing to him that it was not a big deal.
Just then, the girl caught a glimpse of my stare that kept hovering at the sight.
Frustrated as she was, she expressed it by uttering softly.
"Piece of scum!
Well, I could guess that from my imagination and a bit of skill from my lip-reading ability. It wasn't hard.
The girl left the spot with the teacher, getting no results from that encounter.
As the breeze again strongly brushed my black hair, I thought it was time to go home. I could hear the sports club members chattering while coming to the storage building.
Yeah, it was definitely time to get out of here. I have seen enough action for the day.
......
"I'm home." Softly, I announced my arrival.
Well, to no one in particular because no one was home yet.
I took off my shoes, arranged them neatly on the shoe rack and wore slippers. I threw my bag onto the sofa and went on to watch the TV.
Just then, I heard the door open.
Barging in with stomping steps that emanated anger.
There was someone who stood between me and the TV.
"...You are kind of in the way if you have not noticed."
A girl's frustrated face loomed over my unbothered expression. There she was, Serizawa Kana.
My step sister.
"Ka-"
"Do not get involve in this shit again!!"
"....I do not know what i have done to make you ang-"
"I know exactly what you have done!! Stop playing like i am the idiot!!"
"I was just watching the view. Is there something wrong with that?"
Denying the accusations over and over again, i was not accepting anyway.
She gave up, knowing that she would get nothing out of me.
She slowed down her pace and left with a disappointed face. Before she went upstairs to her room, she stopped on her tracks and warned me with a low voice.
"Stay out of trouble..."
*Thump!* *Thump!* *Thump!*
She ran upstairs leaving me alone in the living room.
I sighed and responded also in the same manner.
"I am doing just that..."