What do you do when someone is trying to bully you?
Most teachers and educators would respond with by-the-book phrases like: 'Politely ask them to leave you alone' or 'Please find the nearest trustworthy adult to assist you.'
Lucas knew better.
Those empty words were nothing more than a placebo, a way for adults to pat themselves on the back and pretend they had done their job... but in reality?
They were completely aware that what they were spouting was nothing more than lies and bullshit. They only parroted what they were allowed to tell children.
Thanks to people like this, bullying always ran rampant no matter where you looked.
What if the bullies refused to stop? Or even worse… What if you had no trustworthy adult to confide in?
If you went and asked them that, under pressure, those so-called educators make up another heap of lies to cover their own asses.
Lucas had learned that lesson the hard way. For that reason, he couldn't help but despise those bastards with all his heart.
In all his years growing up, there was only one thing he truly learned in school… or life in general.
The only person you can trust is yourself.
If you're stupid enough to care about others, you'll only end up screwing yourself over.
Which is why, when confronted with the question, 'What do you do when someone is trying to bully you?' Lucas's answer was already set in stone.
'If someone tries to fuck with you, fuck them over instead… or… run the fuck away.'
...Which was precisely what he was doing.
"Catch that little shit!"
A chorus of angry voices rang behind him as Lucas sprinted full speed down the cracked pavement, weaving through the maze of alleys like his life depended on it... because it really did.
'Why… why me? This entire day has been one big messed-up nightmare!'
Ever since Lucas stepped foot on that damn train, nothing had gone right. Not a single damn thing.
It was only one disaster after another like the universe itself was out to get him.
Why couldn't he just catch a break?
When his pursuers tried to corner him, Lucas reacted on instinct purely on instinct. He shoved one of them aside and slipped through the gap before the others could close in.
Using that gap, he immediately broke out in a desperate sprint in a bit to run away.
Lucas's heart pounded against his ribs as his lungs burned from exertion.
Unfortunately though... Lucas wasn't anywhere near fast enough to outspeed the people chasing after him.
But that made no sense! Wasn't he supposed to be a superhuman and whatnot… even if he was on the slightly weaker end?
Luckily, the gaunt skeleton-like man decided to kindly explain it to him.
"Kid… You're probably thinking you'll outrun us since you're a Level One hotshot, huh?" His grin widened, revealing rotted teeth. "Well, tough luck! Every single one of us is no different! All of us are Level Ones as well!"
Lucas inwardly scowled.
'Why the hell are they skulking around in the slums if they're Level Ones? Did they all fall into debt or something?'
Not that it mattered. Lucas didn't have the leisure to stop and chat, with them chasing him to mug him and all.
Lucas's breath came in ragged gasps as his legs burned from exertion. He wasn't going to last much longer at this rate. He needed to find a way out... fast.
Ducking into an alley, Lucas spotted a rusted fire escape.
Without hesitation, he leaped, gripping the ladder with a vice-like hold and scrambling up as quickly as his exhausted muscles allowed.
The moment his feet touched the rooftop, he bolted, leaping across the narrow gap to the next building.
Luckily, the buildings here were tightly packed, so making the jump wasn't too hard.
For a brief moment, Lucas thought he might actually lose them.
...Then he heard the fire escape groan under the weight of his pursuers.
Lucas bit his lip in anger.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
Meanwhile, a few streets away, in a dimly lit, half-collapsed building, a young girl with long, fiery red hair trembled under the gaze of a towering brute of a man.
His single remaining eye bore into her like a predator eyeing its prey.
Several others loomed beside him, blocking any hope of escape.
The man was built like a brick shithouse, which, needless to say, meant his body more closely resembled that of a gorilla than that of a man.
A long gash covered the side of his face, directly going over the black eyepatch covering his left eye.
"…Do you still not have the money?"
Valarie's body shook as a quivering voice escaped her soft pink lips.
"N-not yet… I-I just need a bit more time!"
Popping open a pack of cigarettes, the man took one out and pushed it in between his lips.
However, instead of grabbing a lighter, the man simply snapped his fingers.
And then… as if by magic, a small flame flickered to life in his palm.
Taking a slow drag, he exhaled a thick plume of white smoke before fixing his glare back on Valarie.
"I already gave you an extension the last time you begged." His voice was like gravel. "Do I look like I'm running a charity?"
"N-no… it's just… O-our shop hasn't been able to make m-money ever since Grandpa went to the hospital. W-we don't have any money to give you…"
The man's expression darkened.
"The only reason I loaned your grandfather money was because of his former reputation as a top-rank blacksmith. Yet here he is, unable to pay off a single measly debt?"
Valarie nervously gulped.
"P-please… a-all I ask for is just a bit more time… I-I'll be joining the academy this year, so… I-I can p-pay you back then…"
Her sleek black and white uniform attested to this fact.
The one-eyed man sneered in response.
"Are you taking me for a fool? I can already tell that you're intending to flee from your debts."
The one-eyed man leaned in, voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "However, let me ask you this: Even if the people there can keep you safe… what about your dear old grandfather? Will they protect him, too?"
Valarie's expression paled in horror.
"P-please don't hurt him… H-he's the only family I have!"
A smirk curled on the man's lips.
"If you really don't want to see the old man buried six feet under, you'd better pay up and fast. Luckily for you…"
He moved closer, speaking directly into Valarie's ears.
"…I just so happen to have a way for you to make a lot of money. Maybe even a little extra for yourself."
A horrifying thought crossed Valarie's mind as the realization snuck in.
"S-surely you don't mean… S-selling myself? But I'm a minor! I'm only sixteen!"
The man's grin widened.
"Don't worry, you just need to pretend that you are… That way, we can blackmail the suckers for even more cash!"
Valarie instinctively took a step back... only to realize she had nowhere to run.
The people standing beside the one-eyed man moved, blocking off all routes of escape.
She was trapped.
The one-eyed man pulled himself out of his chair and took a step in Valarie's direction.
However… Just as he was about to lay his hand on Valarie, one of the building's windows suddenly shattered into innumerable shards of glass.
(BANG)
Startled by the sudden noise, the people in the room all turned their attention to the now-broken window in shock.
And there, standing in the wreckage, was a silver-haired boy with an exasperated scowl.
However, that wasn't the most surprising thing.
Behind that boy, there appeared to be an entire full-blown mob... one consisting entirely of homeless people.
He groaned, pushing himself up.
"…Where the fuck did I just land in?"
The one-eyed brute's gaze snapped toward him, a mixture of confusion and irritation. "Who the hell are you?"
Lucas blinked. Then, slowly, he turned to glance over his shoulder.
The entire group of homeless people he'd been running from stood there, panting and glaring.
"…Oh."
A long silence stretched between them.
Lucas let out a deep sigh.
"…Well, shit."