Year X090
Friday - Kagetsu Middle School (Left Wing)
Second Year, Class 2-B
The hum of the air conditioner mixed with the low scratch of chalk as Mr. Hayato Ishida Kaito's favorite teacher paced in front of the blackboard. He wasn't the type to bury students in boring facts; his lessons felt alive, like stories from someone who'd actually been there.
"And that," Ishida said, tapping a grainy still frame on the projector screen, "was the beginning of what people later called The Hollow Reign."
The classroom lights were dimmed. On the screen, shaky footage showed streets in chaos screaming, smoke, people scattering. The view cut to a sweating news anchor speaking over the noise of a newsroom.
> "This is not a natural disaster… repeat, this is not a natural disaster. Authorities confirm the outbreak is tied to the leaked formula known as R.END-(Raw Engineered Neural Drive). It grants animalistic abilities, but without the right compatibility, the subject will lose control. Citizens are advised to evacuate central districts immediately"
The footage shifted to phone videos: a man vaulting over a moving truck, his arms twisted into something inhuman; a woman running on all fours, tearing down an alley faster than the camera could track. Then the feed cut to static.
Kaito leaned forward. "Sensei… what happened after? Did anyone stop them?"
Ishida's voice lost its usual warmth. "No, Shimura. Five hours after it started, every single one of them was dead right where they stood." He paused, letting the weight of it sink in. "That's why the government developed a countermeasure X.END-(Extend Engineered Neural Drive). Safer, limited to five stable species, mass-produced so police and special forces could legally use it."
"Rich people can buy it too, right?" someone in the back muttered.
Ishida gave a small shrug. "If you have the money… anything's possible."
The old wall speaker hissed and popped.
"Shimura Kaito. Report to the teacher's office immediately."
The class erupted into low chatter.
"What'd he do this time?"
"Bet it's about his grades."
"Or maybe he finally pissed off the wrong teacher."
Kaito let out a slow breath.
Yep. That's me. Kaito Shimura.
Also known as "Dog." Not a nickname I chose that was the generous gift my school decided to give me. It stuck after one idiot in first year said I looked like a stray that wandered in from the street. Everyone laughed. They still do.
He slouched in his chair, muttering to himself, "Perfect timing…"
The final bell rang at 4:30 PM, its shrill tone followed by the scraping of chairs and shuffling of feet.Bags were zipped, books slammed shut.
"See you all tomorrow," Ishida said, switching off the projector.
At the doorway, Ms. Takayanagi Kaito's homeroom teacher stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes locking on him. She didn't speak, just tilted her head toward the hall.
---
Teacher's Office - 4:36 PM
The lecture started the second the door closed.
"You think you can just scrape by on one subject?" Ms. Takayanagi's voice was sharp enough to cut glass. "History that's it! Every other score is a disaster. Single digits, Shimura. Single. Digits."
Kaito kept his head down. She didn't need him to answer she just needed a target.
"You're not stupid, but you act like you are. You think anyone's going to take pity on you in this world? You'll be crushed, and nobody will care."
Her words kept coming in waves. Every time he thought she was done, she'd circle back and start again, piling on.
After thirty straight minutes, she finally exhaled, grabbed a stack of papers, and waved her hand. "Get out."
---
Hallway - 5:08 PM
Kaito dragged himself back toward Class 2-B. The hallway felt too quiet now, the buzz of the afternoon gone.
When he reached the classroom door, he stopped. Through the narrow gap, he saw his desk his bag torn open, papers scattered like trash.
Three boys stood inside, laughing. Yusuke Karai, Minoru Arata, Daiki Nobuse. The self-proclaimed Wolves of Kagetsu.
Kaito's jaw clenched. Quietly, he eased the door shut and turned away. Two steps down the staircase
"Where you going, Shimura?"
Riku Kanzaki was waiting. Taller, broad-shouldered, with that smug grin that never reached his eyes. The real leader of the Wolves.
Kaito tried to play it cool. "Hey… Riku."
Riku grabbed him by the collar and, with one brutal shove, flung him into the classroom. He hit the floor hard, sliding on scattered papers.
The Wolves closed in, all grins and venom.
"You missed gym class today," Riku said, crouching down in front of him. "That's when you were supposed to get your beating. Now we're behind schedule."
Minoru chuckled. "Guess we better catch up."
The kicks came first, then the punches. Each curse and insult landed as heavy as the blows.
Kaito's mind raced. If he fought back, they'd go harder. If he screamed, they'd enjoy it. So he tried something else. Something disgusting.
So he went for the lowest, dirtiest trick he could think of. Warmth spread down his leg, the smell sharp in the air.
Riku froze mid-swing, his expression twisting.
"…The hell? Are you .. . " He stepped back. "Oh, you're fucking disgusting."
The other Wolves groaned and backed away.
"Dude, seriously?!" Yusuke grimaced, waving a hand in front of his face.
Minoru cursed under his breath. "What the hell's wrong with you, Shimura?"
"Gross, man, get him away from me," Daiki muttered.
Riku shook his head, wiping his palm on his pants like Kaito's piss might leap onto him.
"You're pathetic," he spat. "Not even worth breaking my knuckles on."
One by one, they backed off, swearing under their breath.
Kaito coughed out a laugh, wincing at the pain in his side. "Hah… damn… guess the pee idea actually works." His voice was low, just for himself. "Man, it's cold…"
He dragged himself toward the wall, back sliding down until he was sitting. The room tilted. His head felt heavy.
The last thing he remembered was the flicker of the ceiling lights before everything went dark.