Monday came, and the atmosphere on campus felt unusually lively. Whispers and squeals echoed through the halls as Haruki walked in beside Kenta. His fresh haircut and the way his uniform collar now sat slightly open—revealing the sharp line of his collarbone—made him stand out more than ever. His calm expression only added to his charm, leaving a trail of stunned girls in their wake.
"Oh my god… I think I'm pregnant just looking at him," one girl gasped dramatically.
"If only I knew he'd be this hot…" another muttered, clutching her chest.
Haruki rubbed his cheek nervously. "Kenta… do I have dirt on my face?"
Kenta smirked. "Nuh-uh."
"Then why do they keep staring at me like I disgust them?" Haruki tilted his head, clueless.
Kenta snorted. "More like *seduced*."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Hahaha! You'll get used to it."
They walked a little further before bumping into Kira. She froze, her eyes flicking to Haruki. Her pride still stung from being rejected, and she spat, "Get out of my way."
"Oh, sor—" Haruki started, but Kenta cut him off.
"Don't apologize, idiot. We're not even in her way."
"Ah, y-yeah…" Haruki scratched his head sheepishly.
Students began to gather, sensing tension.
"Why are you being such a jerk?" Kira snapped.
Kenta raised a brow. "Me? You blocked us, then told us to move. Are you for real?"
Haruki leaned closer to him, whispering, "Let's just go, Kenta. Everyone's watching. Don't mind her."
Kira clicked her tongue and turned away. "Tch. Bastards."
But as she walked off, Kenta said without even looking at her, "Ah, I get it. This is about Haruki rejecting you, huh? Must be hard to accept. Such a loser—you can't even handle rejection."
Kira froze. Her nails dug into her palm. "What the fuck did you just say?!" She spun around, eyes burning. "You fucking retard, useless bastard piece of shit! You think you're cool? Why do you keep butting into this? No wonder your father left you!"
The crowd gasped. The words struck like lightning.
Before Kenta could speak, Haruki's eyes darkened. His voice was cold, low. "Take that back."
Kira sneered. "Or what?"
"I said…" Haruki stepped forward, eyes unyielding. "…take that back."
Kenta tugged his sleeve. "Haruki, stop. Let's just go."
"Chickening out?" Kira mocked. "The truth must hurt, right? And you, Haruki—you think just being handsome gives you privilege to—"
"Stop being a bitch." Haruki's words cut sharp through the hallway. "And take back what you said to Kenta."
The crowd exploded with murmurs. Even Kenta blinked in shock.
"You… you called me a *bitch*?!" Kira shrieked. "How *dare* you—" She raised her hand to slap him.
But before it could land, another hand caught her wrist.
Ayla.
"Kira." Ayla's voice was icy.
"Ayla, don't butt in! Mind your own busine—"
*SLAP!*
The entire hallway froze.
"Who gave you the right to lay a hand on my man?" Ayla's glare could've frozen fire.
"H-How dare you slap me!" Kira staggered back.
*SLAP!*
The second strike rang louder. Haruki's anger at Kira vanished, replaced by fear—of *Ayla*.
Kira clutched her cheek in disbelief.
"He's right," Ayla hissed. "You're being a bitch."
Haruki hurried forward, grabbing Ayla's arm. "Let's stop now, Ayla. We're catching too much attention—the faculty might—"
"Don't save this bitch from me, Haruki. Not this time."
The crowd gasped again. Kira, desperate, turned to them. "Everyone, did you see that? They're ganging up on me! I'm the victim here!" She began fake-crying, her voice shrill.
"Go on, cry," Ayla said coldly. "Play the victim, you bitch."
The crowd erupted into whispers until—
"ENOUGH!"
The voice boomed like a thunderclap. A faculty member forced his way through. It was Professor Daichi, strict and stern, his eyes like knives.
"What's going on here?"
"Professor!" Kira wailed, pointing at Ayla. "They're bullying me!"
Daichi turned to Ayla, disappointed. "Ayla… is that true? Of all people, you should be the university's model. What do you think you're doing?"
"Really, professor?" Ayla shot back, eyes blazing. "You're just going to believe whatever this wicked witch says?"
The air went tense.
Daichi glared. "Enough. All of you, back to your rooms. Now. And *you*—" he pointed at Ayla. "Come with me."
The crowd began dispersing.
Meanwhile, Kenta tried sneaking away.
"And where do you think you're going?" Professor Daichi barked.
Kenta froze mid-step. "…To my room. Like you said? Hehe."
Professor Daichi narrowed his eyes.
"Aight, aight, I'll go too," Kenta sighed, throwing his hands up. "But just so you know, professor—I'm innocent."
---
The talk was finally over. Professor Daichi let out a long sigh and dismissed them. "Go back to your respective rooms. And Ayla—be mindful of yourself from now on. I expect better from you."
"Yes, Professor," Ayla said curtly.
The three left the faculty office together. Kira immediately burst out ahead of them, storming off without another word.
That left Haruki, Kenta, and Ayla walking slowly down the hall.
Kenta rubbed the back of his neck, guilt written all over his face. "Sorry, man. I shouldn't have provoked her like that."
Haruki shook his head. "Don't be sorry. You always stand up for me. That's the least I can do for you."
Kenta froze, his ears turning red. "…Yeah, well. About that—thank you. For stepping in for me." He tried to sound casual, but his shy blush betrayed him.
Haruki, realizing what he said, blushed too. "I-It's nothing."
The silence stretched, both boys awkwardly scratching their cheeks.
Ayla coughed loudly. "Ehem. Are you two the couple here, or what?"
Kenta immediately panicked. "O-oh! Look at the time. My class is starting! Gotta go, byeee!" He dashed away, leaving Ayla and Haruki alone.
Haruki sighed. "…Ayla."
"Yes?" she looked at him curiously.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For what you did earlier. Also… sorry. Because of me, your image might be ruined."
Ayla's expression softened. She smiled warmly. "I don't care about my image anymore. I used to, before… but now that I have you, none of that matters."
Haruki's chest felt warm, his lips curving into a shy smile.
"Let's go?" Ayla said gently.
"Y-Yeah," Haruki stammered.
As they walked together, Ayla glanced at the time. "I still have an hour before my class."
Haruki checked his phone. "…Me too."
Ayla's lips curved. "What a coincidence."
"Yeah… hehe."
There was a small pause. Then, at the same time, they both blurted:
"Would you like to get some coffee?"
Their eyes widened. Then they burst into giggles.
---
At the cafeteria, they sat across from each other with warm drinks.
"By the way," Haruki asked, "are your hands okay? That last slap was… really loud."
Ayla flexed her hands. "They're fine. But… I think they need…"
"Need what?" Haruki tilted his head.
Ayla's cheeks turned pink. "You know. The… thing we did during our Asakusa date. And yesterday."
Haruki thought for a moment, then he nearly choked on his coffee when he realized she meant kissing. His face turned scarlet. "W-well, there are a lot of people here. Maybe later?"
Ayla pouted. "Just say you don't love me!"
Haruki panicked, grabbed her hand, and kissed it.
Ayla's face exploded red. "H-Hey! At least say it first before doing something like that!"
Haruki looked down, flustered. "…Sorry. I just… don't like it."
"Don't like what?" Ayla blinked.
"You thinking that I don't love you. Because I do. I really do."
Ayla froze, her heart pounding. Her cheeks burned as she turned away. She had only been teasing, but Haruki took it to heart.
Haruki, realizing what he'd just said out loud, blushed furiously too. The air between them grew heavy with awkward silence.
A few meters away, crouched behind a pillar, Kenta held up his phone. *Click!* *Click!*
"I knew it," he whispered to himself. "Skipping class was the best idea ever. There's always something sweet after a fight. Hehe… Grandpa Yuto's gonna love this when we go back to Kanagawa."
Kenta kept snapping photos, grinning to himself.
"Man, this is gold. Grandpa Yuto's gonna love this," he whispered.
A voice came from behind him.
"Kenta."
Without turning, Kenta waved dismissively. "Can't you see I'm busy? Get lost before I kick your ass." He kept clicking the shutter, smirking.
Silence.
Kenta froze. Something felt off. Slowly, like the hand of a clock, he turned his head—only to see his professor towering behind him.
"You've been skipping my class these past few days…"
"Professor Renji…" Kenta's voice cracked. He forced a grin. "Hehe, I knew it was you all along. How are you, sir?"
Renji raised an eyebrow. "You knew it was me, and you still said you'd kick my ass?"
Kenta laughed nervously. "N-No, no, no, you must've heard wrong! I would never say that! Hehe…" He sighed in defeat. "…Yeah, I'm cooked."
Meanwhile, at the cafeteria, Haruki and Ayla were still together when three men approached. Two flanked Haruki, one stood behind Ayla.
Haruki sensed it immediately. His grip tightened on Ayla's hand.
"Let's go," he whispered.
"Where do you think you're going?" one of the men blocked their way, smirking.
Another leaned in close to Ayla, inhaling deeply. "You smell real nice, sweetheart."
Haruki's jaw clenched. "Stop that. Get away from her."
"Relax," the man sneered. "We just wanna talk."
From afar, Kenta noticed the tension and tensed up, but Professor Renji caught his arm.
"I won't allow violence. Let me handle this."
Renji stepped forward. "You three aren't from this university. Harassing students here makes you trespassers. Leave now before I call the police."
The leader of the group—tattoo peeking from his collar—snorted. "Fuck off, old man." He shoved Renji to the ground.
Gasps rippled through the cafeteria.
"Professor!" Ayla knelt to help him. "Are you okay?" She turned angrily to the men. "What's wrong with you!?"
Haruki stood up, his tone cold. "What do you want from me? I know you're here for me."
The leader chuckled. "Seems like you're not as dumb as you look."
"HEY!" Kenta's voice cut through the crowd. "Looking for a fight?"
Students began murmuring.
"Wait—that's the Three Dragons of Tokyo!"
"No way, *those* guys? I heard their leader was once tied to the yakuza."
Kenta grinned. "So you're the famous Dragons, huh? Must be tough guys."
The leader smirked. "You could say that."
"Then who paid you to come here?" Kenta asked sharply.
The leader's smile faltered. "…So you figured it out. Doesn't matter. You won't be standing much longer. I'll start with that guy."
He moved toward Haruki—but Kenta cut him off, throwing a punch that barely missed.
"Where do you think you're going? I'm your match."
The crowd grew louder, phones raised, but nobody dared step in.
Ayla tried to help Renji up. "I'll call the police—"
One of the men grabbed her wrist. "Not so fast, beauty."
"Don't touch me!" Ayla slapped him.
The thug's face twisted in rage. He slapped her back, sending her crashing to the ground.
The cafeteria fell silent. Gasps filled the air.
Haruki froze, his pupils dilating. His vision darkened.
*BOOM!*
The thug who'd been standing behind Haruki flew backward, crashing into the ground. He didn't even twitch. Students realized he was unconscious.
"Holy shit…" a student whispered.
"Did Haruki just—? He was so fast, I didn't even see it!"
Another muttered, trembling, "I thought he was just a nerd…"
Tominaga, pale, whispered to himself, *I bullied this guy? Thank God he never snapped on me… I'm done. From now on I'm a changed man.*
The thug who slapped Ayla squared up, sneering. "Oh, you mad now?"
He swung.
Missed.
Another punch.
Missed.
Again.
Missed.
"What the fuck!?" he shouted, his movements turning frantic. "Why can't I hit you!?"
Haruki loomed over him, expression unreadable. His voice was ice.
"Oi… what did you just do to her?"
The thug tried to laugh. "So what? That's what she gets for being a snitch! "
He laughed-
*CRACK!* Haruki's fist buried into his mouth, teeth flying. Blood sprayed across the tiles.
The thug writhed, clutching his broken mouth. "My teeth… where are they?!"
"W-Wait!" the thug screamed. "Stop right there! Don't go near m—"
Haruki didn't let him finish. He stomped down on him, grabbed his hair, and unleashed a flurry of punches. The sound of flesh meeting bone echoed. Blood sprayed. The thug's screams turned to gurgles.
The crowd recoiled. Some couldn't bear to watch.
"Pweash shtop…" the thug begged, his words mangled.
But Haruki didn't listen. He kept hammering his fists down on the man's broken face.
"Hey, don't you think he's going too far?" someone whispered.
"If Haruki doesn't stop, that guy's gonna die," another murmured.
Then suddenly, soft arms wrapped around Haruki from behind. Ayla.
"Please, Haruki, stop!" she cried, her voice shaking. "Stop now, Haruki. I'm fine. I'm not hurt—so please, stop!"
Haruki froze. His fists trembled, soaked in blood. Slowly, reality returned, and he looked down at the ruined face beneath his knuckles—barely recognizable.
Gasps. Wide eyes. Everyone in the cafeteria stared at him in horror.
Haruki looked around, panic setting in, until Kenta spoke firmly.
"You did what was right. Don't lose it, man. If it weren't for you, Ayla and Professor might've suffered worse. Right, Professor Renji?"
Renji, wiping his mouth, still shaken, nodded. "Everyone here—you're witnesses. Don't leave. I'll call the police. You-" he pointed at a student "—get the nurse, now"
From the distance, hidden in the crowd, Kira scoffed.
"Tch. Useless pieces of trash. I paid good money for this? And Haruki… what the hell is he? I thought he was just a pathetic nerd." She turned away, frustration burning in her eyes.
Soon, sirens wailed. Classes were suspended for the day. Police swarmed the campus, dragging the broken Dragons away. Their leader's jaw was shattered by Kenta. And thanks to Haruki, one thug was unrecognizable and the third was still unconscious.
But the only thing anyone whispered about that day—
was Haruki.