Chapter 6: The Confrontation
The schoolyard after classes was no longer peaceful. A group of boys from another class surrounded Ron, shoving him back and forth as a crowd gathered to watch.
One of them pushed him hard, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Hah! The pervert's little friend. What are you gonna do now, huh?"
Laughter broke out. Several students raised their phones, recording with eager grins.
Iris burst onto the scene, her face pale with anger.
"Stop it! Leave him alone!"
The boys sneered at her.
"Stay out of this, little girl. This is between men."
---
Suddenly, the sound of calm, steady footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
Ryo appeared. His presence alone was enough to silence the crowd. All eyes snapped toward him, the air tightening with unease.
One of the bullies smirked.
"Well, well… the hero's here. Come on then, show us how tough you are."
But Ryo didn't even look at him. Instead, he crouched down, extending a hand to Ron. His voice was quiet but edged with steel.
"Don't ever touch my friend again."
---
The bully scoffed and lunged forward. But in a flash, Ryo's fist connected, sending him sprawling. Another boy rushed in and was knocked down just as quickly.
Gasps rippled through the students.
But Ryo didn't stop. Even as the bullies hit the ground, he kept striking—again and again, as if something deeper than anger was pouring out of him.
"He's… he's a monster!" someone whispered, backing away.
"Ryo! Enough!" Ron shouted desperately. But his voice didn't reach him.
Ryo's face twisted, eyes burning with a fury that didn't belong to the moment. His fists weren't just punishing bullies—they were releasing years of something darker, heavier.
---
"Stop, Ryo!"
The booming voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
Everyone froze.
From the entrance of the yard, a tall man stepped forward—Professor Kazuki, the teacher who had raised Ryo since he was a child.
At once, Ryo's body stiffened. He lowered his gaze like a child caught red-handed. The violence in his eyes wavered, replaced by something else: guilt… and fear.
Kazuki's voice was firm, unyielding.
"This isn't who you are. What are you doing?"
Ryo's breath came heavy. His fists trembled, then slowly loosened. He turned his back on the fallen boys, stepping away in silence.
---
Whispers broke out in the crowd:
"Even Ryo's afraid of that teacher…"
"Who is he, really?"
Ron ran to his side, worry etched into his face.
"You almost killed them, Ryo. What's wrong with you?"
But Ryo said nothing. His eyes, shadowed and unsettled, looked somewhere far away.
Iris stood quietly among the crowd, watching with a knot in her chest.
"That teacher… he's the only one who can stop him. But… who is Ryo, really?"