The morning sun shone brightly over Haoutaro High School.
Students streamed through the front gate in groups, laughing as they discussed homework, sports, and weekend plans. Some hurried toward their classrooms, while others gathered beneath the cherry trees that lined the campus.
Not far from the main building...
A quieter corner of the school grounds was hidden from the teachers' view.
Four second-year high school students stood there.
Their attention was fixed on a single middle-school boy.
The boy's name was Jeis Macken.
His uniform was dusty, and his hands trembled as he lowered his head.
Standing before him were four older students.
Yugris Bultes.
Jorge Sarasurg.
Zoe Min Diang.
Mina Hinteing.
Yugris folded his arms.
"How many times have we told you?"
His voice was calm, but carried obvious disappointment.
"When we ask you to bring cigarettes, you bring them."
Jeis lowered his head even further.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
"I couldn't buy them."
"The shop owner asked how old I was."
"He asked if they were for my father."
"I... I got scared."
"I didn't know what to say."
"I was afraid he'd realize I was lying."
Zoe rolled her eyes.
"What a useless excuse."
She stepped forward and shoved Jeis backward.
"You really are hopeless."
"You can't even handle one simple job."
Jeis stumbled but managed to keep his balance.
Jorge sighed.
"You should've figured something out."
"We've always treated you well."
"The least you could do is help us."
Jeis looked at him in disbelief.
"...Is this what you call treating me well?"
Before Jorge could answer...
Mina stepped forward.
"I think that's enough."
Everyone looked at her.
"He already explained what happened."
"The store owner questioned him."
"He's younger than us."
"It isn't strange that he'd panic."
Yugris smiled faintly.
"Mina..."
"You're too kind."
"You always defend him."
Zoe crossed her arms.
"Seriously."
"You ruin all the fun."
Mina frowned.
"I'm not ruining anything."
"I just don't think this is right."
Jorge shook his head.
"Being too kind only makes life harder."
Yugris suddenly smiled.
"Fine."
"We'll forgive him."
Jeis's eyes brightened.
"...Really?"
"But..."
Yugris's smile widened.
"There's one condition."
Mina immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What condition?"
Yugris pointed at Jeis.
"You'll kick him."
Silence fell.
Mina stared at him.
"...What?"
"If you refuse..."
Yugris continued calmly,
"We'll beat him ourselves."
"And this time..."
"We won't stop until he can't walk."
Jeis immediately turned toward Mina.
Fear filled his eyes.
"Mina-senpai..."
"...Please."
"If getting kicked once will stop them..."
"...then do it."
"I'd rather take one hit..."
"...than let them keep hurting me."
Mina bit her lip.
"...No."
"I won't."
Yugris shrugged.
"Then let's go."
He started walking toward Jeis.
Jorge and Zoe followed behind him.
Jeis's breathing became faster.
He suddenly grabbed the edge of Mina's uniform.
"Please..."
"I don't want them to keep beating me."
"Please..."
Mina closed her eyes.
She hated this.
No matter what choice she made...
Someone would suffer.
After several seconds...
She sighed quietly.
"...Fine."
Jeis slowly stood before her.
"I'm ready."
Mina looked away.
"I'm sorry."
She gently pushed him with her foot.
Jeis barely moved.
Yugris laughed.
"You think we're blind?"
"Kick him properly."
"Or we'll do it ourselves."
Jeis nodded desperately.
"It's okay."
"I can take it."
Mina clenched her fists.
"...Forgive me."
The next moment—
THUD!!
Her kick struck Jeis.
Even though she tried to control her strength...
The force still sent him flying several meters.
He crashed into a metal trash container before falling onto the ground.
Everything became silent.
Mina slowly lowered her leg.
"...I'm sorry."
"I didn't want this."
"But you asked me to."
She looked genuinely guilty.
Yugris nodded in satisfaction.
"Now that's better."
The four older students continued walking toward the school building.
As they walked...
Mina spoke again.
"You three really enjoy this?"
Zoe shrugged.
"You worry too much."
Then she laughed.
"You know..."
"You're incredibly strong."
"You could've broken every bone in his body if you'd wanted."
Mina looked down at her own hands.
"I know."
"And that's exactly why..."
"I don't want to use my strength to hurt people."
She sighed.
"My younger brother was watching."
"My little brother sees everything I do."
"...I hate showing him this side of me."
Elsewhere...
A fourteen-year-old boy quietly stood near the middle-school building.
His name was Lam Hinteing.
One of his classmates approached him.
"Hey."
"You know today's your sister's birthday, right?"
Lam nodded.
"Yeah."
"My sister and her friends are going to karaoke after school."
Before the conversation could continue...
Someone called his name.
"Lam."
Both boys turned.
Jeis was walking toward them.
His face still carried bruises from earlier.
He stopped a few steps away.
"You saw what happened."
Lam remained silent.
Jeis looked directly into his eyes.
"Your sister kicked me."
"So..."
"...it's only fair."
He pointed toward the abandoned corner behind the gymnasium.
"Meet me there during lunch."
"We'll settle this."
Lam quietly nodded.
"...Okay."
Lunch break.
The corner behind the gymnasium was deserted.
Lam arrived alone.
Jeis was already waiting.
Three of his friends stood behind him.
Without warning—
One of them shoved Lam.
Another punched him in the shoulder.
Lam stumbled but didn't fight back.
Jeis clenched his fists.
"I finally feel a little better."
Just then—
A familiar voice echoed across the courtyard.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Everyone froze.
Mina stood a few meters away.
Her school bag rested over one shoulder.
Her expression was calm...
But her eyes were frighteningly cold.
Jeis looked around.
"...Where are your friends?"
"I'm enough."
Mina walked toward Lam.
She gently checked his injuries.
"...I'm sorry."
"I didn't know someone was bothering you."
She looked at him with concern.
"You should've told me."
Lam remained silent.
Seeing his sister standing before him...
He suddenly remembered how she had apologized after kicking Jeis.
For the first time...
He realized...
She truly hated hurting people.
Jeis suddenly rushed forward.
"I'll shut you up myself!"
He threw a punch.
His friends attacked at the same time.
Mina sighed.
"...Really?"
She moved.
Her movements were almost invisible.
Within seconds—
One student landed on the ground.
Another crashed into a wall.
The third dropped to his knees.
Jeis was the last one standing.
He stared in disbelief.
"...How..."
Mina brushed the dust off her uniform before calmly sitting on a nearby bench.
She crossed one leg over the other.
"Well?"
"How does it feel?"
"...Getting beaten by a girl?"
A playful smile appeared on her face.
Jeis couldn't answer.
His entire body trembled.
Mina stood again.
She walked toward him slowly.
"I'll give you one chance."
"Apologize."
"...To my brother."
Jeis immediately bowed.
"I'm sorry!"
Mina shook her head.
"Louder."
"I'm sorry, Lam!"
"Please forgive me!"
Lam quietly watched everything.
Mina nodded.
"Good."
She looked directly at Jeis.
"I always believed you weren't a bad person."
"But today..."
"You bullied my little brother just to satisfy your anger."
"That disappointed me."
She paused.
"I'm letting you go this time."
"But if you ever touch him again..."
"...I won't be so forgiving."
Jeis nodded repeatedly.
"I understand."
"I promise."
Mina lightly kicked his leg.
"Now go back to class."
Jeis and his friends hurried away without looking back.
Silence returned.
Mina smiled warmly.
She gently patted Lam's head.
"Hey."
"Today's my birthday."
"My friends booked a karaoke room after school."
"Come with us."
Lam finally spoke.
"...Okay, Sis."
Although he agreed...
He couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.
The way Mina had defeated four older students...
It hadn't even looked difficult.
Mina noticed immediately.
She smiled awkwardly.
"...Are you scared of me?"
Lam didn't answer.
She sighed before laughing softly.
"Don't be."
"I'm your sister."
"I'll never hurt you."
Lam slowly smiled.
"...I know."
The two siblings walked toward the school building together...
While the afternoon bell echoed across the campus.