An hour had passed since the attack. Yumiko sat silently outside the classroom, her knees pulled up tightly against her chest as she buried her face into them. The rain continued its relentless assault outside, its sound blending with the heavy atmosphere of the school. Inside the room, Hikaru kept a watchful eye on Ryuji, who lay on the table, his wounds freshly bandaged. The silence was heavy, broken only by the distant patter of rain and the occasional faint sound of footsteps.
Meanwhile, outside the school, one of the transfer students—an enigmatic figure with wild, shoulder-length hair and a medium scar running down the side of his neck—stood under the harsh, pounding rain. His stoic demeanor betrayed no hint of discomfort as he stared into the gray skies. A moment later, another figure emerged from the building. Breathing heavily, this person's anger was visible in every sharp breath and the fire in his eyes—it was Shoto.
"STOP!" Shoto's voice cut through the rain, filled with suspicion and fury. His eyes locked onto the transfer student, but something about the scene felt off. This wasn't the culprit he was searching for.
Still, his anger boiled over. His fists clenched tightly, and he approached the transfer student with mounting hostility. Before he could act, Ren and Neko appeared, following closely behind. The cat, ever sharp, seemed to sense what was coming. Without hesitation, Neko nocked an arrow to his bow and fired it straight into Shoto's back.
The arrow hit its mark. Shoto lurched forward as his body went rigid. His muscles tensed uncontrollably, and his bright green eyes turned a ghostly white. A low, guttural growl escaped his throat, primal and threatening.
The transfer student, watching from the corner of his eye, seemed intrigued rather than alarmed. But as he turned to face Shoto, the enraged boy was already upon him, driving a powerful punch straight into his gut. The impact forced the transfer student back a step, but he remained composed, his stern expression unbroken.
"So this is Shoto Kazami," the transfer student mused, his voice calm yet tinged with disdain. "No wonder he's so interested in you."
Shoto, now foaming at the mouth, let out an animalistic roar. His fury was focused on this student, who he mistakenly believed was responsible for Ryuji's injuries. He lunged again, throwing another punch with reckless abandon. But this time, the transfer student caught Shoto's fist with ease, their strength evenly matched.
Shoto's eyes widened in frustration, and he immediately leapt into the air, aiming a kick at his opponent's face. The transfer student took a step back, his composure unshaken. Shoto followed up with a flurry of punches, each more desperate than the last. Rain poured over both of them, soaking their clothes and blending into the tense standoff.
Despite Shoto's relentless assault, the transfer student remained unfazed. After weathering the storm of attacks, his phone began to ring. He reached into his pocket, pulling it out while keeping his gaze on Shoto. Answering briefly, he hung up and turned his head slightly, sensing another presence approaching.
From the shadows, Hina emerged, battered and bruised, her appearance nearly as grim as Ryuji's. Her broken kendo stick was gripped tightly in her hand, and the rain cascading over her frame only amplified the menace in her eyes.
"You're not getting away…" Her voice was low and threatening, each step she took labored but unwavering.
The transfer student's eyes shifted to her, then back to Shoto, Ren, and Neko. Without a word, he began to walk away, his composure never faltering.
"You all want a fight, don't you? Fine. Bring your worst," he called over his shoulder. "Tomorrow morning. Hikotu High."
Shoto, still trembling as he returned to his senses, yelled after him, "Your name! What's your name?!"
The transfer student stopped, turning his head just enough for his voice to carry through the rain. "Tetsuya," he said, before vanishing into the storm.
Back in the classroom, tension was at its peak. Ryuji rested on a desk while Hikaru paced angrily, his frustration boiling over. "Tetsuya? Are you telling me these two were taken out by one guy? And Shoto's attacks didn't even faze him?"
Neko sat perched on Shoto's shoulder, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "That's probably the same guy who's been watching us for months."
Shoto's head snapped toward the cat, his tone sharp. "And you're just now telling us this?"
Neko's expression turned comically derpy. "Well, you've only got one arrow left, Shoto…"
Shoto grabbed Neko's head, his panic evident. "AND YOU'RE JUST NOW TELLING ME?!"
On the other side of the room, Hina finished wrapping her injuries. Her movements were calm but deliberate as she stood and walked toward a metal storage cabinet. Without hesitation, she tore the door open, grabbing another kendo stick. With a sharp motion, she smashed it against the table, breaking it in half.
"I'm not waiting until midnight," she declared, her voice dark and resolute. "He's going to pay for what he did."
Her sudden outburst made Shoto flinch. Neko scrambled back to his shoulder, whispering nervously. Hikaru merely watched her, unfazed and disinterested in her split personality taking over.
Yuumo and Ren, however, retreated into the corner, fear written across their faces.
Hina turned, marching straight up to Shoto. She grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward until their faces were inches apart. Her wicked smile turned deadly serious.
"You're coming, right? It's only noon, Kazami. Let's settle this now."
Shoto stared at Hina, her intense gaze making him falter. His eyes shifted downward, focusing on the floor as he stammered, "I-I think we should plan firs—"
"I'll think of a plan," Hikaru interrupted sharply, his voice leaving no room for debate. "But for now, you, Hina, and Yuumo need to head over there. No delays."
Shoto turned his head back toward Hikaru, hesitating for a moment. Before he could respond, Hina released her grip on him and strode toward Yuumo. Without warning, she hoisted the smaller boy over her shoulder like he weighed nothing.
"We'll be back then!" she said cheerfully, her tone a stark contrast to the tense situation. Her soft smile was brief as she quickly exited the classroom, Yuumo in tow.
"Wait—Hina! Put me down! I can walk!" Yuumo's protests turned into a startled scream as Hina ignored him, briskly making her way toward Hikotu High.
Shoto stood frozen, his concern evident as he turned back to Hikaru. "Are you sure about this?" he asked cautiously.
Hikaru adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable as he kept his focus on Ryuji, who remained unconscious on the table. "Me and Ryuji will come later," he said flatly. "For now, just go with those two."
Shoto opened his mouth to speak again but realized Hikaru wasn't paying him any attention. Resigned, he turned toward the door and began walking out. Neko, who had stayed behind, hopped onto Hikaru's shoulder.
The small cat glanced between the wounded Ryuji and Hikaru before speaking. "So…what is your plan?"
Hikaru didn't respond immediately. His eyes shifted to Ren, who lingered quietly in the corner, then to the rain pelting against the classroom window. The storm was growing more violent by the second.
"That one kid with the book is still at Shoto's house," Hikaru finally said, his voice calm but calculated. "He might be reliable."
As Shoto stepped out of the classroom, he saw Yumiko still sitting on the floor outside. She hadn't moved from her spot, her face buried against her knees in silence. Shoto paused, glancing at her nervously before taking a deep breath.
"Don't worry, Yumiko," he said softly, his voice trembling slightly. "We're going to get the guy who did this to your brother."
He turned to walk away, but before he could take another step, Yumiko stood abruptly and threw her arms around him from behind. She didn't say a word, but her grip was firm, conveying everything she couldn't express aloud.
For a moment, Shoto stood there, stunned. Gradually, he felt his nerves calm. The shaking in his hands subsided, replaced by a newfound determination. When Yumiko let go, he nodded silently, taking one last glance at her before heading out.
Outside the building, the storm raged on, the rain pouring harder and colder. Hina and Yuumo were already waiting for him at the school gates. Hina's expression was tense, her usual cheerfulness replaced by a sharp, determined glare.
"Let's go," she said curtly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Yuumo, perched awkwardly against a wall, stared out at the rain, his expression uneasy. Shoto's gaze dropped to his hands. Despite his earlier resolve, they were shaking again, trembling uncontrollably as the weight of the situation bore down on him.
He clenched his fists tightly, forcing them to steady. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at Hina and Yuumo and began walking. With the rain beating down around them, the three headed toward Hikotu High, where the real storm was waiting.