Next week
By now, Mori had grown used to the quiet buzz that followed him through the hallways. People talked. They always did. Whispers trailed him like perfume—curious, cautious, even a little fearful. He heard them all, but he never let it get to him. If anything, it was entertaining. Funny how people could talk about you like a myth when you were right there beside them.
Lunch
As always, Mori sat with Daniel and Jay.
Jay barely spoke—he never did—but there was something grounding about his silence. Daniel, on the other hand, was all nerves and overthinking. He tried to keep conversation flowing, mostly out of habit, and Mori appreciated the effort even if he didn't say much.
Today, though, something was different.
Daniel perked up when he saw someone near the cafeteria entrance—a lanky figure with hunched shoulders and a too-big backpack.
"Hey, Jiho! Over here!" Daniel waved.
The boy hesitated. Jiho, Mori remembered from earlier classes. Quiet, awkward. He wore thick glasses that magnified his eyes, and his bowl cut framed his face like a bad joke someone played on him. He looked like he didn't expect to be invited anywhere.
Jiho approached the table cautiously, like each step might set off a trap. Mori watched him with calm interest, noticing the tremble in his fingers, the darting eyes. A kid used to being ignored—or worse.
When Jiho finally sat, Mori offered a soft, encouraging smile. "Glad you joined us."
Jiho glanced at him, startled. Then he gave the faintest nod, like he wasn't sure how to react to kindness.
Jay gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgment, which for him was practically a speech. Daniel immediately launched into chatter, trying to put Jiho at ease.
Then the cafeteria doors swung open with a bang.
Burn Knuckles.
A rough-looking crew of self-appointed vigilantes. Loud, intimidating, but not without a strange sense of justice. Most students instinctively looked away.
Mori didn't flinch. He just kept an eye on them, more curious than concerned.
One figure peeled away from the group, walking with intent—Vasco.
The so-called "hero" of the school. Broad-shouldered, sincere, and absolutely terrible at reading social cues. Vasco had a heart of gold, but his fists moved faster than his logic.
He stopped at their table, eyes locked on Jiho.
"Hey, kid," he said, voice low and serious. "Are they bothering you?"
Jiho flinched, eyes wide behind his glasses. "N-No, I—uh—" He shrank in his seat, overwhelmed.
Mori sat up straighter and gently raised a hand. "Hey, it's okay. We're just talking. He's safe here."
Vasco didn't look convinced. His protective instincts were firing on all cylinders.
Then Mori did something unexpected. He smiled—not the sharp, taunting kind, but a warm, easy one.
"Vasco, right?" he said calmly. "You're the guy who helps people. I respect that. Really. But Jiho's with us. No one's hurting him."
For a moment, Vasco hesitated. The tension in his shoulders eased—but only slightly.
He stepped forward, placing a hand on Mori's shoulder. It was firm. Heavy. Not threatening, exactly, but clearly a warning.
Mori felt the pressure, but he didn't rise to it. He didn't need to. Instead, he slowly stood, looking Vasco in the eye—not with challenge, but with understanding.
"I get it," Mori said quietly. "You've seen too many people hurt to ignore something that might be danger. But trust me… if you really want to help Jiho, sit down. Listen to him. Be his friend."
Vasco blinked. That wasn't the reaction he expected.
Then, from behind them, Jiho mumbled something. "He's… telling the truth. They're… nice."
Silence stretched for a moment.
Then Vasco nodded once. Awkwardly. Almost like a robot learning empathy.
"…Okay."
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
Jay raised an eyebrow. Daniel looked like he was going to pass out.
Mori smiled again, softer this time. "Glad you're joining us."
please leave comments it helps me get motivated. :)