"Hey! You're in my seat."
Keon looked up.
The guy in front of him towered a little. Muscles. Shaved sides. A bandage on his nose like it belonged there permanently. Definitely someone who lifted weights for fun.
Keon blinked. "It's a chair."
"It's my chair," the guy repeated, voice louder this time.
The teacher was still writing on the board, pretending not to hear.
Keon sighed. "And now it's mine. I got here first."
A few students gasped like that was a declaration of war. Kira leaned forward on his desk, eyes sparkling. "Oooh. He's got a death wish."
The guy stepped forward and grabbed Keon by the collar.
"Wanna repeat that?"
Keon didn't even flinch.
He looked the guy dead in the eye and muttered, "If I hit you, I'm the bad guy. If I don't, I'm a pushover. So go ahead. Make me decide."
There was a pause.
Then—
BAM!
The classroom door slammed open.
Nova stood in the hallway, arms folded. No emotion. Just pure, quiet threat. Like a storm on standby.
The guy immediately let go.
"I—I wasn't gonna do anything! Just saying hi!" He scurried back to his desk.
Keon fixed his collar calmly. "People are so friendly here."
---
After Class: The Unwanted Welcome Committee
Keon walked through the hallway like he was being followed by a spotlight. Students whispered, stared, backed away. He hated it.
From around the corner, Kira jumped out and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Brooo! That was epic. You're officially interesting. Name's Kira. Let's be delinquents together!"
Keon tried to shake him off. "I'm not looking for friends."
"Too bad. I'm clingy and fun."
They turned a corner—and ran into Leo.
He smiled like a knife, slow and sharp. "You're Keon."
Kira blinked. "Hey, Leo. You two know each other?"
"No," Leo said, eyes locked on Keon. "But I like him already."
Keon didn't like that smile.
---
Lunch: The Rooftop Incident
Keon escaped to the rooftop for peace. Just air. Just silence.
Bad idea.
Fuyu was already there, leaning against the fence.
"Took you long enough," he said.
Keon narrowed his eyes. "You waiting for me?"
"Nope," Fuyu said. "I was hoping for a fight."
Keon turned to leave.
"You gonna run from every problem?" Fuyu called after him. "Or is that just part of the act?"
Keon stopped. His fists clenched.
Fuyu smirked. "Knew it. You're pretending. You can fight, can't you?"
Keon didn't answer.
He just walked away.
But Fuyu's voice followed him like a hook in the ribs.
"People like you are time bombs. Sooner or later... you'll explode."
---