A long time ago…
("What should I get for lunch today?") [???]
There walked a boy, daydreaming as he strolled around the campus of a school. His black hair fluttered in the wind, and the sun reflected off the red highlights at the corners of his hair. The look in his eye told others to stay away, and his attire was composed of a loosened black uniform. As he wandered around the school campus, he heard strange noise behind one of the school buildings.
("The hell is that?") [Boy]
The boy went towards the noise, and he began to hear voices.
"Ow! Stop it!" [Quivering Voice]
"Hahaha! This guy looks like he's ready to piss himself!" [Loud Voice]
As the boy turned the corner, he saw a troubled student surrounded by a group of delinquents.
("...Bullying?") [Boy]
He watched in silence, but decided to turn a blind eye.
("I feel bad for the student, but… Not my problem.") [Boy]
As he began to walk away, the loud voices of the delinquents reached him.
"This isn't what we asked for!" [Loud Voice]
"But that's all I have!" [Quivering Voice]
A loud crash was heard behind the building, and the boy began to quicken his pace.
("Not my problem… Not my problem…") [Boy]
"Why don't you get a job! Better yet, beg your whore of a mother for more!" [Loud Voice]
The conversation took a turn for the worse, and it seemed to tick the boy off. Turning back around, the boy turned the corner and stormed up to the delinquents.
"Hey." [Boy]
The delinquents turned towards the boy. Each of them wore some kind of different colored band around their arm, but the boy didn't pay any mind to it.
"What?" [Red Banded Delinquent]
One of the delinquents faced the boy with his chin held high. While he confronted the boy, the others in the back snickered.
"I was wondering if you could let him go." [Boy]
He pointed at the troubled student on the ground, but it only ended with the delinquents laughing.
"Puhahaha! This kid must be stupid!" [Blue Banded Delinquent]
"Hey, why don't we take his wallet too?" [Yellow Banded Delinquent]
The delinquents fooled around, clearly taking the boy's presence as a joke.
("One… Two… Four delinquents.") [Boy]
The boy took count of the delinquents while they messed around. Though three of them were tossing jokes, only one stood at the back with their arms crossed.
"Aight, watch this guys." [Red Banded Delinquent]
The delinquent turned his attention back to the boy, locking eyes with him with a mischievous smile.
"Tell me, what's your name?" [Red Banded Delinquent]
"Maybe if you let the guy in the back go." [Boy]
The smile on the delinquent began to fade, but the boy didn't mind it.
"Sorry, but the same joke isn't funny twice." [Red Banded Delinquent]
"It wasn't a joke." [Boy]
The boy didn't back down. In fact, he was strangely confident enough to take a step forward.
"...Playing tough guy huh?" [Red Banded Delinquent]
Raising his fists, the delinquent cracked his knuckles in an attempt to intimidate.
"You better listen while I'm still talking nicely. What. Is. Your. Name." [Red Banded Delinquent]
"I could say the same to you. Let. Him. Go." [Boy]
The boy's actions annoyed the delinquent, causing him to lash out.
"You asked for it!" [Red Banded Delinquent]
He swung wildly at the boy, but was evaded by a backstep.
"Looks like you're not just all talk!" [Red Banded Delinquent]
"Yeah, unlike you." [Boy]
The boy aggravated the delinquent with a smug grin, causing him to attack recklessly.
"You're a dead man!" [Red Banded Delinquent]
The boy observed the delinquent's movements closely. Waiting until the last moment, the boy stepped in between the attacks and struck outwards.
"Guh…!" [Red Banded Delinquent]
The delinquent staggered. A blow to the stomach was something he didn't expect.
("It's not enough!") [Boy]
The boy saw the opportunity to attack. Striking the throat, chest, and stomach, the delinquent crumbled.
"H-Holy shit!" [Blue Banded Delinquent]
The delinquents were left in awe, standing there with their eyes wide open.
"Who's next?" [Boy]
The delinquents glanced at each other, wondering as to what to do. It was then that one of them stepped forward.
"The hell are you guys so worked up for? It's just one guy." [Green Banded Delinquent]
His words gave the others confidence, and they joined it.
"Y-yeah… It's only one guy." [Blue Banded Delinquent]
("Damn.") [Boy]
Though the boy expected this outcome, he didn't really want to fight all of them.
"Alright, come at me." [Boy]
The delinquents charged at him with a war cry, but the boy was unfazed. Just as he did the earlier delinquent, the boy observed their movements carefully.
("Left, down, right, left.") [Boy]
In accordance with his thoughts, the boy evaded the attacks. Moving left, then down, right, and left again, the boy was left without a scratch.
"How are we missing?!" [Yellow Banded Delinquent]
The boy continued to weave between their fists, but eventually took it upon himself to attack.
"My turn." [Boy]
Interrupting their flow, the boy grabbed one of their arms.
"Wha-?!" [Blue Banded Delinquent]
"Have a safe trip." [Boy]
Spinning around with his arm locked with others, the boy swung the delinquent at his peers.
"Agh!" [Green Banded Delinquent]
"Ugh!" [Yellow Banded Delinquent]
All three stumbled over each other, falling to the ground with tangled limbs.
"What the hell are you doing-?!" [Green Banded Delinquent]
"Shut it." [Boy]
Keeping them from speaking, the boy attacked the helpless delinquents.
"H-hold on! Stop!" [Yellow Banded Delinquent]
The boy ignored their cries, pummeling them until each one was unconscious.
"Phew… That was tiring." [Boy]
He turned to walk away, but a voice spoke to him.
"W-wait!" [Troubled Voice]
The boy looked at the troubled student with an annoyed expression, unwilling to listen.
"What do you want?" [Boy]
The troubled student's mouth quivered, but eventually words came out.
"Can I… Can I have your name?" [Troubled Student]
The boy scoffed. Turning his back to the troubled student, he left with a wave.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"-And that's how I met Orion." [Brandon]
"...I have so many questions." [Adam]