Ray walked into the packed canteen. He had endured a rather eventful day in class and was eager for a lunch break.
With dark brown spikey hair and a relatively unassuming face. He was the embodiment of ordinary in an extra ordinary school. He wasn't overly athletic nor incredibly popular. In fact, the only reason he didn't get picked on in a school filled with all sorts of violent people, is thanks to his friend, Raika, who was both incredibly strong and a member of one of the most well-known gangs. Her affiliation being enough to scare away any aggressors.
After grabbing his lunch tray, Ray searched around, until he noticed his best friend Jason, sitting all alone, peacefully eating his food. 'There he is,' Ray thought as he strolled over wearily.
Jason had short-grey hair and was physically built similarly to Ray, if not a little skinnier. Including Raika, the three knew each other since middle school and continued to be good friends in high school.
Upon sitting down, the two talked about the typical stuff they usually spoke about: "I'm telling you, Mr Weston gives our class way too much homework," Jason complained.
"Really? He's not that bad is he?"
Jason sighed. "You're way too nice man, can't you throw a little shade for once" he criticised.
All was going well. Until their mundane conversation got interrupted by a large thud directly behind Ray. He jumped slightly at the sound, spinning around to see what was happening.
What he saw was a timid schoolboy surrounded by three others, each of the three were at least twice the size of the kid. The guy at the centre was the largest of the trio. His blazer stained by a light yellow hue. The same hue that the timid boy's half-filled bowl of custard happened to be. From the intimidating way the large man, Ray wondered why someone like that was wearing a uniform, to begin with.
At Diablo academy, boys were required to wear: black pants, a white shirt, a red tie and a dark blue blazer. The same is true for girls, though they also have the option to wears skirts.
These uniforms proved to be unpopular however, and so, despite this regulation being in place, a lot of the more delinquent students didn't comply, wearing their own clothes instead, and as you would expect at this type of school, there was no one to enforce these rules. For this reason, Ray speculated that these thugs ran into the boy on purpose to make him feel like he owed them something.
"You're not even gonna say sorry?" The student asked with a threatening tone. The two next to him snickered.
"I-I'm sorry," he responded subserviently, apologizing profusely. The three bullies laughing at his desperation.
Ray glared inconspicuously at the scene taking place directly behind him. 'This isn't gonna end well.' he thought, debating with himself about whether he should do something.
Jason stared at Ray who was turned around, and proceeded to seemingly predict his thoughts. "Don't even think about involving yourself," he said nonchalantly with his eyes close, hoping to deter Ray from acting recklessly, "you're not some hero, that guy got himself into trouble"
Ray looked down at the floor in guilt, there's no way he would take action anyway: he never messed with something like this before, so why would he start now.
"That's just the way things are," Jason continued, "people look out for themselves out here, no point in helping some stranger. I mean, just look around."
Ray scanned the room, and to his surprise, every single person was minding their own business. They weren't even looking. 'The man's shouting could surely be heard across the whole cafeteria,' he thought to himself,' and yet no one even batted an eye.'
"Like I said dude, just let it go," Jason reinforced.
Ray complied and reluctantly started turning back around, but stopped when he heard a familiar voice.