As I hurriedly made my way downstairs, the clock ticking away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness for my first day of high school. I lived in a rather dilapidated apartment building, which had always given me a sense of unease. But today, my focus was on the new chapter that awaited me.
Suddenly, disaster struck as my foot slipped, causing me to tumble down from the second floor to the first floor. The pain shot through my body as I groaned, "Ouch, that hurts."
To my surprise, a girl dressed in the same school uniform as me was standing near someone's door, seemingly waiting for someone. She glanced in my direction and approached me, her annoyance evident. "Where is Zen? Are you his friend or something?" she asked in an irritated tone.
Startled, I replied, "No, I don't know him."
i huffed, clearly frustrated. "Well, what do you want from him?"
Confused, she stammered, "I... uh, don't want anything from him. I was just on my way to school."
Realizing her mistake, she softened her tone. "Oh, I see. Sorry about that. My name is Mai. And what's your name?"
For the first time, I found myself talking to a girl, my heart racing slightly. "I'm Rou. By the way, let's go to school together. I think that Zen guy is not coming."
Mai nodded in agreement, a slight smile forming on her face. "You're probably right. If he does show up, I'll give that little punk a piece of my mind."
Checking the time on my watch, I panicked. "Oh no, it's already 7:50! We need to hurry."
Together, we rushed to school, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety filling the air.
As we arrived at the school grounds, many students were there. when i look upward a large screen displayed information about the various teams. There were a total of 16 teams, with four teams representing each school. I couldn't help but hope for a strong team and a skilled captain.
However, my attention was abruptly drawn to a group of bullies tormenting a fellow student. They seemed to be from a different school, lacking manners and education.
Realizing that this was my chance to impress Mai, I mustered up the courage to intervene. "Hey, will you stop bullying that nerd kid?" I called out, trying to sound confident.
One of the bullies sneered, "And what will you do about it?"
Before I could respond, fear took hold of me, and my legs trembled. I hesitated, considering if I had made a grave mistake.
But just as I began to retreat, a hand came from behind and firmly grabbed my neck. I panicked, realizing I was about to be bullied in front of Mai.
However, to my surprise, the hand that held me back prevented the punch from landing on my face. It was Zen, the very person Mai had mentioned earlier.
With a commanding presence, Zen told the bullies to leave the kid alone and warned them to run away. Despite being outnumbered, he showed no fear.
The bullies, caught off guard by Zen's confidence, hesitated but then decided to flee. The onlookers erupted into applause, recognizing Zen as the hero of the moment.
Zen turned his attention to me and asked with genuine concern, "Are you okay?"
Relieved, I replied, "Yes, I'm alright. By the way, what's your name?"
He paused for a moment before responding, "My name is Zen."
It finally dawned on me that Zen was the person Mai had been talking about. As I took a closer look at Zen, I noticed his serious expression and the distinct half-purple, half-white hair that set him apart. He seemed to be around the same age as me, and his presence exuded confidence.
Just then, Mai approached us, her anger seemingly diffused. "Hey, Mai, don't be angry. Please, it's not his fault," Zen said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Mai's demeanor softened as she looked at Zen. "I know, Zen. I woke up early, put on my uniform, and went for a run," she admitted, a hint of playfulness in her tone.
Zen headed toward his classroom, leaving Mai and me standing there. Mai turned to me, her smile returning. "Why didn't you shout at him? You were saying you'd kill that bastard!" I asked, a mix of confusion and curiosity in my voice.
Mai giggled, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, that? Well, it was just a way of blowing off steam. You know, he will become the leader of our team."
I was taken aback, realizing that Zen was not only brave but also held a position of influence in the school. It intrigued me to think that I might be part of his team.
As Mai headed to her classroom, she turned back and said, "Okay, this is the team I wanted. I'll see you later, Rou."
Watching her walk away, a sense of excitement filled me. The events of the morning had already surpassed my expectations. It seemed that this encounter with Zen and Mai marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in my life.