The new class had barely started for a week when a loud crash suddenly echoed through the classroom. Park Woojin quickly dodged a flying chair that struck the blackboard with great force. Terrified, he glanced at his two classmates who were exchanging heavy blows.
These two students were known as the Kings of Section 1-A, or, more precisely, they were fighting for the title. Donghyun Kwon and Minjun Wang appeared oblivious to their surroundings as they continued throwing punches. The classroom was in chaos. Students were placing bets on who would win. Teachers who saw what was happening quickly changed their path, afraid of getting involved.
Shinra High School was infamous for being the worst school. If it weren't for teachers who needed the money, no one would dare to teach these students, who acted like thugs and were constantly involved in fights.
Song Kang Dae happily whistled while collecting bets. With a wide grin, he discreetly pocketed some cash. Acting as if nothing had happened, he turned towards his classmates, encouraging them to bet more for higher returns.
Minjun's back hit the window as Donghyun kicked him forcefully. Gritting his teeth, Minjun stood up and attempted a kick that landed on Donghyun's arm. Donghyun glared at him fiercely and grabbed a chair, throwing it at Minjun, who quickly dodged it.
The sound of glass breaking echoed inside the classroom, yet no one paid attention to the broken window. Instead, the cheering grew louder at the intensity of the fight.
News of Minjun and Donghyun's fight spread faster than wildfire, becoming a topic of interest throughout the school. More students gathered to witness the fight, delighting Kang Dae. He quickly approached the newcomers, encouraging them to place bets. The growing crowd attracted even more students who had no idea what was happening.
Woojin, wanting to leave the classroom, couldn't move out of fear of attracting the bullies' attention. With trembling knees, he forced himself to distance from the fight and sat beside his seatmate, whom he considered a friend.
Renji's arm, resting above his desk, moved slightly to support his head as he watched the fight with a grin. It had only been a few days since Renji started studying at Shinra, but he knew the following days would be even more exciting. He had no plans to meddle or get involved in the fights. He just wanted to stay quiet and avoid attracting the bullies' attention. As long as he did that, his life here would be easy.
The fight lasted almost 30 minutes. Those who bet on Minjun sighed in frustration as their pick lost. The noise intensified as the fight ended.
Hmmm... Minjun's stamina sucks, Renji thought.
"What a waste!"
"Hahaha! Good thing I bet on Donghyun."
"Kang Dae! Where's my winnings?!"
"Me too!"
"Just hold on a moment!" Overwhelmed by the students swarming him, Kang Dae almost tripped.
Minjun was no longer in the classroom as his friends dragged him to the infirmary. The other students no longer cared about him, busy collecting their winnings from Kang Dae. After the commotion, the students slowly left one by one.
Woojin sighed heavily. He was about to sit properly when someone pushed him from behind. Startled, he lost his balance and found himself on the floor, looking up at the person who pushed him.
He was greeted by Gunwoo's arrogant face. Gunwoo was one of Donghyun's closest friends.
"You! Buy us some drinks. Hurry up!" Gunwoo kicked the chair forcefully. Woojin winced as it hit his knee. He quickly stood up, tears welling in his eyes, and glanced at Renji beside him, who was engrossed in a book.
"Aren't you leaving yet?!" Gunwoo threatened with a punch. Woojin immediately ran out, not daring to look back.
In his haste to leave, he didn't see how Gunwoo's gaze turned towards Renji. His eyes obviously planning something evil.
Woojin sighed. He couldn't remember how many times he had been bullied by Donghyun and his gang. He also couldn't understand why, out of everyone, he was the one they singled out.
He had no friends. Most of his classmates avoided him, fearing they would become targets too. He glanced ahead and stared intently at his reflection in the mirror.
He had a weak and thin body. His lack of height emphasized his physical weakness. He wasn't handsome, but he wasn't ugly either. His looks were just average. His thick hair was soaked from water on his face. He tried to appear brave in front of the mirror but ended up looking like a child who had just lost his candy.
He frowned. It wasn't surprising that he was always teased and mocked.
He quickly wiped his face. His eyes widened when he checked the time. Oh no! He left in a hurry and ran to the cafeteria. I'm super dead! He passed by some students who were celebrating their winnings from the bet. He ignored them and burst through the cafeteria like a cheetah.
When he reached the counter, he quickly ordered food, gasping for breath, and swiftly returned to the classroom.
As he stormed back inside, he saw Gunwoo's figure lying on the floor, his cheek turning black from bruises, seemingly done by his seatmate. Woojin gaped at the scene, dumbfounded.
Woojin took a step back, trying to process the scene before him. Renji, who had been quietly reading moments ago, now stood over Gunwoo, his face indifferent.
"What's going on here?" Woojin whispered to himself, eyes wide with shock.
Renji looked up and locked eyes with Woojin. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, Renji shrugged, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. "He asked for it," Renji said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Gunwoo groaned from the floor, clutching his bruised cheek. He attempted to rise but stumbled back down, clearly dazed.
"You're crazy, Renji! Donghyun's not going to let this slide," he managed to say, his voice strained with pain and anger.
Woojin, holding the drinks he had fetched from the cafeteria, couldn't believe what he was seeing. Renji had taken down Gunwoo, one of Donghyun's cronies, without breaking a sweat.
Renji turned his head slightly and caught Woojin's eye. "Are those the drinks they asked for?" he asked calmly, as if nothing unusual had just happened.
Woojin nodded, his hands trembling. He slowly approached Renji, unsure of what to expect. Renji took one of the drinks and handed it to Gunwoo, who was struggling to sit up. "Here," Renji said, "this should help with the pain."
Gunwoo slapped the drink away, his face contorted with rage. "You'll pay for this, you freak!" he spat, trying to muster the strength to stand. But Renji simply shrugged, his calm demeanor unshaken.
"Maybe," Renji replied. "But for now, you should probably go to the infirmary. Minjun's probably already there. You two can commiserate together."
Gunwoo glared at Renji but knew he couldn't win this fight. He stumbled to his feet and staggered out of the classroom, muttering curses under his breath. The remaining students, who had been watching the scene with bated breath, finally started murmuring among themselves.
Woojin placed the tray of drinks on his desk, his mind racing with questions. He had never seen anyone stand up to the bullies like Renji just had. The classroom slowly returned to normal as students whispered among themselves.
Renji went back to his seat and picked up his book, acting as if nothing had happened. Woojin, still shaken, hesitated before finally speaking up.
"You shouldn't have provoked him."
Renji looked up from his book, his expression remaining untroubled. "And why is that?" he asked, his tone as calm as ever.
Woojin, unsure how to express his concern, shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "Well, Gunwoo is one of Donghyun's friends. If you mess with them, they're going to come after you. Things could get really bad."
Renji's gaze grew thoughtful as he closed his book. "You think I'm afraid of Donghyun and his friends?"
Woojin nodded vigorously. "Everyone is. They run this place. If you cross them, it's like asking for trouble. Donghyun's not someone you want to mess with."
Renji's lips curled into a faint smile. "I see. Well, thanks for the heads-up. But sometimes, you have to stand up for yourself, even if it means facing trouble."
Woojin shook his head. "You don't understand. It's not just about standing up for yourself here. It's about surviving. If you don't blend in, you'll become a target, just like me."
Before Renji could respond, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class period. Students began gathering their things and heading out, their murmurs about Renji's confrontation with Gunwoo growing louder.
Renji stood up and stretched casually. "Anyway, you should probably get going before Donghyun's friends come back looking for you."
Woojin glanced nervously around the classroom, noting the curious eyes of his peers. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks for… well, you know."
Renji simply nodded. "Don't mention it. See you around."
Woojin hurriedly packed his things and left the classroom, still trying to process what had happened. Renji watched him go, a contemplative expression on his face.
He had taken a risk by confronting Gunwoo. Just earlier, he told himself he wouldn't get involved in the fights happening around. But here he is, tsk. There's nothing he can do now.
Donghyun and his gang will probably look for him because of what happened to their friend.
As Renji left the classroom, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of anticipation. Shinra High was a place where strength and survival were paramount, and he had just made his first move in a much larger game.