In the early morning of 2022, at a vast public park, Kiyo Jeong, a 15-year-old boy, staggered backward as a powerful punch landed on his nose, knocking him to the ground.
A group of boys quickly encircled him, and unleashed a flurry of kicks onto his prone form.
One of the boys delivered a vicious kick to Kiyo's abdomen.
"You're nothing but a weak little brat. How dare you stand against you? You pathetic rat." he teased.
"Just look at him, he's practically pleading for mercy," Another boy smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. "Do you honestly believe he has any chance of standing against us?"
The boys' laughter rang out. Halting their assault. One of them seized Kiyo's wrist, lifting it up high.
"Look at this," he declared, his voice dripping with arrogance. "It's as thin as a fckin twig. I can snap it like nothing."
The mocking laughter intensified as one of the boy grabbed Kiyo's hair and wrenching his head upward, making him look at him,
Tears welled in Kiyo's eyes, his nose bleeding and his spirit crushed beneath the weight of their cruelty.
"Listen up, you worthless piece of shit," the boy's voice dripped with malice. "If you ever dare to cross us again, I'll make sure every bone in your body is shattered. Understand?"
Kiyo kept looking at him, his expression a mask of anguish and torment, his eyes filled with tears, blood dripping down his nose.
With a cruel smile, the boy delivered a devastating punch on Kiyo's face, plunging him into darkness…
Half an hour later, Kiyo slowly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting clear blue skies, realizing he was still lying on the grass of the park.
Struggling against his pain, Kiyo gradually pulled himself to his feets, brushing the dust off from his uniform. He picked up his bag, dusted it off, and slung it over his shoulder. Touching his nose he felt the blood trickling down. Wincing slightly, he made his way to a nearby bench.
Sitting on the bench, he rummaged through his bag before pulling out a few bandages from inside, and began tending to his nose.
With deliberate care, he treated his nose then, then tended to the cuts and bruises inflicted by the boys. Once he finished bandaging himself, he stood up and continued his journey to school.
As Kiyo continued on his path, his attention got drawn on a trembling kitten hiding in the bushes, clearly terrified.
With a warm smile, Kiyo kneeled in front of the frightened kitten.
"Hey there, little buddy." Kiyo spoke gently, "You don't have to be scared anymore. They are gone, they won't bother you again."
Kiyo's expression shifted from one of warmth to one of confusion, his brow furrowing in concern. "Wait a minute, why haven't you run off?" he pondered aloud.
As he observed the Kitten more closely, his gaze fell upon its injured leg, a wave of realization washing over him. "Oh no," he murmured softly, his heart sinking. "I think they hurt your leg."
Kiyo reached out softly, brushing the trembling kitten's fur. At first, the kitten was wary, but it quickly calmed down as Kiyo's gentle touch brought a wave of calm, transforming its fear into trust and security.
With a warm smile, Kiyo gently scooped up the kitten, "You're such a brave little kitten. Now, let's take a look."
Sitting back to that bench he placed the kitten on his lap, tenderly stroking its head before carefully inspecting its injured leg.
As he examined the leg, Kiyo reassured, "It's not a deep wound. Don't worry, I have some bandages with me."
Kiyo pulls out a pack of bandages from his bag, tenderly tending to the kitten's injured leg with practised care.
"I always keep bandages with me for moments like these. You never know when they might come in handy." Tears welled in his eyes.
"Alright, all done." he said standing on his feets, "I have to get going now. Take care of yourself, little one. Until we meet again."
With a gentle smile, he released the kitten, watching as it scampered away. Kiyo's warm smile widened before resuming his journey toward the school…
Later, when Kiyo entered the classroom, the teacher couldn't resist a teasing comment. "Ah, look who's gracing us with his presence, Mr. Lazy, Kiyo Jeong."
Prompting a wave of soft laughter from the students. Amidst the laughter, one girl remained silent, her gaze fixed on Kiyo with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Yes, Mr. Kiyo Jeong," the teacher quipped, "would you care to explain your tardiness and the bandages?"
"Forgive me, teacher," Kiyo offered his explanation, "There was heavy traffic, and about the bandages. I ended up falling face-first from my bed."
"Funny how traffic seems to target only you," the teacher teased, "Shiori and Goro travel the same route as you, yet they manage to arrive on time."
"I'm truly sorry, teacher," Kiyo responded with an apologetic tone.
"I don't want your apologies," the teacher's frim voice cut through the air. "Head outside and run five laps around the school grounds, then you can join the class."
With a respectful bow, Kiyo complied, making his way outside to fulfil his punishment.
After completing his laps, Kiyo returned to the classroom and took his seat, ready to resume his studies…
During lunchtime, Kiyo reached into his bag, only to discover his lunchbox was nowhere to be found. Confused, he muttered to himself.
"Where could it be? I know I didn't leave it at home." His alarm grew as he checked his pocket, finding his money was also missing.
A wave of disbelief swept over him until, suddenly, a lunch box appeared right before his face, leaving him completely astonished.
It was Shiori, who had earlier observed Kiyo's predicament without laughing.
She was standing before him holding her lunch box. "It seems you forgot yours. You're welcome to have mine," she offered.
Kiyo hesitated, "But what about your lunch?" he questioned.
With a warm smile, Shiori responded, "We can share, it's no trouble at all." She gestured to her lunch, revealing two sandwiches.
Kiyo hesitated initially but then took one of the sandwiches, prompting a smile from Shiori.
Taking a bite, a slight smile appeared on Haruto's face.
Shiori's smile grew wider, "How does it taste?" she quickly asked.
"It's really good," Kiyo responded, his appreciation evident in his tone.
Shiori's cheeks flushed red as she quickly glanced downward, before looking up slowly, meeting Kiyo's eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, she gathered her courage and asked, "Would you like to walk home together after school?"
Pausing in mid-bite, Kiyo's eyes widened in disbelief, as he slowly looked up to Shiori who was looking down her cheeks red.
"I have some important things to take care of today, but how about we walk home together tomorrow?" he proposed.
Shiori's face lit up with joy as she enthusiastically nodded, her face beaming with an excited smile, while Kiyo was smiling back at her…
As the final bell of the school rang, Kiyo dashed out from the school running towards the park.
"I must bring that kitten home and ensure it receives the proper care," Kiyo affirmed to himself, his sense of responsibility propelling him forward.
Quickly stepping inside the park, Kiyo called out "Hey, kitten, where are you?" His voice echoed loud but just then he froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he noticed the same group of boys standing in the distance.
Unaware of Kiyo's presence, The boys laugh among themselves with one of them holding a hockey stick. and One was gripping Kiyo's lunchbox.
Suddenly, one of the boys noticed Kiyo and pointed at him. Their laughter abruptly stopped as all the boys turned their attention to Kiyo, smirks spreading across their faces. The once raucous laughter faded, replaced by the menacing grins aimed directly at him.
Kiyo's eyes were filled with anxiety as he cautiously began to step backward, his movements hesitant and deliberate.
"Don't you dare move, or I'll kill you!" one of the boys' voices cut through the tense air, his tone sharp and threatening.
Frozen in place, Kiyo watched as the boys began walking towards him, their menacing presence growing with each step until they stood facing him directly.
"Where's the kitten?" Kiyo's voice quivered with concern.
"Ahhh, The one we tortured earlier?" The boy taunted, matching his smirk
Undeterred, Kiyo pressed on, "Where is it?"
"Alright, I'll tell you only if you beg." The boy's demand. With a sinister gesture, he slightly lifted his foot, "Clean it." he demanded.
Kiyo's gaze hardened, as he stared at the shoe.
"Clean it, you worthless brat," the boy spat out, his disdain clear.
"I won't!" Kiyo's defiance rang out in a shout.
Enraged, the boy swung his hockey stick with ferocity, striking Kiyo's skull with a sickening thud.
Kiyo crumpled to the ground, blood oozing from his head, that boy then delivered a vicious kick to his stomach followed by another to his face.
Amidst cruel laughter, the boy taunted, "I'll kill you, you moron."
As the boy swung the hockey stick once more at Kiyo's head, a sudden slap struck him squarely in the face, the impact echoing sharply through the air, shocking every other boy.
It was Shiori who positioned herself in front of Kiyo, her arms raised in a gesture of shielding him.
The boy's rage escalated, shouting, "Now I'll end both of you!"
With a piercing scream, the boy swung the bat toward Shiori's face who shut her eyes tightly in terror, bracing for the impact.