The school bell rang, signaling the start of another day. For Hayato, it was the first time stepping into a classroom. The lively chatter of students, the sound of pens scribbling, and the hum of everyday routine felt foreign yet fascinating. He marveled at the simplicity of school life—the morning assemblies, the clamor during lunch breaks, and even the teachers' stern instructions.
During math class, a girl with pigtails leaned over and whispered, "You're new here, right? I'm Hana. If you need any help, let me know!"
Hayato smiled awkwardly but nodded. He wasn't used to such friendliness, but it was... nice. Slowly, he started making friends, including Hiro, a boy who loved soccer and always invited Hayato to join him after school.
---
However, not everything was smooth. During lunch, three older boys cornered Hayato near the lockers.
"Hey, new guy," one of them sneered. "You think you're special or something?"
Hayato felt his instincts flare. His fingers clenched, and his muscles tensed. He could hear their heartbeats, smell the faint tang of sweat that betrayed their nervousness. His animalistic instincts screamed at him to fight back.
But before he could act, Yuki appeared.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked, her calm voice cutting through the tension.
The bullies hesitated but muttered something under their breath and left. Yuki turned to Hayato, her eyes steady.
"I know it's hard to control," she said softly. "But you can't let your instincts take over. It'll only cause more harm."
Hayato exhaled, nodding. "Thanks... I'll try."
---
Later that day, during break, Innes found Yuki and Hayato near the cafeteria.
"Come with me," she said, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Where?" Hayato asked, raising an eyebrow.
"To the best spot in the entire school," she replied.
She led them to a secluded bench beneath a tall pine tree in the southwest corner of the school complex where Sid and Remond were already sitting. The place was serene.
"This is amazing," Yuki said, her voice filled with awe.
"Yeah," Hayato agreed, letting the calmness of the place wash over him. "It feels... peaceful."
But Sid wasn't happy. "Innes, why'd you bring them here? This place is supposed to be private!"
Innes rolled her eyes. "Relax, Sid. It's just us. Besides, the more, the merrier."
They bickered for a few minutes before agreeing that the spot would remain exclusive to the five of them.
---
Wholesome Group Chat
The argument dissolved into laughter as the group settled in. They talked about everything—classes, teachers, and even Hayato's first impressions of school life.
"You should've seen Hayato in history class," Yuki said, laughing. "He looked so confused when the teacher talked about ancient civilizations."
Hayato shrugged. "In my defense, I didn't grow up with textbooks."
Sid grinned. "Well, you're one of us now. We'll help you catch up."
Remond watched them, feeling a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. After everything they'd been through, it was good to have moments like these. Moments that felt normal.
But his thoughts were interrupted when Sid pulled Hayato aside, whispering something that Remond couldn't quite hear.
---
The night cityscape was alive with neon lights and bustling activity. The robbery at the supermarket had been quick, almost clinical. The masked robbers, armed and efficient, shoved terrified customers to the ground as they cleaned out the cash registers and safe.
"Move it! We've got three minutes!" barked the leader, a tall man with a raspy voice.
One of the younger robbers fumbled with the last cash drawer. "I'm trying, boss!"
"You try any slower, and you'll have a bullet in you!" the leader snapped.
Finally, they rushed out, bags stuffed with cash. Their getaway car, a black muscle car with tinted windows and a roaring engine, waited outside.
As the car sped off, the police arrived, sirens blaring. The robbers cursed under their breath.
"Floor it!" the leader shouted at the driver.
---
The muscle car tore through the streets, weaving between traffic with alarming precision. Behind them, three police cruisers gave chase, their red and blue lights painting the buildings in an ominous glow.
"Don't let them catch us!" the leader growled, gripping the dashboard.
The driver smirked, confidence oozing from him. "Relax. This baby can outrun anything."
He veered onto a narrow alleyway, narrowly avoiding a pile of trash bins. The cruisers struggled to follow, their larger frames scraping against the walls.
"Left! Left!" one of the robbers yelled, and the driver swerved hard, sending sparks flying as the car grazed a parked van.
---
The lead police cruiser's driver spoke into his radio. "Suspects heading east on Market Avenue. Requesting roadblocks and backup."
Further down the road, officers began deploying spike strips. But the robbers' driver spotted them in time.
"Hold on!" he yelled, yanking the wheel sharply. The car jumped the curb and careened onto the sidewalk, smashing a row of newspaper stands before returning to the street.
The police cruisers followed, but one hit the spike strip, its tires bursting with a loud pop. The car swerved uncontrollably before coming to a halt.
"Dammit!" the officer cursed, slamming the steering wheel as the remaining cruisers continued the pursuit.
---
The robbers' car rocketed through a crowded intersection, narrowly avoiding a collision with a delivery truck. Pedestrians screamed and scattered as the car sped past.
"Watch it, idiot!" one of the robbers yelled at the driver.
"Do you want to drive?" the driver shot back, his knuckles white on the wheel.
The police cruisers were relentless, closing the gap. One cruiser pulled up alongside the getaway car, attempting to force it off the road.
"Oh, no, you don't!" the driver sneered. He slammed into the side of the police car, sending it skidding into a streetlight.
The robbers cheered. "That's what I'm talking about!"
---
Up ahead, the robbers spotted a construction zone. The driver grinned wickedly.
"Hold tight," he said, flooring the accelerator.
The car hit a makeshift ramp, soaring over a half-finished overpass. For a moment, it seemed to hang in the air, the city lights glittering below.
The police cruisers hesitated but followed, though less gracefully. One cruiser landed hard, its suspension giving out, forcing it to pull back.
"Ha! They'll never catch us now!" one of the robbers exclaimed, laughing.
---
As the robbers celebrated, the leader frowned. "Something's not right. They're too far behind us now."
Suddenly, a shadow darted across the rooftops, keeping pace with the speeding car.
"What the hell is that?" the driver yelled, spotting the figure in his rearview mirror.
Before anyone could react, the vigilante leaped from a rooftop, landing squarely on the hood of the car. The impact sent a loud metallic crunch through the air.
"Get him off!" the leader screamed, panic setting in.
The driver swerved violently, but the vigilante clung on. With a single punch, they shattered the windshield, glass spraying into the car.
"Shoot him!" one robber shouted, but before they could draw their weapon, the vigilante ripped the gun from their hands and tossed it into the street.
---
The driver lost control, the car skidding wildly. It smashed through a row of traffic cones before slamming into a lamppost.
The robbers stumbled out, dazed and disoriented. But the vigilante was relentless. They moved like a shadow, incapacitating each robber with precision.
By the time the police arrived, the robbers were tied up with steel cables, their loot scattered across the ground.
"Who... who did this?" an officer asked, scanning the area.
But the vigilante had already disappeared into the night, leaving behind only the wreckage of the robbers' plan and a city that could rest a little easier.