The air in the school was heavy, thick with whispers and the weight of countless eyes following Jin as he walked down the hall. The usual glances of mockery, the quiet laughter today, it felt different. They weren't just looking at him. They were waiting for something. Waiting for the inevitable fallout from the fight that had sent shockwaves through the school.
Jin sat in the principal's office, his head hanging low, his fingers still wrapped in bandages from the fight that happened earlier today. His heart thudded in his chest, each beat a drum of dread. He'd never been one for confrontation, always taking the hits, always staying quiet, but yesterday was different. Yesterday, he snapped.
The door creaked open, and there she was.
Yumi.
She stepped into the room, her presence commanding. Jin felt a brief flicker of relief at seeing her, but it quickly faded as he noticed the tension in her posture. Her shoulders were squared, her fists clenched at her sides as she glanced at him. Her eyes were soft for just a moment, offering him a silent nod of reassurance, before turning to face the principal.
"Thank you for coming, Yumi," the principal said, his voice calculated, neutral. "We need to address the incident involving your brother."
Yumi's gaze flickered to Jin before narrowing with sharp intensity. "Incident?" Her voice was steady but heavy with meaning. "You mean the bullying that's been going on for months, that you all failed to do anything about?"
The principal flinched, his face twitching at the accusation, but he quickly regained his composure. "We're here to discuss Jin's violent behavior earlier today. He severely injured another student, and the family is demanding compensation for medical bills."
Yumi's lips twisted in disgust. "Medical bills? What about the bruises, the insults, the humiliation my brother's had to endure for months? Did anyone offer to compensate him for that?"
"That's… a separate issue," the principal stammered, clearly trying to deflect.
"Separate?" Yumi's voice cut through the air like a blade. "You've known about the bullying. You've seen the bruises, the damage to his locker, the threats. You've turned a blind eye because it was easier. And now that Jin finally fights back, you want to make him the villain?"
The room was thick with silence. Jin clenched his fists, trying to swallow the bitterness in his throat as he watched his sister tear into the principal. She was the one speaking now, the one taking the weight of their family's struggles. He was the older one, yet it was Yumi who was always there, always fighting for him.
The door creaked again, and in walked Riku's parents, followed by a police officer. Riku's mother was practically trembling with rage, her face flushed as she stormed into the room.
"Where is he?" she demanded, her eyes locking onto Jin. "That delinquent who attacked my son?"
Yumi stepped forward, her stance protective, unwavering. "And where were you when your son was bullying my brother?" Her voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it.
Riku's mother scoffed, dismissing the accusation with a wave of her hand. "Bullying? My Riku would never do such a thing."
"Oh, spare me," Yumi cut her off, her voice dripping with disdain. "Your son has been tormenting my brother for months. Everyone in this school knows it. The only difference now is that Jin finally fought back."
The police officer raised a hand, trying to calm the growing tension. "Let's all take a seat and discuss this civilly."
Everyone reluctantly sat down, but the tension in the room was palpable. Riku's father leaned forward, his voice cold, like ice. "We want compensation for our son's medical bills. And we demand to see this boy's parents."
Jin's heart skipped a beat. The words "medical bills" echoed in his mind, and he suddenly felt all the eyes on him, judging him. His throat tightened, and his thoughts raced.
Yumi's gaze darkened, her voice steely. "Our parents are no more."
Riku's mother sneered, her words dripping with venom. "How convenient. No parents to teach him discipline, I see."
Yumi's fists clenched, her jaw set. "Don't you dare—"
The officer raised his hand again, his voice stern. "Enough. Let's stay focused on resolving this matter." He turned his gaze to Jin. "Son, if you apologize, we might be able to settle this without further escalation."
Jin opened his mouth to speak, but Yumi grabbed his hand, shaking her head.
"No," she said, her voice firm and unwavering. "My brother has nothing to apologize for. He was pushed to the edge by your son's constant harassment. If anyone should be apologizing, it's Riku."
Riku's father's eyes flashed with rage. "You think you can stand there and lecture us? Your brother put our son in the hospital!"
"And your son drove my brother to the breaking point!" Yumi snapped back, her words biting and fierce. "Where were you when your son was beating Jin down every day? Where were you when Jin came home covered in bruises? You didn't care then, so don't pretend to care now!"
The room was thick with the tension, the silence almost unbearable. The principal cleared his throat, his voice hesitant.
Yumi cut him off, her tone steady and unwavering. "Save it. My brother isn't apologizing, and we're not paying a cent for medical bills. If you want to escalate this, fine. But know this: Jin isn't alone anymore. You'll have to deal with me."
The room fell deathly quiet. Jin's throat tightened. He could feel the weight of every word Yumi had said. His sister wasn't just defending him—she was standing tall, fighting for everything they had been through, for every bruised moment that had gone unnoticed.
The officer took a deep breath, his voice calm but firm. "I believe it's time to end this meeting for now. We'll have to proceed with the appropriate legal steps."
Riku's parents shot Yumi one last look of disdain before storming out of the room, their words still sharp in the air. The principal quickly followed, mumbling something about next steps, but his words barely reached Jin's ears.
Yumi turned to him, her expression softer now, but still strong. She walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. Let's go home."
Jin stood, his heart still racing but something else simmering beneath the panic a sense of relief. She'd fought for him, like always. But this time, something was different. He wasn't just her burden anymore.
They left the office together, their footsteps echoing down the hall, and for the first time in a long while, Jin felt like maybe just maybe he could start fighting back too.