Fukushū no Kage
Arc 1: Shiroi Academy
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Night fell over Shiroi Academy.
Haruto walked with his friends through the dark hallways, the fluorescent lights dimly illuminating their path. The tension was palpable. Ryo had disappeared from school that day, and no one knew where he was. Haruto and his group feared the worst.
"Where could he be?" Mikasa whispered as they cautiously moved forward.
"I don't know… but we can't just stay here waiting," Haruto replied with a grim expression.
"The third-years must know something," Yuta said, glancing around as his voice remained low and firm.
Renji, walking beside Haruto, seemed calmer than the others. Despite the situation, his logical mind was trying to find a solution.
"They're stronger, but we'll only face them if we have to," Renji said.
Aya looked around, searching for any clue that might lead them to Ryo's whereabouts.
"We can't let them take him without doing anything," she stated, her tone unwavering.
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The Dark Moment
From a distance, they heard them before they saw them. Footsteps echoed on the floor, with a steady rhythm that spoke of constant training. Riku Tanabe, Daichi Sato, and Takuya Mori appeared in the main hallway. They didn't seem to be in a hurry, but each of them radiated an aura of menace.
"The weaklings have arrived," Daichi said with a cruel smile as he approached Haruto's group.
Riku laughed sarcastically. "Come on, we're just here to find that pathetic kid. Where is he?"
The group knew confronting them wouldn't be easy. They weren't prepared to fight. Unlike the third-years, who regularly trained in martial arts or competitive sports, they had never needed to learn self-defense. Furthermore, although Haruto had trained a bit with Kaede, he was still no match for opponents this dangerous.
"We…" Haruto started, but Riku interrupted him.
"Don't bother, you don't stand a chance."
"We're not here to fight!" Renji said, trying to defuse the situation.
"It's too late for that," Daichi responded, slowly approaching with his ruthless attitude.
Takuya Mori, quieter than the others, stayed in the background, watching the group with a cold gaze. Despite his silence, his presence was terrifying.
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The Weight of Helplessness
Mikasa stepped forward, shielding the others with her energy. "Leave him alone! If you want to take someone, you'll have to get through us first."
Riku and Daichi moved even closer, their intentions clear. "Kids playing heroes… how pathetic."
Yuta tried to throw a quick punch at Riku, but he easily dodged it and shoved Yuta roughly to the ground.
"Those muscles are just for show," Daichi mocked as Aya tried to stand between them.
"We can't let them hurt all of us," Aya shouted defiantly.
"You can't save him," Mori replied, his tone calm but deadly. "You don't have what it takes."
Renji, trying to stay calm, looked around for an escape route. But he knew there was no safe place when three of the biggest bullies surrounded them.
"This will be over soon," Riku said, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
As the group tried their best to defend themselves, the gap between them and the third-years became painfully obvious. Haruto felt helplessness wash over him.
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The Arrival of One Last Hope
Suddenly, a figure appeared at the end of the hallway. Kaede Yoshino walked in with her usual seriousness, her imposing figure illuminated by the faint light.
"That's enough," she said firmly, her voice echoing in the air.
The third-years stopped, startled.
"Ms. Yoshino…" Riku murmured, his mocking tone tinged with a hint of fear.
Kaede approached slowly, her expression unyielding. "Stop tormenting the weaker students. If you don't want harsher punishments, back off now."
Daichi was the first to react, quickly warning his companions. "Let's go. They're not worth it."
Riku and Takuya exchanged glances and reluctantly turned away.
Kaede looked at Haruto's group and nodded calmly. "You're safe now. But don't expose yourselves unnecessarily. Your time will come, but you need to be ready."
Haruto and his friends breathed a sigh of relief as the bullies finally retreated.
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The Weight of What We Lose
After the confrontation, Kaede led them out of the building, making sure everyone was safe.
"Thank you, Ms. Yoshino," Haruto said, relieved.
"I've told you before," Kaede replied, offering a brief but reassuring smile. "Battles aren't always won with strength. Sometimes, it's cunning that matters most."
As they walked home, the group couldn't stop thinking about Ryo. The small glimmers of hope they had found faded with each step. The silence was heavy, and although they were safe now, they felt the shadow of what was yet to come.