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 while kicking Kiyo.
"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' cruel laughter rang out. Halting in their assault. One of them held Kiyo's wrist, lifting it up high.
"Look at this," he declared, his voice dripping with arrogance. "It's as thin as a fucking twig. I can snap it like nothing."
The mocking laughter intensified as one of the boys grabbed Kiyo's hair and wrenched his head upward, making him look at him. With tearful eyes, Kiyo locked eyes with that boy, with 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, signalling 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 before bandaging the cuts and bruises inflicted by the boys. Once he finished bandaging himself, he stood up and continued his walk to school.
As Kiyo took a few steps ahead, 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 confusion. "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 said, "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, and with careful hands he begins tending the kitten's injured leg.
"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."
With a gentle smile, he released the kitten, watching it running away into the distance. Kiyo's warm smile widened before resuming his walk 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 continued, "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.
"Where could it be?" He muttered to himself. "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, a girl who 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 you?" 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 Kiyo's face.
Shiori's smile grew wider, "How does it taste?" she quickly asked.
"It's really good," Kiyo responded, appreciation clear in his tone.
Shiori's cheeks flushed red as she quickly glanced down, 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 slight disbelief, he slowly looked up to her, who was looking down with 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 in agreement, 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 thought to himself, a smile playing on his face.
Quickly stepping inside the park, Kiyo called out "Hey, kitten, where are you?" His voice echoed loud but just then he froze, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he noticed the same group of boys standing on some distance.
Unaware of Kiyo's presence, The boys were laughing among themselves with one of them holding a hockey stick, and one with Kiyo's lunchbox in his hand.
Suddenly, one of the boys noticed Kiyo and smirked at him. The laughter abruptly stopped and all the boys turned their attention to Kiyo, who stood terrified.
Smirks spread across those boys' faces. The once raucous laughter faded, replaced by the menacing grins aimed directly at Kiyo.
Kiyo's eyes were filled with horror as he cautiously began to step backward, his movements hesitant and slow.
"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, causing Kiyo to freeze in his 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 asked in a low, terrified tone.
"Ahhh, The one we tortured earlier?" The boy taunted with a smirk on his face.
"Where is it?" Kiyo asked again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Alright, I'll tell you only if you beg." The boy said, and in a sinister gesture, he slightly lifted his foot at Kiyo.
"Clean it." He demanded.
Kiyo's gaze hardened, as he stared at the shoe.
"Clean it, you worthless brat," the boy spat out, his tone sharp with anger.
"I won't!" Kiyo yelled out loud.
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 grins from other boys, that boy yelled, "I'll kill you, you moron!"
The boy then swung the hockey stick once again at Kiyo's head, but suddenly a 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, fixing his gaze on Shiori, he yelled, "Now I'll kill both of you!"
With a furious scream, the boy swung the bat toward Shiori's face who shut her eyes tightly in terror, bracing for the attack.