The moment Izumi saw the upperclassmen blocking their path, he felt a headache coming.
There were four of them, all third-years, standing casually in the middle of the sidewalk like they owned the place. At the center was Ryo, the tallest and most obnoxious of the group. He had a sharp face, slicked-back hair, and the kind of smirk that made people want to punch him on sight.
"Yo, Izumi," Ryo said, cracking his knuckles. "Long time no see."
Izumi let out a nervous laugh. "Uh, yeah. Been busy with school, you know?"
Ryo chuckled, shaking his head. "Heh. You sure got guts, man. Getting all cozy with the girl like that."
Izumi stiffened. So this was about Marina.
He glanced at her, expecting her to react, but she looked completely unfazed, arms crossed, expression bored. If anything, she seemed annoyed that this was even happening.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Izumi said cautiously.
Ryo's smirk widened. "Come on, man. You think we don't see it? You're walking home together, sitting next to her in class… Hell, she even talked to you today. That's a big deal."
One of the other upperclassmen, a guy with dyed blond hair, laughed. "Right? It's like watching a stray cat get adopted by a lion."
The others snickered. Izumi sighed. Great. So now I'm a stray cat.
"Look, I didn't ask for any of this," he said. "I just happened to sit next to her. It's not like we're best friends or anything."
Ryo took a step forward, his tone dropping into something colder. "Yeah? Then maybe you should stop acting like you belong next to her."
Izumi felt a chill go down his spine. Oh, so that's how it is.
This wasn't just some casual teasing. It was a warning.
A warning that he didn't belong near Marina.
A warning that people like him—average, boring nobodies—weren't supposed to get close to someone like her.
He had half a mind to just walk away, but the way they were standing told him that wouldn't be easy.
Before he could think of what to do next, Marina let out a sigh loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Wow, how pathetic!" she said, her voice dripping with boredom. "This is so lame."
The entire group froze.
Marina took a step forward, tilting her head slightly as she looked at Ryo. "You guys have nothing better to do than harass some random classmate of mine, huh?"
Ryo's smirk faltered. "It's not like that, Marina. We were just—"
"Just what?" Marina cut him off. "Trying to intimidate him? Over me?"
Her expression turned sharp. "Do you think I'm some kind of prize?"
Ryo gulped. "No, I didn't mean—"
"You did, though," Marina said flatly. "And honestly, it's pathetic."
Izumi swore he could hear Ryo's pride shattering into pieces.
The blond-haired guy stepped in. "Hey, hey, no need to get mad. We were just looking out for you, you know?"
Marina arched an eyebrow. "Looking out for me? I don't remember asking you to do that."
Silence.
Marina's gaze swept over the group, her expression as cold as ice. "Listen carefully," she said. "Izumi is my business. Not yours. If I see any of you bothering him again…"
She cracked her knuckles.
"Well. You can figure out the rest."
The air around them changed instantly.
Izumi had never seen anyone shut down a group of guys so fast.
For a few seconds, nobody moved. Then, without another word, Ryo and his group turned and walked away, stiff and awkward. Because they show the bodyguards behind them.
Izumi let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Holy crap," he muttered. "That was terrifying."
Marina turned to him, her face neutral again. "You should stop getting yourself into trouble."
"Me?! I wasn't the one who started that!" Izumi protested.
"Maybe. But you looked like you were about to say something stupid and get yourself punched."
Izumi wanted to argue, but… she wasn't exactly wrong.
Marina sighed. "Come on. Let's go before more idiots show up."
They resumed walking, but now, Izumi's brain was working overtime.
Did she just… defend me?
Not just defend—she completely humiliated those guys for him.
It wasn't just because of her status or her wealth. Marina carried herself with a level of confidence that made people step back instinctively. It was like she knew she was untouchable, and she used that to her advantage.
"You do that a lot?" Izumi asked.
Marina glanced at him. "Do what?"
"Make people back off like that."
She shrugged. "Only when they're annoying."
"So… do you get annoyed often?"
"Extremely."
Izumi laughed, and for the first time, he thought he saw the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.
They walked in silence for a bit, but now, the atmosphere was different. It wasn't as awkward anymore.
"So," Marina said suddenly. "That anime. The one on your keychain."
Izumi blinked. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. Star Fencer Chronos."
Marina nodded. "It's good."
Izumi stared at her. "Wait. You watch anime?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?"
"I mean, I just didn't think—"
Marina gave him a sharp look.
"—that you'd have such good taste!" Izumi quickly corrected himself.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
He decided to push his luck a little. "Who's your favorite character?"
Marina hesitated. "...Lena."
Izumi gasped. "No way. Lena? Seriously?!"
"What's wrong with Lena?"
"Nothing! I just thought you'd like someone cooler, like Cain or Seraphis!"
Marina frowned. "Cain is a tryhard, and Seraphis talks too much. Lena is strong but doesn't show off. I like that."
Izumi chuckled. "Wow. You really put some thought into this."
She crossed her arms. "Obviously. I don't just watch things for fun. If I'm going to spend my time on something, it better be worth it."
Izumi shook his head, grinning. "You're really something else."
Marina tilted her head slightly. "Is that a compliment?"
"I… think so?"
She hummed, considering his words. "Then I'll accept it."
The conversation continued like that, surprisingly natural, until they reached a quiet street near Izumi's house.
"This is my stop," Izumi said. "Uh… thanks for walking with me, I guess?"
Marina simply nodded. "You should be more careful from now on."
"I was being careful."
Marina gave him a look.
"...Okay, maybe not that careful," he admitted.
She sighed. "See you tomorrow, then."
"Yeah. See you."
Marina turned and walked off, her bodyguards silently following her from a distance.
Izumi stood there for a moment, watching her go.
Then, with a sigh, he rubbed his face.
"What the hell is happening to my life…?"
Little did he know, things were only going to get way more complicated from here.