When the dust finally cleared, we saw Souta lying unconscious, his body sprawled, burned, and half-buried in rubble. His arm twitched slightly, but he was out cold. Smoke curled upward from his uniform, and cracks spiderwebbed across the stone floor beneath him.
Kaito stood in the centre, unmoving, chest rising and falling as he breathed hard. His left arm hung at his side, skin blackened, cloth burned away. The heat still shimmered faintly around him.
But what shocked us most... was the direction of the attack at the last second, he redirected it saving Souta from being completely obliterated, that attack wasn't raw power, it was something we didn't expectfrom a 6th gen.
It was an automatic, destructive, defensive mechanism and he could have killed someone if he hadn't redirected that pulse...
The room stayed frozen. We couldn't move. Even Ms. Yuna looked shaken.
Souta was carried to the hospital immediately. Kaito was escorted to the infirmary, his arm wrapped hastily in cooling wraps and the rest of us? We just sat there. Speechless, not a whisper nor a sound
So, when it came to strength, physical or supernatural, Souta was no match for him. And Kaito? He wasn't just strong, he was... something else.
Everyone whispered.
"Why is he even in Class B?"
"With that power, shouldn't he be in A?"
But Kaito didn't care. He looked completely calm. Unshaken. As if he hadn't just sent someone flying into a wall.
And for some reason... He kept glancing at me, like I was the only one he noticed. Even when I wasn't looking, he was.
The rest of the class didn't finish the sparring test. The floor was too damaged, the heat still rising off the tiles. The risk was too high. Another attack like that, and students might get seriously hurt.
So that was the end of it.
We left the arena.
But peace? That's never my luxury.
As soon as I walked out, I was met by a crowd of girls, clinging, surrounding, giggling. It was suffocating.
Each one came at me with a different smile, a different voice, a different request.
"Go out with me, Nageya!"
"Can I walk with you?"
"Let's take a picture later!"
Like I was some prize they won in a game they didn't even play.
"Buzz off already. I'm not your prize." I said it coldly. Because i didn't care.
But somehow, it came off... cute, too cute.
"Eeee~ how cute!"
"He's blushing!"
"Adorably arrogant!"
They surrounded me even tighter. Some pressed close enough that I could feel the heat from their skin. And suddenly Ike approached from in front of me in a rush as if going to save someone's life and caught their attention.
"Excuse me," asking to pass in-between us as if it was the only path he saw. As they turned to look his side, I took my chance and vanished. And when he reached close they threw tantrums at him, all he could do was brush his hair through his fingers and apologize with a smile.
At a distance i walked steadily, calmly, my jands hugging my pockets, without a word i passed a crowdof boys. Their stares were like blades. Jealous. Cold. Burning.
Some looked at me like I was their mortal enemy. Others avoided eye contact.
I didn't care. Gotten used to it.
But from the corner of my eye, I noticed a few students still watching us from the upper stands. Class A students and among them... Renji Kurogane, Natsuki's boyfriend.
His eyes followed me like a hawk but I didn't turn around. Didn't give him the satisfaction.
The day moved forward, half over already and it was lunchtime.
From the arena, we walked straight to the dining hall. Ayumi, as always, walked a few quiet steps behind me like a shadow. She never says much, just follows. She is more of a personality assistant I never hired. But she still became one.
She never gave up on helping me, doing things for me, eventually, I stopped fighting it. Because she never made me feel awkward. Never pushed too hard. Never made it weird.
She was... calm.
At the door, someone stepped in our way.
Renji.
Of course.
"So, as always," he smirked, "walking with your loyal dog behind you, huh?"
He looked at Ayumi with a smirk that made my skin crawl, as she hide behind me.
"Or maybe she's your chick now?"
"I see she's still that shy little puppy she's always been."
"Aren't you tired of being ignored by him?"
He leaned closer.
Ayumi's eyes widened.
"What, aren't you gonna say something?"
"And why should I talk to a guy who disrespects ladies?" I said, voice steady.
"Oh my, aren't you a gentleman, Nageya?" he mocked.
"Why not let me have her? I'll make good use of her," he added, reaching his hand out. Toward Ayumi, behind me.
I didn't hesitate —SMACK! — and slapped his hand away. "Try touching her again, and you'll regret it."
He laughed. "Super protective now? You don't wanna share your loyal dog?"
"Or is she the only girl in your life?"
"The others just want you for your looks."
Behind me, Ayumi was shaking. Trembling like a flame in the wind but she hadn't gone out.
Renji thought he was getting under my skin but he was wrong. "Are you talking about yourself?" I said calmly.
That one landed, his face twitched, a second later—BAM!—his fist slammed into my face. The pressure pushed me backward, hitting Ayumi. She fell and blood trailed from her nose.
"Dude! How fragile is your chick?"
"I guess you really do handle her like an egg." They laughed.
But my attention was already at Ayumi
"Yes, I do." I replied. "Because that's how a lady should be handled."
I looked up. "Maybe you should learn that someday."
Renji backed away.
He knew sticking around would crack his cool harder.
"Dude, you should really get another chick," one of his friends mumbled as they followed him.
"I'm sorry, Nageya..." Ayumi said quietly, sitting up and pressing her hand to her nose.
"You didn't do anything wrong." I said.
"But... because of me, you got hit and i couldn't even help myself. I'm just... weak and pathetic, i always need you to protect me."
"And who says i mind doing that, you're helpful to me, and that's all that matters. And in return I get to protect you."
"And you are not weak, because I know your strength. It's just their stares that scare you right? "
She nodded.
"I know what happened to you in your childhood, so I understand why your scared of most boys."
"But... I didn't lose to him."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Didn't you see? He flinched after the punch."
"He gave it everything he had. And he thought I'd go down, but I didn't."
He wanted to break my calm.
But it didn't work.
I don't know what he wants from Ayumi. Or if she's just another excuse to come at me.
But one thing is clear.
If he's after her— He's after me.
Once Ayumi finished cleaning up, we grabbed our trays and sat in a quiet corner.
Most students were already gone.
Ayumi sat across from me, gently wiping her nose with a tissue.
She was trying to look okay. Trying not to shrink into her seat but I could tell she was still shaken.
"Hey," I said, not lifting my head. You're not broken, Ayumi!"
Her head lifted. "Huh?"
"You didn't break, if you did... I'd have been the first to notice."
She looked stunned, like she wanted to speak but didn't know what to say. Her spoon trembled slightly in her hand.
"...Nageya?" she whispered.
"Mm?"
"Do you ever... get tired of protecting people?"
I paused and thought for a moment.
"No," I said. "Only when they don't value it."
A small smile curled at her lips. Soft. Grateful.
Trust me, I don't wast my time on people who don't need it.
Across the room, Kaito had already arrived. He had walked in beside a girl—Hiyori—who he probably met on his way from the infirmary. He had sat down with her, composed and quiet but curious.
"Hey, Hiyori?" he called out.
"Mm?"
"Some students were saying that the Class A guy had a grudge against Nageya. Why?"
"Oh, that?" she smiled faintly.
"Well, it might had started last year, when the academy held a sparring tests to assign the first-years into classes… something unexpected happened.
Nageya stood up and said he wasn't gonna fight the girls. He didn't say it arrogantly, just... quietly. He said it was out of respect. Nothing more.
So the teachers let him fight boys instead.
He fought a few who were chosen for him but they all somehow lost to him one by one.
But it was obvious that Nageya held back on them. Most of those students are now in Class A.
Some got angry, some couldn't believe it.
Others? They started to see him as a threat in their dailylife.
Some even tried to get revenge afterwards but it was pointless.
Although, Renji wasn't among his opponents that day. But he saw everything.
And ever since then... he's hated him or may be not.
To be honest, I've always felt like Nageya should be in Class A. His strength... is insane, but he chose to stay here with us or maybe because of Ayumi.
And even worse! He didn't use his ability.
He fought with nothing but raw strength.
He said his ability was useless in combat. So he trained.
He studied, honed his body, sharpened his fists and tried to learn different techniques
He said If he were to use his ability, it would be for something more important than a fight or a worthy opponent.
That... really hit hard.
And the others?
They weren't just beaten.
They were beaten by someone who held back.
He moved faster than most could react.
Precise, sharp, relentless. I could've watched him fight a hundred times.
That's when others started to respect him and also admire him. Not just for his strength but how he carried it.
Combine that with his looks... and he became unforgettable.
But Renji? He couldn't handle it. He sees Nageya as a rival. He thinks he'll take everything from him.
But Nageya isn't like that.
Still... there's a fight coming, a score to settle. And deep down, even Renji knows...
If it came to real combat— He'd lose.
Because Nageya doesn't fight for pride.
He doesn't fight to win. He just fights when he has to. And, when he does? It's terrifying.
Some say he's dangerous. A threat. But that's not what he tries to become. That's just what happens when someone strong chooses silence over showmanship.
So yeah... that's why Renji holds a grudge. He wants to defeat Nageya and prove he's stronger.
And when you think about it...
How does someone beat boys now in Class A... without using any ability?
It's strange, isn't it?
They might hate him for being strong but the girls?
They love him.
"Given the way she is talking, I thought she knew him better. Now, why is she asking me for my thoughts?" Kaito thought