School Courtyard – Lunch Break
Aika walked across the courtyard, books hugged to her chest. Her thoughts were elsewhere—until she noticed the sudden silence.
Students around her had gone quiet, glancing toward the fountain.
Sora Kamaguchi sat on the edge of it, blazer off, sleeves rolled up, sunlight catching the faint scar near his throat. Two upperclassmen stood nearby, silent and watchful.
His eyes lifted—steel gray meeting hers.
"Miss Aika," he said smoothly, with a slight nod. "May I borrow a moment of your time?"
She stopped, guarded. "What do you want?"
Sora stood with deliberate grace, hands behind his back. "Only a conversation. Out of respect. The Kurohane name means more than most in this city."
Aika narrowed her eyes but didn't walk away.
"I've heard," he continued, "that you've taken an interest in a certain new presence. Tatsugami Ryuji."
She stayed silent.
Sora's tone remained polite, but calm."the Kurohane legacy is… revered. I intend to protect the peace you've helped create here."
Aika's eyes narrowed. "By peace, you mean control."
Sora smiled faintly. "Control keeps things from breaking. Especially when there are… outsiders."
Her eyes sharpened. "You're not here to protect peace, Kamaguchi. You're here to study someone."
Sora's gaze flickered.
"I respect your insight, Miss Aika," he said with a slight bow. "Truly."
"Do take care," he added, voice soft. "Some strings, once tangled, never come undone."
---
Classroom 3-B – Afternoon
Kaito leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers.
"That bastard moves like a chess piece," he muttered. "Just enough presence to shake things."
Ryuji sat across the room, silent, watching the clouds drift beyond the window.
"I don't like how he's looking at her," Kaito added.
Ryuji didn't respond. His silence this time wasn't cold. It was calculated.
---
Sakuragi High Gym - 2:10 PM
The gym echoed with the sound of basketballs bouncing and sneakers screeching across the hardwood floor. It was a typical afternoon at Sakuragi High, yet there was an unusual tension in the air, like a storm was quietly building.
Ryuji walked through the doors, his expression unreadable. The gym's noise died for a moment as students caught sight of him. No one dared approach.
At the far side of the gym, Sora Kamaguchi leaned against the wall, eyes cold and calculating. His sharp gaze met Ryuji's as soon as he entered.
Without a word, Sora pushed off the wall, stepping forward with deliberate grace. The others instinctively stepped back, sensing the clash that was about to unfold.
"Ryuji Tatsugami," Sora's voice cut through the silence, cool and respectful. "I've been hearing a lot about you."
Ryuji stopped a few feet away, his eyes narrowing. "Is that so?"
"I've been hearing about a lot of things," Sora continued, his smirk barely visible. "People say you're a storm waiting to happen. But I'm not afraid of storms." He took a step closer. "I control the weather."
The tension in the air thickened as Ryuji studied Sora's calm, controlled demeanor. Sora Kamaguchi, the heir to one of the five families that shaped the underworld, was not just playing the part—he was living it. His confidence was suffocating, but there was something else—something darker lurking beneath his composure.
"You know," Sora continued, tilting his head slightly, "I expected more from someone like you. You've got a reputation, but all I see is a shadow. A shadow that might get crushed if it doesn't learn where it belongs."
Ryuji's eyes flashed.
"That's where you're wrong," he said, his voice low but filled with power. "I don't belong anywhere. And I don't answer to anyone."
The words were heavy with meaning, like a threat wrapped in the promise of chaos. Sora's smile faltered just for a moment—just enough to show a crack in his perfect facade.
"I see," Sora said, regaining his composure. "Then you understand. This isn't a place for people like you."
Ryuji clenched his fists. "So, what now? You're going to kick me out?"
Sora's eyes gleamed with an icy certainty. "I'm not going to kick you out. I'm going to remind you of your place." He stepped forward, his presence imposing.
The gym was dead silent. The onlookers felt the cold tension between the two of them. Ryuji didn't flinch. He stood tall, defiant, unyielding.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Ryuji said, his voice dripping with intent. "You don't control anything here. Not me. Not anyone."
Sora tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "We'll see about that."
---
Rooftop – 3:00 PM
The wind cut through the rooftop as Ryuji stood by the edge, staring out at the city below. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his posture relaxed, but his mind was racing.
Sora's words echoed in his head. He had been underestimated. That much was clear.
Aika approached quietly from behind, her footsteps soft but distinct. She knew what had happened. She had seen it. She had heard it all.
She stood next to him, not saying anything for a long time.
"What do you think?" Ryuji finally asked, his tone almost distant.
Aika hesitated. "I think Sora Kamaguchi has underestimated you. But don't let that cloud your judgment. He's dangerous."
Ryuji exhaled sharply, his gaze not leaving the horizon. "He's not the only one who underestimates."
---
Closing Scene: Aftermath
The tension from the confrontation still lingered, like a storm that hadn't fully passed. Sora's words had cut deep, but Ryuji's defiance had left an even sharper impression.
Kaito stood nearby, watching the aftermath unfold. He didn't need to say anything. The standoff was over, but the war was just beginning.
Sora's warning had been clear.
But Ryuji didn't care.
He wasn't here to follow rules. He was here to rewrite them.
---