Jay's POV
The old basketball court was quiet again.
A few seconds ago it had been chaos.
Now all that remained were groans, heavy breathing, and the echo of footsteps from the rival boys running away.
One of them stumbled while escaping, holding his jaw.
Good.
Served him right.
I slowly wiped the corner of my lip with the back of my hand. It stung a little, but nothing serious.
My knuckles were red.
My hair was a mess.
And dust covered my uniform.
I exhaled.
"…Finally."
For a moment nobody spoke.
The boys were just staring at me.
Felix blinked like his brain had stopped working.
Ci-N rubbed the back of his neck slowly.
David looked between me and the guy I had punched into the wall earlier.
Yuri suddenly burst out laughing.
"Keif," he said between laughs, pushing his red hair back, "your classmate just knocked a guy into concrete."
Felix nodded slowly.
"I… I actually heard the wall complain."
Ci-N added dramatically,
"Pretty sure the wall wants to file a police report."
David crossed his arms, still staring at me.
"…Did the scholarship girl just save us?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Did you want me to say you're welcome or something?"
Felix pointed at me.
"See? She even talks like a villain after the fight."
Yuri chuckled.
"Not villain. More like… chaotic hero."
I sighed.
"Relax. It was just a punch."
The boys exchanged looks.
Then they looked at the guy I had slammed into the wall earlier.
He was still groaning.
Felix slowly looked back at me.
"…Just a punch."
David nodded.
"Right."
Ci-N whispered to Yuri,
"Remind me to never prank her again."
Yuri smirked.
"Oh no. Now I want to see what happens if we do."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Try it."
He immediately raised his hands.
"Okay never mind."
Then suddenly I felt someone's gaze.
A heavy one.
I turned.
Keifer was standing a few steps away.
Silent.
Watching me.
His black uniform jacket was slightly torn from the fight, and there was a small cut on his cheek.
But his expression…
Unreadable.
He looked at me like I was some puzzle he didn't expect to exist.
Finally he spoke.
"…Why did you follow us?"
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Like usual.
I crossed my arms.
"Curiosity."
Felix scoffed.
"Curiosity?"
I shrugged.
"You guys disappeared into a shady street like characters from a crime movie."
Ci-N added,
"To fight another school."
"Exactly," I said.
Yuri tilted his head.
"So you followed us… alone?"
"Yeah."
David blinked.
"You're insane."
I smiled slightly.
"Thank you."
Felix shook his head.
"No seriously, that was stupid."
I pointed at the guy on the ground.
"Yet helpful."
The boys looked at him again.
Then back at me.
None of them argued.
Keifer stepped closer.
His eyes studied my face.
Then they dropped slightly.
To my forehead.
The bandage.
His eyes narrowed a little.
"Your head."
I touched it instinctively.
"Oh."
Right.
The racing incident.
"It's nothing," I said.
Yuri smirked.
"Everything about you screams 'nothing' while something insane just happened."
Felix nodded.
"First day she gets pranked."
Ci-N added,
"Second day she punches a guy into a wall."
David finished,
"Third day she'll probably start a war."
I rolled my eyes.
"You guys are dramatic."
Then suddenly Keifer spoke again.
Quietly.
"…You didn't have to help."
I looked at him.
"For the record, I didn't do it for you."
Felix whispered loudly to Yuri,
"Cold."
Yuri grinned.
"Very cold."
I continued.
"I just don't like unfair fights."
Ci-N scratched his head.
"There were like twelve of them…"
"Exactly."
I turned toward the exit of the court.
"Well," I said casually, "since everyone is alive and no one died—"
Felix interrupted,
"Barely."
"—I'm leaving."
David looked surprised.
"You're just… going?"
I started walking.
"Yeah."
Yuri called out,
"You know this means you're part of the fight now, right?"
I waved my hand lazily without turning around.
"Don't care."
But then—
Keifer's voice stopped me.
"Jasper Jean ."
I paused.
The boys looked shocked.
Felix whispered,
"Wait… he knows her name?"
Ci-N muttered,
"Oh this is getting interesting."
Slowly, I turned back.
Keifer was looking straight at me.
"…Thanks," he said.
The boys froze.
Felix gasped dramatically.
"KEIFER SAID THANK YOU."
Ci-N clutched his chest.
"I feel like I just witnessed a historical event."
Yuri laughed loudly.
"Someone record this moment!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Relax. It's not that serious."
Then I looked at Keifer one last time.
"…Try not to lose the next fight."
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Try not to follow dangerous people."
I smirked.
"No promises."
I walked out of the old basketball court.
The night air felt cool.
My car was still parked where I left it.
But before getting in, I glanced back once.
The boys were still talking loudly.
Felix was still teasing.
Yuri was laughing.
Ci-N looked impressed.
David looked confused.
And Keifer…
He was still watching me.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
I opened the car door.
Sat down.
Started the engine.
"…Weird school."
Then I drove away.
End of Chapter 16