Time passed slowly in Ren's classroom.
The teacher's voice became distant… like it was coming from underwater.
Ren's eyes grew heavier.
He tried to stay focused, tried to keep listening
but his head slowly lowered onto his arm.
And then…
he fell asleep.
"Ren Aoyama."
A sharp voice cut through the silence.
Ren's eyes snapped open.
The teacher stood beside his desk, arms crossed, clearly annoyed but not surprised.
"You're sleeping in my class again."
The room went quiet for a second.
Ren blinked, still waking up.
"…Sorry."
The teacher sighed. "Go wash your face. Now."
Ren stood up slowly, still half-awake, and walked toward the door.
A few students snickered quietly.
He didn't react.
He just adjusted his glasses and left the room.
The hallway was cooler.
Quieter.
Ren rubbed his face slightly as he walked toward the bathroom, trying to shake off the sleep.
But then—
Footsteps.
Multiple.
He stopped.
Three students walked in from the side hallway.
Then four more.
They blocked part of the corridor.
Ren recognized them immediately.
Bullies.
And not just any bullies.
They were looking at him like they had been waiting for this moment.
"Look who it is," one of them said with a grin.
"The sleepy genius."
Another laughed. "Where's your loud brother today?"
Ren's expression didn't change.
But the air around him felt slightly colder.
One of them stepped closer.
"You think you're special just because you're Kai's brother?"
That name made the group's mood shift.
Kai Aoyama.
The strongest student in the school.
The one no one could beat in fights.
And the one they hated for it.
Another bully clicked his tongue.
"Kai acts like he owns this place."
"Yeah," another added, "and you just sit there like a quiet little shadow."
Ren finally looked up at them properly.
Calm eyes. No emotion.
"…I'm just going to the bathroom," he said.
But the group didn't move.
The first bully smirked.
"Yeah? Then walk through us."
The bullies stood in front of Ren in the hallway near the bathroom entrance.
The air was heavy.
Ren didn't move. He just watched them quietly, waiting for them to either step aside or leave.
But they didn't.
One of them smirked.
"Still acting calm, huh?"
Another leaned closer.
"Your brother isn't here to protect you this time."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly—but he still said nothing.
Then—
A voice cut through the hallway.
"Do we have a problem?"
The group froze.
All of them turned at once.
Kai Aoyama stood at the end of the hallway.
Red bandana. Calm walk. Sharp eyes.
But his presence alone changed the atmosphere completely.
The four bullies straightened slightly, their confidence dropping instantly.
Kai walked forward slowly.
Not rushing.
Not angry.
Just… steady.
He stopped beside Ren.
"Answer me," Kai said again, looking directly at them.
Silence.
One of the bullies clicked his tongue. "We were just talking."
Kai tilted his head slightly. "Talking where?"
No answer.
The hallway felt tighter now.
Then Kai exhaled lightly.
"…Tch."
He turned slightly toward Ren.
"You good?"
Ren nodded once. "Yeah."
Kai looked back at the group.
For a moment, his eyes sharpened.
Just a little.
Enough to make them uncomfortable.
Then—
He turned away.
"Let's go."
Ren followed him without hesitation.
The bullies didn't stop them.
Not because they didn't want to…
but because they couldn't.
They just watched as the two brothers walked past.
One of them muttered under his breath,
"…Tch. He's still like that."
Another added quietly,
"Yeah… that's why nobody touches them."
As Kai and Ren disappeared down the hallway, the tension slowly faded.
But something remained.
The feeling that this wasn't over.
Not even close.
To be continued...