Nawfi was on his way to school when he noticed a group of boys standing by the road.
"Hey, guys! Look at that uniform—Izomu High, huh?" One of them sneered.
Another boy cracked his knuckles.
"Well, well… looks like we've got a fish to fry."
One of them stepped forward, smirking.
"Hey, kid from Izomu High." He spoke in a mockingly friendly tone,"Hang in there. If you wanna live… you know what I mean, right?"
Nawfi stood still, saying nothing.
"Oh? Well, well… this kid is pretty polite." The boy grinned. "I like that attitude."
He patted Nawfi's shoulder.
"Since you're being such a good boy, we'll play a little game. We'll ask you some questions, and if you answer correctly, we might let you go."
The smirk on his face darkened.
"But if you don't…" His voice turned cold,"We'll beat the crap out of you."
The other boys chuckled.
"It's simple. Just answer yes or no." The boy cracked his knuckles.
"Oh, and by the way—you can't say no. Every time you do, you get punched. Am I clear?"
Nawfi clenched his fists,
"…Yes."
"Good. First question—do you know Kenji Hasagaya?"
Nawfi hesitated,
"…N-no."
The boy's eyes twitched,
"Huh? I think I misheard. Say that again."
"…N-no."
SMAK!!
A sharp pain exploded in Nawfi's cheek as he staggered back.
The boy clicked his tongue,
"Damn brat ruined my mood." He turned to the others. "Change the game. Beat him until he says yes."
SMACK!!
BAM!!
POW!!
Punches and kicks rained down on him.
After a while…
"Hey, Kazuki, he's gonna die at this rate." One of the boys hesitated.
Kazuki glared,
"So what? You wanna take his place instead?"
"N-no… I don't."
"Then shut up and keep going."
Just then—
"E-Excuse me…" A timid voice cut through the air.
The boys turned.
A thin boy with glasses stood there, trembling.
"P-please… don't beat him…" Shugo pleaded.
"Who is this guy?" Nawfi thought as he looked at the boy who had just spoken up.
He was smaller, thinner—he looked even weaker than Nawfi himself,
" why is he stepping in?"
The gang turned their attention to the new arrival.
"What? Hey, kid. If you don't wanna get beat up too, then scram."
Nawfi thought in mind,
"That's right. Just leave. Don't get yourself involved."
But to his shock—
"Okay… but," the boy gulped, his voice trembling, "can you please let him go too?"
The gang members exchanged glances, murmuring.
"Is he out of his mind?"
"Kazuki was about to let him go, but he refused… he's dead now."
Nawfi looked at the boy in disbelief,
"What the hell is he thinking!?"
Kazuki's smirk twisted into a scowl,
"Hey, brat. If you really wanna die, just say it."
The boy flinched but didn't back down,
"Sorry, I just… I don't want anyone to suffer."
"Damn you!!" Nawfi snapped and shouted aloud, his frustration boiling over. "This has nothing to do with you! Just leave already!"
POW!!
A brutal kick landed on Nawfi's face, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Bitch! That was too loud." Kazuki cracked his knuckles. "I've had enough of this crap. Beat them both up."
BAAAMM!!
SMAK!!… SMAK!!
BANG!!
Punches and kicks rained down on them. The pain blurred together, turning into a numb haze.
After a while, Kazuki dusted off his hands,
"This is getting boring."
"What about them?" One of the gang members asked.
"Leave 'em. They're not worth it anymore."
The gang walked away, their laughter fading into the distance.
Shugo wiped the blood from his nose, adjusting his broken glasses.
"They're finally gone." He looked at Nawfi, concerned. "Are you okay?"
Nawfi coughed, spitting blood onto the ground,
"Do I look okay to you?"
"Blarg!!" He gagged, nearly throwing up.
Shugo panicked,
"No… Sorry! I-I'll do something for you—"
Nawfi shook his head weakly,
"No need… It's fine." He paused, then glanced at Shugo. "Why did you try to save me?"
Shugo smiled, wiping blood from his own lip,
"I just… don't want anyone to get hurt."
Nawfi chuckled, despite the pain,
"Haha… You're a weirdo, you know that, right?"
Shugo sighed,
"I literally saved your ass, and this is how you thank me?"
Nawfi grinned,
"Sorry… and thanks… for saving my ass."