Chapter 8: The Return of the Roach
The classroom door slid open with an annoying screech.
A loud voice followed.
"Yoo, what's up losers!"
Kenji.
The self-declared king of bullying.
Back from suspension.
New haircut. Same rotten attitude.
He strutted in like nothing had changed, smirking as if the room still bent to his will.
Some classmates froze. Others whispered.
"Ugh, he's back…"
"Hope he doesn't start again…"
But Kenji's eyes were locked on one person.
Haruki Arai.
The same kid he used to mock daily.
Push around.
Call names.
Kenji cracked his knuckles. "Yo, Arai… remember me?"
---
Haruki looked up from his textbook.
Expression? Flat.
Eyebrows slightly narrowed.
Voice,Calm and low.
"I remember trash day is Tuesday."
The class went dead silent.
Even the teacher, who had just stepped in, paused mid-sip of coffee.
Kenji blinked. "Huh?!"
"I said," Haruki repeated, flipping a page, "trash usually shows up on Tuesdays. Guess you're early."
Snickers. A few laughs. One guy coughed dramatically.
Kenji's smirk twitched. "You've got a big mouth now, huh?"
Haruki didn't flinch.
Didn't smirk.
Just looked bored.
Rinako was already on alert.
She slowly unwrapped her second custard bun, keeping an eye on the situation like a sleepy bodyguard.
---
Kenji took a step forward.
But before he could say anything, the teacher slammed the register on the desk.
"Kenji. Seat. Now."
"Tch…"
He dragged his feet to the back.
But the classroom energy had changed.
Nobody laughed with Kenji anymore.
They were watching Haruki now.
He hadn't yelled. He hadn't flexed.
He had just handled it — with words sharper than fists.
---
Later, at lunch…
Rinako shoved a spoonful of curry into her mouth, eyes twinkling.
"That comeback? Legendary."
Haruki sighed. "I wasn't trying to be cool. He just irritates me now why I fear him so much "
"Still! Boom. Direct hit. Kaboom. Mic drop."
"I'm not trying to start anything."
"You already ended it."
Haruki smirked, poking her cheek. "You worried about me?"
"I'm your life coach. If you get punched, I lose my top student."
"Wow, that's meke me feel better"
"Exactly. You're my walking GPA booster."
He leaned closer. "And you're my emotional support refrigerator."
Rinako gasped. "I… am honored."
They burst out laughing.
---
Meanwhile, at another table, Yua was stunned.
The Haruki she once ignored — now stood taller than anyone else.
Not because he shouted…
But because he didn't need to.
And Rinako?
She wasn't just part of the picture — she was the center.
Their chemistry, their inside jokes, the way they moved in sync…
It hurt to watch.
---
Kenji stayed quiet the rest of the day.
Every now and then, he'd glance at Haruki.
Not with hate.
With confusion.
Like he was looking at a stranger wearing the same name.
---
That night, Rinako wrote in her journal.
> "Haruki stood up today. Not with fists.
But with words sharper than any punch.
And I'm proud.
Not because he's changing.
But because now…
He believes he can."
Rinako
---