About an hour after the club fair circus, I'm making my way back to the dorms through the first-floor lobby when I bump into Ike and Yamauchi—ugh, those guys again. The lobby is nearly empty now, just the receptionist behind the counter and a couple of students waiting for the elevator.
But today, they're not alone: a tall, muscular guy with fiery red hair and an impatient scowl is accompanying them.
This new guy's radiating aggressive energy, his spiky red hair looking like he just rolled out of bed, and his arms are crossed as if he's always ready to throw a punch. His jaw is clenched, and has a look that promises trouble. Definitely not someone I want to run into in a dark alley... I can feel a knot in my stomach.
Ike sees me coming and waves, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hey, if it isn't Shiroi! Fancy meeting you here." he calls out, his voice echoing in the near-empty lobby.
Before I can answer, Yamauchi chimes in with a teasing tone,
"How'd it go with Prince Charming? Did he spill any secrets on how to woo fair maidens? " He makes a smooching sound with his lips.
Idiots... I think, trying to keep a neutral face as I scan the group. Their understanding of romance is about as sophisticated as a chimpanzee throwing feces.
Let's see what kind of game they're up to.
"Hey there, Ike, Yamauchi and..."
I stare at the tall red haired guy before quickly returning my gaze on Ike and Yamauchi.
"Hey, guys, who's that bodyguard?" I ask, nodding toward the red-haired guy.
Ike glances at the red-haired guy and smirks. "Ah, haven't met him yet? This is Sudou."
The tall red-hair guy looks me up and down with a bored expression, saying absolutely nothing.
I tilt my head "Wait... Sudou? Oh right—" I snap my fingers.
"I remember you, you're the genius who sleeps in class all the time like a log, huh?"
Ike and Yamauchi stifle their laughter, but Sudou narrows his eyes and fixes me with an intense stare.
"Hn... That's right. And I don't see any problem with sleeping in class. Maybe it's just that the classes are too dull to stay awake in." Sudou replies coolly.
"Yeah, I see you're really milking your class time there, buddy. Your dedication to slacking off is admirable." I snap sarcastically.
"Don't try to be funny," Sudou hisses, stepping even closer. Close enough that I can feel his breath on my face.
"I could shut you up with one punch." His large, calloused fist clenches threateningly.
For a split second, confusion flares in my mind—ta fuck did I do? I was just trying to befriend you...
The tension in the air thickens, practically crackling. Ike and Yamauchi exchange nervous glances, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. They shuffle their feet, unsure of what to do. I, for one, just smile. This is going to be fun.
Ike quickly steps between us, "H-Hey, Sudou! Just kidding, kidding! Shiroi always spouts off without filtering, you know?"
Yamauchi forces a laugh, "Yeah! It's his crappy 'charm'! Ha... Ha..!"
Ike shoots me a "what the fuck is wrong with you" glare. I respond with my best "who, me?" shrug.
But, the red hair bull doesn't take his gaze off me. "Shut up. This is none of your business."
I raise an eyebrow, my smirk turning predatory. "Oh, but it does," I purr, tilting my head slightly. I point at his clenched fists, my tone laced with mock concern.
"Those big hands look well-loved, must be great for releasing tension. Though, I'd recommend a punching bag. Wouldn't want you to mistake a dumbbell for your reflection again, would we, gorilla?"
"Gorilla huh?" He smacks the wall. "You tryin' to make fun of me, huh?!"
"Got a problem with that, gorilla?"
And... three, two, one—
With a vein throbbing in his forehead, he takes a step forward, slowly raising his fist .
"You fucking piece of shit. You're gonna regret saying that, I tell ya." he snarls.
Ike yelps in panic, clinging to his arm. Holding him back as Sudou is actually trying to grab me.
"Try it," I say, with a defiant smile that doesn't reach my eyes. My heart is pounding against my ribs, my instincts telling me 'this was a bad idea', but on the outside, I remain impassive. Let's see if you're as impulsive as you seem.
Sudou's bicep twitches under Ike's grip. Good. He's hesitating.
"Think you're tough, huh? Then get over here! I'll smack that cocky smile look off your face!"
The lobby falls silent. The receptionist's eyes widen, her hand hovering over the emergency call button. The other students, previously engrossed in their own conversations, now watch with rapt attention, like spectators at a gladiatorial arena.
But then, the thrill of the potential chaos fades as quickly as it arrives.
This is getting tedious. Predictable. Uninspired. He's not even worth the effort.
My smile vanishes, replaced by a look of cool indifference. I meet his gaze, my voice low and steady, cutting through the tense silence.
"Go ahead, Sudou," I say, tilting my head slightly. My heart is racing, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The only sound filling my ears is the roaring of my own blood.
"Hit me. Right here, in the lobby, with all these witnesses. It'll be a good start to your juvie career." My gaze shift to the receptionist, who is watching us with wide eyes, then back to him.
"Unless you'd rather pick fights with anyone who irks you instead of focusing on your basketball dreams."
"How do you..." Sudou begins, his rage momentarily flickering into confusion. He hesitates, the tension draining from his posture, at least partially.
The power of observation skills buddy.
For a split second, the air crackles with unspoken tension. Sudou's face contorts, his fury steadily warring with confusion. He opens his mouth, then closes it, as if unsure what to say. The fire in his eyes flickers, banked by a sudden wave of uncertainty. Slowly, he lowers his fist, clenching his jaw.
"Tsk," he mutters, his gaze darting around the lobby, avoiding mine. He aims a frustrated kick at the plush lobby couch, the dull thud echoing in the sudden quiet.
"It's not worth it," he grumbles, his voice tight with suppressed anger.
Then, he turns to his friends. "Let's go." And just like that, he's off down the hall.
Ike and Yamauchi practically collapse against the nearest wall, exhaling twin sighs of relief that could rival a hurricane. "Dude, are you insane?" Ike says, his voice still a bit shaky.
"Why would you provoke Sudou like that? You've got a fucking death wish or what?" he wheezes, wiping sweat off his brow.
Insane? I echo internally, a slow, predatory smile spreading across my face, staring at the spot where Sudou disappeared.
Maybe, but sanity is overrated.
"What's his deal? That guy's got a seriously short fuse." I say, placing my hands on my hips.
Ike sighs, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "Sudou's complicated. He's got a short fuse, yeah, but deep down, he's a good guy. It's just... he has a lot of problems." His voice lowers as if he doesn't want anyone else to hear. "Especially when it comes to basketball."
"Basketball?" I echo.
"Yeah, the guy lives and breathes basketball. He dreams of going pro and spends every waking moment practicing, at least, that's what he said."
So, the brute does have a soft spot for basketball. Interesting. Even though he always sleeps in class and looks like a bully.
The pieces click together. The calloused hands, that momentary unguarded expression at the basketball stall.
The idea of the three faces returns to me: the public mask, the intimate self with friends, and the hidden self... What is Red hair's true face? The question, unexpectedly, intrigues me.
So it's true, people have multiple sides of their personality. Fascinating.
"Ah, I see..." I murmur, my gaze lingering on the spot where Sudou disappeared.
"Man, you really got him mad. You're lucky he didn't hit you. You'd be picking up your teeth off the floor right now if Ike hadn't stop him." Yamauchi pats my shoulder, mockingly grinning.
I shrug, smiling wryly. "In the infirmary, or in a cell. Depends on whether the receptionist is faster than the security team."
"Oh, and guess what? I set up a group chat for the guys yesterday," Ike suddenly announces, switching the mood as he pulls out his phone and starts tapping away.
"Do you want to join in, too? It's pretty handy. Sotomura is already in."
"A group chat?"
Ike looks up from his phone and grins. "Yeah, I figured it'd be a good way for all of us to stay in touch and hang out, outside of school. We're all in Class D together, after all."
"Not bad. Count me in, I guess."
"Awesome." Ike smiles and types away furiously on his phone.
After a few seconds, my phone buzzes with a new chat notification.
"Alright, you're added. Welcome to the group chat."
Yamauchi crosses his arms. "Now you'll see all the dumb stuff we talk about in there," he teases.
"I wonder what kind of dumb conversations we're gonna have in there." I say, chuckling. While examining the participants of the chat group, some of them are Yamauchi, Ike, Sudou, Sotomura and some other people I don't know.
Ah. The intellectual stimulation I've been missing.
"Oh, you'll see. It's gonna be a riot in there. A bunch of teenage guys talking trash and sharing memes all day long. It's gonna be great."
Satisfied, I tuck my phone into my pocket, and, after saying our farewells, I finally head for the elevator. I step inside, pressing the button for my floor.
The silence of the elevator is a welcome contrast to the chaos of the day. I lean against the cool metal wall, closing my eyes, and letting out a long, slow breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
The doors slide open, revealing an empty interior.
A warm bath... and then sleep. I don't need anything else.