The cafeteria was alive with the usual chaos of Nowhere High—clattering trays, students shouting across tables, and the ever-present smell of fried food lingering like a blanket over everything.
Gray Aster, however, was too busy staring at his lunch to care. His tray contained a slightly burnt chicken cutlet, a scoop of watery curry, and a mound of rice that looked like it had been scooped by someone half-asleep.
Gray poked at the cutlet with his chopsticks, his eyes half-shut. "Why does food here always look like it's survived a war?"
Across from him sat Riku, nervously adjusting his glasses. His round face flushed with embarrassment as he carefully organized his food by type: rice, curry, and salad.
"Gray, stop complaining. At least it's edible," Riku said softly.
Gray yawned. "Barely. If I survive this meal, it'll be the greatest victory of my high school career."
Riku gave a weak laugh, but before either of them could take another bite, the cafeteria went quiet. A hush rippled across the room like someone had pressed a mute button on the world.
Gray froze, mid-chew, confused. "Uh… why is everyone staring?"
Riku's eyes widened in panic. "Gray… don't turn around. Please don't turn around."
Gray, of course, turned around.
Enter Razor
Standing in the doorway of the cafeteria was Razor—the school's most notorious bully. Tall, broad-shouldered, and with a cruel smirk etched onto his face, Razor looked like he'd been carved out of trouble itself. His spiked hair, dyed a streaked crimson, caught the light like a warning signal.
Behind him were his lackeys, four other boys with sharp eyes and sharper grins. The kind of followers who laughed too loudly at every word their leader said.
"Oi," Razor's voice carried through the cafeteria like a blade scraping against metal. "Where is he?"
Gray blinked. "Where's who?"
The cafeteria's silence grew heavier, and then Razor's eyes locked directly onto Gray.
"You," Razor said, pointing. "The new idiot who thinks he's funny."
Gray blinked again, utterly lost. "Funny? Me? No, no, you've got the wrong guy. I'm not funny. I'm tragic."
A ripple of laughter ran through the cafeteria, though most students quickly stifled it when Razor glared their way.
Riku leaned toward Gray, whispering urgently, "Don't talk back! That's Razor. He's the guy who put three seniors in the infirmary last year just because they stepped on his shoes."
Gray scratched his head. "Wait, wait. Why does he want me? I don't even wear shoes worth stepping on."
Razor's grin widened, showing teeth. He cracked his knuckles as he stepped closer, each heavy footstep echoing in the suddenly still room.
The Confrontation
Gray sat frozen as Razor loomed over their table, shadow swallowing him whole.
"You're Gray Aster, right?" Razor growled. "The one who tripped into a fight yesterday and somehow won?"
The memory flickered in Gray's mind—how he had accidentally toppled into a group of troublemakers and, by sheer dumb luck, knocked them all over like dominoes. He hadn't "won." He had survived. But apparently, the rumor mill had turned him into something else entirely.
Gray raised his hands in surrender. "Look, it was an accident! I swear, I didn't mean to knock anyone out. My legs just… betrayed me."
The cafeteria erupted with murmurs.
"He admitted it!""No way… he's saying he didn't even mean to win?""Is that confidence… or stupidity?"
Razor's grin faltered for just a second, then hardened into a glare. "Don't try to play dumb with me. You think you can just walk into my school and get famous off an accident? No one disrespects Razor."
Gray blinked. "Wait, your school? I thought this was our school. Did you buy shares or something?"
The cafeteria stifled another wave of laughter. Even Riku slapped a hand over his mouth to keep from chuckling.
Razor's vein twitched. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts don't matter when I break every bone in your body."
The Unexpected Fight
Before Gray could argue, Razor grabbed him by the collar and yanked him to his feet. Gray dangled awkwardly, his rice ball falling to the ground with a sad plop.
"Hey!" Gray protested. "That was my lunch!"
Razor sneered. "It'll be your last meal if you don't fight back."
Gray's mind raced. Fight? Me? I can barely run a lap without coughing up a lung!
The cafeteria formed a circle around them, everyone chanting in hushed tones. Some whispered bets, others whispered prayers—for Gray or for Razor, it wasn't clear.
Riku looked ready to faint. "Gray! What are you going to do?"
Gray muttered, "Die, probably."
But just as Razor swung his fist, Gray tripped backward—again. His foot caught on a chair, sending him tumbling. Razor's punch missed and slammed into the metal table instead, leaving a deep dent.
The cafeteria gasped. Razor's face twisted in pain, but Gray had landed sprawled out on the floor, blinking in confusion.
"Did… did I just dodge that?" Gray muttered.
The crowd erupted.
"No way! He avoided Razor's punch!""He's insane!""This guy's a monster!"
Razor's pride flared red hot. "You think you're clever, huh?!"
But before Razor could strike again, the cafeteria doors slammed open. A teacher's voice thundered, "What's going on here?!"
The crowd scattered instantly. Razor clicked his tongue, glaring at Gray.
"This isn't over," he hissed, before storming out with his gang.
Aftermath
Gray slumped back onto the bench, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might escape his chest. His hands shook as he grabbed his tray and shoveled cold curry into his mouth.
Riku stared at him in awe. "Gray… you actually survived Razor."
Gray groaned. "Survived? I nearly died choking on my own feet."
But around them, whispers spread like wildfire. Students were pointing, whispering, eyes wide with newfound respect.
"Did you see that? He dodged Razor like it was nothing!""He didn't even flinch!""Gray Aster… he might be the next big name."
Gray slammed his head into the table. "Why does everyone think I'm strong?! I'm just lucky!"
Riku placed a hand on his shoulder. "Gray… luck or not, people are watching you now. Razor won't let this go. You've stepped into something big."
Gray groaned again, staring miserably at his dented cutlet. "Why me…?"
But deep down, buried under his fear and exhaustion, a strange feeling stirred in Gray's chest. Something he couldn't quite name.