For a long moment, no one on the rooftop dared to move.
The wind carried the faint rustle of uniforms and the sharp scent of blood. Sam — or rather, Max, as Tom and Ashi called him — stood still at the center, his eyes half-lidded but calm, the crimson stains on his knuckles already drying under the sun. The captain groaned faintly, clutching his bruised jaw. No one else stepped forward. No one even breathed too loud.
The message was clear.
This wasn't just some transfer student. This was someone who could shake the school's balance without even meaning to.
Tom and Ashi exchanged a quiet glance before guiding Max away from the crowd. "Let's go before the teachers show up," Tom muttered.
As they left, whispers started spreading like wildfire — bouncing off walls, sliding through corridors, making their way down to every classroom and corridor before lunch was even over.
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Tom, Ashi, and Max sat around a table in the bustling cafeteria — Ashi and Max on one side, Tom on the other, with an empty chair between them. The air around them was heavy, almost suffocating.
Tom's hands clenched into fists on the table, jaw tight, trying to stay calm. Ashi could feel it; his heart raced. He knew what Tom's anger was like: a ticking time bomb. Even the slightest provocation could set him off. Beads of sweat formed along his hairline as he watched Tom's every subtle twitch.
Max, oblivious to the tension, was quietly shoveling food into his mouth. Spoon after spoon, completely focused, as if nothing had happened that morning. As if he had done nothing at all.
Ashi leaned toward Max, shooting him a sharp glance: it's your fault, apologize already.
Max blinked innocently, and Ashi's patience snapped.
Finally, Tom spoke, voice low but firm. "I'm not angry."
Both Ashi and Max turned to him, incredulous.
"I'm worried," Tom continued. "You and your brother caused too much chaos on the first day. By now, I bet the whole school has heard about you two."
Ashi smirked. "But not as much as me, obviously."
Tom's glare immediately silenced him.
Max chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "It's good to see some things never change."
Tom and Ashi both stared. "Why the hell are you smiling?" they demanded in unison.
Max shrugged. "No reason."
Tom leaned back. "Alright, let's focus. We need to figure out what to do about your little commotion this morning, and I'll explain the school's internal system. You need to understand the hierarchy and the unwritten rules — especially if you want to survive here."
Max's fork hovered mid-air. "Wait. Where's my brother? I heard from those guys I beat up this morning that you two already met him. So… where is he?"
Ashi frowned. "Last time we saw him was here in the cafeteria this morning. After that… he disappeared."
Tom stood abruptly. "Then let's go find him. It's lunch; he's probably wandering somewhere."
Just as they were about to get up, the entrance of the cafeteria caught their attention — and they froze.
There he was. Sam. And he wasn't alone.
Walking beside him was a girl — Moco — around 5'6", her face a mix of annoyance and subtle curiosity. Despite her irritation, she stayed close to Sam, listening intently to him.
Tom, Ashi, and Max's eyes widened. None of them expected this.
Sam strode confidently toward them, grinning.
"Hello, everyone! Meet my girlfriend, Moco — the girl destiny decided I should get out of nowhere on the very first day of school!"
Moco smacked his hand sharply. "Hey! I only gave you permission to call me your girlfriend in private! How dare you announce it in front of the seniors?"
Her thoughts ran wild: Seriously? On the first day? And in front of them? Why is he like this? She clenched her jaw, trying to hide her amusement behind irritation.
Sam gave her a cold stare for a second, then laughed, shaking his head. "Right, right. Forgot introductions. This is my blood brother, Max, and these two," he gestured to Tom and Ashi, "are friends — more like brothers, really."
Ashi's eyes glimmered with mock tears. He turned to Tom dramatically. "This guy got a girlfriend on his first day! Meanwhile, we 10th graders are still single!"
Tom sighed. "Stop acting like children. Honestly, Ashi, you need a mom more than a girlfriend." 😑
Max muttered under his breath, "At least he's not trying to copy me… for once."
Moco crossed her arms, trying to seem annoyed. But inside, she couldn't help thinking: Wow… these guys are insane. And he calls them his 'brothers'? He actually has the confidence to introduce me like this… Huh. Maybe I like that a little.
"Hello everyone," she said politely, trying to smooth over the tension. "You guys carry on. I'll sit somewhere else."
Before she could move, Sam quickly pulled a chair from a nearby empty table and positioned it beside theirs, silently signaling for her to sit.
She hesitated, her irritation clashing with curiosity. Does he really expect me to sit with these maniacs? Fine… let's see what happens. Finally, she took the seat. The awkward tension hung in the air for a second — broken only by the low hum of the cafeteria around them.
Tom leaned forward, finally breaking the silence. "Alright, enough staring. Let's eat… and talk. We have a lot to discuss."
Max glanced between them, a small grin forming. This is going to be interesting, he thought. These two might be crazy… but they're my kind of crazy.
Ashi, meanwhile, silently prayed that Sam wouldn't cause any more chaos for at least an hour. His chances were slim.
Moco chewed thoughtfully on a fry, eyes flicking between Sam, Max, and the other two. These 'brothers' of his… they're terrifying. But he's still my wild card. Let's see how much chaos we can survive together.
Sam, on the other hand, felt a thrill coursing through him. This — this combination of chaos, humor, and tension — was exactly how he liked his first days. And somehow, in the middle of it all, Moco sitting beside him, he knew the real adventure was just beginning.
Tom, Ashi, Max, and Moco were finally seated, the air still tinged with tension, but now with a hint of curiosity and amusement.
Sam leaned back, smirking. "So, Moco, first day impressions? Are the seniors scary enough for you?"
Moco rolled her eyes, stabbing her fries with precision. "Not nearly as scary as your mouth, apparently. Can you ever stop bragging?"
Sam laughed lightly. "Bragging? I call it… informing the public of my awesomeness. Someone's gotta do it."
Ashi whispered under his breath, loud enough for Max to hear, "Someone should inform him how much trouble he's about to cause."
Max chuckled silently, shaking his head. Yeah, and somehow I'm already in the middle of it.
Tom groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Why do I feel like my lunch just turned into a warzone of words?
Moco leaned closer to Sam, lowering her voice just enough for him to hear. "By the way, announcing me as your girlfriend? Bold move. Very bold."
Sam leaned back, pretending to be offended. "Bold? I call it efficiency. I like to get things done."
Moco raised an eyebrow. Efficiency or chaos? Honestly… maybe both. She gave a tiny smirk before taking a sip of her drink.
Max, observing quietly, finally broke into a grin. Huh… this is hilarious. Sam, somehow, is turning this tense lunch into… fun?
Ashi muttered to Tom, "I think I'm going to have a heart attack before dessert."
Tom's glare softened into a reluctant smile. "At least they're enjoying themselves… I think."
Sam nudged Moco playfully. "Don't glare at me too much, or I might start thinking you like me already."
Moco smacked his shoulder. "Stop joking! Seriously! And I do not like you."
Sam chuckled, leaning closer, ignoring her protests. "We'll see… we'll see. Actions speak louder than words, right?"
Meanwhile, Tom and Ashi exchanged a glance, silently agreeing: This kid is a disaster, but… he's our disaster.
Max leaned back in his chair, grinning at the chaotic energy around them. For the first time, maybe this school will be… interesting.
Moco, although trying to maintain her composure, couldn't hide the small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Okay, maybe he's not completely unbearable… but I'm still keeping him in check.
The lunch bell rang, signaling the end of their break, but none of them moved immediately. A bubble of chaotic camaraderie lingered at the table, unspoken yet palpable — a quiet agreement that this was only the beginning of something… wild.
Sam, seeing everyone still seated, thought to himself: This is perfect. My first day, a wild lunch, and now a girlfriend who punches as well as she debates. Yep… life just got interesting.
Tom leaned back slightly, letting out a small sigh as he surveyed the group. "Alright, everyone… let's meet up again after school. And please, for the love of sanity, try not to get into any more trouble or cause a bigger commotion on your first day. I swear, my heart can only take so much."
He shook his head, half exasperated, half amused, while Sam, Max, Ashi, and even Moco couldn't help but chuckle at his expression.
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