The morning sun spilled lazily into Classroom 1-B, painting the wooden desks with warm gold. Gray sat slouched in his chair, chin resting on his folded arms, eyes glazed with sleep. His messy black hair stuck out in every direction, and a faint line of drool trailed down his cheek.
He looked more like a corpse than a student.
"Gray," whispered Riku from the desk beside him, "wake up! This isn't the time to sleep."
Gray mumbled something incoherent.
Riku glanced nervously at the doorway. The classroom was unusually noisy today. Groups of students huddled together, whispering, sneaking glances at Gray. Some giggled, some pointed, and a few even looked at him like he was some kind of rare animal at the zoo.
"Why is everyone staring?" Gray muttered finally, lifting his head blearily. "Did I forget to wear pants again?"
Riku nearly choked. "N-no! It's not that. It's… it's you."
"Me?" Gray blinked, rubbing his eyes. "That's impossible. No one notices me. I'm like… human wallpaper."
But he was wrong.
The Birth of a Legend
The whispers were everywhere:
"Did you hear? He took on Razor yesterday.""Not just took on—he dodged Razor's punch like it was nothing!""I heard he shattered the table with a single move!""No, no, he broke Razor's fist just by glaring at him!"
Gray froze. "Wait. WHAT?"
He shot up from his chair, eyes darting around. "That's not what happened! I tripped! He hit the table because of bad furniture placement!"
A girl from the back row squealed. "He's so humble about it too!"
Gray pointed wildly. "No, I'm not being humble, I'm being accurate!"
Riku buried his face in his hands. "It's too late, Gray… the rumors have already grown wings."
Gray slumped back into his chair, horrified. I didn't want this. I just wanted to eat my chicken cutlet in peace.
Razor's Wrath
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the school, Razor sat in the shadow of the old gymnasium, his fist still bandaged from yesterday's mishap. His lackeys stood around nervously, watching as he crushed an empty soda can in his good hand.
"That bastard…" Razor hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "He humiliated me in front of the entire cafeteria."
One of his lackeys—skinny with a buzzcut—spoke cautiously. "But, boss… wasn't it just a fluke? He didn't even touch you—"
Crack! Razor slammed the can against the wall, denting the plaster.
"A fluke or not, everyone's laughing at me now. They're saying Gray Aster is stronger than Razor. ME! Stronger than me!" His eyes burned with rage. "I'll crush him. I'll crush him so hard they'll never speak his name again."
The lackeys exchanged nervous glances.
Because Razor's pride wasn't just wounded—it was bleeding, and he wouldn't rest until Gray paid the price.
Unwanted Spotlight
Back in the classroom, Gray tried to disappear into his desk, but fate wasn't having it.
A group of students gathered around him at lunch break. Some were underclassmen, some from other classes.
"Gray, teach me how you dodged Razor's punch!""Gray-senpai, is it true you trained in secret martial arts?""Gray, can I join your gang?"
Gray nearly fell out of his chair. "Gang?! I don't even have a club!"
The crowd only grew more excited. To them, his denial sounded like mysterious modesty.
Riku whispered, "Gray… maybe you should just go along with it. If you deny it, they'll just twist your words anyway."
Gray groaned. "So no matter what I say, I lose?"
Before Riku could answer, two voices cut through the chatter.
The Girls Notice
First was Hana, Gray's classmate. She had long brown hair tied in a neat ponytail, sharp eyes, and the reputation of being both beautiful and terrifyingly good at academics. She approached Gray's desk with her arms crossed, glaring down at him.
"So it's true then?" she asked.
Gray gulped. "Uh… define 'true.'"
"That you humiliated Razor." Her voice was stern, but beneath it was something else. Curiosity? Admiration? Gray couldn't tell.
Before he could answer, another girl appeared—Miyu, a graceful upperclassman with a calm, elegant presence that made people step aside when she walked. She was a second-year, known for being admired by nearly everyone.
Miyu smiled faintly at Gray. "I was there yesterday. The way you dodged Razor… it was impressive."
Gray's face turned red. Why is she talking to me? People like her don't even know I exist!
Hana frowned. "Don't get the wrong idea. He's still an idiot. But… maybe not a hopeless one."
The classroom erupted in squeals and gasps. Two of the most admired girls in school—both paying attention to Gray? The rumor mill caught fire instantly.
Gray buried his face in his hands. "This is a nightmare…"
Foreshadow of War
By the end of the day, Gray was exhausted. He trudged out of the school gates with Riku, muttering, "I just wanted a normal high school life. Is that too much to ask?"
Riku adjusted his bag nervously. "Gray… I think things are only going to get worse. Razor won't forgive you. And now… people are starting to look up to you."
Gray groaned. "Look up to me for what?! Being clumsy?"
But as they walked, Gray noticed something strange.
A group of students he'd never spoken to before stepped aside respectfully to let him pass. Another group whispered and pointed, eyes shining with admiration. Some even bowed slightly as if he were someone important.
And far away, near the gates of another school, a group of unfamiliar delinquents watched him with narrowed eyes.
"That's him? The one who embarrassed Razor?""Yeah. Let's see how long he lasts."
Gray sneezed suddenly, shivering. "Why do I feel like the universe is plotting against me?"
Riku sighed. "Because it is."