The day began strangely quiet.
Gray noticed it the moment he entered Ridgeview High. The usual noise of footsteps, chatter, and locker slams felt muted. Students whispered in corners, throwing nervous glances toward the windows as though expecting something bad.
Even Mina, who usually stood calm and collected, looked tense when she passed by Gray in the hall.
"Hey… what's with everyone today?" Gray muttered aloud, scratching his head.
Riku's desk was still empty. His sudden disappearance weighed on Gray more heavily now, even if he tried not to show it.
Kenji shuffled up to him during homeroom, holding his tray of food like a shield. "Rumors, man. They say Eastside's planning something today. Like, an actual attack."
Gray froze mid-yawn. "Wha—wait, what do you mean by attack? Like, homework sabotage? Spray-painting our lockers? That's not so bad."
Kenji swallowed nervously. "No, Gray. I mean fists and blood attack."
The Arrival
Classes dragged on, but the tension in the air only thickened. By the time the final bell rang, dozens of Ridgeview students lingered around the courtyard instead of heading home.
And then they saw them.
Across the street, a group of twenty Eastside High delinquents stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their uniforms messy, their expressions sharp and mocking. They didn't bother hiding their intentions.
At their head was a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a scar over his eyebrow. Not Crusher — not yet — but one of his lieutenants. This one they called Gage.
Gage cracked his knuckles, stepping forward with a grin. "So this is Ridgeview? What a dump. No wonder everyone says you're weak."
The Ridgeview students flinched back, but no one moved forward.
Until all eyes turned, naturally, to Gray.
Gray's Panic
Gray nearly fainted when the crowd opened around him like he was their chosen leader.
"Why me?!" he hissed, clutching his backpack straps like a lifeline.
Kenji nudged him forward with a grin. "Because you're the boss, Gray."
"I'm not the boss!"
"Then go tell them that!"
Gray opened his mouth to argue, but realized everyone was already staring at him expectantly — even Mina, her arms crossed as though silently judging.
"Ughhh, I hate my life."
He stepped forward, his knees wobbling. "Uh… hey! Look, I don't know what you Eastside guys are here for, but maybe we can—"
"Shut it." Gage cut him off, cracking his neck. "We came here to see if Ridgeview's little gang has any teeth. Guess what, clown? We're about to find out."
The First Skirmish
The Eastside crew charged.
Chaos erupted in the courtyard — Ridgeview students screamed, scattering, while Gray's so-called "gang" scrambled into a defensive huddle.
Kenji swung wildly at the nearest opponent, somehow landing a lucky hit and cheering way too soon. Mina ducked low, sweeping her leg out to trip one of the attackers — her movements sharp, precise, but quick enough that no one noticed her skill.
Gray? He panicked.
"WHY IS EVERYONE HITTING ME?!" he yelled, dodging a punch by tripping over his own feet. The accidental stumble sent him crashing into two Eastside boys, knocking them both down like bowling pins.
The Ridgeview kids cheered, misinterpreting his clumsiness as some kind of fearless counterattack.
"Boss Gray is unstoppable!" someone shouted.
"I literally tripped! That wasn't on purpose!!" Gray cried, shielding his head.
Mina's Quiet Observation
Through the chaos, Mina kept her eyes on Gray.
Every time he panicked, every time he stumbled, it somehow worked in his favor. His sheer bad luck spun into accidental victories, inspiring the students around him.
He's not fighting like a leader, she thought, ducking under a wild punch. But… he's making them believe. Maybe that's even scarier.
Turning the Tide
The fight lasted longer than anyone expected. Ridgeview's gang wasn't organized, but they had numbers, desperation, and the strange rallying effect of Gray's "leadership."
Even Kenji's wild flailing seemed to work better than it should have.
Finally, after a brutal scuffle, Gage called his crew back, blood dripping from his lip. He spat onto the pavement.
"Not bad… for trash." His glare locked onto Gray. "Tell your people this was just a warm-up. Crusher's coming for you next. And when he does, Ridgeview won't even be standing."
With that, Eastside retreated, leaving Ridgeview battered but still standing.
Aftermath
The courtyard was a wreck. Students nursed bruises, helped each other up, and whispered excitedly about what had just happened.
And in the middle of it all, Gray sat slumped on the ground, holding his head in his hands.
"This… this is insane. I just wanted to survive high school… not start a war."
Kenji plopped down beside him, grinning through a split lip. "Well, boss, too late. We just won our first battle."
Gray groaned. "I didn't win anything… I almost peed myself."
Mina, standing nearby, studied him quietly. She didn't say a word — but in her eyes, Gray looked less like a coward… and more like someone who could actually change things.
End of Chapter 17: The Spark of War
Ridgeview had survived the first skirmish.But Eastside had only begun testing them.The real war was still ahead.