Without thinking, her feet moved forward. The closer she got towards them, the clearer the situation became, mocking laughter, disrespectful comments, and the distinct tone boys use when they feel untouchable.
She finally reached Rin's side and stopped beside her.
Her voice came out quiet, unsure, but steady.
"Rin... is everything alright here?"
Rin stiffened– her eyes widening when she heard Fumiko's voice. She turned quickly to face Fumiko, expression somewhere between relief and panic.
"Fumi, what are you doing here?!"
Fumiko held up her shopping bag awkwardly, as if presenting proof that she didn't belong in this confrontation.
"I... was out to do some shopping..."
Her eyes flickered toward the boys standing in front of them– tall, postured like they were above everyone else, wearing mocking expressions that stirred something unpleasant in the air.
Fumiko swallowed.
"Who are they?"
Rin shifted slightly, just enough to place her body protectively in front of Fumiko.
"Just some bastards..."
Rin's glare is sharp enough to make two of the boys visibly flinch— but pride quickly pulled their confidence back into place.
One of them leaned forward, tilting his head with an exaggerated grin as he pointed towards Fumiko.
"Who's this new chick? Huh?"
His gaze dragged along Fumiko slowly, shamelessly from head to toe, before his smirk widened.
Fumiko felt heat rise under her skin— not embarrassment, but discomfort… disgust.
Rin took a firm step, placing herself even more squarely in front of Fumiko.
"She have no business with you all, and you all better not try to mess with her..."
Another boy scoffed loudly, holding his stomach as if Rin's statement was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
"Or what? Are you gonna beat us? Oh I'm scared!!"
Their laughter echoed through the quiet park loud, crude, unkind.
Fumiko could feel Rin's anger radiating beside her— vibrating beneath her skin like electricity. She gently tapped on Rin's shoulder.
Her voice was softer this time, trying to calm, trying to understand.
"Rin, what's the actual matter?"
Rin took a slow breath, the kind people take when they're fighting the urge to snap.
"As you know, I usually come at this park for training, but today when I came here first, they spotted me here alone and decided to mess with me, saying that I have to leave this park because THEY want to play here, so yea... that's all..."
Fumiko frowned, confusion tightening her expression.
"Why should you leave when you came here first?"
Before Rin could answer, another boy stepped forward, arrogance leaking from every word.
"She NEED to leave right now, or else... The consequences won't be so easy on you both chicks... hahha!!"
More mocking laughter.
Rin's jaw tightened, her knuckles visibly whitening.
She turned back to Fumiko and spoke again, her tone softer but strained.
"Fumi, you should leave... I can handle this."
But Fumiko shook her head instantly, voice trembling, not from fear, but from conviction.
"No you can't!! I can't leave you ALONE, here with three boys here, and who knows what they can do to you!"
Her words spilled out faster than she meant raw and honest.
One of the boys chuckled, low and condescending.
"That chick seems to be so smart and friendly, won't you like to be our friend too?"
He laughed, a laugh that wasn't humor, but entitlement.
Rin's teeth clenched, fury igniting in her eyes.
Her voice dropped to a dangerous warning.
"Shut up, before I shut you..."
The boys didn't take the threat seriously.
Another raised his chin.
"You can't do anything, accept it, you're just a GIRL."
And then—everything shifted.
Before anyone could react, one boy suddenly grabbed Fumiko's arm, rough, tight enough to hurt. Fumiko gasped, trying to pull away, protesting, but his grip around her arm only tightened more.
"Keep chill chick and let's go, we would like you shows you some good places,"
he said, voice dripping with mock innocence.
That was the last line he had the chance to speak.
In the next heartbeat-
Smack
Rin's fist connected cleanly with his face in a punch.
The boy stumbled back, releasing Fumiko immediately as he fell onto the ground.
Rin stood over him, eyes blazing with pure rage.
Her voice came out low and terrifying.
"Don't. you. dare. to touch her..."
Silence electrified the air, then exploded in chaos.
"HOW DARE YOU HIT ME?! I WILL CALL OUR FRIEND REIJIRO RIGHT NOW!"
His voice cracked as he dialed a number with shaking fingers. The moment the call ended, he snarled:
"Now let's fix this attitude of yours!"
All three boys lunged toward Rin.
The last thing Fumiko saw before instinct made her step back was Rin's expression:
A grin– wild and confident mixed with unfiltered rage bruning inside her eyes.
---
Some minutes later, a black BMW car pulled up in front of the park.
A young man stepped out, tall, Honey blonde hair with bright yellow eyes, composed, expression calm. His footsteps were calm as he walked toward the chaos unfolding.
"Where's he?–"
His voice stopped mid-sentence.
His eyes widened slightly.
All three boys lay sprawled across the ground— bruised, groaning, humiliated, while Rin stood with one foot pressing harshly into the back of one of them, looking unbelievably pleased and satisfied.
Fumiko stood nearby, clutching her shopping bag, still processing the whirlwind she had just witnessed, dumbfounded.
The man, Reijiro, finally spoke, voice flat:
"What the–, who did this to them?!"
One boy scrambled up and rushed behind him to hide as he pointed out his fingers at Rin, aggressively.
"THAT! THAT WITCH!! She beated us Rei!!"
The man, Reijiro, turned to Rin. His expression held confusion, a hint of respect… and maybe slight disbelief.
Rin lifted her chin, unapologetic.
"Yes I did that.."
Reijiro crossed his arms against his chest.
"Why...care to explain?"
The boy behind him jumped in defensively.
"She tried to provoke us–!!"
Rin moved toward him slowly, voice sharp.
"You still have guts left to lie? Huh?"
Reijiro lifted a hand, stopping further escalation.
"Wait. Just WAIT. You, Miss, explain what actually happened here."
So Rin did.
She explained everything, the insults, the pushing, the threats, the attempt to forcefully take Fumiko.
Silence followed.
Then–
Reijiro turned toward the boy behind him and punched him across the face, hard enough to echo.
The boy staggered.
Reijiro turns back towards Rin, as bowed his head lightly infront of her.
"I'm very sorry from their side... They...uh...thanks for making them know their place miss...But I guarantee you this will never happen again."
He grabbed the collar of the boy who had first touched Fumiko and forced him to kneel.
"Apologise right now..."
The boy swallowed his pride and forced the words out.
"...I'm sorry."
---
While this unfolded, Fumiko stood quiet, tension slowly draining from her shoulders.
Relief.
And yet…
Something pricked at her senses.
A feeling, like eyes lingering on her.
She turned her head slightly and saw the black car still parked nearby.
The windows were tinted… but someone was inside.
Staring.
Watching.
She couldn't tell who, or why, but the feeling crawled under her skin.
She turned away, trying to push it aside, and walked back toward Rin.
---
Inside the car, still hidden, a figure watched her closely.
Their gaze followed the way Fumiko moved, breathed, blinked. There was familiarity in their stare, nostalgia… and something darker.
A faint smile curved their lips.
Soft.
Sad.
Knowing.
Their voice was barely audible, yet heavy with meaning.
"You ...still haven't changed..."
A pause.
A breath.
A whisper coated in memory and sorrow.
"Still living a lonely life... aren't you? Dawn"