Jin's pov
I wanted to laugh at the clear irritation on Kevin's face, all thanks to Ryu's antics.
This guy had been rambling nonstop, sharing every little detail about his life—probably even how he was conceived at this rate.
"So, there we were! The first time Kev and I met, we ended up throwing punches at each other. Can you believe that?" Ryu said, laughing as he retold the story. "I mean, I still can't beat him to this day, but I like to think I'm getting close."
I couldn't help but chuckle along, even though half of what he said didn't make much sense to me.
"Is that so?" I asked, amused.
"Yeah! You got lucky, you know? Kev didn't even bother giving you a proper welcome," Ryu continued. "Me? The moment I walked in, I got my ass handed to me. No hesitation."
Kevin shot him an annoyed glance. "That's because you came in swinging at me like an idiot. Who wouldn't react to that? Consider yourself lucky I even put up with you."
Ryu grinned at me, nudging my shoulder. "See? That's Kevin for you! But hey, if you can make him laugh, I'll give you all my lunch for today—and tomorrow too."
Kevin exhaled, crossing his arms. "If you can make this idiot shut up for an hour, I'll personally make sure you're stocked with food for the rest of the year."
I laughed. "You two are something else. You're complete opposites, yet you get along so well."
Ryu threw an arm around Kevin's shoulder. "Of course! We're practically inseparable, right, Kev?"
Kevin rolled his eyes and shoved him off. "Get away from me. You stink."
Ryu pouted dramatically. "Wow, harsh. You act like I'm filthy or something."
I was still laughing when Ryu suddenly turned to me with a pointed look. "What about you? Are you just gonna stand there laughing? Maybe you should share something about yourself."
I paused mid-laugh, eyeing him warily.
'This guy really is unpredictable... He was just laughing a second ago, now he's all serious. Definitely weird.'
"What do you want to know?" I asked.
"Everything."
I blinked. "Everything?"
"Yeah."
I glanced at Kevin, who didn't even seem to care, just walking ahead without a word.
Ryu was still waiting for my response, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Alright, well... I have an older sister. It's just the two of us since our parents are always busy with work, so we mostly take care of each other."
"Oh? Then who do you live with?" Ryu asked, tilting his head.
Before I could answer, Kevin suddenly stopped walking. His body tensed, making both Ryu and I halt in our tracks. My eyes immediately shifted to what had caught his attention.
The moment my eyes landed on him, I took in his features carefully. He was tall, his build lean but strong. His long hair fell over his face slightly, but I could still see the sharp intensity in his gaze. He had a presence about him, something that felt different—an air of arrogance and confidence that set him apart from the others.
"Who is he, Ryu?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Ryu, hands stuffed into his pockets, didn't even glance at me as he answered, "Jiro Matsuda of Phantom Six."
I turned back to the guy in front of us, studying him with renewed interest. So, he was from Phantom Six... no wonder his presence felt distinct. He carried himself with the kind of arrogance that came from knowing he was strong.
Jiro smirked as he shifted his gaze to Kevin. "And who's this you're with now, Kev?"
Kevin, as usual, looked unimpressed. "Why do you care?"
Jiro let out a scoff. "Tch. Acting tough now, huh? You think you can take me on?" His smirk widened, the challenge clear in his voice.
Kevin held his ground. "Why don't we find out?"
Ryu and I instinctively took a step back. "Let's not interfere," Ryu muttered to me, his tone serious. I nodded, keeping my focus on the two of them as tension thickened in the air.
Jiro's grin remained as he taunted Kevin. "So, you think you're ready for this? Fine, let's begin."
Kevin wasted no time, launching forward with rapid punches. Jiro, however, dodged them effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Kevin kept up the assault, but Jiro remained elusive, only moving when necessary. Then, in one swift motion, Jiro caught Kevin's wrist and countered with a solid punch to the gut, sending him staggering back.
Kevin hit the ground but quickly got back on his feet. He didn't hesitate—he charged again, his fists swinging. This time, he managed to land a few solid hits on Jiro, but the Phantom Six member retaliated with just as much force. Blow after blow was exchanged, each strike carrying raw power.
I could see Kevin's movements slowing. He was getting tired. His stance weakened, his breaths came in heavy pants. He wasn't going to last much longer.
Jiro noticed it too. His grin widened. "Tch. Is that all you got? My turn."
He lunged at Kevin, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Kevin barely had time to react. Seeing the danger, I moved on instinct, grabbing Jiro by the collar and slamming him hard onto the ground before he could reach Kevin.
Jiro coughed, his glare snapping to me. "Who the hell do you think you are?!" he spat, quickly getting back to his feet.
He didn't waste a second. He rushed at me, aiming a punch at my face—but before he could land it, Ryu was already there, his fist connecting with Jiro's jaw.
Jiro stumbled back, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. His eyes burned with anger. "Why the hell are you two interfering?!"
"Because Kevin can't fight anymore," I said, my tone even. "You won. Leave it at that."
Jiro scoffed. "Like hell I will!"
Without warning, he charged again. This time, I was ready. As he swung at me, I caught his arm, twisting it slightly before driving my fist into his ribs. I felt the impact as he staggered, but I didn't stop there. I followed up with another punch—this time to his temple. His balance wavered, and he dropped to the ground. Before he could get up, I pressed my foot against his chest, pinning him down.
"Tch. Looks like Jin took him down," Ryu muttered, chuckling under his breath. Kevin, still catching his breath, just shook his head.
I stared down at Jiro, unimpressed. "You should pick your fights more carefully. Just because you're from Phantom Six doesn't mean we'll be afraid of you."
Jiro growled in frustration, but he was in no position to argue. I stepped back, letting him be.
Kevin turned away. "Let's go. He's not worth our time."
We left Jiro behind as we continued walking. After a few moments, Ryu broke the silence, laughing loudly. "Damn, Jin! That was crazy! The way you grabbed his arm and just slammed him down? That was sick!"
I allowed myself a small smile, but my focus was on Kevin, who had remained unusually quiet.
"You okay, Kev?" I asked.
He met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "Don't do that again."
I frowned. "Do what?"
"Don't interfere in other people's fights. It only makes things worse. If I were you, I'd get stronger—because after what you just did, don't be surprised if they come looking for revenge."
His words hit me like a brick. I hadn't thought of that.
'Tch. Stupid! How did I not realize that?!'
Ryu, sensing the shift in the mood, gave me a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't mind him, Jin. He's just worried. That's how he shows it."
I sighed but nodded. We continued walking toward class when I suddenly turned to Ryu. "Hey, Ryu, I need a favor."
"Sure. What's up?" he asked, curious.
"Tell me about the strongest factions here. And the Highest Ten."
Ryu raised an eyebrow but grinned. "Alright. But let's get to class first unless you want the teachers to kill us for being fifteen minutes late."
Crap. Right. We were already late. Damn that Jiro for picking the worst time to start trouble!