Five years had passed.
Inside an 11th-grade classroom, Era sat quietly near the window, staring blankly outside. At seventeen, he had grown more thoughtful, composed… but inside his mind, a storm was brewing.
"It's been five years since I sent those kids on their missions. It's not like they didn't do anything—they followed my every word. They were all over the news just a year ago. Even if their fame has quieted down, they still control this city... for now. Over 600 Nightwalkers, that's the last count I heard.""No one knows where their base is... but I do know they might return any day. I should've given them seven or eight years instead of five. I'm still in school—I can't join them yet."
His thoughts were cut short.
"Era!" the teacher's voice snapped. "What are you thinking about?! Where is your focus?"
"Huh? Oh… sorry, sir."
"Then answer this: What did Mulete say to Tura?"
"Umm..."
"I thought so. Out! Go stand outside the class!"
Without argument, Era picked up his bag and stepped out.
Inside the classroom, Rita observed silently.
"He's always lost in his thoughts… I wonder what's really going on in his head?"
Rita, now in 12th grade, was one of the few who had known Era since childhood. So was her friend, Pinky.
—
Later That Day… At Home
Era returned home quietly. As he stepped into the living room, a distressing sight froze him in place—his older sister, Taniya, was sobbing uncontrollably. Their mother, Yumi, tried to comfort her, but she was clearly shaken.
"It's okay… we'll file a complaint," Yumi whispered, stroking her hair.
Taniya shook her head violently, tears falling faster. "But Mami… they'll just do it again… they'll come after me again!"
Era's voice broke through. "Didi?! What happened?! Who did this?"
Taniya looked up, her eyes puffy and red. "At… at college… they…"
Era's eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched.
The Next Morning – Outside Weper College
"Are you sure about this, Era?" Yumi asked, concern heavy in her voice. "We can complain officially. You don't have to go."
"This won't be solved with a complaint, Mami. And even if it is, they'll just return later. No… I need to handle this."
Yumi sighed in worry. "Please be careful…"
Era and Taniya stood at the college gate. She hesitated.
"Let's go, Didi," he said gently.
They stepped inside. As Taniya entered her classroom, mocking voices welcomed her.
"Well well, look who's back!" one boy sneered.
"Looks like the fun starts again," another chuckled.
Era followed behind. His eyes scanned the room—and locked onto the source of the voices.
"You. You. And you," he pointed, stepping forward. "Get down here. Now."
"What's this? A little mouse come to squeak?" said Rohan, laughing.
"Brought her little brother to protect her?" Parle mocked.
"He's just a kid," Yom added. "Let's show him what real fun looks like."
Yom barely finished his sentence before Era's fist collided with his face.
BAM!
Yom stumbled back, nose bleeding.
"You little—GET HIM!" he shouted.
Rohan and Parle charged forward. Rohan swung a punch—Era dodged easily.
Parle tried to hold him from behind, but Era threw his head back, smashing it into Parle's face. The boy crashed to the floor, dazed.
They surrounded Era again.
Yom rushed forward. Era grabbed his arm, twisted it, and delivered a crushing kick to his knee, then an uppercut to the jaw. Yom collapsed, unconscious.
Rohan attacked next, but Era ducked, landed a punch to his lower back, a chop to the neck, then two final punches to the spine. Rohan dropped like a rock.
Only Parle remained—eyes wide in terror.
"No! No! Don't come near me!"
Era sprinted forward, leapt, and launched a spinning kick directly into his face. Parle fell, followed by two more swift strikes to the chest and neck.
Silence.
The entire class was stunned. Students from nearby classrooms had gathered outside, jaws dropped.
A teacher entered.
"What is going on here?!" he demanded.
"Sir!" a student called. "He's not from this college—and he just attacked three students!"
The teacher looked at Era. "Who are you?! And what do you think you're doing?! Guards! Call the police!"
Era didn't flinch. "Sir."
"What?!"
"I didn't attack them for no reason. These three were harassing my sister. They disrespected her every day. That's why I did it."
"You should've reported it! Gone to the principal!"
"And then what? Investigated for a few days? Maybe asked them to apologize? And then what? They'd do it again. Maybe not to her, but to someone else!"
The teacher stepped back, surprised by the rage in Era's voice.
"You're the reason this happens. Not just you—people like you who don't act, who don't protect. That's why this country suffers!"
"Enough! Get out of here! Guards!"
"You don't need to throw me out. I came here to do one thing, and I did it."
Era turned to the rest of the students.
"And if any of you dare touch my sister—or anyone else's sister like this—I'll make sure your punishment is worse."
Stunned silence.
"…he's threatening us…," someone whispered.
"I'm not threatening you," Era said, smirking slightly. "Wait—no, I am. And if you didn't get the message, maybe you need a taste of it too."
"Okay okay!! Sorry!!" one student said, backing away.
"That's better," Era muttered.
With that, he left—leaving behind a classroom full of shocked faces, and three broken bullies lying groaning on the floor.
[Chapter 9 – End]