Razor wasn't the type to forgive.
The day after his embarrassing cafeteria defeat, he stormed down the hallway with his gang behind him. His jaw was still sore from Gray's "accidental headbutt," and the memory of curry dripping down his hair burned hotter than fire.
"Today, that idiot dies," Razor growled.
In Class 1-B, Gray sat slouched in his chair, balancing a pencil on his nose. Riku watched him from the next seat.
"Gray… people are saying Razor's coming for you again."
"Eh? Really? That's fine. I'll just play dead. Works for possums."
Before Riku could reply, the classroom door flew open with a BANG. Razor stomped in, towering over everyone.
"GRAY ASTER!"
Gray jumped so hard the pencil shot up his nose. "Ghk! I surrender! Don't kill me!"
The class gasped as Razor grabbed Gray by the collar and dragged him into the hallway.
"Today, no accidents. No lucky shots. I'm gonna crush you for real."
Gray raised a trembling hand. "Wait… can't we talk this out? I'll… I'll buy you a soda?"
"Too late." Razor threw a punch.
Gray ducked purely out of reflex—Razor's fist slammed into the wall, cracking the plaster. The gang cheered, certain Gray was done for.
But Gray panicked, flailing his arms like a windmill. His elbow smashed into Razor's stomach. Razor coughed, stumbled back—then tripped over Riku's dropped lunchbox and fell flat on his face.
Silence.
Gray blinked. "Did… did I win again?"
Riku scratched his head nervously. "Uh… technically, yeah."
The hallway erupted with whispers.
"No way, Razor lost again?""That's twice in a row!""Gray Aster is unstoppable…"
Gray held up his hands. "No, no! It's a misunderstanding! I'm weak!"
But nobody believed him.
And Razor, groaning on the floor, felt his pride shatter even more.