"Peter was defeated?"
The heavy voice rolled through the same dark room Rivaldo had once entered.
Someone was on the phone, their tone cold like unpolished steel. "By only two people? Who are they?... You don't know?" The pressure in that voice made the four other silhouettes in the room stay silent, as if every word could turn into a blade aimed back at them.
The call ended. Silence spread like thick fog.
The four figures in the corner exchanged disappointed looks. "I thought he was strong… turns out he was just an insect." One of them shifted his shoulder, disgust mixed with irritation. The shadow on his face looked like a sneer.
"He was a good candidate for The Silent," another muttered, regret threading his quiet voice, as if something valuable had just been thrown away.
"Yeah, what a waste," someone added. "If he could fall at this point, there's no way he could've become one of us." His gaze was dark, as if Peter was no longer considered human.
The last silhouette let out a long breath. "A lesson. Being strong is important, but having subordinates is mandatory. He lost because he moved alone."
The others nodded slowly. The verdict was decided. Peter no longer had value.
Rio returned to school.
His body was wrapped in bandages, the smell of medicine and antiseptic trailing behind him. Every step felt like tapping the floor with a story no one there could understand. Riko walked him to the classroom door. The students' reactions were the same whispers as before.
"Was he in a fight?"
"No way… probably an accident. Hahaha…"
They still looked at Rio as the old Rio. Weak. Easy to step on.
Rio passed them without turning his head. Their world was not the one he had stepped into last night.
"See you later in the club room," Riko said, waving with a thin but sincere smile before leaving.
At break time, in the club room, Rio saw a familiar scene.
Kris sat with his usual annoyed face. Arya chatted casually with Riko. Liam slept like the world existed purely for his nap schedule.
The moment Kris saw Rio, he stood halfway, face red with bottled irritation. "You're still alive, bastard?! You're so naive. What if you lost yesterday?!"
"But he didn't," Riko replied with a shrug, like it was the most normal thing in the world. Arya stifled a laugh. Liam… kept sleeping.
The room buzzed with chaotic youth energy.
Then came a knock.
Riko opened the door. Eliza stood there.
Rio looked at her, confused. "Huh? You're the girl from yesterday?"
"What's up?"
The room quieted, not from tension, but curiosity. A girl here was unusual.
Arya raised a brow with a sly grin. "Since when do you know girls?"
"I don't!" Rio shot back instantly, like the accusation was a felony.
Riko tilted his head. "So why are you here?"
Eliza held up a flyer. "Is this still valid?" It was the Newspaper Club recruitment sheet.
"Of course," Arya said warmly, taking it. "You can join right away." He hurried off to register her.
"New member stuff always excites him," Riko muttered, closing the door.
Once things settled, Eliza looked at Rio's bandages. "Are your injuries getting better?"
Rio straightened and pointed at both heavily wrapped hands. "Hey, can't you see the bandages on both my hands?" he complained, looking like an irritated lab mummy.
Riko held back laughter. Kris clicked his tongue. Eliza smiled.
"Why join the Newspaper Club?" Rio asked. "There are better clubs."
Kris nodded. "You're smart. You shouldn't join a low-tier club like this."
Eliza hesitated. "I… never had friends. Being rank one made other girls hate me."
"What kind of hate?" Riko asked carefully.
"They used me. Sometimes bullied me too. Not as bad as Rio, though."
The room went quiet.
Kris lifted his chin, voice firmer. "They can't compete with your brain, so they drag you down. Trash does that. But here, no one's like that. We respect each other."
For five seconds, he actually looked cool.
Liam mumbled without opening his eyes. "You talk a lot, Kris. The king is sleeping."
"Then keep sleeping, idiot king," Kris snapped.
Laughter warmed the room.
Arya returned. Eliza was officially a member.
"Looks like you got close without me?" Arya joked.
"Thanks," Eliza said softly. "I finally found a place where no one looks down on me."
The room went quiet again.
Liam broke it. "Why's it so quiet?"
Then Eliza looked at Rio.
"So when will you do it?"
Rio stiffened. "Do what?"
"Your revenge. I know a bit about your past. Rivaldo bullied you since elementary school, right?"
Her calm tone hit like a punch.
"I've thought about it," Rio said, eyes firming. "Soon. Kris, ready to write an article?"
Kris grinned. "That's my daily bread."
"When does it start?" Liam raised a hand lazily. "I'm in."
"Me too," Riko added. "Even if I can't get revenge, I can at least witness it."
"What, not inviting me?" Arya smiled.
"Of course you're in, boss," Kris said.
"I carry the Morningstar bloodline," Arya replied confidently.
"I'll join too," Eliza said.
"Seriously?" Riko and Kris said together.
"I want to see how far Rio and this club go."
After school, Rio, Riko, and Eliza walked down the hallway together.
Then a voice called out.
"So you found new friends?"
A girl stood ahead with three others behind her.
Riko's gaze sharpened. "Who are they?"
Eliza lowered her head slightly, her expression dimming.
"They're the ones who bullied me."
The quiet hallway held its breath, waiting to see how Rio and Riko would answer the past now standing right in front of them.