Chapter 2: Life goes on

*Ring ring, Ring ring.*

The sound of an alarm clock permeates through the walls, muffled, but just enough to reach one teen's ears.

"Where am I..."

Llain groans, groggy and confused.

Immediately the pungent smell of garbage reached his nose, but instead of repulsion, Llain found it familiar.

Llain knew where he was, though his mind was still hazy, so he couldn't remember much from before he fainted.

The alarm didn't let Llain rest easy, and so, whether he knew why he ended up sleeping in the hall or not, he must turn that alarm off before it wakes his father.

When Llain began to move, he suddenly felt a sharp pain emerge from his left hand and immediately jogged some memories from last night.

Almost in a panic, Llain brought his cut left palm to his face.

"Good, there isn't any infection."

Llain sighs with relief.

(My uniform...!)

Llain silently thought as he checked his uniform. And to his dismay, there were a couple of dried blood stains.

As Llain had regained most of his memories from last night by now, he tested his left leg before trying to get up. Because if he fell here, the consequences could potentially be catastrophic.

(Seems okay)

Carefully, Llain made sure to not get punctured by any stray glass shards while gradually standing up.

Llain's balance was a bit wobbly when he stood up, but this was possibly the best outcome that could come up after his leg had been stomped on several times.

Quickly, Llain scrambles towards his room. The lights were still on, so navigating to his room was easy.

Upon reaching his room, Llain's face twisted into a smiling grimace.

"It's shinier than usual."

Glass shards surrounded his room like floodwater. Every inch was covered, and if anyone were to dare to walk into the room, no matter how careful they are, their feet will be shredded.

To Llain's luck, the alarm clock was on the furthest end of this room, next to his desk.

Usually, Llain appreciated the size of his room. It was fairly large and had plenty of leg room, so it was like his own little house, but now, that comfort seemed to work against him.

Llain had no time to dawdle on the state of his room, he needed to shut his alarm clock up.

Then Llain remembered he had something hidden, a possession he considers to be his most valuable asset.

Llain pulled the door closer to himself and reached for something behind it.

(It's here.)

Llain's eyes widened in relief.

The item was a well-used broom. With this item, paving a path through the glass shards would be easy.

Llain succeeded, he shut off his alarm clock, and after doing so, he didn't stay in the house any longer.

Before leaving, Llain brushed the glass shards back, masking his tricks from his father. And right before leaving his room, Llain also carefully hid his broom.

...

It was fairly early in the morning, especially for a student. The signs of morning are just starting to show, peaking from the distance but still at the point where the street lights still need to be on.

Llain hadn't changed his uniform, he also forgot to organize his books for today's schedule, but he could care less about that since he was never really keen on studying.

It was a long walk to his school, but he doesn't really have a choice in the matter, unless he wants to break the law by jumping into a train without paying.

All things considered, it was a fairly good morning for Llain, the weather was great, his path was never interrupted, and his bruised left foot had already begun showing signs of recovering.

When Llain arrived at school, it was still extremely early, not one student was there but himself.

The lights were on, and that was the only indicator he needed to tell him that he was welcomed to enter.

Every corridor was empty with the exception of the occasional staff member or teacher passing through.

Llain had to pass by many classrooms to reach his and even go up by 2 floors, and there it is...

Class 1B, the class Llain had been in since his first day of high school, approximately one and a half years ago.

He should've been in class 2B by now, but he got held back a year because of his horrendous grades of 0% to 10%.

Llain goes to his seat in the empty classroom, and without a care in the world, he falls asleep.

The first bell rings, but he didn't wake up until the bell that signaled the lunch period.

Llain lifted his head up from his desk and rubbed his eyes to ward off his drowsiness.

"I am hungry."

Llain's stomach rumbled as he woke up, which is when he realized he hadn't eaten or drunk anything since yesterday morning.

The halls were filled with students, all happily chatting, but as soon as Llain appeared, they all grew quiet and parted, making sure not to get in his way.

This wasn't unusual for Llain, he had caused this by accident because of the trouble he caused during his first year.

Now everyone ended up fearing him, and after yesterday, everyone's guard seemed to be up, not wanting to become Llain's next victim.

"OI! Llain, where were you yesterday?"

A narrowed-eyed teen called out to Llain.

As soon as this teen appeared, everyone in the hallway grew more frantic, and within seconds, the hallway was clear.

"I told you to call me boss, didn't I? Yharry."

Llain said darkly with a menacing glare.

Yharry Leratus, a second year, the same age as Llain, a conniving bastard that sows discourse with his presence alone. Black hair with blonde highlights, blue eyes, and a snake-like face, people of this school memorized these features as a survival instinct.

"Sorry, boss."

Yharry said with some venom.

Somehow, this person is still below Llain in their hierarchy, despite having a more notorious reputation within their school. The only reason is pure combat prowess and strength, something that Yharry never manages to get the upper hand in.

Llain holds his right hand out disrespectfully, and Yharry immediately knows what that gesture means.

With reluctance, Yharry reached into his pocket and handed Llain a plastic-wrapped piece of curry bread.

Without saying anything, Llain turned away and completely ignored Yharry after that, seeing the water fountain as more valuable than his "friend."

With Llain's back turned, Yharry viciously glared at Llain with his fist clenched, but soon, he scoffed before turning around and walking away with malicious intent to take his anger out on someone else.

Uninterrupted, Llain grabbed a cup from nearby and began drinking from the tap.

He drank one cup and filled up another to bring with him.

Llain unwrapped his curry bread, and then, with a cup of water in his other hand, he began to make his way toward his usual spot where his entourage gathers.

At the north entrance to the school courtyard, a group of 5 delinquents gathered, loitering on the stairs, eating, and chatting.

Llain walks through the courtyard, each step brimming with power, and with no words exchanged, Llain takes his spot at the top of the stairs with the other delinquents below him.

"Where's Yharry?"

One of the delinquents asked another delinquent beside him.

"I don't know, probably out beating the shit out of some rando."

Not getting the answer he wanted, the delinquent directed his question toward Llain.

"Boss, do you know?"

Llain briefly glanced at the delinquent, but he didn't answer him, he just quietly continued to eat curry bread.

Not long after that, Yharry appeared, above the stairs, above everyone.

He wasn't alone, as beside him was one of their fellow students.

The student had bruises all over and looked like he could barely stand.

"Hey guys, looks like Yharry brought prey back to the pack!"

One of the delinquents said while laughing.

"This guy again, you sure like him a lot, huh?"

"Does he still have money? I thought we already wrung him dry."

One by one, all the delinquents commented on the guy Yharry brought, treating him like some sort of trinket.

...

Scared, angry, and the feeling of doom. These emotions weren't from the "prey" Yharry brought, instead, they came from the most unexpected person.

Just one glance, and Llain viscerally recoiled, he hid it really well, but that only enhanced his internal response.

He felt like he was about to burst, his stomach churned, and even nausea began to kick at him.

Llain could barely muster any words, but he needed to speak, he must.

"Let him go."

Llain finally said it with much struggle.

The weight still hadn't left, but it released Llain just enough for him to maintain an act, acting cool and nonchalant, while internally unraveling.

Afraid of displeasing their boss, the other delinquents began to urge Yharry to listen to their leader when they saw Yharry hesitate to let the student go.

Yharry was furious, but he knew he couldn't show it, he knew Llain had the power here and that he was under him.

Very reluctantly, Yharry let the student go and angrily sat on the step below Llain's superior seat.

Yharry kept on glancing at Llain the entirety of their lunch period, and that's where he noticed it.

Their leader showed weakness.