I Have A Light... It Seems.

The morning was born sunny and looks like the day will stay that way. Sosuke Yugo, a short boy, quickly puts on his school uniform and leaves the house even though he is not late. His heart was heavy, carrying some marks from the past, but even so, he walks down the block looking motivated but not hiding his nervousness.

He was always a quiet and reserved boy, a constant target for the bullies that tormented him. Bullying felt like a shadow that followed him wherever he went, plunging him into isolation. Looking up at the sky as he walks, he starts talking to himself.

"Today is a beautiful day. I hope this is a good sign."

A gentleman, who was watering the plants in his garden, waves to this boy.

"Good morning, Yugo. You're going to school early today."

With a simple smile, Yugo answers

"Good morning!"

Because it's still very early, the streets are empty and, next to the playground, he gets involved in his thoughts:

"This is my first day of school. It's going to be alright this time."

"I didn't make many friends when I entered this school last year."

"But now that they're gone, will be better."

Yugo breaks into a huge smile, as he goes on his usual way, the surrounding atmosphere seems tense. Two students approached him with sly smiles on their faces. Without realizing it, they cross his path and stop in front of him. Then one of these boys starts talking.

"Hi, Yugo. How long has it been, huh?"

Hearing this, Yugo gets desperate, his heart beating fast, and he doesn't stop shaking, he tries to ignore them and continue on his way. However, the boys keep teasing him and only then does he respond.

"Huh?! W-What are you doing here?"

Displeased, Yugo notices something different and, in a defensive position, he continues.

"Y-You're in different uniforms. Why a-are you here? I thought that was o-over!"

The other bully who was in the place immediately responds by being more imposing.

"Yeah, we're not at the same school anymore... But we miss you. Hahaha!"

The situation becomes completely unfavorable now, the two boys who are with Yugo did very bad things to him at school in the previous year and now, when it seemed that everything had been resolved for him, Yugo questions himself if he really deserves to relive all that again.

The two teenagers tease him, pushing him from one side to the other wanting to know what he has in his backpack until one of them takes advantage of his strength and makes him fall to the ground. Yugo's backpack has been ripped from his hands, and he grows more and more apprehensive watching his stuff being thrown away.

"Wait? There's nothing here."

"What?"

"I don't think you need this anymore, do you?"

One of the bullies looks at Yugo sitting on the ground.

“You had more valuables things last year.”

The two are whispering to decide what to do with Yugo and then look at him again.

“Let’s see what’s in his pocket”

Yugo felt impotent and humiliated, he kept saying he had nothing, but that didn't stop those two boys. After they've searched him, they're convinced there's nothing of much value in him. The leader of those two bullies, disappointed, puts his hand on his head.

"You haven't learned, have you?"

The other looks at his friend with a dark face.

“Now he will have to be beaten”

Yugo looks around and sees no one, he pleads with the two not to hurt him. Dipped in a whirlwind of negative thoughts, he doesn't stop questioning why all this is happening to him right on his first day of school and why it's always like this with him.

The bully grabs Yugo from behind, now his friend can hit him.

“This is for you to learn to always bring us something good!”

Yugo closes his eyes, having no more hope to get out of this situation. He just wants it will be over soon, even knowing that every punch will be painful.

The leader prepares a punch and directs it towards his victim. And as he makes the move, getting closer to Yugo's face… Something happens.

An unexpected presence broke the hostile environment with a fist that hit the leader's face with such power that he instantly fell to the ground in a faint.

A silence hangs in that place. The bully releases Yugo and, in disbelief, the two of them watch the boy.

…

Yugo takes a better look at that person in front of him: a dark-skinned and dark-haired western boy with determined eyes who has suddenly appeared in front of these bullies and, with his fist dressed as a fighter's glove, is ready to act.

The bully who is standing screams indignantly

“Hey, wretch, what did you do?! Are you crazy?! Who are you to meddle with? ”

The boy lowered his head and answered him in a low voice.

“You… Leave this brat.”

Outraged by the audacity of this unknown boy, the other student decides to challenge and faces him, still speaking aloud, while Yugo watches them scared.

"Leave? Look, I won’t feel sorry for y-"

Without hesitation, the boy landed an accurate and relentless punch on the other bully, who also fell to the ground in shock... He received the same fate.

Yugo watched everything perplexed, with a mixture of admiration and fear pulsing inside him with even more intensity. This boy approaches him and hands back his backpack, revealing his brave face.

“By the uniform, I can tell we’re from the same school.”

Before leaving, he says his name.

"My name is Yara. And you?"

For a moment, Yugo is still stunned by what happened, he finds the name strange but soon becomes convinced that it might be common in his country.

“I- I am… Yugo”

Yara looks at Yugo's hand and gives a restrained smile. They shake hands in thanks, then Yara goes on his way, leaving Yugo standing there with the two bullies still lying on the ground. But it doesn't take long, he starts to follow Yara, since the way to school is the same, Yugo goes after him, keeping some distance to try not to be so weird... Obviously it's no use, he clearly looks like a stalker following someone.

There's such a silence between the two, the only sound he can hear are the birds and his steps.

It was this lack of dialogue that made him think about many things, with his heart racing once more, he is filled with a torrent of thoughts. The image of Yara's bravery echoed in his mind, as did the worry that the bullies might come back and get their revenge.

Yara, confused, stops mid-stride and turns to face him. Yugo is crestfallen.

"I-I don't remember you from last year."

“Oh... This is my first year here.”

The journey still goes on in quiet, and Yugo gets more and more uncomfortable. They finally arrive at the school. Yara says goodbye and leaves.

Yugo feels lost, stunned by everything that has happened so far, and is isolated at his desk in the classroom waiting for the class to start.

That's where he had a light, and it was a great idea, at least for him.

He was desperate to get closer to Yara, and he had to find the courage to do so. His head was down, looking at the classroom floor, as he had a plan that could change his life at school.

“Yara has to be my bodyguard”

Well… For him, it was a great idea.

Thinking of the words he would say. Anxiety bubbled up inside his chest, but he knew he needed to express his gratitude. Despite not knowing how much, he was willing to pay to be protected.

The whole class was in their seats waiting for the classroom to start and the teacher, very tired with no patience, opened the door for the arrival of a new student.

“Kids, as you can see, the classes mixed up with the others from the previous year so many of you already know each other from studying together or meeting in the hallways, clubs, blah, blah, blah… Whatever. I'm going to introduce you to a new student, treat him nicely because he's a foreigner... Get in soon”

Yugo's eyes shine, and he is filled with hope and enthusiasm when he finds out who that person was. Yes, it was Yara.