POV: Atticus Fuchai
~ Yesterday ~
As I slept with my senior, who was a very stunning female with a well developed body, I was awoken by a familiar knocking pattern as my blood boiled with irritation, prompting me to storm out of my bed as I walked towards my door with my eyes half shut.
Jordan, if you don't have a good reason for waking me up at this god forsaken hour…
Opening my door, I sighed as Jordan stood outside of my dorm room with a troubled expression, arising a mix of emotions within me as I was unable to decide if I should be concerned or if I should just slug him for ruining my night.
"Jordan, do you know what time it is? What could you possibly want at this hour?" I questioned as I pinched the bridge of my nose before stepping outside into the hallway.
"It's about Arthur. He wanted me to tell you something." Jordan replied as apprehension rejuvenated me while Jordan's words raised many concerns within my mind.
Arthur?
"I see. Come inside and make it fast. I have a guest waiting for me in my room." I demanded, consternated as my mind ran amok from imagining an incensed Arthur.
"What was the message Arthur left you?" I asked as we entered inside my dorm and sat within my living room.
"'You will lose everything you hold dear if you stand in his way.' That was the message he wanted me to convey to you." Jordan replied nervously as I was bewildered, but more than bewildered, I was maddened.
What?
You dare say that I should be aware of a mere nobody?
Are you trying to imply that he's a threat towards me?!
"I don't understand what he was trying to say, but I think we should just leave the boy alone-"
"Nonsense!" I exclaimed with a burst of laughter, startling Jordan as I combed my hair back with my hand.
"I've known Arthur since junior high and he isn't one to stand up for someone else. What Arthur is trying to warn me is that if I mess with this boy, everything that I've built will be lost." I stated as my grin widened at the thought of proving Arthur wrong.
"Is there anything else?" I asked.
"Arthur also said that the boy's name is Rai." Jordan replied.
~ The Present ~
Rai?
Isn't that the name of…
"You will lose everything you hold dear if you stand in his way."
As I recalled Arthur's warning, a grin crept onto my face as I turned around to find Aria handing the boy who I assumed was Rai, a box of blueberries as our gazes locked, arousing my curiosity even more as there wasn't an ounce of fear within his eyes.
Jordan said that the boy was physically strong with decent experience in hand-to-hand combat, but looking at him in person, he doesn't seem like much.
"Jordan, that's him, right?" I asked as Jordan averted his eyes away from his phone and looked at Rai, but in the moment he laid his eyes on him, his expression faltered from anxiety as I felt my grin widened.
That must be Rai.
"Yeah, but what are you-"
"You two stand here and wait for me." I ordered as I unzipped my jacket and began walking towards Rai, who tried to send Aria away while I rolled up my sleeves.
Let's see if I should take heed to your warning, Arthur!
POV: Rai Shinsei
"Aria, I'm telling you that the boy approaching us intends to fight me, so just go to your dorm already and get some rest." I urged, but Aria refused to listen as I felt a headache beginning to arise from the problematic day developing before me.
She's so damn stubborn.
"Why are you being so difficult! I won't just stand by and watch Atticus hurt you, so let me-"
As Aria persisted, I dropped my bags and pushed her out of harm's way as I caught Atticus's fist with my hand, causing his eyes to widen as I was struck with depression from noticing his foot resting on top of a now crushed box of blueberries.
You've got to be kidding me…
"You seem to be quite strong. I'm a noble and yet, you're able to match my raw strength?" Atticus asked rhetorically as he pulled his fist away from my grasp and smashed his fist into my face with a sharp strike, sending me tumbling backwards across the cold stone pathway leading towards my own dormitory.
Dejected, I laid on the pathway, gazing into the cloudy blue sky as the blueberry pancakes I once envisioned eating was now a fantasy.
My blueberry pancakes…
"Rai!" Aria called out anxiously as I sighed and rose into a sitting position while Atticus approached me, but behind him, I noticed Aria struggling to resist the urge of helping me as she expressed her upset with an angry pout.
This is why I wanted you to leave, Aria.
Picking myself up from the ground, I cracked my neck as I directed my attention towards Atticus, who seemed unable to restrain his malicious desires as he approached me.
I want to believe he's fighting me out of spite from defeating his friend, but with the way he's looking at me right now, I don't think the thought of avenging his friend even crossed his mind.
"I'm sure I haven't done anything to wrong you, so why waste your precious day on me?" I asked, curious to know the reason behind his maliciousness as I scanned the area around us to find several students watching from afar.
From his punch alone, I can tell that he's somewhat strong, but certainly not stronger than Arthur.
If I had to take a guess, he should be a high-ranker, meaning that if I fight him, the credibility I built up for being weak will be for naught as there are far too many eyes watching right now.
"What if I told you that your existence alone is enough of a reason for me to fight you?" Atticus answered as he activated his Aspect and released his Aspectual Force, which exuded a considerable amount of pressure, but not to the extent that it affected me as he dashed towards me with the aim of striking my face once more.
He's fast, but I don't know if I should dodge or block-
As I was indecisive, Atticus smashed his fist into my face once more with a strike, sending me flying backwards as I crashed through the entrance of my dormitory, startling a few students as I picked myself up from the floor and wiped the blood trickling from my nose.
Now that one I actually felt.
"What's going on here?! Classes are about to begin and yet, you're causing a ruckus! I want an explanation from you this instant!" A slim man with a scruffy face berated, but despite his condescending attitude, it was as if he became a different person as in the moment Atticus arrived, cold sweat enveloped his body as he stood stiff.
"A-Atticus?! Was this your doing?" The man inquired nervously as Atticus approached him and placed his hand onto the man's shoulder.
"Hey teach! That is correct, but I'm sure I can trust you in covering this up as an accident, right, Mr. Frederick?" Atticus answered, threatening Frederick in the midst as he clenched Frederick's shoulder tightly, forcing an obedient nod from him as Atticus patted the side of Frederick's arm with a smile while his cowardice vexed me.
How revolting.
You're a teacher of a prestigious hero academy and yet, you allow a mere student to command you?
Whether Atticus is blackmailing you or you're a twisted bastard who uses a student's name for their own gain, nothing justifies your actions.
You're nothing but a miserable coward who doesn't have the courage to stand up for themselves.
"Pathetic." I muttered, gaining the attention of Atticus, whose eyes widened with curiosity while Frederick adjusted his glasses as he looked at me with an anxious scowl.
"What did you just say?" Frederick asked as I sighed, unable to contain my composure as I sharpened my gaze, causing Frederick to tense with fear as my intimidation pleased Atticus.
"I said you are pathetic." I asserted sharply as Frederick stammered on his words while Atticus sprinted towards me with an ear-to-ear grin.
"You know, you're becoming more interesting by the second!" Atticus remarked as he tried to land a spinning hook kick into my head, but to his astonishment, I caught his leg with my hand as I continued to glare at Frederick, who stood in trepidation, unable to utter a single word.
"As a man, aren't you ashamed of yourself?" I asked as Frederick eyes widened, my words reaching the core of his heart as I allowed Atticus to pull his leg away, prompting him to strike my jaw with a clean right hook, but to his astonishment once more, I didn't budge an inch as I continued to glare at Frederick while Atticus's fist rested against my jaw.
"You're a teacher who's supposed to be a role model for your students and yet…"
Swatting Atticus's arm away, I landed a sharp palm strike into his solar-plexus, stunning him momentarily as I immediately followed up with a quick one-two, striking his jaw and finishing it with an uppercut into his chin as Atticus nearly lost consciousness, allowing me to land a spinning back kick into his chest as the impact sent him flying backwards across the lobby until he slammed against the reception desk.
"You allow this scum to rule over your life as if you're nothing but his slave." I added as the few bystanders watching on the side gasped incredulously at Atticus, who seemed to be on the verge of losing all rationality as an exasperating grin crept onto his face while my actions left Frederick awestruck.
As silence filled the room, I was in yet another predicament as I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and unintentionally humiliated Atticus in the midst of everything.
Why…
Why do I always find a way to make my life even harder?
With my headache worsening, I sighed and decided to taunt Atticus with my hand, enraging him further as he darted towards me while I remained still and waited for his arrival.
Let's just get this over with already.