CHRONOS SYSTEM

Inside the classroom, four boys sat slouched at their desks, all eyes on Miss Vanessa at the front. Kealin tried not to look directly at her—he couldn't help it. Every time he did, something about her expression just made him want to burst out laughing.

After *that* incident, he ended up getting detention. Great. So instead of heading home like normal, he was stuck walking the empty hallways alone, replaying everything in his head.

"Why the hell did I get detention?" he muttered under his breath. "Even the principal cracked a smile... man, I really fucked up this time."

He turned the corner and nearly tripped over someone.

"Oof—sorry!" 

It was a girl. Black hair, wearing a headband, and... half-dressed? Like she'd been yanked out of class mid-change or something.

Wait—she looked familiar.

"Uh… April? That's your name, right?" Kealin asked, helping her up slightly.

She didn't answer right away. Just leaned into him like she could barely stand.

"Please…" she whispered. "Help me…"

Before Kealin could ask what was going on, a voice echoed from down the hallway.

"April! Ohhh, c'mon, it won't hurt—we'll just take turns and then let you go."

Three guys appeared at the end of the corridor, all wearing varsity jackets. Definitely not new to this school.

Kealin rolled his eyes. "Of course." Bullies.

Without thinking, he stepped in front of April.

"Hey!" he called out. "She said no. Why don't you just leave her alone?"

The one in the middle—a cocky-looking blonde—sneered.

"Mind your own damn business, new kid. Scram."

His two buddies chimed in with matching smirks.

"Scram."

Kealin groaned inwardly. "Why does it always have to be me? And why today of all days?"

Still, he squared his shoulders.

"Like hell," he shot back. "Yeah, I'm new. I get it. But I'm not about to walk away when someone's getting picked on."

His voice sounded braver than he felt. Internally, though, he was screaming: *Why did I just say that?!*

The blonde shrugged.

"Suit yourself."

Then he lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed straight at Kealin's face. But Kealin ducked just in time and grabbed the guy's left arm, pulling him in for a sharp headbutt.

The bully staggered back, cursing.

"You little shit!"

He swung again, wild this time, and Kealin dropped low, driving an uppercut into his jaw that sent him crashing to the floor.

"April, come on," Kealin said, grabbing her wrist. "Let's go."

They started running.

"Kill that bastard!"

"Get 'em!"

The other two shouted behind them, chasing after the pair.

There was nowhere to run now. One of the bullies caught up fast and kicked Kealin in the ribs.

"Shit!"

He pushed April behind him and faced them head-on.

One came at him with a jab, while the other tried to circle around. Kealin saw it coming and jumped back—but just as he was winding up to throw a punch, he got hit hard in the stomach.

"Ugh—" He doubled over, gasping for breath, only to look up and see a fist flying toward his chin.

"Chew on this," the guy sneered before landing the uppercut.

Everything blurred for a second.

"I'll go after the girl," one of them said, turning to chase April again. But just as he took off, something grabbed his ankle and yanked.

"I'm… not…" Kealin wheezed, wiping blood from his lip as he staggered to his feet. "…done yet."

He dropped into a shaky fighting stance, adrenaline masking the pain—but it didn't last long. A swift kick sent him sprawling onto the ground.

"You've got guts, new kid. I'll give you that," one of them said, almost impressed.

One grabbed him from behind while the other started laying into him.

Kealin coughed, tasting blood.

"You know, if you just apologized, maybe I'd let it slide," the leader said, letting go for a moment.

Kealin spat blood in his face.

"Go… fuck… yourself."

The bully froze for a split second—then grabbed Kealin by the collar, raising his fist.

"I'm gonna—" 

Kealin's collar is gripped tightly in his hand as he raised his fist. Anticipation and adrenaline fills his insides.

"Are you sure it's okay to be beating up your junior, sempai?" A carefree voice cuts through the moment. The bullies pause. A blue-haired guy, his smile broad and his hands casually tucked behind his back, strolls towards them with confidence.

This is Max, another one of Kealin's classmates, known for his nonchalant attitude and uncanny ability to defuse even the most heated situations.

"Stay out of this, Max," he snaps, with a bit of irritation in his voice. Max focuses on Kealin, who seems to be caught off guard by the sudden interruption.

"No can do," Max replies in a light tone. "You see, I met April on my way here, and she told me everything..."

The way he casually throws April's name into the mix sends a ripple of unease through the group. Slowly, the expressions of the bullies shift from bravado to uncertainty.

"So the way I see it, you're the guilty ones," Max finishes, his smile never wavering.

One of the bullies narrows his eyes, a sneer forming on his lips.

"And what are you gonna do about it?"

Max straightens up a bit. His smile turns into a small grin, a glint of mischief filling his eyes as he responds, "Isn't that obvious? I'm gonna beat you up."

In that moment the atmosphere shifts-Max words hang in the air 

challenging and defiant

"I...I can almost see the gears turning in the heads of the trio" Kealin inwardly said.

The bully rushes forward, being the first aggressor.

"You think you can take us on, just two of you?you're Outnumbered"

The sound male says emboldened by his friends, puffing out his chest.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Max shrugs, a playful grin still

plastered on his face as he evades the attack.

"Outnumbered? Maybe. But I've got something you don't – a sense of

justice." Max says as he delivers an attack of his own.

Kealin inwardly sighed. Of all the people that could have come to his aid, it just had to be an idiot.

The 2 bullies exchanged glances, their confidence wavering. Kealin was an easy target, a junior who could be pushed around without consequences.

But Max was the exact opposite, a different beast altogether.

"What are you waiting for?" the second guy snaps feeling irritated

and trying to rally his friend, but seeing the first guy be taken down so easily, the latter had to rethink.

"Let's teach them both a lesson." In response, Max shifts his stance,

His expression is now serious. "You really want to do this? Fine, but know 

this: you're out of your league."

And just like that, the atmosphere transforms again, sparks.

were practically flying through the air. The tension rises. the air

thick with unspoken understanding that a fight is imminent.

Kealin stands up, using the wall to support himself. He looks at Max. Confidence surrounded him like butter on bread. The bully turns to look at him, still holding onto Kealin's collar. Kealin looks between

Max and the aggressor's a mix of confusion and admiration on his face.

"Um... dude, you sure about this?"

"Absolutely!" he replies. "I'm not going to let them walk all over you." he says.

The first aggressor regains his footing as he returns to his friends with a sense of anger and irritation.

But Max stands tall, his confidence unwavering as he stills his resolve.

"Let's break it up, shall we? I'm not afraid of a little scuffle." Max challenges.

"Ok, here goes, it's all nuts or nothing."

Kealin sends his feet in between the bullies' legs, nearly destroying his jewels.

"Touchdown"

The aggressor releases Kealin from his grip, his legs come together... while his hands grab his- only hope of creating children.

Seizing the opportunity, Kealin delivers a quick jab, sending his opponent to the ground.

"What the...." the remaining bullies, seeing their friend go down, enter a state of panic. The tension explodes and in an instant chaos reigns.

Max moves with surprising speed, dodging the first punches he encounters with a well-placed jab to the aggressor's stomach. Kealin rushes to his side, momentarily stunned. "What do we do?" He asks.

"Just stay back," Max replies. Two of the aggressors are now focused on him, their attacks coming in from every angle.

"Get him!" one of them shouts, and the other lunges forward trying to catch Max.

But Max is quick; he sidesteps the attack and delivers a swift kick to the attacker's knee, sending him crashing to the ground. The remaining aggressor hesitates, clearly stopped by the turn of events. "Hold on, maybe we should talk about this..."

"Too late for that," Max says as he delivers a powerful uppercut to the last aggressor, who stumbles back, dazed and confused.

"Maybe next time you'll think twice before picking on someone," Max says, his steady voice filled with a sense of warning.

Turning around, Max meets Kealin's gaze and says

"Daijoubudesu"

"Ehh" Kealia is dumbfounded, still trying to process the chaos around him.

"I think this is the part in the movie where the victim finds out that the hero is a complete idiot…"

"Oh, for the love of God, Max, enough with the Japanese already!" A female voice interrupts from behind Kealin. He turns to see a striking yellow-haired female with perfect curves and bright yellow eyes. Her smile could turn any guy's world upside down.

This beauty is Lena, their class captain, and behind her stands April. Lena strides over to Kaelin, her expression soft and calm.

"Sorry about that, he asked if you're okay."

Kealin, still mesmerized by her beauty and the amazing fragrance wafting through the air, barely registers her words.

"Eh-hem." April coughs, a playful annoyance in her tone which said "Earth to Kealin."

"Oh I'm fi-" Before he can finish his sentence, Kealin suddenly collapses.