Kaiho Koshiro

The Next Day…

Kaiho and Saito sat at their usual spot near the academy courtyard, both quietly observing the other students mingling between classes.

Kaiho nudged Saito with his elbow. "Dude… who's that chick talking to Nat?"

Saito squinted but shook his head. "Can't see her face from this angle. She's facing the other way."

Kaiho narrowed his eyes. "Wait… does Nat have a girlfriend?!"

Saito raised an eyebrow. "Pfft. Highly doubt that."

Kaiho gave him a persuasive smirk. "But don't you want to know who she is? C'mon, admit it—you're curious."

Saito kept his arms crossed, sighing. "Nope. I don't want to get into someone else's business."

But internally… "I really don't want to get caught up in the crossfire. Everyone around me is basically a walking weapon."

Suddenly, the red-haired girl turned around, giving Kaiho a perfect view of her face.

Kaiho's eyes widened. "Oh, shit!"

Nat, noticing them, waved and walked over. "Hey, guys! What're you doing over here?"

Kaiho ignored the greeting entirely, pointing dramatically. "That girl! What were you doing with her?!"

Nat blinked, confused. "You mean… Athena?"

Kaiho nodded, still tense. "Yeah. Her."

Nat shrugged. "Oh, we're in the same math class. We sit next to each other. She's actually pretty friendly once you get to know her."

Kaiho gave him an incredulous stare. "Friendly? Bro, do you not remember when she almost killed me with a sword?"

Nat paused, thinking. "Huh… Now that you mention it, she is friendly with everyone… except you."

Kaiho threw his hands up. "What did I even do to her?!"

Nat scratched his head. "Weird thing, though… she kinda goes quiet whenever I mention your name."

Kaiho blinked. "Huh…?"

Ring!

Kaiho grabbed his bag and stood up. "Gotta go."

Nat raised an eyebrow. "Where to?"

Kaiho adjusted his strap. "I've been taking extra classes with Negan. Y'know, to get better at sign language."

Nat blinked. "Wait, extra classes? With that guy?"

Kaiho just shrugged and started walking.

Inside the classroom…

Kaiho slid the door open and paused.

Negan was sitting cross-legged on his desk, eyes closed, breathing deeply, and making exaggerated hand gestures like he was summoning the spirits of the universe. His face twitched as if he was channeling some ancient force.

"Sir—"

Negan raised a finger without opening his eyes. "Shush… I am on a different plane of consciousness… and call me bro."

Kaiho blinked. "Uh… okay?"

Negan continued his exaggerated meditation, occasionally twisting his face as if struggling with cosmic energies. Kaiho just stood there, confused, as minutes passed.

Finally, Negan broke the silence, still keeping his eyes shut. "I see it…"

Kaiho tilted his head. "See what?"

Negan's voice dropped, all mysterious. "Trouble."

Kaiho blinked. "What…?"

Negan continued, making mystical hand waves. "You have encountered someone who bears… deep hatred towards you."

Kaiho's eyes widened. "Wait, how do you know that?!"

Negan made a series of exaggerated expressions as though deciphering visions. "And… I see… that this person… almost killed you once."

Kaiho took a step back, absolutely dumbfounded. "Bro… kese (what)—how are you doing this?!"

Negan smirked, finally opening one eye. "A magician never reveals his secrets."

Kaiho stood there, still processing, then slowly turned to leave the classroom.

As he reached the door, Negan called out behind him. "Okay, okay! Fine! I'll tell you!"

Kaiho turned back, curious.

Negan flashed a mischievous grin. "I was stalking—I mean, watching you. From a distance. For educational purposes… obviously."

Kaiho just stared . "… seriously?"

Kaiho stood frozen for a moment, processing Negan's ridiculous confession. "I swear, bro, I'm leaving," he muttered, turning towards the door.

Negan immediately panicked, throwing his hands up. "Wait, wait, don't go!" He grinned nervously, his gaze darting around the room. "Okay, fine! You wanna know the truth? Boobs."

Kaiho froze mid-step, slowly turning back. "What?"

Negan clapped his hands together, a sheepish smile plastered on his face. "I saw big boobs. Followed them. And then I saw you. Coincidence, right?"

Before Kaiho could process or respond to the absurdity of Negan's words, a familiar, chilling voice echoed through the room.

"Well… well… well."

Both of them turned towards the door, and in a flash, a fist struck Negan with the force of a freight train, sending him flying across the room and crashing into the wall with a thunderous thud.

Negan groaned, sprawled against the rubble. "Ow… Why does it always have to be the face?"

Kaiho's eyes widened in shock. "Mom?!"

Mikoto stood at the door, her fist clenched, her presence radiating pure fury. "You better shut up, Negan. This will all be over quickly if you do."

Negan tried to raise his hand in surrender but winced. "Hey, Mikoto," he managed, flashing a weak grin. "Long time no see. You're looking… as deadly as ever."

Kaiho blinked, looking between his mother and Negan. "Wait… you two know each other?"

Mikoto's eyes didn't leave Negan. "Unfortunately."

Negan chuckled nervously. "C'mon, Mikoto, you wouldn't hit an old friend, would you?"

Her fist cracked as she took a step forward. "You stopped being my 'friend' the moment you pulled that stunt back in the day."

Kaiho, thoroughly confused, raised a hand. "Uh… what stunt?"

Mikoto shot him a quick glance. "Kaiho, sweetheart, step outside. Mommy has some… unfinished business to deal with."

Kaiho hesitated. "I feel like I should stay and—"

"Now," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Kaiho sighed, stepping towards the door. As he left, he could hear Negan whining in protest.

"Come on, Mikoto! It was just a joke! I didn't mean for it to—"

Crash!

"Ow! Okay, okay, I deserved that one!"

Kaiho shook his head, muttering to himself, "This academy just keeps getting weirder."

Negan lounged in his chair, casually adjusting his tie with his usual smug grin. The air in the room shifted, however, as the door slammed open. Mikoto stormed in, her fiery red hair framing her face like a warning. Her eyes burned with an intensity that could have set the walls ablaze.

Negan's smirk faltered for a moment before he plastered it back on. "Well, well, well! If it isn't Mikoto. Fiery as ever, I see. Red hair, temper to match—classic combo. You know, you're like a spicy cocktail. A little dangerous, but oh so—"

"Shut it, Negan." Mikoto's voice cut through the air like a blade. Her fists were clenched, and she was practically vibrating with barely contained anger. "What nonsense have you been up to now? And think carefully before answering, or I swear I'll knock that smug grin off your face."

Negan raised his hands in mock surrender, though the flicker of fear in his eyes betrayed his usual bravado. "Whoa, whoa, easy there, Red! I've been nothing but professional! Okay… maybe a little charismatic on the side. But come on, I'm epic. Can't help it."

"Epic, huh?" Mikoto took a menacing step closer, cracking her knuckles loudly. "Let's see how epic you are when I punch you into next week!"

Negan immediately flinched, throwing his hands up to shield his face. "Not the face! Please, not the face! I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry!"

Mikoto narrowed her eyes, arms crossed over her chest as she leaned forward. "Sorry for what, exactly?"

"For… uh…" Negan's gaze darted around the room as he scrambled for an answer. "Whatever it is you think I did? Look, I'm just trying to be helpful! Maybe too helpful! But nothing bad, I swear!"

Mikoto grabbed his tie, yanking him closer until their faces were inches apart. "If I find out you're messing around, especially with Kaiho or any other kid, I'm not stopping at your face. Got it?"

Negan nodded so fast it was a wonder his head stayed attached. "Crystal clear! No messing around! Total professionalism from now on. I promise."

Mikoto released his tie with a final shove, pointing a warning finger at him. "Good. Now keep it that way. Or you'll find out why they call me terrifying."

Negan coughed, straightening his tie as he tried to recover his composure. "Terrifying? Nah… more like… epic. In a scary, about-to-kill-me kind of way."

Mikoto rolled her eyes and turned to leave. "Don't push your luck, Negan. You've got zero left."

Negan watched her as she strode out of the room,

Kaiho hesitated in the doorway, glancing nervously between Negan—who was still straightening his tie and muttering something about his face—and Mikoto, whose fiery presence practically radiated across the room. "Uh… can I come in now?"

Mikoto turned to him, her expression softening instantly. "Yeah, come in, Kaiho."

Kaiho stepped inside cautiously, still eyeing Negan, who now looked like a scolded puppy. "So… how exactly do you two know each other?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Mikoto crossed her arms, leaning back slightly as if recalling an old memory. "We were in the same batch here at the academy," she said matter-of-factly. "Me, Koshiro, and this clown." She gestured vaguely toward Negan, who gave her a mock offended look.

Negan perked up, a mischievous grin creeping back onto his face. "Come on, Red, don't tell him that story—"

Mikoto shot him a sharp glare, and he immediately shrank back, raising his hands in surrender.

"As I was saying," Mikoto continued, ignoring Negan's interruption, "he tried to hit on me once."

Kaiho raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them. "…And?"

Mikoto smirked, her hand curling into a fist. "And I hit him. Hard."

Negan groaned, rubbing his jaw as if reliving the memory. "Yeah, she's got a killer right hook. Didn't even see it coming. One second I'm saying, 'Hey, Red, you free for dinner tonight?' and the next—bam! Lights out."

Kaiho blinked, trying to picture a younger version of Negan being decked by his mom. "Wow. Sounds like you learned your lesson."

Negan leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs. "Oh, I did. Never flirt with Mikoto Uzumaki unless you've got a death wish. Lesson burned into my brain."

Mikoto chuckled, placing a hand on Kaiho's shoulder. "Trust me, kiddo. You've got nothing to worry about with him. I've already knocked some sense into that thick skull of his."

Negan winked. "Not enough, apparently. But hey, keeps things exciting, right?"

Mikoto shot him a look that could turn stone to dust. "Keep testing me, and I'll make sure you never flirt again."

Negan flinched, quickly holding up his hands. "Nope! Nope, we're good. Totally good."

Kaiho shook his head, a small smirk playing on his lips. "This place just keeps getting weirder."