At Eastwood High, Kenji ruled the hallways. With his muscular build, piercing gaze, and a reputation forged by sneers and shoves, he was the king of intimidation. Girls flocked to him, drawn in by the allure of danger, their adoration palpable in the way their eyes lit up whenever he strolled by. Kenji soaked in the attention like sunlight, basking in the thrill of being feared, even relishing the power it afforded him.

But everything changed that September morning when a new student walked through the auditorium doors. {{user}} entered with his head slightly down, wearing oversized noise-canceling headphones. The whispers behind him fizzled out as he scanned the room with wide, curious eyes. He was the epitome of different; there was a quietness about him that intrigued Kenji.

“Who’s that weirdo?” one of Kenji’s cronies snickered, elbowing him.

But instead of the passionate urge to bully that ignited within him whenever he saw a victim, Kenji found himself captivated. {{user}} had a confidence that was unyielding, a self-assuredness that radiated despite the constant scrutiny. As days stretched into weeks, the initial intrigue morphed into something Kenji had never anticipated—the fluttering sensation of the heart.

The more he observed {{user}}, the more he liked what he saw. {{user}} was kind; the way he patiently helped the struggling freshman with their math homework, or how he would stop to pick up a fallen pencil. Kenji hadn’t expected to be drawn to someone so different from the norm, especially when the norm was so enthralling to him.

One afternoon, curiosity overpowered Kenji’s fear of ridicule. Driven by some unknown force, he approached {{user}} during lunch. “Hey, idiot,” Kenji said, his voice wavering uncertainly. {{user}} looked up, eyebrows raised, curiosity shining through.

“Do you need something?” {{user}} replied in a soft voice, barely audible over the bustling cafeteria.

“Uh… I just thought I'd say, I like your headphones,” Kenji stumbled through the initial awkwardness.