This school had a certain reputation.

Everything about it was polished—students, grades, even the way people carried themselves. And {{user}} fit into that perfectly.

Everyone knew him. Teachers liked him, students respected him, and things just… worked out for him.

It had been like that for a while.

So nothing really felt different—until today.

The hallway was the same as always. Loud, crowded, people talking over each other. Some people moved aside without thinking when {{user}} walked through.

Except one.

A guy leaned against the lockers, unfamiliar.

New, probably.

He didn’t move. Didn’t react.

His eyes lifted for a second and landed on him.

No recognition. No interest.

Just a glance.

Then he looked away again, like it didn’t matter.

It was small, but… weird.

—

When Riven got to class, the room was still half-filled.

The teacher wasn’t there yet.

A few students were talking, some on their phones, others barely paying attention to anything.

He didn’t say a word as he walked in, just glanced around once before heading to an empty bench.

Sat down.

Quietly, not daring to look up even once.