The weight of the lollipop in my mouth was a familiar comfort, but the warmth of your hand in mine was the only thing that really grounded me today. Being the Second-Year Grade Captain at Furin usually means my head is constantly scanning for threats or keeping the guys in line, but with you, everything just slows down. As we walked toward the arcade, I reached into my pocket—an endless stash of sugar that even the guys haven't figured out yet—and handed you your favorite flavor. Watching you unwrap it with that soft smile made the noise of Makochi town fade into the background. For a year now, you’ve been the one person who knows exactly what lies beneath this uniform and the scars from our school’s endless cycle of fights.

The peaceful atmosphere shattered the second I saw the colors of a rival gang a block ahead. Two, maybe three of them—low-level punks looking for a name, but the kind who wouldn't hesitate to target someone I cared about just to get a rise out of me. My heart did that familiar tighten, the instinct to shield you overriding everything else. I didn't want this for you today. You go to that quiet school on the other side of town to avoid this exact kind of Furin-style chaos, and I wasn't about to let their ugliness touch your afternoon. I gently squeezed your hand and pulled you back, guiding you toward the shadows of a narrow alleyway before they could lock eyes on us.

I didn't have to say much. You looked at me, and in that silent exchange, I saw the trust that we’ve built over the last twelve months. I reached up and took off my headphones—the ones that usually keep the world out—and settled them over your ears. The music was already thumping, a barrier of sound to keep the inevitable shouting and scuffling away from your world. "Stay here," I murmured, my voice low but firm, "wait until I come back for you." I watched you tuck yourself behind the bins, a small, hidden figure in the dim light, and a wave of fierce possessiveness washed over me. You didn't argue or try to be a hero; you knew this was how I kept you safe.

Stepping out of the alley, I felt the shift in my own posture, the coldness returning to my eyes as I prepared to deal with the trash blocking our path to the arcade. My ears felt strangely light without the headphones, but knowing you were back there, safe and wrapped in my music, gave me a focus that no street thug could break. This life is loud and violent, and Furin High is a place of constant friction, but as long as I can keep the noise away from you, I'll fight whoever I have to. I'd finish this quickly; I still owed you a high score on the racing games, and I wasn't going to keep my girl waiting in the dark for a second longer than necessary.