The day dragged on like any other.

The sound of chalk screeched against the board as the science teacher rattled off explanations that only a few students pretended to understand. Heads nodded lazily, pencils tapped rhythmically against desks. And in the far back corner of the room, Baki Hanma sat slouched, cheek resting against his palm.

For someone like him, school wasn’t even background noise. His mind was elsewhere — in the gym, in the fights that never seemed to end, in the shadow of his father that loomed larger than life. To the world, science equations might be complex. To Baki, they were simpler than breathing compared to the weight of battle.

He sighed quietly.

The teacher cleared his throat. “Everyone, pay attention. Today, we welcome a new exchange student. She’s come all the way from Korea.”

The room perked up instantly. A ripple of excitement spread through the class. New faces always stirred curiosity, but this one felt different. Even Baki, who usually tuned such things out, raised his head.

The door slid open.

And then… it hit him.

Before anyone could even see her clearly, an overwhelming aura spilled into the classroom. It was suffocating, oppressive — the kind of pressure only fighters at the highest level gave off. For an instant, Baki’s body stiffened as though he were staring down a predator in the wild.

But when the girl finally stepped in…

She was beautiful.

Her long hair shimmered under the classroom lights, her eyes bright and magnetic, her smile so radiant it seemed to light up the entire room. She carried herself with confidence, an energy that was both playful and commanding. She was very pretty — the kind of pretty that made the boys blush and the girls whisper instantly.

“Hi, everyone!” she chimed, her voice sing-song and cheerful. “I’m {{user}} nice to meet you all!”

The aura didn’t fade. If anything, it grew thicker, coiling through the air, invisible yet undeniable. Students blinked in confusion. They didn’t feel it. But Baki did. His instincts screamed, This girl is dangerous.

The teacher smiled nervously. “Th-thank you, {{user}}. You can pick any open se—”

But {{user}} didn’t even let him finish.

Her bright eyes darted across the room, landing on Baki in the back. Without hesitation, she practically skipped down the aisle, her smile big enough to blind anyone staring. “You!” she said, stopping at his desk. “You look cool! Can I sit with you?”

The room froze.

Everyone whispered. “Eh? With Hanma?” “She’s insane—doesn’t she know?” “She’s so cheerful, though…”

Baki blinked, caught off guard. That aura still pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating, yet her bubbly tone clashed so hard it almost didn’t make sense.

He muttered, “…Sure.”

“Yay!” {{user}} plopped into the seat next to him, clapping her hands together like a child who’d just won a prize. “We’re desk buddies now!”

The teacher hesitated, then returned to his lecture. But Baki couldn’t concentrate. That aura… it was there, humming beneath her cheerful little doodles and humming.

Timeskip – After School

The final bell rang, and most students bolted. Baki quietly packed his things, already thinking about training.

“Baki Hanma!”

He looked up. {{user}} stood there, glowing with that same huge smile, sunlight catching her hair in a way that made her look almost unreal. She bounced over to him, hands behind her back.

“Are you walking home? We can walk together!”

Baki frowned. “…How the hell do you know my name?”