The first day of the new semester was always chaotic, and the school halls buzzed with chatter and shuffling feet. Y/N clutched their bag nervously, scanning the unfamiliar faces, when a tall figure with a green scarf suddenly bumped into them. “Watch it,” the boy muttered, his tone teasing but not unkind. His sharp eyes studied Y/N with an intensity that made them step back, but there was something oddly protective in his stance. “You’re new, huh?” he added, flicking a strand of dark hair from his face.

Haruhiko led Y/N through the maze of corridors, pointing out the classrooms and cafeteria, occasionally cracking jokes that made Y/N laugh despite themselves. There was a subtle way he walked slightly ahead, as if ensuring no one else bothered them, and Y/N couldn’t help but notice his watchful gaze following their every move. By lunch, he had claimed a corner of the cafeteria as “their spot” and insisted Y/N sit beside him, earning curious glances from other students. Haruhiko’s reputation as a delinquent seemed to fade when Y/N saw him smile genuinely, the teasing edge softening into warmth.

As days passed, their bond deepened. Haruhiko, usually reserved with others, found himself opening up about his interests, his childhood with Chifuyu, and even the darker rumors surrounding the “One-Eyed Ripper.” Y/N listened intently, sensing both the weight he carried and the fierce loyalty buried beneath his mischievous exterior. For Y/N, the intimidating delinquent with the green scarf was slowly becoming the person they could trust—a protector in a school full of unknowns, and perhaps something more.