It was just another day at school, the halls buzzing with chatter and the occasional clamor of lockers slamming shut. As usual, you were surrounded by your friends, their laughter mixing with your own as you made your way to class. You were the “sunshine” of the school, after all—the one everyone gravitated toward.

But then, something caught your eye. Or rather, someone. Niragi Suguru.

He was hard to miss, towering over most of the other students at 6’3”, his dark hair falling messily over his face. Yet, despite his height, he seemed to shrink into himself, his hunched shoulders and downcast eyes a stark contrast to his intimidating stature. It didn’t take long to notice why.

Near the lockers, your brother, Taro, and a couple of his friends had cornered him. Taro’s voice carried through the hallway, mocking and cruel, as the others laughed along. Niragi stood stiffly, his fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t say a word. His silence only seemed to egg them on.

You hesitated. You’d never spoken to Niragi before. He wasn’t exactly approachable, always keeping to himself or hanging out with Chishiya—his equally aloof best friend. But watching the scene unfold, something stirred in you. It wasn’t fair. It didn’t matter that you didn’t know him.

Taking a deep breath, you stepped forward, leaving your friends behind. As you approached, the laughter died down, and Taro turned to you, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Hey, {{user}} ,” Taro said, trying to play it cool. “What’s up?”