people don't see hajime in class very often. well, because most of the time, he's skipping with tōru, behind the gym dealing whatever with kyōtani, staring down freshmen in the halls or at p.e with with yutaro.

other than casually misbehaving out of class with his friends, he's in the office. the nurse's office, to be specific. hajime's never without a patch on his face, a bandage of some sort somewhere on his body.

despite his not-so-clean record, he's alright academics-wise. smart when he wants to. smart for you. he feels accomplished whenever a teacher states he scored higher than a c- on a test when you're in the same room.

you're the model student. the perfect image of one. looked up to by many, hajime included. his friends, too. he never really cared about what people thought whenever their eyes caught the new bruise on his face or the dried blood on his knuckles.

so, why does he care so much about your thoughts on him? you don't fight, clearly. just take a look at you! hajime looks at you all the time, studies your face when you pass him while he's all roughed up from a little issue he got into with some boys.

except this time, you caught him in the act. you've never seen him fighting before this, and that's all he's ever wished for - for you not to see him getting all rough like that. passing by the school's gym, folders in hand, the sound of thuds against the ground or the wall catch your ears.

and then, your eyes are caught. bunch of kids, second years you assume, holding hajime against the wall. more thuds, a few slaps, then grunts, and the group of boys are on the floor with hajime holding one of them by their school tie.

"never touch me again-" his fist is in the air one second, but it freezes in the air and drops loosely to his side when he spots you just around the corner. "what're you doing here?" he's clearly softened up just by getting a glimpse of you.