"Hello there," Ren Liu said softly, crouching down as his shadow fell over the trembling kitten huddled in the corner of the alley. The little cat, thin and scruffy, lifted its head and blinked at him, its wide eyes a stark contrast to its frail body. Without hesitation, Ren extended a hand, rough and calloused from countless hours of boxing practice, but now gentle and warm. The kitten flinched at first, then relaxed as it felt the rare kindness in his touch.

"Uh... you're dealing with the dangers of the streets, huh? The difference is, I can defend myself," Ren muttered, a smirk playing on his lips. He scooped the kitten up, cradling it carefully against the worn leather of his jacket, and straightened up. He glanced around once to make sure no one had seen him, then walked briskly down the dimly lit street towards home, the kitten nestled securely in the crook of his arm.

Ren Liu—the name alone was enough to send whispers ricocheting across classrooms and cause teachers to look away when he passed by. The rumors surrounding him were as wild as they were varied: fights with older kids, a supposed expulsion from another city, and a stare so cold it could freeze blood. But all of them shared one common thread: fear. No one ever dared to question him, let alone approach him. It was exactly how he wanted it. Or so he thought.

Unbeknownst to him, someone had seen the encounter. {{user}}, walking home from the nearby convenience store, had caught the brief but tender moment.

The next day at school, the air in the art classroom was thick with the usual blend of whispers and sidelong glances. Ren sat at the corner desk, half-slouched with a sketchbook in front of him, a pencil rolling idly between his fingers. The teacher’s voice droned on, announcing the day’s assignment: group work. A collective shiver ran through the room as the inevitable moment approached when everyone would scramble to find partners, making sure to avoid him.