Chapter 1: Echoes of a Tragedy

Fukushū no Kage

Arc 1: Shiroi Academy

Volume 2:

The rain fell gently over the city, the constant sound of droplets hitting the rooftops and windows wrapping the atmosphere in an oppressive melancholy.

In the empty classroom of Shiroi Academy, Haruto stared intently at Ryo's vacant desk. It was as if time had stopped since that fateful night when everything changed.

The school had not issued any official statement. Rumors spread among the students, but no one spoke directly about what had happened. It was as if silence was a way to protect the school's image. But for Haruto and his friends, there was no escape. Every corner of the building, every furtive glance in the hallways, was a constant reminder of the brutality they had witnessed.

The Weight of Memory

Haruto closed his eyes and returned to that night. The blood, the screams, the mocking faces of the aggressors as they unleashed their fury on Ryo...

Everything was etched in his mind like a recurring nightmare. They had tried to save him, but they were beaten, humiliated, forced to watch as their friend suffered until his last breath.

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

—Haruto... —It was Mikasa, standing behind him, her eyes red. She seemed to have been crying before arriving.

—What is it? —Haruto replied, trying to sound strong, though his voice trembled slightly.

—I can't stop thinking about him... —Mikasa hugged herself, as if trying to shield herself from the cold she felt inside.

Haruto didn't respond. There were no words that could ease what they felt.

Firm footsteps echoed behind them. It was Aya, followed by Yuta and Renji. They all shared the same expression: a mix of exhaustion, sadness, and latent fear.

—We need to talk —Aya said, her tone firm, attempting to conceal her vulnerability.

A Meeting Heavy with Pain

The group sat in one of the most secluded corners of the campus, a place where they used to gather before the tragedy occurred. The atmosphere was different now; laughter and jokes had been replaced by a heavy silence.

—What are we going to do? —Yuta asked, looking at the others with concern.

—Do? —Renji repeated, his tone filled with disbelief. —We can't do anything. They have all the control.

—That's not true! —Aya interrupted, determination glinting in her eyes.

—We can't just sit back and do nothing.

—And what do you suggest? —Mikasa asked, frustration evident in her voice.

—Report them? We already know that won't work. The school didn't even acknowledge Ryo's death.

An uncomfortable silence spread between them. They all knew Mikasa was right.

Haruto, who had remained silent until that moment, finally spoke.

—We can't face them now —he said, his gaze fixed on the ground. —But that doesn't mean we should give up.

Aya stepped forward slowly. —Then... what do we do?

—Wait —Haruto answered, his tone surprising the others. —Wait and prepare.

Though none of them said it aloud, they all knew that Haruto's words meant more than just self-defense.

Something deeper and darker was stirring inside him, something he was not yet willing to share.

A Shift in the Air

Days passed, but the atmosphere at Shiroi Academy did not improve. The bullies, led by Kenta Hirose, seemed more confident than ever.

They walked through the hallways as if they owned the school, their arrogant gazes and cruel laughter making it clear they feared no consequences for their actions.

Haruto and his friends tried to stay together, but it was difficult. Every time they passed near the aggressors, they felt their heavy stares upon them, like predators stalking their prey.

One afternoon, as Haruto walked to his locker, he heard a familiar laugh. He turned his head and saw Riku Tanabe, one of Kenta's henchmen, talking to a group of first-year students. His tone was mocking, and his words were filled with disdain.

—Do you really think you can ignore us? —Riku said, pushing one of the boys against the wall.

Haruto felt anger bubbling inside him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't do anything yet.

That night, during a meeting with his friends, they discussed what they had noticed.

—The third-years have been acting more confident lately —Yuta said, crossing his arms.

—It's like they want to remind us that we can't do anything against them —Mikasa added.

Aya frowned. —We can't let them think that way.

—But we can't face them directly —Renji responded, his usual tone of cold logic cutting through the air. —It would be suicide.

Haruto, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke.

—You're right. We can't face them now. But that doesn't mean we'll just sit still.

...

The next day, things began to change. While Haruto was in class, he found a folded note on his desk. He opened it cautiously, only to find a message written in red ink:

"Don't forget your place."

At first, he thought it was just a cruel joke, but when he stepped into the hallway, he found Riku Tanabe waiting for him with a mocking smile.

—Did you like my message? —Riku asked, his gaze making Haruto's blood boil.

Haruto didn't respond. He knew that showing any reaction would only give Riku more power.

However, that was only the beginning.

In the following days, strange things started happening. Books disappearing, lockers vandalized, malicious whispers behind their backs in the hallways.

For Haruto and his friends, the message was clear: the bullies had set their sights on them, and they wouldn't stop until they were completely destroyed.

...

The morning light barely seeped through the windows of Shiroi Academy, casting a dim and cold glow over the hallways. Despite the warmth of the sun, the atmosphere inside the school was icy. Students walked with their heads down, some whispering to each other, others simply avoiding inquisitive glances.

Ryo's empty desk remained there, a silent presence screaming the truth that everyone was trying to ignore. The chairs around it were pushed farther apart than usual, as if the space where he once sat was now cursed.

Haruto entered the classroom with tense shoulders. He had learned to brace himself for difficult days, but today felt different. There was a heaviness in the air, a feeling that something was about to happen.

—Hey, Haruto, are you okay? —Mikasa's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

—Yeah… just tired —he replied, though he knew she wasn't entirely convinced.

She looked at him with a mix of concern and determination. She had changed since what happened to Ryo—everyone had. She was no longer the carefree and cheerful girl who always found something positive in everything. Now, her gaze reflected a bitter understanding of the world.

As Haruto took his seat, he noticed Aya entering the classroom. She wore a stoic expression, but her eyes betrayed her. She sat next to him and let out a quiet sigh.

—Did you see them? —she asked in a low voice.

Haruto didn't need an explanation to know who she was referring to.

—Yeah, they're in the hallway —he murmured, resisting the urge to look toward the door.

—They're… different —Aya said. —More confident. Like this is just a game to them.

Before Haruto could respond, the bell rang, and the other students started filling the classroom. Some whispered among themselves, others simply stared straight ahead, ignoring everything happening around them.

But they all had one thing in common: a palpable tension clinging to every corner of the room.

The lesson began, but Haruto could barely focus. Every word from the teacher mixed with memories of Ryo, the images of that night flooding back into his mind like an unstoppable torrent. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady himself, but all he could see was Ryo's face—bloodied and filled with pain.

—Haruto, are you okay? —Renji's voice made him open his eyes.

—Yeah, just… distracted —he answered quickly, but Renji didn't seem convinced.

—You don't have to pretend —Renji said quietly, just soft enough that no one else could hear. —I can't stop thinking about it either.

Haruto moved forward slowly. There was no need for words. They both knew they were trapped in the same endless cycle of guilt and pain.

When the break came, Haruto and his friends gathered in the back of the schoolyard. It was a secluded place, far from the eyes of other students.

—I saw them this morning —Mikasa said, breaking the silence.

—Who? —Yuta asked, though they all already knew the answer.

—Them. Kenta and his group —Mikasa replied, her voice laced with resentment. —They were laughing, like nothing had happened.

—Of course they were —Aya said bitterly. —They won.

Haruto clenched his fists, feeling the rage building inside him.

—This isn't over —he murmured.

Aya looked at him curiously. —What do you mean?

—I mean we can't let them control us —Haruto responded, his voice firmer than he expected.

—If we give up now, we'll never get out of this.

The others exchanged glances, but no one spoke. They knew Haruto was right, but they also knew that standing up to Kenta and his group was easier said than done.

That afternoon, as Haruto walked to his locker, he noticed something strange.

The door was slightly open

—something he never did. Frowning, he opened it fully and found the inside covered in red ink.

Amid the mess, there was a note. He picked it up with trembling hands and read the words, scrawled in large, uneven letters:

"Do you think you escaped? This is just the beginning."

A chill ran down Haruto's spine. He looked around, but the hallways were empty. He slipped the note into his pocket and shut his locker forcefully, trying to steady his breathing.

When he returned to the classroom, he found his friends waiting for him. Their faces reflected the same mix of fear and concern that he felt.

—Everything okay? —Renji asked.

Haruto nodded slowly, though he knew it wasn't true.

The following days were a constant test. Haruto's books mysteriously vanished, his desk was covered in insults every morning, and there was always a mocking laugh behind him.

The others began experiencing the same harassment. Mikasa found her backpack dumped in the bathroom, completely soaked. Aya received anonymous messages on her phone, threatening her with things she didn't even want to imagine.

The message was clear: Kenta and his group weren't finished with them.

They were being hunted, slowly broken down until they shattered completely.

The Silence of the Innocent.

Despite everything, Haruto tried to stay calm. He knew that reacting would only give them more power.

But with each passing day, he felt the rage growing inside him, fueled by pain and helplessness.

And he knew this was only the beginning...