“Usual Spot”

Koji adjusted the strap of his bag as they walked toward the cafeteria. The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread filled the hallways, and his eyes sparkled with unrestrained excitement. "I can already taste it," he said, almost humming as they approached the entrance. "Fresh melon bread! Can you believe it? This school is finally doing something right."

Lily smiled, her own pace matching his, though she couldn't help noticing the faint buzzing sound from his pocket. His phone vibrated again, this time more insistent. Koji slowed his steps, pulling it out hesitantly, his usually cheerful expression dimming as he glanced at the screen.

"You okay?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." His voice cracked just enough to betray the forced nonchalance. "It's nothing. Probably spam or something."

But she could see the way his grip tightened on the phone, his knuckles whitening slightly.

"Koji," she said softly, stopping just short of the cafeteria doors.

He waved a hand, putting on one of his signature goofy grins. "Seriously, it's nothing! Don't worry about it." He pointed toward the cafeteria with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Go grab us a spot, okay? I'll be right behind you."

Her brow furrowed, but she nodded slowly. "Don't take too long, though. You don't want to miss out on the melon bread."

"Five minutes, tops!" he promised, already turning on his heel and walking in the opposite direction.

Lily lingered for a moment, watching his retreating figure with a growing sense of unease. Something about the way his shoulders tensed didn't sit right with her, but she pushed the thought aside. Maybe he just needed a moment to himself.

With a sigh, she stepped into the bustling cafeteria, scanning the rows of tables for an empty spot near the windows.

<(' .' )>

Koji's pace slowed as soon as he was out of Lily's line of sight. He pulled out his phone again, his hand trembling slightly as he opened the message.

"Usual place. Don't keep me waiting."

The sender was listed only as "A."

Koji swallowed hard, his chest tightening. He hated this. Every second of it. But he couldn't avoid it—not today. Not when there was money involved.

Clutching the strap of his bag tightly, he made his way toward the back of the school building. The hallway grew quieter with each step, the distant hum of chatter fading as the corners of Shinsei High became deserted.

The "usual place" was a spot behind the gym, tucked away in a shadowy corner where the school's towering walls created a small, almost claustrophobic space. It wasn't far, but it felt like miles.

As Koji rounded the final corner, his heart sank. Arata Takashiro was already there, leaning casually against the wall with his hands in his blazer pockets. His polished, unruffled appearance was a stark contrast to the suffocating weight he exuded. His sharp, cold eyes flicked up as soon as Koji approached.

"You're late," Arata said flatly, his deep voice carrying just enough venom to make Koji's stomach churn.

Koji's legs felt like lead as he stopped a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I—I got caught up."

"Caught up?" Arata repeated, his tone mocking as he pushed off the wall and took a slow step forward. "You knew what time. You knew the place. But you still decided to take your sweet time."

Koji's hands trembled as he fumbled with his bag, unzipping it and pulling out a neatly folded envelope. His fingers curled tightly around it as he held it out.

"Here," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's… half. My parents couldn't give me the full amount yet, but I'll have the rest by the end of the week. I promise."

Arata didn't take the envelope right away. He stared at it, his lips curling into a faint smirk that didn't reach his eyes.

"Half?" he said, his voice dripping with mock disappointment. "You think half is enough, Nakamura? Did I say you could bring me half?"

Koji's throat tightened. "I—I'm sorry. It's all I could get right now. Please, I'll have the rest soon."

Arata snatched the envelope from his hand, his movements sharp and precise. He opened it, thumbing through the bills with a bored expression. "This isn't enough," he said coldly. "You're not exactly in a position to make me wait."

Koji's fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. "I know," he said through gritted teeth. "But I'll get it. I swear."

Arata's eyes flicked up to meet Koji's, and for a moment, the air felt heavy enough to crush him. "You'd better," Arata said quietly, his voice like ice. "Because if you don't… well, you know what happens."

Koji's heart sank further, his entire body trembling with barely contained frustration and fear. He wanted to scream, to push back, to tell Arata to leave him alone. But he couldn't. Not with the weight of everything Arata held over him.

"Now," Arata continued, folding the envelope and slipping it into his pocket. "Run along. Wouldn't want your new little friend to wonder where you are, would we?"

The mention of Lily sent a jolt of anger through Koji, but he bit his tongue, forcing himself to nod. "I'll… I'll have the rest soon," he said again, his voice hollow.

Arata's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Good. See that you do."

Without another word, he turned and hurried back the way he came, his footsteps echoing against the empty walls.

（｀Δ´）!

Koji's hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor as he rushed back toward the cafeteria, his bag bouncing slightly against his side. His mind was still a whirlwind of frustration and dread after the encounter with Arata, but he tried to shake it off. He couldn't let Lily suspect anything. She had a way of noticing things, and the last thing he wanted was for her to ask questions he couldn't answer.

But just as he rounded the corner leading to the cafeteria, a familiar, mocking voice rang out behind him.

"Oi, Piggy! Where're you running off to in such a hurry?"

Koji froze, his stomach sinking. His grip tightened on the strap of his bag as he slowly turned around, coming face-to-face with Hayato, Shun, and Tsubasa. The three of them stood blocking the hallway, their postures casual but their eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Look at him," Hayato said, smirking as he gestured toward Koji. "Sweating like a pig already. What's the rush? Late for your next feeding?"

Shun snickered, stepping closer. "Or maybe he's running to the cafeteria before they sell out of melon bread. Can't have the piggy going hungry, right?"

Koji clenched his fists at his sides, his chest tightening. "I'm just… going back to meet someone," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. "Leave me alone."

"Leave you alone?" Hayato repeated, his smirk widening. He took a step forward, circling Koji like a predator sizing up its prey. "But we're just having fun. Isn't that right, boys?"

"Totally," Shun said, crossing his arms with a sly grin. "It's not every day we get to see a pig on a treadmill. Where's the fire, Nakamura?"

Tsubasa remained silent, his sharp eyes watching from the sidelines, but the faintest curl of his lips betrayed his amusement.

"Come on, don't be shy," Hayato said, leaning in closer. "You can tell us. Are you running to the slaughterhouse? Or maybe the bakery? Oh wait—" He snapped his fingers dramatically. "Don't tell me you're late for your mud bath!"

The sound of their laughter echoed in the empty hallway, sharp and cruel. Koji's nails dug into his palms, but he didn't say anything. He knew better than to fight back. Fighting back only made things worse.

Hayato wasn't done, though. He leaned casually against the wall, his golden hair catching the faint light as he eyed Koji with mock curiosity. "Actually, I'm impressed. I didn't know pigs could run so fast. Must be all the grease. Makes you more aerodynamic, huh?"

"Yeah," Shun chimed in, laughing. "Bet he slides right through the hallways!"

Koji's cheeks burned, his breaths coming quicker as the words sank in. He kept his head down, his fists trembling at his sides.

"Hey, don't ignore us, Piggy," Hayato said, his tone turning sharper. He stepped directly into Koji's path, blocking him completely. "We're talking to you."

Koji forced himself to look up, his eyes darting between the three of them. "Just… leave me alone," he said quietly, his voice barely audible.

"Leave you alone?" Hayato scoffed, pretending to be offended. "But we're having so much fun! Isn't that right, Tsubasa?"

Tsubasa shrugged, his gaze cold and detached. "Sure."

Shun stepped forward, jabbing a finger into Koji's chest. "What's in the bag, huh? Snacks? A buffet? Come on, don't be shy. Share with the class."

Koji took a step back, clutching his bag tightly. "It's just books," he said through gritted teeth. "Nothing else."

"Books?" Shun repeated, his tone mocking. "Yeah, right. Bet you've got a whole stash of junk food in there. Let's see."

He reached for the bag, but Koji jerked it away, his eyes widening with panic. "Don't touch it!"

Hayato's grin widened at the reaction. "Whoa, calm down, Piggy. What's the big deal? Got something to hide?"

Koji shook his head, his voice trembling. "I said leave me alone."

Hayato ignored him, taking another step forward. "Or what? You gonna squeal? Go ahead, call for help. Let's hear it. 'Oink, oink,' right?"

The laughter rang out again, louder this time, and Koji felt his chest tighten further. He could feel the tears welling up behind his eyes, but he blinked them back furiously. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

"Hey, Hayato," Shun said, his grin widening. "You think pigs can cry?"

"Only when they know they're about to be bacon," Hayato replied, his tone dripping with mockery.

Koji's vision blurred slightly as the humiliation and anger boiled inside him. He wanted to run, to push past them and escape, but his legs felt rooted to the spot.

"Aw, look at him," Hayato said, leaning closer until their faces were only inches apart. "You're pathetic, you know that? Running around, sweating like a pig, thinking you can—"

But Koji tried, with all his courage, to turn his back on him and run away. Or at least, try.

His breath hitched as Hayato's hand grabbed the front of his shirt, bunching the fabric in a tight fist. The hallway felt impossibly small, their mocking laughter closing in around him like a vice. His hands gripped his bag straps tightly, but his legs refused to move.

"Where do you think you're going, Porky?"

"Finally, we'll have some fun." Shun murmured, as the tension became more heavier on them.