Haunting Gaze

Kiyo dropped into his seat, his hands clamped over his ears in a desperate attempt to block out the laughter and the cruel whispers that filled the air.

Despite his efforts to shut out the hurtful words, they still pierced through, like daggers to his already wounded spirit.

"Kiyo is dead."

"He's so stupid."

"He doesn't stand a chance against Goro."

The venomous remarks swirled around him, each word cutting deeper than the last.

Kiyo felt as though he were suffocating under the weight of their scorn, the relentless taunts echoing in his mind, impossible to escape.

Kiyo's body convulsed with shivers.

“I will kill them all!” A sudden thought hit in his mind.

His rage intestifying, beads of sweat forming on his brow as his heart raced uncontrollably.

Abruptly, he leaped to his feet and ran out from the classroom, leaving a chorus of laughter in his wake.

Amidst the taunts, Shiori rose, determined to chase after him, only to be stopped by the teacher's firm hand and words, "It was his choice, you remain seated.”

Kiyo dashed into the restroom, collapsing into a secluded corner, his sobs echoing off the walls in a symphony of anguish and frustration.

With each cry, his anguish seemed to intensify, reverberating through the tiled space…

Moments later, he stood up, his face marked by traces of his anguish, a stark testament to the depth of his pain.

Standing before the sink, Kiyo's gaze fixated on the dark void within its basin.

Suddenly, a red devil eye met his own, sending a jolt of terror coursing through him. With a scream, Kiyo recoiled, crashing into the wall behind him, his breaths coming in frantic gasps as fear overwhelmed him.

Collapsing to the floor, he remained paralyzed by dread for several moments after a few moments he summoned the courage to rise once more.

Casting a wary glance back at the sink, he found nothing but emptiness, the mysterious eye vanished without a trace.

Placing a trembling hand on his forehead, Kiyo whispered to himself, "This must be a hallucination."

Yet, as he turned on the tap, his worst fears materialized before him – blood flowing instead of water.

With eyes wide in horror, he bolted from the restroom, sprinting towards his classroom, heart pounding with each step

Hurriedly, Kiyo entered the classroom and slipped into his seat, burying his head in his arms, seeking solace in the darkness beneath. Tremors shook his frame, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as fear enveloped him.

The sight of him sent shockwaves through the classroom, leaving his classmates and even the teacher stunned, while Shiori glances at him with concern, unable to comprehend the situation.

A heavy silence descended upon the classroom, every gaze fixated on Kiyo's trembling form…

Moments later, he slowly lifted his head, only to find the room eerily deserted with no students, no teacher.

Doubt gnawed at his mind as he whispered to himself, "Was it all just a dream?"

Straightening in his seat, he scanned the empty space before him, only to be met with a sight of Shiori seated beside him and Goro standing nearby.

“Kiyo, are you okay?” Shiori asked gently.

“Yes, I’m alright,” Kiyo reassured her with a nod.

“Oh, Kiyo, what happened?” Goro teased, his tone laced with playful banter “Scared of a little competition, huh? You brought this upon yourself, no turning back now,”

With a comforting touch on Kiyo's shoulder, Shiori sought to understand, "Kiyo, why did you decide to challenge Goro?”

Kiyo met Goro's gaze with a firm resolve, stating, "I never issued any challenge, and you're well aware of that."

Goro's smile softened, his demeanour shifting, "Oh? Really? Well, I'd hate to see you struggle, my friend. Rest assured, I'll go easy on you. Winning isn't everything after all.”

Kiyo rose from his seat and quietly exited the classroom, leaving a concerned Shiori and a smirking Goro behind.

Heading homeward, Kiyo's path intersected once more with that troublesome gang. Their menacing presence loomed as they closed in on him, forming a barrier in his way.

“Hey, kid, heard you’re stepping up against Goro next week?” a gang member jeered.

Another chimed in with a mocking tone, "Why pick Goro? Should've picked someone weaker than you… Oh i forgot you are the weakest of all" Their laughter echoed, taunting Kiyo.

As Kiyo remained stoic in silence, another gang member interjected with a cruel jest, "I've got the perfect match in mind for you, Kiyo against a three year old and guess what? I'm putting my money on a three year old." Their laughters echoing,

Ignoring the verbal assault, Kiyo attempted to walk past them. Yet, before he could escape, a rough hand seized his backpack, wrenching him back to face the group. Withouts wasting a single second, a fist hurtled towards Kiyo's face, aimed with vicious intent.

While Kiyo observed the punch closing in on his face, it was abruptly halted by an intervening force, holding that boy's arm mid-air.

The collective astonishment was palpable as Goro was the one holding that boy’s punch in mid-air.

With commanding authority, Goro spoke up, "Listen up, you punks. In seven days, I'll be facing off against him in a fight, and I aim to dismantle him. But for that to happen, he needs time to heal. So, don't even think about laying a finger on him for the next week. Once I've dealt with him, then he is all yours. No one will stand in your way then.”

As the boys grinned in agreement, one boy spoke up, "Consider it done, Goro."

Their gaze then shifted to Kiyo, their warning clear, "If you manage to survive Goro's blows, then be prepared, because we won't hold back." Kiyo felt a shiver of fear coursing through him.

As the boy's gang chuckled and departeds, Goro fixed a chilling gaze on Kiyo, his grin sending shivers down Kiyo's spine.

Goro started walking towards Kiyo who started to retreat out of fear.

Just as the tension peaked. “Heyy,” a voice called out, cutting through the eerie atmosphere. It was Shiori.

Her sudden arrival caused Goro to abruptly halt in his menacing advance and replace his unsettling expression with a forced smile.

Despite Shiori's intervention, Kiyo remained gripped by fear.

As Shiori approached, she inquired, "What's going on here?"

“Nothing, just saving him from some dudes.” Goro responded with a calm smile.

Shiori’s concern echoed as she inquired, “Are you okay, Kiyo?”

Kiyo met her gaze briefly, offering a nod, then before starting to walk away.

Hastening after him, Shiori grasped his arm, pivoting him to face her, "What's going on? Why are you ignoring me like this?" she asked, seeming desperate for answers.

“Please, Shiori, not now. I can't handle this. Just let me be,” Kiyo responded curtly yet pleadingly.

“But why, Kiyo?” Shiori pleaded, her voice breaking. “What did I do to deserve this? If I’ve done something to hurt you, I’m truly sorry. I really am—.”

Suddenly, Kiyo raised his hand, a silent command for her to stop talking.

Shiori’s face went pale with shock, while Goro's face twisted into a sinister smile.

Kiyo looked at her with a cold, unreadable expression. “Shiori, please don’t ever come after me again.” With that, he turned and started walking away, leaving Shiori standing there, stunned and abandoned.

As Kiyo took a few steps forward, a scooter screeched to a halt right in front of him. Ayame was on the scooter.

Ayame shot him a cheerful smile, while Kiyo stood there, bewildered.

Shiori, watching from a short distance, glances at Ayame with a look of both confusion and concern.