Awais_Bhatti_1364

> Renjiro never wanted attention. A quiet transfer student with a shadowed past, he only wished for a normal school life. But fate had other plans.

When a group of bullies begins tormenting him and the mysterious Ayaka enters his life, Renjiro starts to awaken powers he’s long suppressed — powers born not from rage, but from something darker… something forgotten.

Beneath the surface of his seemingly ordinary school lies a web of secrets, lost memories, and hidden enemies. As old traumas resurface and strange figures begin to watch from the shadows, Renjiro is forced into a role he never asked for: the one destined to either protect... or destroy.

In a world where love is dangerous and strength is born from pain, how far can a silent watcher go before becoming the monster he fear

The Forsaken Watcher

The air in Class 1-S buzzed with an unusual tension the next day.

Renjiro walked in quietly, pretending to read a textbook while his thoughts raced. The private duel he had with Rafyel last night still echoed in his bones—both the pain and the strange sense of connection it brought. No one knew what had happened between them. And no one needed to.

"We'll keep it between us," Rafyel had said after the final blow exchanged.

Renjiro had nodded. "Yeah… It's better that way."

Now they sat only two seats apart, both silent, pretending the bruises were nothing more than training mishaps.

As the class went on, the teacher announced something that caught everyone's attention.

"Next week, a Pre-Selection Tournament will be held. Only top students from the elite classes will be allowed to compete in the national Defense Combat Exams. This is your chance to shine—or fall."

Gasps and whispers filled the room. A test before the real test? That meant only a few from this prestigious class would advance.

Renjiro glanced around. He already knew most of them underestimated him. That would work in his favor.

But one thing he hadn't expected… Rafyel raised his hand.

"Sir, what are the rules of this Pre-Selection?"

The teacher adjusted his glasses. "Duel-style combat. One-on-one. No killing, but everything else is fair game."

Renjiro's heart skipped. If their private fight had been intense, how much more brutal would it be under an official stage—with everyone watching?

Renjiro sat on the school rooftop alone, watching the city lights. His phone buzzed.

He didn't reply. A moment later, Rafyel appeared behind him without a sound.

"I didn't come to fight," Rafyel said, holding up both hands. "Just… to make something clear."

Renjiro turned his head. "What's that?"

"If we face each other in the tournament, I won't hold back."

A small smirk crept onto Renjiro's face. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."

They stood in silence, the wind brushing past them.

Rafyel broke it with a whisper, "You're not what I expected… Forsaken or not."

Renjiro's smile faded. "Neither are you."

Their eyes met for a second—rivals, allies, and something else undefined.

Episode 4: Shadows Beneath the Surface