Morning greeted Alvano once again, with warm sunlight streaming through the curtains of his room. Unlike the days before, today he woke up right on time, calm and unhurried. His body felt lighter, and his mind clearer—perhaps the effect of the renewed spirit sparked by his conversation with Theo last night. Everything about this morning felt in sync, as if the day had decided to flow perfectly for him.
After saying goodbye to his grandfather, who was preparing breakfast, Alvano stepped out of the house toward the bus stop. The streets that had been wet from yesterday's rain were now completely dry. The morning air was fresh and pleasant.
On his way, his eyes caught sight of a calico cat limping weakly by the roadside. It looked frail and tired. Feeling pity, Alvano approached it and took out a small dried fish snack from his bag—one his grandfather had given him earlier. It was his grandfather's favorite, though Alvano liked it too.
"Meow!" The sound was faint and pitiful. The cat meowed as if it hadn't eaten in days.
He offered the snack to it, and the cat cautiously began to eat, then devoured it eagerly.
As Alvano gently stroked the cat's head, a faint smile formed on his face. But when he glanced at his watch, he realized the bus would be leaving soon. Quickly, he got up and hurried to the stop.
When he arrived, the school bus was already waiting. He climbed aboard and searched for an empty seat. As usual, his Velmont High School uniform drew glances from other passengers. Many people turned their heads—everyone knew Velmont was a prestigious school for the rich and elite. Though Alvano wasn't from a wealthy family, he stood tall and confident.
Upon arriving at school, everything seemed normal—except for one thing: Theo was nowhere to be seen. Normally, Theo would greet him at the gate or wait for him in the hallway. But today, he was completely absent.
"That's weird," Alvano muttered with a short sigh.
He walked to class, hoping Theo would already be there. But when he entered, the seat beside him was still empty.
Alvano sat down and looked out the window, letting his favorite song play softly through his wired earphones. His mind drifted away.
The calm didn't last long. Minutes later, the room suddenly grew noisy. Loud footsteps echoed from the doorway, making everyone turn their heads.
Four students entered the classroom—each with heavy steps and intimidating expressions. They were known as bullies among the elite crowd. They rarely attended class, yet their names were feared.
One of them scanned the room, eyes sharp and searching, before landing on a new student sitting quietly in the corner. The new kid had transferred just two days ago and seemed friendly so far. But today, things were different.
The bully walked over with a smirk and shoved the new kid's desk hard, the sound echoing sharply. The class fell silent. No one dared to move or speak. Alvano frowned, his brow tightening. Something inside him began to stir.
The four began their usual act—rough, mocking, and cruel. One grabbed the new kid's bag and dumped its contents, another pushed his shoulder repeatedly until he almost fell off his chair. One even gave him a light slap across the cheek, pretending it was just a joke.
"We just wanna be friends," one of them said mockingly, his voice loud enough to draw laughter from the others. "But you've been ignoring us… not very polite for the new kid, huh?"
Everyone knew it was a lie. They weren't trying to make friends—they were trying to exploit him, to take his allowance or valuables. Despite their elite uniforms, not all Velmont students came from wealthy families. Some were from much lower classes, clinging to the school's name for status or power.
The new kid just sat there, trembling slightly, holding back anger and fear. Yet no one stepped in. The class stayed frozen, pretending not to see.
Alvano kept watching. His eyes hardened—something deep inside him was waking up.
A few more students entered the class, only to be greeted by the unpleasant scene. Among them was a short-haired girl known for her boldness. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone, intending to call the school's Emergency Number—a hotline for reporting violence or major violations.
But before she could, one of the bullies noticed. Moving quickly, he cornered her against the wall and snatched the phone from her hand.
"Trying to play hero, huh?" he sneered, his tone low and sharp. The girl froze, her face tense with shock.
"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong," he added, tossing her phone to another friend to hold onto. She bit her lip, angry but powerless against the rising tension.
The classroom fell into a chilling silence. The new student sat stiffly, head bowed, while everyone else pretended to read or stare at their desks.
Under his desk, Alvano clenched his fists. His anger simmered, ready to burst—but Theo's voice echoed faintly in his mind, like an anchor holding him back.
Still, one thought burned inside him:
If no one steps in… then who will?
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway. The bullies didn't notice, still focused on their victim. The sound grew closer—until a familiar figure appeared at the doorway.
Theo—disheveled hair, half-awake expression, and that same ridiculous grin.