Ren matsuda had survived many things in life —his mom's surprise test, the kendo club's accidental recruitment attempts, and once even a flying chalk from principal Nakmura.But nothing prepared him for what happened the next morning.
The entire school was staring at him.
Not the normal kind of staring ,like when you have toothpaste on your shirt.
No.
This was a kind of staring reserved for celebrities, gangster, and people who skipped the homework straight for 3 days...
Akio jogged up to him, completely out of breath. "REN! The rumor… it's out of control!"
Ren blinked. "What rumor?"
Akio grabbed his shoulders dramatically. "The one where you 'single-handedly fought a killer pigeon' at the school gate."
Ren almost choked. "WHAT?! I just screamed at it!"
"Exactly. But someone said it wasn't a scream—it was your secret gangster battle cry."
Ren's jaw dropped. "WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT?!"
Akio pointed behind him.
A group of first-year students gasped when Ren looked at them.
One whispered, "I heard he was raised by street fighters in Osaka."
Another added, "No, no… he trained with ninjas in the mountains!"
Ren pressed his palm to his face. "Why would ninjas train ME? I can't even climb stairs without tripping!"
Akio shrugged. "Rumors don't need logic. They just need speed."
Before Ren could respond, Hana walked toward them with her usual calm expression.
"Good morning," she said, though her raised eyebrow hinted she already knew something unusual was happening. "Ren… did you threaten anyone today?"
Ren groaned. "Not even a mosquito. I swear."
Hana sighed. "Well, Principal Nakamura wants to see you."
Ren's soul left his body.
"WHY?! What did I do?!"
Hana handed him a neatly folded notice. "Apparently, you scared three students so badly they refused to enter the school gate."
Akio snorted."The triple claws?"
Hana nodded. "Yes. They said Ren gave them a 'death glare.'"
Ren waved his hands wildly. "THAT WASN'T A DEATH GLARE! I was squinting because the sun was too bright!"
Hana tapped his sunglasses. "Maybe wear normal-sized glasses next time."
Akio patted Ren's shoulder. "Well, buddy… good luck. If you don't make it out alive, I'll tell your mom you were brave."
Ren glared at him. "AKIO!"
But it was too late.
Ren Matsuda was now on his way to the principal's office.
And for the first time in his life… he wished he had let that pigeon win yesterday.