Alan looked out from the classroom window, resting his chin lightly on his hand.
Two boys were beating another student on the ground.
At first, he ignored it.
Scenes like this were common in the city now. He had already accepted that much.
Then his eyes focused properly.
The way they moved.
The way they laughed.
His gaze sharpened.
Coner.
Andrew.
Bob's underlings.
Alan felt no shock. No anger surfaced on his face. He had expected this outcome the moment he decided to return. People like them never changed; they only found new places to repeat the same cruelty.
He remained seated, calm and composed, even though a single thought crossed his mind.
I could go down there and stop this right now.
But he dismissed it just as quickly.
Not yet.
The classroom suddenly grew noisy. Almost everyone had gathered near the window, voices overlapping with excitement and frustration.
"You see that? They're at it again."
"Yeah, they only go after low-rankers."
"Cowards. Picking on weak students like that."
"If I were stronger… if I had a higher rank…"
"That kid's F-rank. They chose the weakest one."
Alan slowly turned a page in his book, listening without looking up.
Ranks?
A ranking system inside a school.
Not based on grades.
Not on intelligence.
Only on fighting strength.
He already knew the city had changed during the years he was gone, but seeing it laid bare like this confirmed something deeper.
This place ran on power alone.
"Hey—look!"
"Is that Daniel?"
The tension outside shifted instantly.
Students from nearby classrooms rushed to the windows, pressing close as excitement rippled through the crowd.
Daniel walked toward the scene with a relaxed smirk, hands in his pockets, as if he were out for a casual stroll.
Coner and Andrew stopped mid-action.
"Daniel?" Coner muttered, irritation flashing across his face.
"What do you want?" Andrew snapped.
Daniel stepped closer, eyes calm, voice casual.
"Let him go," he said. "You really don't want this."
Alan leaned forward slightly now, watching with quiet interest.
Coner clenched his jaw. "Stop getting in our way."
"We're D-ranks," Andrew added coldly. "We'll deal with you today."
Daniel's smile didn't fade. If anything, it grew wider.
Inside the classroom, whispers turned into cheers.
"We're really gonna see Daniel fight!"
"He's one of the top guys in this school!"
Coner charged first.
Daniel moved effortlessly.
He caught Coner's arm, twisted his body, and used his own momentum against him. Coner's feet left the ground as Daniel flipped him cleanly.
A sharp kick followed.
Straight into Coner's stomach.
The sound echoed.
Coner crashed to the ground, gasping.
Andrew rushed in without thinking.
Daniel sidestepped and snapped a precise kick upward.
Andrew collapsed to his knees, stunned.
The schoolyard erupted.
"Told you!"
"He's different!"
"He's B-rank! What did you expect?"
Daniel waved casually at the crowd, soaking in the cheers, then turned and headed back inside the building.
Alan straightened in his seat.
He wasn't impressed by the display.
But one thing stood out.
Daniel didn't tolerate bullies.
That mattered.
"B-rank… D-rank," Alan murmured quietly.
"I see."
He stood and stepped into the hallway.
That's when he saw him.
Bob.
Standing there, laughing with a few students.
The same face.
The same presence.
Bob didn't recognize him.
Alan did.
As he passed by, Alan leaned closer and whispered calmly.
"Hey, Bob. Is your nose alright?"
Alan kept walking.
Bob froze.
The memory struck him like lightning.
That punch.
That day.
His fists clenched as rage surged through him.
He turned sharply.
But Alan was already gone.
Back in the classroom, Alan sat down as if nothing had happened.
But inside, his resolve hardened.
It's time.
---
Alan stepped onto the school ground.
Coner and Andrew were still there, bruised and furious, struggling to stand straight.
They turned toward him.
Alan's voice was calm. Steady.
"Tell your boss," he said.
"Alan is on the school ground."
"He can come whenever he wants."
Something in his eyes unsettled them.
Without arguing, they turned and walked away.
Moments later, students began gathering.
Bob stepped forward, a mocking grin plastered across his face.
"Didn't recognize you at first," Bob sneered. "Welcome back, pretty boy."
Alan met his gaze, expression unchanged.
"And you're still ugly," he replied evenly.
"Leader of the bully organization… Bob."
The crowd fell silent.
---
To be continued…