On the rooftop of Velmont High School's 11th-grade building, the morning air was still veiled in a thin mist. Three students wearing uniforms deliberately modified to look like street thugs lounged lazily near the guardrail. Cigarette smoke drifted from their mouths, filling the air with the stench of rebellion.
They were the notorious troublemakers, known among the lower grades as bullies and extortionists. But this time, their topic wasn't about a new target. It was about someone who had humiliated them a few days ago—Theodore, a student from Class 10-B.
"That bastard kid," grumbled one of them, a chubby student with ear piercings. He crushed his cigarette under his shoe and spat on the floor. "I still can't accept it. He really made us look like idiots in front of everyone."
"Relax, I told you," said the blond-haired student with a bandage covering part of his face. He smirked with satisfaction.
"Don't just talk big, bro," said the thin one with red-dyed hair. "That kid needs a lesson he'll never forget."
The blond took his phone from his jacket pocket and showed them a photo on the screen. "See this? Still doubting me? I already handled it."
In the photo, Theo's body was clearly visible lying on the asphalt, bleeding and unconscious. His motorcycle was wrecked not far from where he had fallen. Next to him, Alvano sat weakly, as if unable to believe what had just happened.
"Damn…" muttered the chubby one. "You seriously told someone to do this?"
The blond smirked wider. "I wouldn't say I told them. Let's just say… someone else happened to want to 'teach him a lesson.' We just helped make sure things went smoothly."
"But if we get caught, we're screwed, bro," said the redhead nervously.
"Too late," replied the blond casually. "That kid was half-dead yesterday. Maybe he's in a coma now—or crippled."
The three of them burst into low laughter. The rooftop air grew thicker with smoke and the sound of their crude laughter. But suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the metal stairs leading up to the rooftop. The three turned their heads as a fourth figure appeared—a slim student with sharp features and a lazy expression. His jacket hung loosely over his shoulder as he walked casually, as if he wasn't in a hurry despite bringing important news.
"You're late, Ray," the blond grumbled, narrowing his eyes. "You think we're up here enjoying the breeze?"
Ray chuckled lightly. "Chill, I brought good news."
The other three perked up, sitting straighter. The chubby one leaned closer. "What news? Don't tell me that bastard's finally dead?"
Ray shook his head slowly, then leaned against the concrete barrier. "No, not yet. But I just heard from the kids downstairs—Class 10-B's class rep, that Joshua guy—left school this morning during first period. No one knows where he went."
"Joshua?" the redhead asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why would that guy suddenly leave?"
The blond frowned. "Don't tell me… he knows something?"
Ray shrugged. "Who knows. But you guys know how that 10-B class is. They always stick their noses into other people's business."
"Hah, Class 10-B has been annoying since day one," snorted the blond. "Still, we should be careful."
"Relax," said Ray with a crooked grin. "As long as we don't mess with the elite class, nobody will care. What matters is that our target stays clear."
They laughed lightly, convinced everything was under control. But they didn't realize that the seeds of chaos they had sown were already sprouting—ready to grow into a storm that would soon consume them all.
Meanwhile, Joshua stood leaning against the large window in the VIP hospital corridor, letting the cool breeze from a narrow opening tousle his hair. His gaze was blank, fixed outside without truly seeing the city slowly brightening under the morning light. His thoughts were too tangled, drowning in unanswered questions.
He recalled Theo's expression when he asked about the incident yesterday. A calm face hiding too many things—secrets he clearly didn't want to share. Theo wasn't the type to get nervous easily or to shoulder burdens alone, but this time felt different. There was something he was deliberately hiding—from Joshua, and perhaps from Alvano too.
"If this was just a random attack, why did Theo react that way?" Joshua muttered under his breath.
The face of the man in the black jacket that Alvano had described haunted him constantly. Alvano wasn't the type to exaggerate, especially about fights. If he said that man was strong and cunning, then that man was no ordinary person.
Joshua frowned deeply. 'His fighting skill was like a trained criminal,' Alvano had said. And if that was true, why would someone like that suddenly appear out of nowhere—just to brutally attack two high school students?
His mind drifted back to the past—to the day Theo fought off dozens of thugs alone just to protect him in their first year of middle school. Joshua, weak and terrified, could only hide, while Theo stood tall and fearless before them.
Another memory flashed: when Theo stopped a brutal bullying case at school but was made the scapegoat and expelled instead. All those sacrifices made Joshua realize—Theo wasn't an ordinary person. He had strong principles, immense courage, and secrets he rarely shared with anyone.
"Could all of this… be connected to Theo's past?" Joshua murmured quietly.
The anxiety in his chest grew heavier. Joshua could feel it now—the attack yesterday wasn't random. There was a hidden thread linking everything together, and he hadn't pulled it all the way yet. Maybe someone had been targeting Theo from the start, and yesterday's incident was only the beginning of something much bigger.
He clenched his fist. "I have to find out… before it's too late."
After a few minutes calming himself outside, Joshua returned to the room. His steps were light, but his mind was still full of questions. Still, seeing his two friends looking slightly better eased his heart a little.
Theo sat leaning against the bed with an IV in his arm, his face pale but his gaze sharp and steady as always. Beside him, Alvano sat in the companion's chair, his face bright like a kid who had just heard good news.
Joshua smiled. "You two really haven't changed at all," he said warmly, glancing between them.
Theo turned to him. "Jo, can I ask something… You're the one paying for this hospital, right?"
Joshua raised an eyebrow, then shook his head with his usual playful tone. "Not me. A holy angel descended from heaven and paid everything with sacred gold."
Alvano couldn't hold back a chuckle, hearing Joshua's exaggerated style that always lightened the mood. Even Theo gave a faint smile, though his expression showed mild annoyance. "You're so dramatic, Jo," he muttered.
Joshua shrugged casually. "At least that sounds cooler than saying, 'I have no idea who paid,' right?"
That small joke warmed the room. Though Joshua's heart was still tangled with doubt and worry, for now—seeing Theo and Alvano laugh together—was enough to ease him. At least they could still joke like before. And for now… that was enough.