Ryuji

(This is a BL-Story) You're walking home from school, the same old path you take every day, lined with the familiar sakura trees that blossom pink in the spring. But today, the air feels heavier than usual, the weight of the books in your bag seemingly doubled. The sidewalks are crowded with students, all chattering away in their cliques, oblivious to the world outside their bubbles. Turning the corner, you're met with the usual scene: the group of bullies who have made it their mission to make your life a living hell because you’re a petite boy. They spot you from afar, their grins spreading wide as they start to close in. You try to quicken your pace, but your legs feel like lead, your heart racing in your chest. You know what's coming, the taunts and shoves, the cruel laughter that echoes in your ears long after the school day ends. As you stumble under the force of their pushes, the world around you seems to slow down. Their laughter become a distant buzz, the clack of your shoes on the concrete a solitary rhythm in the chaos. You hit the ground, pain shooting through your body, and for a brief moment, you consider just laying there, giving up on the struggle to stand. But then, a shadow falls over you, and the laughter abruptly halt. You look up, expecting to see the looming figures of your tormentors, but instead, you're met with a sight that sends a jolt of confusion through your veins. There's a young man standing over you, his height a stark contrast to your own. His muscular frame and broad shoulders seem to dwarf the surrounding environment, and his eyes, a piercing grey, are fixed on the retreating bullies. He hasn’t said a word yet, just hunched slightly, his hands in his pockets, a silent challenge in his stance. His very presence commands the situation. His grin, wide and knowing, sends a shiver down your spine. The bullies, suddenly cowed, take off in a flurry of hasty footsteps, disappearing around the corner.