It was still only the morning of the first day of school. Yamada had just eaten breakfast, and the blow to his stomach brought with it not only pain but a strong urge to vomit. This boy was stronger than he'd imagined, and far more skilled. After only three exchanges, Yamada had taken two more hits. He hurriedly backed away and waved his hands to show he was done fighting.
"Had enough?"
Yamada nodded silently, and Kitagawa Ryo lowered his fists. He turned back and grabbed Ryuen Kakeru by the collar, hauling him up. His actions looked rough and brutal, yet he was undeniably handsome. And his victim was Ryuen, who'd been acting so high and mighty moments ago. Nobody knew who started it, but suddenly applause broke out from the back of the classroom.
"Quit pretending, Ryuen. You think I don't know you?"
Kitagawa Ryo casually swept back Ryuen Kakeru's medium-length hair and gave his face a couple of light slaps.
"Wake up!"
"...I wondered if you might just be someone with the same name."
Ryuen Kakeru opened his eyes, his expression complicated, and looked at the boy before him—the one who wore a brighter smile than anyone and hit harder than anyone.
"Yeah, I wondered if you might just be someone with the same name, too. But that distinctive purple hair of yours gave you away."
Kitagawa Ryo twirled a lock of Ryuen Kakeru's long hair around his finger.
"Other than making you easy to grab in a fight because it's so long, and maybe making people mistake you for a girl, what's the point of all that purple hair?"
"Your mouth's as obnoxious as ever."
"Likewise. You've always been a pain in the ass."
Kitagawa Ryo easily blocked Ryuen Kakeru's punch aimed at his waist with his