Ryan finally got back into his small apartment, barely conscious. The air inside of his room was warm and fresh—the faint hum of the old fan was the only sound filling the room.

He kicked his shoes off and tossed his backpack to the side as he jumped on top of his bed, face first.

For a moment, he just lay there as he blindly stared at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling. His body still ached, his muscles were completely sore, but his mind was full of thoughts.

'Make a Crew. Get five members to join it. Take down the West High Crew.'

He tucked his hands behind his head as he let out a deep sigh; he repeated his words as he muttered under his breath. "Five people..." voice low, staring blankly at the cracks on the ceiling. "I thought that my only goal was to just get fit and live a better lifestyle..."

A small chuckle left his mouth. "And now I'm supposed to fight the gangs and even lead my own crew. And take down the damn school!?"

He sighed deeply as he covered his face with both of his hands; he rubbed his fingers on his eyes. "How the fuck did my life turn into this?"

Then he thought about something that hit his senses. He suddenly got up as he sat on his bed, legs crossed—eyes wide in shock. "Wait—" he said aloud, realization hitting him. "Arthur joined me. Arthur Fucking Kane joined me!"

The words came out of his mouth, half excited, half disbelief. He jumped up and paced around the room. "No, no, no, no! That's fucking crazy. Arthur doesn't join anyone! He's the guy who doesn't even talk to the people in the damn school."

[DING!]

[Host, calm down.]

The system's voice suddenly echoed inside of his head as his head suddenly shot up.

Arthur Kane is not someone who does things without reason. I believe he has his own plans for joining you.]

Ryan stopped as he rubbed the back of his head. "You're right, system," he muttered to himself. "There's definitely a damn reason why he chose to join me... but still."

He fell back on the bed and turned to his right as he tucked the pillow inside of his legs. "Arthur Kane is now on our side... The best support in the school on which I can rely."

For a brief moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the thought before closing his eyes. His body felt a bit heavier, tired—finally, he drifted into sleep.

The next morning came fast.

Ryan woke up with the rays of sunlight coming into his room through his half-opened window, forming the shadows over the ground. His body was still a bit sore, but it was bearable. He got up quickly as he ironed his school uniform and wore it.

He slowly slung his bag on top of his right shoulder and left his apartment.

As he walked towards the school gates, the air felt a bit different. Maybe it was just back in his head, but people were now looking at him differently than they used to. Whispering, pointing.

He wasn't sure if it was because of his fight in yesterday's tournament or because he had been so close to Arthur lately—maybe both; it could be either way. He kept his head low and went straight to his class.

As he entered inside, Arthur was already sitting there. Ryan looked at him as he walked towards him and sat next to him. He placed his bag on the hook next to his seat as he said, voice low yet soft. "Morning, Arthur."

Arthur didn't look at him and leaned into his seat as his voice came. "Yeah, morning."

That was all that he said, nothing else. No type of questions, just the usual Arthur response—short and calm.

Class went on as usual; the teacher droned on about equations and formulas, but Ryan's focus was elsewhere; he was lost in his own mind. Every now and then, he glanced sideways, towards Arthur, trying to figure out what was going on in his head.

He'd joined him so easily, without any second thought—no argument, no hesitation. Just one word, okay?

And yet, even now, Arthur looked like someone who didn't need anyone.

When the lunch bell finally rang, Ryan stretched his arms and let out a deep yet quiet sigh. "Let's go eat? It's lunch break now," he asked.

Arthur simply got up and started walking towards the main door of the classroom, didn't say anything to Ryan, and his steps were deliberate.

Ryan smirked as he followed behind him. "Well, I guess that's a yes."

The cafeteria was buzzing with its usual chatter—crowded tables, loud chatter, and the clatter of trays and spoons echoing together through the cafeteria hall.

Ryan grabbed the tray and spoon as he stood in the line to get the food.

Arthur simply got up and started walking without saying a word. He went out to the counter as he put grilled chicken, rice, and a few veggies into his tray. While Arthur's plate was full of too healthy food—plain chicken breast, 5 boiled eggs, and salad.

"Do you even eat something good? Always your food looks so tasteless; try something nice sometimes," Ryan said with a small smile on his face.

Arthur didn't look towards him as he said. "Food isn't supposed to taste good; it's supposed to work and fuel you."

Ryan slowly rolled his eyes. "Right. I forgot that I was eating with a machine who only works out." He let out a small chuckle as he followed behind Arthur.

Arthur's lip twitched—the closest thing to a smile Ryan had seen all day.

They both went to a table that was at the end of the cafeteria, the quiet spot where no one comes except for them.

As they both took their place, they had barely started eating as someone pulled up next to them with a chair in their hand as they placed it next to Ryan and sat.

Ryan slowly looked up, chewing on his grilled chicken, and then froze.

"Maya?"

She slowly sat down next to him without any kind of hesitation, setting her tray on the table. The smell of her food mixed with the noise of laughter and chatter around them, but at their small table, things suddenly felt too quiet.

Arthur just sat across from them, eating his food without paying any kind of attention to the current situation, calm as ever; his focus was only fixed on his plate.

"Hey," Maya said; it was her first time when she talked this softly to Arthur. "You two look like you've been through hell."

Ryan gave a nervous laugh to her as his voice came out. "Yeah... it's something like that, haha."

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