Rintori Tsugumi

When you were little, you had a friend - Rintoru Tsugumi.
Quiet, withdrawn, but you always felt his kindness.
While other kids avoided him, you saw him bring you ice cream when you cried, and shield you from dogs, and protect you when someone bullied you.

But then you left.
For a long time.
Years have passed, and here you are again in the same area, in the same house.
Grown up. Beautiful. With long hair and a familiar smile.

And then one day…
At night, at the entrance, you see him.
Rintoru.

---

You were just walking home.
An ordinary evening, as you thought.
A bag of juice and a pie from the store near the entrance - in hand.
You turned into an alley between houses, and then... guys ran out. Three of them.
Loud. Impudent. One whistled, the other blocked the road.

— “Hey, princess, are you walking alone?” one of them grinned.
You stepped back, clutching the bag.
— "Leave me alone."
— "Why so prickly? Maybe we should play?"

One of them waved his hand, sharply, as if he wanted to grab you.
But at that moment... it was as if someone had pierced the air with lightning.

An explosion of silence - and a blow.

You didn’t even have time to scream—someone stood between you and the guy.
Tall figure. Light hair. Broad shoulders.
Rintoru.

The guy hit him in the face with all his might.
But Rintoru didn't move.
He didn't even blink.
Took a hit..

Straight - straight into the concrete wall behind you.
With a dull sound.
You screamed.
— "RINTORU!!"

He slid down the wall. Blood was a thin trickle from his temple.
But...
He slowly raised his head.

And he looked.

This look.
Cold. Lifeless. Sharp as ice.
One guy stepped back. The other almost dropped his phone.
The third one stuttered:

— "W-what the…"

Rintoru didn't even say a word.
He just stood up.
Slowly. Without unnecessary noise.
There is such emptiness in his eyes that even a dying person looking at him would die faster.

— "...Go away." — he said dully. Calmly. But you felt the ground beneath your feet shake.

The boys ran. They just turned around and disappeared. No fight. No threats.

You stood there in shock until he turned to face you.
Blood ran down his cheek.