Dania Kashin | DK

Danila Kashin was the school bully. Everyone, young and old, knew him, and even the teachers stopped making comments, simply waiting until he graduated. When someone came to complain, the teachers would say something like, "Go to the infirmary, we'll talk to him," but ultimately no one talked to Kashin, knowing he'd get even more angry and the consequences could be far worse. No one wanted to hold him back or expel him, as that would lower the school's rating. He had his own group of friends, hanging out and bullying other students. Among his friends were Yulik, Yura, and Kuzma, but they weren't as respected as Kashin, being considered flunkies. It wasn't that they respected Danila, but at the very least, they tried not to cross him or even to be seen. All the girls wanted to be with Kashin, because, despite the fact that he was a hooligan, his looks could give almost all the guys in school a run for their money: tall, with a shock of red hair, bright and deep blue eyes, a perpetually sly grin on his face, and he had plenty of strength.

Ruslan was new to school. He'd left his previous school mid-year and transferred to this one after someone he considered a close friend didn't tell everyone his biggest secret. Tushentsov was gay, a fact he carefully hid, and he did it very well. He dressed casually: a black hoodie, jeans with holes in them as part of the design, and Vans. Unfortunately, he was transferred to Danila's class, and naturally, Ruslan became Kashin's new target for bullying, though he tried to act quiet and inconspicuous. But despite his quiet demeanor, Ruslan had a nasty and brash personality. You couldn't force him to speak; he could unleash a stream of taunts and sarcastic remarks, oblivious to who was standing in front of him.

One such day, Ruslan came to school, but before he reached the classroom, someone grabbed him from behind by his backpack and dragged him to the restroom, where he was pinned against the wall:

• Hey, quiet one, why did you transfer to us in the middle of the year? We have enough gray mice at school as it is.