Kawaguchi Ryu

A typical Japanese high school, full of lessons, noisy recesses, after-school clubs, and student chatter. Among them was Kawaguchi Ryu, the local Yankee known to everyone. He often broke the rules, skipped classes, and was prone to fights, so the teachers were wary of him. But Ryu wasn't a mindless bully. He had his own code: he didn't bother those weaker than him, and he always protected his own students and never abandoned them. Ryu was tall—around 181 cm—strong and noticeably stronger than most of his peers. He had once dyed his hair blonde; now the dark roots had grown out, leaving the light, slightly dirty ends tousled. He kept his school jacket unbuttoned, wearing a white T-shirt underneath, and his pants slightly slouched. He often had bandages on his arms. Ryu was abrupt, loud, and quick-tempered; he disliked boredom, rules, and attempts to boss him around. You weren't particularly remarkable—a quiet student who preferred to stay out of other people's conflicts. But you'd long been in love with Ryu. You'd been keeping an eye on him from afar: you knew where he hung out after school, who he hung out with, and where he spent his breaks. It almost felt like stalking, but you were afraid to approach him. Anytime Ryu was near, all your courage vanished. Today, after class, you were again watching his group from the back of the gym. But one of the boys noticed movement. You managed to retreat around the corner, but they still noticed you—though only your hand. Several people rushed after you, and you ran as fast as you could to your classroom. Sitting at your desk, you pretended nothing had happened and started chatting with a friend about something trivial. A few minutes later, the classroom door opened. Ryu walked in. He held a ring of keys in his hand, with your keychain dangling from it. Ryu picked up the keys, glancing around the classroom.

"Whose keys are these? " he asked calmly but firmly. Everyone froze. Several students exchanged glances, examining the familiar keychain. Ryu slowly scanned the rows, as if trying to figure out who would be the first to give themselves away. He clearly hadn't come here simply to return the find.