A/N: My bad I forgot to update hehe

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After watching Ishida and Shimada leave, Akira was just about to lay his head down for a nap when Shouko reached out to stop him.

"Akira, Takeuchi-sensei said this class is self-study. Can you help me review some stuff I didn't understand from the last few days?"

She didn't care at all about Ishida Shoya being taken away—whether he was wronged or not didn't matter. He wasn't her Akira.

And right now, homework was more important.

"Alright," Akira nodded. He moved his chair beside hers and began quietly explaining the questions she pointed out.

Kawai Miki had grown used to scenes like this, and ignored it. She leaned closer to Ueno Naoka, continuing their hushed discussion about what had just happened with Ishida and Shimada.

Before long, Shimada Ikki returned to the classroom.

A few sharp-eyed classmates noticed that his eyes were a bit red, as if he had been crying. Akira noticed it too, but scoffed inwardly, guessing Shimada had probably just rubbed onions on his face to get sympathy.

About five or six minutes later, Takeuchi-sensei reappeared and called Shimada out again. But ten minutes passed, and only Shimada returned—Ishida Shoya was nowhere in sight.

DONG... DONG... DONG...

As the bell rang, Shimada walked over to Hirose Keisuke, tapped on his desk, and said casually, "Come outside for a second."

He didn't wait for a response.

Keisuke had a million questions boiling inside him anyway, so he followed without much hesitation.

Shimada led him down to a quiet corner under the school building—one that was shielded from view. Just to be safe, he looked around again, confirming there were no cameras or wandering teachers nearby.

Then he turned to Keisuke with a blank, almost cold expression. "Go ahead. Ask whatever you want."

That indifferent look was a complete contrast to the teary-eyed, pitiful version of himself from earlier.

Keisuke grabbed him by the collar, eyes burning with anger. "What the hell was that back there? You just threw Ishida under the bus—what now, am I next? Do six years of friendship mean nothing to you?"

Shimada didn't resist. He lightly patted Keisuke's hand, trying to loosen the grip.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Keisuke cut him off. "Don't play innocent. I know it was your idea to ditch through the back wall. Ishida just followed you."

Shimada let him finish, staying silent with an unreadable expression. After a beat, he chuckled softly. "You done?"

He slapped Keisuke's hand away and adjusted his collar. "I'll just say this once: If you don't break off from Ishida now, you'll get dragged down with him."

He didn't answer any of the questions.

Didn't apologize.

Didn't explain.

Just turned around and walked away, leaving Keisuke alone in the shadowy corridor.

After all, he only agreed to let Keisuke ask. He never said he'd actually answer.

When Shimada returned to class, Keisuke followed shortly after.

He didn't say a word.

He quietly picked up his desk and chair and moved them to a different corner—opposite from Shimada's. Far enough that they wouldn't have to look at each other.

The class noticed, but no one asked questions.

Even if Keisuke felt Shimada was disloyal, his gut told him: that warning wasn't a lie. And he had already sensed it—the rising hostility toward Ishida from some of their classmates.

He might not have liked it, but he understood survival.

"Baka yarou! I didn't think the prize for first place would be so damn generous!"

Word of the singing contest prize spread like wildfire across the sixth grade. Students buzzed with speculation, and soon, a new rumor began circulating:

"The grand prize was actually donated by President Miyamura Daiki—the dad of that Akira kid. First place was basically reserved for Class B. But after Ishida's little stunt, Miyamura got mad and told the Principal to pick some other class at random."

Whether it was true or not didn't matter.

The rumor spread like wildfire. No one really knew why Shimada wasn't mentioned in the story, but somehow, only Ishida Shoya had become the villain of the sixth grade.

Akira, already well-known, became even more untouchable after people learned who his father was. Nobody dared to openly challenge him—except Matsuoka Mui, of course.

The students of Class B didn't all believe the rumor, but they needed something—anything—to justify how their month of effort was wasted. This was a perfect excuse. A way to cope.

And it arrived just in time.

BANG!

A loud crash snapped the classroom out of its low hum.

A group of boys had just kicked over Ishida's desk and chair, scattering his books and pens across the floor.

"You—!" Kawai Miki stood up, about to speak—but Ueno Naoka gently pulled her sleeve.

Miki glanced over, confused.

Ueno shook her head and gave no explanation. Miki bit her tongue.

After all, they hadn't hit Ishida. Just kicked over his things.

And honestly? Miki still felt bitter about what had happened. As class monitor, maybe she should've spoken up—but not now. Not for him.

DONG... DONG... DONG...

Takeuchi-sensei stepped into the classroom with a math textbook in hand—and behind him was Ishida Shoya.

Some glanced at him.

Most didn't.

But Akira did. He noticed that Ishida's face showed no signs of being beaten. No bruises, no cuts. Still, something wasn't right.

His left leg—the way he walked—it was off. Slightly stiff. Limping.

When Ishida saw the overturned desk, scattered papers, and the distance Keisuke had placed between them, he said nothing.

Even Takeuchi-sensei, who clearly saw the mess, chose to look away.

Ishida silently bent down, picked up his books, and set his desk and chair upright.

He glanced once at Hirose Keisuke.

But Keisuke… couldn't meet his eyes. He looked away.

And Shimada?

He didn't even blink.

DONG... DONG... DONG...

"Class dismissed," Takeuchi-sensei muttered as he closed his book and walked out of the classroom.

Right before he stepped through the door, he paused and gave Ishida a long, unreadable look.

Ishida said nothing.

He packed his things and left—alone.

"Shoya, back so early today? Did Takeuchi-sensei say anything? And your leg—what happened?"

Ishida Miyako, cutting a customer's hair, looked up the moment her son walked in. She noticed the limp instantly.

Even as she asked, her hands didn't stop moving—years of practice.

When she got no answer, she tried again, "Where are Shimada and Keisuke? They usually come by. I even made snacks for them…"

"So noisy!"

Ishida Shoya suddenly snapped.

He threw his schoolbag onto the chair and stormed into the back room, slamming the door.

The outburst startled both Miyako and the customer.

Miyako quickly bowed and apologized. "Sorry, sorry! He's been really emotional lately. Got in some trouble at school…"

She glanced toward the room where her son had disappeared, heart heavy.

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POWER STONE!!!

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