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The impact was immediate. Misaki staggered back, her eyes wide with shock and pain. Orion watched as she clutched her stomach, gasping for breath. His heart throbbed with sympathy but he stood his ground. "Is this enough?" he asked, his voice echoing around them. "Or do you want more?"

Orion wasn't necessarily a violent person, but he wouldn't back down from a fight, especially when it was justified. He was more than willing to go the extra mile for those he cared about, be it in the form of kindness or a punch. That was just who he was.

The crowd watched in stunned silence as Misaki gasped for breath, the echo of Orion's punch still lingering in the air. Even Tatsumi seemed at a loss for words, his smug expression replaced by one of shock.

"Big Sis!" Tatsumi cried out, but Misaki held up her hand, silencing him. Despite the pain clearly etched on her face, she straightened up, refusing to back down. Her stubbornness earned a flicker of respect from Orion, even though he wouldn't hesitate to knock her down again if needed.

"You fight dirty," Misaki managed to say through gritted teeth.

"No," Orion corrected her, his voice as cool and steady as ever, "I fight to win. Just like you."

The air was electric with tension, the students watching the showdown with bated breath. Luna and Aurora watched their brother with mixed emotions. They were worried, sure, but they also knew their brother was more than capable of handling himself. And there was a certain pride that swelled in their hearts, watching him stand up to Misaki.

"Just stop, Misaki," Orion called out, his voice reverberating in the silent courtyard. "This fight is pointless. It won't change the fact that your brother was wrong."

Misaki's gaze wavered, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. It seemed that Orion's words had finally started to penetrate her stubborn facade. But before she could respond, Tatsumi's voice rang out.

"Big Sis, don't listen to him!" he cried out. "He's just trying to trick you."

Orion shot a cold glance at Tatsumi, irritation flaring up in his chest. "Stop hiding behind your sister, Tatsumi. If you have something to say, say it to my face."

The blatant challenge in Orion's words sent a shockwave through the crowd. Students exchanged wide-eyed glances, murmurs of surprise rippling through the air. Tatsumi seemed taken aback, his bravado crumbling in the face of Orion's cool defiance.

As Orion's gaze returned to Misaki, he found her studying him, her eyes filled with a new understanding. There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other, each reading the other's resolve.

"Fine," Misaki finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice held a begrudging respect. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe my brother was in the wrong."

At this point, the crowd caught up with what was happening, and a chorus of voices rose.

"Wait, she thinks her brother is innocent and Orion is a bully?" someone questioned, disbelief apparent in their voice.

"Yeah, like we don't know what her brother and his crew are capable of," another voice scoffed, rolling their eyes. The crowd murmured in agreement.

"Didn't Tatsumi and his friends pick a fight with Orion?" a third voice pointed out, the speaker looking towards the others for confirmation.

"He did! And they ended up on the floor!" another one chimed in, a hint of laughter tinging their words.

Hushed whispers and mumbles of assent rippled through the gathered students, recounting various incidents that highlighted Tatsumi's less than exemplary behavior. The disbelief at Misaki's initial accusation slowly gave way to scoffs and pointed looks.

The collective opinion of the crowd painted a clear picture, one that showed Tatsumi in a far less favorable light than Misaki had been led to believe. Misaki's expression wavered, her brows furrowing as she took in the murmurs of the crowd, the undercurrent of their words slowly chipping away at her misplaced trust in Tatsumi's innocence.

She turned to look at her brother, her eyes filled with a strange mixture of emotions. "Is this true, Tatsumi?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the din of the crowd.

Tatsumi hesitated, his gaze darting between Orion and the crowd. His mouth opened, then closed, as though he was struggling with what to say. Finally, he muttered, "I just did what I thought was right."

His words hung in the air, the murmurs from the crowd growing louder, their skepticism and derision palpable. Orion, however, didn't miss the lack of denial in Tatsumi's response.

Misaki turned back to face Orion, a tumult of emotions in her eyes. "And you... You stood up to them?"

Orion met her gaze evenly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Someone had to."

The crowd watched as the dynamics between Misaki and Orion shifted, the tension ebbing away to be replaced with a newfound understanding. The siblings, Luna and Aurora, also watched on, their eyes sparkling with a mix of relief and pride.

As Misaki digested Orion's words, a thoughtful silence descended upon her. For the first time since their encounter, she genuinely looked at Orion, truly saw him. He wasn't the villain she'd initially painted him as. Her gaze softened, a flicker of respect crossing her eyes.

Finally, she sighed, rubbing her temples as if warding off a headache. "Tatsumi," she called, her voice ringing out clear and firm over the crowd. "We need to talk."

Orion watched as she walked away, her body language expressing disappointment and resignation. His gaze then shifted to Tatsumi, whose face was a mix of surprise and apprehension. A sense of satisfaction washed over Orion. After all, wasn't his philosophy of life all about doubling back? Tatsumi's attempt to tarnish his image had backfired spectacularly, and he had to face the consequences of his actions. It was as simple as that.

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