12. Not a delinquent

Neo sat in the bustling cafeteria, poking at his plate of fried rice with a fork. The aroma was rich and savory, and the food looked delicious, but he wasn't really tasting it. His mind was still on everything that had happened—the fight, the new roommates, the sheer unpredictability of life at the academy.

As he absentmindedly took another bite, he noticed someone approaching his table. He looked up to see Sophie, her usual warm smile lighting up her face. She had a natural grace about her that made her presence soothing, especially after the day he'd had.

"Hey, Big bro," Sophie greeted, sliding into the seat across from him. "How are you holding up?"

'Wow! she calling me big bro just made my day better'

Neo caught some students looking at him with envious gazes.

Ignoring them Neo sighed, setting down his fork. "I've had better days," he admitted. "My roommates—they're all girls. And it's… complicated."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Complicated how?"

"Let's just say living with them isn't exactly easy," Neo replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's a lot of awkwardness, misunderstandings, and honestly, I'm not sure how to deal with it all. I'm just not used to this kind of situation."

Sophie chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "That does sound like quite the predicament. But don't worry, Neo. It's just a matter of time before you all get used to each other. My advice? Just be yourself, but also be considerate. They're probably just as unsure about you as you are about them."

Neo nodded, appreciating her words. "I guess you're right. I just didn't expect to be thrown into such chaos right off the bat."

"Well, life does have a way of surprising us," Sophie said with a wink. "But hey, how about we do something fun to take your mind off things?"

"Like what?" Neo asked, curiosity piqued.

"Table tennis," Sophie suggested, her smile widening. "You seemed interested last time I saw you watching the game. Why not give it a shot?"

Neo hesitated, remembering his previous embarrassment, but then he saw the enthusiasm in Sophie's eyes. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to let go of his worries for a bit. "Alright," he agreed, a small smile forming on his lips. "Let's do it."

Sophie grinned, her excitement contagious. "Great! Finish your fried rice, and I'll meet you at the court. We'll have some fun and maybe, just maybe, you'll beat me.

Neo couldn't help but laugh, the weight on his shoulders feeling a little lighter. "We'll see about that," he said, taking another bite of his fried rice with renewed appetite.

AF er he finished eating, they quickly left the cafeteria and headed to the table tennis court were they played table tennis.

"Wow, you are getting really good at this", Sophie said, staring at Mia Who just lost six games in a row, Neo stood there, panting as he held the racket in his hand.

"If I had known you were this skilled in playing I would have never challenged you", she said staring at Neo who just won six games in a row, he smiled at glanced at her if he told her that he only started playing table tennis today, hes was sure that she wouldn't believe him, neo was naturally good at sports biy he had to quit so much extra curricular activities so he could face his studies more.

The seniors around him were all shock that a junior beat their best players so effortlessly, "Wow boss teach me your tricks" a senior came up to himand asked.

"Maybe next time", Neo had to study as his parents always tell him, 'the early bird gets the worm', neo just made his way to the library, and decided to study.

A few hours past and Neo is seen heading back to his residence(the last place he wants to be in this life), but he had to get there because the sun had already settled, and the curfew was due 10 o'clock, Neo dragged his feet through the now empty street feeling disheartened.

"Hey punk!", a voice rang, Neo looked to the origin ot the sound with a smug expression on his face.

There a group of seniors blocked his path.

Neo stood at the mouth of the dimly lit alley, the soft glow from distant streetlights casting long shadows across the narrow passage. His gaze was fixed on the group of bandits blocking his path, their leader, a burly man with a cigarette hanging lazily from his lips, stepping forward with an air of arrogance. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol was faint in the air, mixing with the stench of the alley, giving the scene an unsettling atmosphere.

The leader sneered, his voice dripping with contempt as he barked, "Back off from Sophie, kid. This isn't your business."

Neo's eyes narrowed, his expression cold and unyielding. His hands were relaxed by his sides, but his entire body radiated tension, like a coiled spring ready to explode. "Or what?" he replied, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.

Despite his calm demeanor, Neo was acutely aware of the situation. He wasn't a delinquent by nature, but life had a way of throwing him into the fire. Countless fights had molded him into a fighter, not because he sought out violence, but because he had to defend himself against those who saw him as an easy target—a weak boy to be bullied and broken. But Neo was anything but weak.

He quickly analyzed the group: eight men, each varying in size and build. The leader was the largest, his frame imposing, but his movements were slow, sluggish from too much alcohol. Two others were lean and wiry, their eyes sharp and predatory—likely the fastest among them. The remaining five were average in build, but the way they held themselves suggested they had some experience in street brawls.

Neo's mind raced as he calculated the best way to take them down. He needed to act fast and decisively, taking out the strongest first to demoralize the rest. He noticed the subtle shifts in their posture, the way their eyes darted to one another, silently communicating. They were about to make their move.

"You piece of shit."

Suddenly, the leader lunged forward, aiming to grab Neo by the collar. But Neo was quicker. He sidestepped effortlessly, bringing his right elbow up to slam into the leader's jaw with a sickening crack. The man staggered back, dazed, but Neo didn't give him a chance to recover. He spun on his heel, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to the side of the leader's head, sending him crashing into the brick wall.

'The last time the girls attacked me, I was unprepared and in the wrong, but now... '

The two wiry men rushed in from either side, hoping to catch Neo off guard. Neo ducked under a wild punch from the one on the left, countering with a swift uppercut that connected with the man's chin, sending him sprawling to the ground. The second wiry man tried to tackle Neo from behind, but Neo twisted his body at the last moment, grabbing the man's arm and flipping him over his shoulder. The man hit the ground hard, the air rushing out of his lungs with a wheeze.

'these men are trying to hurt me, for no just cause"

The remaining five hesitated, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. But their hesitation only lasted a moment before they charged at him all at once, hoping to overwhelm him with their numbers.

Neo met them head-on. He dodged a punch aimed at his face, countering with a vicious knee to the attacker's stomach, doubling him over. He spun around, delivering a sharp elbow strike to another man's temple, sending him reeling. Another bandit swung a metal pipe at Neo's head, but Neo ducked under it, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it until he dropped the pipe with a pained yelp. Neo followed up with a headbutt that left the bandit seeing stars.

Two men remained, but they were already backing away, fear creeping into their expressions. Neo didn't let up. He closed the distance with a burst of speed, delivering a flurry of punches to the first man's torso, each strike landing with precision and force. The man crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.

The last man tried to flee, but Neo was on him in an instant. He grabbed the man by the collar, pulling him back before driving his knee into the man's ribs. The man collapsed, groaning in pain.

Neo stood amidst the fallen bodies, his chest rising and falling steadily as he caught his breath. His clothes were slightly ruffled, but he was otherwise unharmed. The leader, barely conscious, stared up at him with a mix of fear and disbelief.