Natural Instinct

*RING* *RING* *RING*

Echoing down the corridors, the bell's tolls announced that lunchtime at Tokyo High School had just begun.

Zayd lifted his head off his desk, his closed eyelids parted, allowing the shine of the sun to illuminate his slightly tanned skin. His features were a mix of Japanese and some other culture. However, instead of the differences making him look weird, they blended rather well.

When he was younger, having moved to Japan due to some family issues, Zayd had been living with his Aunt from his Mother's side. His grandmother was fully Japanese and his mother was half-Japanese. Hence, he was able to live here with his Aunt, who was his only family member that was here with him.

In the UK, his old home, his family including his Father, Mother, younger siblings, and his 4 Aunts and Uncles, each had some children older or younger than him. (The aunts and uncles are the ones who have children.) The reason why Zayd left was complicated. The solution wasn't any better considering it was what the adults came up with to deal with the problem.

Anyway, Zayd had stood up from his seat and stretched as he saw his fellow cohorts heading out of the classroom with some remaining to eat lunch with their friends. Some students lunches looked more exquisite than five-star food and Zayd's stomach grumbled in despair. The food was so close yet so far...

Checking his bag, the usual lunchbox was not there.

'Crap, I left my lunch at home.'

Scratching his head, he picked his bag up and left the classroom.

'Where can I get something to eat without paying? The roof? That will do.'

The reason he thought of the roof? Bullies. In other words, walking ATM's.

As he walked up the stairs to the roof, the door that was cracked open ajar allowed voices to resonate in Zayd's ears.

"Line up! It's lunch and my stomach isn't gonna feed itself, is it?!"

'These bullies are getting more efficient!' Zayd thought to himself satirically.

Raising his hand, he pulled open the door and once again the suns rays blinded Zayd.

"Oh shit, that's bright."

The roof's occupants stared towards the sudden disturbance and Zayd took a moment to process the scene before him.

Currently, four students that were relatively meek-looking were lined up together. A blonde-haired youth who looked rather sleazy was the one who was speaking.

Not so far away, three other youths were sat down waiting for the blonde-haired boy to be done and return to them. Lit cigarettes were grasped between their fingers as they observed him.

'Okay, so four? If they don't get intimidated that is.'

Making his mind up, Zayd walked towards the blonde-haired youth and stopped a couple of metres away. With both hands by his sides, he walked fearlessly towards the one who frightened the other students.

"Yo." Zayd took the initiative to talk, his voice unwavering as he was as calm as he seemed.

"The fuck do you want?" The blonde-haired youth scowled trying to look as unfriendly as possible.

"Well, frankly, I forgot my lunch and I'm hungry. I saw you were getting some money from here and felt shocked I didn't have the same idea. Could I have some?" Zayd's face looked as casual as possible as he said this. What the blonde-haired youth did not notice was the subtle way Zayd closed the distance between them as he spoke.

Looking towards his comrades, the one who looked like the leader shook his head.

Turning back to Zayd the blonde-haired guy's eyes contained a smidge of humour.

"No, I don't think-" Zayd had appeared way too close all of a sudden. A wide grin on Zayd's face appeared as he thought 'Finally!'

Zayd's right hand left the side of his body and struck the blonde-haired youth on the side of his chin strongly.

The lack of defence or preparation on the blonde-haired youth's side meant that his knees buckled and he fell face-first onto the floor.

'First and hopefully the last one?'

The blonde-haired youth's companions stood up together. They were currently feeling shocked. Zayd had knocked out the strongest person in their group with one punch. Though the nervousness they felt clouded their judgement, the sucker punch was what got him. Zayd wasn't strong enough to knock out the guy with one punch normally. What got him was the element of surprise.

"Shit! He just knocked Kazuki out with one punch! None of us can do that. How strong is this guy?!"

'Thanks for that!' Zayd had heard the guy as he panicked. He did what Zayd needed. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and he was currently influencing the other two. See, Zayd was intimidating them which was his goal the entire time. Through this mental confrontation, he had gotten one guy to give up, from there, it was easy as the tough part was over.

Now, he turned towards the three who had dropped their cigarettes from shock.

"So, about that lunch?"

---

"C-can I go now? I gave you the food..." The bully from before who gave up instantly, stood to the side of Zayd as he sat at his desk eating.

Zayd swallowed the last bit of the food and handed the trash to the bully.

"Put this in the bin and get lost."

The rat scurried off with his tail between his legs quicker than Usain Bolt running a 100-meter race.

Zayd had fallen asleep in the lesson before lunch as it was Maths, his worse subject. They had Physical Education next and he felt rather energetic today.

Impervious to most of the gazes on him, he smiled ferally in excitement.

---

Still blue, the sky was painted a spring hue with Cherry Blossoms floating through the air. It was a remarkably normal view for Zayd. After Physical Education had ended, there were some clubs on and Zayd had tried out swimming today so his hair was still quite wet and water was still in his ears.

Alone, he walked home.