Hatsuhi

Raiden lived in Tokyo, Japan. And, his high school was located around the same area where he lived. 

He was never interested in studies or any other activities. He never had good grades in his school life but they were good enough so he wouldn't fail at least. 

He wasn't the type of guy who would make friends but still had a good relationship with all his classmates. He was that quiet kid who never troubled anyone. But he wasn't afraid of anything either, he just didn't find things around him interesting enough.

He always tried to search for things which would interest him as a result he tried to do as many different things to find his interest. But, he was never fond of things that normally people would like. So, he just tried to try and like things.

It was the age when high schoolers had the blood of youth in their veins and were eager to know more about the other sexes. Basically, they sought relationships and other stuff. When his classmates asked him about who his crush was, he supposedly had no answer. Considering people around him of his age had girlfriends and crushes, he went on his way and tried to make a crush. 

He made a single crush in his entire middle school life but she transferred to a different school. Raiden didn't feel much from it or more like he didn't care about it afterward. He only wanted something fun to come out of it but before anything could happen, she transferred.

His life just passed like that without finding something fun to do until his final year of high school.

That was the time when a girl caught his interest. A girl named Hatsuhi. A very beautiful girl with long black hair. She was the very definition of an angel. She could never see someone in pain, she always wanted to help whoever was in need. She always greeted everyone with a big smile. The same was with Raiden, whenever he looked at her, she looked him back with a big smile.

That smile could be the interesting thing Raiden was looking for all his life. So, he approached her. They became good friends. Despite the fact that Raiden wasn't interested in many things, he showed utter interest in Hatsuhi. 

'Maybe this is the thing that I wanted,' he thought.

He was kinda happy, for once.

But one day he was called behind the storage building which was behind the main school building. 

He found himself cornered against the back wall of the storage building. And, in front of him stood 5 boys who looked the same age as him.

"What is the meaning of this, Shogo?" Raiden asked.

"I should be the one asking that. Didn't I warn you to stay away from Hatsuhi?" said the guy who was standing in the middle of that 5 man group, directly facing Raiden. He looked strong but not much taller than Raiden. He had a bald head but his facial expressions were pretty good. Shogo, that was his name.

"Oh, so you thought I would care about your warning?"

"Raiden… Raiden… Raiden… I thought you were smarter than this. We both have known each other for such a long time so I thought you would understand what would happen if you go against me."

Shogo had a serious face at that time. He was the type of guy who would always want things to go according to him. All the underclassmen feared him. Even the teachers wouldn't want to get in any trouble with him. 

"Shogo, you might be some kind of big shot or whatever. But, I have made up my mind…. Hatsuhi will be mine!"

A fist came out and punched Raiden in his stomach. It came out all of a sudden during the conversation, Raiden wasn't ready for it.

"You bastard, how dare you to try and get between me and Hatsuhi," Shogo said, as he retracted his fist from Raiden's stomach. 

Raiden lost his balance by that sudden attack. But, he got a grip of himself immediately and stood fiercely against Shogo. 

"Okay if you want it this way then come and get me," Raiden said, as he launched his counterattack with a punch.

Multiple punches hit Raiden. They were the 4 boys who stood beside Shogo, his underlings.

Raiden was outmatched and couldn't handle all 4 of them at once.

"You guys, teach him a good lesson so that he would know his place." Shogo left while looking down on Raiden.

And, Raiden got beaten down by those 4 boys.

It was almost sunset. The sky was painted with a bright orange color. Raiden glared at that sky as he laid down behind the storage building. He was severely injured. 

The sound of footsteps came from the storage building's side. And, came a familiar face in front of Raiden.

"Toshi! What are you doing here?" Raiden asked.

"I should be the one asking that. What the hell happened to you?"

"Ahh. Nothing much. Just a little fight."

"It doesn't look little to me."

Raiden signed and got up on his feet. "Ouch. It hurts."

"See you are all messed up…. Who did you fight with?"

"It was Shogo. Apparently, he is after Hatsuhi too."

"Oh. That's bad news. So, what are you going to do?"

"I will beat the crap out of him, what else?" 

Toshi just silently glared at Raiden as he said that. "Let's go, it's getting late."

"Yeah."

The next day, the same thing happened. Raiden was beaten up by Shogo's group again. 

It kept on going like that starting from that day. Every time Shogo called Raiden behind the storage building. He went there, and tried to put on a fight but got beaten up.

That day Raiden again laid down behind the storage building staring at the orange sky.

"Yo. Toshi, you came today too."

"Yeah, I'm not gonna leave you here to die, you know."

Raiden again got on his feet and said, "Hey Toshi, why don't you help me take care of them?"

"Why should I? It's not my fight," Toshi replied with cold words.

"But you know, the fight's not fair. They are 5 and I'm only 1. I usually put on a good fight, I even got 3 of them that other day but like this, I'll never be able to put a scratch on Shogo. If just you are with me, I'm sure we can do this! After all, you are the president of the Dojo club, no one can win a fight against you if you have that wooden sword in your hands."

"Raiden, do you think I'll be always there to help you out whenever you need it? Do you think by depending on me you will be able to protect Hatsuhi by yourself? Think about it Raiden because in the end, it's a fight between you and Shogo for Hatsuhi."

Raiden just stood there lost in thoughts after listening to Toshi.

'He is right. If I can't do anything by myself here then I don't deserve to even think about being together with Hatsuhi. I have to overcome my problems without someone else's help,' that's what Raiden thought under that fading sunlight and soon darkness took over him.

The next day, Raiden was called behind the storage building again. Just like every day he went alone. 

Shogo's group was waiting for him there and when he arrived they all got surprised.

Because this time Raiden had a big metal rod in his hands.