#'high and mighty' he accuses & proceeds to dominate mc

[peachmused]

READ ON AO3 // SUMMARY // CHAPTER ONE / CHAPTER TWO / CHAPTER THREE / CHAPTER FOUR

okay mc would for sure be in pieces if this were canon BUT it’s not so B-) kinda really had fun writing this chapter, and managed to squeeze it in before bed! as usual, hope you enjoy reading, and if my writing’s adequate enough lol feel free to leave likes, reblogs, and/or comments! ♡ i am dESPERATE

Once the voyage through Shakespeare’s early life and influences was complete, our teacher shut off the projector, signaling the end of class. For most, this meant a five minute break in between the periods, in which they could find relief in a water or bathroom break. Alas, I was not one of the majority. The moment I stowed my books away, I knew the following minutes would be the longest ones in my life.

Importunate and increasingly cross, Yuma sauntered towards me. His eyebrows were as arched as ever, the same, murderous look falling over him. At these times, I was yet again in awe at how anyone could stand the brute.

“Get up.” he ordered, the abrasive edge to his voice making me flinch. Though I longed to remain nestled into my chair, away from the torment I was soon to endure, his unflinching stare had some hypnotic effect on me. It was the very same feeling I’d tried to resist earlier, yet this time, I was sure that victory would be in his hands. Grudgingly, I got to my feet, only to be wrenched towards him by the wrist. The boy obviously had no sense of cordiality; he dragged me out of the classroom and down the hall, ignoring my exclamations.

“Let… go!” I commanded for the sixth time. As we turned into an isolated corner, he finally released his grasp on me. I shot him a venomous stare as I rubbed my aching wrist. I could now affirm that this man had extraordinary muscles, ones that could break bones effortlessly.

Paying no heed to the damage he’d caused, Yuma stuffed his hands into his pockets, his lips turned downwards. “Shameless as ever, aren’t ya?” he growled, referring to the scowl spoiling my expression. “I should just suck you dry…” he then muttered to himself.

My frown only deepened as I tried to understand his words. Perhaps it was an abstract metaphor.

Rather than get lost in contemplation, I decided to speak up for myself. “This is violence!” I contended, raising the reddened wrist, “I can have you suspended for this!”

Eyes narrowing, Yuma opened his mouth to retort, but I quickly continued, “My family’s quite influential in this area. If I want, I can even have you expelled.”

It was at these words that something ignited within his coppery eyes, something incredibly dark and resentful. If looks could kill, I would have already been chopped and seasoned.  

“Shut up!” he boomed, hurling his fist toward me. My eyes promptly squeezed shut, only to snap open at the realization that I was not his target. The wall just beside me quaked, while my cheek was left untouched. Breaths quickening, I felt my lips part as my gaze fell to the curled fist only millimeters away from me.

My words had no effect on the man. Instead, it was as if I had just sparked an unquenchable bloodthirst, one driven by fervent distaste. It was the very first time I’d ever witnessed such belligerence, and everything that came out of my mouth just seemed to make things worse.

Cautiously, I lifted my head to glance up at him. His face drew near mine, invading the invisible bubble which shrouded me.

“Acting like you’re all high and mighty… Using your so-called ‘influence’...” Yuma hissed, sending shudders through my body, “I hate girls like you the most.”

Hate. Although the feeling was mutual, it was the manner in which he spat those words which left me momentarily speechless. No one had ever admitted that they despised me, let alone disliked me. To have actually heard those words from someone after seventeen years of living, I could not think of a proper response. Something pressed against my chest, as if his words were weights crashing down upon me.

Our gazes locked onto one another, our breathing somehow synchronized. With my lips flattened, I attempted to clear my mind, in hopes of being able to spit back a biting remark.

“W-well, you’re in luck,” I sputtered, “I can’t stand the sight of you!”

The twitch of his lips left me wondering what he was going to frighten me with next. Though he could snap me in two if he so desired, something was preventing him from doing so. Instead, he continuously tormented me with threats and intimidating stares, just on the brink of murder. Secretly, I speculated over what could possibly be stopping him from physically shutting me up.

I didn’t have time to think, however, as the boy in question uncurled his fist and pressed his palm against the wall, slamming his other hand near the other side of my head. Again, I winced, my reactions only encouraging him.

“You’re lucky to still be alive…” Yuma revealed, “After ruining that day, of all days…”

Before I could press for an explanation, he lifted his chin menacingly, and continued, “How are you gonna pay me back, woman?”

As bizarre and minuscule as it sounded, perhaps I really had spoiled his plans by snagging the last seed packet. But my actions could never be the direct cause of his misfortune, so there was no sense in blaming me for it. In fact, the way he’d cornered me and demanded for an answer was beyond petty. If he so desperately needed that divine seed packet, he might as well have rushed to another store to buy one!

I felt the injustice wrench at me, and made sure to give him an earful.

“Pay you back?” I repeated incredulously, “I haven’t done anything wrong! I’m sorry your little date didn’t work out, but that isn’t my fault.” Regardless of whether I’d hit the nail on the head or not, I applauded myself for the quick thinking.

At my assumptions, Yuma’s expression hardened. Through gritted teeth, he fumed, “Don’t say things you don’t know shit about.” With each syllable, his breath tickled my neck, and I became acutely aware of the distance between us. From this close, I could take in his uncannily pale skin and inhale the woodsy scent he carried. I hadn’t noticed this before, but his natural fragrance weirdly reminded me of my grandmother’s. Zero lavender and much thicker, but similar nonetheless.

A wave of hostility crashed over us. I held my breath, my fists curling as I struggled against the urge to claw at his tangled hairs. In the meanwhile, the man stepped backwards, cracking his knuckles as if it were the most normal thing in the world.  

Although his body was no longer inches from mine, I couldn’t tear myself from the wall. Instead, I remained frozen in place, watching his every move. As the heavy silence began to lift, Yuma lolled his head backwards just as he’d done so earlier. Panic gripped at me, convincing me that this time, it would not end with simple threats.

“Are you really that low?” I finally blurted, my nerves in a wreck, “You’re going to hit a girl for opening her mouth?”

Squaring his shoulders, the man in question remained unbothered, his expression detached. “You’re only asking for it.” he justified, scanning me up and down as if deciding which bone to break first. My instincts told me to run for it, but as soon as I hoisted myself off the wall, two, large hands hurled me against it once more. Crying out, I reached for the back of my head, but my arms were effortlessly pinned above me.

At this point, my eyes were pressed shut, obscuring the being hovering above me. I knew that if he were to lay another finger on me that he would be faced with grave consequences, but in the moment, I was overcome with fear. Yuma radiated an unconstrained confidence, one that I now realized could drive him to butcher me into pieces.

Through the nauseating surge of terror, I managed to slip in a prayer, in hopes that the heavens would heed my pleas. Just as I did so, a voice fittingly broke the tension between us.

“Yuma.”

I snapped my eyes wide open, the cells in my body flooding with relief. We turned to meet the scornful gaze of an elegantly built form. The student who happened upon our feud was slender and sharp-featured, his dark coiffure complementing silvery eyes. Though his brows were as aggressively arched as Yuma’s, there was an aura of poise emanating from him—an attribute that was sorely foreign to a certain Grizzly.

With the simple call of his name, this stranger commandeered Yuma’s attention. I watched in fascination as the brute released his grip on me, backing away as he was told.

“You got one hell of a sixth sense, Ruki,” the taller man grumbled, languidly itching the back of his head as if he hadn’t just nearly beat a girl up. The incomer—apparently named Ruki—wore a look of genuine concern. The tone of his voice, however, radiated frustration.

“I have to,” he snapped, “otherwise you’ll end up with another fifteen demerits.” His steely gaze dropped upon me, and I only swallowed in response. Quickly forgetting my presence, he returned to scolding the boy towering above him.

“You can’t afford to start the year like this,” Ruki continued, ignoring the sour expression on Yuma’s face, “Not again—”

“—All right, all right!” Yuma interjected, side-eying me quickly. My glances switched between the two men, a million questions forming at the back of my mind. One of my more pressing questions was why, and how, the beast ever befriended someone as collected and polished as Ruki. Based upon their interactions, I also conjectured that this was not the first time Yuma acted out; it seemed like the Grizzly was quite the wreck, and that it was Ruki’s habit to pull him out of these situations. They obviously shared some connection, one that made no sense to me.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the boys turning to leave. Curiosity gnawed at my stomach, but the aftereffects of being roughhoused lingered, forcing me to zip my lips. I flexed my wrists instead, clicking my tongue at the persisting pain.

Although I wanted nothing more than to slam the ruffian to the ground, his form was already departing. As the two retreated, I overheard a peculiar sentence that left me beyond disturbed.

“Don’t even think about feasting on her.”

Eyes widening, I stood in shock at Ruki’s crisp statement. Feast? What sort of sick fantasies did Yuma entertain?!

Revulsion rose from the pit of my stomach. I shook my head once, twice, thrice. Anything to rid myself of the assumptions clouding my brain. Maybe I’d heard wrong, I reasoned. It was highly likely, much more likely than a teenage boy to consider “feasting” on a classmate—whatever that meant.

Regardless of the true meaning of Ruki’s words, I knew that Yuma was the walking definition of pure evil. He was unafraid to use violence, letting his emotions get the better of him. Moreover, he was incredibly talented at holding grudges, taking them to the next level. It was a miracle that I even made it out alive.

I was in such a shock that it only occurred to me later, as I aimlessly wandered down the halls, that I now had some ammunition to defend myself with.

Ruki had, in a matter of seconds, revealed Yuma’s fragile studentship at Ryoutei. It seemed that attending Ryoutei meant a great deal to Yuma, despite his efforts to veil any attachment. If the delinquent’s graduation chances were on the line, then that meant I had the perfect leverage over him.

Finally, I could break into a smile. Fate was pitying me, I mused, hence the sudden turn of the tables. My smile then faded when I realized that my feet were leading me in circles. For the time being, I decided to clear my mind of anything Yuma-related and whipped out my class schedule.

As I navigated towards my next class, I stopped before the large clock in the lobby. The clock read exactly what I’d feared, making me let out a deep sigh. Half of the period had already passed, lost among the scuffles and skirmishes.

At least, after all that tension, I was starting to see a ray of hope. My last year of high school and all its wonder were still salvageable. Despite all odds, I finally had a fighting chance.

I wasn’t going to give up a normal year at Ryoutei. And if that meant ensnaring the Grizzly, then that was exactly what I would do.