"So by having this… you'll get this… Hm…? Shinjiro? Shinjiro?! Shinjiro!"

He was about to doze off from the class but the shout that seemed to be shriek caught his attention, prompting him to stand up from his seat. Laughter was heard throughout the whole classroom as he got the entire class' attention.

"Honestly. Just because you learn things faster does not mean you can sleep in my class. Stay after the bell rang. We have to talk."

He rolled his eyes and went back down to his seat. The laughter and the chorus of gossip-mongers didn't end and he doubt it wouldn't for quite some time. Everyone liked to pick on him but they couldn't do it physically. So, they just went with the non-physical means, which were teasing and insults.

As if it would get to him.

The school bell soon rang and the students shuffled out of the classroom, leaving Shinjiro inside. He still packed his bag and placed it beside Aki's. His best friend got an excuse to get out of his class and left his things with Shinjiro. He sighed at his best friend's antics and wished him good luck for whatever shenanigans he had gone into. Sometimes he wished he was in Aki's class, since he was in a different section, but both of them had accepted the fact and just found ways to get around it.

In just a few moments, the same teacher that made him stay back came from the faculty office, carrying what Shinjiro assumed to be a class record, and sat down in front of him on a chair grabbed from the classroom's broom closet.

"Okay, this wouldn't be too long. I know you are a nice, smart kid and all but sometimes, you must show you actually pay attention. Having you sleep in class just demoralizes your fellow students and I couldn't allow that to happen. It reflects bad on me, and I know that you aren't a product of my teaching ways."

Heh… What a load of bullshit . She just wants him not to be in her class anymore because he could teach whatever lesson she was having to anyone and they would learn it faster than through her methods. It just shows how lame she was as a teacher if she couldn't make him pay attention to her. Though most of the teachers in the school were just the same as her, somewhat lacking in terms of their mind power. And that's just sad.

"So here, I'm giving you a pass, alright? I won't list you absent in the class record. Just… get out, okay? Get out of my classroom. You're free to leave, Shinjiro-kun. Just… don't be in the classroom and sleep. It's better to have you seen absent, than me getting blamed for having you sleep in class. It would only tarnish my record and I can't afford that. You hear me?"

After that, she left Shinjiro in the room, leaving the chair in front of him empty. A hard shut from the sliding door caused it rattle, breaking the silence in the classroom and prompting Shinjiro to give a deep sigh.

The way the teacher was speaking his name felt off. Not that he was thinking she was just refraining from swearing instead of using his name. Although it seemed to be a likely possibility, he was more troubled by how strange to hear it being used by anyone else. Especially when they're referring to him.

He was just getting used to his name, to be honest. Shinjiro Aragaki. Unlike Aki and Miki, who both had families before they died due to a car accident, he doesn't have a surname. Added that he also doesn't have a first name and he didn't have any type of documents with him, he had to make a name for himself. Thankfully Matron didn't pressure him into getting one soon, unlike the other staff personnel of the orphanage who tried to give him a name. He doesn't want nor like the notion of them giving him one.

Always reminded him of the times he had been given the name of 'boy' and 'freak' by his relatives.

Being called a 'boy' and 'freak' ever since he could remember, he grew to inwardly hate words that had the same meaning to those; hence had to be creative. He pondered on it until both Aki and Miki decided to call him 'Shinjiro' after one of their language classes. Mainly because he was being truthful – 'truth' for 'shin' – to those who asked him questions, though the ' ji' got included because he often use 'next' to emphasize the next person who would ask him a question after the other. Or when he sometimes refers to anyone who wants to fight him after giving them a decent beat-down.

His surname was somewhat a joke and an insult to him, but not at him, at the same time because he often found himself in a fight at the orphanage courtyard against other children. Because Miki was his second friend, Aki was his first and best friend, Shinjiro and his brother was protective of the younger girl. She was sweet and kind and very helpful that other older and jealous children in the orphanage found it as some sort of weakness, which led to her being bullied behind her brother's back. But Shinjiro saw it happen one day and he couldn't stand other than him being bullied.

It was bad that he still remembered being bullied by his cousin and he sometimes flinch at being reprimanded by Matron and the older and respectable adults and teenagers of the orphanage; but to see someone other than him being bullied into giving out their food and toys all because they're younger, Shinjiro couldn't stand to watch and let it happen. So he punched, kicked and beat the older kids using the moves he saw the men from the dirty alleyways used when he hid himself behind a dumpster.

Of course, Matron and the other adults saw it happen and tried to deal with it but the older kids wouldn't be stopped by just simple warnings. And Shinjiro knew they wouldn't. The fights just became more hidden from the adults' eyes which led to him being called by other kids as a 'very rough fence' of one Miki Sanada.

And Miki, the so-ever-helpful little sister of theirs, played with the words and Shinjiro found it very fitting for him. Aki, when he learned of the things that happened when he wasn't there, was thankful for his best friend's actions and also commented that it fit for him to have that name.

His surname also reflected how the older kids saw him as a brat, though he would always gladly and proudly admit he was brat if it meant being showered with affection and attention by Aki and Miki. It just showed that he was being serious on protecting Aki and Miki from them, mainly Miki but sometime Aki as well; he can be a crybaby if he gets teased a lot by the older kids. Aki would deny him needing protection from Shinjiro but both of them know it was a two-way street in reality.

"A very rough and sturdy fence protecting us all," Miki once said to him and her brother. The two of them laughed at it, delighted over Miki's simple but wise logic. She was really something.

Thus, it led to him having the name of Shinjiro Aragaki. Or in the proper naming convention in Japan, Aragaki Shinjiro. He still has issues at times in getting the right way to introduce himself since he was not that used to it. Not that he would tell it to Aki and Miki, using the cover of silence to hide his struggle.

The doors slid open and Shinjiro turned towards them. The teacher must have more to tell but Aki was there instead, grinning madly. The silver haired boy rushed towards Shinjiro and gave him a hug, leaning over the table in front of the black-haired boy.

"Guess what Shinji!" Aki asked, excitement apparent in his face. He was fidgeting and shaking and was now using his desk as a platform for his vibrating hands. "Guess what!"

"What," he flatly replied, staring at the boy with a red tee under his uniform. "And sit down before you break the table. You're pushing on it way too much," he retorted. He was teasing Aki because he had anticipated his best friend to act like that the moment Aki learned about the news. Though Shinjiro was absolute sure it was kinda obvious to anyone who knew Aki, which were Shinjiro and Miki mostly. Probably Matron as well but she doesn't count at the moment.

Aki glared at him momentarily before he changed it back to his eyes of excitement. "Really Shinji? That's all you have to say? Ugh, you're way too calm about this." Aki shook his head and grabbed Shinjiro's arms. He then dragged him out of the classroom with Shinjiro hastily clutching his and Aki's bag from beside his seat, where they're leaning at moments ago. Aki sprinted through the hallways of their middle school with Shinjiro following his best friend, a wry smile on his face. He had a feeling what Aki was glad about. No, he was sure of what Aki was glad about.

They soon found themselves at the front of the school's boxing club on the 1st Floor of the Club Building.

"Read the announcement, Shinji! Read it!"

Shinjiro shook his head and took Aki's arm, leading him back to the school courtyard. He didn't bother to take a look at the small piece of paper taped at the door. "Why would I when I already knew that you will get in at the start?" he said tossing his own bag over his shoulder while presenting Aki's school bag to Aki. "Didn't I told you before that you will get in no matter what?"

Aki rolled his eyes and scoffed at Shinjiro's nonchalant attitude. "Just wanted you to see the actual proof, Shinji."

"Why would I when the proof is in front of me, breathing down on me like a rabid dog without meat?" he retorted back, grin now visible on his face. "Come on, I have saved enough money to buy at least 4 extra specials at Hagakure for tomorrow. And Miki's already waiting for us at the kitchens. We prepared something special today."

That stopped Aki on his steps. "…You must be joking? For real…?!"

"We both know you will get in so we readied everything beforehand. Come on, let's go home." He walked ahead, grin still on his face, with Aki standing in shock at the front of the school's Boxing Club. Shinjiro was already through the gates of the school when Aki ran out from the main building shouting, "Best gift ever!" The other students scrambled out of the way of the silver-haired boy, confused over his sudden shout of joy.

He smiled. Both him and Miki knew that Aki wanted to find a way to be strong in order to protect his sister from the bullies but he doesn't want to do the way Shinjiro does, unorthodox street fighting. He wanted something more formal, at which Shinjiro scoffed at Aki when he told him one night in their room, so he recommended Aki to join the Boxing Club of their school. Tennis was out because it was a girls-only club and there wasn't one for the boys. Swimming was also out of the question because of the fact Aki doesn't want to join that club that year and he just had Swimming back at Elementary. Shinjiro, on the other hand, hated the water mainly because he gets reminded of the times he was being submerged for being 'late' and he wouldn't dare to get into one unless it was necessary like getting a bath. And both of them despised the kendo club because the people there used sticks instead of their fists, which was a thing Aki and Shinjiro found laughable.

While boxing seemed to be informal at first, it had certain rules in employing its techniques. Proper way to throw your fist to accommodate the distance while saving strength and energy to evade an incoming attack, the right uppercut to do when your opponent is blocking at a certain angle, the varying styles of punches and more. Shinjiro preferred an unorthodox fighting style, makes his opponents confused on what he would be doing next, but he would find himself quickly exhausted from the

Using sticks in fighting, very funny. Though he won't admit to Aki, he found the idea of using sticks actually terrifying for some reason but the sticks were much smaller and thinner. Like a magician's wand, which was really funny when he thought about it harder. But he was afraid. He doesn't know why though.

While riding the train back to the Iwatodai Station and waiting for the bus to their orphanage, both of them traded stories on what happened that day to each other. Since Aki was in a different class than Shinjiro and had different class schedules, both had no idea what happened to one another during class time. Miki was still in elementary and her classes ended much earlier than theirs, which was why Shinjiro knew the silver haired girl was already waiting for them at the kitchens. Unlike her brothers, both blood and semi-adopted, her school wasn't part of Gekkou-kan Gakuen but just a simple elementary school on the mainland and was near their orphanage by just a few blocks.

Easy for Matron and their other handlers to watch the younger kids though most of them are quite mature enough not to be caught in anything dangerous. Both Aki and him would have joined Miki in attending a normal school on the mainland but they tried one day to get a scholarship of some sorts from the Kirijo Group, because Shinjiro heard Matron was having problems with money and Aki heard about a scholarship with a stipend ; hence both of them applying for one and getting a grant for their middle school and high school years. Miki would be taking the same scholarship test when she graduates from elementary, so both of her older brothers were excited when that happens.

When they arrived at the orphanage, Aki bumped by a man wearing some kind of yukata , though in Shinjiro's opinion it was a bathrobe. The man had a haggard look and was busy searching around the area of the orphanage. That caught Shinjiro's interest because he had heard of rumors from his classmates that were civil to him about men kidnapping children and selling them to do some very bad things . Matron had told everyone of them to watch out for shady looking people and the man Aki had bumped by at the entrance was certainly shady enough. With that in mind, he decided to tell Matron.

He called Aki when they passed through the front door and told him to find Miki while he checked something with the Matron. Nodding, Aki went to the kitchens while Shinjiro made his way to the Matron's Office. Climbing up the stairs, he noticed that there was a lack of people on the floor. Normally other kids would be there sitting on the bench, waiting for their respective punishments while the adults and the staff personnel would be running around with papers around their arms and grumbling about the lack of budget.

That wasn't the case when Shinjiro came to the second floor. Using the trick he learned years ago on the streets of Japan, he tried to sense out if there are any people on the floor and found 2 people inside Matron's Office. He slowly tiptoed in and saw the door to Matron's Office was slightly ajar. There was an argument ongoing inside, based on the various rising tones Matron used to the man with an old sounding voice. Shinjiro listened quietly at the conversation and was shocked Matron was actually denying an adoption request.

"- erstand but I won't allow you to take a peek in - "

"- eir good, my old friend. It's for the - "

But…that seemed to be…

Shinjiro knew Matron was fluent in many languages, something she had showed to them during their monthly movie nights, but to hear her speak English with anger in her voice was something else. He creeped closer and tried to listen more from her argument with the stranger.

"- know that something happened he - "

"- nt know what exactly you presump - "

"- ainst the International Stat - "

"- ck the Statute! This is some - "

"- tional and private you say bu - "

"- ve no business here so ge - "

"- st someone that is impor - "

"- ck again to the start and I - "

"- ut you see my dear - "

"- of my mind you old - "

"- ssure you it was not- "

So many things he had no idea about but Shinjiro was curious on why Matron was getting so worked up. It appeared to be a request but the stranger was 'butting' into things he shouldn't get into? And Matron was getting angry about it?

"- ow dare you use that tone at me Al - "

"- ust need to confirm my suspi - "

"- one here is your kid so - "

"- that boy who you picked up that - "

"- isn't. I know the kid from the news and- "

"- certain about it? I can check if - "

"- cions my ass . Get out of my office! Get o - "

He couldn't hear of anything afterwards because an explosion rang throughout the entire building, making Shinjiro's ears throb in pain. The black-haired kid ran back down the stairs when a second explosion happened, shaking the building completely that a few of the paintings and lights on the walls fell down in a crash. He gripped his beanie tightly as he braced himself on the staircase walls. A painting fell from the wall and snagged a part of his sweater, tearing his uniform's dress shirt in the process. He was about to pick up the painting and take back the cloth of his uniform, planning to sew it back, but Shinjiro then heard a scream from the third floor and he was sure it was Matron but he couldn't run back to her because flames suddenly appeared and a part of the ceiling fell down, blocking his way back to the third floor.

The part of the ceiling that fell also caused portions of the wall to collapse, making Shinjiro to hasten his steps back to the ground floor. Along the way, several more explosions occurred, followed by more flames to appear, burning parts of the walls and the decorations hanged on it. He needed to get out.

But he wouldn't. He was already at the main stairwell of the orphanage and saw the half-open door to the dining area. Shinjiro ran to the door and found the dining area was also engulfed in flames. How did the flames come to the dining area that fast? It was at the third-floor a while ago and Shinjiro knew it couldn't have phased through the floors like a ghost. Outside the windows, he swore he saw someone was looking at the flames before the figure ran off, probably for safety. He couldn't blame them, even if they tried to break the glass windows, they couldn't. No one could because it was said to be tempered glass so he instead of calling the figure outside for help, he went towards the kitchens, avoiding any falling light fixtures and burning parts of the ceiling.

"Shinji! I was worried for you! Help me! Miki got caught under this table during that explosion!"

Aki was pushing a steel table used in the kitchens off his sister whose legs were underneath one. Shinjiro huffed and joined in removing the table from Miki, lifting a part of its legs while Aki did the same on the others. Miki scrambled out of the heavy steel table to Aki, making his best friend lose his hold on the table's legs. Shinjiro made sure he let go the moment Miki had got out so he wouldn't be caught by the sudden pull of gravity on the table. A couple of 'sorry' and 'thanks' were made and the three of them slowly made their way out of the kitchens, Miki plastered all over Aki's back while Shinjiro led his best friend and his sister out of the burning kitchen. The sight of the dining area was worse than before, making Aki and Shinjiro grimace in disgust. Miki luckily passed out on Aki's back as they sprint out of the hall and back to the hallways of the orphanage, since she wouldn't have the honor of seeing her only home becoming a piece of charcoal. The sigh Aki made as he looked over his shoulders let Shinjiro know that his feelings were the same as his, thankful that Miki wasn't able to witness the horrifying place the orphanage has become in a span of a few minutes.

The flames were now apparent and smoke became much more emphasized, which was something Shinji expected. Good thing Aki had the idea of using a couple of wet towels he had grabbed beforehand from a counter at the kitchen as some sort of protective mask. Fire drills were taught to them just a few weeks earlier and Shinjiro thanked the gods that Aki had apparently listened to their class. Shinjiro bet that the towels were prepared by Miki in case they had made a mess in making Aki's favorite pancakes. Though its main purpose was now non-existent, it still had a purpose for them. They were only a few meters away from the dining hall when they heard a loud crash behind them. Aki turned around and gasped while Shinjiro focused on finding a safe way around the burning parts of the ceiling and collapsed portions of the wall.

"We're just lucky Shinji. The dining hall is gone," Aki said in a low voice. Shinjiro's answer was silence, because he had nothing to say to that. What could he say when their home began to turn into ashes?

"This is bad, Aki. This is really bad." The two of them looped around the fallen ceiling fan of the lounge, avoiding the hallway they had went through from the front door because it was full of flames and a collapsed part of the ceiling. "What could have caused this to happen?!" He kicked a burning piece of a familiar-looking sofa away from him, making it tumble towards a blazing bookcase. Thankfully his shoes were sturdy enough not to have his feet be burned but Shinjiro felt it wouldn't last long if they couldn't get out soon enough.

"I don't know, Shinji. Let's just go." Aki hefted his sister closer to his body, waking her up. Aki must haven't noticed it because he didn't' gave any heed to her startled look but Shinjiro did. Without her brother noticing, he motioned his hands and gestured for her to cover her nose and mouth with the wet towel that was all over her head. She did understand his gestures and followed suit. "What's wrong Shinji?" Aki asked, voice muffled with the wet cloth.

"Nothing. Let's go," he replied, tightening the towel over his own mouth area. The smoke was getting thicker and from the distance he swore he could still hear something exploding. A wave rocked the building causing several still hanging paintings to fall over, parts of the burning ceiling to crash with contents that came from three floors above and him and Aki to almost stumble over. "Just a bit more and we'll be out."

"Hey, where do you think are the others?" Aki asked, looking back and forth at the corridors. "There wasn't anyone at the kitchens and on the way there, I haven't met the older kids."

"…Except for Matron but I wasn't… I couldn't…" Aki patted his back. Shinjiro turned around and gave him a hard look. "…Okay. Get out first. Deal with it, later. Got it." Aki nodded and he stepped beside Shinjiro, Miki giving him a confused and terrified look while clutching tightly on her brother's shoulders.

The front door was just a few steps away but before the three of them could get out, a strong explosion shook the building. It was so strong that Aki and him fell over backwards with Miki tumbling further back. Shinjiro paled when he turned towards Miki, he saw a wall of fire coming from the kitchen hallway. The gasoline tanks… The orphanage had several gasoline tanks for cooking so that meant…!

Aki must have thought the same thing as him because he joined Shinjiro in scrambling towards her sister but they were stopped by Miki throwing a vase near her at them. Aki protested but using a fallen portrait of the entire orphanage's children, Miki had completely created a significant distance between her and them.

"Leave me. Too late. Be safe."

The fuck…? No way in hell would he allow that to happen. He tried to sprint but Aki, that blockhead, grabbed his arms and dragged him through the doors. Shinjiro was about to shout at Aki 'how could he?!' but he saw his best friend staring at Miki with bulging eyes and tears quickly drying on his cheeks. He gaped at his best friend trying hard not to cry as they ran out of the orphanage. He made a last look back inside and saw Miki giving them a smile as flames ate her body slowly from the back in a cloud of red and orange.

It was like time slowed down for him and Aki because their steps were slower but he knew it was just his perception. Shinjiro could tell Aki also turned around at the last second because he could see his head tilted at the right angle for him to see what's behind him while running. Both of them could see every detail of Miki being eaten by the red orange cloud of flames, they could see her smiling despite the tears slowly rolling her cheeks, they could see her eyes shouting 'I'm fine' but the small tremors her body did screams 'help me' . Then everything went super fast, he and his best friend got through the doors but were thrown by the explosion that happened. Shinjiro swore he saw Miki mouthed a 'take care' before he was thrown away.

A stream of flame burst through the windows of the orphanage and even through the doors but all Shinjiro could focus on was the non-existent sight of Miki through the blaze from the orphanage's front doors. Aki was beside him and he noticed his best friend has burns all over his body, at his arms and legs, and soot around his face. But his eyes, they were leaking.

He felt wet.

Shinjiro placed his hand on his cheek. It's wet.

…Oh.

He was crying.