Hajime Hinata leaned back in his seat, rocking on its hind-legs, and stared at the surface of his desk. It was now fashioned with a delightful engraving. A very welcoming message from one of his kinder classmates. It read, 'DIE'. In his opinion, it was very subtle, but the font was so B-Movie slasher that he had to dock points for that. Not to mention, as a threat, it wasn't a very meaningful one. "Die…? Die, how…? Woodchipper…? Drawn and quartered…? Slip in the shower…?" It was too vague, points docked. Overall, he'd rate it: one out of five.

Hajime yawned, gazing up at the ceiling and stretching his arm, "I should probably take this more seriously…" He was the first one into the classroom as he always was. He lived on campus with a dorm dramatically closer than literally anyone else. So, whoever this was had to put in the effort to be here during the night or come in very early. This fact means that the messenger was either sneaky or trusted by the teachers enough to earn themselves a key. "Considering how lazy the teachers are here and how unresponsive the students are, it's probably not a very high hurdle…"

"Next…" The front legs of his chair met the ground, allowing him to lean forward and draw his fingers along the font's surface. If he were Izuru, he could probably guess the make and model of whatever blade did it in an instant. "Through… I don't know… Zoom and enhance eyes…? I can see the metal molecules…" The cuts were numerous, going over what already existed just to dig into the wood. "Unwieldy… Not sharp enough…" It had to be something snuck in, small and not to be missed. Someone would've noticed if a knife in the cafeteria's kitchen went missing, so brought in. "A pocketknife or a box-cutter…?"

A cursory glance over the classroom made it clear that he was the only victim. The other, most likely, targets' desks were left unmolested. "Potentially personal…" While he didn't believe he actively did something to earn ire, given who his classmates are, it wasn't difficult to imagine that he did anyway. "After all, easily wounded prides allow for many slights…" It was a good thing in its own way. He didn't have to watch anyone else's backs but his own. "I could wait for their next move…" It could be another threat of some sort or… "There may be a stabbing… Onto my body in particular… And no one would want that… Except maybe Izu on a bad day…" He chuckled to himself, aloud, "But hell, not even then…"

Now, given that possibility, the all-important question was 'Who'? And if the 'Why?' could be leaned on. The only ones in this classroom he actively engaged in were Kira Hotaru, Ito Amamiya, Arata Soma, Kuzuryu Natsumi, and Suzuki Sato. Four of them have actively defended him from time to time. Ito Amamiya was the sole individual he was on bad terms with, but that turn would be rather quick. Also, her issue was more on Kuzuryu than he. He only interrupted their argument after all. "Though, it could be possible she went after me because I'm the less dangerous target… Izu's talent is unknown to most of these guys in comparison to the sister of the Ultimate Yakuza…" Hajime held some doubt about the overall possibility, but he couldn't rule her out. It would be easier if it were her as he hadn't bothered to commit anyone else to memory.

"Should I involve Izu…?" he pondered. His twin would solve this issue in a flash, and it would be over with. His gaze washed over the classroom once more. "Though, if it was known that my Ultimate of a brother saved me… Could that invite more…? Not to mention, Izu has always been a bit… zealous when defending me… And he just got into working out his anger issues with Nekomaru, too…" He tapped his chin, "I know I can't involve the Headmaster… If something like this got out, an official investigation would be necessary, taken as a legitimate threat…" This action would bring attention, specifically of those higher than the Headmaster. "They can't know we're here…"

Hajime's finger traced the not-at-all-veiled threat, "Need to hide this from the rest of the class… Should make singling out whoever did this easier too…" His eyes quickly danced between a selection of the classroom's desks. There seemed to be a glint in his eye before his hand dipped into his pocket. His phone was drawn from the cloth, tapping away into his contacts.

-XXX-

"Young master, may I ask you a question?" posed Peko Pekoyama.

"I told you not to call me that," he scolded.

Fuyuhiko always bit back at that title; Peko couldn't quite place why. She understood that he had some distaste for it. Initially, she assumed it was born from some desire to reject his position as his father's heir. He had voiced to her privately about his doubt of his ability in his new-found role. Though, when she attempted to reassure him, he made sure that under no uncertain terms that that was incorrect. He eventually provided the reasoning to be for public image. He believed that the title would only cause problems around normal people. Unlike being officially known as the Ultimate Yakuza, it seemed. His justification was unsound, but then again, it wasn't her place to question it.

"Kuzuryu, may I ask you a question?" she corrected.

His sigh suggested that it was inadequate, "Yeah, sure, whatever…" They were walking to school together with Natsumi. The sister of the master always walked firmly ahead of the pair. She was in eyesight of their protector, and always gave a few glances behind her. No doubt to ensure that Peko was nearby for her own safety or perhaps, out of concern for her brother's.

"What do you think of Hinata Hajime? And Kamakura Izuru?" Peko didn't miss Natsumi's gaze peer at the pair, aiming her ear.

"Hm? Those guys?" Fuyuhiko shrugged, scratching the back of his head, "They're pretty chill."

"No other impressions?"

Fuyuhiko made a face, "Nah, not really." His tone went flat, "Why?" He knew, undoubtedly so. After all, Peko didn't usually ask questions unless she thought it was important. Specifically when it came to the safety of the Kuzuryu siblings.

"Hinata seems… strange, and Kamakura is… an unknown," offered Peko. It wasn't much. She was acting on a feeling. Kamakura was dangerous, in the same way Nidai or Owari were. Skilled and strong, he would be a dangerous enemy. Hinata was a different case. She and he had never interacted before until recently, but that was enough. He approached her like she was anyone else while most shivered and shuddered underneath her gaze. He even touched her; a pat on the shoulder was a dramatic change from nonexistent contact. Then, it was that talk they had. Maybe it was paranoia, but it felt like he knew. He knew that there was something between Peko and Natsumi, some further connection than 'hitting it off'.

If that was the case, why potentially make her aware? Why that risk? Why not slip by like all the other students did? Or was she overreacting? Being overprotective? She could just be completely wrong. Hinata could have been disillusioned to her intimidating gaze via his brother's. It wasn't completely strange that he would worry about Natsumi's well-being. Peko's hand drifted to her shoulder, "Still…"

"Peko, what're you talking about?" asked Natsumi, now stopped before and turned towards the pair.

She wasn't sure what to say, "I simply find the two… Strange."

"Well, that's just Izuru." Fuyuhiko pushed out a chuckle, "And our whole damn class, if ya haven't noticed."

"Hinata's weird too." Natsumi listed with a shrug, "People scatter his lunch on the floor. Carve and mark up his desk with insults and jabs. Some even scream at his face, but it doesn't faze him." A mixture of bitterness and concern lingered on her tongue, but overlayed by a sense of confusion.

Fuyuhiko scowled, "Why do people fuck with him so much?"

"We hang with Main Course students." His sister rolled her eyes, "They're jealous or some shit."

"And what? He just puts up with it?"

"Yeah." She shrugged, "He says they'll give up eventually. Or that they'll do something else."

"Something else?" he echoed.

"Weirdo foreboding shit, yeah." Natsumi frowned, "He says he'll deal with it if it comes to that but doubts it would even happen." Her eyes widened for a moment, a dangerous smirk on his lips, "Ooh, could I have Peko-"

Fuyuhiko's scolding gaze quickly countered her smirk, "No."

It was super-effective, drawing her to quickly wave off her own words, "Alright-alright, it was a joke. Sheesh, tough crowd."

"Do they harm him?" posed Peko.

"They're trying emotionally, all evidence proving, but these rats are probably too scared to pull something physical." She laughed, cruelly, "They met Kamakura, after all."

Fuyuhiko chuckled, "Yeah, I can kinda get that."

Kamakura was so powerful that Hinata rode the coattails of the intimidation, coasting through insults and threats easily. It was a solid form of reasoning. Kamakura always seemed reliant upon his brother in some form of fashion. So, it wouldn't be surprising if Hinata received a return on that fact. Though, that fell apart when considering that Kamakura seemed to only contact his brother in order to avoid or delay Ms. Yukizome. And that Hinata wished to delay any action against those who wronged him. In fact, under inspection, Kamakura relied on his brother like a CEO, an underpaid secretary; Hinata has not relied on his brother once, to her knowledge at least. "Apart from when he was injured, which is understandable…"

Peko couldn't help but sigh internally. She had her suspicions, but the Kuzuryu siblings were right in that everyone they knew had strange gimmicks and quirks. It could simply be that Hinata is a very outgoing individual and will make an effort to connect to anyone in their lonesome. One like his brother, or her, or Natsumi. "That doesn't seem too strange from that point of view," she murmured.

Fuyuhiko scratched his cheek, shrugging off the conversation, "Well, good." His hand fell to his hip, "We need to split up from her anyway. Don't want anyone noticing all three of us walking together."

Peko gave a slight bow, "I shall remove myself." Her eyes shifted and narrowed, "I will see you at the school gates."

"Yeah, see ya," replied Fuyuhiko.

Natsumi waved her hand as the siblings parted from the swordswoman, "Stay safe."

"I implore you two to do the same," was the last thing she said to the siblings before dipping into the nearest alleyway.

The worst part of their walk, easily. She knew both were smart, but to leave them in the street was still discomforting. If the pair walk their usual path, she may find a few points to spy the status of the siblings every now and again. She hoped nothing would come of it like the dozens of times before. However, things always change at some point. She would just have to be ready for that day.

-XXX-

Natsumi Kuzuryu pulled open the classroom door. As she wasn't the first nor the last one to enter, she found it semi-filled with sentient trash. In other words, her classmates. Her eyes quickly landed on Hinata. Her toes aimed in his direction before starting her stride. Though, she came to a dead stop when he started talking to Ito fucking Amamiya. He beckoned her along, making his way to the back entrance of the classroom with Ito in tow.

She stomped through the rows and columns of desks, turning to lean against the door's sill. She slowly probed her finger to nudge the door open. The pair weren't in eyesight but were in earshot. Her ear pressed against the opening as a quick glare was sent to anyone in the class looking to say something. They glared back but relented in their nonsense, going back to whatever they were doing.

"I wanted to apologize," started Hinata.

Ito was confused, "What?"

As was another, "What…!?"

"I didn't realize how my actions were being read." He coughed, "It wasn't… I didn't want to insult anyone…" He sighed, "I was just trying to look out for my little brother."

"Little brother?" questioned Ito. "Your little brother is an Ultimate?"

"Yeah, by a couple of minutes. Gotta have a hill here and there."

"Your little brother needs you around that much?" Disbelief bled from her tongue.

"Need is a bit much." He chuckled, "He wants me around and I need to be there for him." Natsumi guessed he shrugged with a smile as he sounded somewhat reminiscent, "When he calls, I answer. When he's being difficult for his teacher, I'm the one to rein him in." A bout of silence fell for a moment, "Yeah, 'rein him in' is a bit much. More like prod him in the right direction."

"So, you're in the Reserve Course to look out for your little brother?" Ito asked, "Why? Why can't you just hang around on your phone for him to call?"

"Any other school wouldn't accept the condition of 'I have to leave on a whim'. The teachers here are willing to understand that. Not to mention, Hope's Peak's security is no joke. Literally, the Ultimate Boxer standing between anyone and the Main building."

Hinata took a breath, "Okay, I understand that what I'm doing is frustrating and in its own way, rude." He seemed firm, "But I can't stop. Family is family."

And the bitch relented, "Fine, whatever, I get it…" She trailed off for a moment before commenting, "At least, you said something… Unlike that Kuzuryu bitch."

Natsumi had half a mind to rip the door open and give Ito a goddamn mouthful, "WHAT…!? That little-"

"She isn't that bad," pushed Hinata. "She's a good person." Natsumi stumbled for a moment, nearly knocking her foot against the wooden frame.

"Really?"

"Okay, I didn't say she wasn't rude." He said that to her face once or twice, so it rolled off rather easily. "Just like me, I'm sure she's got plenty of reasons to do what she does." Natsumi nodded at that.

"Yeah, reasons," oozed Ito.

Hinata defended, "She's dedicated. In some ways, that's pretty admirable." She grinned proudly at the declaration.

A moment of silence before a sigh of resignation flowed, "Whatever… Are we done now?"

Hinata seemed to let out a breath of relief, "I guess we are."

Natsumi's eyes practically popped out of her head before she scrambled for her desk, tossing her bag onto its hook. (And missing.) She plopped herself down and propped her head up with her palm, aiming her gaze out the window. Then, the door swung open and swiftly shut. She could hear Hinata's footsteps as he rounded to his desk.

"Morning, Kuzuryu," he greeted.

She coughed, "M-Morning…"

"You okay?" offered Hinata.

Natsumi fought back a grin, "Yep!" Her eyes focused on the desk before him, "Uh, is that a new desk?"

"Is it?" He blinked before a peaked smile tugged across his face, "Why I hadn't noticed…" It seemed like he said that loudly, but that was probably just her.

-XXX-

AN: Howdy, I'm late. There were a few delays on my end with moving and all that. No matter onto the chapter. We have a mostly set-up chapter which embarks on our first real arc. Woo, I'm nervous to be honest.

To break it down, first, we have Hajime in his lonesome with his bullying hitting its peak. While Hajime has entirely brushed off the attempts at emotional harm, the bullies have only escalated with one venturing as far as to bring a knife into Hope's Peak Academy. There's flexing on Hajime's part mostly for his smarts. Albeit it isn't genius level deduction, but he can manage on his own. Second, we follow Peko from her last interaction with Hajime in the last chapter. Chisa knows about their bulletproof suits and now Peko is calling Hajime's behavior into question. This is of note, but for later. Finally, we have Natsumi dropping in on a conversation between Ito and Hajime. Which serves multiple purposes that I'm sure are obvious.

To be honest, I'm not sure what to say. I got off work with a wicked headache and it's pretty late. So, I'll be sure to answer any questions that don't call for anything too spoiler-y.

Criticize away and thank you for reading!