After they left Nagisa tidied himself up as best he could. He neatened his hair and pulled his collar up to hide the reddening skin on his throat. There wasn't much he could do about the wet spots on his knees.

He got to class right before the bell rung. He looked normal enough to not be questioned. Yukimura-Sensei gave him a little smile and launched right into teaching. She was genuinely kind. He liked that about her. He had never turned up to her class obviously hurt before, and he hoped he never would. She'd only try to help, and who knew what would happen to her? She was too lovely to be exposed to his problems.

He pulled out his maths book and did his best to follow along. The numbers swirled around the page, pounding in time with his new headache. He discreetly rubbed his temples. It almost helped.

The confusing blur of lessons flew past, and it was lunch. Not to be a typical failed student, but lunch was his favourite class. It may or may not be due to the free food he could get. Not much, nothing hot. But he could get a free mini pack of crackers and a carton of milk. Little things to get him through the day. Around him his classmates either bought hot food or brought out their own lunch boxes. Isogai was the only other person to claim the free crackers, which meant neither of them had any guilt taking a few more than allowed. Yukimura-Sensei was the only one who knew what everyone bought, and she never said a word.

It was one of the reasons he liked her so much. Even though they were End Class she seemed to think they were actual human beings.

He sat by himself and ate his crackers neatly, savouring every bite. He smiled at a few people, and they smiled back. Isogai, Sugino, Okuda. But he'd never sit with them. He'd never actuallytalkto them. Not anymore.

His new class… wasn't that bad. From what everyone said about this place he was sure he'd be stabbed immediately. But here has was, a full five days into 3-E, still very much alive. It's almost… nice. He had surprisingly warm welcome when he arrived. Isogai the class president, who wasn't a crazy delinquent, showed him around, brought him to his desk, the bathrooms and the lunch area.

"You're welcome to sit with my group for lunch." Said Isogai. "I know changing classes can be hard."

The teacher, a bored man called Oyama-Sensei, was fine. He mumbled through lessons, never speaking a word to anyone unless absolutely necessary. Everyone on main campus knew he was here because he punched a student at his old school. This place was the only teaching position open to maniacs. But he luckily showed no signs of being a threat unless he bored someone to death.

All of Isogai's friends were relatively normal. He sat with them every day that first week and they'd only ever been nice.

On Friday he packed his things feeling pretty happy with his new place in the world. He should have known it wouldn't last. It started at a prickle between his shoulder blades. His head snapped up involuntarily. Nothing was obviously amiss. His classmates were packing up, everyone distracted with their own thoughts. He'd looked out the window, almost about to ignore the weird feeling.

There, under the trees was Gakushuu and his minions. His heart sunk into his stomach. He hadn't seen to him since that weird meeting in the principal's office. He hadn't seen the others since that poor little cat. What would he do? Could he defend himself at all? Or would he be expelled on the spot?

He glanced at Oyama-Sensei. He was buried in his phone, ignoring the world at large. Would he help? Maybe if he told him… told him what? A student was standing outside a school? He clutched his bag. Maybe he'd just walk past him. There were so many people around, so many witnesses.

He made up his mind and headed for the door. He tried to discreetly hide among a cluster of students. It was desperate attempt, and a futile one. The students parted like the red sea as Gakushuu strode towards him. He stopped within grabbing difference, but he didn't touch him. Not yet. The minions circled him, a barrier between him and safety. Around them the students kept walking, avoiding looking at them.ØⱤĐ

Nagisa looked firmly at the ground. Gakushuu wouldn't actually hurt him. He wouldn't. He wouldn't!ђ๏ฬ๔๏ ץ๏ย кภ๏ฬ?MαყႦҽ ԋҽ'ʅʅ ƙιʅʅ ყσυ ɾιɠԋƚ ԋҽɾҽ.He'd be fine.

Eventually all the students were gone. Nagisa kept his eyes on the ground. He twisted his fingers around the ends of his pony tail, tugging it a little to distract himself. He tried to tell himself it couldn't be as bad as what mom did. It was a very shallow sort of comfort.

"Kill anything lately?" asked Gakushuu. His voice was light, conversational. "I'd hate to see you in trouble again." He tugged Nagisa's fingers away from his hair. he kept his hand wrapped loosely around his wrist. Nagisa's whole arm tense at the touch.

"What do you want?" He asked. "What can I do to make you go away?"

Around him they all laughed. Horrible, cruel giggles. Koyama and Seo come up behind him. He tried to run but Gakushuu's grip stopped him getting far. Their hands are big, gripping his shoulders and forcing him down to his knees. They twist his arms behind his back, forcing him to arch backwards to stop his shoulders dislocating. One of them grabs his hair, tipping his head back painfully. His throat is vulnerable and exposed. Tender. Gakushuu runs a finger along the taunt skin. He swallows under his touch, starting to shake.

"You really want to make us go away?" he asked. Nagisa couldn't answer, not with his neck about to snap. Any sound he could make would be piteously twisted and small. He stayed silent to conserve at least a little dignity.

"I saw you talking to the other failures" said Gakushuu. He kept running his finger up and down Nagisa's throat. "All week. You seem so… happy. Like you were glad to be sent here. Now, do you think that's the purpose of this class? To act as a haven? A reward?"

He took hold of Nagisa's chin and roughly forced his head to shake. He felt the rough pops of hair being pulled from his head. The grip on his chin tightened.

"Don't talk to them. You only talk to me. Understand?"

Nagisa tried to nod, but the hand holding his hair wouldn't let go. He blinked instead. It wasn't like they could enforce a rule like that. He'd still talk to people. Just more discreetly. This was just a power play. Thats all.

"I don't believe you." says Gakushuu sadly. Suddenly he shoves his fingers in Nagisa's mouth. He bites down, at least, he tries to. His head his yanked so far back he can't help trying to scream. Something pops in his neck and for a terrifying second he's sure they've broken it.

Gakushuu grabs his tongue, clamping his hand tight around the wet muscle. He tugs, forcing it out of Nagisa's mouth.

Nagisa flails. Fighting to pull away, stand up,Ⴆιƚҽ ԋιʂ ϝυƈƙιɳɠ ϝιɳɠҽɾʂ σϝϝanything!

They just hold him harder.

"Talk to them again and I'll rip out your tongue." Hisses Gakushuu, right in his ear. His shoved fingers from his other hand into Nagisa's mouth, scrabbling around inside. Nagisa heaves, all his willpower focuses on not throwing up.

Eventually Gakushuu's fingers reach right down his throat, curling…

But he doesn't throw up. Hewill notthrow up. That is his line in the sand. That is his rebellion. Gakushuu smiles, looking almost impressed. He takes his hands away from Nagisa's mouth and he chokes down air. Whoever's holding his hair lets go, allowing him to tip his head forward. The world feels like it's spinning and his throat burns, but it's ok. He survived… whatever that was.

"You haven't answered me. You can only talk to me. You're mine. Do you understand?"

He nods, still fighting to get his breathing even.

"Good." He pets the top of Nagisa's head like a dog. "I knew you'd be good for me. But just in case."

He holds his hand out to Ren, who hands him a slim comb. He pops one end off to show a hidden knife.

Nagisa has a chance to scream this time. It doesn't do much. They get his head back, his mouth open and they slice a long line across the roof of his mouth. He gags on blood, it spills out of his mouth onto their hands, his shirt, the grass. They shove him forward onto his hands and knees and he spits up the chunks of flesh that cling to his tongue.Dιʂɠυʂƚιɳɠ ԃιʂɠυʂƚιɳɠ I'ɱ ϝυƈƙιɳɠ ԃιʂɠυʂƚιɳɠ

"Just a reminder." Said Gakushuu again. "Mouth shut." He strokes his head one more time and walks away. He is followed closely by his minions.

"And stop putting your hair up." He calls over his shoulder. "I prefer it loose. Grabbable." Their laughter makes him crumble.

He stays kneeling, clutching his mouth until they're out of earshot. In the quiet that follows he hears someone moving. He turns to see Oyama-Sensei watching. He was standing with his eyes folded, a delighted grin on his face. He'd watched? And just let it happen.

"Help, please I can't…" the words are slurred but he gets them out. Oyama-Sensei just shakes his head. Nagisa claws the last loose shreds of skin from his mouth as Oyama-Sensei walks away from him, laughing.ʝʊֆȶաǟɨȶɨ'ʟʟɢɛȶʏօʊʄօʀȶɦɨֆI ΉΛƬΣ YӨЦ ɨ'ʟʟɢɛȶʏօʊɨ'ʟʟ

Nagisa doesn't talk to his classmates anymore.