INSTINCT ZERO

Chapter 5: Shadows looming

Chapter Five: Shadows Looming

Weeks had passed since the confrontation with Razor, yet the shadow of fear still hung heavy over Isshi's heart. Despite the instructors' warnings, the bullying had only intensified, fueled by Razor's malevolent presence and the twisted pleasure he derived from inflicting pain.

Each day at the academy became a living nightmare for Isshi, the torment of his classmates relentless and unforgiving. Taunts and jeers followed him wherever he went, his every move scrutinized with malicious intent.

But worst of all was the knowledge that Razor was watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The mere thought of facing him again sent shivers down Isshi's spine, filling him with a bone-deep dread that he could scarcely bear.

In the silence of his solitude, Isshi nursed his wounds in secret, hiding the bruises and scars beneath layers of clothing and a stoic facade. He dared not speak of the torment he endured, for fear that his tormentors would only retaliate with even greater ferocity.

And so, each day became a battle for survival—a constant struggle to navigate the treacherous waters of the academy without drawing unwanted attention to himself. But with each passing moment, the darkness that loomed on the horizon grew ever closer, threatening to engulf him in its suffocating embrace.

As the weeks turned into months, Isshi found himself teetering on the edge of despair, his spirit battered and bruised by the unrelenting cruelty of those who sought to break him. Yet, amidst the darkness that threatened to consume him, a flicker of defiance burned within him—a silent vow to stand firm in the face of adversity, no matter the cost.

---

As the weight of the present pressed down on Isshi, memories of a fateful day during field training surfaced, haunting him with their stark brutality.

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Isshi stumbled through the dense undergrowth, his heart racing with adrenaline as he struggled to keep pace with his classmates. Yui's departure had left him feeling vulnerable and exposed, a lone target amidst a sea of predators.

Suddenly, the familiar sound of footsteps echoed behind him, sending a chill down his spine. Before he could react, Razor and two of his cronies emerged from the shadows, their eyes glinting with malice.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here," Razor sneered, his voice dripping with contempt as he advanced upon Isshi.

Isshi's heart hammered in his chest as he backed away, his instincts screaming at him to flee. But there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide from the relentless onslaught of his tormentors.

"Leave me alone," Isshi pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper as he raised trembling hands in a feeble attempt to ward them off.

But Razor only laughed, a cold, cruel sound that sent shivers down Isshi's spine. "Oh, we'll leave you alone, all right. Just as soon as we've had a little... fun."

And with that ominous promise hanging in the air, Razor and his cronies closed in, their shadows looming large over Isshi as he braced himself for the pain that was about to come.

---

The flashback faded, leaving Isshi trembling in its wake, the memory of that day etched into his mind with painful clarity. And as he gazed into the darkness that surrounded him, he knew that the horrors of the past were about to collide with the present, plunging him into a nightmare from which there would be no escape.

Yui goes to apologize and isshi says that's not even the worst part as the flashback picks up

As Isshi made his way home in the aftermath of that brutal beating, every step was a struggle against the agony that gripped his battered body. Each movement sent waves of pain coursing through him, threatening to overwhelm his already fragile resolve.