After being trailed by his aggressors off campus, Junpei picked up his pace to hightail it out as soon as possible. He just wanted to be left alone, was that too much to ask for? He didn't want them to see which paths he walked to get to and from school. But after Junpei went an extra mile passed his home... he knew they wouldn't stop. Don't engage with your bullies they say. They'll lose interest they say. He felt the muscles of his eyes strain, rolling them at those phrases he's heard way too many times.
A click of a lighter froze Junpei in his tracks for a moment. The scraping of flint to ignite a familiar scent of tobacco sent a chill down his spine. Chest numbed in fear, preparing to be slammed into a nearby wall. He braced for impact, raising his arms to cover his face from the hand that knocked him down. Before Junpei could get up to run, a weight placed itself in the center of his back. With a thud, the rest of the bullies followed suit. They tossed their bags to the side and sat on them to watch in enjoyment of Junpei's torment. The group of boys pretended as if nothing was wrong-- completely ignoring Junpei's pleas to get off of him and leave him alone.
His voice balled up in the back of his throat as the other boys ignored his every word. Shota placed a sturdy palm to keep Junpei's head from moving around too much. The gathering was almost over, he needed to put his cigarette out somewhere, right?
Shota grabbed a fistful of Junpei's hair, and pulled it tight to keep him from squirming away. Even if he already had a few scars from previous encounters, the pain still remained the same. The encroaching heat from the embers grew near. Smoke from the cigarette lingered in his face. The horrid stench of toxins inhaled from panicked breathing. Light coughing destroyed any hopes of the lit stick being smudged into the concrete.
"Weak," Shota mumbled in disgust, placing the live ember to a new spot on Junpei's forehead.
The unbearable sting from the cigarette placed on soft skin raised Junpei's fight or flight. In these instances, he instinctually tried to fight back. The pain radiates across his whole body, jolting a hand to Shota's ankle and gripping it as hard as he could muster. The strength in his grip unknown to him, Shota yelps as the tendons in his Achilles heel is squeezed uncomfortably. Without second thought, Shota shoots the heel of his shoe right into Junpei's neck. A sharp, short exhale left Junpei as the air was forcibly kicked out of his windpipe.
As soon as weight had lifted off of his back, Junpei turned to face the wall. Curling up in defense, he tucked in his head to his chest covered the back of his neck with his hands. Why couldn't they just leave him alone...
@chunibyo-x-sorcerer
