"Stop!" A girly voice interrupted Asher from his walked.

'This girl again ,' He sighed inwardly .

The girl had a nice oval face with charming eyes that highlighted her dazzling beauty. She wore a miniskirt under her uniform, showing off her long, soft-looking legs. Her black hair and brown eyes added to the charisma she carried. Standing there, she looked graceful and alluring.

This girl name was Elaine .She was the kind of person who fell into two archetypes.

With her beautiful face, she was popular, and her top-notched grades made her academically gifted too. On top of that, her family owned a convenience store.

In this ordinary high school, she could be considered well-off compared to the rest.

Bullies like him usually targeted the weak, but he hesitated to confront someone like her. Hurting her could lead to judgment from many, and he could even face expulsion.

"What is it ?" he asked with a nonchalant expression.

"What you did back then... It's too much," she scolded him, her eyes filled with disgust.

"He punched me; I just defended myself. You were there, right? I'm sure you saw what happened," Asher explained his side of the story.

"I..." Elaine was stunned by his words. It was true; he got punched first, but he had humiliated the boy in the first place.

"Save your words for others," he replied dismissively, turning around and walking away.

There was no point in talking to someone from a different world. They just didn't see things the same way, and he couldn't figure out what she was thinking, nor could she understand him.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

***

Inside a club room adorned with shelves filled with comics and even a gaming console, three individuals faced each other.

This area, once designated for the Gamer Club, had been cruelly stolen away from its rightful owners by the bullies who controls the school openly.

"You did a great job teaching that little brat a lesson. Here's your share for this month's collections," a man with red hair chuckled with satisfaction. He extended an envelope filled with money to Asher, acknowledging his role in their bullying scheme.

Asher didn't say anything; he simply accepted the envelope.

"Keep terrorizing those losers so they don't forget to pay us," he added with a cold grin, his words dripping with a sense of malicious intent.

This person was none other than the notorious boss of 15th Springs High , James, a senior high school student who held immense influence and power within the school.

"Sure" Asher replied with a nonchalant voice, showing no interest in cozying up with him. He was merely here to collect his money and had no desire to do anything else.

"You're still no fun, Asher," James spoke, feigning like he got hurt. However, both of them knew it was nothing more than a bullshit facade, an act to maintain their fragile partnership.

Asher did not even bother to reply and just turned around, his interaction with him reaching its uneventful end. With the money in hand, he saw no reason to prolong his stay in this place and swiftly made his way out.

"That kid is too arrogant," a bulky man spoke, his frustration evident in his voice. It was clear that Asher demeanor and actions had irked him, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

"Can you beat him then?" James asked.

The bulky man was left speechless, his mind filled with memories of how Asher had once beaten the shit out of him.

He had initially thought that Asher as a mere loser, someone who kept to himself and seemed detached from everyone else.

But everything changed when Asher humiliated him in front of everyone, beating him to the point of unconsciousness .

He despised him with every fiber of his being, but he couldn't deny the fact that Asher was really strong.

"Just ignore him. He's doing his part of the deal, and we just have to pay him. There's no reason to fight someone like that. "

"Boss, do you think he is stronger than you?" The bulky man asked.

"Are you doubting me ?" James voice turned cold.

"I'm not, I'm not. I know that you're the strongest," the bulky man quickly clarified, fearing that James might unleash his anger on him too.

Unlike Asher, James didn't know how to hold back at all. He was the type of guy who would beat someone who was already unconscious.