The school premises were the same as always; the steady chatter of students filling the air, footsteps echoing through the courtyard as groups, pairs, and the occasional loner made their way toward the gates.

Gojo was one of those loners today.

He usually met up with Reggie after getting off the train. But this morning, Reggie hadn’t called or texted.

And knowing what he knew now, Gojo wasn’t surprised.

He was angry and but at the same time more in shock than anything else.

He walked through the hallways quietly, hands tucked into his pockets, ignoring the usual morning greetings. His mind kept replaying everything from the night before.

Reggie’s fake encouragement, Terra’s expression, and that unbearable realization that the person he trusted most had been smiling in his face while stabbing him in the back.

When Gojo reached his classroom, the usual chaos greeted him. Emilia spotted him first and waved with a bright smile, but when her eyes met the cold, distant look on his face, her hand faltered midair. 

She froze, realizing something was wrong.

Gojo’s gaze swept the room slowly. His eyes finally stopped on Reggie sitting at his usual seat toward the back, pretending like nothing had happened. That fake calm look only fueled the storm boiling inside Gojo’s chest.

Without hesitation, Gojo walked straight toward him.

Reggie noticed and tried to play it off, forcing a casual grin.

Reggie: Hey man, what’s up? Sorry I couldn’t meet at our usual spot today, but I had this important thing going on and—

He kept talking, but his words started to blur. They became distant noise in Gojo’s ears. Gojo’s eyes drifted across the room and caught sight of Terra, sitting a few rows away. Her head was turned, pretending to listen to her friends, but Gojo could see it; that flicker of guilt in her eyes.

He turned back to Reggie.

Gojo: You walked with Terra to school, didn’t you?

Reggie: Huh? What are you talking about? And what’s with that look on your face?

Gojo: Why did you tell me those things yesterday? Why did you urge me to go for it… when you already knew what you did? What did you think of me every time I told you how I felt about her (his voice trembles slightly) I seriously don’t get it… Why did you do this? Why?

Reggie: (puzzled) I sincerely don’t know what you’re talking about, man. You’re starting to creep me out and—

But that was it. That tone, that fake confusion, that smug calm, it snapped something inside Gojo.

Gojo: WHY DID YOU URGE ME TO TELL MY FEELINGS TO TERRA WHEN YOU WERE ALREADY DATING HER?!

The shout ripped through the classroom like an explosion. The chatter stopped instantly. Every head turned, every eye locked on the two of them.

Reggie froze, his fake smile fading for half a second. Then, slowly, a cruel and deliberate smirk returned to his face. He leaned forward just enough for only Gojo to hear him.

Reggie: I did it because… I wanted to see the pathetic look on your face when you realized I got her first.

The words hit Gojo like a sledgehammer. His mind blanked and before he could stop himself, his fist connected with Reggie’s face.

The first punch landed hard, sending Reggie crashing to the floor. Blood splattered against the tiles, but Gojo didn’t stop. He grabbed Reggie by the collar and rained blows on him, again and again filled with rage that he couldn’t contain anymore.

Students screamed and desks rattled. Someone shouted his name, but Gojo couldn’t hear anything except the sound of his fists hitting Reggie’s face.

It took three boys to pull him off.

By the time they did, Reggie’s lip was split open, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. He spat his blood onto the floor and among it, something small rolled out.

A tooth.

Gasps filled the room. One of the girls screamed. Others covered their mouths, frozen in horror and a few bolted out the door to get a teacher. Chaos filled the air.

And that was when Reggie, with perfect timing played his final card.

Reggie: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MAN?! I TOLD YOU ALREADY THAT TERRA AND I STARTED DATING A WEEK AGO! YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON I TOLD! YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! WHY DID YOU TRY TO STEAL HER BEHIND MY BACK AND THEN BLAME ME WHEN IT DIDN’T GO YOUR WAY?!

The words hit harder than any punch Gojo could throw.

Everyone stared at Reggie’s bloody face, at Gojo’s trembling hands and one by one, the looks turned to anger, disgust and disbelief.

Gojo’s lips parted, trying to explain, to tell the truth, but nothing came out right. Every word sounded hollow, like another lie and a desperate attempt to save himself. 

Reggie hadplayed the victim perfectly and turned the whole thing around.

And now, standing in the middle of the classroom , blood on his knuckles, hatred all around him, Gojo realized there was nothing he could do to change the image of him thwyr had in their heads right there and then 

******

The next few hours went by so fast that it felt unreal. Soon after, a teacher arrived and Reggie was taken to the school clinic, while Gojo was escorted to the principal’s office.

Both boys’ parents were contacted and asked to come to the school.

By the time they arrived, the atmosphere in the principal’s office was suffocatingly tense.

Reggie sat quietly beside his mother, an ice pack pressed against his swollen cheek. His father stood behind him, arms crossed, jaw tight with anger. Across from them sat Gojo, head lowered, unable to look anyone in the eye. His mother had a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm but trembling and his father stood near the wall. 

Principal Weather, seated between the two families, tried to keep the situation under control.

Principal: Please, try and bear with us, Mrs. Manson. I understand emotions ran high and things got out of hand, but—

Reggie’s Mother: But what?! My son lost a tooth! Do you understand what that means? He’ll need dental surgery, maybe a replacement tooth! And you expect me to bear with you?;

Gojo winced, eyes fixed on the floor.

Gojo’s Mother: We’re not saying it’s right. Gojo knows what he did was wrong. But—

Reggie’s Mother: But what?! There’s no but! He attacked my son for no reason!

Gojo’s Father: (sternly) That’s not true. There was a reason, wasn’t there? (glances at Gojo)

But Gojo didn’t respond. He just sat there in silence. 

Reggie’s Father: You’re trying to justify violence now? Your boy broke my son’s face because he couldn’t control his temper!

Gojo’s Mother: Our son isn’t violent! He’s never done anything like this before—

Reggie’s Mother: Well, he did now! And someone has to take responsibility for it. I’m not letting this be brushed under the rug. If the school won’t act, we will.

The room fell silent for a brief moment. The ticking of the wall clock echoed loudly in the background.

Principal: Mrs. Manson, I understand your frustration. But please, let’s handle this through the proper channels. The boys are classmates—

Reggie’s Mother: Classmates?! After this?! You think I want my son sitting in the same room as him again?!

Her glare landed squarely on Gojo, sharp enough to cut through him. Gojo flinched but didn’t speak.

Gojo’s father’s expression darkened.

Gojo’s Father: Enough. We’ll pay for the medical expenses. Every single one of them. But threatening to ruin his entire future over one mistake, does that sound fair to you?

Reggie’s Mother: Fair?! Tell that to my son when he can’t smile properly in his graduation photos!

Principal Weather sighed and tried again to mediate, but the voices began to rise as anger, guilt, and shame began to blendinto a storm of shouting.

Principal: Please, everyone, calm down—

Gojo’s Father: (firmly) We’ll take responsibility for the damages and my son will apologize directly once Reggie’s recovered.

The principal nodded slightly, relieved that someone was trying to be rational.

Principal: That’s the best course of action for now. I’ll prepare the disciplinary notice. Gojo will be suspended for a month while we finalize the report.

Reggie’s Mother: (coldly) Make it longer.

Principal: Mrs. Manson…

Reggie’s Mother: Either you make it longer, or we’ll press charges.

Gojo’s Mother: We already offered to pay for his treatment. What more do you want?

Reggie’s Mother: I want your son to understand. He hurt mine — now he should know what it feels like to lose something too.

Gojo’s Mother: (angered) Huh?! What’s that supposed to mean?!

The principal quickly tried to step in, raising his voice slightly.

Principal: Please everyone, let’s not make this any worse than it already is—

But their voices began to overlap again, escalating, each parent more defensive and emotional than the other.

That was when Gojo slowly raised his hand and the arguing stopped almost instantly as all eyes turned toward him as he looked up for the first time. 

Gojo: Please… you don’t need to fight over this anymore. It’s clear what needs to be done.

He paused, drawing a shaky breath before turning to Principal Weather.

Gojo: Principal… I want you to expel me.