Part-37

  The school bell bred its final dismissal, sending a wave of students flooding out the doors like a rushing river. James, his hand still throbbing faintly, lingered he gate, a lone isnd in the human current. He hoped to avoid any further enters with the Judo club guys, their sneering faces and hulking physiques leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. As he stood there, a fiery head of hair caught his eye. Mili stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and a frowched on her face, her presence a beaidst the throng of students.

  "James," she said, her voice ced with a mixture of and annoyance. "Why did you do that?"

  James blinked, surprised by her question. "Do what?" he stammered, pying dumb.

  Mili gred at him. "Don't py i with me," she said, her voice firm. "Challenging Sourov to a fight like that - reckless!"

  The misuanding hit James like a ton of bricks. Mili thought he'd challenged Sourov for her sake? He felt a flush creep up his neck. This was exactly the situation he’d feared – the Bully System creating unnecessary plications. He opened his mouth to expin, but the words wouldn't e out.

  Mili sighed, her anger seemingly abating. "Look," she said, her voice softening slightly, "if you have some kind of crush on me, you fet it. I'm… I'm already seeing someone."

  James couldn't help but let out a small, helpless chuckle. This was getting ridiculous. The euatio like a bizarre fever dream. Here he was, a boy entangled in a system that forced him to front bullies, yet prevented him from expining his motivations to the very person he might be (uionally) trying to impress. He loo tell Mili everything, to blurt out the truth about the strange messages, the experience points, and the ever-present blue window.

  But revealing the Bully System felt like inviting ridicule, or worse, disbelief. What would she think of him? Would she see him as a freak, a delusional boy who fabricated a fantastical story to avoid admitting his (ent) feelings for her? He settled for a simple shake of his head, the gesture veying a mixture of amusement and resignation.

  Mili, mistaking his chuckle for disbelief, narrowed her eyes. "What's so funny?"

  "Nothing," James mumbled, f a smile.

  Mili studied him for a moment, a flicker of admiration repg the annoyan her gaze. "Well," she said, her voice gruff but sincere, "at least you have some guts. Unlike most of those other kids who just stand around like scared rabbits while a girl is getting harassed. Ba eighth grade, this one girl, Nadia, was being ered by a group of boys every single day after school. Nobody did anything. They'd just walk by, pretending not to see. It made me sick. But you? You stepped into the ring, even though you knew you were outmatched. That takes ce, James. Don't ever let aell you differently."

  A warmth spread through James' chest. It wasn't just about proving a point or blindly following the rules of the bizarre system that seemed to be trolling his life. Mili's words resonated with a truth he hadn't fully aowledged before. In that moment, fag Ryan that day, the fear had been real, the potential fetting hurt very high. But there had also been a spark of something else, a flicker of defiance, a desire to stand up for himself, even if it meant going against the grain. And maybe, just maybe, a part of him had also acted to impress Mili, to show her that he wasn't just the quiet boy in the er. Whatever the reasons, the oute was the same: he had taken a stand. And for the first time that day, it didn't feel entirely dictated by the cold, impersonal ands of the Bully System.

  "Thanks," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

  Mili nodded curtly, her fiery ponytail swishing with the movement. As she walked away, James watched her go.