A Simple Life in the Classroom of the Elite

"That's not fair! Why can't I go to school!?"

Arisu's childish voice echoed through the room, filled with frustration as she confronted her father.

"Arisu…" Naruomi sighed, his eyes softening. "It's better if you're homeschooled. I can hire private tutors just as good as the ones in that school."

His words did nothing to soothe her. If anything, her glare only sharpened.

"Dad, why can I go, but she can't?" Ryuto chimed in, confusion evident in his voice.

Naruomi hesitated. He took a slow breath, staring anywhere but at his children.

"You can't understand it yet, but at this age, kids don't always think before they act. They can be…cruel."

Arisu clenched her fists. "I don't care! I want to go with Ryuto!"

Her stubbornness was unwavering, her bright eyes filled with defiance.

Naruomi studied his daughter for a long moment before exhaling, a small, weary smile tugging at his lips.

"…Alright."

"Really?!"

"But." He continued, his expression turning serious. "If you ever want to leave, tell me. No matter what, okay?"

Arisu's frustration melted into excitement. She beamed. "Yeah!"

Ryuto grinned alongside her, celebrating their small victory.

Naruomi chuckled at their energy but soon turned somber. He shifted his attention to his son.

"Ryuto, can you promise me something?"

Ryuto blinked, tilting his head.

"Watch over your sister. Make sure she's safe."

Without hesitation, Ryuto straightened up. "Of course!"

His father's gaze lingered, searching for something in him. Then, he gave a small nod.

"Good. And if anything happens—anything at all—tell me immediately."

Ryuto hesitated, not fully understanding. "Okay…"

…

School started off well—at first. But it didn't take long for the two to realize what their father had meant.

"You need this thing to walk?"

Arisu barely had time to react before one of her classmates snatched her cane from her hands.

"H-Hey! What are you doing?!"

Three boys stood in front of her, grinning.

"Why can't you walk like everyone else?" One of them sneered. "What a weirdo."

Laughter erupted around her.

Her heart pounded.

Before she could do anything, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Give that back!"

Ryuto shoved his way between them, his small frame standing protectively in front of his sister.

The boy holding the crutch smirked. "Why should I? I found it. If she wants it, she can come and get it."

'More laughter.' Arisu felt a lump form in her throat.

"I said give it back!" Ryuto yelled, stepping forward—only for the boy to shove him to the ground.

"Ryuto!" Arisu gasped, reaching toward him.

The classroom fell into a hush. No one stepped in. They were just watching.

Ryuto gritted his teeth, struggling to push himself up. His arms trembled. His classmates' laughter echoed in his ears, their taunts sharp and cutting.

"You're even frailer than your sister!"

His vision blurred. His fists clenched, shaking with frustration.

'Why am I so weak?'

Before the bullying could continue, a loud voice snapped through the tension.

"What is going on here?!"

The laughter stopped. A teacher strode into the room, eyes narrowing at the scene.

"We were just playing!" The boy lied instantly, straightening his posture.

The teacher's gaze didn't waver. She marched forward, snatching the cane from his hands before kneeling in front of Arisu.

"Are you alright?" She asked gently, handing it back.

Arisu didn't answer. She simply took it, gripping it tightly.

The teacher helped Ryuto to his feet next. "You two okay?"

"…Yeah." Ryuto mumbled, though his voice lacked conviction.

The teacher turned back to the boys, her expression hardening. "You three are coming with me. And the rest of you—" Her voice rose, addressing the silent crowd of students, "—why didn't anyone step in? If you see someone being picked on, you tell a teacher immediately!"

Murmurs rippled through the class. Some kids shifted uncomfortably. Others glared at the Sakayanagi siblings, as if this was their fault.

Arisu swallowed thickly.

She thought things would get better after this.

They didn't.

The next day, the whispers started. Then the glares. Then the shoves in the hallway when the teachers weren't looking.

…

Ryuto stood outside his sister's room, hearing quiet sniffles from inside.

His chest tightened.

"Arisu?" He knocked gently. "Can I come in?"

No response.

Frowning, he slowly pushed the door open.

Inside, Arisu sat curled up on her bed, knees pulled tightly to her chest, her head lowered. Her long silver hair, usually neat, fell messily over her shoulders.

"It's not fair…" She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryuto stepped closer. "Arisu…maybe we should tell Dad."

At that, she snapped her head up, eyes wet with unshed tears.

"No!" She shouted. "I nagged him so much about going to school…I can't just quit now!" She wiped her nose, sniffing hard.

Ryuto hesitated. "But he said if you wanted to leave, you should—"

"I'll handle it on my own!" She cut him off, glaring. "So don't tell him!"

Her stubbornness caught him off guard.

"But…how are you going to handle it?" He asked, confusion flickering across his face.

"I don't know…" She admitted, voice trembling. "If I were normal, none of this would be happening…"

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her dress.

"It's because I'm weird." She whispered.

Ryuto stiffened. "What are you talking about? You're not weird."

"Yes, I am!" Arisu snapped. "Everyone thinks so!"

The words hit him harder than he expected.

Ryuto stared at his sister, watching as she trembled, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Then, slowly, his face hardened with determination.

Without a word, he turned his back toward her and crouched down.

Arisu blinked. "What…are you doing?"

Ryuto glanced over his shoulder.

"It's because you can't walk properly, right? That's why they're making fun of you?"

She didn't answer.

Ryuto clenched his fists. "Then I'll walk for you."

Arisu's eyes widened.

"Nobody will be able to say anything if I carry you."

For a long moment, she just stared at him, unsure.

Then, hesitantly, she crawled onto his back.

Ryuto braced himself, gripping her legs tightly.

'If I carry her, they won't be able to make fun of her anymore, right?'

He took a deep breath.

Then, he pushed himself up, straining to hold her. He took one step—

Only for his legs to buckle instantly.

A sharp jolt of pain shot through his body as he collapsed, bringing Arisu down with him.

"Aah!" Arisu gasped, but Ryuto had twisted his body just in time to take the impact, shielding her.

The room fell silent.

Then—

THUMP!

The door burst open.

"What's going on?!"

Their father, Naruomi, strode inside, his sharp gaze scanning the room. When he spotted them on the floor, his eyes widened in alarm.

He hurried forward. "Are you two okay?"

Ryuto groaned. Arisu sat beside him, looking just as startled.

Naruomi sighed, kneeling down and gently checking Arisu for any injuries before turning to his son, helping him up.

"What were you thinking, Ryuto? You need to be careful with your sister."

Ryuto bit his lip. "I—I just wanted to help…"

Naruomi's expression softened at his son's trembling voice.

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then, without another word, he pulled both children into a hug.

"Just…be careful next time. Alright?" Naruomi softly exclaimed.

"Y-yeah…" They murmured in unison, though their minds continued to be weighed down by different worries.

…

For the next few days, Ryuto's interactions with Arisu became sparser, the shame of what had happened still fresh in his mind.

The bullying, however, remained the same, only strengthening the insecurities that clawed at them.

Now, as the school day ended, the Sakayanagi siblings sat in the backseat of their car, ready to leave.

"I'm sorry, I forgot some of my books inside the school. Can I go get them? It won't take more than a few minutes! I promise!" Ryuto looked hopefully at their personal driver.

The man remained silent for a moment, his gaze meeting Ryuto's in the rear-view mirror. Then, with a small sigh, he gave a nod.

"Thank you!" Ryuto grinned, immediately hopping out of the car.

Throughout the entire exchange, Arisu remained absentminded, staring out the window, lost in thought.

But Ryuto wasn't going back for any books.

After stepping inside the school, he quickly slipped out through a back door, glancing around to make sure no one saw him.

'I just need to think. I'll be back soon. I'm not doing anything wrong…' He reassured himself, but his heart still pounded.

The streets stretched endlessly before him as he walked aimlessly, his thoughts swirling.

'I wanted to help Arisu, but I just made a fool of myself…' He sighed, shoulders slumping.

'She said she'd handle it, but nothing's changed.' His fists clenched as his classmates' mocking faces flashed in his mind.

'If only I was actually more of a man…then I could—'

A sudden, blaring honk shattered his thoughts.

Ryuto barely had time to react before something yanked him backward. A truck thundered past, so close that the wind left his skin tingling.

His breath hitched, his heart racing.

"What...?" His voice barely came out, his mind catching up to what just happened. Then he realized—someone was gripping the back of his uniform.

"Hey, little miss, you should be more careful when crossing the road."

A voice, deep and amused, broke through the haze.

Ryuto turned, looking up at the person who had saved him.

The guy was tall, towering even. With bright red hair and a lean but well-defined build. His expression was both concerned and slightly entertained.

"I'm a boy…" Was all Ryuto managed to say.

…

"Hahaha! Sorry, little man, my mistake." The teen grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"It's fine. I get that a lot." Ryuto replied with a small frown.

They now sat inside a small café, two cups of hot chocolate steaming in front of them.

"You alright? That was pretty scary."

"Yeah…and thanks, by the way!" Ryuto bowed slightly.

"No biggie." The teen waved him off with a smile.

"I'm Takuma Ishida. You?"

"Sakayanagi Ryuto."

Ishida took a sip of his drink, eyeing him curiously. "So, what's a kid like you doing out here alone? Aren't your parents around?"

"No…I…I think I got lost." Ryuto admitted, lowering his gaze in embarrassment.

Ishida chuckled. "My girlfriend's supposed to meet me soon. If you want, I can help you find your way back afterward."

"Really? Thank you!" Ryuto let out a relieved sigh.

Ishida simply nodded, and for a moment, silence settled between them.

Ryuto stole a few glances at him, as if deep in thought.

"Something wrong?" Ishida asked, instantly picking up on his staring.

"Uh, no, it's just that…" Ryuto hesitated, then blurted out. "You look really manly!"

Ishida blinked. "Manly?"

Ryuto nodded earnestly. "I mean, you look strong! If I were like you…nobody would pick on us anymore." His hands clenched into fists, frustration leaking into his words.

Ishida's expression shifted slightly, his easy going demeanor changing to something more serious.

"Pick on you? What do you mean?"

"Huh? Well…" Ryuto hesitated, but in the end, he saw no reason to hide it.

And so, he told Ishida about what was happening at his school. About the bullying. About his failure to help Arisu.

Ishida listened, his fingers lightly tapping against his cup.

"I see…" He muttered after a moment, a flicker of anger in his eyes. "It's admirable you want to protect your sister, but I think you should tell your parents."

"No!" Ryuto immediately shook his head. "Dad would just pull us out of school!"

"That so…?" Ishida sighed, rubbing his temple. "Well then, I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

Ryuto looked up at him in confusion.

"Being a man isn't just about strength." Ishida explained. "Sure, being strong helps, but that shouldn't be your end goal. Improving yourself—that's what actually matters."

Ryuto furrowed his brows, clearly not fully understanding.

Ishida leaned back in his chair, exhaling. "Think about it. What's the point of this strength if I had just stood by and watched you get hit by that truck? Would that have been manly?"

Ryuto paused, then shook his head.

"See? Strength alone isn't enough."

His gaze drifted upward, his tone softening. "To me, being manly means helping others—even if they don't appreciate it. It means being selfless. It means getting back up, no matter how many times you fail. No matter how many people laugh at you. You rise again, and you try until you succeed."

Ryuto's breath hitched.

Those words—they hit something deep inside him.

He sat frozen, his mind swirling.

'Get back up…and try until you succeed.'

Something about those words felt right.

Before he could process it further, Ishida suddenly perked up. "Oh, there she is!"

A girl jogged toward them, slightly out of breath.

"Ishida, sorry for being late. Have you been waiting long?" She asked, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Nah, I just got here a bit ago." Ishida grinned.

She nodded before turning to Ryuto, blinking in surprise.

"Ishida…why are you standing in a café with a little girl?"

"Huh?" Horror flashed across Ishida's face. "Whatever you're thinking—it's not like that! Right, little man?" He turned desperately to Ryuto…only to be met with silence.

Ryuto was still lost in thought, Ishida's words echoing in his head.

"...Little man?"

…

"I'm really sorry! I thought you were a girl at first!" The teen apologized, smiling sheepishly.

"It doesn't matter." Ryuto grumbled.

"Well, this is my girlfriend, Aizawa Hinata. And this here is Sakayanagi Ryuto." Ishida introduced.

"Nice to meet you!" Hinata greeted brightly.

"Nice to meet you too…" Ryuto mumbled, before letting out a deep sigh. "I should go back. I've been gone too long."

He looked at Ishida, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"Thank you…for helping me understand. If I ever need advice, could I come to you again?"

Ishida chuckled. "Sure. I come here a lot. Just drop by."

"Alright!" Ryuto nodded, a newfound determination burning in his chest.

As he turned to leave, Hinata watched him go, a soft smile on her lips.

"What a cute kid."

"Yeah…" Ishida murmured, watching Ryuto disappear into the distance. "He seems like a good one."

Then his eyes widened.

"Wait—wasn't he lost?"

…

'Nearly getting lost twice… this is so embarrassing!' Ryuto thought, his head lowered in shame.

Beside him, Ishida and Hinata walked at a relaxed pace, having insisted on escorting him home after realizing his car was no longer parked in front of the school.

The moment Ishida caught sight of the massive estate, his jaw practically dropped. "Damn! You're rich rich!" He blurted out.

Hinata sighed, nudging him with her elbow. "Have a little class." Though, despite her words, her eyes were still glued to the extravagant house.

Ryuto scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh…sorry for making you come all this way."

"Nah, don't worry about it. Couldn't just leave you wandering around." Ishida grinned.

"It was the right thing to do!" Hinata added, a bright smile on her face.

Ryuto hesitated for a moment before bowing his head slightly. "Still…thank you."

"No problem, little man." Ishida waved him off.

With that, Ryuto turned and stepped inside, while the two teens exchanged a glance before heading off.

…

'Finally home…'

Ryuto let out a breath of relief as he stepped inside, only to flinch at the sharp voice that immediately called out to him.

"Ryuto!"

Their father, Naruomi, strode toward him, his usual composed demeanor cracked with worry. His hands landed firmly on Ryuto's shoulders, scanning him for any signs of harm.

"Where were you!?"

"I… I got lost." Ryuto admitted, unable to meet his father's gaze.

Naruomi exhaled harshly, his grip tightening for a second before he let go. "I told him not to let either of you out of his sight…" He muttered, running a hand through his hair. "We'll discuss this later. Your driver has been searching the entire city for you."

Guilt twisted in Ryuto's chest. 'Sorry, Mr. Driver…I'll make it up to you somehow.'

As Naruomi turned to make a call, Ryuto trudged toward the living room—only to find Arisu already there, sitting on the couch.

She was calm. Unlike their father's open frustration, Arisu's face was unreadable as she gazed at him.

"You should have told me." She finally said, her voice quiet.

Ryuto hesitated. "Told you…what?"

"That you were planning to leave."

"I wasn't planning anything. I just…needed to think."

Arisu tilted her head, observing him.

"I see." She closed the book in her lap. "Do you know what happened while you were gone?"

Ryuto frowned. "No…?"

"Father was furious. The driver? He'll likely lose his position or, at the very least, face severe punishment. All because you needed to think." Her tone wasn't accusatory—if anything, it was almost detached, like she was stating a simple fact.

Ryuto's stomach twisted. He hadn't meant to cause so much trouble. "I-I didn't think—"

"No, you didn't." Arisu leaned forward slightly. "That's the problem."

Ryuto clenched his fists. "What was I supposed to do, then?"

Arisu smiled. "If you wanted to leave without consequences, you should've had an excuse prepared in advance. Or better yet…made it so someone else took responsibility for your absence."

"W-What?"

"We don't have the luxury of acting on impulse. If you want something, you need to control the situation first." She gestured to the book. "That's what I'm learning."

Ryuto remained silent, sitting beside her, and resting his arms on his knees, deep in thought. The events of the day, the things Ishida had told him, all swirled in his mind. Slowly, his fists clenched.

"Arisu…I also learned something."

She blinked at him. "Oh?"

"I'm going to improve myself." His voice was steady, unwavering. "I'll stop whining, I'll stop crying. From now on, I'll train, I'll push myself—I don't care how long it takes. I'll protect you from anything that's trying to hurt you. And this time…no matter how many times I fall, I'll get back up."

Arisu regarded him with a neutral expression, but there was something unreadable in her gaze.

"…There's no need." She finally exclaimed. "I'm starting to understand how to resolve this."

Ryuto scoffed. "Even if you 'resolve' it, the words they've said to you won't just disappear! In your mind, you'll still think about your condition, won't you?"

Arisu's fingers briefly tightened, but she said nothing.

Ryuto took a deep breath and turned to her, his eyes filled with resolve.

"So… let's rely on each other."

Arisu blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Huh?"

A gentle smile crossed Ryuto's face, his expression softer yet unwavering.

"From now on…I'll be your body, and you'll be my mind."