Kojima Ren lay in the quiet darkness of the pavilion, the soft glow of the Eternal Spring Fountain barely reaching the bed. The island was peaceful outside, but inside his mind, the old memories stirred again.
He closed his eyes, and the dream took him.
He was back in Tokyo, walking the crowded school hallway. The familiar smell of polished floors and cheap cafeteria food filled his nose. Students laughed and talked around him, but their voices felt distant, like they were behind glass.
Then the laughter changed.
It became sharper. Crueler.
Raijin Kurogane and his group blocked the corridor ahead. Raijin was tall even then, silver hair perfectly styled, expensive uniform slightly unbuttoned to show off his confidence. He came from old money — the kind that bought silence and fear. His father owned half the city's skyscrapers. His mother gave him whatever he demanded. Raijin had grown up spoiled, rude, and arrogant, treating the world like his personal playground.
Raijin: Look who it is. The pathetic virgin again.
The group laughed. Kojima tried to walk past, but Raijin shoved him hard against the lockers. The impact rattled his bones.
Raijin: What's the matter? Too scared to look me in the eye? You think you're better than me just because you keep your head down?
Kojima's voice was small, shaky.
Kojima: I'm not… I just want to go to class.
Raijin laughed louder, grabbing Kojima's collar and slamming him against the metal again.
Raijin: You're nothing. A weak, useless loser who will never get a girl. Hell, you probably jerk off to gacha characters because no real girl would ever touch you.
The others joined in, mocking him, pushing him, calling him names. One of them stole his bag and dumped it on the floor. Raijin stepped on his phone, cracking the screen.
Raijin: Oops. My bad. But you don't need that anyway. No one texts you.
The bullying didn't stop at school. Raijin made it his mission. He spread rumors, locked Kojima in the bathroom for hours, tripped him in front of everyone. He was perverted and cruel — always bragging about the girls he forced or manipulated, laughing when they cried, treating them like objects he could use and throw away.
Kojima remembered the worst day.
He was cornered behind the school building after classes. Raijin and three of his friends surrounded him. Raijin grabbed him by the hair and forced him to look up.
Raijin: You think you can ignore me? You think you're special? You're nothing. A pathetic little virgin who deserves to be stepped on.
He punched Kojima in the stomach. Then again. And again. The pain was sharp, nauseating. Kojima curled on the ground, gasping for air, tears stinging his eyes.
Raijin crouched down, his voice low and vicious.
Raijin: If you ever look at me again, I'll make sure everyone knows what a worthless piece of shit you are. And maybe I'll bring one of my girls here to show you what you'll never have.
The laughter echoed in Kojima's ears as they walked away, leaving him bleeding and broken on the ground.
He woke up with a start, heart hammering, sweat cold on his skin. The dream felt too real. The old trauma rushed back — the helplessness, the shame, the constant fear. He sat up in the dark pavilion, breathing hard, fists clenched.
Kojima: …Raijin.
The name tasted bitter. Even in this new world, the memory of that arrogant, spoiled bully still haunted him. Rich, rude, perverted — Raijin had taken pleasure in breaking people, especially those he saw as weak.
Kojima rubbed his face, trying to push the images away. The island was safe. His companions were safe. But the past still had claws.
He lay back down, staring at the ceiling, the weight of those school days pressing on his chest.