The next morning, Aaron walked into school with a sense of determination. He had made up his mind—he was going to ask Ein to the dance, everyone else's opinions be damned. As he made his way through the bustling hallways, he spotted Aphmau and Kawaii~Chan chatting by her locker.

Taking a deep breath, Aaron approached them.

"Hey, Aphmau, Kawaii~Chan," he greeted, trying to keep his nerves in check.

Aphmau looked up, surprised to see him. "Hey, Aaron. What's up?"

Aaron hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I need your advice. I want to ask Ein to the dance, but I'm not sure how to go about it."

Kawaii~Chan's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh my gosh, this is so romantic! You should definitely do something special!"

Aphmau smiled, nodding in agreement. "Kawaii~Chan's right. Ein deserves to feel special. Maybe you could write him a note or do something that shows you care."

Aaron thought about it for a moment. "A note, huh? I could do that. Any other suggestions?"

Kawaii~Chan giggled. "You could also give him a small gift, something meaningful. And make sure to be genuine. Ein-kun will appreciate it if you speak from the heart."

Aaron nodded, feeling a bit more confident. "Thanks, both of you. I'll figure something out."

Aphmau patted his shoulder. "Good luck, Aaron. Ein's lucky to have someone like you in his life."

With their encouragement, Aaron felt ready to take the next step. He just hoped Ein would say yes.

...

Ein walked through the crowded hallways, heading towards his classroom before the bell rang. As he neared the corner, he overheard a hushed conversation between Gene and Balto.

"Are you sure this will work?" Balto asked, his voice low but filled with excitement.

Gene smirked. "Trust me, once Aaron gets involved in our little setup, there's no way he'll be able to stay at this school. The principal will have no choice but to expel him."

Ein froze, his heart pounding. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Determined to stop their plan, he ducked behind a locker and quickly pulled out his phone. His fingers trembled slightly as he typed a message to Aphmau:

Ein: Aphmau, I just overheard Gene and Balto talking about a plan to get Aaron expelled. We need to do something.

He sent the message and anxiously waited for her reply, his mind racing with possibilities on how to thwart Gene and Balto's scheme.

...

Aphmau continued chatting with Aaron as Garroth approached them, a smile spreading across her face. She leaned in for a quick kiss, her cheeks flushing with happiness. Just as they pulled away, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Sorry, one sec," she said, reaching for her phone. She glanced at the screen and saw the message from Ein. Her expression turned serious as she read it.

Ein: Aphmau, I just overheard Gene and Balto talking about a plan to get Aaron expelled. We need to do something.

Her eyes widened, and she looked up at Aaron and Garroth. "Guys, we have a problem."

Aaron's brow furrowed with concern. "What's going on?"

Aphmau handed him her phone, letting him read Ein's message. As he scanned the text, his expression darkened. "Gene and Balto... I knew they were up to something."

Garroth put a reassuring hand on Aaron's shoulder. "We'll figure this out. We can't let them get away with this."

Aphmau nodded, determination in her eyes. "Ein's already on it. Let's meet up with him and come up with a plan. We need to stop them before they can do anything."

The four of them quickly made their way toward Ein's homeroom, their steps purposeful. As they reached the door, they saw Ein waiting for them, his face a mixture of worry and resolve.

"Aaron," Ein said, his voice steady but urgent, "We need to be careful. They can't know we're onto them."

Aaron nodded, appreciating Ein's concern. "Thanks for the heads-up, Ein. Let's figure out how to stop them."

Garroth leaned in closer, his voice low as he outlined his plan to Aaron. "Listen, Aaron. Gene and Balto think they've got you figured out. They're expecting you to blow up if they push the right buttons. But we can turn this around. Act completely normal, like you haven't heard a thing. Let them think they have the upper hand."

Aaron nodded, absorbing Garroth's strategy. "And then what?"

"We wait," Garroth replied, his gaze focused. "We wait for them to make their move. When they do, we'll be ready to catch them in the act, prove their intentions, and turn the tables on them."

Aaron clenched his fists, a mix of determination and apprehension swirling within him. "I'm in. Let's do this."

Garroth nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Just trust me, Aaron. We'll handle this together."

With a nod of agreement, Aaron prepared himself mentally for what lay ahead, knowing that Garroth's plan offered them a chance to expose Gene and Balto's schemes once and for all.

...

As the school day went on, lunchtime arrived, and Aaron found himself alone in the cafeteria. Balto, flanked by a group of his cronies, approached with a smug grin.

"So, Aaron," Balto began, his tone dripping with mockery. "Still sticking around that loser Ein? You must be really weak and pathetic to settle for someone like him."

Aaron clenched his fists, but remembered Garroth's plan. He took a deep breath, keeping his voice steady. "You're not worth my time."

Balto's grin widened, sensing an opportunity to push further. "You know, I could make Ein's life a living hell. It wouldn't take much to ruin him completely. Hell, I might even try and see if he's really into dick or not. I'm sure he'll be more than willing to spread his legs open for me."

That was the breaking point for Aaron. The thought of Balto doing anything to hurt Ein made his blood boil.

  "What did you just say?" he snapped, his voice rising.

In the background, Kawaii~Chan, Katelyn (who Aphmau later informed of about the plan), and Aphmau, who had been waiting on standby, quickly started recording the encounter on their phones, capturing every word and action.

Balto stepped closer, his grin turning malicious. "You heard me. I'm sure he'll be more than willing to spread his legs open for me since he's such a fucking-"

Aaron's self-control snapped. He punched Balto hard, sending him stumbling back.

"Stay away from him!" he shouted, his eyes blazing with fury.

Balto smirked, clearly pleased with the reaction. "Looks like I hit a nerve. What are you going to do about it, Aaron?"

Just as Aaron was about to respond, a stern voice cut through the tension. "That's enough!"

Garroth and a few teachers had arrived, drawn by the commotion. Garroth stepped forward, his expression serious. "Everyone, back off. This ends now."

Aphmau, Kawaii~Chan and Katelyn stopped recording, but they knew they had enough evidence to show who had started the confrontation. Balto and his cronies exchanged nervous glances, realizing their plan had backfired.

Aaron took a step back, still seething but grateful for Garroth's intervention. As the teachers began to disperse the crowd and lead Balto and his group away, Aphmau, Kawaii~Chan, and Katelyn approached Aaron.

"We got everything," Aphmau whispered, showing him the footage on her phone.

Aaron nodded, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Thanks. Let's make sure they can't deny what really happened."

...

Balto and his cronies slumped in their seats in detention, shooting glares at the clock as it ticked away. Gene and the Shadow Knights, also in detention, exchanged knowing looks.

"This is your fault," Gene muttered to Balto. "You had one job, and you blew it."

Balto sneered. "Shut up, Gene. I've got another plan. Follow me."

As soon as the teacher's back was turned, Balto, his cronies, Gene, and the Shadow Knights slipped out of the classroom, heading towards where Ein was chatting with Travis and Katelyn about the upcoming dance.

They found Ein laughing with his friends, completely unaware of the impending ambush. Balto stormed up to him, shoving him hard. "Think you're tough, huh?"

Ein stumbled back but quickly regained his balance, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell is your problem, Balto?"

"My problem is you," Balto spat, throwing a punch at Ein.

Ein dodged, and with surprising agility, he countered, landing a punch on Balto's jaw.

"You're pathetic, Balto," he hissed. "Picking fights to feel important. And Gene," he turned to the Shadow Knight leader, "you're just a coward hiding behind these losers."

Gene's eyes flashed with anger. "Watch your mouth, Ein."

Ein smirked, his voice dripping with contempt. "Why? Afraid of the truth? You're all just desperate to prove yourselves, but all you do is make fools of yourselves."

As the tension escalated, Katelyn and Travis discreetly began recording the confrontation on their phones, capturing every word and punch. Balto lunged at Ein again, but Ein deftly sidestepped, causing Balto to crash into a nearby table.

Ein leaned in close to Balto, his voice low and menacing.

"You think you can intimidate me? You're nothing but a bully with no brains. And Gene," he shot a glance at the Shadow Knight leader, "your days of manipulating people are over. Everyone's going to see what cowards you all are."

The insults stung, and Balto, enraged, swung wildly at Ein. Ein dodged easily, landing another punch that sent Balto reeling. The crowd around them started to murmur, and some students even began to cheer for Ein.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Gene decided to step in.

"Enough!" he yelled, but it was too late. The damage was done, and Katelyn and Travis had everything on record.

Ein stood tall, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination.

  "You're all going down," he said coldly. "And there's nothing you can do to stop it."

As the teachers arrived to break up the fight, Katelyn and Travis slipped their phones back into their pockets, satisfied that they had all the evidence they needed. Balto and Gene glared at Ein, but he simply smirked, knowing that their reign of terror was about to come to an end.

...

The aftermath of the fight found everyone in the principal's office. The tension was palpable as Balto, Gene, their cronies, and the other students involved waited for the verdict. The principal, Mr. Romero, sat behind his large desk, flanked by the school resource officer, Officer Mitchell.

Aphmau, Katelyn, Kawaii~Chan, and Travis stood to one side, their expressions a mix of determination and resolve. Mr. Romero cleared his throat, looking sternly at the gathered students.

"We have gathered here to address the serious allegations of fighting and bullying that occurred today," Mr. Romero began, his voice firm. "We will review the evidence before making any decisions."

Aphmau stepped forward first, handing her phone to the principal.

"We have video evidence of what happened," she said. She, Katelyn, Kawaii~Chan, and Travis followed suit, each presenting their recordings.

Mr. Romero and Officer Mitchell watched the videos carefully, their expressions growing graver by the second. The recordings clearly showed Balto's instigation and aggression towards Aaron, followed by the calculated assault on Ein by both Balto and Gene's group.

Once the videos finished playing, Mr. Romero sighed, looking at the troublemakers with disappointment. "The evidence is clear. Balto, Gene, and the rest of you involved in this behavior, you have been caught bullying, instigating fights, and disrupting the school environment. This is unacceptable."

Balto tried to protest, "But—"

"No excuses," Mr. Romero cut him off sharply. "Your actions were deliberate and malicious. You will all face severe consequences for this."

He turned to Officer Mitchell, who nodded. "You will all be suspended for two weeks. Additionally, you will be required to attend mandatory counseling sessions and community service."

Gene and Balto looked furious but couldn't argue against the clear evidence. Mr. Romero then addressed the rest of the group. "As for Aaron, Ein, and the others, thank you for bringing this to our attention and for handling the situation with maturity."

Ein nodded, still feeling the adrenaline from the confrontation. He glanced at Aphmau, Katelyn, Kawaii~Chan, and Travis, grateful for their support.

Mr. Romero finished with a stern warning. "Let this be a lesson to all of you. Violence and bullying will not be tolerated in this school. I expect better behavior from everyone moving forward."

With that, the meeting was adjourned. As they left the principal's office, Aphmau and her friends felt a sense of relief. Justice had been served, and the school was a little safer for everyone.

Ein turned to his friends, a genuine smile on his face. "Thank you, all of you. I couldn't have done this without your help."

Aphmau grinned. "We're a team, Ein. We've got each other's backs."

Katelyn nodded. "Always."

As they walked down the hallway together, the bond between them felt stronger than ever.

...

The school day resumed its usual rhythm after the intense events earlier, students chatting in the hallways and classrooms. Ein, Aaron, Aphmau, and their friends found solace in the mundane routine, their laughter and conversation a welcome relief from the tension.

As the final bell rang and students began to disperse, a sleek, unmarked car pulled up to the front of the school. A detective stepped out, his expression serious as he scanned the crowd for Ein. Spotting him, the detective made his way over, his presence drawing curious glances from students and teachers alike.

"Ein?" the detective called out, his voice firm yet gentle.

Ein turned, his smile fading as he recognized the badge the detective held up. "Yes?"

"We need to talk," the detective said, lowering his voice. "I'm Detective Harris. There's been an incident involving your father. He's escaped from police custody."

The words hit Ein like a punch to the gut. His vision blurred, and his breath quickened. Panic surged through him, the familiar, suffocating sensation tightening around his chest. He staggered back, his friends immediately rushing to his side.

"Ein, breathe," Aphmau said, her voice steady as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "In and out, just like we practiced."

Aaron stood close, his own anxiety clear in his eyes. "You're safe here, Ein. We're all here for you."

Katelyn, Garroth, and Travis formed a protective barrier around Ein, their expressions fierce as they glared at anyone who dared to stare.

Detective Harris looked sympathetic but remained focused. "We're increasing security around your home and the school. We're doing everything we can to find him."

Ein nodded, though his breaths remained shallow and rapid. The world seemed to spin around him, the fear and memories of his father's abuse flooding back.

Sylvanna, who had been waiting in her car to pick up her kids, noticed the commotion and hurried over. Seeing Ein's state, she wrapped him in a comforting embrace. "You're safe, Ein. We're all here. We'll get through this together."

Slowly, Ein's breathing began to steady, his friends' and family's presence grounding him. He clung to Sylvanna, feeling a mix of terror and gratitude.

"We'll stay with you, Ein," Aphmau whispered. "Every step of the way."

As the detective made arrangements and reassured them of the measures being taken, Ein took strength from the people around him. The road ahead seemed daunting, but with the support of his friends and family, he knew he could face whatever came next.