(Flashback: Before Yuto's First Day at School)
Reina sat on the rooftop, legs crossed, watching the chaos below with mild amusement.
Two boys danced in the schoolyard, humiliated, their faces bright red.
Her toys.
She twirled her phone in her hand, recording their misery as her followers laughed.
It never got old.
But then—
"A new toy has arrived today."
The voice came from one of her most loyal followers, a girl with short hair and sharp eyes.
"Joe already got to him first. The kid looked like he was about to cry."
Reina's smirk disappeared.
Joe?
Her fingers stopped spinning the phone.
Her gaze darkened.
"Who told Joe he could touch my toy first?"
The girl hesitated.
"But Reina, Kaido stopped him before he could do much. There's still plenty of fun left."
Reina slowly exhaled, a cold smile forming on her lips.
"Good. I prefer my toys untouched before I break them."
She stood up, stretching lazily.
"Let's make sure this one doesn't get too comfortable."
---
(Flash-forward: After Reina Introduces Herself to Yuto)
Joe was running.
Reina had barely spoken to him yet—but he already knew.
He knew he had messed up.
The school gate was right there—if he could just—
CLANK.
The gates slammed shut.
The guards had been warned.
Joe turned slowly.
Reina and her followers were waiting.
She walked forward, slowly, deliberately.
Joe's throat went dry.
"Where are you going, Joe?"
Her voice was soft. Too soft.
"Reina, I—"
"Shh."
She placed a finger against her lips.
Then, she smiled.
"You played with my toy before I did."
Joe's legs wobbled slightly. He wasn't sure whether to speak or stay silent.
Neither option would save him.
Reina turned to one of her followers. "Stapler."
A small, silver stapler was placed in her palm.
Joe's breath hitched.
She tossed it casually into the air, catching it without looking.
Click. Click. Click.
Each metallic sound felt like a countdown.
"Let's play a game, Joe."
Joe took a step back.
"R-Reina, please. I—"
"I'll ask you a question."
She ignored him completely.
Click. Click.
The stapler opened, revealing the sharp metal inside.
"If I like your answer, I let you go."
Joe swallowed.
"O-Okay…?"
Reina's smile widened.
"How many times did you touch my toy?"
Joe's brain was screaming.
Say the right number. Say what she wants to hear.
"T-Twice."
His voice shook.
Reina hummed.
"Twice, huh?"
Click.
She tossed the stapler to one of her followers.
"One staple for each time."
Joe's pupils shrank.
"Wait—"
Snap.
A muffled yelp of pain.
Joe fell to his knees, clutching his hand, breath shallow.
Reina crouched beside him, lowering her voice.
"That was just a warning."
She leaned in slightly.
"Disobey me again, and next time, you won't be able to count how many times."
Joe was already scrambling to his feet before she even dismissed him.
Reina watched him flee.
Then, slowly, she turned her head toward the school building.
Toward a certain second-year student.
She smirked.
"Yuto…"
"Let's see how long you last before you break."