Seyon’s Strategy

The morning sun seeped through the curtains of Seyon’s room as his eyes slowly blinked open. The peaceful silence was interrupted by the gentle sound of footsteps in the hallway. He sat up, brushing off the remnants of sleep, and turned to see a girl standing by the doorway. She had short hair, a calm face, and eyes that seemed to observe everything and say nothing.

It was Usu — now officially living under the same roof.

Her father, standing behind her with a humble smile, gave Seyon a slight bow. “Take care of her, will you?” he said softly, placing a gentle hand on Usu’s shoulder. Usu, as calm as ever, simply nodded and stepped forward. Seyon remained still, half-shocked, half-curious. Was this really happening?

“Come on. I’ll drop you to school,” Seyon finally muttered.

They began walking together, not saying much. But in Seyon’s mind, a storm of thoughts was brewing.

“Why did this girl have to come now… when I had already planned everything? This isn't the time for distractions. But… maybe this isn't just coincidence. Maybe she's a variable I need to account for.”

---

The road to school stretched long and quiet, lined with trees rustling in the wind. Usu walked beside him, arms tucked in her sweater pockets, eyes forward.

Seyon’s gaze was fixed on the path ahead, but his mind was dissecting everything around him.

“Humans… biologically programmed to seek safety in groups. The moment someone acts different, the group senses it — and punishes it. We call ourselves evolved, but we still operate on tribal instincts.”

His eyes flicked to a group of students laughing together ahead of them.

“The herd always wins. The lone wolf either adapts… or dies.”

Usu suddenly broke the silence.

“Hey, loner boy.”

He blinked.

She looked at him with a slight grin. “Sanima told me you don’t talk much. Said you were some solitary freak. So, she asked me to fix your ‘contrary solitary nature’ or whatever.”

Seyon didn’t respond immediately. He stared at her, curious.

“…Do you think I’m broken?” he asked.

Usu shrugged. “I think you’re interesting. But broken things are more fun to observe, right?”

That remark lingered in Seyon’s chest as they neared the school gate.

---

Seyon sat at his desk like usual — quiet, unnoticed. The air felt heavier today. He knew why. Today, his strategy began.

He watched them: the bullies, the loudmouths, the fake friends, the manipulators. Each of them wore masks, pretending to be strong or kind, while rotting inside.

But Seyon wore a mask too — the mask of the harmless, invisible boy.

It was time to strike.

His first target: Bibek, the classic intimidator. Always barking, always pushing people around. Seyon didn’t confront him physically — that wasn’t his way. Instead, he used psychological warfare. He whispered something in Bibek’s ear during class — a sentence so subtle, so tailored, that Bibek suddenly grew silent and paranoid. Within two days, Bibek began distancing himself from others, haunted by the seeds of doubt planted in his mind.

Second target: Milan. Physically tough, but with an inherited respiratory issue — asthma. Seyon waited for the perfect moment, triggering a panic in gym class by locking the window during a heatwave. Milan collapsed, humiliated in front of everyone. A reminder that even the strong have weaknesses rooted deep in their biology.

Third target: Ashish — the manipulator. Seyon exposed a private group chat screenshot on the class projector during a presentation. Everyone saw it. Every lie, every gossip. Group judgment came crashing down. Sociological execution, swift and brutal.

One by one, he dismantled them.

---

But not everyone went down easily.

Nashit — loud, brash, and proud — ran.

Seyon followed. The boy dashed through the back gate, into the forest trail behind the school. It was late, just before evening. The trees closed in, and the air grew quiet.

But Seyon didn’t flinch. He moved like a shadow.

Suddenly, headlights flicked on. A group of older teens on bikes emerged, engines rumbling.

Bikers. They surrounded him.

“You’re that ghost kid, huh?” one of them growled. “Mess with Nashit again, and we’ll make sure you disappear for real.”

Seyon stood firm. He looked at them — not with fear, but with calm calculation.

“Social threats come in packs too. But even wolves fear the fire they don’t understand.”

He didn’t back down. Not this time. His plan had brought him this far. Now he had to show who he really was.

---

As the sun dipped behind the horizon and shadows swallowed the forest, Seyon stood under the trees — bruised, bloodied, but alive.

He stared at his own reflection in a cracked phone screen, panting.

“People think monsters hide in the dark… but no… monsters are born in daylight. They smile. They shake hands. They sit beside you in classrooms. I’ve just started unmasking them.”

“This school won’t change me. I will change this school.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***