The placing of thorns in chairs and the carpet stopped altogether. And the fire burned bright again.

Near would watch A and B walk together in the halls. He wasn't sure if they were in a romantic relationship but he would see the way they looked at each other.
The way Alternative would spin around B like a ballerina in the empty hallways.

The competition continued, but Near could tell that the competition was all in Alternative's head. Alternative was still first in line. Was still the one with the perfect score. 100% to be exact. But Alternative was still stressed. Alternative was still worried that he would be replaced.

Beyond Birthday, Mello, Matt, and Near were still behind A. They weren't a threat. They weren't number 1.
But Near could tell how much it hurt A when professors praised Beyond Birthday.
Even though Beyond didn't have a perfect score like A on the exams, the professors would always congratulate B. Tell him he could be number 1 if he tried hard enough.
But Near knew that Beyond didn't try. Beyond didn't try maybe because he wanted Alternative to be first?Wanted Alternative to be happy?

Then, one day, a young adult arrived at the school. The adult stranger had pitch black hair, almost with a blue hue to it. Eye bags so dark that anyone could tell that the man didn't sleep. And Near knew that the man, the stranger, attempted to stay awake by snacking on sweets from the cafeteria.

Near didn't know the man's name but assumed that the man had to be someone important. Nobody was allowed to snack outside of lunch hours. Plus, the man was usually spotted speaking to Roger. Whispering. Near could never hear their conversation.

"He's probably a pedophile!" Near heard Mello exclaimed to his friends during lunch. Because Mello had friends.

"You're so rude, man" Matt mumbled, his attention fully focused on his gameboy. "That guy is just chilling. Hasn't even turned to look our way during his stay here."

"Mello is kind of right. I mean look at what he's wearing. A white tee and jeans with no shoes! He's not a little kid like us or a teenager. Why is he even here?" Linda agreed with Mello. Near noticed that Linda had been agreeing to everything that Mello said. Maybe she had a crush on Mello? Near wondered if Linda did have romantic feelings the explosive blond.

"I'm telling you. That weirdo will  probably buy you Linda. You're gonna be his slave," Mello joked and all his friends laughed, with the exception of Matt and Linda.

"Child trafficking is a very serious problem in orphanages and it's nothing to laugh about," Near told them. Near was sitting alone in the table next to Mello's, but couldn't help but to say something about Mello's offensive comment.

Mello looked at Near shock. Shock that Near had been listening to his conversation with his friends. Mello didn't even noticed Near sitting on the table next to his!
"Stop listening to our conversation sheep!" Mello angrily threw a disposable plastic knife at Near's direction.

Near looked away not wanting to anger Mello more. Recently Mello had been getting physical when he became angry, and Near didn't like physical pain.

Near turned to look at A and B. Number 1 and number 2. They both sat in a table.
Beyond Birthday sat in a weird position eating jam like if his life depended on it while A seemed distracted. Staring at nothing. Thinking. Near wondered if Professor's Dantzker praise towards Beyond earlier that day affected Alternative.

Suddenly Roger walked towards their table. The mystery man with eye bags, white tee, jeans, and no shoes behind Roger.
Near couldn't hear, but he saw how Roger motioned Alternative to follow him and the mystery man. Leaving Beyond alone in the table.

Alternative didn't show up for Advanced Physics tutoring after school. So when Near didn't understand a formula, which was rare, the professor asked Beyond to explain that to him.

"You have to replace the letters and divide the numbers like this" Beyond began explaining and to Near's surprised, Beyond was really smart. In fact, Near believed that Beyond could pass off as a professor....if he didn't eat jam the way he did.

Alternative walked into class 30 minutes late, and handed the professor a note. A note from Roger to excuse Alternative's absent.

As soon as the bell rang, everyone rushed out of the class. The tutoring that took place outside school hours bothered everyone, even Near. Near couldn't wait to go to his room and play with his toys before dinner time.

"Who was that? Why did they take you?" Near heard Beyond asked Alternative as he passed next to the two top class students.
Beyond's words sounded annoyed. Demanding. But Near decided to walk faster. Away from them. He didn't want to hear Beyond anymore. When Beyond was angry, his actions scared Near.

After dinner, Near went to the library to study for the Physics exam that was taking place the following day.

After hours of studying in the library, Near decided it was enough. He was so tired and sleepy. Near walked towards the library's exit and saw Mello sitting down. His head against the library's table. A physics book next to him. Mello had fallen asleep while studying in the library. Near wondered who will score higher this time. Him or Mello? Did it matter? Alternative and Beyond would be top two of the class for sure.

Near exited the library and was greeted by the darkness of the hallway. The only light illuminating his path was the faint lights of the library room, but as he walked further away his eyes adjusted better to the darkness ahead of him. Hallways empty. Everyone sleeping or studying in their rooms, if anyone even cared to study anymore. Of course they did, even the druggie teenage boys cared. Wammy students were wired to care. To work with L or to just feel like they're good at something? Both were good reasons to explain the competitive environment.

Near walked the halls and stopped in his tracks. He saw two dark figures ahead of him. Whispering.
His eyes widen and he could finally see who was in front of him.

It was Alternative and Beyond. Both were a few feet away from Near. Standing in the darkness of the hall. Unaware that the young boy was watching them.
Suddenly Near could see better. He could see Beyond had A against the wall. His hands around Alternative's throat while Alternative quietly pleaded with him. He was choking A. Beyond was chocking A.
Near took a step back and hid in a dark corner in order to avoid being seen by the two older boys ahead of him. He held his breathe and could hear Beyond's. Beyond's hostile tone that faded into soothing whispers.
Near held his breath but couldn't make out what Beyond was saying because his heart was beating so loud.

Near peeked through the corner of the the wall that was hiding him. He peeked to see what the two boys ahead of him were doing. What the top students were doing.
Near's eyes made eye contact with red eyes. With Beyond's eyes that glowed bright red in the darkness. Beyond's eyes staring back at the young boy.

Near ran as fast as he could back to the library. Back to the light. Suddenly he bumped against someone and fell to the floor.

"Near you sheep!" Mello angrily exclaimed getting up from the floor. The blond angrily looked at the white haired boy who was still on the floor.

"What is wrong with you?" Mello asked the younger boy again. He saw Near's expression. It wasn't emotionless as always. Near looked scared.

Near got up and didn't make eye contact with Mello.
"I'm talking to you!" Mello's voice became louder.
Near wanted to tell someone what he just saw, but no words could come out. All he managed to do was lift his fingers and point to the direction where he saw them. Where he saw Beyond choking Alternative.

Mello walked to the dark direction Near pointed. Dragging Near along with him.
Near's legs began shaking but he couldn't tell Mello to stop. He saw the way Beyond looked at him. He was so scared of Beyond.

Mello stopped walking and scanned the hallways in front of him. Empty.

"There's nothing here" Mello told Near, but Mello could tell Near was afraid. He could feel how tense Near's body was.

"Let's get going to your room. I have to go talk to Linda anyways," Mello used Linda as an excused to walk Near to his room. Mello didn't like Near, but he was worried for him. Never had he seen Near so afraid.

Near nodded and both boys walked the pitch black hallways heading to Near's room. Near reached his room and turned to look at A's closed bedroom door. The hallway was so quiet.

"Can you come inside my room so I can return to you your calculus textbook?" Near began talking in code. His eyes traveling from Mello to A's door. Near was afraid that in any second Beyond would stormed out of A's room and attack Near. Choke him like he was chocking Alternative in the pitch dark hall.

Mello paused. Near never burrowed his book. In fact, Mello would never let Near bother anything of his. But Mello watched how Near's eyes travelled to Alternative's door.

"Okay finally! I thought you would never return it to me," Mello played along and they both entered Near's bedroom.

Mello shut the bedroom's door behind him, and watched as Near sat down on his bed.

"Okay, what is this about sheep? You are starting to freak me out," Mello demanded an answer.

Near was staring at the floor and finally looked up at Mello's blue eyes holding back his tears. "Mello, I think Backup is mistreating Alternative," Near finally spoke feeling tears escape his eyes.

A/N
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter 😀💕. Please let me know if you are liking the story so far or if you hate it lol