"i mean this in the kindest light," renjun's first year friend, park jisung, murmured as they sat tiredly in the canteen for breakfast, "but you look awful."

"i could hardly catch a minute of sleep last night," the older yawned, rubbing his face and gazing out into the sea of black uniforms surrounding them. this side of the canteen was dedicated to the ebony class, and of course, if he could even be bothered to peer over his shoulder, he'd catch the river of white ivory students on the other side. the year groups were all very close within their own colour, the first years, second years and third years all got along really well as everyone was close in age.

"was it that ivory kid again?" the youngest furrowed his brows curiously. "the one who sleeps with everyone?"

"ugh, yes. lee donghyuck is the largest thorn in my side, and i shan't rest until he gets it through his stupid head that this is a school setting. he's dragging our good name down."

"he shouldn't be your problem though. i mean, sure, you swap with the other hall monitor to make things fair....but shouldn't ivory be dealt with by ivory? wouldn't he learn more of a lesson from someone in the same uniform as him? he's probably trying to wind you up because you're ebony."

"and i suppose i'm just supposed to take this belittling and suck it up?" renjun raised his brow quizzically, "because i'm not taking this shit. the principal is getting irritated with him as well."

"why hasn't he been expelled?"

"his talent....."

jisung narrowed his eyes and picked up his spoon to stir the cereal in front of him, not really intending on eating it since his appetite had disappeared. "he's a performer, isn't he? we have a few of those-"

"no ji, he's the performer. our theatre clubs are thriving. expulsion would be suicide when he brings back so many awards."

"that sucks."

as though the brats dressed in white had been trying to prove the pair's point, a flying missile of food was sent rocketing towards their side of the canteen, hitting one of their classmates on the head. when the said student flinched and turned around to spot where it came from, he was revealed to be yukhei.

"oh shoot...." renjun sunk low in his seat, waiting for all hell to break loose. these attempts at war were pretty common throughout the week, but various students on either side, such as renjun, didn't participate.

"come on, cowards! own up and i'll be nice," yukhei taunted, "i'll pour strawberry milkshake over you instead of chocolate." he stood to his full, enviable height and appeared well and truly intimidating while dressed in black. that was a nice advantage to being in the ebony class...one looked pretty badass in the dark uniform.

"it was a dried apricot, man," an all too familiar voice chuckled from his seat in the central section of the ivory side. "chill."

"chill...." the thai-chinese male repeated, a sly smile reaching his cheeks as he picked up his own bowl of cereal which seemed pretty full, and slowly started edging towards the enemy's territory.

"wait!" ten, one half of the student council president representative (since both ebony and ivory had co-presidents), "if you use that, this can be considered an attack. are you willing to take the heat afterwards?"

"of course," yukhei chuckled and picked up his walking speed to reach donghyuck who'd been the cheeky student to rile him up. "worth it."

"i didn't throw the damn thing," hyuck smirked while standing up as well, stepping away from his table and assuming a confident stance. "but i know you wouldn't worry your silly little head over the fine details."

renjun's eyes widened hugely as he watched his giant classmate slowly and surely tip the milk and cereal over the blonde's head, drenching the golden locks. but hyuck didn't seem all that angry or offended...just, amused? he still had that sneaky glint in his eyes, and that twisted, smug smirk that sent a wave of irritation through the chinese's chest. he wanted to smack him ninety percent of the time, yet also see what he could possibly do the other ten percent. why was he always so cocky?

"congratulations," the young performer stepped back and pushed his now wet hair off his forehead, still looking stunning even after that run of events. "you've declared the war. okay guys," he winked to the ivory year groups. "go for it."

and like that, the entire canteen was up and ready for the battle. this was the greatest stress relief they could ever ask for, and even though both ten and kun - the presidents, as well as the staff of jang's academy for elite studies, knew that this was a terrible idea and one that every other school would gawk at......they also knew that this was just friendly competition. nobody had ever died in the one hundred years of this school's establishment, and a healthy fight here and there seemed to work in their favour most of the time.

"holy shit," jisung whined, "now i have to retreat to the library."

"run for it," renjun insisted, getting up as well and following the tall teenager out, though coming too short of the door when a hand latched around his arm amidst the chaos. he whimpered, half expecting another fruit salad to be dunked on his head like last week.

unfortunately, jisung was too preoccupied with getting out alive, so he failed to notice his second year friend disappearing from behind him. and with that, renjun was forced to grit his teeth and turn around to face his captor. he would've submitted had it meant he wouldn't have to clean his uniform again - he'd found a chunk of dried peach in it the other day that he hadn't seen when washing it. but low and behold, this wasn't just some random ivory student picking on an ebony year member....it was hyuck.

"hey ren," he winked, taking the older by both hands and luring him back into the battlefield. instead of guns shooting bullets, there were hidden slingshots firing pieces of fruit and breakfast. bodies were constantly crashing against theirs, then running off to fulfil another mission. screaming, yelling and profanities all washed across the hall...yet it was all white noise to renjun who was panicking.

"let go!" he struggled, pulling back and wishing his hands were sweatier than they were so he could slide from the younger's grip. "i'm not fighting!"

"no, but i am," donghyuck responded casually while moving one of his hands up to grab onto the smaller's wrist tightly and proceeding to drag him towards the drinks table. "this," he roughly held him close once they reached their destination, "is for interrupting me last night."

renjun groaned once he was wound in hyuck's firm hold upon his waist, hands pushing against his chest uselessly. the blonde deviously poured a cup of orange juice with one hand and picked it up, bringing it over the other's head slowly. "i won't do it if you say 'sorry hyuck, I shouldn't have sent your partner away last night'."

"in your dreams!"

the younger smiled with faux innocence before tipping the citrus liquid all over the fluffy brown hair upon huang renjun's head. the older scowled, shrieking as it trickled down the back of his neck and into his clothes. he smacked the blonde's chest repeatedly, wanting to be released so he could kick him hard.

"next time you plan on cutting my night fun short," the korean whispered against the smaller's ear, gripping his waist even tighter for emphasis, "let this scene run through your head. either that, or join me."

renjun scoffed, taking one last almighty push from his weak system and escaping the boy's hold. he stumbled back, breathing heavily and doing the one thing he always promised he wouldn't.

he stuck up the middle finger.

"fuck you!"