Love and Red Coloured Ties

Chapter song: fade out - thislandis 

⚠️Warning for those reading this. The following chapter contains brief mentions of stalking, harassment and assault. Read at your own discretion. 

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News of the upcoming match against Saint Ambracia spread quickly through the school, sparking a wave of mixed emotions about the rivalry. 

Julius was taken aback to learn that the two schools would be clashing, and even more shocked that it was being framed as a friendly bout.

"Does East Laurence have a problem with Saint Ambracia Academy?" Julius asked the boys during dinner. This was one of the rare occasions when all the boys gathered at the large dining table, primarily because Julius was cooking that night. His culinary skills were legendary, and everyone, including the house leaders, eagerly anticipated his meals

As his question hung in the air, the boys exchanged uneasy glances. Julius felt a strange shift in the room's energy, prompting him to wonder if he had overstepped. Thankfully, Silas interjected.

"Guys, remember Julius is new here? He doesn't know the history yet."

A look of realization washed over the others. "Right, I sometimes forget he's only been here three weeks. It feels like you've always been around," Reese remarked, and the others nodded in agreement.

Julius felt a mix of flattery and concern about their forgetfulness but chose to see it as a sign he was finally beginning to fit in.

"I guess since he lives here and goes to school here, Julius should know about our relationship with Saint Ambracia," Artemus added, looking around the table.

"So, who wants to explain?" he asked.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the group as they hesitated, eyes darting. "I think one of the older guys should tell him; they've been here the longest," Silas finally suggested, breaking the tension.

Julius felt grateful for Silas's knack for easing awkward moments. He wasn't sure what he would've done had the redhead not been there.

"I'll do it, since I'm the oldest," Knox said.

"Wait, isn't Eirie technically the oldest? His birthday's in January," Kiyo interjected, earning a glare from the others.

"What?" Kiyo asked, genuinely confused.

Eirie shrank back, flustered by the sudden attention he was receiving. "It's fine, Eirie. I'll handle this," Knox said, shooting Kiyo a look that immediately silenced him.

"Anyway, East Laurence and Saint Ambracia didn't always have such a rocky relationship. At one point, it was a friendly rivalry, just like any other school. We participated in joint events—sports days, school festivals, dances—until everything changed two years ago, when the fourth years were still second years."

Knox's tone grew somber, and Julius sensed the weight of what was coming.

"As you might have noticed, Agares has always been popular—actually, all the school leaders are—but Agares stood out the most. He attracted attention not only from our school but also from the girls at Saint Ambracia. He developed a sort of cult following, a fan club, if you will.

At first, it seemed harmless; they would cheer for him at games and follow him around like a bunch of groupies. But it escalated when one girl took it too far. After one fleeting glance from Agares, she became convinced he was interested in her, that he should only have eyes for her."

Julius listened intently to Knox's somber explanation, sensing the gravity in the older boy's expression. A knot formed in his stomach as he braced himself for the dark turn this story was taking.

"The situation escalated rapidly. The police were called, and Agares was forced to obtain a restraining order against her. While things have settled now, our relationship with Saint-Ambracia deteriorated after that. We were accused of using excessive violence against a woman. As an all-girls school that prides itself on female empowerment, they chose to side with her, completely overlooking the fact that Agares was the real victim in this situation."

The air around the room got significantly heavier as Knox continued to recount the events of that day. 

"They dismissed the situation simply because Agares was a man, as if men couldn't be victims of assault by women. It was infuriating. Thankfully, we have a strong headmaster who defended Agares, deeming his actions necessary under the circumstances.

Agares, coming from a powerful family, even pursued legal action against her, but the damage was done, and our ties with Saint-Ambracia were severed from that point on."

Julius felt a surge of anger and sadness rising within him. He was infuriated by how they dismissed Agares, who was clearly a victim, and saddened that such a thing had even happened to him.

"H—How did people find out about this?" Julius asked.

Silas replied, "Epaphras was on his way home when he stumbled upon the scene. He's the one who got the girl out of there. If it weren't for him, things could have escalated even further."

"I see," Julius said, his heart heavy.

"Yeah, and now those shameless bastards are trying to patch things up with us. This match is their pathetic attempt to make amends," Artemus added, frustration evident in his voice.

"A match?" Julius began to ask, but before he could finish, the door opened, and in walked the two leaders.

Agares and Epaphras had just returned from a meeting with Serene. As they entered, they were met with the sight of the boys gathered around a table laden with food, though the mood was thick with tension.

The sight puzzled them, especially Epaphras, who shot the group a curious look. The boys quickly shifted gears, greeting them warmly.

"What's with the long faces?" Epaphras asked, his brow furrowing. "Is the food not good?"

"No, not at all. We were just lost in conversation," Knox replied, gesturing for them to join. "We saved you guys some food, so come on over."

"The food looks great," Epaphras said, accepting the plates with a smile. He handed a portion to Agares, who took it silently as they settled in to eat.

After they finished their meal, Epaphras cleared his throat, stopping the boys from getting up. "We have an announcement."