Reborn as a Ghost Rider

The school hallway was alive with energy—students strolled to class, discussing the latest superheroes. No one pushed or name-called. Sunlight streaming through spotless windows lit up the shiny lockers, free of marker scribbles and old gum.

Johnny Blaze walked toward the disciplinary committee's office, nodding politely to greetings from students and teachers. He enjoyed taking these occasional strolls, observing the perfect order found nowhere else but here. It was proof his work was meaningful.

Johnny stopped at the office door. His eyes caught a strange figure—a big guy in a tracksuit leaning against the wall. His appearance made it hard to pinpoint his age. He could pass for either a senior student or a college kid. Upon noticing Johnny, the figure straightened up abruptly, like he'd been stung.

"Are you Blaze?!" the guy snapped challengingly.

Johnny's gaze swept over the stranger calmly. Tall, broad-shouldered, but slouching like someone who spent more time with a beer than in the gym. He barely qualified as a threat but was loud enough to annoy.

"I am," Johnny replied curtly.

"You sent human to the hospital and still walk around school like nothing happened. Are you insane?!"

"What are you talking about?" Johnny didn't even try to sound interested.

"My brother Kevin, you stupid psycho! He told me everything!" The guy clearly expected a different reaction.

Johnny tilted his head thoughtfully. He sent someone to the hospital every other day. The name "Kevin" rang no bells.

"I still have no idea who you are or what you want from me."

"Don't play dumb! I'm home from college for break, and my brother's in the hospital! He told me how you attacked him after school a month ago! Even gave me your description! Don't you dare deny it!"

A month ago, outside school…

"So, you're the brother of the idiot who tried selling weed in my school?" Johnny smirked slightly. "Why didn't you just say that?"

The athlete's face turned red with fury.

"No one messes with my brother, you hear me, punk?! I'm a wrestler, and you're done! Let's step outside—I'll wreck you, and you'll learn to respect me!"

"Why am I even listening to this clown?" Johnny thought, then spun and delivered a heel kick to the guy's eye.

The athlete crumpled to the floor, groaning faintly.

"Why is there an outsider in my school?" Johnny asked his subordinates sharply as they rushed out of the office at the noise. "Get this trash out of here."

Two students hoisted the groaning guy and carried him toward the exit.

Johnny settled into the boss's chair by the window. Through the glass, he watched the athlete get dumped into a trash bin. A faint smile flickered across his lips.

A good start to the workday.

Tim walked into the office. He was wearing the disciplinary committee uniform, with fresh marks from boxing practice visible on his knuckles. Tim had changed since they first met, for the better—more confident, stronger. He'd matured.

"Good morning, Leader!" Tim exclaimed. "I finished my shift yesterday, but I'm ready to take on even more!"

But his puppy-like loyalty remained unchanged...

Roxy burst into the room, completely ignoring Tim's presence. She approached Johnny's chair and leaned on the armrests, trapping him between her arms.

"So, who is she?" Roxy asked challengingly.

"What are you talking about?" Johnny replied calmly.

"Don't play dumb! I saw you leave the party with a girl last night! Who is she?"

Johnny sighed internally. Five minutes ago, he'd dealt with a man demanding answers in a single move. He couldn't do the same with Roxy. Friendship was so complicated.

"Her name is Wanda. She asked me to drive her home. I doubt I'll see her again."

Roxy squinted, evaluating his words, then stepped back.

"Is that so? I thought you'd found yourself a girlfriend and didn't tell me." She smiled. "Well, I won't distract you from work."

She left the office with a satisfied smile, leaving behind nothing but the scent of strawberry gum. Johnny watched her go. She was light, bright, cheerful. Roxy was good—great, even—but around her, he felt like a black-and-white smear in a colorful picture.

Wanda was different. She didn't have that lightness. Wanda was like a dark, thorny rose, and that's what drew him in.

Damn it! Thinking about Wanda again!

"Any orders, Leader?" Tim politely reminded him.

"Yeah, I initially wanted you to figure out how an outsider got onto school grounds, but that can wait." Johnny sighed. He couldn't believe he was about to say this. "Right now, I need someone to listen."

"Of course!" Tim quickly took a seat across from him, eager to hear. "I'm great at keeping secrets!"

"Good," Johnny nodded slowly. "I didn't just drive Wanda home; I visited her place."

"Wow!" Tim exclaimed but quickly composed himself. "I mean, thanks for trusting me, Leader! But why didn't you tell Roxy? She seems ready to listen."

"Roxy's my childhood friend. I value our relationship." Johnny shifted his gaze to Tim. "What will you think of me after this—I don't care."

"That's… straightforward, Leader," Tim slumped slightly but straightened up again. "I'll hear the whole story!"

Johnny kept it brief. He told Tim about the mysterious Wanda, their strange and passionate night, her request for him to forget her, and how he couldn't bring himself to do so.

"I mean, my dating experience is limited to visual novels," Tim said, scratching his head, "but even they don't have stories this short! No offense, Leader, but your relationship with Wanda is… wrong. The beginning's too rushed, the middle's bizarre, and there's no ending at all."

"I knew from the start that we'd never see each other again, and I thought I was ready for that. But time has passed, and I'm still thinking about her." Johnny's voice carried an uncharacteristic melancholy. "She's… strange. Her words, her scars. She's like a puzzle I never got to solve."

"And she's beautiful, right?"

"That's not what drew me to her, but yes."

Tim grinned.

"Leader, you're lucky! A beautiful girl inviting you in she room? Guys like me can only dream of that. But everything else… those strange prophecies and scars… At first, I thought she'd escaped from a psych ward, but the luxury hotel suite ruled that out. My guess? Wanda's a spoiled aristocrat. They're always eccentric—I saw it in movies."

Tim poured himself a glass of water and continued:

"If you want my opinion, I'd say just appreciate the pleasant memory and move on. Like finding ten bucks on the street. You're like, 'Wow! Lucky me!' You buy a burger, enjoy the moment, and get back to everyday life."

Johnny pondered this, nodded briefly, and said:

"Thanks. That's solid advice."

"What? Really?" Tim was so surprised he almost dropped his glass.

"Of course," Johnny said softly. "Your words helped me decide how to feel about it. Now I can focus on work."

Tim beamed.

"I helped? Maybe I should become a psychologist! Mom would be so happy!"

"If you decide to, let me know," Johnny replied calmly. "I'll write you a recommendation for university."

"No kidding?!" Tim looked at him as if he'd promised to pull a star from the sky.

"Of course," Johnny nodded, smiling slightly. "But first, find out how that outsider got onto school grounds."

Johnny placed his hand on the desk drawer containing the hockey mask. He really didn't have time to dwell on Wanda.

He must punish sinners.

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