Yosega Masaru kicked Yamano Yuta straight to the ground with one brutal stomp, sneering, "Shut the hell up already, you whiny little shit. You really believe every damn word I say? What a fucking moron."
He spun around, flashing a wicked grin at Shino no Miya Natsumi. "Shino no Miya Natsumi, oh Shino no Miya Natsumi... Bet you never thought I'd track you down to your own damn house, huh? After you and that Rai Hikaru bastard humiliated me on the street today, I went out of my way to find this place just to pay you back—with interest!"
"Tonight, me and my boys are gonna make you feel so good you'll lose your mind. Just you wait, hahaha!"
Shino no Miya Natsumi ignored Yosega Masaru completely, staring at Yamano Yuta in utter disbelief. "Yuta, tell me those guys with Yosega Masaru aren't the ones you brought here?!"
Yamano Yuta scrambled to explain. "No! Natsumi-nee, listen to me! Yeah, I brought them, but Yosega Masaru came to me first!"
"He said you'd been sneaking around with some other guy, and he'd bring his crew to help me catch you in the act. He'd even back me up and confront you himself."
"And if that cheating bastard tried to fight me, he'd have my back too. That's why I let him tag along!"
Hearing that, Shino no Miya Natsumi felt her lungs about to explode with rage. "Yamano Yuta! You idiot! How could you believe a sleaze like Yosega Masaru?!"
"And since when were we officially dating? What the hell do you mean 'catching me cheating'?"
"How can you be this stupid? I'm so pissed off!!!"
"I..." Yamano Yuta started to respond, but someone cut him off.
Yosega Masaru barked, "Enough already—one retard, one slut. Quit yapping."
"Get lost, Yamano retard. Shino no Miya Natsumi's a whore, so step aside and let me have the bitch behind you. Once me and the boys are done with her and we're in a good mood, maybe we'll let you have a turn."
With that, Yosega Masaru slapped Yamano Yuta across the face.
Yamano Yuta panicked at those words. "No! I won't let you! Natsumi-nee's the girl I like—how dare a scum like you defile her!"
Yosega Masaru scoffed in contempt. "Tch! Shino no Miya's the girl you like?"
Yamano Yuta nodded vigorously, but Yosega Masaru promptly kicked him right back down as he tried to stand.
"A worthless retard like you thinks he can steal women from me?"
Watching Yamano Yuta writhing on the floor, Yosega Masaru shook his head in disdain and advanced on Shino no Miya Natsumi.
As Yosega Masaru closed in, she darted into the kitchen and slammed the transparent glass door shut behind her.
After seeing Rai Hikaru beat the crap out of Yosega Masaru earlier that day, Shino no Miya Natsumi wasn't scared of situations like this anymore—she wouldn't hesitate to fight back against him now.
But this time, Yosega Masaru had brought two delinquent buddies, all of them gripping iron rods.
She knew aikido, but there was no way she could take on all three. So she barricaded herself in the kitchen.
Yosega Masaru laughed and shook his head at the sight. "Shino no Miya Natsumi, oh Shino no Miya Natsumi... What's the point of hiding? This place ain't that big—where the hell you gonna go?"
"You like the kitchen that much? Fine, I'll give it to you."
He strode up to the glass kitchen door, hefted his iron rod high, and smashed it down with all his might!
Bang!
A thunderous crash echoed through the room, but the seemingly fragile glass door held firm in a bizarre twist. Instead, Yosega Masaru staggered back several steps and landed hard on his ass.
"What the fuck? What kinda material is this kitchen door made of? Is it really glass? How's it this goddamn tough?!"
Rubbing his sore ass, Yosega Masaru hauled himself up in disbelief.
"Get over here! Help me smash it!" He called the other delinquents over, and they all swung their iron rods wildly at the glass door.
Each strike shattered the glass—or seemed to—but every time, the door remained utterly intact.
Yosega Masaru and his crew grew more frantic with every failed hit, their tempers fraying.
But Shino no Miya Natsumi, huddled in the kitchen corner, wasn't faring much better.
The relentless bang-bang-bang of their blows rattled her nerves, the deafening chaos stirring an involuntary wave of fear deep in her gut.
Unnoticed by her, the jade amulet Rai Hikaru had given her—now hanging around her neck—began to emit a faint glow.
She had no idea the Qingming Protective Talisman's shield had activated, enveloping the entire kitchen.
From her view, the glass door looked paper-thin; each smash from Yosega Masaru's gang should've shattered it wide open.
There was no way she could fight off that many alone, and escape seemed impossible.
Her only hope was for someone else to call for help.
Her gaze flicked to her childhood friend in the room.
But what she saw next crushed her hopes.
Yamano Yuta, freshly kicked down by Yosega Masaru, seemed paralyzed by the pounding on the door. He was curled up on the floor, hugging his head, not daring to move an inch.
Shino no Miya Natsumi shouted in exasperation, "Yuta! What are you doing down there? Go call the cops or get help!"
Yamano Yuta peeked up at her, met her eyes for a split second, then pretended the noise drowned her out. He buried his head again, hands clamped over his ears, body trembling like a leaf.
"Yuta... you!" Shino no Miya Natsumi's face twisted in helpless frustration.
Yosega Masaru, still failing to break in, noticed the exchange. He smirked, grabbed the cowering Yamano Yuta by the collar, and yanked him up off the floor.
"Yuta!" Despite her disappointment, he was her childhood friend—Shino no Miya Natsumi couldn't help feeling a flicker of worry.
"W-what... what are you gonna do?" Yamano Yuta stammered at Yosega Masaru, terror in his eyes, legs shaking so bad he could barely stand.
Yosega Masaru glanced at Shino no Miya Natsumi, then at Yamano Yuta's quivering form. He grinned. "Yuta, big bro Masaru's gonna give you a fair shot, yeah? I mean, we've got numbers and weapons—kinda unfair, right?"
"Here's the deal: no weapons, just me versus you. You win, we turn around and leave."
"If you lose, you hand over Shino no Miya Natsumi for us to fuck. Sound good?"
Yamano Yuta wanted to say no, but Yosega Masaru's menacing glare made him nod shakily. "O-okay... I agree! I accept!"
"I'll... I'll protect Natsumi-nee!"
Shino no Miya Natsumi's heart clenched in pain.
She could tell Yamano Yuta didn't want to agree—he was just too scared.
Worse, it treated her like some object up for trade, pure humiliation.
Any other guy would've seen it as an insult and refused flat-out.
If Rai Hikaru were here, he'd never agree—he'd just flatten them with one punch...
But in this mess, what could she do? The guy really was a coward...
Shino no Miya Natsumi sighed, unwilling to accept her childhood friend's spinelessness, a sudden surge of longing for Rai Hikaru washing over her.
Being near that man made her feel an overwhelming sense of security, like it wrapped her up completely. Sigh...
Meanwhile, Yamano Yuta and Yosega Masaru faced off.
Yamano Yuta stuck out three fingers, counting seriously. "3... 2..."
Before he hit 1, Yosega Masaru's fist rocketed out, smashing him square in the face and dropping him like a sack.
"You don't play fair!" Yamano Yuta wailed from the floor, glaring up in outrage.
Yosega Masaru burst out laughing. "You're such a fucking idiot. When did I say we'd count down like kindergarteners? What is this, recess?"
"If you're pissed, get up and try me again."
Yamano Yuta shut up fast, staying flat on the ground.
"Get up!"
"Get the fuck up!"
Yosega Masaru stomped on his head a few times without mercy. Yamano Yuta shook violently, a wet stain spreading in his pants, the stench of piss filling the air—he'd leaked.
Yosega Masaru and his crew froze for a second, then pointed and howled with laughter.
"Hahaha! What a pathetic loser—I'm dying!"
"Never seen a bigger pussy in my life! Too fucking funny!"
"Trash! Absolute trash! Stand up, you piece of shit! Hahaha!"
Yosega Masaru suddenly stopped, grinning. "Yamano Yuta, just kneel. Kneel, and I won't fight you or beat your ass."
He'd said it offhand, but no one expected what happened next.
The guy who'd been playing dead like a corpse actually crawled up and dropped to his knees.
Shino no Miya Natsumi's eyes nearly popped out, her voice cracking in fury. "Yuta, how can you be this weak?!"
"Stand up! Stand the hell up! Why are you kneeling to these scumbags?!"
"Get on your feet—don't kneel for them!!!"
Yamano Yuta's fists clenched at her words, head bowed low, but they loosened just as quick.
No matter how she yelled, he didn't look up.
Yosega Masaru watched with a sly, evil grin. He patted the kneeling Yamano Yuta's head like a dog, his tone mockingly gentle. "Yuta, you're such a good boy. Hell, I'm almost feeling bad about hurting you now."
"Tell you what—I know you and Shino no Miya go way back, childhood sweethearts practically engaged and all."
"Let's make a deal: call her out so we can fuck her. We won't touch you, and once me and the boys are done, we'll give her right back."
"We just want her body. You actually have real feelings for her. Us playing with her won't stop you from dating, marrying, whatever. You two can still be all lovey-dovey after. Deal?"
Yamano Yuta's head snapped up, eyes wide. "R-really?! That's for real? Then you'll give Natsumi-nee back to me?!"
Yosega Masaru chuckled and shook his head. "Why would I lie? I'm not the lying type. So, you cool with us fucking your Natsumi-nee?"
Yamano Yuta nodded frantically. "Yes! I agree! I let you fuck Natsumi-nee!"
Shino no Miya Natsumi, curled in the kitchen corner, stared in shock, her face a mask of disbelief.
"Yuta, didn't you swear you'd protect me no matter what, anywhere, anytime?"
"How... how can you say that?!"
"Does this honor what we had...?"
Her voice turned hoarse and dry, like she hadn't had water in days.
At her words, Yamano Yuta finally looked up, roaring back at her. "Can you blame me?! Is this all on me?!"
"Natsumi-nee, you're the aikido expert! You're so tough—beat them yourself!"
"You're not fighting—does that mean you want Yosega Masaru and them to fuck you?!"
"You always say, 'Do you know how much it hurts when they hit you?!'"
"What else could I do but agree to Masaru-nii's terms? I don't wanna get beaten to death!"
"If you just let them fuck you, Natsumi-nee, we're all saved—this ends!"
"Natsumi-nee, come out and let Masaru-nii and them have you!"
"I'll kneel—I beg you! Come out and let Masaru-nii fuck you!"
As he begged, Yamano Yuta started kowtowing to her.
Yosega Masaru and the crew roared with laughter.
Shino no Miya Natsumi's eyes went blank, her face drained of all hope.
She couldn't fathom how her own childhood friend could spew such filth—not just insulting her, but trampling his own dignity into the dirt.
Her heart felt like it was being carved open, agony ripping through her.
Those beautiful eyes clouded over with a dead, ashen gray.
If being cornered in the kitchen by Yosega Masaru's gang had her terrified...
Hearing Yamano Yuta's betrayal plunged her into despair, her spirit turning to ash.
A strange relief washed over her.
Before, she'd felt guilty for even thinking of Rai Hikaru.
Guilty for comparing him to Yamano Yuta.
Guilty for making promises with a "childhood friend" like this.
Now, it all clicked for Shino no Miya Natsumi.
From the start, they were just kids who grew up together—nothing more.
She'd never liked Yamano Yuta. The promise? He'd begged endlessly, even threatened to starve himself, so she'd caved.
They'd never been boyfriend-girlfriend.
No guilt needed.
And he didn't have to keep taking beatings to "save" her.
Yeah, that was it.
Though... Yamano Yuta couldn't hold a candle to Rai Hikaru-kun.
If it were Rai Hikaru-kun here right now...
A faint smile crept onto Shino no Miya Natsumi's ashen face.
Yosega Masaru and his thugs had no time for her thoughts.
He'd hoped to use Yamano Yuta to force her out of that ridiculously sturdy kitchen door.
But the kid's words were so disgusting even he felt repulsed—no way that'd scare her out now.
Time to brute-force it. Yosega Masaru rallied his crew, and they resumed hammering the door with their rods—bang-bang-bang.
The cacophony started up again.
Shino no Miya Natsumi's smile faded.
Staring at Yosega Masaru's ugly mug and his leering grin.
Her eyes drifted to the fruit knife nearby.
She reached out, picked it up slowly, gripped it tight.
She didn't expect the little blade to take down Yosega Masaru and his iron-rod crew.
If it let her end herself before they violated her, that'd be perfect.
Her only regret? Never telling that handsome boy how much she'd come to crave him.
Farewell, Rai Hikaru-kun...
Tears streamed down Shino no Miya Natsumi's cheeks as she raised the knife.
Yosega Masaru panicked at the sight, smashing the door even harder.
"Faster! Put your backs into it! Don't let this bitch off herself—we won't get to enjoy her!"
"Fuck! Corpses aren't the worst, but live ones are way better!"
"Shit! Come on—harder!"
The delinquents redoubled their efforts, and the door actually started to give faint signs of cracking.
Just as Yosega Masaru and his gang grinned in triumph, ready for another barrage—
A soft knock echoed from the front door.
Knock knock knock...
It was faint, but it cut through strangely clear to everyone present.
Shino no Miya Natsumi froze, knife hovering.
Yosega Masaru's crew halted their swings.
Even Yamano Yuta, playing dead on the floor, peeked up.
All eyes turned to the entrance.
There stood a black-haired, handsome young man, casually knocking on the already-open door like he was visiting relatives.
Knock knock knock~
"Excuse me, is anyone home?"
His eerie nonchalance stunned them all. Yosega Masaru's gang, who moments ago brimmed with arrogance, suddenly felt a chill crawl up their spines.
With no answer, the black-haired boy stepped inside.
The instant Shino no Miya Natsumi saw that striking face, her despair shattered—her features lit up with a radiant, beaming smile.
Her heart pounded, body quaking; she couldn't contain the surge of emotion, her pink lips parting in a shout. "You... you finally came!!!"
Rai Hikaru glanced at the dumbfounded Yosega Masaru and his delinquents, then at Shino no Miya Natsumi with tears still streaking her cheeks. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah, I'm here."
"Didn't you invite me over tonight to copy homework at your place?"
"This atmosphere... doesn't exactly scream 'study session.'"
At the end, Rai Hikaru turned, clapped a hand on the shoulder of a yellow-haired delinquent next to Yosega Masaru, and grinned. "Right?"
"Uh..." The delinquent blinked, brain catching up on how to respond.
Suddenly, a fist exploded toward his face.
BAM!!!
A deafening boom shook the whole apartment. The delinquent rocketed backward, slamming into the reinforced concrete wall.
A massive circular dent cratered the surface, his body embedded like it was fused there, cracks spiderwebbing out from the edges.