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Upon hearing the looming sirens, Yuuto, Chiyoko, Sato, and the newly freed Hiyori all went down the building to meet the police officers.

With Shiyon offering to stay up and keep watch over the criminals, everything seemed to be going smoothly…

‘…She’s not letting go…’ Yuuto thought, exasperated, as Chiyoko glued herself to his arm while they walked down the building. She pressed her entire body and the side of her face against his arm.

Sato and Hiyori occasionally glanced back at them, giggling between themselves.

‘DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!! THIS IS A COMPLETE, UTTER, MUTTER, DUTTER DISASTER!! My image is being dismantled as if it were a 15-year-old rusted car at a dollar-store mechanic…!! NOOO!!! LET GO OF ME, YOU LITTLE RUNT!!’ Yuuto’s mind screamed as he glanced at Chiyoko, who had a blank expression on her face, still clinging to him.

‘You see? This is what happens. This is what happens when I’m a little considerate. People want me all to themselves. It’s just the way it is. I’m literally the best in existence, so I understand this. This is why I PURPOSELY drive them away. I CAN’T BE A HERO WITH ALL OF THESE FANGIRLS AROUND ME! WHAT IF MY SECRET IDENTITY GETS EXPOSED!!?’ Yuuto despaired in his mind.

Meanwhile, Hiyori and Sato murmured amongst themselves.

“I had no idea Sakurai-senpai had that side to him…” Sato muttered, completely forgetting about his physical prowess.

“Yeah… He’s awfully good at handling Chiyokocchi, isn’t he? Just don’t tell Takacchi, she might get jealous…” they muttered while giggling warmly.

‘YOU PRICKS!! I CAN HEAR YOU!!! IF A WORD OF THIS GETS OUT, I’M GONNA BASEBALL BOTH YOUR ASSES!!!’ Yuuto thought, glaring at Hiyori and Sato without their notice.

Yuuto then looked down at Chiyoko.

“Look… We took care of everyone, you can let go now—”

“No,” Chiyoko swiftly interjected with a deadpan tone and expression.

‘…What…?! I SAID LET GO, RUNT!!’

“I’m serious. I have social anxiety and I’m gonna throw up—” Yuuto murmured.

“Deal with it, then. Senpai,” she interjected again in the same manner.

‘…Time to bring out the big guns then, pipsqueak.’

“I’m actually a lolicon, and a sexual predator;” he muttered without any form of shame.

“‘Kay,” Chiyoko replied, equally shameless, not relenting her grip in the slightest.

Sato and Hiyori could only laugh at their exchange.

“Come on, Sakurai. She’s obviously rattled, considering. Just let her do that,” Hiyori called casually as she turned her head to them.

“Just one thing I don’t understand,” Yuuto replied as he looked at her.

“What’s that?”

“When did I ask for your input, Sasquatch?” Yuuto sharply retorted.

“Ahh… Whatever, just forget about it…” Hiyori said with a sigh as she looked ahead again.

“Also, thanks,” she murmured to herself swiftly.

“What’s that?!” Yuuto called loudly.

“Nothing. I sneezed,” she muttered.

Sato merely looked at Hiyori’s embarrassed expression and smiled knowingly.

Sato then turned to Yuuto. “Sakurai-senpai… Seriously, thank you.” He called warmly.

“… Don’t mention it. Seriously. Don’t talk about it again or I’ll beat you up.” Yuuto called, looking to the side, avoiding Sato’s gaze.

“Sure, sure…” Sato replied with a relieved sigh.

They then left the building, with Yuuto still trying to convince Chiyoko to pull away from him.

“This is sexual harassment, you know. I could have you—”

“You said you were a sexual predator, Senpai. So, I guess we’re even,” Chiyoko replied flatly.

‘GRRRRRRR…!!!!’ Yuuto ground his teeth.

In his field of vision, Yuuto caught sight of Shun talking to the police officers.

‘Oh, there’s cuck…’ Yuuto thought, noticing Shun speaking frantically to the police officers as they exited their cars.

“I’ll go handle telling them the details. You three go to the paramedics to get checked,” Sato said before leaving Hiyori’s side and walking up to the police officers and Shun.

“You heard him. It’s your boy crush. You gotta listen to your boy crush, runt.”

“No. I’m staying. They’ll just check us together, then,” Chiyoko insisted.

‘Ahh… He’s gonna make a scene about it again…?’ Hiyori sighed.

Yuuto placed his hand on Chiyoko’s head, patting it.

“I’ll be nearby. I have to tell those nice police officers some details about what happened. Just bear with it until I finish. Is that fair?” Yuuto said, unexpectedly softly.

Chiyoko blushed as she looked to the side, frustrated, while slowly releasing her grip.

“…Fair…” she let out, her voice barely above a whisper.

‘Well, luckily I know how to handle runts, considering the one I have,’ Yuuto thought.

Hiyori widened her eyes in surprise at Yuuto’s gesture as he walked away.

‘What is he, an onion…? With all those layers…’ Hiyori thought as she watched him leave, confused.

“Come on, Chiyokocchi. Let’s go get checked,” Hiyori warmly called, beckoning Chiyoko with her arm.

Reluctantly, Chiyoko walked with Hiyori, glancing back at Yuuto as he approached a police officer.

Meanwhile, Sato was wrapping up his conversation with another policeman.

“…And lastly… Look, just don’t tell my parents,” Sato insisted, standing tensely in front of the officer.

“…I have to, kid,” the officer replied flatly, glancing down at his notebook and jotting notes. Other police officers hurried past them, heading up the building.

“Please…?” Sato begged softly, his voice trembling. The policeman raised his gaze, scrutinizing Sato closely.

He noticed several burn marks just above Sato’s shirt collar and sleeves. The officer’s expression softened slightly.

“I guess I could delay my report until tomorrow morning… But they will be notified,” he replied, his tone gentler, a tinge of pity in his eyes.

“That’s… alright… Thank you for your consideration,” Sato said, sighing in relief.

In the meantime, Yuuto had finished talking with a police officer, providing his name and details of what had happened.

…Even to the police officer, he didn’t mention the name, “Black Letter”.

During that time, Shiyon came down from the roof with the police officers who had the assailants handcuffed.

The paramedics discovered that, aside from some bruises, cuts, and potential psychological trauma, none of the group had severe injuries.

Shiyon, in particular, had a long conversation with several police officers.

Chiyoko then called her mother to come and pick her up.

With nothing else to do, the group sat on the wooden deck, just outside the lobby. Chiyoko returned to her place beside Yuuto, coiling herself around his arm.

Yuuto, exasperated, finally gave up on trying to push her away.

“Where are your parents, Sakurai?” Hiyori asked.

“…On vacation. They’ve been doing that a lot recently,” Yuuto murmured.

“I see. With Shun’s dad picking him up, I guess Sakkun and I will go with you and Chiyokocchi’s mom since we all live around the same area. Is that cool, Chiyokocchi?” Hiyori asked the curled-up girl.

She merely nodded.

“I guess it’s a ‘guys only’ ride for me and Shun-chun~… How romantic…” Shiyon said cheerfully.

Yuuto turned his head to Shiyon, recalling his bloodied state when he climbed up to the roof.

‘…I wanted to talk to this bastard about how he ended up like this. He even seemed to have a particularly long conversation with the policemen… But it seems like it won’t be today…’ Yuuto thought, glancing over at Chiyoko, who appeared to have fallen asleep, laying on his shoulder.

“…She’s really peaceful there, that girl,” Hiyori said, leaning on her elbow, prompting everyone to take a look.

And everyone did, except Shun, whose gaze remained fixed on the ground.

“My~… A love triangle, perhaps…? It will be really difficult for me to keep it a secret from Taka-chun… But, seeing as you’re a friend of mine, I’ll have to somehow bear with it~..” Shiyon commented, causing Hiyori and Sato to chuckle.

“Speaking of which, why aren’t you doing it with your boyfriend, heroine?” Yuuto spat back at Hiyori with his usual deadpan expression.

“A-ah… W-well…” she stuttered, glancing at Sato.

‘Gottem.’

“I… Uh…” Hiyori murmured, unsure how to react as she blushed.

Sato then smiled, the weight of the night’s events gradually lifting. With a swift maneuver, he rested his head on her thigh.

“S-SAKKUN!?” she stammered, her body jolting as he laid there.

“Ara~~~~~!!” Shiyon reacted, enthusiastically placing his hand over his mouth.

Sato merely looked up at Hiyori’s face with a calm smile.

“Well, I’m too small for Hikki. I should be the one to lay on her,” he said confidently.

“T-that’s..!!” Hiyori stuttered, unable to meet his gaze.

“Right, so you also agree your girlfriend’s a Sasquatch,” Yuuto swiftly commented.

Everyone then looked at Yuuto, except Shun and the sleeping Chiyoko.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/YOxZh2OaydM?rel=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1

They chuckled lightly in unison, Hiyori’s tension and embarrassment dissipating…

…With Yuuto joining in momentarily with a short chuckle of his own.

Before long, Chiyoko’s mother arrived.

Yuuto tried to wake her up, but she remained peacefully asleep.

With another exasperated sigh, he hoisted her up in his arms, princess carrying her to the car.

She momentarily opened her eyes as he carried her, careful not to let Yuuto notice she was faking her sleep as she blushed deeply….

Chiyoko’s mom, who could always tell when her daughter was truly asleep or just pretending, felt her worry and anxiety for her daughter’s safety dissipate upon noticing her state. Her expression relaxed with every step the group took towards her car.

“Haah… That girl is too mischievous,” her mother said in resignation, sighing deeply in relief.

As the four students drew near, she rolled down the window and spoke to Yuuto with a knowing smile, “How about you take her with you to the back? So as not to disturb her, young man?”

With a sigh, Yuuto, Hiyori, and Chiyoko went to the back, with Chiyoko lying between them, while Sato settled in the front.

Before long, the car drove off into the distance, leaving Shun and Shiyon waiting for Shun’s parents to pick him up.

“Young man…” Chiyoko’s mother started, looking at Yuuto through the mirror.

Yuuto merely raised his head, meeting her gaze squarely.

“My daughter told me everything… I can’t find the words to thank you enough for saving my precious daughter,” she murmured, her eyes moistening slightly.

“It’s nothi—”

“Really… Really… Thank you… I just… I don’t know what I’d have done if something…” She stopped herself, fighting back her tears as she looked back at the road.

Yuuto remained silent, feeling Chiyoko clutching his pants.

‘Tsk… So this little runt was faking it…?’ he thought, scrutinizing her while also glancing at her mother’s teary eyes.

‘Well… Just for today, I’ll allow it,’ he thought, resting his palm on her head while looking out the window as he leaned back on his seat.

“…Don’t mention it,” he let out quietly.

Sato and Hiyori both looked at Yuuto, smirks of pride on their faces.

Meanwhile, back at the resort…

“Your parents sure take a long time, Shun-chun,” Shiyon commented to the unusually quiet Shun.

“My dad just called. There’s heavy traffic,” Shun muttered, his eyes showing defeat.

Shiyon noticed the lack of enthusiasm in his voice.

“It’s alright, Shun-chun. It’s all behind us—”

“Shiyon-san,” Shun cut him off, his voice suddenly louder.

“…?”

“Can you please help me get stronger?”

Heaving heavily, Yuuto sensed the rope beginning to give way. ‘It’s going to snap…! Has it been rubbing against the roof’s edge too much?’ he wondered in alarm.

He glanced over at Chiyoko.

‘The two of us are too heavy… I have to do something…!’ he realized with urgency.

Chiyoko caught the shift in his gaze. Her eyes widened with fear as she felt the rope tear slightly, her body beginning to plummet.

In that moment, a single, instinctual thought crossed her mind, formed from her brief acquaintance with Yuuto and the nature of humans. ‘He’s going to let me fall to save himself,’ she thought. Yet, there was no judgment or bitterness in her—merely a primal reaction, a sense that this was what her senior would do.

But Yuuto did not let go.

He gripped her shirt tightly, causing Chiyoko to gasp in surprise.

“MANIPULATOR, CATCH!!!” Yuuto shouted as Sato reached the edge of the roof.

Sato flinched, his eyes widening in shock as Chiyoko’s body hurtled toward him, oblivious to the frayed rope. Bracing himself, he caught her by the shirt and leggings, his body leaning perilously over the ledge under her weight.

“Grgh…!!! I’VE… GOT… YOU…!!!” Sato grunted, his muscles straining as he hauled her up. Her clothing caught on the rough, jagged edges of the roof, tearing as it snagged on the building’s neglected surface. The old structure’s dirt and tar scraped her skin, leaving marks where the building’s disrepair—crevices and cracks in the wall—etched onto Chiyoko’s skin. A particularly sharp edge grazed her lower abdomen, drawing blood just as Sato finally managed to pull her to safety. Exhausted from the effort, he collapsed onto his back.

Without pausing for a moment to grasp for breath, not even noticing Chiyoko frantically nodding toward Yuuto, signaling for help, without noticing her wound due to the surge of adrenaline in her body, Sato crawled back to the edge of the roof, his mind a blank slate.

Then, without warning, the rope snapped before he could even look over the edge.

Chiyoko and Hiyori’s eyes widened in shock as they watched the severed half of the rope disappear over the roof’s edge.

Sato froze, struck silent, unable to utter a word of regret or even scream. He simply stared at the horizon, the silence broken only by the wind brushing against them and the sound of police and ambulance sirens drawing nearer and nearer.

The falling rope meant only one dire possibility: Yuuto had fallen, plummeting over 30 meters in his attempt to save Chiyoko.

‘Sakurai… No…!’ Hiyori thought, the only one among them capable of forming a coherent thought in that moment.

The silence stretched on…

And on.

…For what felt like an eternity. – Sato thought as 10 seconds ticked by.

A dreadful realization dawned on him. If Yuuto had indeed fallen, there should have been a sound—a scream, or the sickening thud of his body hitting the ground.

‘It’s impossible,’ he thought. ‘There’s no way he could have held on after the rope was torn.’

Compelled by a mix of hope and dread, Sato approached the roof’s edge, bracing himself to see Yuuto’s lifeless body below.

If this were a manga or an anime, Yuuto would have miraculously held on. There would be tears of joy and relief, hugs exchanged in the euphoria of survival.

But Sato knew better.

‘Reality is too harsh for such fairy tales…’ he instinctively thought grimly as he inched closer to the ledge, holding his breath, his eyes wide open, unblinking.

“Hey, Manipulator.” Yuuto called casually, holding onto a crack in the building, right near the ledge. The same one Chiyoko had grazed herself when Sato pulled her up.

‘If it wasn’t that girl’s blood marking that crevice, I’d might have been in trouble,’ Yuuto thought, his fingers nudged into the crack in the building.

“S-…Sa…Kurai…” Sato’s voice shivered, truly believing his eyes are playing tricks on him as he saw Yuuto, casually dangling about on the crevice, with the body of Ichiji right below him.

Behind him, Chiyoko and Hiyori could only make out Sato’s stunned expression. That look could mean either miraculous survival or tragic death. Given the grim reality they faced, they felt a sinking certainty—Yuuto had perished.

Chiyoko’s eyes stayed wide as she stared down at the ground, struggling to breathe as she absorbed the shock.

“Are you gonna pull me up, or pull a Lion King moment on me? This would be the perfect chance to get rid of me…” Yuuto’s voice called up casually.

Startled, Sato shook his head vigorously, scrambled to the edge, and reached out his arm as far as he could.

Sensing Sato’s frantic movements, Chiyoko raised her head, her expression mixing curiosity with a spark of hope.

‘Sakkun?’ Hiyori thought, puzzled by his sudden urgency.

With a grateful exhale, Yuuto grasped Sato’s hand. Sato pulled with all his might, but his underdeveloped muscles struggled against Yuuto’s heavier, muscular frame.

Yuuto sighed again. ‘Of course he can’t pull me up… Need another plan…’ He pondered as he clung to a crevice, considering his options. ‘If I shift my weight to grab the skeleton manipulator here, we’d both end up falling,’ Yuuto thought, scanning his surroundings for another solution.

“I’M…. NOT LETTING YOU GO…!!!” Sato grunted, his face reddening; on the verge of becoming blue from exhaustion.

Yuuto’s gaze then snapped to Sato’s desperate expression as he struggled to save his life.

Once more, the Anti-NTR Man had no remarks or quips.

He just watched.

Just as Sato’s grip began to falter, another figure swiftly joined him, grasping Yuuto’s arm just below Sato’s hold.

‘Harvester…’ Yuuto recognized the newcomer as Shiyon, noting the bloodstains marring Shiyon’s face and body.

Meeting Shiyon’s steady, calm gaze, Yuuto instinctively released the crevice and grasped Shiyon’s hand instead.

Together, they exerted their strength and pulled Yuuto to safety.

The three stood, sharing quiet looks. The sound of Sato’s labored breathing filling the air between them.

As Yuuto and Shiyon scrutinized each other, a mutual thought linked the two of them.

‘I’ll find out the details later,’

Yuuto turned to Sato as Shiyon walked over to the downed foes on the roof, making sure none of them can surprise them.

“Sakurai…” Sato began, his voice shivering and shaking.

Yuuto then strongly tapped his shoulder, snapping his attention back to Yuuto’s eyes.

“Your girlfriend’s waiting for you. Go.” Yuuto muttered confidently, signaling Sato with his head to go to Hiyori. “I’ll free pipsqueak here.”

Sato took a deep breath and nodded briefly before sprinting to Hiyori’s side.

Meanwhile, Yuuto approached Chiyoko, who froze like a statue as he drew near. Her expression was inscrutable as Yuuto began to undo her bindings.

‘This… Was too straightforward to be Black Letter… Too rough. A lower branch, maybe?’ Yuuto pondered as he freed her hands and legs. He then knelt beside her.

“Look at me, runt. I’m going to remove the mouth gag, so lift your head to give me access,” Yuuto instructed in a casual tone.

‘Ahh… Sakurai-chun… Ever so blunt…’ Shiyon mused silently, observing from a distance how Yuuto handled Chiyoko.

Chiyoko complied, slowly moving her body to a sitting position, lifting her head to give Yuuto access as she sat on the ground, her face hidden away by her pinkish, undone hair.

‘Awfully compliant. Her shock must be in the sky. Typical. Well, she also got stuck with me undoing her bindings so there’s that, heh. Don’t worry runt, I want to get the hell away from you too,’ Yuuto thought as he undid her mouth gag, while she sat on her knees, her palms placed neatly on her thighs.

Before long, the mouth gag was undone.

“There, it’s done.”

Just then, a brush of wind breezed by, removing the veil of her hair covering her eyes and face.

‘…What’s that look fo—’ Yuuto thought, as she jumped at his bare form, pinning her head onto his shoulder as she gripped him tightly.

‘H-hey… W-what…’ Yuuto thought as she clung to his body. Her kimono covering his shirtless self as she hugged him while he knelt.

Shiyon then gave a knowing, weak smile and looked away.

‘No… This… People are supposed to hate me… This… This isn’t good…!! I should slap her and..!!’ He thought as he raised his hand, aiming at her head.

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==============

“Be nicer.”

==============

‘Right…’ Yuuto thought as he relaxed his arm.

‘…I made a promise,’ He then gently lowered his palm placing it o@&(!%^(&)_(%^@)(&#%!(!^&$%(!#n his little sister’s head.

“…@(*&^%!@TO-NII…!! Stop doing that, I’m not a kid anymore!!”

“Yes, you are. You will always be a kid to me. As your older brother, that’s how I will always see you as.” He added as he gently patted her head, gradually calming her down.

“…Dummy… I hate it… So stop…” Her booming voice was gradually growing weaker.

“Right, right… If you want me to stop treating you like a kid, you need to start being truthful~” He playfully teased.

“You like being patted on the head like this, don’t you..?” He softly cooed as he smiled warmly at her.

“I don’t… I don’t like it…” She murmured, her body gradually relaxing as she fell asleep in his embrace@%(&%#(^$!%(^%)(^%#^&()*#%#@#

“ You’re going to be fine… I’m here. “ Yuuto whispered as he gently patted Chiyoko’s head, rustling her hair with practiced ease.

Unable to hold her tears, she bawled her eyes out as she cried on his shoulder, his other arm supporting her back.

“ Shhhh… It’s okay. ” Yuuto whispered soothingly, his expression solemn as Chiyoko wept uncontrollably on his shoulder, her tears and sobs drenching his bare skin. Despite the intensity of her distress, his gentle strokes through her hair never faltered.

“I was so scared… I thought I was going to die… Thank you… thank you…” she murmured between sobs, her voice muffled and nasal as she struggled to speak through her tears, overwhelmed by relief and gratitude.

“Charge…? If you really want to charge at me properly…” Yuuto muttered, grasping a nearby rope hooked to the vent duct as Niji rushed toward him.
“Have some finesse!” Yuuto shouted, sliding between Niji’s legs and swiftly looping a portion of the rope around his ankle.

‘Hm…!?’ Ichiji grunted, turning back just in time to see Niji trip and crash into the metal air duct with a loud clang, bending it.

“NIJI, GET UP!!” Ichiji called out as Niji’s face collided with the duct, his nose cracking with the impact, blood beginning to pour.

But Niji was resilient. He slowly tried to rise…

…Yet, Yuuto had other plans. Standing over him with a menacing grin, he looked down at Niji.

‘…Senpai…?’ Chiyoko thought, witnessing the sinister change in Yuuto’s demeanor.
‘This one’s a Yuuto Sakurai special, super sasquatch,’ Yuuto thought to himself, springing into the air with his elbow poised, targeting Niji’s lower back.

“Fuck…!!! NIJI!!!” Ichiji screamed, watching in horror as Yuuto descended.
‘PEOPLE’S ELBOW,’ he thought grimly, driving his elbow down with full body weight onto Niji’s lower spine.

A sickening snap echoed as Niji let out a piercing scream of agony.

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” His scream reverberated, soon followed by a sudden loss of sensation in his lower torso.
Both Hiyori and Chiyoko turned away, their faces contorted in distress as they tried to block out the harrowing sound.

‘Phew…’ Yuuto exhaled deeply as he rose from Niji, his focus shifting towards Ichiji.
“Now then… The last one,” he declared, his gaze fixed on Ichiji.

‘Who… Who is this kid…!? That brat said we had nothing to worry about!!! What is this!!?’ Ichiji’s mind raced with panic as he slowly retreated, searching desperately for a plan.

As Yuuto advanced, Yonji, having regained consciousness, seethed with fury.

“You… FUCKING BASTARD….!! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU….” he hissed under his breath, his face twisted in rage as he staggered forward, still reeling from Yuuto’s earlier blow to his diaphragm.
Unseen by Yuuto, Yonji crept closer from behind…

‘Hah… I should give that guy more credit… I’ll reward him after this mission…’ Ichiji mused, a smirk crossing his face as he watched Yonji’s stealthy approach.

“What’s with that face..? Scared out of your wits?” Yuuto taunted, closing the distance with each step.

‘It’s over, kid…’ Ichiji silently celebrated, believing victory was at hand as Yonji closed in on Yuuto.

And then…

STAB

“HAAAA!!!” Yonji’s scream erupted from behind Yuuto.
Yuuto swiftly pivoted, his eyes locking onto Yonji…
…And Sato, who had plunged a knife into Yonji’s back, the very knife Yuuto had discarded earlier.
“Ah…. HA…. Ah…” Yonji gasped, collapsing in agony.

‘Manipulator!?’ Yuuto’s eyes narrowed as he assessed Sato and the stabbed Yonji.
Meanwhile, Hiyori’s cries broke through her gag, “SATOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Tears of relief streamed down her face as she gazed at him.

Earlier…
Immediately after Shiyon and Yuuto departed from the onsen, Sato swiftly rose and headed for the exit without hesitation.

Shun, noticing Sato’s abrupt movement, leapt up. He barely had time to digest how Yuuto had become strong enough to stand alongside the revered Shiyon.

“Sato-kun, wait!” Shun exclaimed, rushing to catch up and seizing Sato’s arm to halt his progress.

“I get that you’re worried!! But Shiyon instructed us to stay put!” Shun implored, his grip firm.
“Shun-senpai. Let go of me,” Sato responded, his voice flat, eyes fixed determinedly on the door.
Shun’s eyes then widened as he noticed the myriad scars crisscrossing Sato’s exposed skin.
“Shun-senpai. Release me. Now,” Sato reiterated sternly.

Shun reluctantly loosened his grip, his mind racing with concern.

“Look, I understand you want to rush to their aid, Sato-kun. You’re compassionate, but intervening would only disrupt Shiyon-san,” Shun argued with urgency.

“These men are hardened criminals—four people! And they easily subdued Hiyori-san as if she were nothing!” he added, his voice laced with desperation.

A torrent of conflicted thoughts overwhelmed Shun. ‘That’s the reality of our situation, of people like us…!! What could we possibly do against them!!? You think I WANT to stay here!!? Fighting them would be suicide…’ He mentally envisaged a grim outcome, him dying to their skilled hands.

‘The way they manhandled the girls… These bastards are professionals… We can’t do jack against them! This isn’t some shounen manga where high-school kids can just take on grown-ass men!’ Shun thought, his frustration palpable as he gritted his teeth, watching Sato’s determined gaze fixed on the exit.

———–
“I promise, I’ll get stronger and protect you.”
———–

The memory of his promise to Riko made Shun clench his teeth even harder.
“And Shiyon-san even said he’d stop you with force if you—”
Suddenly, Sato turned his head, his glare piercing through Shun.

“I don’t care,” Sato stated coldly. As Shun looked into his eyes, he realized this wasn’t the Sato he knew and cherished.

“ANYONE WHO TOUCHES HIKKI IS A DEAD MAN WALKING. LET ME GO.”

Sato’s icy stare bore into Shun. At that moment, Shun knew, if he didn’t release Sato now, he might well be in grave danger—a feeling eerily reminiscent of the one he got from Shiyon.
Reluctantly, he let go, and Sato bolted towards the exit.

Sato raced down the hallway towards the girls’ room, but as he did, he spotted Shiyon sprinting in the opposite direction. Quickly, Sato ducked into a shadowy alcove to avoid detection, watching Shiyon rush past.

‘Shiyon-san’s in a hurry… But where’s Sakurai-senpai? Does he need help?’ Sato wondered, stepping out of his hiding spot to continue towards the girls’ room.
Just then, he saw Yuuto emerge from the room, heading rapidly in the opposite direction of the main exit.

‘Shiyon-san’s bound for the main exit… but Sakurai-senpai is headed towards the fire exit?’
Curiosity piqued, Sato decided to trust his instincts and follow Yuuto.

—-BACK TO THE PRESENT—-

“GAAAAAAAH!!!” Yonji screamed as Sato forcefully lodged the knife into his side.
Without hesitation, Yuuto smashed his elbow into Yonji’s temple with full force, sending him tumbling to the side. Yuuto and Sato exchanged a quick, affirming nod, acknowledging each other’s efforts, while Hiyori looked on in shock.

“SATO!!! SAKURAI!!!” Hiyori screamed, capturing their attention. As they turned, they noticed not just Hiyori’s bound figure but another imminent danger.
“HMMMMm!!!” Chiyoko’s muffled cries echoed as Ichiji gripped her tightly, teetering on the roof’s edge.

Both Yuuto and Sato fixed their intense gaze on Ichiji.
“You two really did manage to screw everything up,” Ichiji hissed, tightening his hold on Chiyoko, who struggled vainly.

“To be fair, if we’re blaming anyone, it’s that idiot boss of mine. He said we’d have no trouble… And now look. My backup hasn’t arrived, which means someone’s taken them out,” he grumbled, casting a wary glance around.

‘…Could it be Harvester who took ’em out?’ Yuuto wondered silently, his expression unreadable.
“Sakurai-senpai,” Sato murmured, still focused on Ichiji, positioning himself slightly behind Yuuto.

“I called the police on the way here,” Sato informed him softly.

“…”

‘That’s not immediately helpful… But…’

“Good. Now we just need to take down this bastard. He’s not going to wait around for the police,” Yuuto stated coolly,

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“You crafty little children… I can hear the sirens now. You called them, didn’t you? I guess I have a few minutes?” Ichiji said, looking resignedly to the sky while inching closer to the roof’s edge with Chiyoko in his grasp.

Sato’s jaw clenched in anger as he glared at the man.
“Well, since you’ve ensured my mission’s failure… Isn’t it only fair I make sure you fail to save everyone here?” Ichiji taunted with a resigned yet mocking smile.

“Hmph,” Yuuto grunted, eyeing a nearby rope still attached to the duct.
“I’m probably going to die, but this girl’s coming with me…” Ichiji declared coldly, causing Chiyoko to cry even harder, her face draining of color.
“YOU BASTARD!!!” Sato bellowed furiously.

Meanwhile, Yuuto walked over to the rope and grasped it, coiling the end around his hand.
‘Alright… This is the last one I’m borrowing from you,’ Yuuto thought silently, only to himself.
‘…Not hearing any objections, so I guess that’s a yes…’ Yuuto mentally sighed as he readied himself, squaring his shoulders as he faced Ichiji.

“JUST LIKE OLD TIMES,“ Yuuto called out, charging towards Ichiji with determination.
“SAKURAI!!!” Hiyori cried out.
“SAKURAI, DON’T!!!” Sato yelled.

Chiyoko could only emit muffled screams through her gag as she squirmed, helpless.
Just then, Ichiji smiled sinisterly as he and Chiyoko fell backwards off the roof.
‘NO!!!!!! HE WON’T MAKE IT!!!’ Sato’s mind raced in panic.

At that critical moment, Yuuto’s form blurred into motion. With a powerful, graceful spin, he launched himself into the air, his foot arcing high. To Sato, it seemed as if a martial arts master had leapt from the pages of a comic.

!&)(*&^%!%BLACK LETTER STYLE: BLACK TAEKWONDO…!!!!%@(*&^%!@&*^

As Ichiji’s head receded from the roof’s edge, Yuuto’s foot connected squarely with the back of his head with devastating force, instantly snapping his neck.
The impact halted Ichiji’s fall momentarily.

In that split second, Yuuto seized Chiyoko, scooping her under his arm as he grasped the rope with his other hand, controlling their descent.

“Holy… Shit…” Hiyori gasped in disbelief, witnessing Yuuto’s form and how he saved Chiyoko.
Sato dashed towards the edge, his eyes on Yuuto’s swift rescue.
Below them, Ichiji continued to plummet, his fate sealed, stunned by the swift retribution that had just befallen him.

---

What was I on when writing this lmao this looks so cheesy xD

‘No playing around this time. Enjoying a fight… I can do that later, at my leisure,’ Yuuto thought as he looked at them calmly.

Both Chiyoko and Hiyori were shocked at the sight before them. The usually aloof, rude, and arrogant Sakurai had effortlessly subdued a knife-wielding assailant.

Suddenly, his nonchalant reactions to Shiyon and his peculiar manner of speech started to make sense.

Yuuto scanned the rooftop area.

He noticed the point where they had secured the grappling rope around a protruding vent duct, with plenty of leftover rope still in place.

‘Excessive amounts of rope left here. No additional gear. They must have planned to escape via the fire exit. Is that their entry route as well?’ Yuuto pondered.

“Niji, take these two girls and move them to the back. Sanji, you’re up,” one of the members commanded coldly, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Yuuto.

Sanji then handed over Hiyori to Niji, who effortlessly held them both and stepped back without chatter.

As the man referred to as Sanji stepped forward, Yuuto analyzed their use of numerical nicknames.

‘They refer to each other by numbers—a hierarchy, possibly indicative of their physical prowess?’

[Yonji: Fourth]

[Sanji: Third]

[Niji: Second]

‘Could the man giving orders be Ichiji?’ Yuuto speculated.

“Kid,” the man known as Sanji said, advancing past the unconscious Yonji towards Yuuto.

Yuuto studied the man dressed in black.

‘Adult, early 30s,’ Yuuto deduced upong hearing his voice, his gaze intense and probing.

“Don’t think this will be easy for you,” he threatened.

Yuuto noted the absence of a firearm. ‘Likely armed with a knife as well?’

“You see that guy on the floor? We call him Yonji. But that’s not his real name,” he explained.

“Who are you, ninjas?” Yuuto asked mockingly.

“Hahaha, thanks for the compliment, but who we are doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you might consider yourself strong, but…”

He stretched his entire body before speaking. “…But the person you took down was the wea—” His words cut off as he glanced down at Yuuto, who launched a lightning-fast kick at his groin.

He didn’t block the kick so much as redirect it; placing his palm against Yuuto’s foot, he used the force to propel himself backward, skillfully evading the attack.

“Tsche…!! No manners for kids these days, huh!?” he grunted, landing nimbly.

‘He redirected it… A martial artist… This fluidity… It has to be that, then?’ Yuuto wondered.

“You think I’m going to wait for your villainous monologue to finish? Maybe you should shout out your moves every time, too!” Yuuto taunted with a casual sneer.

‘Holy shit… He blocked THAT?!’ Hiyori thought, her confusion mounting as she and Chiyoko rested in Niji’s grasp.

‘…But Sakurai-senpai… He isn’t scared at all…? Even against so many…?’ Chiyoko pondered in awe of Yuuto’s composure and skill.

Hiyori stared into Yuuto’s eyes, her mind racing.

‘What the hell… This guy… His look is the same as when he’s casually talking with us…?! Is he one of them!? Does he know them!? Why’s he so damn calm!?’ Hiyori’s thoughts tumbled in anxiety.

From a distance, Niji whistled appreciatively.

“Good going, man,” he called out.

‘…Are they just going to watch how this plays out?’ Yuuto wondered, eyeing the other two who remained still. ‘No way. They just kidnapped two teenage girls. They must be waiting for someone. Someone who noticed they haven’t checked in yet… Maybe backup.’ Yuuto deduced as Sanji regained his stance, notably unarmed.

Without hesitation, Yuuto sprinted towards Sanji.

[BACKGROUND MUSIC: MAGA – VIBRANIUM]

‘I have to end this quickly.’

Everyone was caught off guard minus Ichiji.

He lunged with a direct punch.

‘At the end, he’s just a hot-headed teen, huh? I was a bit scared…’ Ichiji mused, watching Yuuto’s aggressive charge.

“Shit, he’s fast…!” Sanji exclaimed, deftly knocking Yuuto’s punch aside and sidestepping.

‘FUCK…! SAKURAI!!’ Hiyori’s muffled exclamation broke through her gag.

‘…But Sanji’s a Tai Chi master. Such a crude attack won’t work… Hmm?’ Ichiji’s thoughts were abruptly cut off as, before Sanji could counter, Yuuto seemed to lose his balance and stumbled forward after his swing.

‘…Poor balance…? Wait, no!’

“SANJI, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!!!” Ichiji suddenly yelled.

In an instant, Yuuto used the momentum to perform a front flip.

‘I’m going to borrow some more of your moves. I want to end this quickly this time. Don’t hate me,’ Yuuto thought to only himself.

Around him, no one particularly minded his silent resolve… This time.

‘Great,’ Yuuto thought as the back of his foot soared through the air, striking Sanji’s temple and sending him sprawling. Yuuto landed on his left hand, sprawling out to lessen the impact of his fall.

‘Ukemi,’ he reminded himself internally.

Ichiji’s eyes widened in surprise as Sanji crumpled to the ground.

‘That’s…!!! Some street-learned Taekwondo and… a Ninjutsu breakfall!?’ Ichiji marveled in amazement.

‘Thanks,’ Yuuto silently expressed gratitude to no one in particular, fully aware that there was no one around to appreciate his efforts or admonish him for anything in particular.

Ichiji observed Sanji’s unconscious form on the ground as Yuuto rose to his feet.

‘No reason… Not to go for the head!!’ Yuuto determinedly thought as he bolted towards Ichiji.

‘Hmph. Stronger than I anticipated… You are from INK, after all… But ultimately, you’re just a kid,’ Ichiji mused as Niji stepped in, blocking Yuuto’s charge.

‘This guy… He’s not guarding the girls anymore…!?’ Yuuto realized, gritting his teeth as Niji seized both his shoulders and hurled him with tremendous force, slamming him against the metal vent duct.

“GA-HA!!” Yuuto coughed out, the impact jarring his back against the solid surface.

“SENPAI!!!!” Chiyoko’s muffled cry echoed from behind her gag, her eyes brimming with anxiety.

“Scared yet, kid? This is genetics at play. You stand no chance,” Ichiji scoffed, arms crossed, as Niji advanced slowly, chuckling at the remark.

Yuuto chuckled too, spitting onto the roof before rising back to his feet. “Hahaha…”

“…What’s so funny, brat? You’re going to die here,” Ichiji stated as a matter of factly.

“What’s so funny, you ask?” He smirked broadly, locking eyes with Ichiji before glancing at Niji. “It’s just that big guy here, ‘Number 2,’ is bulkier than a sasquatch. Someone actually managed to outsize that behemoth, and I couldn’t help but laugh…”

‘IS THIS REALLY THE TIME FOR JOKES…!?’ Hiyori thought, her concern deepening as she watched the scene unfold.

“You hear that, Sasquatch? Someone actually outdid you. I didn’t think it was possible!” Yuuto shouted, turning briefly to Hiyori.

‘WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING!!?’ Hiyori’s thoughts raced, her gaze fixed anxiously on Niji as he neared Yuuto.

‘It’s late… Where are they?’ Ichiji wondered, his eyes scanning the edge of the roof.

“Hey, Number 2,” Yuuto called out nonchalantly as he faced Niji, who visibly bristled at the nickname.

“It’s Niji…!” Niji corrected tersely, cracking his knuckles as he stepped closer to Yuuto.

“Why didn’t you throw me off the roof? Are you an idiot? Smooth-brain? Got just one brain cell?” Yuuto taunted, chuckling as he looked at his adversary almost with pity. “I would have totally lost right then and there. I actually thought I’d die, haha.”

“Arrogant prick,” the man retorted, his voice seething with contempt. “This is to show you true despair before you die. To show you just how powerless you are!” With a primal roar, he charged towards Yuuto.

‘It’s over… No one can stop Niji like that. You can try to kick his head, or misdirect his moves, but none of that works on him… He’s just too strong,’ Ichiji thought, turning away and walking towards the girls.

‘…But those guys… They’re just too late… Surely they’ve noticed we’re taking too long…’ Ichiji mused, clenching his sides with a grimace.

MEANWHILE…

Shiyon emerged from a dark minivan parked just outside the onsen resort. His figure was bloodied, his eyes as empty and lifeless as those of a dead fish.

“…The roof, then,” Shiyon muttered to himself, his determination undeterred as he re-entered the onsen resort.

‘Something’s wrong…’ Yuuto thought as he swiftly made his way to the fire exit stairs.

‘I get that the harvester cares about his brainwashed lot. I get that people can be nervous under these kinds of situations,’ He reasoned as he opened the door to the fire exit, rushing up the stairs as the cold wind blew on his bare torso.

‘But he singlehandedly ruled an entire school filled with delinquents. You can’t do that with emotion alone. I figured him to be more level-headed than this, at least regarding things that aren’t related to fights…’

—————-

“I was wrong about you. You value your own ego over everyone else’s… How disgustingly weak. I’ve lost my interest in you.” Shiyon said with disdain as he exited the room, looking back at Yuuto with disgust before sprinting away.

————–

‘Was he really worried about us missing them, or…?’ Yuuto wondered as he bumped into a figure clad in black making their way down the stairs from the roof.

‘I was right!’ Yuuto thought, instantly recovering and watching the figure fall to the ground by the roof access.

“SHIT, SOMEONE SAW US!” one of them shouted.

Yuuto’s eyes darted around, spotting three more figures dressed in black. Two of them were carrying the very much awake Hiyori and Chiyoko, who looked at Yuuto frantically, their eyes begging for help. Both were in tears.

Hiyori: ‘SAKURAI! CALL FOR HELP!’ she hummed through her gag.

Chiyoko: ‘SENPAI! HELP US!’ she echoed.

‘Found them,’ Yuuto thought, his gaze steady.

“Hey, ninja bastards,” Yuuto called, blocking their exit as he reached the top of the stairs. “I’d appreciate it if you dropped these two here. Otherwise, I’ll drop you off this roof.” His voice was calm yet commanding.

‘I’m almost sure they’re Black Letter. But I can’t mention that, especially not with these two girls here,’ Yuuto thought.

The group exchanged looks, sizing Yuuto up.

“I thought you said no one saw us!” one of them said to another.

“I checked! No one saw us grab those bitches!”

“Well, it’s just a kid. That guy said there was no one to worry about,” the third one said.

‘That guy…? Someone who knew we were at the onsen, huh?’ Yuuto noted mentally.

They all sighed in annoyance, their eyes fixed on the calm Yuuto.

“I hate kids, man… One of these wimpy high-school boys had to show up,” muttered the one who had been knocked down, pulling out a pocket knife. Yuuto watched calmly as the man twirled it effortlessly.

‘Shit… a knife!’ Hiyori thought, worry flashing across her face.

“Hold up, fellas. I got this,” the man said, approaching Yuuto.

“Hey, kid. Just be a good boy and go back to sleep. See this knife? I won’t use it on you. I’m not the type to stab a high-schooler… It’s just a deterrent.” He sighed as he stepped closer to Yuuto.

‘AS IF!’ he thought, his sadistic smile hidden beneath his mask as he thrust the knife toward Yuuto’s abdomen.

“SENPAI!” Chiyoko cried through her gag as she saw the cloaked figure carry out his motion.

‘SHIT… HE WAS STABBED… NO!’ Hiyori thought, closing her eyes in defeat.

“Ahh… Another mess to clean up,” one of them sighed in frustration.

“Come on, Yonji. Leave the kid here. I’ll call the cleanup crew and…” The one carrying Chiyoko stopped mid-sentence, seeing both Yonji and Yuuto standing still.

They all raised an eyebrow.

“Yonji?” one of them called softly.

“Gahh…” Yonji gasped.

“What the…?!”

Hiyori and Chiyoko slowly opened their eyes in confusion.

‘Leopard Fist,’ Yuuto thought as his knuckles struck just below Yonji’s chin while his other hand grabbed the knife’s blade.

[The Leopard Fist is a martial arts technique where all the knuckles in the fist protrude slightly to inflict more damage. It requires rigorous training to strengthen the knuckles so they don’t bend upon striking.]

Yuuto then snapped the knife from the assailant’s grasp and struck Yonji’s diaphragm, completely knocking the wind out of him.

‘Phoenix Eye Fist.’

[The Phoenix Eye Fist is a martial arts technique where only the middle knuckle protrudes to inflict heavy damage on a small area. It’s less risky than the Leopard Fist, as the other knuckles support the middle one.]

‘Was I… just shot with a gun?’ Yonji thought before collapsing to the ground, startling everyone.

‘I can’t afford to hold back like I did with Harvester or be prideful and hesitant like with Kyoya Guuji.’

They all took a step back, as a glimmer of hope glistened in the two girls’ eyes.

‘I made way… Way.. WAY… Too many mistakes like some ordinary human. Not this time…’

He thought as he looked at them intensely, glaring at the group as he clenched his fists.

‘I’ll use everything I have and… I’mma baseball these guys’ asses.’

Yuuto and Shiyon hastily put on their underwear and pants before sprinting down the hall towards the girls’ room.

As Yuuto ran behind Shiyon, he focused on Shiyon’s reactions and demeanor.

Shiyon remained silent throughout the entire run, offering no plan, joke, or comment—just silence.

They reached the girls’ room, and Shiyon kicked the door open without hesitation. The metal lock snapped and hit the ground with a loud crash.

‘Locked door,’ Yuuto observed.

“They’re not here. Let’s go. They must have left the room and headed for the exit. They can’t be far,” Shiyon said. But Yuuto had other plans. He pushed past Shiyon and stormed into the room.

“Go off in whatever direction you want,” Yuuto called back while scanning the room. Shiyon stood still, closely watching Yuuto.

“Saku-chun. We don’t have time to figure out what happened here. We need to find these girls or—”

“Have you ever seen a kidnapper so considerate that they locked the door after kidnapping someone?” Yuuto calmly interrupted.

Shiyon froze, realizing he had kicked the door open without checking if it was locked first.

‘If it had been a traditional sliding fusuma door, it would’ve been harder to tell after kicking it open. Thank you, modern Japanese architects,’ Yuuto thought as he surveyed the room.

The room was in chaos, futons scattered everywhere and cold wind blowing through the open window.

Yuuto immediately went to the window and looked down.

“No use, Saku-chun. This is the third floor. They couldn’t have climbed up. There’s no ladder this tall,” Shiyon said.

Yuuto pulled his head back inside.

“We’re wasting time..!!! They definitely ran to the main exit! It’s a straight shot from here,” Shiyon shouted.

He looked at the ceiling.

“…There’s no A/C Unit,” Yuuto observed.

“…Yeah, but it was pretty cold outside, so it wasn’t thag bad. What does that have to do with anything, Saku-chun..!!? We need to leave, now!!” Shiyon replied, his anxiety surfacing while Yuuto remained calm.

“They came through the window and took them out through it. You’ll waste your time going outside trying to chase them,” Yuuto said, once more poking his head out the window, looking all around as if searching for something that wasn’t there.

“Saku-chun… I’m not trying to beat you this time. This isn’t about ego..!! My juniors have been kidnapped.”

“This isn’t some TV show or a game where we have to find clues to find out what happened like some make-believe detectives..!!! We need to go after them, now!!” Shiyon yelled.

“Then just do what you want and leave me alone. I don’t need anyone around me,” Yuuto said calmly.

Shiyon clenched his teeth.

“I was wrong about you. You value your own ego over everyone else’s… How disgustingly weak. I’ve lost my interest in you.” Shiyon said with disdain as he exited the room, looking back at Yuuto with disgust before sprinting away.

‘Good riddance…’ Yuuto thought, glancing back at the open door. He noticed the key to the girls’ room lying on the floor, snapped in half beside the broken lock.

‘A key on the inside. They locked the door from inside the room. It snapped just now due to Harvester’s kick.’

He saw a crack in the wooden floor next to the lock.

[BACKGROUND MUSIC: Maga – Animality (Remix TikTok)]

‘Hmph. Too easy. Might as well have left a note explaining it all,’ he thought, imagining the attack.

The girls had returned from the onsen, their bodies still hot and steaming.

Since there was no A/C, they unlocked the window and opened it, letting the cool air from outside chill their bodies.

Naturally, they locked the door, as any girl would do upon entering a resort room and kept the key inside the lock.

They went to sleep, unaware of the kidnappers who entered through the unlocked window. One of the girls woke up as they entered, quickly heading to the door to unlock it…

…but was stopped by one of the kidnappers just after she unlocked the door. He tripped her.

From the size of the dent in the wooden floor, she probably hit her elbow.

‘Chiyoko’s elbow couldn’t have made a dent like that. It had to have been that Sasquatch.’

‘It was after she was restrained that the cuck noticed them. He likely woke up from the noise. He saw the door was open, looked inside, and ran to find us before he was spotted. That’s when the kidnappers locked the door again.’

Yuuto clicked his tongue, recalling Shun’s desperate plea when he found Shiyon and Yuuto in the onsen.

‘…As much as I hate it, it was the right call. That wimp couldn’t have done anything and just got himself killed or beaten up if he did anything on his own.’ Yuuto thought with a sigh.

‘Now the main question is how they got up to the third floor.’

Yuuto thought, moving to the window again and putting his head out as he looked down and to the sides.

‘This is the third time I’ve checked. That harvester has a point. There’s no 20-meter-long ladder… They would have needed a ramp or a special vehicle, and we would have heard it for sure.’

‘This resort only has five floors… We’re on the third floor. One fire exit. One entrance…’

Yuuto’s eyes widened in realization, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

‘Sure, there’s no 20-meter ladder that’s not mechanized… But…’

He thought, looking up at the top of the building.

‘…There IS a 10-meter long rope they could’ve used to rappel down.’ He noticed a rope positioned just above the top of the window.

Just as he noticed the rope, it was cut off, almost falling directly onto Yuuto’s face.

‘The fire exit.’ He thought, rushing out of the door of the girl’s room and sprinting toward the fire exit.

‘They went through all this trouble just to kidnap a few girls… It has to be them again,’ Yuuto thought, his fists clenching tightly.

‘Black Letter…’

“Ugh… I need to pee…” Shun grumbled as he woke up, stumbling out of his room without realizing he was alone. He rubbed his eyes groggily, muttering, “Why are the bathrooms so far from the rooms…”

‘It’s also so hot in that room… Why did we close the windows…?’ He complained.

He made his way down the hallway, still half asleep, passing the room where Chiyoko and Hiyori, slept. He took a few more steps before stopping in his tracks, a strange sensation crawling up his spine.

Retracing his steps, Shun saw the door to the girls’ room slightly ajar.

“That’s not good… They should keep it closed or anyone could walk in,” he mumbled, moving forward to shut it. But just as he reached for the door, his eyes caught a glimpse of what lay inside.

Four men, masked and dressed in black, were tying up Chiyoko and Hiyori. Shun gasped, his eyes widening as he froze, peering at them from behind the door.

“Shit, remind me why we can’t have some fun now?” one of the men asked, his tone laced with frustration.

“Keep it down, idiot. You know why. If the boys next door hear us, they’ll go crazy. Let’s take them somewhere private first. Behind this place is perfect—isolated… No one will hear them scream.” Another man sneered, followed by malicious laughter from the group as they gagged and bound the girls.

Shun could see the tears in Chiyoko’s eyes and the fury in Hiyori’s gaze as they struggled against their captors.

“Heh,” another man chuckled, nudging Hiyori’s side with his foot. “Pipe down, bitch. You’ll forget all about this soon enough,” he said, leering as he waved a bag of white powder in front of her face.

Shun’s heart sank, his breathing quickening in fear.

‘Get in there!’ he silently urged himself. ‘Save them!!’

“Hey, which one of you idiots left the door open?! Keep it shut until we’re done!”

‘GET IN THERE!! You promised to be better than this!!’ Shun gripped the door handle tightly, every muscle tensed as he readied himself.

“Ah, my bad~. I’ll close it,” one of the men said casually, moving toward the door.

‘Do it…!!!’ Shun urged himself, his face paling. ‘You trained, didn’t you!? You got stronger, didn’t you!!?’

His heart pounded as the man approached, his own hesitation gripping him tightly.

——-

Yuuto: “I get it, you’ve developed a bit of backbone since standing up to those assholes. That’s commendable…”

“But you’re still the same spineless coward who freezes whenever someone threatens you with a punch. You’ve learned to bark, sure. But you’re still a long way from biting…. And I might not be much in a fight…”

“But I can recognize a biter when I see one. You’re not a biter. And it doesn’t matter how many punches you throw at a mitt,”

——

“FUCK…!!” Shun whispered to himself, anxiety gnawing at him.

One of the men approached the door and stuck his head out, glancing from side to side.

“Hmm… See? No biggie. It’s not like anyone would be awake at this hour,” he said, convinced he was alone. Satisfied, he closed the door.

Shun paled inside the empty room. ‘Shiyon-san…!! Shiyon-san…!’ He frantically looked around, realizing he was alone.

‘What!? Where is everyone…!? Damn it…!! Where is he…!!? They’re being taken away…!!’ His thoughts raced as cold sweat trickled down his face.

A flash of inspiration struck as he glanced at the clock. With newfound urgency, he sprinted outside and down the hallway toward the onsen.

‘The most cliché spot for missing teens past midnight in an onsen… Please, be there…!!’ He prayed as he barged into the bathhouse, scanning the area desperately.

He saw three heads leaning against the edge of the onsen, one with distinctive blonde hair. He rushed toward them.

“S-SHIYON-SAN…!!” he called out, his voice trembling as he slipped on the wet floor while sprinting towards him.

“Oh my…!” Shiyon exclaimed, turning around with Yuuto and Sato.

‘Fuck…!!! Another one sees me like this!? Might as well just confess about my persona…!’ Yuuto thought to himself, trying to keep his face hidden.

“Shun-chun, what’s wrong? Were you worried we were—”

“Never mind that!!” Shun yelled as he quickly got back up, startling Shiyon with his panicked urgency.

Yuuto raised an eyebrow, sensing something amiss.

‘…Something’s up… I don’t like this.’

“The girls… From their rooms… are being kidnapped by 4 guys…!! Please, save them!!” Shun blurted, his face pale, barely able to stand.

“N-no…! Hiyori…!!” Sato gasped, breathless with shock.

‘I… Messed up…!!! Again….!’ Yuuto clenched his teeth, frustration boiling over.

Shiyon’s expression was unreadable, but he remained calm.

In an instant, all three of them bolted from the water.

“Let’s go. Sato-chun, Shun-chun, you stay here,” Shiyon commanded with confidence as he and Yuuto swiftly passed Shun, who hung his head in defeat.

‘…Wait, he told just Sato-kun and me to stay…? Who’s the…’ Shun thought, confused. He looked up and saw Shiyon walking beside another figure. The figure’s hair was short, but his face…

“S… Sakurai…?” Shun murmured in disbelief as he took in Yuuto’s face, which was paired with a toned, muscular physique that matched Shiyon’s—or perhaps even surpassed it—as they walked side by side.

‘No… N-no way…!’

“I’m coming with you!!” Sato yelled, panic etched on his face.

“No, you’re not. Stay here. Neither I nor Saku-chun can waste any time babysitting you.” Shiyon’s tone was firm and far from his usual demeanor. “If you insist, I’ll put you to sleep myself. Stay back,” he added coldly, freezing Sato in place.

‘Finally…’ Yuuto thought as he briefly glanced at Shiyon while they hurried to the wardrobe.

‘Something me and that harvester can agree on,’ he concluded as they both faced forward.

“Sakurai!?” Sato exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise as he glanced over at Yuuto.

“Manipulator?” Yuuto responded, attempting to mask his sudden distress.

‘Fuuuuck…!!!! Not again! I was so certain it was empty. Just walked right in without a second thought!!!’ Yuuto cursed inwardly as his eyes swiftly assessed the visibly shaken Sato.

Sato’s body was a tapestry of recent scars, burn marks, and bruises—like a playground for delinquents. He instinctively turned away, as if to shield his injuries from Yuuto’s view, his face averted in apparent shame.

As Yuuto’s initial panic subsided, his attention was drawn to the extent of Sato’s injuries. ‘It’s almost strategic, the way only the areas normally covered by clothes are damaged. Could this be domestic abuse?’ he wondered, observing the patterns of hurt that seemed purposefully hidden.

“Stop… looking… please…” Sato’s voice broke the silence, soft and fraught with embarrassment as he curled up defensively, his body tense despite the warm waters.

“Then don’t act like such a girl. What, scared I’ll see your boobs, manipulator?” Yuuto retorted sharply, his words cutting through the steamy air of the onsen as he relaxed his muscles.

Sato’s shivering then stopped as he slightly turned his head back, his expression terrified and timid.

His gaze lingered on Yuuto.

“It’s just scars. Me looking at them or not won’t change that.” Yuuto said casually, as Sato also inevitably scrutinized Yuuto.

“Did you cut your hair?” Sato asked, his voice tinged with timidity.

“Yeah, I did it just before I got into the onsen. Figured my scalp could use a breather,” Yuuto responded, his tone casual.

‘At least it got long enough for it to not be weird…’ Yuuto thought, appreciating his hair’s rapid growth.

“Right… But with hair this short and a body like that, you shouldn’t meet people in a dark alley…” Sato remarked, still awkwardly shielding his own body.

Yuuto was taken aback, staring at his reflection in the water silently for a moment before replying, “Fair point. People are pussies. Hey, if you tell anyone about this, I’ll spill every detail about your delinquent-playground of a body.”

Sato’s eyes widened in surprise, and a heavy silence settled briefly before he burst into hearty laughter, genuine amusement lighting up his face.

“Hahahahah!!! Delinquent-playground of a body… HAHAahaha!!! HAHAHA!!” He clutched his abdomen, laughing so hard his sides hurt.

Yuuto frowned. “Hey. I’m serious. I’ll tell them all about it. Every little detail. Don’t laugh.” His thoughts flashed back to when Shiyon upset him by mentioning recording him, “I’ll record you when you least expect it and everything, manipulator.”

“AHAHAHAHAH… I’M SORRY… I’M SORRY….!! HAHAHAHAHA…!! DELINQUE~>.. HAHAHA…” Sato continued to laugh, now nearly in tears.

‘What’s with this guy…? His laugh is usually a timid version of Michael Jackson’s “hee hee.” Now he looks like he’s about to pass out. People are gonna think we need an ambulance hearing him… Did he lose his mind from the stress?’

“Hey. I’m being 100% serious. I’ll record every scar and hang it for all the school to see. Send it to your family. Everything. The local newspaper, too,” Yuuto warned sternly.

Despite the severity of the threat, Sato was undeterred, his laughter continuing to ripple through the air. “Hahaha… Ha… Haha… Oh god.. Haha…!” He finally caught his breath, his smile still wide as he turned to Yuuto, no longer attempting to shield his body.

“Send it… Just send it all, you know…?” He sprawled his limbs out in the onsen, relaxing fully as he gazed up at the stars, his voice still tinged with residual chuckles.

Yuuto’s expression softened, his intense gaze fading to a blank stare as he observed Sato. “Just… Just do it. If it’s you, I really don’t mind. Isn’t it fine…? If everyone knows already…”

Sato sighed deeply, seeming to release a burden as he settled more comfortably into the water. “Know…? Know what?” Yuuto pressed.

“I’m afraid that’s a secret~…” A new voice chimed in just as another figure approached and settled into the onsen between Yuuto and Sato.

‘Tsk, harvester,’ Yuuto clicked his tongue in annoyance as Shiyon made himself comfortable, echoing the relaxed posture of Sato as he too looked up at the stars alongside them.

“Ya, ho~… I woke up to see you two gone, so I came over here~… This is the most cliché spot for missing teens past midnight in an onsen~…” Shiyon’s voice was casual, laced with a playful tone.

“Sakurai-chun,” he murmured, glancing at Yuuto.

“Just like you have secrets, other people’s secrets are just as precious. You have no right to pry <3”

‘-Not,’ Yuuto countered silently in his mind.

“Also, I like your new hairstyle, Sakurai-chun! It makes you even more of a tough guy than before <3,” Shiyon complimented with a bright smile.

Yuuto’s face twitched slightly in annoyance. ‘CHSCH..!! Making fun of me, will you!?‘ he fumed internally.

“Thank you,” he managed to say blankly, masking his irritation.

“Anytime~” Shiyon responded cheerily.

Yuuto turned his gaze to the stars, deciding it was better to relax rather than let his frustration get the better of him.

‘No point in getting all flustered over it at this point… Whatever,’ he thought, his body gradually loosening as he settled into the warmth of the onsen.

‘I’ll just stal—ahem, spy, on Sato afterwards to see what that’s all about…’ <—- Make no mistake, he was about to say —->[STALK]<—- As in, stalk Sato.

‘…After the trip,’ he decided, letting his head rest back against the edge of the onsen, his mind on the stars above.

Minoru and Seichiro drove off into the quiet night. Minutes stretched on. Minoru’s gaze remained fixed on the passed-out Sakura, observing the rise and fall of her chest and the occasional twitch of her eyes in sleep. He did not look away, not even for a second.

“Mr. Kurose,” Minoru broke the silence.

“What is it, kid?” Seichiro responded, his attention never wavering from the road ahead.

“…Could you come over and talk to my old man? He’s going to flip when he hears what happened to my sister. I’d prefer not to be starved for a week as a punishment,” Minoru said in his usual casual tone.

Seichiro sighed deeply, reached for a cigarette, and lit it up before responding. “It’s not like your old man to act like a complete fool… Even after all that’s happened.” he said quietly.

“By trusting me to protect my family again?” Minoru asked, his voice tinged with solemnity as he continued to watch Sakura.

“No, by not appreciating his own kid while he still has the chance,” Seichiro corrected him, the smoke curling in the air as he cracked open the window a bit more.

Silence fell over them again, lasting a minute but feeling much longer.

“I’ve been keeping a line with your old man for a while now, mostly just checking up. That bastard… He’s so blinded by his own anxieties that he can’t see anything clearly. It really pisses me off,” Seichiro grumbled, the rough edge in his voice mirroring his frustration.

‘So, Mr. Kurose… Was alive the whole time and talking to my old man… That bastard… He never even told me Mr. Kurose was alive…!’ Minoru’s thoughts churned with frustration, his grip tightening.

Glancing towards Seichiro’s broad back as he drove, Seichiro then continued, “He lost one person, and now he acts like he’s the most beaten dog in the world, shutting himself off from perhaps the only one who truly understands his pain.”

Minoru’s expression turned hollow. “I’m used to it…” He said, as he took a deep breath and laid back on the seat, relaxing his arms as he looked back at Sakura.

“…And I get it. We still have a lot to lose, after all,” he murmured.

“A lot to lose, huh?” Seichiro echoed softly, almost to himself.

Hearing that, Minoru snapped to attention. “Mr. Kurose…!! I’m… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to offend you…”

“You didn’t,” Seichiro reassured Minoru in a subdued tone.

“It’s good that you can still say that you got a lot to lose, kid. Keep reminding yourself, maybe not ten times in front of a mirror every morning, but often enough to remember,” Seichiro said with a wry chuckle, drawing a contemplative look from Minoru.

As silence began to envelop them once more, Sakura opened her eyes. Groggily, she identified Minoru sitting next to her.

“Hey~… Big brother… I was so worried~….” she murmured almost incoherently as she clumsily embraced Minoru.

Minoru shifted his gaze to Sakura, feeling her weight as she leaned against his shoulder, slowly drifting into sleep.

“…I know I don’t have to tell you this…” Seichiro’s voice broke the silence.

“…but keep her safe. Keep them all safe. That includes your fool of a father.”

Through the rearview mirror, Minoru met Seichiro’s eyes, his own reflecting a newfound resolve.

“…I will,” he affirmed firmly.

The car filled with a momentary silence as the road stretched out before them.

“…Can you still come talk to my old man?” Minoru eventually asked, breaking the quiet.

Seichiro exhaled slowly, the last of his cigarette burning out. “I’ll talk to him… No promises, though. I’m not equipped to monitor him around the clock,” he said, his tone weary.

[MEANWHILE, BACK TO SOMEONE WHO MONITORS PEOPLE AROUND THE CLOCK.]

‘Finally, those freaks are asleep,’ Yuuto thought, glancing around at the others sprawled on their futons in the darkness. It was just past midnight.

Quietly, he rose and tiptoed to the closet, rummaging quietly until his hand closed on his towel.

“Got it,” he murmured under his breath. With careful, measured steps, he slipped out of the room, making sure not to disturb the motionless figures scattered across the floor, and softly closed the door behind him.

The resort was silent as he made his way to the onsens. Upon entering the dressing room, he noted the absence of any clothes or belongings. The only sound was the faint buzz of the fluorescent lights above.

‘I could check every locker to be sure it’s empty, but that would take too long. At this hour, anyone else would just leave their stuff out, thinking they’re alone,’ Yuuto reasoned with a sigh as he began to disrobe and wrap the towel around himself.

‘That was a close call earlier… Staging that fight was a good move. If they saw my body up close, it’d be game over. My secret would be out,’ he thought, shuddering at the memory as he headed toward the men’s baths.

‘But that cuck still has a lot to learn,’ Yuuto reflected, remembering how Shun had frozen when Yuuto had slammed the locker next to his head. Inevitably, recalling his comments about him and Sakura.

‘… And why would I bother with someone as impulsive and immature as her?’ his thoughts drifted to Sakura momentarily.

‘According to bigfoot, she still hasn’t answered her phone… nor has Sendo. That fool probably turned off his phone after our last conversation,’ Yuuto mused with a dismissive chuckle as he paused, hand on the sliding door to the hot baths, seized by a sudden concern.

‘She’s fine… right?’ he wondered, hesitating before stepping into the steaming room.

He gazed downward, lost in thought as he replayed his earlier outburst before reentering the van.

‘None of this mess is my fault. As a hero, my duty is to ensure the safety of those I save. It defeats the purpose if they end up harmed afterward…’

‘But I made another mistake. I assumed she knew I was Anti-NTR Man. She only recognized me as her rescuer, and that misunderstanding led to my irrational behavior around her.’

‘At least, this is for the best. Her disdain for me will make her forget about me quickly, and I won’t have to worry about my secret being exposed.’

He lifted his head, his eyes shifting toward the sliding door of the bathhouse.

A quiet cluck of his tongue broke the silence as a thought crossed his mind.

‘Was I actually relieved that someone knew my secret?’

The memory of Haruto surfaced.

‘Someone I could actually trust?’

He sighed, pushing the thoughts aside.

‘Whatever, I’ll sort it out later. I’m sure she’s okay. Sendo might be simple, but he’s dependable and strong enough to take down that Gorrila and his groupie, or any others these guys would bring. He’d handle any trouble. I’m wasting my night here, thinking about it. Even a hero needs his downtime…’

With that, he slid the door open and peered into the steam-filled bathhouse. Visibility was low, but it seemed empty, both in and out of the water.

‘Perfect…’ he thought with a small sense of relief.

He set his towel aside and quickly stepped into the warm, welcoming water.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, finally~…” Yuuto sighed, his eyes rolling back slightly as he gazed up at the stars. The serenity enveloped him completely, the initial sting of the hot water giving way to a profoundly relaxing warmth. His muscles loosened, and he felt the soothing flow of water through his toes, contrasting with the cool night air caressing his face.

Yes, Anti-NTR Man was settling into total relaxation as—

“Sakurai-senpai? You’re here too?!” Sato’s voice cut through the tranquil silence as he seemingly appeared out of thin air, already seated in the water right next to him.

Yuuto’s eyes snapped open, and he quickly turned to face Sato, a surge of panic rushing through him.

‘FUCK.’

“Hi, kid,” Seichiro muttered, his gaze calm as he looked at Minoru.

“No way…” Minoru mumbled in disbelief, struggling to make sense of the man before him.

“I… I thought you were dead!” Minoru exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.

“Yeah, well – I’m not. I need you to focus, kid. There are more urgent things at hand than my mortality. Can you do that for me? I’ll give you the rundown later, I promise.”

Minoru looked down, his brow furrowing in concentration.

“… If you’re here… At this timing… Did they find me—”

“No, kid. No one found you. You just happened to be in a bad place at a bad time,” Seichiro replied, his expression weary.

“I see… W-what do you need, Mr. Kurose?” Minoru mumbled, still processing the situation.

“Your sister. Where is she?” Seichiro asked casually, but with an underlying urgency. Minoru’s eyes widened as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

“You… How did… You… HOW DID YOU KNOW SHE’S HERE?!” Minoru demanded, his voice urgent.

Seichiro sighed. “You and that kid being here, plus those guys… And the fact you haven’t a clue what you got into… It wasn’t hard to guess why you’re here. Did she get hit with the stuff?” he asked, his tone serious.

Minoru looked down in shock.

“Right… She… So that’s why she acted like that… They… These bastards… Hit her with that…?” Minoru’s voice trailed off, his face becoming unreadable as he stared at the ground, a surge of bloodlust radiating from him.

The man sighed again, his gaze still weary. “So that’s a yes, then…” he mumbled to himself as he approached the now feral-looking Minoru, casually flicking his forehead.

“Ow!” Minoru exclaimed.

“OW!” echoed from Hayato, another young boy nearby who got his head flicked by Seichiro.

“That’s what you get for fighting in my house! Hayato, go apologize to your mom. Minoru, you follow,” Seichiro commanded with authority, after flicking both boys’ foreheads.

“B-but DAD!! Minoru started it!” Hayato cried, rubbing his now red forehead.

Seichiro huffed, his gaze intense. “I don’t care! You escalated it instead of trying to solve things… You’re as guilty as him. I always tell you to hit back whoever’s punching you, but Minoru’s your friend. Got that, Hayato? You never hurt your friends!”

Hayato merely nodded.

“Now, go apologize! Each one do it alone! Got it, kid!?”

“Kid..?”

“Kid!” Seichiro said, refocusing Minoru’s attention.

“H-huh..?” Minoru muttered, snapping back to reality.

“I need you to focus… Your sister. Where is she? I’ll go get her, and see how she’s doing,” Seichiro urged.

Minoru shook his head, trying to collect his thoughts. “Right… There were those two INK punks… I told them to get her to safety. But I’m not sure where they went if not here… They probably ran off when they realized the mixer was in on this. This punk here protected them, I believe.”

“Haha,” Seichiro chuckled, though his smile lacked its usual vibrance.

“That kid’s real brave, huh?” Seichiro commented, nodding toward Sendo.

“You know him, Mr. Kurose?” Minoru asked, puzzled.

“Hmm… You could say we’ve crossed paths once, and he made quite the impression,” Seichiro muttered as he started toward the exit.

“W-wait! I’ll come with—” Minoru started, moving to stand.

“No. You stay here with the kid until the ambulance picks him up… It’s an order. Got that, Minoru?” Seichiro instructed firmly, glancing back at Minoru.

Minoru, frustrated but obedient, nodded. “Yes… Sir,” he replied, settling back down beside Sendo.

“Good boy. I promise I’ll give you a rundown later. By the way, I called the ambulance before I entered, so just sit tight. They’ll be here any minute,” Seichiro said, disappearing from view as he left the scene.

“Just…” Minoru started, his voice tinged with anxiety as he observed Sendo’s calm, relaxed expression. Sendo lay there, a slight smile on his face despite the needle still lodged in his chest.

“Haah…” Minoru sighed, his shoulders dropping as he allowed himself a moment of relaxation.

Minoru watched the steady rise and fall of Sendo’s chest, the tension slowly ebbing from his own body. The quiet of the mixer reception, punctuated only by Sendo’s gentle breathing, seemed to offer a rare moment of peace amid the chaos that had unfolded earlier. Sendo’s relaxed expression, almost serene with that slight smile.

“I wish I could just pass out like that… No worries, no fears, just… peace,” Minoru whispered, his voice tinged with envy. He lay on the dirty ground beside Sendo, staring up at the dim, flickering fluorescent lights of the mixer.

“Ahh right… I’ll have to explain everything to the cops when they show up… And then give that old fart an explanation… Ahhhh, what a pain…!!” Minoru groaned in frustration. He rubbed his face wearily as he lay on the ground, the distant wail of ambulance sirens growing closer.

“Either way… If it’s Mr. Kurose… He’ll find her,” Minoru mumbled casually, his gaze blank as he stared into the dim flickering of the overhead lights.

“Everything works out… When he’s there, so…” He added, his voice trailing off as he closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of rest.