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It was late night when Yuuto sneaked off outside the house for his trip.
Early hours of the morning. Who knows where Yuuto had run off to? What devious plan his head concocted this time? Only time will tell. He came back from his nightly trip 2 hours later carrying a black backpack of some sort. The time was 5:01 AM by the time he arrived to his house.

‘Running late… How uncharacteristic of me.’ He thought to himself as he quietly opened the door, noticing Haruto, sleeping on the couch with the blankets on him without removing his clothes. What bothered Yuuto the most, however, was the small stain on the sheets right next to where Haruto laid his head – illuminated by the light of the TV. He was crying himself to sleep.
Yuuto sighed.

‘Welp, it was bound he’d dirty it one way or another. I’m glad it’s just that. Who knows what went through his head when thinking about his mommy crush? I barely had enough time to research this guy or Kyoya and this wimp’s crush-mommy.’

Yuuto then looked solemnly at Haruto.
‘Don’t worry, wimp… You’ll be in your mommy’s arms in no time.’ He thought as he walked up the stairs and entered his room, closing the door and sitting on his computer chair after tossing the backpack he had to the side of his chair. For 15 minutes, Yuuto had looked up. Doing nothing in particular. No thoughts, no plans. Nothing.

‘Meditation. Ever heard of it? Even I need my alone time…’ Yuuto argued to no one.

‘…Still, this is going to be a bit tricky. So many things to tackle, so little time to actually do it. Many things fell into the right place, now I just have to gently move everything to fit into my plans…’ Yuuto clenched his fist as he stretched his body on the chair, feeling his eyes strained.

‘I hate this. I hate this so much… Everything had to be convenient for this plan to take form… I’ve been lucky. In the future, I won’t be as lucky and if I keep my current M.O., my plans will fail… Nay, I won’t even manage to form a plan.’

What’s this? Yuuto Sakurai feels humbled…?

‘Not a chance. Maybe I’m just such a genius for concocting this plan that makes everything go smoothly, and since I like a challenge – I feel cheated. Well, it’s not like it can’t fail… But that’s why I am here for. To make it work 100%… But… This is gonna be tiring… Worth it, but tiring…’ Yuuto closed his eyes and breathed deeply for 2 minutes as he sat alone in his room.

He then opened his eyes.
“Enough chit-chat, let’s get the grub goin’.”
He uttered to himself as he opened the black backpack, emptying it on the floor to check everything was there.

“Hehehe… Good… GOOOD…!!! All I need to destroy this asshole’s life is here!! My ultimate weapon of mass destruction…!” He added with a smile, glancing at Sendo’s phone which also lay there. He looked at it for a few seconds with a blank expression before continuing to examine the items more.

‘Psche, who needs that kid anyway? Just a short-sighted brat who can’t even tell what a person needs to hear. Too hot-headed. Good for fights though. I’ll let that airhead know when I need to fight someone again…’ Yuuto thought to himself as he forced himself to look away from the phone.

‘… I’ll give him back his phone. That way, I won’t have to bother with this kid ever again…’ He thought before checking the time again using his phone.

5:20AM.

‘…I need to buy a watch. Another oversight… I need to hurry, I am way behind the schedule…’

“Alright… Let’s do this.” He clapped his hands twice, swiftly packed everything into his backpack, and bolted downstairs. Approaching Haruto, he didn’t hesitate. “Wake up. Hey, little cuck—wake up,” Yuuto said, forceful but not shouting.

“Mmmm… five more minutes, mom…” mumbled Haruto.

“I ain’t your mommy. Get up,” Yuuto retorted sharply.

Haruto only responded by burying his face deeper under the blanket.

Yuuto sighed heavily, his patience thinning. In one quick motion, he yanked the blanket away, startling Haruto awake. His eyes snapped open as the blanket slipped off the couch.

“W-What…!? Himiko?” Haruto stammered, blinking away the sleep, his gaze slowly focusing.

In front of him, Yuuto crouched with a serious expression, his backpack slung over his shoulder, dressed casually in a white T-shirt, sweatpants, and sneakers.

“S-sakurai-san..?” Haruto blinked, still groggy.

“Wake the fuck up, samurai. We’ve got an asshole to baseball,” Yuuto declared, leaning forward, his hand on his knee, injecting unnecessary drama into his voice.

‘It would totally fit Sendo… Damn, why isn’t Sendo the cuck instead…’ he thought, sighing inwardly.

“W-what are you on about, Sakurai-san?” Haruto asked, his expression confused as he stretched, still struggling to wake fully. The weak sunlight outside barely illuminated the streets.

“You want to impress your future wife, don’t you?” Yuuto murmured quietly, a calm overtone in his voice.

Haruto looked down, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his cheeks tinting with a blush as he briefly envisioned Himiko in a flowing white dress, approaching him at the altar.

Meeting Yuuto’s gaze, Haruto nodded seriously. “Wife, huh… So, you got a plan?”

“Gosh, you’re so pathetic, relying on someone else to plan your life and rescue your future wife,” Yuuto replied, his face expressionless.

“…I should just ask for a refund. Give me back my 10,000 yen,” Haruto said weakly, turning his face away in embarrassment.

“But you won’t ask for a refund, because deep down, you know you need my help—or anyone as committed as me and my friend. You’ll never find another crew like us,” Yuuto countered sharply.

Haruto’s shoulders slumped, his expression crestfallen.

“…Then show me what my 10,000 yen can do,” he murmured, looking up with a defeated air.

Yuuto’s grin widened.

“Good. I’ve already made a call. My buddy put together a workout plan for you. You’ll be following it daily for the next month while you’re here. I hope you’ve cleared your schedule at college and all that,” Yuuto said, a bit dismissively, clearly clueless about the demands of academic life, typical of someone who hadn’t prioritized school.

‘Even though my grades are great…’ Yuuto internally argued to no one.

Haruto’s face registered shock.

“I can’t just skip college… What about my future?”

Yuuto paused, his expression unreadable. “Do I really need to ask you this question?”

“What question…? We’re talking about my college life here, I can’t just ignore it! What will my future look like—”

“—Without your mommy?” Yuuto cut in sharply.

Haruto recoiled, stunned.

Yuuto sighed, “This is precisely one of your main problems—your inability to prioritize what you truly desire. Sure, you might lose some money, likely more than just a mere 10,000 yen. So, tell me: How big does your salaryman paycheck need to be for you to forget about your fantasy, your ideal woman—Himiko?”

Haruto clenched his fist, feeling a knot tighten in his gut.

“Himiko… doesn’t have a price tag…! College or a steady job… can wait!” His voice trembled, his eyes glistening with resolve.

“Good. Now follow me. We’re way behind schedule, and I’ve got places to be.”

Yuuto and Haruto walked without speaking much as Haruto still had his fake smile on his face as he solemnly looked downwards. Getting closer and closer to Yuuto’s home on this chilly night. Yuuto buried his palms in the pockets of his hoodie.

Haruto gestured to Yuuto as they passed a convenience store open around the clock. “Oh right, Sakurai-san. Can you wait outside for a moment? I need to pick up something.”

Yuuto gave a nod and leaned against the cool glass wall, watching Haruto disappear into the bright interior of the store. Moments later, Haruto emerged, his expression easy and light under the fluorescent glow.

“Here.” He extended his hand, offering Yuuto a crisp ¥10,000 note.

Yuuto eyed the note momentarily before accepting it, tucking it swiftly into his pocket. “What’s this for?” he asked, his tone even.

Haruto smiled slightly. “I’ve skimmed your website. I saw the price tag. This is for your friend, for his help. Maybe split it with the kid; he deserves it too.”

Yuuto’s expression remained unchanged. “He hasn’t helped you yet. Read the website’s first, third, and ninth terms first,” he said, pulling out Sendo’s phone to show Haruto the Terms of Service listed on his ominous website.

Haruto’s eyes widened slightly as he read:

1. For ¥10,000, I will ensure your relationship is saved, tailored to your needs.
3. I commit to seeing each case through once the transaction is completed, without exceptions.
9. I guarantee your bond will be stronger than before you enlisted my services.

Yuuto pocketed the phone again. “Consider this a down payment then,” he stated flatly.

‘Job accepted.’ He determined internally.

Haruto hesitated, his uncertainty evident. “I…”

“I’ll pass the cash over once we meet all the terms of service. He’s a busy man.”

“W-wait… B-but…”

“But what? Are you the type who never reads the terms of service like everyone else? You stumbled onto a random website and spewed whatever without understanding what it entails…? Too late now, you’ve hired him. And we don’t stop until the job’s done.” Yuuto said in an almost scolding tone.

“W-We..?” Haruto called reluctantly.

“He’s my friend. I step in to help when he’s swamped with requests. So now, you’re stuck with me until we sort this mess out.”

“He-… He gets a lot of these requests?”

Recalling the desolate state of his website, Yuuto replied “Private ones. It’s rare for people to openly admit they need help like this.”

“O-oh, your friend takes private requests, too…? Haha, I should’ve gone that route…” His laughter filled with awkward realization.

Yuuto then blankly stared at him.

‘…Add a private message feature.’ Yuuto mentally noted.

“Still… all this for just 10,000 yen…? Haha, what a bargain.” Haruto said, rubbing the back of his neck.

A broad grin spread across Yuuto’s face.

“Isn’t it?”

As they walked toward Yuuto’s house, Haruto maintained a forced smile, his gaze downward, seeming withdrawn.

“You seem awfully resigned to being a true cuck,” Yuuto remarked pointedly.

Haruto let out a small chuckle. “Is that so? I wouldn’t say I’m a cuck, though… To be one, you need to be in a romantic relationship. Himiko—my stepmom—and I never had that. I was too cowardly to ever initiate something like that. I feared losing what we had, so I never made a move, always hoping somehow she’d realize my feelings and confess hers… It sounds so naive now.”

“It is naive,” Yuuto bluntly confirmed.

Haruto fell silent, reflecting on the harsh truth in Yuuto’s words.

“But, at least you’re admitting it. At least you don’t shout and blame everyone else about how much you have it bad. That’s a step toward salvation. A microscopic one, much unlike Himiko’s lover’s dick, but it is a step.” Yuuto uttered disgracefully, startling Haruto who raised his eyebrow at Yuuto after his crude remark.

“Thanks, I suppose..?” He replied.

They both approached the house. Yuuto pulled out a small silver key and inserted it into the door, opening it while inviting Haruto inside.

“Here’s food for thought. Do you think Himiko loved or loves you, romantically?” Yuuto asked.

Haruto blushed as he focused his gaze on the concrete road as the two entered Yuuto’s house.

“It could be nice if she did… But… If that was true, why is she with… Kyoya?” He replied hesitantly as he squinted his eyes.

“… His dick?”

“Oh, shut up…” Haruto replied more energetically with a pouting face as he looked away.

“Well, it was just food for thought. You can put it aside for now.” Yuuto said casually after a few seconds of silence.

Yuuto turned on the lights. Before Haruto’s eyes was a pristine-conditioned-looking house. No dirt, no blemishes. Spotless. Haruto took off his shoes along with Yuuto at the entrance. Yuuto, shortly after, led him to the living room.

“You can sleep here. There’s only my and my parents’ room upstairs, but I’d hate to reorganize it – so I rather just keep it clean until they come back from their vacation.” Yuuto uttered as he turned around. Yuuto looked at Sendo’s phone for the time.

2:45 AM.

“I’ll go to sleep. I’ve got school tomorrow, after all. There’s a guest’s bathroom down here as well. That one’s for you. You can watch Netfreaxu on the television.”
Yuuto uttered as he disappeared into the darkness as he walked upstairs.

“T-thanks…” Haruto added softly as he settled on the couch, stretching his limbs as he looked around, examining the living room loosely.

Haruto noticed the couch already had some sheets and a blanket on it, neatly prepared.
“Huh. It was ready before we even got here…?”

Haruto looked at it in confusion as he got comfortable on it, glancing at the remote placed on the wooden table positioned near the couch.

“Well, maybe he doesn’t have a TV in his room so he sleeps here occasionally… Either way… This is comfortable…” Haruto reached for the remote and turned the distraction box on, watching the movie he didn’t get to finish with Himiko.

“Lucky… They have it here…”
Haruto then glanced at the stairs as he heard the faint sound of a door closing coming from upstairs.

“I wonder… How will we do it? This isn’t some fantasy story where I can get the girl back… Kyoya already… Already took her heart… Heh. Either way, this is not bad. I never went to a sleepover in my life. I always wanted to stay with Himiko… Maybe I missed out because of it?”
Haruto stared blankly at the screen, still forcing a smile as he slowly lay down on the inviting armrest of the sofa.

“Man… I’m tired… It’s nice… Not to think about what’s happening upstairs… For once… Himiko…” His eye teared once before he closed his eyelids, falling asleep in a matter of seconds. Not even getting to cover up himself with the blanket.

————–MEANWHILE, AT HIMIKO & HARUTO’S HOUSE—————————-

The two lay exhausted on the sheets. Kyoya looks at the ceiling while Himiko lies on the side, looking at the wall below the window on the bed.

Himiko was breathless with a deep blush on her face and sweat all over her naked body.
Kyoya turned his head to her curiously.

“At the end, you let him hear your groans.” He uttered casually.

“…Can we… Not talk about him, Kyoya?” She uttered silently as she latched her hand onto the blanket, biting her lip with a frown.

“Relax… I just wanna tell you to not overthink it. He himself is probably hanging out with his girlfriend.” He replied as he looked back at the ceiling.

“His… His… G-girlfriend… Eh..?” She bit her lip harder as she uttered while squinting her eyes.

Kyoya sighed.

“You might not know this since you’re a woman, but we men… Well, the ones who care; we don’t kiss and tell. With all of his disappearances and his lack of communication – it is unmistakenly the case… He finally got himself a girl. Aren’t you happy? Your boy isn’t alone anymore.”

Himiko curled up a bit into herself.

“I… I guess he was alone when it was just us… He must have felt really uncomfortable telling me… I am happy… I am really happy for him, of course… He finally got himself a girlfriend… He doesn’t need a mama like me anymore… Hehe…” She uttered hesitantly. Kyoya took this chance and embraced her wholly with his big and muscular figure from behind as he gently brushed his fingers against her hair.

“You don’t sound happy…” He whispered gently into her ear.

Himiko leaned against his brushes as she closer her eyes. She eventually turned her face to him.

“Well… Haruto had a really… Really harsh upbringing.” She uttered as she opened her eyes, staring into his.

“With his real mommy dying after birthing him and his daddy blaming him, right? Eventually leaving you too?” Kyoya said.
Himiko gently brushed her hand against Kyoya’s face.

“He was so… Defenseless. So pitiful and lonely… But he was such a kind and good-natured boy… I had so much fun being with him… So much that I got used to it and figured we’d be close like that forever…”
Tears welled up in her throat as she spoke.

“But… He’s getting more mature, isn’t he?” She expressed a solemn smile. Kyoya’s heart skipped a beat as he saw her face.

“He doesn’t want to be near me as much… I’m in the way…” She then tightly hugged Kyoya back.

Kyoya was taken aback a bit.

“Let’s… Do it more… Please…” She pleaded as she rested in his arms and he in hers.

“Himiko…” Kyoya then pushed her back by grabbing her shoulders and looking into her eyes again.

“Let’s… Go hiking tomorrow. I’ll take the day off… You should too.”

Himiko’s face brightened up… With a slight tint of guilt.

“But… Hiking is…” She uttered while looking away with a frown.

“It’s what you and little bro did all the time before, right? Then… Until he has free time from his girlfriend… Let’s go out just the two of us… To somewhere new. That way, we can introduce him to new routes when he’s free to go!” He uttered enthusiastically as he blushed.

Himiko’s guilt faded away as she smiled widely with her innocent and happy expression.

“I… I’d… I’d really like that… Kyoya… Thank you…” She began tearing up a bit as she embraced him even tighter…

“That means we will still have to get up early… So, no more sex.”
Himiko wore a mischievous expression.
“And who decided that?” She asked playfully.

“H-hey…!”He let out a gasp as she pounced on him, pinning him against the bed… For a very long time.

—————————–BACK AT YUUTO’S HOUSE—————————–

Yuuto stops before entering his room. He turns to the bathroom he has upstairs and enters the bathroom. Opening the light and shutting the door. He walked over to the sink and removed his wig and glasses, then washed his face with hand soap after tossing aside his accessories.

The light in the bathroom was flicking…

He examined his face in the mirror as he leaned on his sink with both of his hands.

Bruises.
Lacerations… A puffed eye and bleeding from his lip and his inner cheek. As the water seeped into his nose, his nose began bleeding too. Blood was dripping away from his face alongside the powdered makeup he was using to cover up his bruises as he stared deeply into the mirror.

‘Look at these pricks… Hah. They must be cumming in their sleep from joy. After all, they managed to put some scars on my face. We managed to pull through tonight only by my quick thinking and battle prowess. Well… Better think of a plan for this dumbass and that Kyoya. I don’t have a lot of time to pull this off tonight, I gotta act quickly. But first… I need to grab some ice from the fridge before these embarrassments become too visible. Then, even this makeup won’t hide it and I won’t be able to carry out my plan.’

Yuuto was licking the blood as it dripped into his mouth, swallowing it after accumulating some in his mouth as he sent his palm to the back of his head where he was pummeled – feeling a slight lump there. Yuuto stretched a wicked smile across his face as he looked at his injured face in the mirror.

‘Kyoya Guuji, isn’t that right? Interesting. VERY interesting. The story I heard from your henchman is also very, VERY interesting. Get ready, you human shitstain… When this is over… I’ll make you cry in despair as I baseball your ass.’ He panted heavily as he tried holding his laughter while slightly giggling at himself.

‘Well, after I chill with some ice for 15 minutes, I’ll have to make a small, nightly trip to somewhere special…’

Haruto was opening up to the two as they rested their bodies at the hospital:

———————–Haruto’s POV———————————–

‘Her soft and vibrant air flails in the wind, as the sun reflects only on its most beautiful parts…

The inviting smile that never stopped its ascent in my heart…

The hand that reached out to me in my darkest of times, full of love and warmth…

Larger than life, she was…’

*moans are heard in the background*

‘Her gaze, which used to only fixate on me and me alone… Now…’

“Yes… YES..!! aaahn…”

‘Goes to another.’

“Mess me up… Let’s have children…? Okay? Okay? Please *moan* give me a strong child…*moan* We’ll have a happy family just us…!”

‘My stepmom.’

His dead eyes peeked through the keyhole to her bedroom upstairs. There he saw that man, his mother’s buff fitness instructor – doing unspeakable things to his mother.

Lifting her, pushing her down as his carved hips rocked back and forth relentlessly as if he had no stamina to preserve for what seemed to be over 30 minutes consecutively…

She looked into his eyes as if he was her personal God as she bent on her knees before his crotch – while he forcefully held her chin up with his muscular arm. It almost resembled the way she used to look at himself… But much, much more powerful.

And when they finished, she would always pass out with a big smile on her face as he sat up… Tonight, though…

The man saw him peeking through the door as his mother fell asleep peacefully and happily.

He smiled… And placed his finger on his lips… Whispering…

“Shhh~…” With that wicked smile on his face.

The boy silently closed the door to… Now “their” bedroom with a blank expression as he went to his room to finally sleep at the small hours of the night. Such was the routine for Haruto Narukami for the past several months with his stepmother.

His own mother died when she gave birth to him, and his father remarried a new woman when Haruto was 9 years old. He married Himiko when she was just 19 years old, she was a young coworker of his father. She is his current stepmother, aged 29, while he is aged 19. His father left them when Haruto was 12 – as he was no longer able to face his son – blaming him for the death of his wife.

Left with his stepmother – she showered him with love and affirmation… And in turn… He felt the same for her… That feeling only intensified in recent years.

He wanted her to be happy… He wanted even more to be the source of that happiness.

So as he grew older, he would learn to pay attention to her. He wouldn’t tell her if he’s bullied at school… He wouldn’t tell her if somewhere hurts until it became an emergency… All he cared about was seeing her smile.

She liked traveling a lot. Walking, exercise… But she wanted to be more flexible so that she could travel more easily. So a new gym opening up seemed like a blessing.

He wondered how is she going to react when he thought of her this much. He told her about it… He seemed relentless. He told her about it every day. He couldn’t wait to see her get happier thanks to his effort… So, with a massive sigh after telling him countless times she preferred to travel and do things with him… She went there.

His mother seemed a bit happier about a week after she started going to that new gym he recommended to her. She was indeed, a lot more flexible and a lot more comfortable.

A Yoga pose that was previously impossible for her to perform was now done effortlessly which impressed Haruto…

Haruto loved seeing it, not admitting how enchanted she had made him with her body. She was actually looking forward to going to the gym every day, even though he thought only twice or thrice a week would have been enough. But NO. She wanted to go there every day so that she could travel with him more efficiently and comfortably, she said. To him, it felt as if… She was falling for him. In turn, he would fall for her as well, before he even realized it. Not even his own parents felt this much care for him, or any other person he EVER met. He never tried to socialize, since he always loved to spend time with Himiko at home. She was the only one to shine so brightly in his life.

Only to realize the truth when it was far too late…

Only to realize, she never once traveled with him after going to that gym. She was so hellbent on going there every day, so he just thought she was that diligent.

2 months after his mother’s transformation…

She got herself a boyfriend. Kyoya Guuji. The very trainer of the gym he urged her to go to.

At first, she would just come back late at night… But Haruto wouldn’t show that he was up waiting for her, that would just worry her needlessly. He would always sigh a huge sigh of relief whenever she came back and fall to sleep silently. Welcoming her with a smile first thing in the morning, and even offering to cook for her.

Putting a happy front before Himiko, he would go about his day as usual. She has a new boyfriend, and that’s okay. That’s fine, he told himself. Himiko was a kind, caring, beautiful, fit woman… A woman he loved. It was obvious it would happen one day. He was willing to endure. At the end of every day, she would come back to their home with a huge smile. It was that smile; He told himself. Her happiness matters more than anything – Is what he convinced himself.

But, soon enough, she would no longer come back late… And alone. That man slithered his way into their home, their safe space. Kyoya Guuji. A buff, tall man who groped her whenever he wanted with a confident smirk on his face. Even before Haruto when they entered the house…

“Haru~… T-this… Is Mommy’s new boyf-riend.. Kyoya…” Himiko spoke with a blush after the two walked through the door hand-in-hand, Himiko was shivering in a way she never had before. Haruto thought it was cute… Which made his heart sink into an abyss as his face paled.

“Hehe, say my full name… Are you shy in front of your stepson?” Kyoya whispered in her ear, causing her to twitch her head for a bit as his muscular arm hid behind her figure.

Haruto was thunderstruck. He wasn’t physically chained, but he felt the rusted metal on his skin. He had never felt so sealed off from the world like today. The abandonment of his father pales to this moment.

“K-…Kyoya… G-Guuji-HIK!” She gasped a bit as her eyes widened.

“M-Mom!? Are you oka-“

“Chill, little bro. Mommy’s just… Tired, that’s all. I’ll take her to the bedroom so that we can rest… And maybe… You can show me how much you’ve improved~…” He utters suggestively as he looks at Himiko.

Himiko looks downwards in shame as her face turned redder than a tomato while biting her lips.

“M-…Mom…?” his legs shivered as his voice shook – while all the blood left his face as he looked at her.

“Haru… I… I just need to rest a-a bit… With… Kyoya… He is my personal trainer at the gym y-you wanted me to go so… I just need to go with him… For a w-while… That’s all…” She spoke in a voice so weak, it was almost a whisper as she looked away from Haruto.

“A… Ah… O… Okay…” He replied quietly as he turned his gaze downwards in defeat.

Kyoya stretched a mischievous grin across his tanned face as he grabbed Himiko from her bottom and squeezed as they began walking past Haruto up the stairs.

Haruto and Himiko both looked down as Himiko and Kyoya passed him… Although… Both looked away for reasons slightly different.

As the two faded into the darkness as they walked up the stairs, Haruto dared not to look behind him and see the way that man is holding Himiko.

“Little bro – you did well urging your mommy to go to my gym… Really well~…” He said suggestively with a smile as he waved to Haruto who was still frozen stiff, not looking at them at all.

That was on purpose, and both Kyoya and Haruto knew that.

But it didn’t matter.

She was happy… So it is okay… Right?

Haruto gradually spent less and less time at home, as Himiko kept pushing their traveling. Haruto would always just sit in a quiet park for hours with his phone until the battery ran out and come back late at night, as Kyoya’s visits became more and more frequent. He started coming every day, even during weekends when it is usually Haruto and Himiko’s time.

Kyoya would sit in an embrace with Himiko on the sofa, as Haruto would sit across on the other sofa and watch TV uncomfortably. As the couple would fondle and grope each other, thinking Haruto doesn’t notice, but Haruto learned to notice Himiko’s presence more than anyone, so he knew… But he kept silent with a smile on his face… Because she was happy.

As soon as the movie would end, he would walk away…

“H-haru..? Where are you going? It’s Sunday…” Himiko murmured.

Haruto then rubbed his hair awkwardly as he faced them.

“Yeah. Come on, your mommy misses you, little bro – you should spend time with her~…” He added as he rests his arm around her shoulders.

“N-no… Haha… Some friends hit me up… I promised to go… You enjoy yourselves…” Haruto murmured reluctantly.

Himiko would look down dejectedly.

“O-oh… I see…” She replied softly.

Kyoya would then pinch her waist gently, startling her and making her blush.

“What are you looking so sad for? Your little boy is going out with his friends! He just doesn’t need his mommy around him anymore, he gradually becomes a man! Ain’t that so, little bro?” Kyoya said as he turned to Haruto with a triumphant grin.

“Eh… He… Hahaha… Y-yeah… I suppose…” He replied as he looked down in shame as he felt his heart being ripped to pieces. He then glanced at his stepmom…

‘She seems so happy with him… I’ll just be in the way… I’ll just spend some time in a park or something… He will probably wanna stay the weekend, too… So I’ll come back late…’

“W-where are you going..?” She looked up as she blushed, curious about Haruto’s destination.

“O-oh.. Just to a m-“

“Hahaha, you’re such a doting mommy… What if he goes to meet his girlfriend but he’s too shy to tell you about it? Just let him go.” Kyoya interrupted calmly as he brushed his fingers against her hair.

Himiko looked at Haruto as the light in her eyes seemed to dim a bit.

“Y-… Yeah… Something… Like that…” Haruto affirmed quietly.

“I see… You don’t want to keep a girl waiting now, do you…?” She added with a smile.

Haruto felt like his heart was hit by a truck. His legs were weak… He was about to fall over… But Himiko was happy. She doesn’t need to worry about the likes of him, he concluded.

“Y-yeah…” He turned around and left…

It was that Saturday night when he came back and saw that… Scene. That scene of the woman he loves in the hands of another man… While the man fully knows he was there… That scene which fully internalized how his stepmom knew to preform that sdeuctive Yoga pose so well.

—————————————————————–

“Shit… Fuck… Shit, man, dat sounds sucks…” Sendo muttered as he looked down awkwardly, as he didn’t have much to say besides sympathizing with Haruto who spilled his heart to them.

Yuuto maintained his steady gaze on Haruto, who seemed to shrink under the scrutiny. “Was that around the time you started taking sleeping pills?” Yuuto’s voice broke the tense silence, surprisingly gentle yet piercing.

Haruto met Yuuto’s eyes with a weary, forced smile. “Listen… I appreciate your concern and all… But…”

“But what?” Yuuto interjected softly, his tone devoid of any judgment. “Do you feel like your personal life is being pried open right now by us? I’m not here to judge you, and neither is Sendo. But I’d feel terrible if I let you go commit suicide without at least understanding why.”

Haruto stuttered, confusion and alarm flitting across his face. “W-… What..?”

Sendo, feeling the tension, chimed in hesitantly, “Hey, Senpai! What’s dat supposed ta—”

Yuuto cut him off, his focus still on Haruto. “Was it not? Did you not film yourself in your room, confessing your love for Himiko and how you felt about Kyoya before heading to Tokyo Tower, only to be caught by Kyoya’s goons who were tailing you?”

Haruto’s face drained of color, his shock evident as he processed Yuuto’s words.

“It’s about time you knew,” Yuuto continued, his voice steady. “That guy was interrogating one of them, found out what was happening, and told me. Kyoya realized you were sinking deeper into depression and started taking those pills… He figured it was only a matter of time before you’d break. But not like this. Your confession was unexpected for him. He probably planned for a scenario where he could play the hero, saving you so Himiko would grow closer to him, all the while making your life even more miserable.”

Haruto’s eyes widened, the disbelief etched into his features as he stared at Yuuto. “W… What…?”

Yuuto raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging. “Is it that hard to believe?”

Haruto swallowed hard, his gaze darting around the room, as if seeking an anchor in the turmoil swirling within him. “No… I believe it… But why? What does he gain from all this?”

“Enjoyment, for one,” Yuuto replied flatly.

Haruto recoiled slightly. “…What?”

“There are other reasons too, if you’re interested,” Yuuto continued, but Sendo abruptly cut in.

“SENPAI!!! That’s enough!” Sendo’s voice boomed, his tone heavy with concern.

Haruto’s voice trembled as he processed the information. “He did all that… just for fun…?”

As his body shook from the strain, his fists clenched tightly at first, then gradually loosened. “But… he makes Himiko happy… So… I should just let it go…”

Yuuto’s expression shifted to a grimace, filled with cold contempt as he stared down at Haruto. “Hey, listen up, you little cuck. Let me tell you something,” he sneered, his tone laced with disdain.

Sendo’s reaction was immediate and forceful. “SENPAI! Stop it right now!” he shouted, trying to sit up from the bed, only to be stopped by a sharp pain that forced him back down.

Yuuto ignored Sendo’s discomfort and continued, his voice dripping with scorn. “What would you suggest then, huh, you stupid kid? Should I sugarcoat everything, tell him sweet lies just to make him feel better?” he challenged sharply.

Sendo, despite the pain, attempted to rise again, his face contorted in anger. “What did ya say!?- Hnnn!!” His sudden movement aggravated his wounds, sending a jolt of pain through his body, anchoring him back to the bed.

Unmoved, Yuuto coldly addressed Sendo, “You’re not in any position to stop me, kid. You’re too injured. Just sit there and keep quiet while the adults talk.”

Frustration and helplessness flashed across Sendo’s face as he struggled with his physical limitations. “You…!!!” he gasped, overwhelmed by both pain and anger.

Yuuto lightly slapped Haruto’s face, causing Haruto to react in shock. “Hey, what was that for?!”

From his hospital bed, Sendo’s face flushed with anger at the action.

Yuuto, turning to Sendo with a blank expression, challenged him, “If you’re so bothered by how I handle things, come at me when you’re healed up. Even then, I could take you down with just my bare hands.”

Sendo, infuriated and helpless, clenched his fist and shouted back, “You bastard!”

Without a word, Yuuto forcefully dragged Haruto from the bedside to the hallway, pinning him against the wall. “This might come as a shock to you—but it was your over-consideration for Himiko’s wellbeing that drove her away from you.”

Confused and frustrated, Haruto responded, “What!? What’s that supposed to mean—”

“SHH!” Yuuto cut him off sharply. “If you don’t understand it yourself from what I just said, then just think it over for now. Here’s what you need to know: you have to work on yourself. Getting more depressed and silently waiting will only make you be forgotten by both the world and Himiko. Even if you end up killing yourself while confessing your feelings.”

In a burst of defiance, Haruto shoved Yuuto away forcefully. “Who are you to give a damn about me!!? Why do you care so much!!? Just leave me alone to die!” he shouted, overwhelmed by emotion.

Yuuto responded firmly, “No can do. You posted a cry for help on my friend’s website. Since he’s my friend, I feel it’s my responsibility to help.”

Haruto, frustrated, retorted, “Don’t give me that… That guy in there, he’s just a kid, a 15-year-old high school student, and he calls you ‘senpai.’ You’re just high schoolers… This isn’t some fantasy world where you get to play hero to fulfill some delusional fantasy! People suffer from depression everywhere, and just because someone left a vague plea on your friend’s site doesn’t give you the right to meddle in their lives! If you’re so knowledgeable about my situation and think you know what’s best, then keep it to yourself… Now leave me alone… Or I’ll have to get your parents or the police involved. Tell your friend thanks for his help, when you’re done playing games.”

Haruto then turned to leave. Yuuto watched him go, taking a deep breath as he stared at Haruto’s retreating figure.

Yuuto muttered under his breath, questioning, “Who said I can’t stick my nose where it doesn’t belong?”

“I did. Your elder,” Haruto called back without turning.

“We’re the same age,” Yuuto corrected him.

Haruto paused, skeptical. “What now? You’re a high schooler. If this is your way of trying to connect—”

Before he could finish, Yuuto had closed the distance between them, his ID outstretched for Haruto to see.

Haruto was taken aback. “You’re… 19… and still in school? How…?”

Yuuto held his gaze firmly. “Don’t think you’re the only one who understands what it’s like to feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts. Why do you think it took me so long to come back to school? I’ve been there too,” he said, his voice carrying a weight that suggested a personal history, though he carefully avoided mentioning it was actually a fabricated part of his NTR scenarios.

“I need to get involved because I can’t stand to watch someone else struggle with the same demons,” Yuuto continued shamelessly.

Haruto’s posture slackened as he absorbed Yuuto’s words, his expression one of surprise and confusion. “But… we’re strangers. We just met,” he protested weakly, looking around as if seeking an escape from the confrontation.

A memory then flashed Yuuto’s mind.

“Let me put it this way. If you really want me gone, you might have to call the police, because I’m not getting out of here without helping you.”

Haruto was visibly shocked by Yuuto’s determination.

‘Should I not have said that…?’ Yuuto thought as he looked at Haruto, not moving a muscle as he stared into his eyes.

“Pfft… Hahahaha… Keke…” Haruto chuckled, a small, innocent laugh as he briefly closed his eyes and looked away. “Fine… You got my hopes up. Well? What should I do now?”

Yuuto sighed in relief as he walked towards the hospital’s elevator. “Like I said… Work on yourself.”

“Haha… Yeah… Sure…” Haruto murmured, his voice tinged with disappointment as he looked down with a sleepy smile while Yuuto passed by.

Yuuto paused and turned around. “…Well? You coming?”

Haruto looked up abruptly. “What..?”

“You don’t want to sleep at home, right? My parents are out on vacation. Sleep at my place until I think of a plan for you.”

“B-… But… I’ve never… I’ve never slept out…”

“Welp, that sucks. Go back to your home, then. I don’t care. I don’t care at all.” Yuuto tried to sound indifferent, a poor attempt to mask his true intentions and draw in the potential client.

Haruto managed a weak laugh. “I guess there’s a first time for everything… I’ll just let my mom know first.”

He dialed his phone, half-expecting it to go unanswered—perhaps Himiko was busy, possibly with Kyoya, who had practically moved into their house. To his surprise, she picked up quickly.

“M-mom..? Are you okay..?” Haruto’s voice trembled slightly.

“Y-yes… Honey… A-are you alright…?” Himiko’s voice was shaky, causing Haruto’s heart to sink.

Haruto forced a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Are you sure…? You sound… shaky.”

“Y-yes~… Yes… Of course… A-are you… coming back soon..?” Himiko sounded strained, trying to mask her labored breathing over the phone. Haruto instantly recognized the sultriness mixed with slight panting in her tone.

“No… I’m… I’m going to stay at a friend’s house for a while. I won’t slack off on my studies, so don’t worry—” Haruto was cut off by a loud moan in the background.

“I see… Haah… A friend’s house for a while… That’s great… Hnnng~… Have fun, then… I am just… Hnnnng… Working out… Haaah… Running around the… House with… Kyoya… He’s really… relentless when it comes to working out… Even this late… Haaaah…” Himiko’s voice trailed off, each word laced with a hint of exertion and something more, something Haruto didn’t want to delve into.

Haruto ended the call quietly, the forced smile fading into a somber frown as he pocketed his phone.

Haruto’s realization settled in heavily. ‘She’s not even trying to hide it anymore,’ he thought, the weight of the truth pressing down on him.

Yuuto observed the dimming spark in Haruto’s eyes, his expression somber.

“Let’s go,” Yuuto said sternly, hands buried in his pockets.

Internally, Yuuto reflected, ‘Love and NTR are tied, it seems… For now.’

—————————MEANWHILE———————————–

Himiko moaned, each sound barely restrained as she fought to control her voice.

Kyoya’s movements were unyielding, his hips driving relentlessly back and forth, pressing Himiko firmly beneath him while her hands were pinned against his waist.

“You’ve gone so quiet all of a sudden…” Kyoya remarked, noting the change in her usual demeanor.

“How can you say that…?” Himiko managed to utter between her heavy breaths, her voice laden with effort from the intensity of the moment.

“I know you well by now, Himiko. Does it bother you that your little brother is now socially active?” Kyoya asked, his voice casual as he continued his deep, rhythmic thrusts, probing not just physically but emotionally.

Overwhelmed by Kyoya’s forceful movements, Himiko remains silent, lost in the intensity of the moment. Sensing her growing quietude, Kyoya draws her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a firm embrace. As he holds her tightly against him, tears start to well up in Himiko’s throat,

Kyoya reassured her, “Your little brother’s all grown up. You have to understand, he was always going to leave eventually. He’s 19, he should be living on his own by now. He can’t always have his mom by his side.”

Himiko, her voice trembling between sobs, replied, “I know… it’s just… I’ve gotten so used to having him around, it feels unnatural to watch him leave… I’m not used to being alone… We’ve been through so much… How can he just leave like this?” As she spoke, she buried her face in his chest, her tears muffled against his shirt.

He gently stroked her hair, comforting her with a tight embrace.

“You have to let him go,” he whispered tenderly in her ear. “After all, you’re mother and son. And remember, you won’t be alone—I’ll always be here with you.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice choked with emotion as she clung to him, her cheeks flushing as she wept in his arms.

________

“CHE CHE CHE, Kyoya is a fuckin’ artist!!”

“Slowly, but surely, he always sways a woman’s heart… Like a master puppeteer… No matter how many times I watch it, it’s still amazing…”

“Ohhh fuck, If only I had just a bit of that guy’s charm… I’d take half of Tokyo to myself.”

“Why stop at Tokyo? I’d bang women all over the world…”

“Man, Kyoya is just ruthless… First, remove that cuck son of hers by striking where it hurts, making him uncomfortable being near them. Then she thinks he just grows tired of her over time because he never confessed… What a sicko, kekeke…”

“Oh, speaking of that kid… What about the two guys who took half of our boys down and saved the little shit?”

“Oh, please… Look at the video. Look at Kyoya’s new bitch and how she reacts near Kyoya. The ball’s practically already secured…. There is nothing they can do…”

“Nothing!!!”

Yuuto exclaimed, “Oh my god.”

The two boxers’ attention snapped to Yuuto, whose voice cut through the air with unexpected vehemence.

Yuuto’s eyes blazed with a mix of anger and amusement. “You people… You seriously suck.”

A moment of shared confusion passed between the two boxers.

Yuuto continued, his voice dripping with disdain, “Every time you speak, it’s like you’ve sucked so much ass that only shit comes out. Your existence is meaningless. You serve absolutely no purpose. Why not just end it now?” He shouted, his gaze darting between the two.

The first boxer sneered, “Who does this punk think he is?”

The other, impatient, replied, “No idea, but let’s shut him up. Can’t keep Kyoya waiting.”

In a split second, Yuuto was in action. He shrugged off his hoodie, letting it cascade in the air, creating a brief shield between him and the first boxer. Before the boxer could realize it, a hard fist, backed with Yuuto’s full force, collided with his face. The sharp crack of a breaking nose echoed, and the man crumpled to the ground.

Knowing a single punch wouldn’t incapacitate a seasoned boxer, Yuuto capitalized on the momentum. He leaped, driving the back of the boxer’s head into the ground, landing successive punches before the second adversary lunged at him.

Yuuto was sent rolling, pinned beneath the second man, who rained down blows on his face. Blood splattered, painting the scene in shades of crimson.

However, the boxer paused when he noticed something unnerving. Beneath the rain of punches, through the mask of blood and bruises, Yuuto was… grinning. An almost euphoric look painted his battered face, his cheeks flushing with color.

The second boxer recoiled, his face contorted in confusion, “The… fuck…?”

In a moment of fleeting hesitation, the boxer’s pause became his undoing. Yuuto seized the chance, fastening his hand onto the man’s ballsack with a vice-like grip. The boxer’s body crumpled, his attempts to free himself becoming more desperate as Yuuto’s grasp tightened.

Through gritted teeth, the boxer groaned, “AaaghHHH!!!!” His eyes darted downward in a mixture of fear and disbelief.

Yuuto’s laughter, eerie in its glee, cut through the tension. “Isn’t it something? A tiny, insignificant part, not essential for life, yet… it brings you, or really will bring any one of us to our knees.” He laughed harder, his face reddening from the sheer force of his amusement. The boxer, in contrast, twitched in agony, each chuckle from Yuuto feeling like a fresh blow.

The manic laughter subsided, replaced by a cold, calculating look. “Funny, how one little part can be your undoing,” Yuuto mused. His smile faded further, his grip intensifying. “It’s a troublesome thing, isn’t it? Even one as small as yours.”

Yuuto’s voice was low, filled with threat. “Listen well. You’re going to spill everything—every word exchanged earlier, everything about 5th Avenue.” As Yuuto’s fingers threatened further harm, the boxer’s pallor deepened.

The boxer’s attempts to free himself grew more frantic, his nails clawing desperately at Yuuto’s arm. But for every mark, every drop of blood drawn, Yuuto’s grip remained unwavering. Each scratch even seemed to amuse him, eliciting giggles.

The boxer’s voice cracked in panic, “AAAAH, AHHHH!!!! Alright, alright!!! Just stop… Please… I’ll tell you everything.”

__________A BIT EARLIER AGO, SENDO________________________

Sendo’s chest tightened as he felt the breath of his pursuers hot on his heels. ‘Of all da times… fresh out of da hospital, and I have ta sprint like it’s da Olympics!’

The narrow streets leading to fifth avenue were a blur. The very second he had stepped out of his elevator, the two menacing boxers emerged from another, triggering a frenzied chase. Turning back to retrieve his bicycle wasn’t an option. All he could do was run, using the streets and the unsuspecting crowd as barriers.

Five city blocks, three precious minutes.

Reaching the rooftop of that distant building was Sendo’s sole salvation. Yet, his chosen attire, courtesy of his questionable ally, was a beacon for all eyes.

“That guy’s a robber!” One of the boxers bellowed behind him. “He attacked my mother with that Kendo sword and tried to rob her! Stop him!”

Draped in a Kendo outfit, paired oddly with a ski mask—Sendo could almost hear the sarcastic applause from Yuuto.

“I ain’t a thief, ya fucker! Dis mask protects me from shits like ya’!” Sendo yelled defiantly, his voice strained from the exertion. But the masses, spurred on by the desire to apprehend the so-called ‘criminal’, seemed to multiply.

With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Sendo hurdled over vehicles, the shattering of windshields echoing his frantic pace. It was as though an entire city had transformed into an army of would-be heroes, all intent on capturing him.

Sendo’s laughter, laced with pain and desperation, echoed in his ears as he vaulted obstacles and deftly maneuvered the crowded streets. Each burst of speed further bruised his recovering body. The gleaming blade of his Kendo sword occasionally flashed in the dim light, discouraging those brave enough to come too close. Falling wasn’t an option. The weight of his responsibility bore down on him—every step a testament to his determination.

‘Can’t give up now… Gotta reach dat rooftop. Senpai’s depending on me!’

The incessant throbbing in his rib intensified, but the looming building in sight was his beacon. Pushing through the pain, Sendo dashed into the building, hurdling up the stairs. He tossed whatever obstacles he could find behind him—a chair, a potted plant, a mop—to hinder the relentless pursuit. Bursting through the rooftop door, the combined cacophony of the mob below and his own heavy breathing filled the space.

Before him a sight he knows all too well: A group of muscular men that are clearly up to no good, focusing intently on Sendo’s sudden intrusion. And there, in the midst of it all, was an unmistakably terrified figure curled protectively into himself. The relentless roar of the ascending mob sparked inspiration in Sendo’s mind.

“MUGGERS! DEY’RE HERE!” he bellowed. His voice resonated with such intensity that it seemed to shake the very foundation of the building. As he darted towards the building’s edge, the confused gang was caught off guard.

The mob, fueled by righteous indignation, charged into the scene. To them, the tableau was clear: menacing thugs cornering an innocent, all under the watchful eyes of the ‘Kendo thief’.

“ARE YOU WITH THAT KENDO GUY?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HIM? ANOTHER ROBBERY?!” an enraged voice from the crowd shouted, capturing the collective sentiment.

The mob swelled, its anger palpable, as they surrounded the bewildered gang, leaving them cornered and overwhelmed, rendering them as vulnerable as their intended victim.

“Wait, wait, everyone! Listen! We were just showing him some boxing techniques. He couldn’t afford a gym membership, so we were helping him out right here—”

“LIARS! LOOK AT HIS BRUISES! THEY’RE BEATING HIM UP! LET’S SHOW THESE GOONS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY MESS WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE!” An enraged voice from the mob cut them off, inflaming the passions of the crowd even further. The two boxers, who had been doggedly pursuing Sendo, tried to navigate through the incensed mob, pleading for sanity, but it was too late. Fists began flying.

Seizing the distraction, Sendo quickly shed his conspicuous gear, leaving behind his Kendo sword, ski mask, and the majority of his outfit, now only clad in his pants and a plain white tank top. With the mob’s attention fixed on the altercation, he stealthily maneuvered through the chaos to reach the battered man in the center. Grabbing his hand, he pulled him out of the fray.

“Come with me! I’ll get ya’ tsom’ere safe!” Sendo urged, every breath a sharp stab of pain, amplifying the discomfort from his already injured ribs. The painkillers, sadly, were out of reach at the gym.

Haruto, bewildered and disoriented, glanced over at his rescuer. “Who… Who are you?” He gasped, still trembling from the ordeal.

“It ain’t important. I saw ya’ was in trouble, and I came ta’ help,” Sendo responded as they made their way into the stairwell, rapidly descending.

Haruto’s eyes widened with a mix of recognition and confusion. “Wait… You saw my message? Are you from that strange online forum?”

Sendo shook his head, pain evident on his face. “No clue about any website. I ain’t who ya’ messaged, but I’m taking ya’ ta’ him,” he said, clutching his injured side as they continued their escape.

Noticing Sendo’s obvious discomfort, Haruto’s expression shifted from confusion to concern.

Haruto glanced at Sendo’s wounded form, concern evident in his voice. “You’re injured…!”

Sendo waved it off, his voice carrying a hint of forced nonchalance. “Oh, dis? It’s an old wound, not from today. Just keep movin’.”

But Haruto wasn’t about to ignore Sendo’s clear distress. He halted and firmly grasped Sendo’s shoulder, causing the injured boy to instinctively try to continue, his eyes darting ahead.

“We need ta move!” Sendo argued, the urgency clear in his voice.

Ignoring Sendo’s protest, Haruto positioned himself beside the injured youth, letting Sendo lean on him for support. “If you’re set on helping me, then allow me to do the same,” he declared, determination shining in his eyes.

Sendo met his gaze, fatigue evident in his eyes. “…Tokyo Tower is where we need ta be—”

Haruto cut him off. “No. First, a hospital. You need medical attention.”

“But dere’s someone waitin’ for me at da tower,” Sendo tried to argue, but his voice lacked the strength of his conviction.

Haruto’s tone was firm, almost parental. “You’re in no state to go anywhere but a hospital. Trust me.” And with that, he flagged down a taxi, easing Sendo into the back seat.

“Nearest hospital, please,” Haruto instructed the driver once they were settled.

The driver glanced at the two through the rearview mirror, nodding. “Got it.” A brief pause, then he inquired, “Been in a scrape, have you?”

The boys remained silent, both lost in their own thoughts. The driver, catching the cue, merely responded, “Understood,” as he steered them to the closest medical facility.

—LATER—-

Sendo lay on the hospital bed, the rhythmic hum of fluorescent lights overhead creating a contrast to the deep-blue privacy curtains that surrounded him. He was in pain, and the sedatives coursing through his veins dulled his senses, but not enough to stifle his anxiety.

The curtain rustled, and Haruto appeared, an air of nervous energy about him. “They told me I could visit,” he began, casting a glance over Sendo’s battered form. “Also mentioned it’s your second trip here this week?” His voice wavered into an awkward smile as he took a seat next to the bed.

Sendo’s voice was tinged with impatience. “Yeah… Got a phone on ya?”

Instead of answering, Haruto laughed softly. “Aren’t we supposed to introduce ourselves formally first? For courtesy’s sake?”

“They’ve already given ya’ my name,” Sendo replied tersely.

Haruto chuckled, “Right, but isn’t skipping formalities considered… bad manners?”

“I’ll worry about manners later,” Sendo interjected, urgency creeping into his tone. “Need ta contact dat guy. He won’t know where ta find me after everything dat happened on da roof—”

His words were cut off as Yuuto, dressed differently and wearing his disguise of a wig and glasses, stepped through the curtains. “Why assume he wouldn’t know?” he interrupted.

Sendo’s eyes widened in surprise. “Senpai? How did ye—?” His voice trailed off into a grin.

Yuuto pointed to Haruto. “Thanks to him.”

Haruto looked up at Yuuto, studying him. “So, you’re the one Sendo mentioned?”

Yuuto nodded, a small smirk on his face. “Kind of. I’m Sendo’s senior from school. The guy you’re talking about contacted me since he was tied up. You can call me Sakurai.”

Haruto nodded, “I’m Haruto. If he contacted you, then you must be in the loop.”

Yuuto’s face became more serious, his grip on Haruto’s shoulder reassuring. “I have a rough idea, yes.”

Sendo, still in disbelief, interjected, “But Senpai, how’d ya’ know where ta find us? Even he wouldn’t have known exactly—”

Yuuto continued, “His thought process is not about deducing an exact location, but rather understanding human nature. The heart behind that message wasn’t trying to be cryptic for the sake of it. It was the voice of someone desperate, but not wanting to drag anyone down with them.”

Haruto’s voice was barely above a whisper, filled with both surprise and respect. “Such intuition… Just from reading those lines?”

Yuuto nodded, “Some people have that skill – reading between the lines, catching the undercurrents of emotions and thoughts.” Yuuto shamelessly flattered himself.

Sendo chuckled, “Readin’ all dat from a few lines and making da right call… Haaah…”

Yuuto smiled, “It wasn’t me, remember? It was him. I just relayed his deductions. You both should meet once things calm down.”

Haruto blinked, realizing something. “Wait, who exactly is this guy? I’ve only seen vague details in his website.”

Yuuto leaned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. “That’s a story for another time. Right now, we focus on getting you both back on your feet.”

Haruto let out a light laugh, the weight in the atmosphere dissipating. The three shared a moment of camaraderie, understanding that their paths were intertwined by a string of events that neither could have predicted.

Heart beating soundly and in a fixed rhythm…

Eyes filled with certainty, and fists raised up for violence.

With these types of people, you had to be just that. Unmovable. Unrelenting, and ready to strike. Given any opening or weakness and they’ll use them all to get on top of your spirit like they’ll get on top of your loved one afterward.

That was the truth, that Yuuto knew, as he calmly glared at the beefy group of 6 – who were down by one person – while the other still taking his time to recover from Yuuto’s fist.

One of them sneered, “Feeling brave, are we? Threatening us might just earn you a visit from the police.”

Yuuto responded evenly, “You’re obstructing my way out. This is self-defense.”

The man smirked, mockingly clucking his tongue. “To the untrained eye, maybe. But who will the authorities believe: six of us or a lone cosplayer?”

Laughter rippled through the group as they slowly encircled Yuuto. The ringleader made a show of reaching for his phone.

Yuuto’s stance shifted, revealing his training as he braced himself for the inevitable confrontation.

Two of the group members were given new orders. “Find that other guy. Let’s do the police a favor and bring them both in.”

Yuuto watched them disappear into the rooftop building. “They might not believe me,” he conceded, “but I won’t let you dictate the narrative.”

The ringleader feigned concern. “Cooperate, and maybe they’ll go easy on you.”

Yuuto met his gaze with intensity, “Then I’ll just have to ensure I’m the last one standing to tell the tale.” He adjusted his stance, readying himself for the upcoming brawl.

Yuuto’s silence hung in the air for a moment, but doubt was nowhere to be found. He had taken on ten opponents before. Even without his trusty baseball bat, his body was his most formidable weapon.

Yuuto, with a smirk, quipped, “Just the three of you against me? I like these odds.”

Their chuckles and glances betrayed a shared amusement.

“You think it’s only three?”

The man Yuuto had kicked earlier sprang to his feet with surprising agility, joining the others. As Yuuto swiftly reassessed the situation, realization dawned. The resilience of the one he’d kicked, the swift recovery of the one he’d punched…

This wasn’t a replay of his earlier encounter: ten unskilled adversaries, a familiar battleground, and the cover of darkness. The disciplined stances, the evident muscle tone…

These were trained boxers, likely in their twenties or thirties, and they wouldn’t be easily dispatched. Their reactions to his initial blows spoke volumes.

Yuuto quickly assessed the situation, realizing the odds were steeply against him. He’d likely leave with a few bruises, but waiting wasn’t an option. Making the first move, he lunged towards the man he’d previously kicked. As he closed in, another opponent swung a fast punch in his direction. Yuuto’s attempt to evade sent him crashing to the ground. Before he could find his footing, the man he’d targeted seized him, delivering a forceful kick, thrusting him back into the center of their enclosing circle.

“Trying to escape, are you?” one sneered.

Pain radiated through Yuuto’s abdomen, his vulnerable spot since the skirmish days prior. He silently berated himself, ‘Rushing in like that? Was I channeling Sendo’s recklessness?’

He could feel their mocking gazes as he struggled to his feet, saliva hanging from his lips.

“He’s staggering, but he’s up again! Look at that determination!” One of them sarcastically cheered.

Still winded, Yuuto readied himself, waiting for their move.

Surprisingly, none advanced.

Feeling overconfident, their apparent leader taunted, “What happened? Scared stiff?”

Yuuto, panting heavily, retorted, “I’m feeling a bit out of sorts, so why don’t you come closer?”

The leader, amused, responded, “Sorry, that’s not happening. But tell me, little man…”

Yuuto’s gaze sharpened on him, waiting for the next words.

“The kid gave you the heads-up, didn’t he?” The man queried, an amused smile playing on his lips and an eyebrow raised in mischief. “Told you to scout from another rooftop, perhaps? Call the authorities if things got heated but to remain out of harm’s way?”

Yuuto internally sighed, ‘So it was that…’

Trying to play it cool, he responded, “I’m just here to cosplay. The Tokyo skyline is quite a sight at night.” Despite his words, he maintained a vigilant posture, while the spokesperson indulged in a deliberate, showy stretch.

The man laughed softly, his cronies echoing the sentiment.

“You really expect us to buy that?” The leader scoffed. “It’s clear you’re here because of him. I might not understand the costume choice, but rest assured, you’re no hero tonight. Whatever your bond with that boy, he’ll get his lesson after we’re done with you and his sword-wielding friend.”

“Lesson?” Yuuto inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.

The man waved the question away. “Not your concern. But speaking of lessons, looks like you’re about to get one. After all, we’re like a band of brothers. We watch out for each other, champion justice and all that.”

Yuuto internally remarked, ‘These kind of people…’

With renewed determination, Yuuto resumed his advance towards his prior target. His movements were calculated, his stance unmistakably that of a practiced boxer. The closer he got, the more confident the man seemed. When Yuuto was just in range, he delivered a swift jab. To his surprise, the man effortlessly intercepted it, immediately retaliating with a ferocious punch to Yuuto’s face. The force of the blow ruptured a vessel in Yuuto’s nose, and blood flowed freely. The impact caused Yuuto’s teeth to inadvertently bite into his cheek, adding to his injuries.

It was a professional’s strike, no doubt about that, but…

Yuuto thought fiercely, ‘People like this… They don’t deserve…!!!’

Capitalizing on the moment, Yuuto grabbed the arm of the man who had just thrown a powerful straight punch. Swiftly, he employed a grip escape, stretching out his fingers and quickly reclaiming his jabbing hand from the man’s grasp. He then secured both his hands around the man’s extended arm, catching him off guard. As the man attempted to strike with his other hand, Yuuto expertly placed his foot behind the man’s ankle, executing a trip. The man crashed onto the ground, and before he could react, Yuuto employed his full weight to hyperextend the man’s arm, snapping it with a gruesome efficiency.

Yuuto growled, “–FAIR PLAY!” His face contorted in pain and anger, a dangerous gleam in his eyes as blood stained his lips and his cheekbone grew red from the bruise.

The man’s scream of pain pierced the night. Another boxer, witnessing his companion’s suffering, charged towards Yuuto, fury evident in his eyes. But Yuuto had gleaned a crucial insight.

Yuuto realized, ‘They’re boxers. Boxers are VULNERABLE TO GRAPPLING!’ With this in mind, he dove low towards the charging man’s waist.

The boxer tried to strike Yuuto at the back of his head, managing to give him a decent hit. However, Yuuto had moved too swiftly and too low, and the blow wasn’t as effective as intended. Seizing the moment, Yuuto drove his head between the boxer’s thighs, grabbing hold of his calves. An opportunistic headbutt to the man’s groin left the boxer crumpling in agony, incapacitated on the ground.

The spokesperson and the other boxer who remained on their feet stared at Yuuto, a mix of shock and caution in their eyes.

With blood painting his smile, Yuuto faced the remaining duo and quipped, “Seems we both miscalculated earlier. It’s a 1v2.”

However, internally he acknowledged, ‘It won’t be as straightforward this time. They’ve become more wary. I need a strategy…’ He rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head from the earlier hit.

Both adversaries now took a determined stance, their expressions grim. Circling Yuuto, they began to strategically position themselves, attempting to corner him.

Yuuto pondered, ‘How much time has passed? Two minutes? By now, Sendo should be out of the building. I should call and check… Oh, right. I have his phone. When did I become so off my game? Regardless, I’ll just have to trust that he made it out. My immediate concern? These shits…’

Regaining focus, he reminded himself, ‘Okay now… Stay calm, be prepared to take a few hits, keep low, and use their momentum against them-‘

The spokesperson started laughing again.

“… Actually. You know what’s a nicer view than Tokyo from up here?”

He added as he started licking his lips slowly and creepily as he shouted at the other boxer standing in Yuuto’s opposite direction.

“That kid’s stepmom… I can’t wait for Kyoya to send another video of her…” He added with a snicker.

“Oooh… Fuck… Don’t give me a hard-on right now… Let’s fuck this prick up and go. He must’ve filmed one already by now.” The other boxer replied as he tried to hold his chuckle in his abdomen as he panted heavily.

Yuuto then tightened his facial muscles and felt his blood begin to boil and surface to his head as he opened his eyes widely, staring at the man with a raging expression as his veins started showing on his cheeks and forehead.

Yuuto:

Packed with traffic, and brimming with population – that city of Tokyo.

The youth had one goal as he paddled on the bike… To get to the top of the Tokyo Tower before the end of the… time limit. Yuuto was navigating, narrowly avoiding oncoming traffic and people as they drew eyes all over them.

They did look like 2 cosplayers filming a movie…

A young youth in a Kendo outfit with a wooden sword sitting behind a bald guy in a hoodie like in one of those American movies…

Yuuto also paddled as fast as he could, which further drew everyone’s interest and attention as Yuuto navigated swiftly through the crowds and cars.

As Sendo clung tightly to Yuuto’s waist, zipping through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, his voice rose above the engine’s roar. “Senpai, I know dis is a bit late… But where are we going?”

“To the top of Tokyo Tower,” Yuuto replied, his voice steady over the wind. “Someone might be about to jump… if he hasn’t already. We’ll know by the crowd when we get there.”

Sendo’s grip tightened. “Why would someone do dat?” he shouted, bewildered.

Yuuto fell silent for a few moments, unsure of how to explain it in the most roundabout way possible.

“… Sendo. Are you familiar with the term NTR?” But of course, Yuuto was anything but roundabout or subtle…

“NTR? No, senpai! Is dat some sort of slang?” Sendo’s innocence was palpable in his query.

“It’s when someone gets deeply hurt because…” Yuuto paused, reconsidering his explanation given Sendo’s age. “Because they feel betrayed by someone they trust. It leaves them feeling helpless, shattered, and utterly alone.”

A spark of understanding flickered in Sendo’s eyes, reflecting a sudden grasp of the gravity of betrayal. “So you mean someone deliberately hurt him enough to drive him to this?” Sendo’s voice was thick with emotion, his words nearly lost in the rush of air.

“We can’t be certain yet,” Yuuto said, his tone noncommittal. “The one who betrayed might not have fully grasped how deep their actions would cut.”

“But how could they not know? How could they not see that it would destroy someone?” Sendo’s confusion and frustration were clear, his questions echoing Yuuto’s own thoughts on human relationships and their unseen depths.

Yuuto, feeling the urgency in Sendo’s grip, tried to explain in terms he thought would resonate. “Imagine you’re excited about going to the aquarium with a friend you secretly like, but at the last minute, she goes with someone else because she thinks it’ll be more fun, not realizing how much it hurts you.”

Sendo’s confusion was palpable, his brow furrowed. “dat’s… very specific, senpai. But I don’t get it.”

Yuuto sighed, switching tactics. “Okay, imagine someone promises to join your Kendo club but ends up joining the baseball team instead, without considering how that might make you feel.”

Sendo’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. “Oh! Dat actually happened ta me! I was so mad I couldn’t forgive dat jerk!”

“That’s the gist of NTR (lite version),” Yuuto nodded, pleased that Sendo was catching on. “And the person we’re going to see might have experienced something far worse, which pushed them to consider jumping.”

Sendo’s fists clenched tightly as a determined glint appeared in his eyes. “Den we’ve got ta help them, senpai!”

With a newfound resolve, they parked the bike in a nearby alley and sprinted towards the towering silhouette of Tokyo Tower, their steps echoing with urgency as they made for the elevator to ascend to the top.

____

???: “Someone actually came… Kekek…”

???: “How can you be so sure? Maybe they just came to hang out?”

???: “They seemed in quite a rush… You don’t look like that without a good reason…Hehehe, the looks on their faces reminds me of how fathers and husbands look like when their girl’s getting all corrupted before their eyes as I mess them up… They want to get there in time to stop it, so they have that determined gaze on their faces… Ooooohh…. But the look they have when they realize it’s too late…. Aaaahhnnnn~… I just can’t get enough of it…”

???: “That bastard kid actually had the nerve to call for help…Follow them. Let’s make sure before we make a move on the little pricks. “

____

Yuuto and Sendo rose up nervously in the elevator. What type of person will they have to speak to? Yuuto reread the text the person wrote on his website:

“The night sky sure is nice today, up Tokyo Tower… I think I’ll go there after eating at fifth avenue… And never come back…”

Sendo breathed more heavily the more floors they went up.

Yuuto glanced at Sendo, noting his uneasy stance. “Sendo,” he repeated, tapping his shoulder to grab his full attention.

Sendo jerked slightly, then turned to Yuuto with a start. “W-what’s up, senpai?” His voice wavered as he tried to mask his unease with a quick smile.

“You don’t have to come up,” Yuuto said, his voice steady. “A suicide attempt isn’t something you should have to face. It’s tough enough for adults.”

Sendo’s face fell slightly, his hands clenched at his sides. “It’s not dat, senpai. I’m used ta suicide… I just really hate heights,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper as he glanced nervously around.

Yuuto raised an eyebrow, ‘Used to suicide, huh…’ he thought, a flicker of concern passing through his mind.

“Well, you could have stayed at ground level,” Yuuto suggested, watching as Sendo’s discomfort seemed to grow with the elevator’s ascent.

Sendo shook his head, stubbornly pushing back against his fear. “Don’t be ridiculous, senpai,” he stammered, his whole body beginning to tremble. “How else am I supposed ta show ya how cool Kendo is? Ya need to see yer future captain get over his fears… I bet den ya’ll think it’s cool,” he added, trying to muster a confident grin despite his visible anxiety.

Yuuto shook his head in disbelief. “For such a trivial reason, you’d confront a fear that clearly terrifies you? You’re nuts,” Like you’re one to talk, Yuuto.

Sendo gripped his kendo sword tighter, determination firming his features. “Ya can say what ya want, senpai… But someone who faces deir fears… dat’s cool, no matter what,” he declared, his resolve silencing Yuuto for a moment.

Yuuto sighed as they reached the highest floor—the rooftop. Before stepping out of the elevator, Yuuto paused and turned to Sendo.

“Sendo,” he began, reaching into his hoodie pocket and pulling out a jet-black ski mask. He handed it to Sendo, “Just in case the person out there is unstable, you don’t want him recognizing you. As your senpai, I’m telling you to wear this. Call yourself Kendo-Man.”

Sendo, misunderstanding, replied, “Candy Man?”

“No, KenDO-Man, like Sendo but with man,” Yuuto corrected with emphasis.

“Alright den, Sendo-Man!” Sendo exclaimed, donning the mask with a mix of enthusiasm and nervous energy.

Yuuto corrected again, “I said Kendo-Man… Whatever, Sendo-Man works too. Just make sure to wear different clothes during training back at the gym, just in case this guy decides to stalk either of us.”

Sendo nodded, his voice muffled by the mask, “Sure! No problem, senpai!” His voice carried a mix of excitement and nerves as they prepared to step onto the rooftop.

Yuuto raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Sendo’s fearless attitude towards danger, yet his fear of heights. “You’re terrified of heights but not of dangerous stalkers?”

“Nah, I can handle dangerous folks,” Sendo shrugged, gripping his kendo sword a little tighter. “There’s no one as good in a fight as me, unless they’ve got a gun… or unless it’s one of my brothers,” he added with a chuckle.

Yuuto paused, his curiosity piqued. ‘Brothers…? I thought he was an only child…‘

“Alright then,” Yuuto said, shifting the conversation back. “From now on, call me… Hoodie.”

“Hoodie… senpai?” Sendo asked, trying to add the customary respect.

“Just Hoodie,” Yuuto corrected firmly, setting the tone for their unconventional partnership as they prepared to face whatever awaited them on the rooftop.

They both stepped onto the rooftop. Sendo shivered as he stepped forth, yet he kept placing another foot after the other, further advancing on the abandoned roof.

Did the person jump? Fall? Was never there to begin with? Yuuto approached the railings and looked down at a very unsafe angle at each side of the building to check for commotion down below. None. Was it just a ruse? Yuuto grew increasingly frustrated as he looked at the text once more through Sendo’s phone: “The night sky sure is nice today, up Tokyo Tower… I think I’ll go there after eating in fifth avenue… And never come back…”

Yuuto sighed deeply as the now-cold breeze brushed through his clothes.

Yuuto paused, his initial concern dissolved into mild irritation as he sighed. ‘Just an attention seeker then… Well, time to fold. Maybe Sendo will be willing to forget all this somehow—’

“SENPAI!!!” Sendo’s voice cut through Yuuto’s thoughts, his tone urgent and directed towards something in the distance.

Yuuto hesitated, then strode over to where Sendo stood. “I told you to call me Ho—”

“Never mind dat!” Sendo interrupted, his focus fixed on a scene unfolding several blocks away. “Look, over der! Dat building below, da one dat’s five blocks away! Some suspicious people are surrounding one guy… It seems dey’re driving him closer and closer ta da edge of da apartment building!” Sendo shouted, pointing intensely.

Yuuto rushed to Sendo’s side, following his gaze. His eyes widened as he took in the precarious situation unfolding at a distance. He realized the gravity of their mistake. If that person had indeed asked him to come to Fifth Avenue directly, they might have been overwhelmed by the crowd before they could intervene or call for help.

Yuuto cursed under his breath. ‘Damn it!’

“LET’S HURRY UP, SENPAI! DA POLICE WON’T GET DER IN TIME!” Sendo’s voice boomed as he bolted towards the rooftop entrance.

Just as they moved to act, a group of six imposing figures entered through the rooftop door, effectively blocking their path. With one look, Sendo could tell…

These men meant trouble.

“How suspicious… Why are you wearing a mask? Why are you in such a rush to go down right now? We old men just wanna have a chat with you two for a bit…”

Sendo backed away slowly as he placed his hand on the wooden sword strapped to his waist-belt – visibly showing his hostility and cautiousness towards the suspicious men.

Unlike Yato and Tatsu or the people he had to fight consecutively before… These guys… Were much more dangerous, he felt. He had to be a lot more cautious.

“My my… Look at this cute little guy. Ooooh, are you gonna draw your sword at us?”

Yuuto then abruptly stepped between the two as he stopped Sendo in place, tapping on his shoulder as he came up behind him with a calm gaze.

“Me and my buddy, Kendo-Man, did a photo shoot for our anime studio.” Yuuto started, marching towards them confidently, “He has a terrible fear of heights, so he mistook you, nice-ojisans, as people who purposely block his way outta this place he oh so fears. Will you please, respectable gentlemen, let us through so that we could get his pills in time?” He spoke calmly as he looked up at them.

“Awww… But we are so lonely… Can we hold you up here for just 5 – 10 minutes to talk? That photo-shoot of yours sounds interesting…”

Sendo and Yuuto looked at each other after looking backward to the fifth avenue’s rooftop.

They both understood the meaning as they nodded to each other.

They had, at most, 10 minutes to get to that person before he was dropped off that roof.

Yuuto sighed…

‘I shoulda taken my baseball bat.’ He then jumped and sent a kick up the front man’s chin, knocking him out.

Sendo was mesmerized by the kick as these guys were caught off-guard.

“KENDO-MAN! GO!! I’LL TAKE CARE OF THEM!” He shouted as he sent another punch flying at the next person, connecting it as well.

They turned their focus to Yuuto.

“I’M COUNTING ON YOU, SENDO-MAN!!!” He screamed as he went into a boxing stance.

Sendo’s eyes lit up as he shook his own head and started running to the rooftop entrance and enter the elevator.

“Bring it on, manchildren. Make my night.” Yuuto taunted

Yuuto’s Terms of Service:

9. Your bond will be much better than before hiring my services! GUARANTEED!

___________________________________________________________

The gear spins relentlessly, as he changed it to its highest difficulty.

The two youths shared the bicycle as they rode toward Tokyo. They reached a bridge where dozens of cars passed the two by only barely, as Yuuto paddled in an extremely high cadence as Sendo sat on the back, still wearing his sweaty Kendo outfit with his wooden sword on the back – while pouting slightly as he held Yuuto’s sides to not fall off the bicycle.

“Ya could’ve at least let me ride my own bike, Senpai.” He said as he frowned slightly as the nightly wind breezed on their faces as they rode on the bike.

Yuuto kept his head tilted forward while focusing on the road with a blank expression, as Sendo’s phone rests in his pocket while he paddled on Sendo’s bike

“No can do. What will I do if we get arrested and they find out I let a minor ride while I sit from behind?” He berated calmly. As if he didn’t try to rob Sendo several minutes ago.

“….” He pouted more as he sighed abruptly while looking to the side as they crossed the bridge which was over the river… Witnessing the water illuminated by the moon’s light.

“How old are you even? 16?”

“… I’m turning 16 in 3 months.” Sendo answered reluctantly.

“Yeah. I’m riding you back on the way home as well.” He replied in an annoyed manner.

“… No need ta, senpai. My home is in dis direction anyway.” He replied in the same manner, almost copying Yuuto’s tone.

Yuuto sighed as he rode Sendo’s bike. They were already halfway through the bridge and about to enter Tokyo’s territory.

“Speaking of home… Won’t your parents be worried when you’re out so late?” He questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s alright, senpai. Like I said, dis is actually in the direction of my house anyway. Regarding my parents, I don’t have any! I can be out as much as I want.” Sendo replied casually as the warm wind dried his comfortable Kendo outfit from all traces of sweat.

“…” Yuuto chose not to respond to that.

“Anyway, Senpai- That’s a cool cut ya have! Ya shaved yer hair today?” Naturally, Yuuto couldn’t keep the hoodie on as the wind kept blowing. But he didn’t care as much as he was at first about Sendo seeing him in his eh… ‘Special’ attire.

‘Already tried to rob him… What’s the damage in just coming clean already..?’

“Nah. I went to school with a wig and glasses. Shaved my head before school started and kept it ever since.”

“Oooh! Like Cark Kent when he’s not Supreme-human-man!” He replied enthusiastically as his eyes glistened and widened while looking at Yuuto’s shaved head.

“In a way… Cark Kent didn’t wear a wig, though.” He replied casually and calmly as they finished crossing the bridge.

Silence. No questions, no pruning or complaining on Sendo’s behalf… No outbursts of curiosity… Nothing. Just silent acceptance of everything Yuuto told him without him attempting to pry into Yuuto’s business.

But Yuuto was different. His pride was hurt, and his curiosity only grew bigger the more Sendo continued his blind acceptance of everything.

“You could have called the police or told someone I tried to rob you. Maybe tried to lynch me with your club members and get me expelled so that this won’t happen again.” He scolded calmly as he tensed his facial muscles as he rode on the bike.

“… Well, I didn’t wanna.” He replied with no change in his casual tone as he momentarily looked to the sky as if to think how best to word his answer.

Yuuto squeezed his lips together as he felt his annoyance with Sendo’s carefree behavior. ‘Didn’t want to’? What kind of answer is that? Is that supposed to solve anything or calm anyone’s suspicions?

“I know you are young, Sendo. But are you actually just stupid? Why in the world would you not call someone for help? I could have been a dangerous person, and you don’t know me.” He scolded again as he tightened the grip on his bike- resorting to insulting Sendo as his pride got hurt.

“I hate being called stupid, senpai. Even though I’m not smart with studies… But I do have my own reasons for not trying ta pull nothin’ on ya.” He replied casually and innocently shortly after Yuuto berated him.

“… Then, why didn’t you, really? Even going as far as to help someone who held you in a choke-hold and blindly followed them on your bike to help them get to where they needed…”

Sendo tilted his head as he squinted his eyebrows. As if he was going to answer the most rhetorical question he was ever asked.

“Because, yer a good person, Senpai! Ya wouldn’t have tried ta rob me blind and bolt somewhere off without a good reason!” Even though he initially kinda did it just to check on his website…

Yuuto looked down as he paddled powerfully on the bike as if moving all of his anger and frustration from being found out in this manner to his legs as they were getting closer and closer to the city.

“And how did you draw that conclusion?” He answered with a deep, yet soft sigh.

“On da train dat day. Ya stood up and shouted, even though ya didn’t wanna, while everyone just looked as if they watched a Mawrell movie. I could tell ya was forcing yerself because of how ya cracked yer phone and hurt yer hand. I figured someone like ya trying to rob someone wasn’t jus’ cuz ye forgot to pay yer rent in time.”

“…” Yuuto frowned.

“Sendo. One good deed does not indicate a person’s entire nature or their moral alignment…” He uttered as he tightly gripped the handlebars on the bicycle.

“… As much as you want the nature you witnessed to be true..” He claimed quietly, almost regretting that he let Sendo hear that advice.

“… Senpai..?” He asked in concern as he saw Yuuto tense up his body more than usual, taking longer to answer and lowering his tone considerably.

“So, next time you get robbed by me or anyone, whether they were a nice old man or Jesus himself…” He added as his tone got back to its normal standard.

“…?”

“Just Base-… Just Kendo their asses.” He said passionately as he slightly tilted his head to Sendo as he navigated on the bike.

“Not sure I get dat… But I won’t cooperate so easy nex’ time I get robbed by anyone, senpai!”

“Good enough…”

“…”

“…”

“… Sorry for calling you stupid.” Yuuto let out quietly.

Sendo cracked up a big smile as his eyes sparkled.

“I forgive ya, senpai!”

Yuuto’s Terms Of Service:

8. You can pay in installments of 1,000 YEN for ten months (ONLY APPLIES FOR THE FULL PACKAGE).

________________________________________________

Cheating and NTR…

TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!

ONE AIMS FOR A CUCKOLD-MAKER’S BODY AND HEART!

ONE AIMS FOR THAT AS WELL + PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA OF THE CUCK! THAT IS NTR!

Corruption! Madness! Stress and resignation! SUCH IS THE NATURE OF NTR!!

Thus, I WAS BORN.

FORGED FROM THE EMBERS OF AGONY AND STRIFE!

THE BLIGHT OF THE ABYSS!

THE SAVIOR OF LOST MINDS AND THE DELIVERER FROM THE PITS OF INSANITY!!

MY NAME, IS ANTI-NTR MAN!!!

A beat.

Blue, humming light emerges from an old computer screen.

Yuuto grumbled, “Anti-NTR Man,” as he sat in the dim glow of his computer screen, eyeing the framed 2,500 yen on his wall labeled “First Job! Wussy Tom Hardy’s Cash.”

“Or so I would’ve been called, if people would JUST. VISIT. THE SITE,” he muttered passionately, his frustration evident as he pounded on the desk, each thump rattling the slightly reflective metal baseball bat propped beside him.

“People can be really shy… I don’t bite—when I don’t have to!” he exclaimed. “I’m a badass with a baseball bat who will baseball the shit out of scum trying to slither into taken people’s DMs, and I save relationships dirt cheap! There’s literally no one like me in the world! The police can’t and won’t do a thing! I am the only ray of light in this matter!”

He leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh, the weight of unmet expectations pressing down on him.

“Well, I just gotta keep at it! Nothing good comes from despair,” he resolved, forcing a smile as he rose from his seat. Yuuto began typing masterfully, responding to the sparse fan mail that trickled in.

“Dear Anti-NTR Man,” he typed, his fingers dancing across the keyboard, channeling his determination into maintaining the unique service he believed in.

The delusional guy is now reading out loud with a light-hearted tone – fan mail he wrote to himself as he expectedly failed to receive any from actual people.

“Are your services limited to pre-cucking? Is that all you can do? You can’t help someone who has already been cucked? Are you that incompetent? You loser, you suck, you have no ability, I am sorry I even came here…”

He chuckled, then straightened up, adopting a more serious tone as he prepared his reply to the imaginary grievance on his deserted website.

“Dear potential client! What a marvelous question! Indeed, it’s rare for me to engage with a client before the signs of NTR begin. Most people, foolishly, only seek help after they’ve noticed something amiss. They turn a blind eye to unusual activities out of ignorance and denial until it’s too late.”

Yuuto continued, his voice growing enthusiastic, “They fail to take precautions and hire me for preventative measures, which could spare them from being NTR’d. You might think of it as stalking, but really, it’s about being proactive—only those truly committed to their relationships would consider having someone discreetly…err…keep an all-watchful eye on their lives.”

He leaned back, nodding approvingly at his own rhetoric. “So, most people don’t care as deeply about their loved ones as they claim. But you, dear, intelligent, loving, and caring client, you can be smarter than most. Hire me now to safeguard your love life. Trust me to baseball the heck out of any interlopers who dare threaten the peace and sanctity of your relationship.”

Yuuto paused, his gaze fixed on the empty chat window, and sighed.

He thrives on inducing paranoia in potential clients, ultimately preying on their cultivated insecurities by casting himself as the heroic savior in their imagined crises.

Yes, Yuuto Sakurai, in his free time, revels in…

Manipulating his own potential clients.

AND PERSUADING THEM TO EMPLOY HIS DUBIOUS, SINISTER ALTER EGO—ANTI-NETORARE MAN—TO SURVEILL THE ONES THEY LOVE!!

…If only such clients truly existed, which, fortunately, they do not.

However, his very first and admittedly only job did avert a real crisis… Perhaps there’s something to his methods after all.

Suddenly, with a foolish grin, Yuuto energetically typed a response on his keyboard and posted it on his website for all to see—or not see, as the case may be.

“But what is there even left to save, Mr. Anti-NTR Man? If the NTR already happened and won, ruining someone’s life and leaving them with mental trauma… why would you even jump into action when the damage is already done?”

He pondered for a moment, his face serious and thoughtful. Then, a bright smile spread across his face as he began to type a response.

“Because, dear potential client, to save—”

Suddenly, a notification popped up: “(19:11) You have (1) New Message(s)!”

Yuuto’s eyes widened in shock. A new user had sent a message— WAIT WHAT!!!!?!?!

He instinctively kicked his desk in surprise, inadvertently shutting off his computer. As the screen went black, panic set in.

“No, no, no! Let me see, let me see, come on!” he exclaimed, frantically pressing the power button, trying to turn his computer back on and see the content of the message that had arrived just before the abrupt shutdown.

Yuuto, in a frenzy of desperation, shouted at his computer, “Come on, baby, come on! I believe in you! Don’t leave me! Don’t die on me, come back! Come on! Turn on!” His frantic presses devolved into pummeling, the computer’s casing bending under the force as he gasped for breath, clutching his chest as though struck by a heart attack.

In his panic, Yuuto scrambled for his phone, only to remember it had been broken several days earlier. “That’s right, mom and dad… are on vacation!” he recalled in dismay.

With no options left at home, he bolted outside. He was running—anywhere, somewhere, desperate for a solution. But with no payphones in sight and no internet cafes nearby, the usually heroic and righteous Anti-NTR Man was driven to a dire choice…

…Yuuto was out to find a phone, even if it meant he had to borrow one by less conventional means—yes…

ANTI-NTR MAN WAS OUT TO ROB SOMEONE BLIND!!

He sprinted breathlessly through the night after dressing in his black hoodie – without his glasses and his wig. Indeed, he was going out as ANTI-NTR MAN!

He frantically looked, for someone to rob. Whether that was a normal person just going about their life or a boxing champion on the way to a match. Some way, SOMEHOW, he would take them down!

He looked briefly to his side as he sprinted – IT WAS THE SCHOOL!

SMASH!

He ran into a wall, bruising his cheek and head as he fell backward.

YES, HE STARTED TO BLEED! BUT NONE MATTERED – THE SCHOOL HAS SOME LIGHT ON – SOMEONE WAS STILL THERE, IN THE GYM!

‘Right, The Kendo Club! I’ll rob Sendo blind! He’s injured, so it will be easy!’ Yuuto shamelessly thought as he ran toward the gym, seeing Sendo outside with his Kendo outfit, drinking water from the small faucet nearby – while placing his wooden sword downwards next to the fountain.

He was off his guard! The chance to bring down an injured child was before his eyes, how could he refuse such a golden opportunity!

He wore his hoodie onto his head and hid his face, sneaking on Sendo and waiting until he finished drinking.

‘Some dedication. Doing Kendo just days after being injured.’ Yuuto thought.

After Sendo finished gulping the water remaining in his mouth, Yuuto leaped onto his back and strongly wrapped his arms around his neck as he brought him down to his level.

Sendo coughed and wheezed as he was brought down to his heels.

Yuuto kept dragging his body backward to prevent him from standing up.

“Who… What da fuck are-!?” He said as he flailed around with his arms, trying to escape Yuuto’s grip.

The vile Yuuto then thickened his voice and began speaking to Sendo.

Yuuto(Thickened Voice): “Don’t struggle kid! This is a robbery! Gimme your phone!” He uttered to his ear as he locked his head in place.

Sendo: “Fuckin… Thief… Ya won’t-… Huh?” Sendo struggled and tried to unhand Yuuto’s grip from his neck.

He tried pushing him away by separating his arms, but after touching them – something came to his mind.

Yuuto (THICC VOICE): “IT’S USELESS, CHUMP. I GOT-“

“Sakurai-senpai?” He uttered after feeling his arms and shoulders.

Yuuto shat bricks as he heard these words while strangling Sendo outside of the gym, yet unbeknownst to the people inside.

‘Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck…!!!!!!!’

He began sweating bullets beneath the large, long-sleeved hoodie as his face paled.

Yuuto (Less Thic, horribly trying to mimic a French accent): “Wh-who det Sakurai that you’re thinking of-“

“I NEVER forget about a person’s physique once I see and feel it!” Sendo confidently uttered.

Yuuto’s eyes widened as he recalled Sendo passing him on the train, tapping his shoulder as he passed him.

‘Just… Just from that, he figured it out..?’ Yuuto smiled almost manically in excitement and anxiety after forgetting for a short period that he is standing on a thin thread.

Yuuto then stopped speaking as he held Sendo, without loosening his grip…

… just awkwardly stood there, as Sendo stopped resisting while he rested his neck in his arms as Yuuto slightly leaned against the gym’s wall. Thinking about his next move with a blank, resigned expression on his face.

Sendo then slightly tilted his head a bit, trying to look up at Yuuto.

“… Ya broke yer phone, right – Senpai? If ya wanted ta borrow my phone, ya could have just asked! I’d have straight up borrowed it ta ya’.” He uttered without hesitation as he was held in his death grip.

“…” Yuuto then without a word, released Sendo from his grip. Sendo then fell to his knees on the dirt they were standing on.

For the first time in his life, Yuuto was taken by surprise by another person’s nature. He just stood there, scrambling his thoughts – unknowing what to think or how to react. He was lied to before and is a liar himself. A shameless, disgusting stalker who would stop at no point to get what he wanted. But, somehow – as if by instinct, he could tell Sendo was telling the truth…

But why?

Sendo coughed as he stood up.

“One sec, I’ll go in and get it for ya from my bag.” He said casually as he entered the gym without turning around to look at Yuuto.

Yuuto stood there.

20 seconds pass.

60 seconds pass.

‘He probably called the police. If he didn’t, he most likely told his classmates there. Just as I expec-‘

Sendo walked out with the phone in his hand.

“Der.” He uttered with a casual, yet stern expression on his face as he tried to look at Yuuto in the face – who was hiding it with his hoodie.

Yuuto stood there without moving a limb… Feeling increasingly agitated as he questioned Sendo’s overly trusting actions and the reason behind them in his head.

“Take it, senpai. It’s coo-“

Yuuto took his phone without hesitation, snatching it away from his palm with no resistance from Sendo’s side.

He entered the web browser and looked for his website.

He didn’t move from his position and so did Sendo – who was watching his actions attentively without chatter so as to not disturb him.

Yuuto entered his website and read the message the anonymous user left for him there.

His face paled and his eyes widened in shock.

“WHEN’S THE TRAIN TO SHIBUYA STATION!?” He asked anxiously as he turned to Sendo while trying to cover his face.

Sendo was startled by his reaction.

“I-It left 40 minutes ago! The next one’s only at 8:25 pm!”

Yuuto then looked at the time on Sendo’s phone.

Yuuto clicked his tongue.

‘It’s now 19:21… Not good..!! I need to hurry!!’

“I’m taking your phone, Sendo!” He yelled as he started sprinting away.

Sendo caught a glimpse of Yuuto’s white and pale face as Yuuto turned and ran away.

“Wait, Senpai!! I got a-” Sendo let out a cry as Yuuto was sprinting towards Tokyo on foot. Sendo’s cries gradually faded away as Yuuto ran further and further away.

‘No time to worry about saving face. If I sprint right now toward Tokyo, I could get to Tokyo Tower in under 35 minutes if I sprint as fast as I can! It’s just 12km, I can do this!!’

With a determined and worried expression on his face, he bolted.

“-enpai!!” Sendo’s cries gradually grew closer all of a sudden. It seems he began catching up to Yuuto.

‘Impressive. He was injured pretty badly… Must have come for his phone! No time to waste, I must keep running.’ He thought as he kept running as hard as he could, without looking back.

As he sprinted, he frantically typed on Sendo’s phone as he was logged in to his website.

“DON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITDON’T DO ITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAIT” He spammed endlessly on the tiny phone’s keyboard with plenty of spelling errors without relenting, occasionally looking up to see if there are any obstacles ahead.

Sendo’s cries kept getting louder and louder behind the thieving Yuuto.

‘Well, he is athletic… Damn it, am I gonna have to waste time facing him now!!?’ He ground his teeth as he ran even faster and faster… Gradually losing his breath…

Not good. His side which got battered at the fight several days ago was also slightly hurting. It wasn’t something he couldn’t endure, but it was hindering his running. If he keeps going like this, he might get permanently damaged in that area. He can’t afford that right now… But he has to keep running at full speed – if he wants to get to his destination in time…

The more time he runs, the weaker and more in pain he gets…

-Until hearing a bicycle ring, alongside Sendo’s calls for Yuuto’s name.

“Senpai!” He called as he rode a bicycle while still wearing his Kendo outfit, riding it next to the running Yuuto, who swiftly turned his attention to him.

“… I don’t have time for this, Sendo!! I’ll give you your phone afterward!!!” He yelled as he panted while running.

“HOP ON, SENPAI!!! Ya need ta get somewhere quick, right!!? I’ll take ya der!” He yelled with a worried expression on his face as he looked at the rushing Yuuto.

“… What?”

Yuuto’s Terms of Service:

7. I will not interfere with your personal life after the case. All ties will be cut.

________________________________________

A swing.

Thump, a hit.

Another swing, another hit.

A swift sound of a large, metal object coursing through the air hitting yet again right on its mark. Yuuto didn’t relent. He didn’t stop. He didn’t think.

He just swung again and again, as the banter of the large group grew increasingly confused and increasingly despaired. What they spoke of between each other didn’t matter.

Yuuto had filtered it all as he was… Swinging.

One after the other, they fell to his feet as flies fall to intense heat.

At that moment, in that silent, emotionless fight within Riko’s lightless garden – Yuuto was not himself. He was neither Anti-NTR Man nor another made-up figure within his scenario pages or plans. He was just the force behind the swinging of his metal baseball bat.

Any reason for those swings, any cause and effect – past and future – nothing could interfere his state of mind. All that matters is swinging… And hitting… Swinging… And hitting yet again – until he no longer has to.

The night was starry and the sounds of moaning and laughter of the young couple, indulging in their pleasures within the house’s top floor were drowned by the sound of violence below.

It was too big a garden for 11 people, and Yuuto knew that. That narrow space he had obsessively studied for 2 months straight allowed him to maneuver and catch them all off guard more efficiently.

He became the very master of her garden, despite not being its owner – through sheer effort and due diligence.

His swift movements in his dark outfit within the dark environment made it harder for them to see and predict his movements. He had stayed in that darkness for quite some time and got his eyesight used to the dim area, while the group had just entered it, unprepared.

Thump, a hit.

Splattering sounds on the ground and grass followed.

Another hit, more noises of liquid splattering around.

The metal baseball bat turned less pristine by the moment.

Crackling noises, meat being torn and splattered – It was as if 100% of Yuuto’s power was behind each and every one of his swings.

Some tried to dodge, but he always hit.

Some tried to defend, but he always broke their guard.

Their chest was inaccessible? Then he’d swing to their stomach as a hitter would strike a straight ball.

Is their stomach also blocked? Their nuts would turn into omelets as he’d swing his bat upwards, shattering their future generations.

Somehow they’d manage to defend even that in addition? He’d drive the baseball bat into their mouths, breaking all of their teeth.

A concussion.

A crack in their skulls. Hemhorrages… Yuuto, in these moments, had turned into an artist. Despite having only one color to work with and a very limited supply, he had managed to paint the entire canvas in dark red.

Bam. A hit. This time, felt by Yuuto.

Yet, somehow it seemed… As if that hit injected his body with adrenaline, tensing his muscles and lowering the frequency of his breaths… Reinvigorated, he swung again.

Hit again.

Swung again.

Hit once more with a slight grin, as if he was feeling intense pleasure.

And so he swung and hit… Until he didn’t have to anymore.

Stained with blood, he stood in the hot silent breeze inside Riko’s garden as he was surrounded by 10 broken men lying almost as still as dead fish beneath his feet, lying on their backs with their faces turned upwards by Yuuto soon after they fell.

The encounter was as swift as a passing shower of rain and thunder. It sounds as if the moans of pleasure and laughter had also stopped a bit before the storm of Yuuto had ended…

Yuuto let out a quiet chuckle, his gaze drifting upward to where Riko’s room was on the second floor.

“He really was a virgin… Finishing before I do… How could you?” he murmured under his breath, the corners of his mouth lifting into a sly grin.

Casually, he began wiping the blood from his baseball bat using the clothing of one of the fallen assailants.

“Well…” he sighed, stretching his back as if he had just completed an intense workout, “I still had my fun… And so did she, I reckon. So, the score is still 1 – 0 for love.”

Turning towards the entrance gate, Yuuto checked his surroundings before making his way out of Riko’s garden, closing the gate behind him. As he jogged towards the exit, his confident stride faltered slightly, his hand clutching at his swollen abdomen.

“Tsk… How rusty,” he grumbled, acknowledging the pain but dismissing it with a typical nonchalance.

Indeed, the great Anti-NTR Man was not invincible; he had sustained disgraceful injuries….

“If you’ve got a problem with that, come out here and fight yourself,” he muttered to an imaginary challenger.

Silence followed his challenge.

“… Just as I thought,” Yuuto concluded, smirking as he continued on his way to investigate this mysterious Seichiro character, all while managing the discomfort from his injuries.

_____________________________

Yuuto jogged in the hot wind of this lonely night. Passing houses upon houses, neighborhood after neighborhood. He followed the the blood trail without a squeak.

He eventually reached a construction site, surrounded by metal fences – with the main gate open. But that was not what caught his eye…

There before him lay the body of someone he knew well… He approached quietly, looking at his surroundings without chatter or commentary. He walked while wearing his hoodie, ducking at the youth with a look of curiosity.

Top-less, bleeding, sweating, and full of dirt… But the most notable difference about Sendo was-

CLICK.

Yuuto recognized the chilling sound instantly—the distinct click of a gun’s safety being disengaged, right behind him. Instinctively, he remained motionless.

Seichiro was silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice betraying no emotion. “…From the look of the blood on your outfit, and you coming from that direction, I reckon that’s your friend lying here on the ground?”

Yuuto gave no response, no nod, no words. He knew that regardless of any plan he might concoct, a gun to his head could end everything abruptly.

“Well, you sure messed my plans up,” Seichiro continued, his tone calm, almost disconcertingly clear—not what Yuuto expected from a man whose plans he had just thwarted.

Yuuto remained silent, his curiosity piqued by the man’s composed demeanor. He chose to provoke further by maintaining his stillness.

Seichiro yawned quietly, his gaze lingering on the nape of Yuuto’s neck, covered by the hoodie. “…He’s still alive. He took out my entire group just by his lonesome. As you probably did,” he observed.

Yuuto clenched his fist, taking note of Sendo’s wounds and bruises and the conspicuous absence of the wooden sword Sendo usually carried.

“…Using only this thing,” Seichiro remarked, placing the wooden sword gently on Yuuto’s shoulder. Yuuto turned his attention to it, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the familiar weapon.

Yuuto’s mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. The man behind him, Seichiro, was clearly involved with the rapists, yet his behavior was puzzling. Yuuto weighed his options and potential responses, questioning the man’s intentions and how much space separated the gun from his head.

Seichiro broke the silence, his voice calm yet unsettling. “I planned to kill him… But I changed my mind.”

Yuuto’s body tensed, every nerve on high alert as he awaited what would come next.

Seichiro’s next words came as a directive. “I’m gonna ask you a question. I want you to nod yes or no. Got it?”

Yuuto nodded, acknowledging the instructions.

“Good… Did you kill any of them back there?” Seichiro asked, his tone slightly elevated yet still controlled.

Without hesitation, Yuuto shook his head no.

Seichiro clicked his tongue in response, a sound that carried a mix of disappointment and resignation.

“Shame… Either way, go back to school, kid. I’ll handle the mess. We won’t bother that Riko girl anymore,”

With a sharp click, the gun’s safety was disengaged once more. In a sudden, instinctive reaction, Yuuto spun around, his entire body tensed, ready to confront whoever was behind him—but he found nothing. The man had vanished.

“He knew I was a high-schooler?” Yuuto muttered to himself, perplexed and slightly uneasy.

Turning back, Yuuto noticed Sendo still on the ground, struggling to speak.

“S… Sen…Pai..?” Sendo’s voice was weak, barely audible.

Yuuto froze. Had Sendo recognized his voice? Was his secret identity at risk now?

“H-hey… S…Enp…ai…” Sendo continued weakly.

The gravity of the situation weighed on Yuuto. If his identity was compromised, it could unravel everything he had carefully maintained. As he pondered his next steps, Sendo spoke again, his voice fading.

“J…. Join… Da …K-ke…ndo… Club…” With those words, Sendo slipped back into unconsciousness.

Relief washed over Yuuto as he realized Sendo hadn’t connected the dots about his identity but was instead mumbling about his club.

“Nice fight… You did well,” Yuuto said softly, patting Sendo’s back with genuine respect for the boy’s resilience.

Now, with a sense of duty, Yuuto considered his next move. He couldn’t just leave Sendo here. “I’ll trust this old man. I mean, it’s either that or letting Sendo bleed to death here… I’ll call an ambulance.”

Carefully, Yuuto hoisted the unconscious Sendo up, draping the boy’s arm over his shoulder for support as they began to move.

“Hehe… Need to hide this from Mom and Dad… What will I say?” Yuuto mused as they walked.

His mind raced with potential excuses. Being known as the most insufferable student in his class, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to claim that their classroom teacher had beaten him after causing a mental breakdown.

“Ooh! That’s a good one…” Yuuto smirked to himself, pleased with his quick thinking.

Yes, Yuuto, it just might work.

After waiting in the shadows for an ambulance, it finally came and the paramedics picked up Sendo after Yuuto moved him to sit on a bench in a park nearby so that he could rest properly. Yuuto then examined the construction site, yet no one was there. No bodies, no blood. Nothing. After he left the main gate, he was startled by the thundering BAM noise, caused by the metal gate closing on the metal fence surrounding the area. He then jogged to Riko’s house – all the bodies and blood were gone.

Even Riko’s gate and alarm were fixed – but Yuuto’s cameras were gone. Instead, their memory cards were all left on her door’s entrance for him to collect. This is usable footage that was later left at the nearest police station anonymously by Yuuto himself, after proof-checking that they really were the memory cards of those cameras, recording the entire fight.

A police investigation followed early morning when the memory cards were taken into evidence. Riko and Shun were questioned about the fight after their incident on the train, but to their knowledge, nothing was happening outside of the house that night. Police successfully identified the men related, besides Yuuto and Seichiro, but didn’t get any leads about their whereabouts – as if they had all disappeared from Japan altogether.

Sendo was later questioned at the hospital he was staying at by the police – he told them everything – from the train – and to the fights he had to overcome. The police concluded it was all related to the drug shown on the train, but they also concluded that the men did this crime out of selfish desire and that they weren’t related to the mafia or some kind of organization… At the very least, that was their official statement on the matter.

They even came to question Yuuto if he knew something and why was he on that train that day, considering he lives in a different place and that he’s also their classmate. He said that being a 19-year-old high-school student, he shamefully admitted that he wanted to see what it was like to get drunk somewhere far from home so his family wouldn’t notice. Being the disappointment that he is, he wasn’t worried about his image – so the police did not question him further.

Two days had passed since the incident. Despite his usual solitary demeanor, Sendo found himself inundated with visitors. His popularity among his kendo club members, and his recent heroics, had sparked newfound interest in the club.

Riko and Shun also came to visit, grateful for his brave actions.

“Feel well, Sendo-kun… I’ll wait outside, Shun!” Riko said as she opened the door to his hospital room, leaving shortly after.

As Shun watched Sendo lying in bed, covered in bruises and bandages but with an undeniably optimistic air, he couldn’t help but smile.

“D’ya still have something ta say ta me, Senpai? Shouldn’t ya join her outside?” Sendo asked, cocking his head towards Shun.

“I just… I can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you…” Shun began.

Sendo rubbed his forehead wearily.

“Senpai… I mean no offense, but if ya say another thank ya, I might just throw this IV bag at ya,” Sendo said, half-joking but clearly annoyed.

“I know, sorry… It’s just… She is my light, you know? And you helped save us both…” Shun replied, his eyes reflecting genuine gratitude.

Sendo sighed.

“Yer going to pretend Sakurai-senpai wasn’t there to help?” Sendo raised an eyebrow skeptically.

“Oh, on the train…? Yeah, I haven’t been able to get in touch with him these last few days,” Shun admitted.

“Well, senpai’s phone broke! Of course, ya wouldn’t be able ta contact him!” Sendo informed him, a bit too eagerly.

“I-it did? He never mentioned that to me,” Shun responded, surprised.

“Well, I know!” Sendo declared, almost boasting about his insider knowledge.

Shun paused, taken aback.

“Anyway, he just sort of disappeared after that night on the train…” Shun added, his voice trailing off as he tried to piece together the events.

Sendo pondered this quietly, recalling the night’s chaos and wondering about Yuuto’s sudden disappearance.

Blurry… Groggy. The sounds of crickets chirping and the feeling of being laid on a wooden bench.

He remembered he was told someone anonymously called an ambulance. The ambulance found him on a bench in the park, even though he lost consciousness near the construction site…

Could it have been that Seichiro character after all? He thought.

“W-well… You already did so much… I… Just… Get well soon, Sendo-kun.” Shun’s voice wavered, his smile somber as he slowly turned to leave, carrying a weight of remorse.

“Hey, Senpai!” Sendo’s voice stopped Shun in his tracks.

Shun paused, turning his head slightly as Sendo continued.

“Ya got yerself a real good girlfriend der. Treasure and protect her!” Sendo’s voice was enthusiastic, genuine.

“Sendo-kun,” Shun responded, turning fully now, his eyes alight with a newfound resolve. “I’m sorry to ask this after all you’ve done… But…”

Sendo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the seriousness in Shun’s tone.

Shun then bowed deeply, his arms pressed against his sides. “Even though I am a third-year… CAN I JOIN YOUR KENDO CLUB!?”

Sendo’s eyes widened at the unexpected request. He took a deep breath, reigning in his surprise before responding with a steady, serious tone. “Why?”

Shun straightened up, meeting Sendo’s gaze with determination. “If it were a few weeks ago, I’d have said it’s to protect the people I love… But now…” He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. “I don’t want to be afraid anymore! I’m tired of always being saved… I want to know what it feels like to be…”

———-

Yuuto: “HEY, MALE2!!”

———-

Shun continued, unfazed by the interruption, “truly strong, and help myself for a change. Only then can I really protect those I care about.”

Sendo’s expression shifted from surprise to contemplation, his eyebrows knitting together as he processed Shun’s words.

Sendo couldn’t help but simplify things. “Yer making dis too complicated, Senpai,” he remarked with a casual air.

Shun looked up, the setting sun casting an orange glow that highlighted his golden hair and piercings, his expression resolute and unwavering.

“Join Kendo because it’s cool,” Sendo declared, his face breaking into a broad, almost childish grin, radiating a contagious enthusiasm.

Shun’s eyes sparkled at the invitation. “I don’t know what’s so cool about Kendo… Can you show me, please?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity as he extended his hand in a gesture of friendship and commitment.

Sendo sighed, though a smile tugged at his lips. “Not exactly da reason I hoped for… but good enough, Senpai! Welcome!” He enthusiastically shook Shun’s hand.

As they sealed their new bond with a handshake, Sendo’s internal celebration was monumental. ‘YAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAA! A new club member! Overly complicated, but a new member nonetheless!’

Outside the hospital room, Yuuto stood silently, holding flowers next to Riko. An awkward tension hung between them since his arrival, both observing the unfolding camaraderie inside.

Yuuto thought, his mood souring, ‘Of all the unexpected things, why did it have to be now…?’

Riko glanced at Yuuto with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. “Didn’t peg you as the flower-bringing type,” she commented dryly.

Yuuto responded defensively, “Bringing flowers keeps the unnecessary attention at bay.”

Riko scoffed, “You mean more than what you already attract, Mr. Body-Pillow?”

“Shut up, Back-Pat Cuckold-Maker,” Yuuto retorted sharply.

“Creep,” Riko shot back, her voice laced with disgust.

The tension remained as they continued to observe. Riko eventually broke the silence, nudging Yuuto gently, “Well, go in. Didn’t you come to visit him?”

Yuuto adjusted his glasses, “I can’t seem to interrupt such a bromantic scene.”

Riko’s expression softened slightly, “It is heartwarming, isn’t it? Tell your artist friend I’d buy a doujin with that kind of setting.”

“I won’t,” Yuuto replied, firm yet quiet, as they both stood, caught between their usual banter and the unexpected warmth unfolding before them.

Yuuto’s Terms of Service:

5. No matter what, If it comes to it, I will ALWAYS protect my clients.

_______________________________________________

Sendo ran.

His advantage?

His stamina.

Their advantage?

Numbers and his wounds.

The blood dripping from Sendo’s chest left a trail, letting them know his direction.

The fact that he constantly had to stay on the run caused the wound to keep dripping and not heal properly. They ran relentlessly as if they were hungry dogs, hunting a small rabbit.

“He went this way!!!”

Receiving a blow to the side and a laceration from a knife to the ribs. After taking down 4 adult men. This is not some sort of manga or comic situation. This isn’t supposed to be something usual.

He is not some wanna-be delinquent high-schooler that is 3 times stronger than adults just because he knows little martial arts. He has a limit and an underdeveloped body and mind. That was just a child, running away from adults with murderous intentions. Somehow, he had to bring them down and save his upperclassmen.

Simply because Sendo was a very simple guy. A lot of people would come to watch his Kendo classes and matches, but no one would join the club. Amongst his club members, he was the only one striving to go to the nationals and succeed, while the others joined in because they thought it was cool.

In a sense, he was lonely.

But Sendo always cared whenever he saw someone in trouble. Because he knew how that felt better than anyone, despite his towering and wild appearance… He knew what it feels like to have no helping hand in the darkness until a few years ago… But that’s a story for another time.

While he may have adapted, it was a terrible experience – one that he hates seeing others going through. So right now he had another thought running through his head, despite being stressed immensely.

He had to be brave like his senpai on the train!

Sendo heard their cries as he shuffled ideas. He had to find a place where he could tip the odds.

He saw an unfinished construction site of a medium-sized apartment building unusually designed like an apartment building in new york rather than one you’d find in Japan! With a fire escape on top of it all! He quickly ran in front of the construction site, making sure all 3 of the men chasing him saw him entering the building after climbing over the fence, scratching himself even more on his abdominal area.

“FUCK! The little shit ran into the construction site!! Now what!!?”

“We break in, obviously!! That place won’t have a single person still inside at this hour!!”

“SHIT!”

They all shouted as they ran toward the fence, struggling to climb in; Giving Sendo enough time to position himself.

They all clumsily got in, injuring themselves a bit but not to a noticeable degree, after climbing the fence. There they saw Sendo climbing the fire escape.

He was no longer wearing his shirt on him, he was using it to seal the wound around his ribs as he was wearing his backpack properly, wielding the kendo sword in one arm while sweating like crazy all over. It was indeed, a hot evening.

The apartment building didn’t have lights on – the only way they and Sendo were able to see was due to the blue streetlights scarcely surrounding the construction sight.

He looked at the 3 from the fire escape after climbing several flights of stairs of the fire escape… There was no other way to go back down from there, besides jumping to either his death or to break his legs.

That other guy who was talking to him isn’t there. Maybe he gave up chasing him, he thought.

“Well, well, well, look at our little sword hero up there!! WHERE’S ALL THAT SPUNK YOU HAD EARLIER, HUH!!?”

“You’re our prey now, kid!!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll only break your teeth and hands!!”

They all yelled as he stood at the top of the fire escape, with no way that connects to the building. All the windows were sealed with some form of hardwood.

“Even if you say sorry and give us that bottle now…” One of them uttered as he climbed clumsily and stood at the bottom of the fire escape.

“…I’ll still beat you to death, little shit!!”

By then they all climbed to the bottom of the fire escape. Sendo stood 5 floors above them, and stood there, seemingly in shock as they began climbing.

“I can’t fucking believe dis is actually happening…!” Sendo mumbled loud enough so they could hear as they could only guess the expression on his face.

“What’s that!? YOU SHIT YOUR PANTS, LITTLE FUCKER!? Your mommy and daddy aren’t coming to save you!!!” He said as they all climbed to the 3rd flight of metal stairs.

Sendo then took a moment to look at the stars. Breathing in the fresh air on such a high floor for a few seconds.

“Tell me about it…” Sendo quietly uttered as he sighed when they reached the 4th flight of stairs.

“But what I can’t believe even more…” They slowed down as they reached the 5th flight of stairs, with Sendo standing at the top of it.

“Is how damn STUPID ya all are…! THANK YA for lining yerself up for me so nicely!!” Sendo yelled earnestly with a triumphant smile at the 3 adults – who had no room to maneuver anymore after climbing the sets of stairs.

Sendo then pointed his sword confidently at them as they faced him from below.

(In Street Fighter Announcer’s Voice)

Sendo Mahito VS 3 Horny Adults! START!!!

HEALTH BARS:

SENDO = |———– | 32/100 [STATUS: BLEEDING, FATIGUED]

ADU.#1 = |———————————-| 100/100

ADU.#2 = |———————————-| 100/100

ADU.#3 = |———————————-| 100/100

“Don’t act all cocky, shitty kid!! You also can’t run away anymore…!!!” The adult at the front shouts as he throws himself at the teen with a knife as he was running up the stairs.

He was desperate for the bottle. But Sendo was ready. He masterfully flicked the grown-up’s hand, disarming him – afterward strongly poking his eye with his wooden sword. He missed his eyeball by just a little, but it was enough to incapacitate his eye and make him bleed.

He then shouted and gasped as he tumbled backward. The other two caught the injured man and pushed him out of the way to the bottom of the 5th flight of stairs. He then laid on the bottom, squirming in pain as his eye bled as the other one ran up the stairs, without hesitation.

ADU.#1 = | | CRITICAL! -100hp! 0/100

ADULT 1, DEFEATED!

Yet, unexpectedly, Sendo jumped while latching onto the railing with one hand, and kicked the other man in his face as he climbed the stairs. He didn’t weigh enough to injure the man badly, but it was enough to make him stumble down the stairs.

ADU.#2 = |—————- | -51hp! 49/100

However, he didn’t fall down – as he was quick enough to also grab the railing as Sendo was kicking him. The man was stunned, but Sendo was too close to him to use his sword in an effective way! He had to do something quick before the man recovers and he’d be surrounded by these two adults! He had to make a decision quickly!

BOOM!

Sendo was kicked by ADU.#3! But it was not very effective due to the differences in their height! He stood too low in comparison to Sendo on the flight of stairs!

SENDO = |——- | -10hp! 22/100

It was now! Sendo had to make a call! He quickly decided to drop his sword, and repetitively beat ADU.#2 in the face until he fell down with his fists!

He dropped his sword through the flights of stairs. It fell all the way to the ground in the darkness as he began pummeling ADU.#2 as he was stunned by Sendo’s kick.

He dragged ADU.#2’s body to stand between him and ADU.#3 to make sure he wouldn’t get hit again as he rested his other arm on his shoulder to prevent ADU.#2 from attacking as he pummeled his face repetitively in quick successions!

ADU.#2 = |—————- | -5hp! 44/100

ADU.#2 = |————- | -5hp! 39/100

ADU.#2 = |———- | -5hp! 34/100

-10hp! -10hp! -5hp! -5hp!

ADU.#2 = | | -4hp! 0/100

ADU.#2 Lost consciousness as his entire face turned swollen and sprayed with his own blood! He was then yanked away by ADU.#3! He threw him off the staircase! He fell all the way to the 2nd flight of stairs and broke his leg!

ADU.#2 DEFEATED!!

But Sendo is growing more tired by the minute! His wound bled some more and he forgot to check his own status! He was more fatigued and injured than he thought!

SENDO = |—- | -4hp! 18/100

ADU.#3 = |———————————–| 100/100

“It’s over, kid! Our little game here ends now! I’m gonna fucking kill you!”

He has to end this NOW if he wants to win!

Sendo huffed and puffed. He barely had any strength to lift his arms…

And yet…

“… Take yer shot…!” Sendo whispered with a determined, fiery gaze staring down the final opponent.

Any trace of fear disappeared completely. Sendo leaped with all of his weight at the final adult!

They both tumbled down the stairs and reached the railing that was positioned at the bottom of the 5th flight of stairs.

“Crazy fuckin’ kid!”

ADU.#3 Said as Sendo pinned his back with his weight against the railing, almost dropping both of them down to the darkness.

ADU.#3’s back was struck powerfully against the railing!

But…

It wasn’t nearly enough.

ADU.#3 = |———————– | -25hp! 75/100

Sendo was too tired, ADU.#3 took advantage of the momentum to turn the tides! He pinned Sendo’s back against the railings! He then powerfully pushed him off of the railings!!!

….

…

..

BUT!!! Sendo managed to grab onto the metal floor right beneath the railing before falling!

“FUCKING SHIT!! Now give me the fucking bag, shitty kid! Maybe then, I’ll save you and kill you more quickly.” He uttered triumphantly and angrily as he looked downwards on the youth who was holding on to his life…

Gradually losing strength in his grip and his grasp on consciousness which was also fading away…

SENDO = |–| 11/100

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

His breathing became heavy and rugged, he could bearly keep his eyes open…

Sendo’s fate is sealed…

Or so it would’ve been if it weren’t for two more advantages he had…

The Adult Man’s Greed…

ADU.#3 Reached beyond the railings and tried to reach Sendo’s backpack which he was still wearing.

ADU.#3: “Almost there…~!” He bent further and further beyond the railings as he was stretching his arms to get to Sendo’s backpack.

ADU.#3: “GOT IT-“

He latched onto the backpack, but Sendo’s spirit’s reach was far beyond the opponent’s hand! Just as ADU.#3 grabbed the backpack’s handle, Sendo LATCHED his hand onto ADU.#3’s!

THE SECOND ADVANTAGE! SENDO’S INDOMITABLE SPIRIT!

ADU.#3: “H-hey… KID! The FUCK ARE YOU DOING! LET GO!” He yelled as he felt his body weight slightly tilting more than he accounted for to beyond the railings, but he was still holding on, trying to release Sendo’s grip with his other hand…

However… Sendo, with his final flame of fight… Did one last push-up as he clung to the man’s arm… Getting his face as close as possible to ADU.#3.

ADU.#3 knew what Sendo was about to do almost instinctively. His face paled as his eyes widened.

It was then, he realized, Sendo was no rabbit. He was a Jaguar, waiting for his opportunity to hunt his prey; the prey that wore the shape of 3 grown men.

Sendo then released all of his weight at once all the while still grabbing onto ADU.#3’s arm and yanking it in addition by using his remaining strength – making the adult fall beyond the railings along with Sendo into the darkness.

Sendo, in midair, used the adult’s state of shock and turned their positioning upside down midair. But instead of being greeted by hard concrete, they hit a high surface that was previously unseen, hidden away in the darkness.

A wooden scaffolding! ADU.#3 hit the scaffolding on his back as Sendo laid on top of him, breaking the scaffolding! They fell to the next, breaking it as well using the adult’s back!

He sustained a critical hit after critical hit while Sendo’s damage was minimal as they fell!

They finally hit and broke the last scaffolding, hitting the ground!

Needless to say…

ADU.#3 DEFEATED!!!

SENDO WINS!!!

The silence was palpable, only interrupted by Sendo’s labored coughs as he rolled off the unconscious adult, collapsing onto the ground. Staring up at the stars, he panted heavily, his body marked by dust, blood, and bruises. His condition was deteriorating rapidly; he was on the brink of passing out and desperately needed medical attention.

Struggling against his weakening body, Sendo managed to stand once more. His eyes, adjusting to the darkness, caught sight of his wooden sword nearby. Clumsily, he limped over and grabbed it. There was no time to call the police, and he doubted he could last long enough for help to arrive. He had to reach Riko’s house immediately.

Limping through the construction site toward the exit, he muttered to himself between heavy breaths.

“Mommy… And Daddy… Screw dem all… I can’t… Wait until da club hears about dis… Dis will surely… Draw… More members in…” Despite his dire state, he laughed and coughed simultaneously, each step forward a monumental effort.

Reaching the main exit, Sendo found it bolted shut, his body too drained to consider climbing. However, he wasn’t ready to give up—not yet. Scanning the construction site, he spotted bolt cutters nearby.

“Pant… pant… I sure am lucky today…” he gasped. The dusty, stagnant air of the site filled his lungs, each breath a mix of pain and determination as he forced himself towards the bolt cutters.

Every movement was exhausting, and ducking to pick up the cutters felt like an insurmountable task. Time was running out, both physically and mentally, but Sendo clung to his resolve, driven by the need to reach Riko and by the thought of his kendo club’s reaction to his ordeal.

If by some miracle he managed to muscle through and get to her house in time, what then? How would he face an even larger group? Sendo’s answer to that daunting question was as straightforward as his resolve:

‘I’ll make do, somehow.’

He reassured himself internally as he summoned every ounce of strength to cut through the chains locking the exit gate. Light beckoned at the end of the tunnel; he could finally start making his way there, despite his battered condition.

However, just as he pushed past the construction site’s boundary, he was met with the cold, hard reality of a gun barrel pointed directly at his head.

“Yo,” a familiar voice said nonchalantly.

BAM.

A loud, thundering noise erupted just outside the circle of the warm streetlights, shattering the night’s silence.

——————–IN FRONT OF RIKO’S HOUSE, SHORTLY BEFORE SENDO’S BATTLE STARTED—–

A large group walked toward the big house.

“That little girly seemed really cute back there…”

One uttered as he licked his lips, recalling the recent incident on the train.

“Hehehe… I can’t wait to fondle those big boobs…” Another one added as he made crude gestures with his fingers and hands while looking downwards in front of him – as if he could almost see himself doing it right then and there.

“I call dibs on her virginity… She’s definitely still a virgin. That boyfriend is just too much of a limp.” One more person added as he walked in front with a box of tools towards the house’s main gate.

10 people approached menacingly, breaching the main gate to Riko’s house’s garden without tripping the alarm…

“The other group won’t be mad if we have fun with her first… You know… We could say we tested the food before applying the sauce…”

They all erupted in manic laughter, the kind sparked by a particularly bad joke…

“Yo,” a voice cut through the cacophony.

…The type of joke this person would probably say.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“A foreigner?”

“What the fuck are you doing here? You a part of Seichiro’s group or somethin’? You’re supposed to be with them, robbing that blonde kendo kid.”

Their confusion mounted as they stared at the figure before them: a man with a shaved head, dressed in a black hoodie that shrouded just the parts he intended to hide, wielding a pristine metal baseball bat.

He stood alone between them and the door to Riko’s house.

Yuuto exhaled a weary sigh.

“You see, fellas… Normally, I’d stick around to chat, point out just how idiotic you all are, and boast about my superior intellect. I’d brag about the hidden cameras I’ve placed here, here, and here—all ready to catch your grimaces as I take you down. But tonight…”

Without warning, he swung his bat with precision at a crowbar-wielding man in front of him, effectively breaking his jaw. The impact sent the man crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

As the group reeled from the sudden violence, Yuuto continued, his tone cold.

“…Tonight, I’m just pissed because I broke my phone. So, come at me…”

“I’ll baseball your asses!” he declared, his expression blank but seething with anger.