PART ONE.
~
At the sight of the uninvited guest, a surge of excitement coursed through Jomei's veins, causing him to clench his fists together eagerly. "Hell yeah! This punk's gonna pay for messing up my nose."
Little did he know that all Haruki could see was his ginger-haired friend lying on the ground, battered and bruised.
The injuries seemed far more severe than the last time Haruki had rescued Ken from a similar situation. Shock washed over him, mirrored by Ginger's equally perplexed expression, confirming what Ryoichi and Kazuo had warned him about earlier.
These beatings had been going on for a while.
And each time, Kentaro had suffered in silence like this?
Haruki let his bag strap slide off his shoulder and approached the trio with an unreadable expression.
Kentaro panicked. One would expect someone who had just been brutally beaten to feel relieved at the sight of help, but right now, Ken wished Haruki had never come.
He opened his mouth to speak, but only hoarse sounds escaped before he succumbed to a fit of unpleasant coughing.
"Run? Us?" Yasahiro, grasping Ginger's message, burst into laughter. "Who the hell do you think we are?"
A wave of relief washed over Kentaro, whose voice had reached them. He tried again, "I-If you don't, then he'll... cough, cough... Haru doesn't look alright..."
"Shut up! Are you that dense?" Yasahiro grabbed the injured Ken by the collar, pointing at Jomei, who had already approached Haruki, ready to strike. "Sugimoto can handle that punk just fine. Look—"
CRASH!
The noise shattered their standoff.
Both Kentaro and Yasahiro stared, bewildered, at the scene before them.
Jomei, the 'tough' guy who stood like an immovable building, now lay buried under a heap of old wooden boxes reduced to rubble by his heavy fall, knocked unconscious instantly.
Someone much smaller than him had effortlessly flung him aside.
Haruki towered over Jomei, gripping the back of his head with his left hand, but his attention focused on what lay ahead. And what he saw was Yasahiro, holding Kentaro by the neck, poised to pummel him mercilessly.
Releasing Jomei, Haruki straightened and advanced, his hooded eyes fixed dangerously on Yasahiro.
Kentaro's wide-eyed gaze shifted from the unconscious Jomei, to his terrifying friend, fear enveloping him. It's too late; he thought, already envisioning Yasahiro's impending fate. This guy was done for.
"Oihama-sempai... our differences aside, I'll still pray for you..."
"LIKE HELL I NEED YOUR PRAYERS!" Yasahiro growled, throwing Ken back to the ground. He turned to face the approaching Haruki. "Took you long enough, freshman."
Haruki halted just a few steps away, showing no intention of speaking or acting.
"What's wrong?" Yasahiro snorted, raising his chin defiantly. "Scared? Come at me."
The first-year calmly locked eyes with him.
Displeasure surged through Yasahiro, feeling slightly inferior even though the other person hadn't moved an inch. "What the hell? I told you to fight, didn't I? Who do you think you are, standing there all high and mighty?!"
And so, the third-year threw the first punch, aiming for Haruki's face with full force.
With ease, Haruki evaded this sluggish attack, seizing numerous openings before launching his own assault.
Yasahiro found himself face-to-face with the smaller figure beside him, Haruki's left hand poised open and hovering just in front of his face. In the next moment, he heard Haruki's simple words:
"You should've run."
And then Haruki's hand covered Yasahiro's face completely, forcefully driving him down onto the unforgiving, uneven ground.
The brutal impact sent Yasahiro's head spinning in agony, leaving him disoriented and bewildered. But he refused to surrender without a fight. With a swift recovery, he seized the arm still clasping his face, determined to wrench Haruki away. Yet to his astonishment, the kid's iron grip held firm, unyielding.
"You're not much of a fighter, are you?" Haruki made a judgement based on the other's pathetic strength. "So why keep pretending?"
"Don't you dare mock me!" Yasahiro strained against the unmovable hand, bewildered by the monstrous strength possessed by this punk.
"Seems like senior has been idle these days. Or do you just enjoy my friend's company that much?" Haruki spoke with icy composure.
"Let go, you damn—"
WHAM!
Yasahiro's release was accompanied by a sudden blow to his face, leaving him momentarily dazed. As blood rushed to the impacted area, pain flooded his senses when he was abruptly hoisted off the ground and slammed into a solid brick wall.
Only then did the agony fully register, prompting him to unleash a chilling scream.
"Is this all it takes to put you down?" Haruki approached, crouching beside the writhing figure. "Pathetic. Compared to the guy you just beat up, you're nothing but a disgrace."
WHAM—Another punch landed with a sickening thud.
"Hey, do you know how old Ginger is?"
Yasahiro, clutching his bleeding nose, was too consumed by pain to respond, his thoughts clouded in a haze of torment.
Unfazed, Haruki gripped both of Yasahiro's hands, exposing his battered face once more, and delivered yet another punch. Calmly, he continued, "I'm talking to you. Do you know?"
"No... I don't know!" Yasahiro finally shook his head frantically. "I really don't!"
Halting his poised fist, Haruki tilted his head and mused, "I figured as much. Well, let me enlighten you. He's twelve, and he'll be a teenager come winter break. And how old are you guys?"
"Why—" Yasahiro began, but his question was interrupted by another blow. This time, Haruki's fist found its mark in Yasahiro's gut, causing him to double over in pain, as if he might vomit.
"Six... Sixteen, cough, cough, cough... WE'RE SIXTEEN!"
"Whoa, older than I thought," Haruki smiled insincerely. "That's nearly four years on him. You know what that means."
"W-WAIT—" Before Yasahiro could mount a defense, Haruki was already upon him, pinning his arms to the ground with his knees, ensuring the senior couldn't escape or shield himself. Haru, clad in his black martial arts attire, seemed unfazed by the prospect of getting it dirty.
Aligning his fist with Yasahiro's face, Haruki unleashed the first punch...
Then the next, followed by another, until the fourth blow landed.
By now, Haru's smile carried a sinister edge as he made his twisted case. "See, I'm being fair here, as sweet as can be."
"You... YOU'RE INSANE!" Yasahiro screamed, struggling in vain to break free. With Haruki showing no sign of relenting, desperation forced him to cry out, "HELP! SOMEBODY, PLEASE!"
Kentaro wore a perplexed expression, mirroring the thoughts swirling in his mind. He had already sensed that an offended Haruki possessed a dangerously vindictive nature, but this current display was beyond insane.
Was this really because of him?
With a firm grip over Yasahiro's mouth, Haruki placed a finger to his own lips, signaling for silence. Drawing attention was the last thing he wanted in this moment. Today, all the pent-up frustration within him would be unleashed, and no one was going to stop him.
After all, this trash right here was the main reason Haruki relationship with Kentaro was currently floating around in shit.
"Shush, you're being unreasonably loud."
"Mmmmffff.... Nmmmmphh!!"
"Let's move on to the next issue, alright?" Haru's smile vanished, replaced by a chilling expression that made Yasahiro fear for his life. "How long have you two been cornering Ginger, hmm?"
Releasing his hold on Yasahiro's mouth, Haruki expected an answer. Instead, the smartass seized the opportunity to cry out for help.
"ANYONE, PLEASE! THERE'S A LUNATIC KID HERE! HE'S INSANE—"
"Wrong answer!" Haruki struck him again.
"AHHHHH.... PLEASE... SOMEONE... ANYONE... NO MORE!!!"
Yet, it was futile.
Each time Yasahiro attempted to scream, Haruki's fists rained down upon him relentlessly.
Again and again...
Until his knuckles were smeared with blood.
Until Yasahiro could no longer cry out.
Kentaro shuddered at the sight, feeling a surge of determination. Despite his injured leg, he had been struggling to rise, preparing himself for action. However, if he didn't act soon, matters would undoubtedly spiral out of control.
~~~
PART TWO.
~
"H-Haru..." Ginger's voice trembled but failed to reach its intended target. The other person was just too far away.
"How long?" Haruki's attention fixated solely on his opponent, his fist ominously poised above the older boy's battered face.
Yasahiro wanted to respond, to answer the question, but the excruciating pain rendered him incapable of coherent speech. All that escaped his lips were muffled groans, the desperate cries of a sobbing child.
Unfortunately, Haruki felt no remorse. At the end of the day, they were all kids who'd gotten into a fight, right?
He seized Yasahiro by the collar of his jacket, shaking him vigorously. "Hey, you! Don't you dare pass out. I'm not finished with you!"
There was nothing inherently wrong with his actions.
Yes, that's right. It was all their fault—
"HARUKI!"
Finally, he snapped out of his frenzy, turning his attention to Ginger, who had managed to rise to his feet at last.
"S-Stop... that's enough," Kentaro croaked, his voice strained.
"They did that to you," Haruki said bluntly, his words laced with anger.
Kentaro tried to assure him, though his voice was still laced with a hint of fear. "I'm fine, really... You've already taught them a lesson. It's... it's fine now."
Haruki glared back at the person he was gripping by the collar, his thoughts consumed by the belief that these guys deserved whatever punishment they received. He raised his hand, ready to strike the barely conscious Yasahiro again.
"Haruki, don't!"
Yeah, it was their fault Ginger was badly hurt. So he would just...
Before Haruki could swing his fist, warmth enveloped his arm, forcefully pulling it back. Kentaro stood behind him, holding his arm with a death-grip, his expression filled with horror.
"Can't... CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S ALREADY OUT OF IT? IIF PEOPLE WERE TO COME HERE RIGHT NOW, YOU'D BE..." Kentaro's voice cracked, his words desperate. "... Just stop, alright?"
Feeling bitter, Haruki retorted, "They started it!"
"They beat me up, not you! Why are you the one who's so angry?"
Kentaro's words cut deep, leaving Haruki wounded. His anger intensified, and he snapped, "Fine, let people find out then. Clearly doesn't make a difference!"
That's not what I meant; Kentaro felt helpless. Still, he tenaciously clung onto Haruki's arm, trying to protect him from his own rage. At least this way, the guy wouldn't be able to hurt people.
At least, that's what he'd thought.
Ginger's blood ran cold as he heard Haruki's flat warning, "Get off before I throw you."
"No..."
"Kentaro."
"I'm terrified, okay?!" Ginger finally shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "I don't know what you'll do if I let go, and it scares me!"
Compared to this version of Haruki, the bullies' demeanor terrified him far less. And that was why Ginger's fear reached its peak despite facing his friend.
Still, Haruki quietly urged, "If you're scared, then close your eyes so you don't have to see."
"No! Let's just go home, okay?"
Haruki's grip relaxed upon hearing those words.
"I want us to go home," Kentaro pleaded, his voice desperate. "Please."
It was as if Haruki had awakened from a daze, realizing the state Yasahiro was in. He felt a pang of shock at his own actions.
He went too far...
"Haru?" Ginger was unsure of what was going through Haruki's mind. He half-expected him to carry out his plans and throw him off.
But Haruki simply took a deep breath and stood up, releasing the semi-conscious Yasahiro in a state of shock. In the end, he complied with Ginger's wishes.
***
The journey back home was filled with an uncomfortable silence that bothered Kentaro. He paid no mind to the curious stares and attention they received from passing strangers due to their unconventional piggy-back situation. There were more pressing concerns on his mind.
Haruki's unreadable mood worried him.
Was he still resentful, or perhaps regretful? Kentaro didn't want to dwell on it. What scared him more was the fact that Haruki remained silent, even when they were alone.
The stifling atmosphere persisted even after they reached Kentaro's house, if anything, it seemed to grow heavier. Ginger was only relieved that Haruki didn't run off immediately, and he even helped him clean up and change into comfortable clothes after a painful shower.
Kentaro sat obediently on his bed while Haru knelt before him, focused on lightly wrapping his busted ankle with an elastic bandage.
"How's your throat now?" Haruki finally broke the silence, his voice casual.
"It's..." Kentaro coughed a few times before continuing, "It's better than before."
"Hm."
"What about... my condition? Is it serious?" Kentaro asked, noticing that Haruki had fallen silent again.
"You haven't broken any actual bones, except for the fractured ankle. You have bruises here and there, but they'll fade with time. Your chest seems fine, and I didn't feel any broken ribs. But I'm no doctor, so we should visit a clinic to be sure..." Haruki explained, pausing to consider if there was anything else to add. "You just need some rest. Give your ankle a couple of days, and you'll be fine."
Having said all that, he fell silent once more.
Kentaro emitted a soft grunt, his eyes fixed on the diligent packing of the First Aid kit by the other. The question that had burdened his thoughts for the duration finally escaped his lips, tinged with curiosity. "How did you manage to find me? I thought you'd be having Judo."
Haruki released a helpless chuckle, devoid of power. "You really didn't want me there, huh?"
"No, I just..."
"Fine, let's not dwell on it anymore," Haruki interjected, nudging the box back beneath the bed. "Ryoichi and Kazuo told me everything."
Ginger listened quietly as Haruki explained.
"They witnessed it a few days ago, and somehow managed to temporarily stop it. They would have informed me earlier if you hadn't sworn them to secrecy, claiming that you would explain everything yourself." His gaze shifted toward Ginger, "But you weren't planning to tell me anything, were you? Even if I hadn't found out today, you would have kept me in the dark."
Kentaro remained silent.
"I guess the whole 'nanny' charade was fake, right?" the other had already figured it out. "You only told me that to protect those trash."
Kentaro pursed his lips, avoiding eye contact. His friend's anger could be sensed in his composed tone, even without him raising his voice.
Rubbing the space between his brows, Haruki continued, "You know, I've always known I'm a pathetic excuse for a friend, but I didn't realize it was to this unreliable extent..."
"That's not the reason," Kentaro finally spoke, his voice tinged with earnestness.
Haruki's memory suddenly jogged, and he glanced to the side with a bitter smile. "Oh, I forgot. I'm intimidating. Makes sense for you to be afraid of me."
Kentaro remained silent, confirming Haru's suspicions and further pricking his emotions. For a moment, Haruki struggled to find the right words, yet he knew exactly what needed to be done.
"Well then, let's just pretend this never happened and both walk away."
Kentaro stared at him, perplexed.
Haruki pressed on, "Remember when you said you wouldn't be my friend anymore? It wasn't such a terrible idea. Let's just end it here and now."
~~~~~~
Mini Theatre for next chapter (hehe):
Rue-chan: "Let's end this."
Ginger: ~Silence~
Rue-chan: "Hey, did you hear me? I said let's-"
Ginger: *grumbles* "Whiny little b@$%&..."
Rue-chan: "Bro, wtf?!"