'I never expected someone to save me when I am in a pinch. Even in my hardest times, I didn't indulge myself in believing in any deities, heroes, or benefactors. The world is too big, there are many people taking care of their own businesses, dealing with thousands of important problems. My suffering is just another problem in the middle of billions of others. There is no special reason for me to be saved. And even if some people do get saved sometimes, it is a matter of luck, chance.
'For example, I didn't expect that anybody would save us in this situation, but here I am, looking at this very person I swear didn't exist.'
It was hard for Hayato to accept that it was really happening. Something he denied with all his heart was happening in front of his eyes.
That old man, who should be only a delusional and senile person, with nothing much to do in that situation instead of obeying, was the first person to oppose those guys. Not only did he oppose them, but he also confronted the group and, at least against two of them, he won. With a simple flick of his hand and a dagger, he did it.
'Just what kind of person is he?'
Hayato's heart throbbed. For a moment, he wondered whether he felt fear or anxiety. However, that was not the case at all. What he felt was excitement.
'I don't really know, but I want to be like that.'
The old man, with a speed that didn't match his age at all, jumped on top of one of the vehicles, using it as a platform to jump even higher, this time toward the flying motorcycle. He spun in the air and delivered a kick on one of the motorcycle's main propellers. The kick was strong enough to shatter it like it was made of glass.
Without its propeller, that motorcycle was like any other vehicle. It fell to the ground, crashing against the other vehicles. The remaining robber still alive on top of that motorcycle hit his head on the fall. Either he was dead or unconscious, but he did not move a single finger after that.
"Ok. So we have four more, huh?" He commented as he casually walked toward the unconscious/dead robber and took the dagger that was stuck to his shoulder.
'He didn't take one of their firearms or the other melee weapons they had, which visibly had a better quality than that dagger. Yet, why does he seem so intimidating with that thing? There is nothing special with that dagger at all. It's just a simple weapon like any other. However...'
Hayato wondered whether he was too much of a coward or something, but he clearly noticed that the people around him shared the same opinion about the old man's aura. Even the robbers flinched when staring at him.
'I think it's his expression, then. Maybe that's it. But I barely can see his face since he has his back slightly turned to me. A-Anyway, there is no point in trying to find an explanation for this. Rather, I would like to know why did he think I would be of any help to... to him...'
Hayato took a moment to think about that. He placed his right hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat.
'Does he know? Does he know what I am capable of? Or did he just suppose I am someone different? How could he, though? That's a very unreasonable way of interpreting his statement. Maybe he only saw in me some anger because of this messed up situation and thought I would be a good meat shield if I decided to advance. Yeah, there is no way he figured everything out so suddenly. I can't believe it.'
The old man looked over his shoulder, glancing at Hayato as if knowing that he was thinking about him. That sharp look of his made a chill run down Hayato's spine.
He nodded his head, then turned to the robbers again at the exact moment they opened fire against him. He kicked the ground and advanced across the street, zigzagging across the cars and using them as covers not to get shot. Again, the swiftness of that old man impressed the civilians, who just stood in place while watching him act.
'Ah, I see... That nodding was not something like "I am counting on you". No, he was saying something like "Get the fuck outta here with these people". That's why he said all these things. He wasn't expecting me to fight but just to react. In some way, freeing their hostages is a means to mess with their plans, thus hurting them. With my current power, that's all I can do, I guess.'
Hayato breathed in deeply, as much as his lungs could take.
'If this is the case, I need to wake these people up. Even if I cause a ruckus, I need them to react!'
"RUUUN!!"
Hayato's voice was not loud. Usually, he maintained it in a very low pitch. Even when he yelled, you wouldn't consider it a yell.
Nonetheless, he didn't need to reach many people with his voice. Only a few people were enough. The feeling of urgency to get out of there was going to infect the others like a potent virus.
That's exactly what happened with that crowd of people. Little by little, they woke up and began to run towards the only exit they had, which was in front.
'If we can get out first, they won't have hostages anymore and will be trapped in this one-exit street. Their own trap will turn against them!' Hayato thought.
"Hey!" Mizuno shouted as he aimed at the crowd. He was ready to shoot, trying to prevent them from running away, but taking his aim off of the old man was his biggest mistake.
Once seeing that opening, the old man dodged one of the shots and finally got up on top of a near car. Before the leader of the robbers could shoot, he threw the dagger. His weapon spun in the air and crossed all the way to the robber at a high speed.
It perfectly reached the robber's wrist, slicing it like his flesh and bones were made out of butter. Before Mizuno even thought of pulling the trigger, his hand got cut off by a flying dagger. He lasted yet two or three seconds to realize what just happened to him.
The leader let out a pained cry as he held his arm, which gushed blood everywhere. The strong gush of blood spilled on the person riding the bike together with Mizuno, disturbing their aim and giving an even wider opening to the old man.
Meanwhile, the crowd kept creating distance from where the battle took place. These first seconds were very important in that regard. They had to create space for the old man to fight without worrying about them.
'He... he is actually holding them up. He is holding them up just fine! Amazing!' Hayato thought. The whole time, he had been glancing over his shoulder to check on him. He had no reason to worry about the old man, but his well-being meant his and all citizens' safety.
Of course, there was no need to worry. After all, with all those openings, the old man could move freely around the battlefield without much trouble. He dodged the bullets as if they were nothing, all his movements were carefully calculated.
For ordinary people, doing something like that was impossible or, at the very least, would take a huge mental and physical effort. Not for the old man, though. He did it as casually as taking a stroll around the park.
After circling the robbers and forcing them to regroup, the old man had everything staged. He kicked the roof of one of the cars again, dashing forward at full speed, thus breaking his original course. A bullet passed right by his ear, but he didn't even flinch.
Seeing the upcoming threat, the leader of the robbers felt cornered.
'This old fucker just took my hand and killed two of my partners. He is no ordinary man. I can't underestimate him. However, it's not like I am totally at a disadvantage here. While the only thing I need to worry about are the bags I am carrying, this idiot has an entire crowd of cockroaches to protect. He could have stopped me once, but how long can he fight while protecting them?'
"Change of plans! Activate the other explosives!" he shouted at one of his partners who was too busy trying to stop the old man from reaching them.
"What!? Now? Are we going for plan B all of a sudden?" a female voice answered.
"Yes! We don't have another choice, we are cornered! If these civilians get out, we are done for, so we need to close this street entirely. Just do it already and take that freaking building down!" With his only good hand, the leader took another weapon on his waist and opened fire against the old man as he spoke.
In the middle of his rush, the old man glanced at Hayato again, just when the latter looked at him. As their eyes met, they seemed to get what each other meant.
"The explosives..." Hayato muttered.
'My role here is to protect the citizens and lead them out of this street. Now that they are finally running away, I can't let them close this street!'