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: "Huuuh...!!!?"