The intensity of Kazuya's violence, combined with the blood splattered on his face and clothes, presented a terrifying image. His expression was fierce, and the pointed edge of his weapon conveyed an unmistakable message: there would be no mercy for anyone today.
The members of the Kameda family finally began to feel fear. Some of their friends who had come along hoping for free drinks hesitated for a moment and then rushed downstairs. Jiro didn't dare utter a word of bravado and swiftly turned to run downstairs too. This time, he knew he had hit a brick wall. Kazuya was a formidable opponent, and he needed to take the long term into consideration.
Kazuya chased after them like herding sheep. He targeted the slowest runners. Two people found themselves cornered, attempting to resist but lasting only a short time before succumbing to Kazuya's blows and collapsing on the ground.
Although he wasted some time, Kazuya managed to catch up with Jiro in front of the apartment. Without bothering about the others, he kicked Jiro from behind, raining down a flurry of blows on his head. The wooden sword struck painfully against Kameda Jiro's head, making him cry out. He had lost the resisting will, "Mercy, mercy!"
Kazuya's expression was intimidating. Jiro questioned whether he could comprehend the gravity of the situation as a teenager. If Kazuya were to beat him to death today, the maximum sentence would be ten years for an underage, and he might be released in as little as three years or even declared innocent.
Kazuya was unfazed and showed no intention of stopping. His strikes became increasingly brutal, intending to make Jiro understand who can beat whom. Jiro's face was now a mess of blood. Just then, a terrified shout echoed from the street, "Stop! Drop your weapons... Now drop your weapons and crouch down! Quick!"
Two young police officers, one brandishing a baton, pointed at Kazuya, while the other quietly called for backup on a walkie-talkie. It wasn't that they were timid. Kazuya's current appearance was genuinely intimidating. His white shirt and tie were stained with fresh blood, and his handsome face exuded a cold, menacing aura. He looked more like a ruthless assassin with dozens of lives on his conscience than a high school student.
The scene behind him was horrifying: a chaotic mess of injured individuals, moaning in pain. The wounded were scattered from the street, extending into the entrance of the apartment. It was impossible to estimate how many victims were still inside the apartment.
These police officers felt an overwhelming sense of unease in this situation. With no access to firearms, and being low-ranking individuals not involved in criminal investigations, they were unable to handle such a violent encounter. And looking at Kazuya's fierce look, they were really afraid that he would go crazy and came up to beat them violently.
Fortunately, Kazuya retained some rationality despite his anger. He had no intention of confronting the state's machinery of violence. Glancing at the two visibly anxious policemen and then down at Jiro, who had lost consciousness due to the beating, Kazuya took a deep breath. He closed his eyes for a moment, calming his emotions, and then slowly dropped the wooden sword, raising both hands. Instead of crouching and covering his head, he shouted loudly, "Sir, it was self-defense. These people forcibly entered a residence."
Kazuya transitioned from a cold demeanor to a mild and handsome young man. The policemen approached cautiously, holding their batons. After scrutinizing Kazuya, they felt an inexplicable sense of goodwill, finding him less menacing than before. They relaxed a bit, but the situation on the ground, filled with injured individuals, was a stark reminder that Kazuya was the one responsible for all this.
One of them pulled out handcuffs and prepared to restrain Kazuya. Unwilling to be handcuffed, Kazuya whispered, "Sir, I'm not yet eighteen, and I won't run away. Is it necessary?" Taking advantage of the protection afforded by the Juvenile Protection Law, Kazuya hoped to enjoy a bit of privilege.
"Are you over fourteen?"
"I am..."
A crisp sound followed as Kazuya found himself cuffed. However, the policeman handcuffing him seemed somewhat uneasy. He signaled to the other one who fetched a towel from the police bicycle and draped it over Kazuya's cuffed hands. Trhen he pat his shoulder lightly, "Don't struggle too much, or the cuffs might tighten and hurt your hands."
Kazuya remained silent. He had previously complained about his high charm level, attracting mindless attention from girls. Now, ironically, he hoped for a charm level above a hundred. Perhaps that would lead to better treatment, and at least he wouldn't have to wear handcuffs.
After a moment, additional reinforcements from the police station arrived. The police cars wailed, and on the fourth floor, Yoko heard the commotion. She cautiously opened the door slightly and stiptoed down to get a glimpse. Downstairs, she saw a considerable number of police officers, and Kazuya being escorted towards a police car. She disregarded everything and sprinted downstairs, brushing past the police and medical personnel entering the building to inspect the aftermath of Kazuya's actions.
No one paid her any attention, but fear gripped her as she ran. She was afraid that Kazuya had caused a significant incident. She dashed out of the apartment, seeing Kazuya being gently forced into the car, tears blurring her vision. She exerted all her strength to shout, "Onisan!"
Kazuya paused and turned to look at her with a kind expression. He negotiated with the policeman, "Sir, she's my little sister. Can I have a few words with her?"
The policeman hesitated for a moment, glancing at Yoko, realizing she was only around ten years old with no threatening demeanor. Seeing her trembling little figure, he decided not to force Kazuya into the car. Instead, he turned to talk to the driver.
In a hurry, Yoko ran towards them, burying herself in Kazuya's arms. She held him tightly and choked with sobs, "Onisan, I'm sorry. I caused all this. I'm sorry!"
Despite being somewhat precocious for her age, Yoko lacked life experience. Hiding inside the apartment, she hadn't witnessed the events unfold. Confronted by numerous police officers, her instincts told her that something significant must have happened.
Kazuya crouched down, using his handcuffed hands to wipe away her tears. He consoled her gently, "Don't cry, Yoko. It's not a big deal. By the way, the police might question you later. Just tell them the truth, don't be scared, okay?"
"I'll take responsibility!" Yoko grabbed his hand, squeezing his large hand with her small one, nodding vigorously through her tears.
Kazuya chuckled helplessly, "You don't need to take responsibility for something I did. Don't talk nonsense, Yoko. Stay at home and wait for me to come back. Lock the door, call the police if anything happens. Take care of yourself and Toratoro."
Yoko anxiously protested, "But this happened because of me..."
Kazuya interrupted her, "Don't do anything unnecessary. Stay at home and wait for me, Yoko."
Although Yoko wanted to accompany Kazuya to the police station and share the hardships, she saw the seriousness in his expression and understood that her presence wouldn't be helpful. She suddenly reached out, hugging his neck. Pressing her little face against his, she earnestly said, "I will wait for you, Onisan, no matter how long it takes."
Despite Kazuya's continuous reassurance, Yoko felt that something big was happening relying on her experience from TV dramas. His words seemed to portray a farewell after enduring hardships.
The policeman nearby felt it was enough. He lightly patted Kazuya, interrupting their "farewell," and asked with a relatively gentle expression, "Is it okay now?" He found Kazuya unexpectedly likable, which contributed to his leniency. But he couldn't let them keep talking endlessly.
"Thank you, sir." Kazuya expressed his gratitude. He then instructed Yoko to go back before being pushed into the car, heading straight to the police station.
Sitting in the car, Kazuya glanced back and saw Yoko's petite figure standing by the roadside, seemingly desperately wiping away tears. He couldn't help but smile and shake his head. Yoko might have thought being taken away by the police was a grave matter, but in reality, it wasn't as serious as she imagined.
Despite he caused this awful event, Kazuya remained partially in control. He had been ruthless in the fight, but he believed he hadn't caused severe injuries, at most some superficial wounds or fractures.
Regardless of whether it was self-defense, taking lives would certainly draw significant attention and have lasting consequences. It could brand him as a different kind of murderer. Moreover, even in cases of legitimate self-defense, causing the deaths or disabilities of multiple individuals would be challenging to justify in court.
However, based on the current situation, he knew there would still be complications. He cloesd his eyes and focused on calming his mind, preparing to face the various challenges that lay ahead.