[Ding!]
[Successfully avenged Chiba Shino!]
[Reward:100Revenge Points!]
[Ding!]
[Character: Chiba Shino]
[Age:19]
[Attribute: Sukeban]
[Revenge Progress:30%]
[Ding!]
[Host: Fujii Shu]
[Age:18]
[Revenge Points:700]
[Disposable Cash:110,000yen]
[Skills:1. HAYMAKER 2. Voice Recorder 3. Basic Professional Knowledge]
[Items: None]
[Revenge Targets:1. Shimizu Airi 2. Chiba Shino]
...
Arakawa University Bicycle Parking Shed
Ogiwara Saki swiftly unlocked her bike, the long chain lock brushing against her slender legs wrapped in white knee-high socks, causing gentle ripples. Moments later, she emerged from the parking shed, pushing an unassuming beige women's bicycle.
"Ogihara-san, where do you live?"
Fujii Shu glanced at her long bangs with curiosity and asked softly.
"N-North Kitasenju…" Ogiwara Saki still appeared as delicate as ever,and her voice still very soft and gentle.
"Adachi area?"
"Haii."
"Want me to take you home?"
"Huh? Emm…"
"No? Alright, then."
"No, that's not it, I…"
Saki Ogihara flusteredly tried to explain, her voice rising slightly.
"Wouldn't this be too much trouble for Fujii-kun?"
She lowered her head nervously, sneaking a hopeful glance at Fujii Shu through her round glasses.
"It's no trouble; it's on my way."
Fujii Shu said nonchalantly, tossing his backpack into Ogiwara Saki's arms without the slightest hesitation, completely ignoring the two spheres on her chest. He then turned the tables and casually hopped onto her bicycle.
"Hop on, I'll take you home."
"Huh? Okay…"
Hearing Fujii Shu's voice, Ogiwara Saki tilted her hips and slowly sat down on the back seat. Even though it was her own bicycle, one she had ridden for two or three years, today it felt strangely unfamiliar.
As she glanced at the boy's back, Ogiwara Saki's heartbeat quickened a few beats.
"Ring-ring!"
Fujii Shu rang the bell and pushed hard on the pedals.
With the crisp sound of a bell, the bicycle chain began to turn on the slightly warm September evening.
In Japan, it's technically against the rules to carry passengers on the back of a bicycle, but much like how few are asked for ID when buying alcohol, it's a regulation seldom enforced.
Riding along the embankment of the Sumida River, the breeze was gentle, and the setting sun painted the perfect backdrop.
Fujii Shu, however, broke the moment by asking," My sweet Ogihara-san, why didn't you leave the restroom earlier?"
"Uh, well…" Saki Ogihara paused, as though caught off guard by an embarrassing street interview question. After a few seconds of thought, she finally murmured,"Actually, I can't explain it clearly."
"It's just..."
"It's just that I feel like I can't leave Fujii-kun there alone."
Saki Ogihara had believed that it was because of her involvement that he was dragged into it and ended up being bullied by the school's group of troublemakers.
"So ga…" Fujii Shu slowed down slightly.
"But didn't you realize you might get yourself into trouble by staying?"
"Chiba Shino isn't exactly forgiving. She'll likely retaliate against you after this thing."
Hearing the seriousness in Fujii Shu's voice, with an unspoken hint of concern, Ogiwara Saki felt a warmth spread through her heart.
"I know that…"
"But it's my fault for dragging you into this, Fujii-kun."
"You were just passing by, and because of me, you got caught up in this mess."
"That's not quite right…" Fujii Shu pedaled steadily, navigating through the traffic light.
"With a school this small, it was only a matter of time before Chiba Shino picked on me too."
"Besides, she's already bullied me plenty before this."
"Still…" Saki Ogihara tightened her grip on the hem of his school uniform. "I'm sorry, Fujii-kun."
"You're so stubborn," Fujii Shu grumbled. "I already said it's not your fault."
"Ah, forget it.Fine."
"Think whatever you like."
Some people are just naturally stubborn.
Fujii Shu couldn't be bothered to explain any further, so he simply pedaled a bit faster.
The breeze ruffled his bangs, and Ogiwara Saki's gaze lingered on Fujii Shu's handsome face through the rearview mirror of the bike. Her thoughts drifted, and she found herself lost in her own mind.
After dropping Ogiwara Saki off at home, Fujii Shu boarded the Tokyo Arakawa Line at the station. But instead of heading home, he was on his way to his part-time job at a convenience store in Higashi-Okubo.
As a struggling worker in Tokyo, taking a day off or skipping work was never an option for him. In fact, he rarely even showed up late.
The convenience store where he worked was located on the busy street of the Higashi-Okubo shopping district, open 24 hours a day.
It was situated near the bustling commercial area of Machiya to the east, connected to Nishi-Nippori and Kita-ku to the south, and adjacent to Nishi-Okubo to the west. With heavy foot traffic and an excellent location, it was a prime spot.
Of course, the rent was exorbitant.
However, it is said that the store manager, Matsumoto Yuriko, owns an entire apartment building in the Taito Ward, collecting rent each month in such quantities that it would make anyone's head spin. For someone like her, the rent of a mere convenience store was hardly a concern.
Moreover, for someone as wealthy as Matsumoto Yuriko, opening a convenience store in Higashi-Okubo and running it herself might not be about necessity, but rather a way to add a bit of excitement to her otherwise monotonous life as a bored socialite.
Ding-dong!
The automatic door chimed softly.
The cashier instinctively greeted,"Irasshaimase…"
"Aii, it's you, Fujii!"
"Yuko-senpai, I'm here to take over."
Walking into the convenience store, Fujii Shu looked up at the woman behind the counter.
Yuko Sakura, his co-worker for the evening.
She had just turned 20 this year, a student at a nearby women's university.
The tuition fees for Japan's national universities are exorbitant. A slightly better national university costs over 800,000 yen per year, and private universities are even more expensive, starting at a million yen. Most ordinary families simply can't afford it.
As a result, many students in Japan take on part-time jobs while carrying student loans, struggling to make ends meet.
Yuko Sakura was one of them, caught in a relentless cycle that seemed to have no end.
"You're almost half an hour late today, not at all like you," Yuko said, glancing at her phone screen before looking at Fujii Shu's handsome face.
"Ah, sorry. I got held up on the way."
Fujii Shu was usually early by 10–30 minutes but had uncharacteristically arrived late today.
"No big deal; there are still a few minutes left on my shift."
"Go change."
Sakura Yuko said nonchalantly, while Fujii Shu merely nodded lightly and walked into the staff break room at the back of the convenience store.
He took off his casual jacket and put on the drab brown-green convenience store uniform. After pulling on his mask and baseball cap, he stuffed his clothes and backpack into a locker and locked it up.
Once he finished, he left the break room and headed toward the cash register.
He grabbed the basket next to the counter, filled with items that customers had temporarily abandoned or decided against after realizing they'd gone over budget at checkout.
Fujii Shu needed to return those items to the shelves.
"Fujii, keep an eye on the front for me while I change," Sakura Yuko called out.
"Haii, Yuko-senpai," he replied.