September 5 (Morning) — Sakagami Academy portal
Hiro Vermillon, who''d just passed through the school gates, was already yawning. It was going to be a difficult day.
???????? — (What a fucking idiot, I knew it was a bad idea to sleep late... It''s all the fault of this damn game...)
He''d spent a good part of the evening playing this online video game with his classmates that he''d made from day one, which resulted in a lack of sleep.
It wasn''t going to be a good day for the young man with the blue hair.
Kamui, Hiro''s best friend, looked at him worriedly.
?????????? — Maybe we should help him, Reina. He shouldn''t be dropping out of school on the second day after all!
?????????? — Don''t worry. He''ll be fine, he''s just a little sleepy, and besides, it''s not like we''re in a strict private high school in the capital. The academy is precisely designed to receive people from cultures other than Japan, so we don''t have the same teaching methods.
?????????? — Yeah, I guess you''re right, I''m still going to keep an eye on him because with him everything can go really fast.
?????????? — Well then, I trust you!
Reina was a third— year student and the class delegate.
?????????? — Yeah perfect, will you come and have lunch with us?
?????????? — Unfortunately I''m pretty busy at the moment with the club... I''ll be taking my break later.
In fact, Reina is a member of the Aikido club. The boys had learned this the night of the incident with the thugs.
◇ ◇ ◇
The blue— haired boy headed for his locker and as he opened it, a letter containing a heart motif fell to the floor.
???????? — ?!
He picked it up quickly and discreetly so that no one would see, then read its contents discreetly and hid it in his pocket before changing his expression. He seemed more awake and cheerful than 5 minutes ago.
???????? — This is going to be the best day of my life!
?????????? — I think I missed an episode, why did he get so happy?
?????????? — I don''t know but in any case so much the better, we won''t have to look after him.
The morning''s classes went well, with Kamui and Hiro both in good form, only Hiro was making a few discreet trips on his laptop without being spotted by the teacher.
?????????? — But what''s he been doing all this time?" he muttered annoyed.
Kamui was intrigued by what Hiro was doing; he had a good nose for anything that went wrong and understood that this story would certainly end badly, knowing his friend and his habits.
?????????? — Don''t tell me he''s doing what I think....?
[Canteen]
The two boys were sitting face to face, accompanied by their tray, which was rather well stocked with food.
?????????? — Spit it out, what''s been making you happy all this time?
Kamui didn''t beat about the bush, looking increasingly stressed by the answer to his question.
???????? — Oh, this? It''s nothing..." he replied partially.
?????????? — Are you sure?
???????? — Yes.
?????????? — Then you won''t mind if I borrow this?
He quickly grabbed Hiro''s phone from beside him and unlocked it.
???????? — Please give it back to me, I assure you it''s really nothing!!! he said in a desperate tone.
?????????? — We''ll go here.
Kamui was rummaging through Hiro''s phone when he came across one of his notifications. Clicking on it, he saw a hundred messages scrolling past with a contact called Sora.
?????????? — So my suspicion was right... Are you talking to someone?...
???????? — ...Yeah. She''s a girl who sent me a letter in my locker and we''ve been getting to know each other ever since.
He felt embarrassed to have to unpack all this in front of his friend.
?????????? — I see I see... Wait a second how does a girl you don''t even know send you a love letter knowing we''re new here??? Don''t you see the problem with this story?
???????? — Just say you''re jealous you don''t have a secret admirer like me.
?????????? — I could but I don''t want to destroy what little pride I have left.
Hiro''s phone vibrated, announcing that he had just received a new message. Instinctively, Kamui handed him the mobile.
?????????? — I''ll let you do as you like, but be careful, she''s new to the app, that''s an alarming detail.
???????? — She told me it''s because she created her account especially to talk to me. Isn''t it crazy how women will do anything for men like us?
?????????? — The only thing I can describe as crazy is the scam you''re running. I''ll give you some friendly advice: it''s obvious it''s a fake account!
???????? — Stop talking nonsense...
The boy consulted his phone to read the new message and froze in place.
?????????? — What''s going on?
???????? — E...E...She wants to meet!
?????????? — Don''t go.
???????? — Why?!?!?!
?????????? — I can smell a scam! You''re only going to get ripped off.
???????? — Yeah, if you like.
Hiro stood up, picked up his tray and started to leave.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
???????? — Since you''re such a hater, I''ll leave you alone to get angry, see you later.
?????????? — Honestly, this guy doesn''t know what he''s in for... In the best of worlds this girl really is one and she''s making her declaration to him but in the worst case it''s just a trap... I need to see this with my own eyes!
He stood up and took his tray to leave the canteen.
[4:20pm — School exit]
?????????? — Where is he PUTAIN?! This fool runs fast.
Kamui came out of the school breathless, trying to catch up with Hiro who had already disappeared from his field of vision.
— Well, too bad for him, he''s old enough to handle his own problems.
Sigh.
Reina arrived next to Kamui, also aware of what was about to happen.
?????????? — Has he really disappeared?
?????????? — Yeah, I lost track of him....
?????????? — Let''s go and find it!
?????????? — Let''s split up, we''ll find him faster that way!
?????????? — Okay, I''ll look around the school and you head for the park, these are potentially the two places where high schoolers hang out after class!
?????????? — Ok ok, I''ll—
— Are you Kamui?
A stranger approached and called out to the young boy, who was about to set off in search of his friend.
?????????? — O... Yes, you are?
— No matter. I was sent here to give you this letter. Now that it''s done, I can go.
The stranger handed Kamui the letter, then left without saying a word.
Reina — What could it be...?
She looked at Kamui, intrigued.
?????????? — We''ll see right away.
He opened the letter, carefully unfolded the paper and began to read.
?????????? — 4.30pm, at the waste center.
?????????? — this doesn''t smell right... You shouldn''t go.
She took a serious tone.
?????????? — I have to go, imagine this letter has something to do with Hiro? The consequence could be "we have your friend hostage if you don''t come we''ll kill him" or something like that.
?????????? — Yeah, I guess you''re right, I''ll let you go, I''ll continue my research on my own and call you if I hear anything!
?????????? — Same here!
◇ ◇ ◇
[4:30 p.m. — Waste collection center]
?????????? — The boy arrived at the garbage dump just outside town. At first glance, it looked deserted, but if you looked carefully, you could see a figure sitting at the top of a pile of garbage.
— Who are you?!
? — Oi... So you''re the famous Kamui? You''re skinnier than I imagined.
The man stood up and looked down at Kamui.
?????????? — You''re the one who sent me that letter, aren''t you?
? — Yeah, I hope you don''t mind. I wanted to meet you so I had to separate you from your bro.
?????????? — Bro.. You mean Hiro?! So it was you?
? — You could say that.
?????????? — Where is it?!
? — I let him have his fun with one of my acquaintances, don''t worry, in the meantime I''ve got scores to settle with you.
?????????? — Accounts to settle...?
◇ ◇ ◇
[Hiro''s side — school roof].
???????? — I''m not mentally ready, it''s my first time with a girl, I can''t wait!
The boy entered the roof door of the school and saw a figure with his back to him.
— That''s got to be her!
He ran towards the figure.
— S— Hello, is that you Sora.prv?
? — The person turns to the boy with the blue hair.
— Yeah, that''s me.
The face of a man with long black hair appeared in front of Hiro.
???????? — Huh???
? — Do you remember me? I''m the one you attacked like a coward yesterday, today we''re going to give you a party.
???????? — Wha...What? What do you mean, what? It was a lookout ????
? — A group of boys who had been hiding in corners of the building all arrive to surround Hiro.
? — This time you won''t be able to run away from me, Sanda Ryoma, Karasu''s underboss, will show you that you''ve attacked the wrong person.
???????? — I should have listened to Kamui after all...
?????????? — I don''t know what you mean, but one thing''s for sure, I''m going to knock your socks off!
???????? — Tss... And to think I finally thought I had a chance...
The boy took a more serious tone.
???????? — Damn it, I hope there aren''t any cameras around here because there''s going to be a massacre.
?????????? — You''re a good lad, don''t you want us to get into trouble for what we''re going to do to you?
???????? — You''ve misunderstood, guys... You''re the future victims.
He nonchalantly removed his jacket and tossed it aside.
?????????? — Oooh, you really think you can beat me one on one?
He glanced at his buddies.
?????????? — Make a circle. We''ll settle this quickly.
The riffraff complied, forming a makeshift arena that blocked all exits.
???????? — Nice staging. I hope your level is up to the show.
?????????? — Shut up and fight.
???????? — Don''t cry too much when you''re on the ground.
?????????? — Don''t worry about me. You''ll pick it up.
???????? — So, if you''ll allow me...
Without waiting, Hiro lunged, pivoting on himself before unleashing an acrobatic kick. His style, taekwondo, was often seen as too artistic a sport, but in a military setting, it became a formidable weapon.
?????????? — You think you can fool me with dancing?
He avoided the attack with one fluid step and retaliated instantly. His fist shot out.
???????? — (Shit— )
The impact was brutal. A right to the jaw.
Hiro took a step back, a metallic taste invading his mouth.
???????? — Boxing?! (His fist almost tore it off.)
Ryoma didn''t give Hiro time to breathe. He followed up with a left jab. Hiro barely dodged, but felt the wind graze his temple.
???????? — (He''s fast...)
No time for doubts. He planted his foot on the ground and retaliated with a side kick, aiming for the ribs. Ryoma raised his arm to block. The impact resounded throughout his forearm.
?????????? — Not bad. But not good enough.
He grabbed Hiro''s leg and yanked him towards him. Hiro lost his balance. An opening. Ryoma cocked his fist.
???????? — Shit.
At the last moment, he swung backwards and used his momentum to strike with his heel to the chest. BAM! Ryoma staggered back three steps, almost stumbling.
The scum around them became excited.
Scum 1 — Oh fuck, he touched it!
Thug 2 — Ryoma, smash it!
?????????? — ...Interesting.
He straightened up, a toothy grin on his lips.
?????????? — I admit, you''re no laughing matter. But you ain''t seen nothing yet.
He was back on guard. This time, his gaze was sharper. Hiro understood. The real fight was just beginning.
???????? — (Maybe I should be more careful.)
?????????? — I''ll show you that I''m not Karasu''s number two for nothing.
Ryoma jumped on the spot to provoke Hiro, a typical Infighter boxing technique.
???????? — Shit, I''ve got to do something!
?????????? — Disturbed? It''s normal, let me finish you off quickly.
In a burst of confidence, Ryoma threw his best punch at Hiro.
But then the scum were surprised to see the result of their attack.
Hiro avoided his punch with a quick kick to the head.
?????????? — Damn...
???????? — Wow, what abject language... You seemed more confident earlier haha.
?????????? — I''m not going to let you win, you bastard...
Ryoma''s nose was bleeding, but he was still determined to win. He had only one thought in mind: to kill Hiro.
Just then, he prepared to throw another punch, this time in the direction of the oncoming kick, relying on the raw power of his right arm.
Hiro stepped back 5 meters.
???????? — Argh... (He could have broken a bone, this guy isn''t just a street fighter. He must have fought hundreds of them before knowing such physical strength...)
?????????? — So what do you think?
???????? — I don''t suppose I have a choice?
?????????? — Huh? What are you talking about?
???????? — You''re going to preview it.
Before Ryoma knew it, Hiro was already in the air, spinning around. The technique was so spectacular that everyone froze. The 1080 degree.
Hiro had put all his power into this blow. A lightning kick. An impact so violent that Ryoma "Iron Fist" Sanda collapsed to the ground, not even realizing what had just happened.
Thug 1 — Ryoma !
Thug 2 — Guys, let''s go! We must avenge our buddy!
Thug 3 — Yeah!
Hiro took a step back, raising his hands.
???????? — Oh shit... I think I''ve done too much.
Just then, the roof door opened violently. A woman jumped out and, in a flash, knocked several scum to the ground.
Reina — I leave you and Kamui unsupervised, and now you''re getting into trouble?
Hiro raised his arms, a big smile on his face.
???????? — My heroine!
Thug 3 — We also attack the fi—
Thug 4 — Wait... I recognize her...
Thug 3 — YES!
Scum 2 — Let''s get out of here. If we get into trouble with her, it could get really dangerous.
Little by little, the riffraff scampered off.
Hiro watched the scum disappear one by one, still impressed by the presence of the woman who had just intervened. He blew out his breath, releasing the tension he was still feeling.
???????? — Well, at least that''s settled...
He turned his head towards the young woman, a nervous smile on his lips.
???????? — But by the way... You mentioned Kamui...
Silence.
His gaze swept the surrounding area. No sign of his friend.
Reina — A weird guy came up to us looking for him.
A bad feeling seized him.
???????? — ...Don''t tell me he''s screwed up again?
The echo of the wind on the roof was his only response.