Those two short legs were using all their strength, and the speed was actually pretty fast.
Ryusei Jun's plan was to ram Hikari's body with all his might, then have that jar of hot liquor pour all over Hikari.
However, just as he sprinted up to Hikari, about to crash into his body.
Suddenly a scalding hot liquor jar was aimed right at him.
"AHHH!"
Before he had time to brake, Ryusei Jun smashed his head straight into the scorching hot liquor jar, and in an instant a huge pain from the concussion in his head came, along with the agony of being burned.
And that still wasn't the end. Maybe because he was suddenly hit, Hikari's hand accidentally loosened, and the whole jar of boiling hot shochu just like that, from head to toe, poured down over Ryusei Jun's face.
"Ah!"
"Hot hot hot hot!"
"So hot! It's gonna burn me to death!"
"Help!!"
Ryusei Jun, whose face was drenched in scorching hot shochu, instantly let out ghost-wailing screams. That tender little face also very quickly blistered up with several big bubbles from the burns.
He rolled back and forth on the floor, howling in pain.
This sudden scene left everyone present unable to react for a moment.
Only when they heard Ryusei Jun's screams again and again did Ryusei Haruyoshi and Sayako finally notice.
The moment he saw his son burned till the skin was rupturing and his whole face was covered in big blisters, Ryusei Haruyoshi slammed the table, suddenly stood up, and shouted angrily at Hikari, "Bastard! You brat, you actually poured liquor this hot onto my son's face!"
Facing Ryusei Haruyoshi's furious glare, Hikari was completely unmoved.
On his still very calm face, an appropriate trace of apologetic expression appeared at just the right time. He looked at Ryusei Jun, who was rolling around nonstop on the ground, and said helplessly, "Aiya, I didn't hold the jar steady. Just like Uncle Ryusei said just now, this liquor is really easy to spill, I'm really sorry."
"And it was also Jun's fault just now. He ran over so fast and so hard and crashed straight into the liquor jar himself. That made the jar burn my hand, and that's why I didn't hold onto it and accidentally poured it onto his face."
"If it weren't for him, none of this would have happened, right? My hand got burned so badly it hurts, too. Forget it, looking at the way Jun is now, I guess we can't really pursue his responsibility, huh."
As he spoke, Hikari even acted like his fingers had been burned, and blew on them with his mouth.
Watching Hikari use that calm tone to describe how he poured the scalding hot liquor onto his son's face, and even push most of the responsibility onto Ryusei Jun, Ryusei Haruyoshi was shaking all over with anger, veins bulging on his forehead.
"You brat!"
"You hurt my son this badly, and you don't feel even a tiny bit of guilt?"
"What's a burn on your finger compared to this, can't you see my son is rolling on the ground from the burns?"
"If it weren't for Sayako's sake, I'd skin you alive right now, I'm telling you!"
"I order you! Right now! Immediately! Kneel down and apologize to my son, and then send him to the hospital!"
"Hikari! You damned brat! Did you hear me? "
Ryusei Haruyoshi stuck out a hand, his whole body shaking with rage as he pointed at Hikari and threatened and cursed.
Facing the raging Ryusei Haruyoshi on the verge of losing it, Hikari's expression was still calm. He waved a hand and said, "Come on, Uncle Ryusei, do you really have to make such a big fuss?"
"He's just a kid, getting burned a bit isn't going to kill him. At most he'll have a few blisters on his face, and in a few years it'll mostly heal. Worst case, he's left with a few scars, that's all."
"He's still a child, his body recovers really fast. What are you so anxious about?"
"I know you're really anxious, but don't be anxious yet."
Hearing that flat tone, Ryusei Haruyoshi's chest rose and fell like a bellows, making an extremely loud sound.
"Hu… ha!"
Originally, his plan to take Sayako tonight had been interrupted by Hikari again and again, and he was already furious.
He had also drunk some liquor tonight, and now, seeing his son burned so badly he was rolling on the ground.
The not-so-deep scheming of Ryusei Haruyoshi was now completely filled with anger.
Clang!
Ryusei Haruyoshi suddenly flung the cup in his hand onto the floor, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his thick arms from years of labor, and charged up in front of Hikari.
"I'm asking you, brat, you've got a problem with us father and son, don't you?"
Standing in front of Hikari, Ryusei Haruyoshi stared wide-eyed, looking fiercely menacing as he glared at Hikari, like he might start beating him up at any moment.
Seeing Ryusei Haruyoshi completely losing it like this, Hikari smiled and was about to say something.
But at that moment, Sayako, who had been stunned off to the side and was a little dazed because it all happened so suddenly, finally came to her senses.
Seeing Ryusei Haruyoshi, who looked bigger-built and stronger, speaking to Hikari with such a ferocious face, Sayako hurriedly tried to break them up, saying, "Ryusei-kun, what are you doing? You all know each other, don't start a fight! This is all a misunderstanding, right!"
Ryusei Haruyoshi didn't give Sayako any face at all, and sneered, "A misunderstanding? Starting tonight, this brat has been targeting our father and son nonstop. That is absolutely not a misunderstanding!"
"Today, he has to give us father and son an explanation, especially give my son Jun an explanation!"
As he spoke, Ryusei Haruyoshi took another step toward Hikari, as if he wanted to use his vicious aura to pressure Hikari into kneeling and giving in.
Sayako said worriedly to Hikari, "How about this, Hikari-kun, you take Jun to the hospital and have him checked, okay."
Hikari waved his hand and said, "Jun's injury is nothing, he'll be fine even without going to the hospital. And besides, in the state Uncle Ryusei is in now, I'm guessing he wouldn't let me go to the hospital anyway."
Ryusei Haruyoshi grinned, his tone vicious as he said, "You got that right, brat. If you don't give us father and son an explanation today, don't even think about walking out of this izakaya!"
Seeing she couldn't convince her younger brother-in-law Ryusei Haruyoshi, and also worrying about Hikari's safety.
Sayako really didn't know what to do for a moment, until she saw Natsuki Akito, who was huddled in a corner drinking, and her eyes lit up.
Sayako quickly ran over to Natsuki Akito's side, urgently begging him, "Akito-kun, please go help talk them down, Ryusei-kun is about to hit Hikari-chan."
Already somewhat tipsy, Natsuki Akito glanced at the sturdy build of Ryusei Haruyoshi, his gaze dodging as he said, "It was Hikari-kun who caused trouble himself, what's it got to do with me, I can't handle this. Don't… don't bother me."
"And also… also, it was originally Hikari's fault, wasn't it…"
Sayako could see the fear in Natsuki Akito's eyes, so she didn't say anything more. She just turned away with a face full of disappointment.
She knew that Hikari had gotten into conflict with the Ryusei father and son because of her.
Seeing Ryusei Haruyoshi looking like he might attack Hikari any second, she hurried over and stood in front of Hikari.
"Stop!"
Sayako spread her arms, separating the two who were on the verge of a fight, then said to the ferocious-looking Ryusei Haruyoshi, "Ryusei-kun, Hikari-kun didn't do it on purpose, he also didn't mean to target you two. Don't hit him."
"If you really can't get over it, then take it out on me, hit me instead!"
Hearing Sayako's words, the ferocious look on Ryusei Haruyoshi's face instantly vanished, replaced by a triumphant smile.
The reason he had been standing in front of this brat Hikari threatening him for so long, yet never actually making a move, was precisely because he had been waiting for this very scene.
Beating up this snot-nosed high school brat Hikari, when has Ryusei Haruyoshi ever been unable to do that?
But Ryusei Haruyoshi hadn't forgotten his original reason for coming to the izakaya every day.
He hadn't forgotten his original intention either. His goal had always been only one, and that was his widowed sister-in-law Sayako.
From his prior observations, Ryusei Haruyoshi already knew that Hikari was extremely important in Sayako's heart, and that Sayako was willing to do a lot for Hikari.
So as for venting his anger on this ignorant, cocky little high school brat, he could always secretly beat him up another day.
With such a good opportunity today, of course he wanted to use it to threaten Sayako and force her to give in.
Seeing Sayako pleading for Hikari like this, Ryusei Haruyoshi squeezed out an expression that was both troubled and a little pained. He said heavily, "Sayako, you're my sister-in-law, how could I bear to lay a hand on you?"
"Then…", Sayako had just opened her mouth.
Ryusei Haruyoshi directly cut her off and continued, "But me not laying a hand on you doesn't mean I can let this brat Hikari off."
"This kid has been targeting us father and son again and again tonight, and he's even caused Jun to be injured this badly. He has to give us an explanation, otherwise I absolutely won't reconcile with him!"
Hearing that, Sayako hurriedly asked, worried, "Then what do you want, for you to reconcile with Hikari-kun?"
"What do I want?", Ryusei Haruyoshi showed an evil smile, swept his gaze over Sayako's curvy figure under the red dress, and slowly said, "It's simple. Sis-in-law, you just have to spend one night with me."
"Sayako sis-in-law, you've been a widow for so long, you must be very lonely, right. I saw it all today, you and this high schooler flirting with each other."
"What's so good about following such a snot-nosed brat, instead of following me, your younger brother-in-law? I'll definitely take good care of you."
Even though she had already guessed it in her heart, when she actually heard those disgusting words come out of Ryusei Haruyoshi's mouth, Sayako still turned pale, somewhat unable to believe it.
This guy, clearly her deceased husband's younger brother, had all along been coveting her, the widowed wife.
Sure enough, all those so-called "helping out" had been a scheme to possess her.
Now, just seeing Ryusei Haruyoshi's face made Sayako so disgusted she wanted to throw up, let alone those filthy demands he was making.
There was absolutely no way Sayako would accept.
However, she was also worried that Ryusei Haruyoshi would start a fight and cause Hikari to get hurt.
For a moment, Sayako fell into hesitation.
At that moment, a hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.
That hand, which made Sayako feel incomparably warm, pulled her behind it.
"Aunt Sayako, I told you I'd protect you, remember?"
Sayako turned her head and saw that on Hikari's still slightly youthful, handsome face, he was giving her a bright smile.
Sayako stared blankly for a second, then grabbed Hikari's hand in worry and said, "Hikari-kun, I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about, what about things between you and Ryusei Haruyoshi?"
Hikari gently freed his hand from Sayako's grip, patted her back, and calmly reassured her, "I know you're worried about my safety, Aunt Sayoko, but don't worry. I'll handle this."
"As for the matter between me and the Ryusei father and son, you don't need to step in, Aunt Sayoko, and you don't need to worry. Trust me, I can take care of it."
Sayako was still a bit anxious, "But you…"
Before she could finish, Hikari cut in, "Aunt Sayoko, trust me. This is something between men, you don't need to interfere. Put down all your worries and try believing in me, and let me handle it, that's enough."
There was a firm, unquestionable resolve in Hikari's tone.
Clearly he was just a high schooler, just a junior, yet at that moment Sayako couldn't help but be infected by that resolve.
Clearly Hikari's tone was a bit domineering, carrying a kind of "not letting her interfere" feeling, but the always independent Sayako strangely didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable. She even felt a strange sense of peace.
She seemed to… like this feeling.
This feeling of being protected, of having someone she could trust and rely on.
It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in many years.
Deep in Sayako's heart, something suddenly gave a hard thump, and her beautiful eyes shimmered with a trace of different light.
While Hikari was speaking with Sayako, he kept his eyes on that stunningly beautiful face, as if Ryusei Haruyoshi beside them and Ryusei Jun on the ground didn't exist at all.
Being ignored like that made Ryusei Haruyoshi's anger value surge again.
"Hey! Brat, what kind of big talk are you spouting?"
"You mean you want to fight me?"
"Sayako, you don't seriously believe this kid's bluffing, do you?"
"With one punch I can cripple this book-worm high schooler!"
"If you don't want that to happen, then behave and come sleep with me. Otherwise I can't promise I'll be able to hold back from throwing a punch much longer!"
Ryusei Haruyoshi took Hikari's words as nothing but bragging, and didn't even care about what this high schooler said. He just kept threatening Sayako.
Yeah, no matter how reliable or mature Hikari-kun seems, he's still just a high schooler.
Hearing that, Sayako couldn't help but feel worried about Hikari again.
Only for a finger to suddenly press against her lips, blocking the pink lips she'd been about to open.
"Shh! Aunt Sayoko, don't talk, just trust me."
"As for this kind of bug whose head is full of lust, ugly to boot, with schemes at kindergarten level, I can handle him with one hand."
Hikari gently shook his head at Sayako, who had wanted to speak.
"You brat, you're really good at putting on an act. Believe it or not, I'll kill you today, AHH!"
Thoroughly enraged by Hikari's attitude, Ryusei Haruyoshi was about to give Hikari a good beating first, then threaten or even force Sayako.
[T/N: New novel is up—🔥I Became a Character in Honkai: Star Rail🔥. Enjoy~]
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