Hozuki Nozomi's voice cut through the alley like a blade through fog. Asada Shino's delicate frame trembled, and the light that had dimmed in her despondent eyes flickered back to life—tentative, uncertain, but present.
Endo had already stuffed the money into his pocket, leaving Asada Shino with nothing. He'd even tossed her empty wallet contemptuously to the ground. Now he turned to face the newcomer, his expression twisting into a ferocious glare. His two companions followed suit, posturing aggressively.
"Hey, kid! Who do you think you are? Don't you know meddling comes with a price?" Endo's voice dripped with menace. "Besides, we're just borrowing money from Asada here. The murderer lent it to us voluntarily. Isn't that right, Asada?"
"Exactly! Voluntary!" the other two echoed.
Asada Shino's fists clenched involuntarily, but Endo's threatechoed in her mind. If the whole school learned about her past... She couldn't bear it. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Yes... I... I lent it voluntarily," she whispered, her voice trembling. She closed her eyes, unable to face the disappointment she imagined would cross the brave young man's face.
Hidden in the shadows, Shinkawa Kyouji ground his teeth in fury. That pretty boy had stolen his heroic entrance! Now he could only watch and hope Endo and his thugs would at least drive the interloper away.
"Borrowing money?" Hozuki Nozomi's laugh carried no humor. "I'm sorry, but I've had excellent hearing since childhood. I caught every word of your little threat to this young lady."
He reached into his pocket and produced a high-quality voice recorder, pressing play. Endo's own voice filled the alley: "Asada, you wouldn't want your past as a murderer to spread throughout the entire school, would you?"
The color drained from Endo's face.
"Extortion, blackmail, and robbery," Hozuki Nozomi continued calmly. "So, criminals, are you coming with me to the police station quietly, or should I knock you down and let the officers collect you from the ground?"
"Th-that recording proves nothing!" Endo sputtered, recovering his bravado. "Asada herself said she lent it voluntarily! Your evidence is worthless!"
"Worthless! Completely worthless!" the others chimed in, regaining confidence. "Yeah, kid, if you know what's good for you, go find somewhere else to be! Unless you want a beating!"
There were three of them, after all. What was one pretty boy against three?
Asada Shino's eyes widened with concern. Despite everything, she found herself worried for this stranger who'd stepped into her nightmare.
"You... you should go," she forced out, her voice small but earnest. "I'm... I'm fine."
She didn't want her story spreading across campus. More than that, though, she didn't want to drag this kind person into her mess. He could help her once, but not forever. And she already hated her own cowardice enough without adding guilt to the list.
"Haha! Hear that, kid? Voluntary! Now get lost! We've got money to spend!"
Hozuki Nozomi's expression hardened. "Stop right there."
His gaze fell upon Asada Shino—pitiful, trembling, like a wounded animal desperately seeking shelter. Something in his eyes softened.
"I'm taking charge of this situation. Not only will I send you three extortionists to prison, but I'll see this through to the end. You'll get exactly what you deserve." He turned to Asada Shino, offering a gentle smile. "Your name is Asada, right? I saw the plea in your eyes. Leave everything to me. Everything will be alright... because I'm here."
Asada Shino's heart stuttered.
Something new flickered to life in her chest—warm, unfamiliar, terrifying. Her eyes grew moist as she clutched at her wildly beating heart.
"Please," she whispered, then stronger: "Please help me!"
That gentle smile of his seemed to carry an infectious power, stirring long-dormant courage within her cowardly soul. Like grasping a lifeline in stormy seas, she reached out to him.
Hozuki Nozomi flashed her a thumbs up. "Leave it to me!"
In the shadows, Shinkawa Kyouji nearly bit through his lip. This bastard! Not only had he stolen the hero-saving-beauty scene, but he was delivering all the cool lines too! Watching Asada Shino's expression shift as she gazed at that pretty boy sent searing pain through his chest. Murderous thoughts flickered through his mind.
Endo and his cronies had had enough.
"Kid! You think we're just decoration here?! Get him!"
Endo charged, fists swinging, his companions right behind him.
Asada Shino gasped, hands flying to her mouth. "Be careful!"
What followed stunned everyone.
Hozuki Nozomi raised his hand almost casually.
"Clap—clap—clap!"
Three strikes. Three bodies hitting the ground.
Endo writhed on the ground, spitting bloodied teeth from his mouth as he clutched his rapidly swelling face. His two companions fared no better, groaning and rolling in agony beside him.
Hidden in the shadows, Shinkawa Kyouji's eyes bulged in disbelief. If he hadn't personally orchestrated this entire setup with Endo, he would have sworn they were in on some elaborate performance with that pretty boy. Three against one, and they'd been taken down like children swatting flies?
It was too casual. Too effortless.
But looking at their distorted faces—the visible swelling, the bloody teeth scattered on the ground like grotesque confetti—Shinkawa Kyouji swallowed hard. His throat bobbed convulsively.
New plan: under no circumstances would he engage this guy directly. Ever.
Hozuki Nozomi calmly produced a tissue, meticulously wiping his hands as if they'd been soiled by something distasteful. When finished, he tossed it contemptuously onto Endo's face.
"That's it? All that bluster, all that aggression, and this is what you're capable of?" His voice carried lazy disdain. "Now then. Hand over every yen you took, unless you'd like to part with the rest of your teeth."
Endo and his companions scrambled backward, horror dawning in their eyes as fresh pain throbbed through their faces. None of them had even seen the strikes coming—just sudden, explosive impact, and then the ground. The force behind those slaps was terrifying.
"Did I stutter?"
"Take it! Take it all!" Endo's voice cracked with fear as he frantically emptied his pockets. The others followed suit, practically throwing money at Hozuki Nozomi's feet.
Hozuki Nozomi gathered the bills, counted them with clinical precision, and curled his lip. "Now. Wait patiently."
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Hello, Uncle Daisuke? It's me. I'm near XX High School. Ran into some extortionists—robbery, threats, the works. Come collect them. I've got all the evidence." A pause. "Yes. After you take them in, notify their parents. And arrange for their actions to be announced to the entire school."
Endo's face, already swollen, somehow managed to pale further. "You can't do that! You can't announce it to the whole school! We gave back the money!"
Hozuki Nozomi's smile held no warmth. "That money is evidence. Enjoy your new reputation as robbers, gentlemen."
Endo's survival instincts finally overrode his pain. He scrambled to his feet and bolted.
He made it three steps.
Hozuki Nozomi's foot connected with his side, sending him flying. Before he could even process the impact, another slap rocked his already damaged face. More teeth joined their predecessors on the ground.
Asada Shino gasped sharply, instinctively shrinking back and averting her eyes. The violence was swift, brutal, and terrifying.
The remaining two thugs froze instantly, any thought of escape dying before it could form. They looked at Hozuki Nozomi with eyes full of naked terror.
Some people, it seemed, only understood strength.
Hozuki Nozomi turned to Asada Shino, his expression softening immediately. "Sorry, Miss Asada. Did that scare you? It was necessary. Since I've stepped in, I won't give them any chance to hurt you again."
Warmth bloomed in Asada Shino's chest—an unfamiliar sensation. She shook her head slowly, then more firmly. "It's okay. Thank you... you've helped me so much."
The fear was fading, replaced by something else. Satisfaction, perhaps. Justice, finally served.
"I'm glad you're not afraid of me. I can't stand bullies." Hozuki Nozomi gestured to the scattered money. "Have they extorted you before? This money will be logged as evidence first, then returned to you. You'll need to come with me to give a statement, if that's alright. And I'm Hozuki Nozomi."
"I'll remember. I'm Asada Shino." The girl bowed deeply, her voice thick with sincerity. "Thank you for helping me. Thank you so much!"
Hozuki Nozomi smiled and waved off her gratitude. He'd gained her trust, her gratitude—and that was reward enough.
Within minutes, Kosaka Daisuke arrived in a police car, sirens silent but presence commanding.
"These the kids?" He surveyed the scene with practiced eyes. "Leave them to me."
"Please do. Handle it thoroughly. And that school announcement—make sure everyone knows what they did."
Kosaka Daisuke nodded grimly. "Count on it."
The moment the words registered, Endo and his companions crumbled completely. Tears streamed down their swollen faces.
"Please, Asada! We're sorry! We won't do it again, please don't let them announce it to the whole school!"
"Big brother! Officer! We confessed! Please let us go!"
"If everyone finds out, we won't be able to show our faces anywhere!"
Asada Shino regarded them with an expressionless face. No pity stirred in her heart.
Hozuki Nozomi glanced at her sidelong. "Not going soft, are you?"
She shook her head firmly. "They don't deserve pity."
Now they understood fear—the fear of exposure, of judgment, of having their worst actions laid bare for all to see. Now they knew how she'd felt all along.
"Into the car. Stop sniveling and cooperate, or you'll regret it." Kosaka Daisuke's voice brooked no argument as he gestured for officers to produce handcuffs.
For high school students, the sight of those cold metal circles was nightmare fuel. Endo stared at them, imagining the school announcement, the whispers, the pointing fingers—and suddenly his pants grew dark and wet.
"No... please don't arrest me! I'll confess everything!" Endo's voice rose to a desperate wail. "Someone put us up to this! Someone told us to threaten Asada!"
Kosaka Daisuke's eyes sharpened. He exchanged a glance with Hozuki Nozomi.
"Explain. Clearly. If you're not the mastermind, appropriate leniency may be possible."
Endo and his companions fell over themselves to talk, words tumbling out in a panicked rush. Shinkawa Kyouji's name emerged repeatedly. His plan unfolded: post about Asada Shino's childhood trauma online to ensure her isolation, arrange the robbery, then swoop in as the heroic rescuer. All to get close to her. All a calculated scheme.
Asada Shino listened, and the world tilted.
Shinkawa Kyouji. Her only friend. The one person she'd trusted.
It had all been a lie.
Her face drained of color. Her knees buckled.
Strong arms caught her, supporting her weight, keeping her upright. Hozuki Nozomi's hand steadied her waist, preventing the collapse her body desperately wanted.