When I arrived, the alley was almost empty, barely lit by a couple of yellowish lights that flickered weakly. The smell of cigarettes and dampness mixed with the steam escaping from the nearby noodle restaurant.
—Look who finally showed up, I thought you wouldn't come today either— said one of the five, whom I could only recognize because he was wearing a leather jacket.
Four shadows separated themselves from the back wall, while one apparently just stayed watching from behind. Tomizawa's friends. Twisted smiles, looks full of mockery and expectation. Before I could say anything, one of them shoved me against the wall.
—Do you know how much time you made us waste today?— said another one with the most ridiculous hairstyle I had ever seen, delivering a dry punch to my stomach.
The air escaped from my lungs and I fell to my knees. I didn't try to defend myself. I should never do that stupidity.
—You make us very sad, I thought we were friends— continued the guy with the weird hairstyle.
The blows came one after another: kicks, punches, insults I had already heard far too many times.
—This is boring, he isn't even trying to resist— said another of the five while smoking a cigarette.
—Hahaha, idiot, you know he can't. If he does anything, his parents will end up living on the street— said the one with the strange hairstyle.
—At least seeing his reactions is worth it, hahaha— replied the guy with the cigarette.
Even though I was already used to this situation, I still couldn't get used to the pain of the blows.
—Hey Kaito, you came to play with us, didn't you? Look what we brought you— said one bastard as he shoved several packets of dog food toward me.
—Wait, it's not ready yet. He likes it another way— while pushing aside the guy who gave me the dog food, he threw all the packets onto the pavement and spat on them.
—If you eat it all, we'll let you go for today, hahaha.
—You're a son of a bitch, hahaha— said the guy with the cigarette.
—Doesn't matter, nothing will happen even if he kills himself since Tomizawa will take care of it, so I'm just having fun— said the guy with the dog food.
—Well then, enjoy your meal, Kaito. You wouldn't look down on what we brought for you, right?
I knelt down, even against everything my whole being wanted to do. "I have to run, these sons of bitches won't let me go even if I eat this. God, they aren't even important enough for me to remember their damn names. They're just parasites who stick to Tomizawa so they can do things like this… I don't want to. God, why despite everything that's happening does my life keep being like this?"
—Hurry up, I'm starting to think you're rebelling.
—I… I'm sorry, I'll do it.
The guy who was standing at the very back grabbed my head and slammed my face into the food on the pavement.
—Hahaha! He's really eating it!— said the guy with the cigarette.
"I don't want to anymore. I thought I could endure it, but this is insane. I feel like I'm going to explode. I want to hit them. That's the only thing I want right now. Spiritual energy or whatever it is, please… I want to finish them!"
At that moment, something strange happened. In front of my eyes, as if overlapping reality, a blue-colored window appeared.
[System Activated]
Welcome, Kaito
Main Mission: Defeat the 5 bullies.
Status: In progress.
—Huh?— I murmured barely audibly, thinking it was a hallucination caused by the blows.
—Did you say something, trash?— replied the same one who slammed my face into the pavement, lifting his foot to kick me.
Before he could do it, a huge shadow covered the entrance of the alley.
—Kaito?— said a deep, familiar voice.
—Is that you! What are you doing here!
Everyone turned around. With difficulty, so did I. It was Pig.
He was carrying bags in both hands, clearly from some errand. His eyes widened when he saw me on the ground, covered in bruises.
—Kaito, what's going on?
—This is none of your business, Yamada— replied the guy who slammed my face into the pavement.
—Yamada, get lost if you don't want your family to lose that restaurant thanks to Tomizawa, hahaha— said the guy with the cigarette.
Pig dropped the bags to the ground, and the sound echoed through the entire alley.
—I don't know what's going on, but I'll make you regret talking about my family.
In an instant, Pig lunged forward. His first punch landed squarely on the face of the guy holding the cigarette, sending him flying against the wall as if he weighed nothing. The others reacted too late.
—What the hell?!
Pig moved with brutal strength, like a charging bull. Another punch and a tackle were enough for Pig to leave four of them on the ground within seconds, groaning and unable to get up.
Only the guy who slammed me to the ground remained. While Pig recovered from his charge, that guy pulled a knife from his pocket, intending to stab Pig.
Still scared enough to just run all the way home, I looked around and saw a brick. I grabbed it and, under the pressure of the situation, struck the guy hard enough to knock him unconscious.
Pig turned and saw the guy collapse to the ground with the knife.
—I… I'm sorry, Pig.
As I tried to kneel down to apologize, Pig shouted at me.
—You're amazing, Kaito!— he said with a huge smile.
—You could have defeated them so easily, and yet you were merciful. You're really very strong!
—No… I…
I tried to respond, but he looked so convinced that I felt embarrassed to tell him the truth.
—Thank you, but you shouldn't have helped me… now you'll get into trouble because of me, Pig.
I said, discouraged and unable to look him in the eyes.
—What are you talking about! You saved me from that lunatic. Nothing will happen to me if I'm with you!
Pig smiled as he grabbed my shoulder.
—What should we do with these guys? Wait… Damn it! I forgot!
He said as he ran toward the bags he had left on the ground.
—I forgot the dough!!— Pig shouted, very worried.
—I'm sorry, Kaito. I'm leaving them to you. My mom will kill me if I don't bring the dough— Pig said as he ran off.
And just like that, he ran out of the alley, disappearing as suddenly as he had appeared.
I looked at the five of them lying on the ground and simply decided to head home.
—Damn it, this will seriously complicate things.
As I walked back home, still processing what had happened, the blue window appeared in front of me again.
[Main Mission Completed]
Congratulations, Kaito.
Select your reward:
1. One week of spiritual energy.
2. Direct meeting with the System.
3. Skill slot unlocked.
—Huh?