Chisaki was the first to move. Her body rotated with precision and, with a short step forward, she launched a direct kick to the abdomen of the nearest student. The strike was clean and sharp; the guy doubled over and fell to his knees before collapsing completely.
Without giving anyone time to react, Chisaki pivoted on her axis and landed an elbow strike to another's face, followed by a low kick that swept his legs out from under him.
"She took down two people in less than ten seconds. Where did this girl even come from?"
A few meters away, Pig charged like a beast, grabbing the first guy by the shirt and slamming him against the alley wall, then turning to throw a punch that sent the second straight to the ground.
The third tried to grab him from behind, but Pig leaned forward and threw him over his shoulder like an American football tackle.
Meanwhile, I was still there, frozen. My heart was pounding violently against my chest as I watched the scene. That was when one of the guys, taking advantage of Chisaki being occupied, moved stealthily toward her back, raising his fist with a twisted smile.
"Lately, all I do is get dragged into trouble without meaning to… No matter how much I've trained… I can't win against this many people. This is insane, damn it."
With no more time to think, I clumsily lunged at him and clung to his back with all my strength. The guy lost his balance and fell to the ground, letting out a surprised shout.
—Bastard! What the hell are you doing?!— he yelled as he twisted around, still with me latched onto his back.
Without even standing up, he began hitting me wildly. The blows landed on my arms and back, but I clung to him as hard as I could, refusing to let go.
"I can't win, but I just have to stop him from moving until the others are free."
Chisaki and Pig were still busy with the rest.
In a moment of carelessness, the guy managed to shake me off and shoved me to the ground. My breathing was heavy, but when I looked up, I saw a wooden plank lying nearby, probably part of a broken crate. Desperate, I grabbed it.
I stood up unsteadily and, without giving him time to react, I struck him on the shoulder. The impact made him stagger back, but he didn't fall. I hit him again. My arms were burning, but I kept going, again and again, until finally his eyes went unfocused and his body collapsed to the side, unconscious.
I stood there for a few seconds, panting, staring at the plank in my hands. When I looked up, everything was over.
The other students were lying on the ground, groaning or completely motionless. Pig was shaking his hands as if he had gotten them dirty, and Chisaki was adjusting her stance, breathing in a controlled manner.
Arakawa was backing away, pale. The two guys who had stayed beside him from the beginning slowly stepped back, abandoning Arakawa.
—Chii, please… you know we're doing all this for ourselves, right?— Arakawa said, clearly nervous.
Chisaki walked toward him in silence, her steps firm. She grabbed him by the collar and, without any apparent effort, lifted him off the ground and slammed him into the pavement in one motion.
—We're done— she said coldly.
Arakawa lay on the ground, letting out faint groans.
We left the alley without looking back. Pig and I walked in silence, the atmosphere heavy with everything that had happened.
Suddenly, Chisaki turned sharply toward us.
—What do you think you're doing?! Have you never seen a couple break up?!
We looked at each other and remained silent.
—First of all, you fight like an animal. Where did you even learn to fight, on a farm?!— Chisaki shouted at Pig, visibly irritated.
Pig stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.
—And you!… I didn't even see you fighting!— she said, turning to me.
Pig casually draped his arm over my shoulders.
—That's because he's so strong he could kill them all if he fought seriously! That's why he holds back, so they don't get too hurt!— he said with absolute conviction.
Chisaki frowned and looked at me closely.
—Is that true?
I opened my mouth to deny it, but Pig spoke first.
—Obviously! He's saved me more than once!
Chisaki stared at us for a few more seconds, then suddenly let out a short laugh.
—Idiots.
She turned around and walked away, leaving us there.
Pig walked me home without saying much else. When we parted, he gave me a pat on the back as if nothing had happened.
When I entered my room, the silence wrapped around me.
Then, a window appeared in front of me.
[Congratulations, secondary mission completed]
Mission: Defeat Arakawa and his gang
Status: Completed
Select your reward:
1. One week of spiritual energy
2. Unlock a skill slot
3. Unlock new functions
I let myself fall onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"This… definitely wasn't part of my plans, but it's obvious what I have to choose, right?"