With classes over and club activities beginning, it was finally time for everyone to scatter.
As a proud member of the 'going home club,' I had responsibilities to uphold. Go home.
Kasumi, however, belonged to the art club, which meant she had to stay behind with the rest of the diligent students.
Meanwhile, I stepped out through the school gates and walked down the same quiet street I had passed this morning.
The difference was night and day.
The shops were now open, and the once-empty street buzzed with life. Students from different schools crowded the sidewalk, most of them stood in line at the front of restaurants while they chatted loudly with their friends.
I slowed my pace.
'Come to think of it. I've never actually eaten food in Japan yet.'
Up until now, every meal I've had has come from the system store. I have yet to try food from this world.
That realisation alone sparked my curiosity.
So I stepped into the queue.
While I waited, I noticed that they were glancing at me.
Whispers spread through the line, though I ignored them.
Then I felt a tap on the shoulder.
'Hey buddy, you're not supposed to be here.'
I turned around. Three blond dudes stood behind me, each wearing an aggressive expression.
'Why can't I?' I asked.
One of them cracked his knuckles.
'Because. This is our territory. Now scram before I smash your face in.'
I tilted my head in confusion.
'And how exactly is this your territory? Are you the government?'
His answer came in the form of a punch.
His fist shot towards my face and…
*Boom*
A second later, he was the one lying flat on the pavement.
'Huh…' Both of his friends were confused until one snapped out of it, 'Ge-get him!'
His two friends rushed at me.
They tried to grab my arms in hopes of pinning me to the ground. Instead, I grabbed both of their heads and I slammed them together.
*Crack*
They collapsed instantly.
Throughout the confrontation, I controlled my strength so I wouldn't kill them.
The line of students exploded into chaos.
'Get him!'
'Beat that bastard!'
One after another, they charged towards me, fist raised.
I couldn't help but laugh, 'You pathetic kids think you can beat me? Hahaha!'
Fist flew.
Bodies dropped.
The fight escalated as more people jumped in, desperate to overwhelm me with numbers.
Bodies began piling up around me like fallen dominoes.
Some of them eventually grabbed weapons: Baseball bats, metal pipes, anything they could find.
I sighed, 'A baby shouldn't swing their toys recklessly.'
One swung his bat, but I caught it.
Another tried to attack from behind, but I kicked him into a group of them.
The street slowly turned into a battlefield of groaning delinquents.
Eventually, the momentum died.
The remaining conscious thugs froze.
Some stepped back.
While others ran away.
'Monster!' They screamed as they ran.
Then a loud voice cut through the panic, 'Oi! Everyone, back off!'
The crowd all turned towards the voice.
'Boss!!!'
Relief spread through the remaining delinquents.
A muscular blond man walked forward slowly, his shoulders wide and his fist clenched.
'You've got guts.' he growled, 'Messing with my people in my territory.'
I pointed at him, 'So you're the one running this daycare?'
A vein bulged on his forehead.
'What did you just say?!'
'No wonder your people are so incompetent.' I continued, 'Their nanny lacks a brain.'
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then he laughed, 'You're brave. I'll give you that.'
His smile then vanished, 'But you're also foolish.'
He swung his fist towards my face.
I stepped aside casually.
His fist cut through empty air.
Before he could recover…
I tapped the bulging vein in his forehead.
'Boop.'
I held back most of my strength.
But even so…
He dropped instantly.
'B-Boss!!!'
The surrounding delinquents panicked.
None of them dared to move. Fear was written all over their faces.
I slowly looked at each of them.
'If any of you attack me again…' My voice turned cold, 'I'll send you to meet your ancestors.'
Fuck, I sound like a Chinese cultivator.
*Nod nod*
'U-Understood.' They said.
I turned away, 'Now get lost.'
They rushed to drag their unconscious friends away, including their fallen boss.
Within minutes, the entire street was empty. The once busy line had completely vanished.
'Oh.' I looked at the restaurant entrance, 'There's no line anymore.'
So I walked straight to the counter and looked at the menu.
The cashier stared at me like he had just witnessed his entire family being slaughtered.
'I-Is there anything you like… e-esteemed guest?' His voice trembled.
'What do you recommend?'
'I-I recommend the katsudon. It's our specialty.'
'Then I'll take one.'
Right as I said that, I remembered I had no cash.
I was about to purchase money from the system store when the cashier hurriedly spoke.
'Th-The meal will be on the house, esteemed guest! We will prepare your food to our highest standards.'
'Oh.'
That worked too.
'Thanks.'
The cashier immediately vanished into the kitchen like his life depended on it.
I entered the store and sat down.
The restaurant was quiet. Only the clattering of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen.
The dining area was small and cozy.
Warm wooden walls surrounded the room and with only three tables, the place felt more like a home than a restaurant.
A few minutes later, my food arrived.
'Your katsudon is ready, esteemed guest.'
The waiter placed the bowl in front of me with stiff movements.
Inside was a simple but appetising combination: rice, fried pork, cabbage, raw egg and a small plate of tonkatsu sauce.
'Please enjoy.' He bowed before he ran back into the kitchen.
I picked up my chopsticks and tried the rice first, then the pork.
'Not bad.'
Of course, it couldn't compare to the food from the system store. That would be like comparing a $2 meal to a $100 gourmet dish. Completely unfair. But nevertheless, it was good, better than a lot of the taverns I have visited during my hero days.
I finished the meal and walked out.
'Thank you for your patronage, esteemed guest!' The waiter said, bowing deeply.
I stretched slightly as I stepped back onto the street.
'Well then.' I started walking home, 'Time to train.'
____________________________________
[Next day]
'Oh… It's you guys again.'
It was the next morning and I was walking to school along the same quiet street as usual.
Except this time, I wasn't alone.
A long line of men stood in front of me, blocking the road. At the very front was the big nanny from yesterday.
Then, without warning, they all bowed
'We're sorry about yesterday, Boss!'
'Boss?' I pointed at the nanny, 'I thought that guy was your boss. When did I become the boss?'
The nanny stepped forward nervously.
'We had a discussion after yesterday.' He said, 'We came to the conclusion that only someone as strong as you can lead us to greatness.'
I stared at him, 'Why do you need someone strong to lead you to your goals?'
He answered without hesitation, 'Because we don't want to rule just his street. We want to rule the entire city.'
He said it with a surprising amount of resolve.
I crossed my arms, 'And why do you want to rule the city?'
The big nanny clenched his fist, 'So no one will ever look down on us again.'
'Shallow.' I replied.
I turned and started walking away.
'W-Wait!' He shouted, quickly chasing after me, 'What do you mean by that?'
I stopped and glanced back at him, 'You want to rule a city because you want approval.' I said, 'Yet you haven't even learned to approve of yourselves.'
The group fell silent.
'I've met plenty of people like you.' I continued, 'They chase power, status, recognition, thinking it will fill the hole inside of them.'
I pointed at my brain.
'But when they finally reached their goal, they felt nothing.'
'W-Why?' The nanny asked quietly.
'Because, by seeking external validation, you will continue wanting more and more. They want everyone to like them, even if it means becoming something they are not, even if their soul is screaming for them to stop.'
Then I pointed at my heart.
'They want the world to acknowledge them. To prove they're special. But the only validation that actually matters is your own.'
They listened without a sound.
'If you can't accept yourself.' I said, 'Then conquering a city won't fix anything.'
I paused and realised something.
I'm starting to sound like that priest.
The nanny suddenly dropped to his knees.
'Th-Then please guide us.'
The rest of the group immediately followed.
'Please help us find the right path, Boss!'
'Sigh.' I rubbed my temples in irritation.
'First, stand up.' I said, 'I want to talk to you face to face, not the back of your head.'
They slowly rose to their feet.
Most of them looked nervous. Some fidgeted with their hands. Others couldn't even meet my gaze.
I looked around.
'Tell me honestly.' I said, 'What are you searching for?'
No one answered.
'I will ask again.'
'Are you looking for understanding?'
'Companionship?'
'Respect?'
'Love?'
Their expressions shifted.
'Because those are things no one else can give.' I stepped forward, 'Only you can grab them yourselves.'
'You can lead a horse to a pond, but you can't force it to drink.'
'That's exactly why we need your guidance!' They all shouted.
And then… They all dropped to their knees again.
'You guys really like kneeling, huh?'
I sighed.
'Fine. I'll help you.'
Their heads snapped up instantly.
'But under one condition.' I raised one finger up, 'From now on, every one of you must practice restraint. No bullying. No picking fights. No causing trouble.'
I then pointed at them.
'However, if trouble comes to you, handle it with thought in mind.'
If someone punches you, you either calm the situation or punch them back.
'We understand, Boss!'
'Good.'
'What time is it?' I asked them.
They told me the time and it was close to the start of the first period.
'Time to head to school.'
I started walking again.
'I'll pass this street every morning and afternoon. I'll check in on you then.'
'Thank you, Boss!' They bowed.
Their voices echoed behind me.
As I continued towards school, a thought crossed my mind.
'I might regret this.'
But then again. It was a nice distraction from my mundane life. ,