Stealing Spree

Taking advantage of their shock, I stepped forward and walked past the guy I just knocked down. In less than a few steps, I arrived in front of Uchiyama.

I put on a slight smile as I reached for his shoulder and asked, “Say, senpai. I’m not a violent person. I only reacted accordingly. Who do you think started it? Who is at fault here?”

Although I still sounded a little polite there, the content of my words was enough for the guy to flinch in utter surprise. His eyes focused on me and then went down to his shoulder.

At this point, the others had already started recovering from that shock. I could hear footsteps as the two who escorted me here charged out and tried to flank me.

I looked at Uchiyama and tilted my head, indicating I was waiting for his answer.

His eyes shook as though panic had started to set in. But because of their advantage in numbers, the initial shock and fear they experienced were dispelled.

“Get your hands off me!” Uchiyama yelled as he tried to sweep my hand off his shoulder.

Take note. Tried.

The guy failed completely.

My arm didn’t budge but my grip tightened. And having the experience of gripping people on their shoulders and weakening them enough to shout and kneel from pain, Uchiyama’s experience with it wasn’t any better.

Even before the charging idiots reached me, Uchiyama’s face twisted in utter pain as his guttural scream echoed in this alleyway.

He and Kenji could be best buddies in terms of who screamed best after failing to endure the pain from it.

As soon as his knees gave up on him, I let go and turned to the two idiots. Staring straight into their eyes, I managed to intimidate one and kicked the other one on his groin before twisting my foot to thoroughly knead his family jewels beneath my heel.

Upon seeing that his peer fell on his knees while cupping his damaged balls, the one that got intimidated gave up on doing anything and just remained standing there. He didn’t want to suffer the same fate.

Likewise, those who were slow on the uptake and had just started to move had ugly expressions on their faces as though they were imagining the pain from being kicked in that part of their body.

All of them gave up on doing anything and waited for their leaders’ decision.

With this, while they still had the numerical advantage, taking the pre-emptive strike managed to overwhelm them, making their thought process to dumb down.

Of course, there’s a possibility that they could mug me at the same but that’s a scenario I prepared for.

I took a sidelong glance at both the blonde guy and gorilla-senpai. Their previous arrogance was now caught in their throats. As their eyes focused on me, I could instantly notice the hint of fear in them.

If I stepped in their direction, they would surely retreat a step just to prevent me from approaching them.

This was their level, huh? Those thugs who tried picking up Aoi and Ria back then had more backbones than these two.

As for Uchiyama… well, he’s already a dog in front of Izumi-senpai. Everything else was just his false bravado to save his pride as a man.

This was a bit disappointing considering the measures I had taken before walking in here.

“Well then. Like I told you, I’m not a violent person. I will only act to those who acted against me. Are we done here?” I declared with disinterest filling my voice.

Perhaps finding my words ridiculous, the blonde guy finally got his voice back, “Lies! Uchiyama didn’t do anything to you!”

I thought he was going to say something great but it’s just a bark. I guess there are two dogs here.

“You’re right about that, senpai. Isn’t that why I didn’t do anything to him? See?” I pointed at the two guys, one of which was already in tears from having his balls crushed and the other was on his path to recovery.

As for Uchiyama who’s now standing again, I only gave him a passing glance. His face was dark and the blonde guy’s barks were making it worse.

It’s like telling everyone that he got defeated not by a punch or a kick but by a simple squeeze on his shoulder.

“See, my ass! He’s the one who screamed the loudest!”

And with that, Uchiyama’s face got even darker, he was about to stop his peer but with my response, his animosity returned to me with more intensity.

“Ah. I apologize for that. I cannot control the strength in my grip. However, I didn’t punch him. I never used violence on him.” While feigning innocence, I looked at Uchiyama and gestured with my hand, showing him how I close and open my fist. I reenacted it as though I was holding his shoulder again.

And that successfully triggered him.

“I’m going to kill you!” Uchiyama screamed and charged forward.

What a cliched line. Does he not have anything better than that?

Anyway, since I intentionally triggered it, I expected that reaction. I swiftly dodged to the side and tripped him by landing a kick on his leg.

It didn’t put any force on it. Nonetheless, it’s enough to put him off balance as the guy almost smashed his face on the ground.

Lucky him, he got to stretch his arms forward which supported his fall.

“Whoa! Senpai, are you okay there?” Still with the innocent act, I immediately went to his side and helped him up.

But as expected, Uchiyama rejected it as he hatefully glared at me.

On the other hand, gorilla and blonde guy went to him and helped him up before they retreated to their group.

Seeing that, I stood up and released a sigh…

“Alright. Enough playing around. Are there any more surprises here? Didn’t Enomoto tell you to teach me a lesson?”

Since these guys were mid and not really that threatening, I dropped the act and aimed to end this farce by asking them.

However, their reaction to the name and their response took me by surprise.

“Enomoto, who’s that?” The blonde guy asked.

“Isn’t that the top ranker in the third year?” Gorilla-senpai then added.

“What’s that guy have to do with this?” And lastly, Uchiyama, despite the pain and anger he’s feeling, also looked puzzled at what I said, “

This… What’s this? Enomoto’s not the one behind this?

As I observed their expressions, even their followers, all looked genuinely confused why I brought up a name they were unfamiliar with.

“I see… It looks like I was also played like a fool.” I muttered, not answering their questions.

It’s either Nakanishi-senpai was lying to me or that Enomoto was deeply hidden among them.

“Oi, Uchiyama. Why did you target me?” Dropping the respectful pretense, I called out the dog.

Although he’s feeling indignant, knowing that they wouldn’t win at all, he gritted his teeth and answered, “What else? You dare use your authority to interrupt me. I’m not Uchiyama if I don’t teach you a lesson.”

This guy was spitting cliched lines since earlier. Where did he pick that up?

“That’s lame, senpai. You’re bothering a student and she’s clearly rejecting you. Do you think I’ll turn a blind eye to that?” I could laugh at him but I wasn’t in the mood anymore.

Besides, I just remembered I still have a place to be after this… I better end this now than stall more time.

“Anyway, that’s that. If you’re not going to come at me. I’m leaving.”

After giving them another cold glance, intimidating them with just my eyes, I turned around and walked out the way I came from.

I was waiting for them to run at me and hit me from behind. However, until I returned to the main road, no one followed me.

It’s over just like that… or so I thought.

“That’s fast. You’re not hurt, are you?”

Right as I made a turn to go to my next destination, a familiar figure stepped out from behind a post and stood before me.

“Mhm… I’m not. But what are you doing here, senpai? And why do you look surprised? Did you expect another outcome? Or better yet, are you biding for your time to come in and save me, indebting me to your favor?”

As I threw those questions, I watched as the person in front of me changed their concerned expression to a blank one. However, almost instantly, it reverted as they replied, “What are you saying, Onoda-kun? Of course, I’m here to check on you.”