He was full of rage, his eyes as if about to spout fire. He raised his hand, pointed straight at Hamazaki Risa, and shouted angrily, "You, you, you… Hamazaki Risa, how could you be so excessive?
"I was so polite and gentlemanly to you, not only walking you all the way home but even confessing to you so earnestly, and you dare humiliate me like this?"
Hamazaki Risa, as if she hadn't heard Fumishi Yoshitsugu's reproach, vented today's annoyance through her scolding, took a long breath, her face returning to its usual cheerful smile. She grabbed her shoulder bag comfortably from the ground and, light-footed, prepared to leave the alley and head home.
Fumishi Yoshitsugu could not tolerate it. He yelled, "How dare you! You'll insult me and then walk away? Not allowed! Stop right there!"
As he spoke, Fumishi stormed angrily toward Hamazaki Risa.
Seeing this, a shadow at the mouth of the alley flickered, as if about to move, but quickly held still.
Neither Hamazaki Risa nor Fumishi noticed that figure; Fumishi still hurried toward Hamazaki Risa.
Because Hamazaki Risa was wearing mid-high heels, she wasn't walking very fast, and though Fumishi was short and chubby, he ran surprisingly quickly, like a little spinning top, and soon closed the distance.
But just as Fumishi nearly reached her, Hamazaki Risa suddenly turned her head.
Because of her long legs, she was even a head taller than Fumishi, Hamazaki Risa looked down at him and asked calmly, "What do you want, you ugly bald Mr. Fumishi?"
"You, you…", Looking up to the towering, seemingly mocking Hamazaki Risa, Fumishi swallowed. Coveting the long, jade-like legs under her strappy heels, he forced down much of his anger.
He said angrily to Hamazaki Risa, "Apologize! You just said such rude things to me; you have to apologize to me!"
"Oh, short and ugly Mr. Fumishi, sorry~", Hamazaki Risa said with a flippant tone.
Her attitude made Fumishi even angrier, "You… that apology is so insincere!"
"What kind of sincerity do you want, Mr. Mediterranean Fumishi?", Hamazaki asked.
Ignoring Hamazaki Risa's rude preface, Fumishi looked at her lips glossed in bean-paste shade and at her long, shapely legs, swallowed, then said, "Simple. Either let me touch your leg, or let me kiss you once."
"Heh! That's all it takes?", Unexpectedly, Hamazaki Risa laughed when she heard that.
Fumishi became excited, "Yes! That's it! Have you decided, let me touch your leg or let me kiss you?"
"I've decided. I want you to go die," Hamazaki Risa said with sudden disdainful mockery.
Fumishi, puckering his lips earnestly as if to kiss, paused in surprise, looking up at Hamazaki Risa. She was staring at him with utter contempt and scorn.
The earlier drunken haze snapped off Fumishi's face. He realized Hamazaki Risa had never been serious. She had been teasing and mocking him, enjoying his humiliation.
Memories of earlier verbal insults flooded him; Fumishi could no longer contain himself.
"You bi*ch, I've had enough! Since you won't apologize to me willingly, I'll take what I want myself!"
Red-faced and shouting, Fumishi lunged toward Hamazaki Risa, clearly enraged and intent on forcing himself on her.
At this, the shadow outside the alley moved slightly.
The figure hidden in the darkness was carrying seven or eight shopping bags full of drinks, snacks, and miscellaneous items, apparently just bought from the supermarket.
It was none other than Hikari.
After Ruri and the other three gyaru left, he had come downstairs to the supermarket to pick up a few things. He had just happened to see the slightly drunk Fumishi following Hamazaki Risa.
Since Hamazaki Risa was Hamazaki Reina's older sister, seeing Fumishi's p*rvy behavior, Hikari casually tailed them a bit.
From Fumishi's confession outside the supermarket to Hamazaki Risa's merciless scolding, Hikari had seen it all.
He had only followed out of curiosity and had found the little scene amusing. Fumishi seemed to be trying to woo her with charm and money rather than being one of those who'd assault someone right away, which was funny to watch.
He'd especially enjoyed Hamazaki Risa's reactions and the things she shouted.
Truly living up to being Hamazaki Reina's, indeed, the three gyaru's, older sister, Hamazaki Risa's insults were ruthless, leaving Fumishi completely unhinged and ready to take action.
Such a forced attempt to make a move would of course count as harasser behavior.
So whether because Hamazaki Risa was Reina's sister or because of pure-love points, Hikari set down his shopping bags, ready to act.
But he stopped just as he stepped forward.
He raised his eyes and looked ahead again.
Just after Fumishi lost control and prepared to dash forward, Hamazaki Risa suddenly splashed the oden she'd brought out of the supermarket, untouched, right into Fumishi's face.
The oden had only just come off the pot and was still scorching hot. Fumishi screamed, clutching his face.
At that moment Hamazaki Risa delivered a swift kick to Fumishi's knee, fast and fierce, and sent him sprawling to the ground.
It turned out those snow-white long legs were not merely for show; they packed a punch.
After knocking him down, Hamazaki Risa swung her bag and struck Fumishi several times.
Only after his cries shrank and he begged for mercy did she stop.
"You still want to try force? Do I look like I'm helpless? I've trained for years, back in school I was the leader among the girls…", Hamazaki Risa said as she dusted her hands and walked out of the alley.
Hearing that, Hikari understood.
No wonder Hamazaki Risa hadn't shown fear and had even spoken provocatively. She had seen through people like Fumishi long ago and was prepared; even if he turned into a m*lester and made a move, she wouldn't flinch. She'd thrown the oden without eating it and kicked him so swiftly.
Hikari stood at the alley mouth, thinking carelessly, his feet unmoving.
Hamazaki Risa, muttering to herself, stepped out of the alley and naturally saw Hikari.
At first she was briefly startled to see another figure, but when she recognized it was Hikari, she was pleasantly surprised.
"Big d… ah no, Hik… Hikari-kun?", she blurted some not-so-refined names.
Hikari ignored her earlier slip and nodded, gesturing to her, "Yeah, it's me. Good evening, Risa-nee."
"Good evening. By the way, Hikari-kun, did you see what just happened?", Hamazaki Risa noticed Hikari's stance, it didn't look like he had just arrived.
Hikari nodded, "Yeah, I saw it all. I was ready to help when that guy tried to make a move, but I didn't expect Risa-nee to be so awesome and take care of it in one go."
Hearing that, Hamazaki Risa covered her mouth and laughed, "Oh my, having Hikari-kun see such an unladylike scene and missing a chance for the handsome hero to save the beauty, how sad."
Hikari waved his hand and smiled, "No, no, your decisive move was very cool, hard not to be impressed. If I were a few years older, I might foolishly want to chase after Risa-nee."
At that compliment Hamazaki Risa covered her mouth and smiled happily.
Despite being praised by many men over the years, like at today's mixer, she usually felt little. But hearing praise from Hikari oddly made her happy.
Perhaps… that's the power of looks?
After all, this young, handsome boy who could also make high-decibel noise like a pile driver for hours did give a good impression.
Also, Hamazaki Risa hadn't shown this violent side in front of others for years; that rare, unexpected side being praised by Hikari was another reason she felt pleased.
Her smile grew wider.
She noticed Hikari was carrying seven or eight supermarket bags, clearly heavy. She reached out and cheerfully took a few from him, "Hikari-kun, you've got so many, that must be heavy. You've got great stamina. Since we're headed the same way, let me carry some, it's on the way, after all."
Hikari accepted without hesitation.
Their destination was Kurumiban Apartments, so they set off together down the street, chatting casually and enjoying a pleasant atmosphere.
"Hikari-kun, when you said if you were a few years older you'd confess, was that assuming you'd still be in a relationship with Reina?", After chatting a bit, Hamazaki Risa suddenly asked with a laugh.
Hikari froze slightly, half amused, half exasperated. What he'd said was a hypothetical flattering line. Her question treated it like a factual plan to confess in a few years, and she'd even brought up Hamazaki Reina, implying he was a cad trying to get both sisters.
Of course, Hamazaki Risa was teasing. Older, not-too-shy women who got a bit closer to him tended to tease him like that naturally.
Maybe that was the curse his pretty face brought him, quite the headache.
Hikari didn't answer directly; instead he turned to smiling Hamazaki Risa and slightly curled his mouth into a smile.
"Aha, not answering directly but using that uniquely handsome boy smile to charm your sister, trying to get away with it? Even though I know that, I can't help but be swayed by Hikari-kun," Hamazaki Risa teased.
"Thanks for the compliment, Risa-nee, I…", Just as Hikari was about to say something, a car sped past them.
The screech of tires cut off their conversation.
Two black cars suddenly stopped in front of them, blocking their path.
The doors opened and four men stepped out.
One short, chubby, Mediterranean-looking figure was none other than Fumishi Yoshitsugu, the one Hamazaki Risa had knocked down in the alley.
Seeing these men blocking the road, Hamazaki Risa knit her brows. But they didn't look at her; instead they turned to Fumishi.
"Hey, Fumishi, is she the one who beat you up?", one of Fumishi's friends asked, pulling him to point.
Fumishi excitedly pointed at Hamazaki Risa, "Yeah! It was her! That sl*t beat me up, but at that time she was alone, there wasn't that guy with her!"
"Ah, no wonder you called us so quick. This chick's figure is really something," One man made a lecherous laugh at the sight of Risa's snow-white long legs.
"She's pretty and has a great body, and such a fiery personality, I like it."
"Then what are we waiting for? Teach that sl*t a lesson for Fumishi. And what about that pretty boy beside her?"
"Forget the pretty boy, just finish him off."
Those men who Fumishi had called over chatted among themselves and sauntered toward Hikari and Hamazaki Risa, rubbing their fingers together.
"This is bad. He called people so fast. When the other side has absolute numbers, what do you think we should do, Hikari-kun?", Hamazaki Risa asked, watching the approaching men.
"Run?", Hikari answered.
"Right! Hikari-kun, you're in sync with me. Of all the thirty-six stratagems, the best is retreat!", Hamazaki Risa said, then grabbed Hikari to make a run for it.
After all, the other side had four sturdy men. Although Hamazaki Risa was strong for a woman, fighting an adult man alone wasn't easy.
And Hikari was just a handsome high school boy, not yet an adult—couldn't expect too much.
So they had to run.
Fortunately they agreed quickly instead of letting hot blood take over.
Relieved inwardly, Hamazaki Risa suddenly tugged on Hikari's arm to flee, but then she froze.
She found she couldn't move him at all.
Even though she hadn't used full strength, she couldn't budge him; Hikari stood like a stone statue.
What was going on?
Even if she hadn't used everything, he should at least move a little. Why was Hikari utterly immovable?
No, now wasn't the time to ponder that; the real question was why Hikari-kun refused to run.
Sure enough, hot-blooded youth found it hard to accept retreat.
Hamazaki Risa's face showed helplessness mixed with annoyance.
She let go of Hikari's hand, stepped in front of him, and said persuasively, "Hikari-kun, I know you might think I'm underestimating you, but I really don't mean that. They're four people and we're two, it's clearly disadvantageous.
"So I want you to run out and find help, or hurry and call the police."
Hikari asked, "Then what about you, Risa-nee?"
Hamazaki Risa smiled, "You're only in the way here. Run to call the police. If you run, I'll find a chance to get away too."
As they stood there, Fumishi and his three men, now closer, heard enough to laugh, their faces showing a cat-and-mouse teasing expression.
"Run? You won't get the chance."
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