"Cough, cough."
Suzune coughed uncontrollably as she gasped for air after hitting the ground.
When she looked up at Takashi again, there was unmistakable fear in her eyes.
She had genuinely thought she was going to die just now. Her life had flashed before her eyes.
She realized Takashi was unlike any boy she'd ever met.
"Well? You waited here for me. What did you want to say?"
Takashi stood in front of her, looking down without a trace of emotion.
His eyes were like a frozen lake in winter, cold and distant.
This version of Takashi—so different from the passionate, fired-up player on the field or the confident figure on the award podium.
"You…"
Knowing that this man wouldn't go easy on her just because she was a girl, Suzune adjusted her tone slightly.
"You used cheap tricks to win. Doesn't that feel shameful?"
Takashi looked at her with pure disdain.
"You waited here just to say that?"
"Shamefu—mm."
Suzune frowned at his expression, wanting to sound tougher—but after what just happened, she decided to hold back.
"What's shameful about it? Did we bribe the referee?"
"No."
"Did we hold a knife to Koenji Rokusuke's throat and force him off the field?"
"No…"
"Sudo Ken brought it on himself. I provoked him. So what?"
"On the field, he could've answered with skill. He could've trash-talked me back. But instead, he acted rashly and escalated things with the dumbest move possible."
Suzune's lips moved slightly, trying to argue—but every word Takashi said pointed straight at the core flaws of the Advanced Nurturing School system.
"You think I'm despicable? You think you're fair?"
"You should know—we reached the finals with our team already falling apart."
"Was that fair to us?"
"Two of Aoba's pitchers were injured—you said nothing."
"Our cleanup hitter took a ball to the head and came back hurt—but you acted blind."
"You saw me take down two of your players with 'dirty' tricks, and all you do is whine. What are you, an alarm system?"
Takashi hated double-standard hypocrites like Suzune.
She only saw what benefitted her side.
"You Advanced Nurturing elites deserved that loss."
"You're right."
Horikita Manabu stepped out from the distance.
"This loss is on us."
"Brother…"
Manabu glanced at his sister sitting on the ground, then looked back at Takashi. A turbulent emotion briefly flickered in his eyes.
"Go home."
He didn't show any concern for his sister. His tone was cold.
"…Yes."
Suzune lowered her head and quietly left.
"What did you do to Suzune?"
Only after she was gone did Manabu's real emotions show. His gaze at Takashi sharpened.
"Why don't you take a guess?"
Takashi smirked provocatively.
The two stared at each other in silence.
Maybe it was ten seconds. Maybe longer. Suddenly, Manabu lunged forward, launching a lightning-fast punch at Takashi's face.
Takashi's instincts flared—he leaned back just in time to dodge the strike.
The punch missed. Manabu aimed a vicious kick at Takashi's vitals next.
Takashi hadn't expected such a dirty move from Manabu, but he twisted to dodge.
His own sweeping kick followed, flinging dust through the air.
Manabu blocked with his arm—but then his face twisted in pain, and he quickly jumped back.
He looked down at his shaking arm, the one that had blocked Takashi's strike.
It wouldn't stop trembling.
Takashi didn't chase after him. He grinned, showing his white teeth. "Hurts, doesn't it?"
Compared to Manabu, a fifth dan in karate and fourth dan in aikido, Takashi had zero martial arts training—aside from maxed-out evasion skills.
His only real fighting technique, the legendary "Rabid Dog Fist," couldn't even be used since he was ambushed.
In terms of technique, Takashi admitted he wasn't Manabu's equal. But physically?
That's where he shined.
Why do boxing and MMA have weight classes?
Because fighting without considering physicality is as delusional as fairy tales.
"You shouldn't have touched Suzune."
Manabu growled coldly.
"You're saying I should've coddled her? She's not my sister."
Takashi sneered, one hand in his pocket. "Now I get it. That entitled attitude of hers—must've been spoiled by you."
"Thanks for listening to my crap."
Without another word, Manabu waited for the numbness to fade—and charged at Takashi again.
Dust kicked up in his wake as he sprinted.
Takashi calmly took his left hand out of his pocket and pointed it like a gun. "Bang."
The moment the word left his lips, a bullet shrieked through the air, exploding into the ground in front of Manabu with a shower of debris.
Manabu immediately stopped.
"I'm waiting for someone. What are you waiting for?"
Then he noticed—black-suited bodyguards began emerging from the shadows, surrounding him like a tide.
One of them held a carbon-based biological tranquilizer gun.
That must've been who fired just now.
"Waiting to die, maybe?"
Takashi's grin curled mockingly.
"What era do you think this is? Who still does one-on-one duels?"
Manabu: "..."
"Young Master Kitahara, how should we deal with him?"
A bodyguard stepped forward.
"Should we take him out?"
Takashi was about to respond—then blinked, staring at the man. "Hey… have we met?"
"You were about to kiss Doma Umaru that time—remember? I fired the warning shot."
The man scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Takashi: "..."
Damn!
So the one who's been watching me all this time with a sniper rifle… was you?
Takashi took a deep breath, then turned and smiled at Horikita Manabu. "You're good at fighting, huh?"
Horikita Manabu said nothing. No fear on his face, not even much expression.
But if you looked closely into his eyes, you'd see the despair hiding there.
No matter how composed he acted, Horikita Manabu was still just a high school student.
With this many people—even if Tyson himself showed up, he'd be beaten into a teddy bear.
"Come on now, don't say I didn't give you a chance."
"If you can fight your way out of the encirclement, we'll call it even."
Takashi stepped into a black car and waved lazily.
The bodyguards didn't hesitate. In an instant, they surged forward.
Three seconds.
That's how long Horikita Manabu lasted before being knocked down.
Five seconds later, he was being held down and beaten mercilessly.
Takashi wasn't surprised by the outcome.
He always liked that line from Qin's Moon: "If three hundred men can't take him down, then send three thousand. Thirty thousand!"
Human strength always has its limits.
Even if you were Li Chunfeng, who could pierce armor with one sword stroke, it only works 2,600 times.
This is modern society. Who still does one-on-one duels anymore?
"Brother!"
A girl's scream suddenly echoed from the underground corridor.
Takashi looked back—Horikita Suzune had returned.
Standing beside her was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Suzune tried to rush in but was easily blocked by the black-clad bodyguards.
Ayanokoji walked up to one of them. Just as the guard was about to stop him, Takashi spoke up, "Let him through."
Takashi knew Ayanokoji's father's identity and figured he wasn't as brainless as Manabu.
Ayanokoji walked straight up to Takashi. "He's learned his lesson, Kitahara-kun. Can you do me a favor and let him go?"
"Do you a favor?"
Takashi casually propped a foot on the car's hood, grinning. "Is your favor worth anything?"
"Not really."
Ayanokoji replied with that same emotionless, calm tone.
"But I know a few things—things that might be helpful to you."
Takashi chuckled.
"Stop."
The bodyguards immediately ceased their beating.
"Let's exchange contact info."
Takashi took out his phone and gave it a shake.
"Alright."
Ayanokoji pulled out his own phone. After they exchanged numbers, Takashi hopped off the hood and walked over to the barely conscious Horikita Manabu.
He squatted and gently patted his cheek.
"Next time, before you make a move, think about whether you can afford to."
"If you injure me, the consequences won't be just yours to bear—Advanced Nurturing itself won't be able to handle it."
Takashi stood and walked back toward the car.
The bodyguards opened the door. As the vehicle passed by Ayanokoji, Takashi rolled down the window and smiled. "Ayanokoji-kun, let's stay in touch."
"Out of all Advanced Nurturing, you're the only one I actually like."
Ayanokoji quipped, "If I had a choice, I'd rather stay far away from you."
He really had no desire to get involved with Takashi.
In his mind, Takashi's danger level was no less than his own father's.
Takashi laughed but said nothing more.
The car drove out of the underground parking lot and soon merged into the main road.
…
"Since they already know who I am, what's the point of even meeting them?"
"Maybe I should just run for it."
"There's really no reason to go in, is there?"
Standing outside a hotel restaurant, Takashi kept pacing, completely unwilling to step inside.
Gone was the imposing aura he had just a while ago.
Because inside that hotel restaurant… were his ex-girlfriends.
Two of them.
Though he'd once claimed he wouldn't run away from problems, now that the moment had come, he was having second thoughts.
After all, the mess he made… might've been a bit too big.
How big?
Let's just say—life-threatening.
"I should go back and grab a bulletproof vest."
Even though he trusted his maxed-out evasion stat, he only had one life. Better safe than sorry.
Ding-ling~
But before he could slip away, the restaurant door opened.
"My, Kitahara-kun, why don't you go inside now that you're here?"
Sayuri looked at Takashi turning to leave and seemed to guess his intentions.
"You're not thinking of running away, are you?"
Takashi didn't get mad—he put on a fawning smile.
"Mom, how's it inside?"
"Want to know?"
"Mhm."
Takashi nodded like crazy, full of anticipation.
"Go see for yourself."
Sayuri stepped aside.
"Eriri, Utaha, Takashi's here~"
Before Takashi could react, she turned and called into the restaurant.
"Mom!"
Takashi panicked.
Weren't mothers supposed to be in tune with their sons? Why was she throwing him under the bus?
"Isn't it a little early to call me 'mom'?"
Sayuri said coolly.
Just as Takashi was about to retort, Eriri walked over with a smile. "Takashi, you're here."
"Uh… yeah."
Takashi trembled as he saw her smile, his knees practically knocking together.
"How about heading inside?"
Utaha followed right behind her.
"J-Just got here. I-I was just about to go in."
Takashi stammered over every word.
"Come in, already."
Eriri took his left hand and led him inside.
Utaha closed the door behind them.
"Aren't you coming in too, Mom?"
Takashi looked around the restaurant—and noticed it was completely empty.
"Mom?"
Dark energy began rising behind Utaha. Takashi quickly corrected himself. "A-Auntie! Wrong word!"
"We're here to talk about our matters, aren't we? Why would Mom come in?"
Eriri tilted her head adorably, golden hair flowing like fine art—cute and captivating.
"Y-Yeah, you're right."
Takashi was seated at a small round table between Eriri and Utaha, who sat to his left and right.
He was surrounded. And extremely nervous.
"So, um—" Before he could say anything, Eriri lifted a piece of steak to his mouth.
"You must be starving after playing all those games. Here, eat something. Say 'ah~'."
Sweat began to form on Takashi's forehead.
"I'm really not that hungry."
He didn't dare eat a single bite.
He had already made up his mind: No matter what's on this table, he would not touch it!
Gurgle gurgle…
Despite what he said, his stomach betrayed him.
"Takashi, are you scared we poisoned the food?"
Utaha toyed with a silver knife in one hand, resting her chin in the other. She smiled sweetly at Takashi.
Takashi clenched his jaw. "Yes."
"With how you two are now, nothing you do would surprise me."
Seeing Takashi still refuse, Eriri ate the steak herself.
She then stood up, placed her left knee on the seat between Takashi's legs, grabbed his collar with her left hand, and pressed a fork to his throat. Her eyes dimmed, voice cold:
"Then tell me, Takashi—why did you lie to us?"
"This time, think very carefully before you answer!"
Utaha mirrored the action, only she held a knife to his throat.
"You said it yourself—nothing we do would surprise you anymore."
Takashi : Danger!
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Ayoo another yandere lmao
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20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics
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