After being pulled by Hayato for a while,
Nanao Akane was suddenly thrown into a small alley by him.
"…Ouch," Nanao Akane complained.
Her back hit the wall of the alley.
Just as she was about to touch her back, her raised wrist was again grabbed by Hayato.
Hayato lifted Nanao Akane's arm, then slammed it against the wall with a 'thump'.
His other hand also supported the wall, forming a 'barrier' to prevent Nanao Akane from escaping.
Wall, wall-slam?
Nanao Akane pursed her pink lips into a '~' shape, and the term popped into her mind for no reason.
Now Hayato was very close to her; the scent of his shampoo wafted into her nose.
It seemed to be a relatively cheap shampoo, with an unnaturally strong fragrance…
But, it actually smelled quite nice.
Nanao Akane didn't dare to look directly at Hayato's face. She hastily averted her gaze, while praying that her face wouldn't turn too obviously red… But judging by how hot it felt, it would be a miracle if it wasn't obvious!
Wait, wait…
Nanao Akane was incredibly shocked. What, what was he going to do?
This alley was far from the main street…
Even the entrance connected to the street rarely saw people passing by, and even if someone did, they seldom looked into the alley.
This could be said to be… a natural 'crime scene'. How you pronounce 'crime' is up to you.
But… huh!?
Wasn't Dong Gang the only beast?
How could Anshizhengzhi Jun… No no no no no.
As if to reassure herself, Nanao Akane repeated those two words in her mind. Then she stole a glance at Hayato's Strong Person's Gaze…
Wow! If Dong Gang was a beast, then this boy who was pressing her wrist and restraining her movements was practically a 'ferocious beast'!
With such a Strong Person's Gaze… Nanao Akane felt that whatever he did wouldn't be out of line.
No, if he were to do something, it definitely wouldn't just be 'that kind of thing', but the kind that would involve leather whips, or candle wax, and so on…
At this thought, Nanao Akane's body couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her two pink knees began to rub together uneasily.
…She felt a sudden urge to use the restroom.
She had been so scared when she met Dong Gang that she wanted to go to the toilet, and now, with Hayato's terrifying Strong Person's Gaze, that urge became even stronger.
"Speak!" Hayato said only one word, like he was interrogating a criminal.
"…Ah, wh-what?" Nanao Akane's eyes were already spinning in circles. @A@
"How did you end up with Dong Gang?" His tone was cold. "Did you forget what I told you before?"
"N-no—"
"Still saying no!?"
"N-no, it's not like that…" Nanao Akane felt the boy's grip on her wrist tighten slightly. She had already realized that Hayato, despite his slender build, had astonishing strength in his hands. Even the 'Gorilla' was so miserable; if he used force on her wrist, wouldn't she be broken?
"I'll give you one chance to explain. If you try to fool me…"
Hayato smiled calmly, but Nanao Akane sensed a hint of evil.
"It… it was Xiangye!" Nanao Akane quickly said. She pouted as if she had suffered a great grievance, and tears welled up in her bright eyes. "Yesterday, Xiangye told me he needed to buy supplies for the Baseball Club and asked if I wanted to go with him, so I agreed. After I agreed, Xiangye then said that Coach Dong Gang would also come along… I thought, with Xiangye there, Mr. Hayashi shouldn't dare to do anything. But when it was time to leave today, Xiangye told me that the coach suddenly assigned him a training task, and he had to go back to school… So, it just… happened."
"Huh? So you couldn't refuse?"
"I… I said I wasn't feeling well and didn't want to go out. But, but Xiangye said that since I had already promised the coach, it would be impolite to back out now. And… when I initially agreed to go with Xiangye, I was full of energy. If I suddenly said I was sick now… Xiangye wouldn't believe it either." Nanao Akane lowered her gaze and said, "He also advised me to get along well with Coach Dong Gang and not always make him angry…"
Pian Lai Xiangye, on his end, had no idea that the girl he admired was being coerced by his coach. He thought Nanao Akane was just throwing a tantrum and tried to persuade her for a long time…
"To keep Xiangye from overthinking, I could only…" Nanao Akane said in a low voice.
"Don't mind him," Hayato said, almost like giving an order. "From now on, no matter what happens, do not meet Dong Gang alone."
"B-but…" Nanao Akane was very troubled.
"Listen to me," Hayato's tone became a little heavier.
Nanao Akane was stunned for a few seconds, then met Hayato's undeniable Strong Person's Gaze.
"…Yes," Nanao Akane replied softly.
"Alright, I'll find a way to deal with Dong Gang," Hayato said. He released Nanao Akane's wrist. "You protect yourself."
"…Okay." Nanao Akane gently rubbed her reddened, fair wrist.
Then Hayato intended to turn and walk out of the alley.
"You… wait a moment, my legs feel weak," Nanao Akane pleaded.
Hayato turned to look at her and said strangely, "If your legs are weak, rest here for a while. I'm leaving first."
Nanao Akane was dumbfounded: "…Huh? B-but didn't you just say you'd take me home?"
"That was to fool Dong Gang," Hayato said matter-of-factly. "I have things to do, no time."
"…What, what the heck." Nanao Akane puffed out her cheeks, quite resentful.
He only said it nicely, hmph~~~
Just as Nanao Akane thought Hayato was about to leave, he suddenly looked her up and down from behind.
"Wh-what is it?" Was there something strange on her face?
"You, aren't you cold?" A skirt plus a shirt, in single-digit temperatures, she looked absolutely freezing.
"…I'm fine," Nanao Akane said.
Hayato thought for a moment, took off his jacket, and then pressed it onto Nanao Akane's head.
"Remember to give it back to me, don't lose it. I only have this one jacket."
Nanao Akane caught the black jacket. The touch of her fingers told her it was definitely a cheap item. But… it seemed quite warm.
She only thought half of it.
"—Eek!" She shrieked, all the hairs on her body standing on end.
Because Hayato had twisted her arm hard… really hard. Nanao Akane would bet that spot was definitely bruised.
"This is your lesson," Hayato said indifferently. Then he turned and walked away, without looking back.
......
Nanao Akane watched his retreating figure for a long time.
Then she put on the jacket.
"…What the heck," she muttered.
The jacket smelled of the same cheap shampoo as the boy, and Nanao Akane immediately noticed it.
Nanao Akane's consciousness finally pulled away from the boy's fierce gaze.
After experiencing Dong Gang's threats and the boy's coercion… Nanao Akane, though it was only noon, felt like she had lost a day's worth of energy, and her legs grew increasingly weak.
As she tried to squat down, the smell of cheap shampoo enveloped her, going straight from her nose to her brain, while the arm that had been pinched throbbed with a burning pain…
A terrifying, sour, numb, and twisted swelling sensation also came from her thigh.
…Oh no, I—I'm going to pee.