Watching Shirase stride so decisively toward the restaurant door, looking ready to fight to the end, the four men and three women were all left stunned.
Even the long-haired man's girlfriend, who'd been standing aside glaring a moment ago, now looked completely dazed.
They weren't his age. All of them had already stepped into society—some even had families of their own.
And once you've entered the working world, once you have a home to go back to, you lose that youthful, reckless impulse to throw punches.
So when Shirase moved without hesitation, everyone who had been wondering if he was just acting on impulse now felt certain—
He was.
Getting into a brawl with a high schooler?
Not exactly ideal.
And besides, the kid was protected by the Juvenile Law.
"Everyone, please calm down. There's no need for a fight…" The restaurant owner was still trying to mediate, voice weary.
Finishing her phone call, Yukinoshita Haruno walked over, facing the group of men who were hesitating about whether to act. "Let's end things here today."
"End things here?"
The man who'd stood up earlier, still putting on a tough act, thought Haruno was backing down. Gaining confidence, he sneered, "He beat up my friend. If we just let it go, how does that make any sense?"
Haruno easily read his thoughts and smiled faintly. "Then how do you want to handle it? Make a scene? Take it to the police? If that's what you want, I'd be happy to accommodate."
From beginning to end, she was calm, composed, untouched by the tension. That air of quiet control only made the man and his friends hesitate.
They weren't total fools; they'd seen a bit of the world. And some among them recognized the Hermès scarf and handbag Haruno carried. With her poise and confidence, they suddenly weren't sure how to reply.
While they exchanged awkward looks, Haruno stood there silently—serene as a lotus blooming alone in a still pond.
"We don't need to stoop to a student's level," one of the women finally muttered.
The man who'd stood up to posture earlier nodded quickly, following her lead. "Yeah, you're right. He's just a high schooler. If we fought him, we'd only cheapen ourselves."
Haruno acted as if she hadn't heard, smiling kindly. "Then we're done here?"
The man opened his mouth to respond—but before he could, the long-haired man on the ground hissed between gritted teeth, "No way we're done! I'll kill that bastard!"
The words dropped like a stone in the room. His friends' faces soured immediately. We were trying to calm things down, and you want to stir the pot again?
Even the restaurant owner looked exasperated. Just when things were about to settle, this idiot had to speak up.
He could only sigh in exhaustion.
"You really want to keep this going?" Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned, her question directed squarely at the long-haired man.
The guy's drunken stumble had already caused Yukino's injury, and she'd been angry from the start.
Sure, she knew it hadn't been intentional—but their disgusting attitude afterward? That had pushed her patience to the edge.
Hiratsuka Shizuka wasn't one to start trouble. But she wasn't afraid of it either.
Otherwise, how could an ordinary teacher afford to drive a convertible?
The long-haired man sat up, ignoring her question, glaring instead at Shirase by the doorway. He sneered. "Playing tough, huh, kid? Once we're at the station, I'll have some friends drop by and keep you company."
"Very bold."
The system had never been one for mercy.
And the moment those words fell, everyone saw Shirase's body flash forward like lightning.
The long-haired man's expression twisted in alarm. He hadn't even managed to stand up before a kick slammed hard into his face.
A sharp thud rang out—something cracked, maybe his brow bone, maybe his nose bridge. Blood gushed instantly, painting half his face red.
Just seconds ago he'd been barking threats—now he lay curled on the ground, groaning miserably, both hands covering his face, unable to even rise.
That single brutal kick made every one of his friends flinch. They'd seen enough to realize: this high schooler was fast, ruthless, completely unrestrained. He didn't play by any normal rules.
Hiratsuka Shizuka cast a surprised glance at the emotionless "Shirase." Her own fighting sense was sharp, and she could tell the control behind that kick was perfect—bloody, but far from lethal. It wasn't a wild "soccer kick" that'd end up on the news.
This kid's trained before, she thought. I'll have to ask Kojima-sensei about it later.
Everyone else assumed Shirase's decisiveness came from adolescent hot-bloodedness.
But they didn't know—this was simply the system's omnipotence at work.
"You can stop now," Haruno finally called.
The system obediently halted, turning silently and walking back toward Yukinoshita Yukino's side.
Still frozen in surprise, the girl suddenly felt her pulse quicken.
He's coming over... Is he worried about me?
Or… maybe he's checking on my injury?
Her thoughts raced uncontrollably.
As Shirase sat down, she was just about to thank him—
But he didn't even glance her way. He simply picked up his chopsticks and started eating again.
Yukino: "…"
Shirase nearly broke down inside. So you were still thinking about the fish on the table this whole time?!
[System detected rising hunger level in host.]
The system's answer was calm, logical, and UTTERLY infuriating.
...
In the end, the long-haired man's group finally left. Haruno's effortless composure, paired with Shirase's earlier display of brutality, had long since drained them of the will to fight.
When Haruno and Hiratsuka returned to their seats, both women's gazes naturally landed on Shirase.
But before either could speak, the system put down the chopsticks and stated flatly, "That man still hasn't apologized."
Haruno blinked, then laughed softly. "You're still hung up on that? Wait—don't tell me that whole outburst earlier was because you were standing up for my sister?"
By the end of her sentence, a teasing lilt had crept into her tone.
The system replied coldly, "That was called justice enforcement."
Haruno chuckled. "I see, I see."
Of course she didn't believe it.
Hiratsuka smiled too. "Seems like I was right to introduce you two."
"Oh my, so it was Shizuka-chan who introduced my sister to Shirase-kun?" Haruno leaned her chin on her hand, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Then that means you and Yukino are good friends already, right, Shirase-kun?"
And before he could respond, she continued brightly, "Let me think—most high school romances begin with some kind of 'incident.' You just stood up for Yukino, so now she'll feel grateful… and after that, you two might just… hmm?"
She arched her eyebrows playfully.
[Host, is this woman implying something?]
"Isn't it obvious? She just wants to stir up trouble," Shirase muttered inwardly.
[System still very much wants to beat her up.]
"Don't. Don't get impulsive."
---
T/N: im not gonna bother italicizing shirases dialoguie towards system, im sure you're all grownups and can tell he's prob speaking in his mind...
...
"Looks like this is the last day you'll be hearing from me—for now, at least."
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say bye bye and thank you to maomao!!