"You're dead!"
As I closed in, the thug swung his bat at me without a second thought.
"Oh?"
This guy's insane.
Does he not have a single shred of respect for the law in that thick skull of his?
The bat came whistling toward my face again.
Crack!
Something shattered with a resounding crash.
Needless to say, it wasn't my face—it was the bat.
"Guh...!?"
The unreal sight of me pulverizing a full-force bat swing with my fist left a dumbstruck groan escaping the thug's lips.
"Wh-what the... Who the hell are you?"
"You're getting beat today. You've been pissing me off from the start."
Trash who tries NTR and abuses animals deserves a good thrashing.
Smack!
I grabbed a fistful of his annoying blond hair and slapped him hard across the face.
"Why"
Slap!
"Gah!?"
"Do you"
Slap!
"Kehuk!"
"Keep"
Slap!
"Gurgh!"
"Causing"
Slap!!
"trouble"
"Guh... Ack... Blugh..."
"For"
"everyone"
"around"
"you?"
No need for punches.
Just four slaps.
The cocky thug who strutted around like the world was his playground passed out foaming at the mouth after a mere four slaps.
"Hey, baldy."
"H-Hiiik!?"
"Touch that dog again, and you're dead."
"O-Okay."
"... 'Okay'? Say it properly."
"Urk... Y-Yes, sir."
Pathetic.
I shoved the unconscious blond thug into baldy's arms, and he scurried off supporting him. I'd planted such overwhelming shock without giving them any chance to fight back that they'd stay quiet for a while, at least.
Ngh... Whine...
Peering under the truck, I saw Tori collapsed on the ground, weakly whimpering.
Thank goodness there were no obvious external injuries, but extreme stress and exhaustion had left him completely drained. No wonder.
After running hundreds of kilometers with the sole thought of finding his owner, the last thing he encountered was abuse from human scum like that.
Might as well pull him out now and take him to the vet lady.
"Hey, buddy. Tori, don't bite me, okay?"
But the moment I reached in, my plea was betrayed.
Grrr...!
Chomp!
"Ow! Damn mutt...!"
He bit down hard.
His fangs sank pretty deep. Can't blame an animal for that. Especially one that was just being abused. Gotta understand...
I gently grabbed him by the scruff with my other hand and pulled him out from under the truck, cradling him in my arms.
I figured a big dog like him would be heavy, but he was skin and bones, so he wasn't at all. Maybe 15kg tops...
"Tsk tsk... Hang in there a bit longer. I'll get you to your big sis soon."
While carrying him and running, a dark thought crossed my mind—what if he suddenly went berserk and tore into my neck?
Fortunately, Tori seemed to sense my intent to save him and stayed quiet in my arms.
Bang!
"Doctor! Doctor! It's an emergency!"
"Eek! G-Guardian!?"
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Bark! Bark! Bark!
Barging into the animal clinic yelling drew startled barks from the other dogs already there.
"Sis! Check on Tori! It's urgent—he's gonna die!"
The vet who'd been in her office came rushing out and led me to the treatment room.
"Put him on the table and step out."
"Got it."
Watching medical dramas, I'd always been frustrated by families clinging to the patient's bed during emergency surgeries, getting in the way.
But now that it was my situation, I kinda got it.
The worry that he might just die like that.
Still, I couldn't hover, so I stepped out quietly.
The moment I hit the lobby, the nurse scolded me.
"Guardian! I know you're doing a good deed, but there's such a thing as public decency! There are other guardians here...!"
"Aw, it's fine~ That young man's just desperate. Look at that pup—looks serious!"
An auntie holding a Maltese backed me up.
Still, I should apologize.
"Sorry. Sorry to you over there too. The dog was barely breathing..."
"Oh, it's okay~ Such a polite young man."
"Ohoho! That happens~"
But then something warm trickled down my neck from where I'd placed my hand awkwardly on the back of my head.
"Gasp...! Guardian, blood!"
From Tori biting me hard, I guess.
"Oh, this? It's nothing."
"Nothing?!"
The nurse pulled a first-aid kit from under the desk and started disinfecting my hand.
Squeeze...♡
She was so flustered that even with my fingertips brushing her chest, she focused on treating me.
She wasn't much to look at, but this maternal vibe had a sneaky way of stirring a guy's heart.
Kya… so this is the warmth of an older woman.
"How did this happen?! Bite marks, and the skin around your knuckle's torn too."
"I was heading to get Tori when some crazy bastards were beating him with a bat."
"...What did you say?"
"So I went to stop them, and they swung the bat at my face."
"Heavens!"
The aunties eavesdropping with perked ears gasped behind me.
"A-And then?"
"So I smashed the bat with my fist... Slapped those guys a few times and brought Tori straight here."
"S-Smashed... a bat... with your fist...?"
The nurse stared at me in disbelief.
Glancing down at her chest where my fingertips touched, I spotted her name tag: Saeko.
Touching boobs before even knowing the name.
What a jackpot!
But then whispers from the aunties behind me.
"Oh my... He's totally like Kinkame Otoko..."
"Yeah, for real..!"
What's Kinkame Otoko?
"Saeko sis, what's Kinkame Otoko?"
"Huh? You don't know Kinkame Otoko?"
"I'm a Korean exchange student, so I'm not up on Japanese dramas."
"Oh my gosh! He's from Korea!!"
"Eeeeeek!! Kan! Ko! Ku!"
"They say Korean guys are huge, and it's true!!"
Ugh, my ears hurt.
Aunties are the same in Korea or Japan—sentimental messes.
Anyway, according to Saeko sis, Kinkame Otoko was a drama from when the aunties were young. About a big, burly hero who punches evil gangs into oblivion.
Hearing a story unique to this world that never even came up as side content in the game really drove home that I'd truly transmigrated here.
"There, dressing's done. It's temporary, so head to a hospital nearby right now for proper care. Got it?"
I didn't look rabid, but it was a stray who'd roamed for a year.
Bitten by fangs crawling with bacteria, better get checked. Even Guan Yu couldn't tank dot damage.
"Alright, I'll head out then. Take good care of Tori for us."
"Tori? That's his name?"
Oh crap... I slipped and named the stray dog.
"Yeah. See that worn-out collar?"
"Oh~ Yeah, name tag on it! Wow... All rusted. How'd you read that?"
Anyway, the convinced nurse nodded.
"Go get that wound tended first! Tori matters, but infection's no joke, even for a young guy!"
"Got it. When can I come pick him up?"
"Need to check him first. I'll call with details!"
"Thanks."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I went to school the next day, but thankfully no cops showed up in class.
Those punks who think they're hot shit never call the police or sue after getting beat—ruins their street cred. So-called "gao," I guess.
The thug with his face swollen like a steamed bun twisted away when I entered, avoiding my gaze.
Told you to be a better person.
But the class vibe felt off.
Everyone glanced between the thug and me, then flinched and looked away if our eyes met.
The hand, huh...
Damn.
Should've unwrapped the bandage despite the pain.
One guy's face is wrecked, the other's got a bandaged hand—everyone can guess what went down.
I don't care what other students think, but Ren matters.
"Morning, Tsumetai."
"..."
I greeted brightly as I sat, but she clamped her mouth shut, her response noticeably colder.
I want to explain it was from saving Tori and clear the misunderstanding, but she'd bolt to the vet right then.
Can't let that happen...
Ren's swamped with play prep right now.
Can't mess up the major event on stage.
'Reunion with Tori' is a huge affection boost, but it's extra outside the main scenario.
If she skips the play to nurse Tori or misses school, the schedule goes haywire unpredictably.
As I gazed at her profile in complicated mood, she muttered softly.
"...You said you wouldn't."
Then she turned her head completely away.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Heroine Status Change Detected!] ⚔ STATUS ⚔👤 Name: Tsumetai Ren (Cold Lotus)❤️ Relationship: Classmate (Stage 1) (↓↓↓)
Ugh, seriously.
That bastard's fault...!
Should I just kill him?
I glared murderously at the guy in the back, but he never met my eyes.
♪~♬~♪
The bell signaling the end of the last class rang, and our class grabbed our stuff to head to the auditorium for play prep.
"Need help with your bag?"
I tried cautiously with Ren, but...
"No. I'm good."
Eyes full of genuine dislike.
Ouch, stings right in the heart.
"Hey, Yuu-san. Did you fight with Ren?"
Saki, wiping off her Romeo makeup, asked worriedly about me and Ren.
"Nah, not a fight exactly..."
I fought someone else.
"Oh, your lip's hurt? You okay?"
Saki naturally poked my lip with her fingertip. Being the lively theater club president, she's used to guys, so this skinship's no big deal for her.
"It's nothing. Bumped into something on the road."
At "bumped into," Ren—who was a bit away—glared at me.
'Liar...'
She's definitely thinking that.
Liar who starts fights right after transferring.
Fake nice guy who can't control his violent nature.
That's probably her view now.
From Ren's perspective, not knowing why I tangled with those guys, the misunderstanding's natural.
"Sigh..."
A sigh slipped out.
"Yuu-san! If it hurts bad, maybe check the nurse's office..."
"Nah, I'm fine. Play's tomorrow—don't wanna waste time on this."
"Ehh~ But Yuu-san's just Tree 1? You do nothing~"
"Pfft— Ow..."
Burst out laughing; the split lip stung.
"Anyway, I'll finish moving the stage gear."
"If Yuu-san's okay with it, great~ Big guy like you helps wrap up fast. Thanks a ton!"
"Leave it to me."
Huff!
Ren, watching our chat from a few steps away, whipped her head around so hard it whistled and stormed off somewhere.
"...Hmph!"
She'd promised seriously "I won't do that anymore," but just three days later, I cause a violent incident—she's disappointed.
Doesn't matter.
If I help enough to overcome the bad impression, her strong hostility will flip to affection.
Plus, once word comes that Tori's safe at the vet, I can clear it up anytime.
Clap!
Saki, done with stage setup, clapped her hands.
"Alright, theater club! You know tomorrow's the big day?"
Her voice focused the chaotic auditorium.
"Yes, president!"
On the Mid-tier Class play stage tomorrow, one event lets me help Ren big time.
"Everyone, steel yourselves and show the other classes what we've got!"
"Yes!"
And I won't miss that chance either.
Ren. I'll devour every bit of your dislike.
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