After forty-five minutes, we arrived at Ichirun, and they asked for seating for a group of four. However, I wanted to have my dinner alone, peacefully, without any noise.
When I told them to eat with the three of them, the couple shouted at me, but I didn't listen to their complaints and said,
"I am not going to eat with you. I don't feel good right now, and I want to eat peacefully without any disturbances. I also learned some shocking truths just before, and I feel like I wasn't aware of what's happening around me, so I need some time to gather my thoughts. I will take some time. You can leave without me, or you can wait."
Then I went to the single dining area.
It was less noisy compared to the group area. I ordered what I wanted through the customizable bowl system, and I was so hungry that I ate a lot. It took half an hour to finish all the dishes.
I got up and was about to head out when Kenji messaged me:
"We are leaving. Are you coming or not?"
I replied,
"Yes, wait for me at the entrance."
Then I headed outside.
I think he was a little angry at me for giving him hope that I would eat with them, but this isn't the first time I've done something like this, so I think he understands. I don't care what the girls think, so it's fine.
When I got outside, the girls were standing across from the restaurant, but I didn't see Kenji with them. They were checking their phones.
Just as I was about to call them, a guy approached them and started talking to them. They both shook their heads.
The guy was wearing a black hoodie, jeans, and sneakers. He was taller than Keiko, meaning he was taller than me as well. I couldn't see his face because the hood covered most of it.
He spoke to them again, and this time he grabbed Keiko's hand.
JSA candidates and Ki users are not supposed to hit civilians, as the laws are different for them, so this could get messy. Akiko has a short temper, and Kenji would kill me if I didn't stop it.
So, I jumped to their position, grabbing his wrist the same way he had grabbed Keiko's.
Both of them were shocked to see me.
I told him not to make this issue any bigger and to let go of her hand if he wanted to live.
He turned his face toward me.
I could only clearly see his mouth, and he was smiling.
He let go of her hand, and I released his wrist.
I asked the girls what had happened, and Akiko answered,
"He first came to us and asked for our LIME accounts, saying that we were both beautiful and that he wanted to get to know us. We told him that we already have boyfriends, but then he suddenly started cursing at us. He said, 'No girl has ever rejected me, and you nobodies are rejecting me?' Then he grabbed Keiko's hand, and you came right after."
"So that's what happened. You asked for their LIME accounts, they politely rejected you, and that's all. What's wrong with that, bro? Just move on. It's their decision whether they want to give it to you or not, regardless of whether they have boyfriends."
I said it in a pleasant tone.
He took off his hood.
He was bald, had a fierce-looking face, and piercings in both ears.
He looked at me and said,
"I don't know who you are or what you are to them, but I'll repeat what you said to me: 'If you want to live, leave with your tail tucked between your legs.'"
"What if I don't want to?"
I replied.
"Then you will die today."
He answered.
"Oh, really?
I want to see you try killing me."
I said while grinning and getting excited at the same time.
"Stop it, Satoru. We didn't come here to fight. Just let it go."
Akiko shouted.
"Yeah, I agree with her. And you know what happens if you fight him, right?"
Keiko added.
"Yeah, I know. But your brother, your grandpa, and my grandpa won't agree with leaving him like that. They'll ask me if I punched him even once."
"No, they won't. They'll punish you for beating up a civilian who just tried to hit on some girls, so stop it."
Keiko said.
"Yes, I think what she's saying is correct, so back off, dumbass."
Akiko shouted.
"I'll take responsibility for this, and I don't think he's a civilian. He's a Ki user."
I answered.
"Yes, you're right. I am a Ki user. So, are you going to fight or not, kid?"
The bald guy said mockingly.
"See? He's making fun of me. Now this has become personal. Both of you back off, and let's do this, baldie."
I said seriously.
"Okay, kid!
Let's do this."
He said as he rolled his shoulders and walked toward me like people do before a fight.
I stretched my arms and took a boxing stance that I had learned in middle school.
"What are you doing?
Are you seriously going to fight a kid?
You're going way too far. Don't embarrass us and just come back."
A female voice came from behind the bald guy.
He turned his head and said,
"You don't know what these three did to me to make me do this."
"Don't do anything stupid and just come back, or we'll all get into trouble."
This time it was a male voice.
He turned around and said,
"Consider yourselves lucky. I won't let you go if I see you again."
Then he walked back toward the second speaker.
There were three of them in total: two males and one female. A total of four including the baldie.
All of them were wearing the same hoodies.
After they left, Kenji arrived with a satisfied expression.
The three of us were standing in complete silence.
He looked at us and said,
"The cab arrived. Let's go. What happened to all of you? Why are your faces like that?
Especially yours, Satoru. It looks like you were about to destroy something and got interrupted before you could finish it.
And Keiko, what happened to your wrist? It looks like someone's hand got imprinted on it."
He said all that with a smile on his face.
However, when he noticed the mark on his sister's wrist, his expression changed. It became serious, and I could hear it in his tone.
I didn't want him to know what had happened to his sister and girlfriend while I was here. He might think of me as useless.
But I couldn't lie to him, so I decided to tell the truth.
Just as I was about to speak, Keiko said,
"Someone brushed past me and pushed me. Satoru caught me before I fell. I think he used a little too much strength, so I got this mark.
The person who pushed me didn't even apologize, so that's why Satoru looked like that."
"Oh, so that's what happened.
You should have controlled your strength.
I was worried for a second there.
And Akiko, are you alright?"
He asked.
"Yeah, and it took you a long time to notice me."
She replied with a pout.
"Sorry, babe. I should have asked about you first.
I'll do that from now on."
He said while clinging to her.
"I am sorry. I should have taken care of them while you weren't here, but I couldn't, and—"
"Shut your shit.
I wasn't angry at you, and I don't need an apology because I know you could and would protect them.
So don't feel guilty or angry, okay?"
He interrupted me before I could finish my heartfelt apology.
"Okay, let's go. The cab is waiting for us."
He said and started walking.
However, I didn't feel like going with them after showing that side of myself.
So, I told them to leave without me.
Kenji told me to stop acting like a child and just come with them.
In the end, I told them that I was going to meet my brother to discuss something.
He said okay and told me not to take too long before returning.