The delinquents were a group of five, all in their mid-twenties. They had a suspicious aura, as if they would boast about their mysterious wealth on social media.
"Let's go, Souma-kun."
Yuki leaned forward, trying to leave without making eye contact. One of the delinquents, Yasukawa, grabbed her hand.
"Don't run away. What's the problem? You're desperate, aren't you?"
"Let go of me."
Yuki resisted, but Yasukawa just grinned happily. The others also snickered.
"She doesn't want it. Stop it."
Souma said in a firm tone.
"Huh? Nobody asked you. Get lost, virgin boy."
Yasukawa's words made his friends laugh out loud.
"Can't you see this? I'm a student at the Adventurer School. You'd better stop."
Souma tapped the sword at his side. Only adventurers and Adventurer School students are permitted to carry swords. For ordinary people, it would be against the law.
"So what? It's illegal to swing a sword at a person. I'm not scared of that."
Yasukawa was not intimidated.
"You don't seem to know much about how stats work. I'm saying that because I'm an Adventurer School student, I'm stronger than ordinary people. My level is 5. You couldn't even scratch me."
Souma explained patiently, trying to settle things peacefully. But it didn't go as he hoped.
"I don't know about your stats or whatever, but don't you talk big to me, you scrawny loser!"
Yasukawa swung at Souma.
(His form is pretty good. He's done martial arts.)
Souma calmly analyzed Yasukawa's incoming attack. Then, without dodging, he took it on the face. Yasukawa's splendid hook caught Souma's left cheek.
Crack!
A dull sound echoed.
"Gwaaaaaaaaaah! My haaaaaand!"
Yasukawa screamed. His wrist was bent at a terrible angle. The other four were shocked, shouting "Yasukawa-san!?"
"See, I told you. The stat difference is too great. An ordinary person's attack can't possibly damage me. Anyway, now I can claim self-defense."
Souma brought his fist close to Yasukawa's forehead.
"W-wait, please stop."
"I refuse."
Souma gave him a full-power flick on the forehead.
"Guhah!"
Yasukawa flew back spectacularly and passed out, lying spread-eagled.
"No way!"
"Yasukawa-san got taken down!?"
"He was a professional boxer until he was forced to retire due to bad behavior!"
"He had 15 wins and 13 losses in the heavyweight division!"
The delinquents were shocked by this turn of events.
"What's going on? What's all the noise?"
Hearing the commotion, several police officers arrived from the nearby police box.
"I don't want to waste time on this. Yuki-senpai, let's go!"
Souma took Yuki's hand and ran. Yuki nodded and followed with a "Okay!"
(Souma-kun was this strong...)
Yuki's heart fluttered.
◇
After escaping to the area in front of the station, Souma and Yuki stopped.
"We should be safe here."
"Yeah!"
"Yuki-senpai, please be more careful from now on."
Once they had calmed down, Souma gave a wry smile.
"Huh? Did I do something?"
"Because you were teasing me in a place like that, those delinquents targeted us. I don't think they would have bothered us if we had just been walking normally."
"Oh, that."
Yuki understood.
"Then don't worry, I won't invite you like that anymore!"
"No, it's just, well, how to put it... I'm actually happy to be invited, so it's fine, I guess..."
Souma scratched the back of his head.
"You know, I've been thinking for a while that you're kind of nice, Souma-kun."
"Really?"
"So I was thinking I'd have a taste of you, but after seeing you protect me from those delinquents, my mind changed."
"What, did you start disliking me?"
Souma looked sad. Yuki shook her head.
"The opposite! I've genuinely fallen for you!"
"Huh?"
"It would be a waste to just play around with you! I'm going to seriously win you over someday!"
"Yuki-senpai, isn't that a confession..."
Ignoring Souma's words, Yuki headed toward the station. After a few steps, she turned around and said, "Oh, by the way."
"I'll definitely thank you for today! Think about what you want!"
"Then how about treating me to a meal sometime?"
"That won't be all!"
Yuki winked, said "See you," and ran off.
(A cute senpai like her thinks about me...? No, maybe that was also a joke...? But it didn't seem like that...!)
For a while, Souma couldn't move.
◇
Returning home late at night, Souma ate, bathed, and got into his futon.
(I don't mind if I can't go, but I'd really like to go to Mistoria...!)
Souma prayed strongly from inside his futon.
(...I can't sleep.)
He wasn't as tired as yesterday, and he was too worked up to feel sleepy. On top of that, if he let his guard down, he'd start thinking about Yuki and get aroused. Being just out of high school, he struggled with the urges of his libido.
(If I had my own room, I could relieve myself...!)
His mother Namie was sleeping right next to him. He couldn't indulge in masturbation in that situation.
(Mistoria...! Yuki-senpai...! Mistoria...! Yuki-senpai...!)
For about three hours, Souma continued to agonize. But eventually, he fell asleep.