'Why does Kisaki hate me?' Tenzo contemplated her question.
Tachibana is studying his reaction like an interrogation officer.
"I don't know how to answer that honestly. " Tenzo snorts.
"Tsk, don't give me that crap, Tenzo!" Hinata scowls. "Kisaki is not the jealous type, even around my male classmates he doesn't bat an eye but when I mentioned your name...I've never seen him so angry."
Tenzo rolls his eyes, "Look, Tachibana–"
"It's Hinata. " She cut me off, "Don't be so formal with me, like we're not peers. " She presses.
"Fine. Hinata."
"Better." She smirks.
"Mxm." I couldn't hide my grin. "Anyways.... I don't know Kisaki personally and don't wish to get to know him at all. If he hates me for saving you, that's his problem. " Tenzo concludes.
Hinata blinks rapidly at his response.
"I-I understand..." Hinata solemnly nods.
"Yeah..." Tenzo added.
An awkward silence passed between them, Tenzo's reluctance to speak about his real issues with Kisaki, added with Hinata's curious nature made the atmosphere colder than than the ice cream.
"Look, it's getting late and I think its best I walk you home, incase Kiyomasa is around." I teased her.
"That not funny." Tachibana scowls, "I nearly peed myself that day. " Hinata confesses.
"Pfft–are you serious?"
"Yes! Don't laugh, some of us aren't brutes." She jabs.
"Whatever you say, Tachibana. " Tenzo starts walking off.
"Hey–wait for me!" Hinata jogs after him. "Jerk..." She pouts, clutching her school bag.
"You genuinely carry a bag to school?"
"...What are you on about? It's essential for school. " Hinata blinks up at him, genuine concern on her face.
---
Tenzo and Hinata arrive at an apartment complex, a quiet area within an hour of school reach, in-between the two buildings is a playground, and currently on that playground is a scruny black-haired boy and three other boys around middle-school ages.
"Leave me alone!" The black-haired tween cries out, his clothes are dirty and his elbow is bruised.
"Are you gonna cry" The boy in the middle sneered at the bullied boy.
"Naoto!" Hinata yells.
—–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
[New mission available]
[Save Naoto Tachibana]
°Save Naoto from bullies and inspire him to be a good citizen, unlike you...
Rewards:
> 5000 SP
> Hinata's favour
> +5 Influence
Penalties:
> -15 Influence
> Hinata will despise you.
> Failure to meet main mission will result in the World's contamination!
———————————————————
'World's contamination?'
'World's contamination is the protocol of the world going into despair, examples include the death of major characters and potentially the host!'
'This mission is optional, not mandatory.'
[Mission acceptance:]
[Yes/No]
'Yes.' Tenzo accepts.
Whoosh
"Tenzo?" Hinata's eyes widened.
"Leave him alone you brats!" Tenzo charges at the kids, a young adult chasing children...
"Huh?" The bullies turn at the sound.
"Hey. Let him go." Tenzo looms over the kids, piercing grey irises looking menacing in the sunset.
"W-what–?"
Tenzo grabs the one in the middle at the collar of his shirt. Lifting the boy off the ground with ease.
"Noo–please!" The boy starts begging, tears swelling his eyes.
The other bullies froze like deers under headlights.
"P-Please don't hurt me." His lip trembles.
Tenzo snorts at the complete 180 switch of the bullies. "Listen up, you lot are never going to mess with him again, you hear me?" Tenzo states.
"Y-Yes...we promise." He nods frantically.
The other two mimics his movement.
"Good."
Thud
"Now scram." Tenzo chuckles.
The kids ran off like exposed rats.
"Sniff...sniff...thank you." Naoto praises through silent sobs.
"Sigh–don't sweat it kid, those guys are just punks." Tenzo ruffles Naoto's hair.
"Hey!" Hinata calls out, moving over to her younger brother.
"Nee-chan. " Naoto blushed in embarrassment.
"Naoto–you're hurt." Hinata fusses at his condition, wiping the dirt off his clothes.
"Let's get you inside."
"Wait, Nee-chan–"
"What do you mean wait?" Hinata growls, grabbing his wrist to pull him.
"Hold on Tachibana. " Tenzo intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Let me speak with him fir a second, yeah?" Tenzo pleads.
"Eze..."
"Why don't you get the medical kit in the meantime?" Tenzo suggested.
"Fine." Hinata grumbles, letting go of Naoto's wrist, she leaves them be.
"Thanks. " Naoto whispers.
"Don't mention it, I know girls can be quite difficult." He chuckles.
Naoto smirks, "She's still my sister. "
"Yeah. So are you good?"
"Uhmm... yes." Naoto gulped.
"You're bad at lying. "
"N-No I'm not!" He blurts out.
"Come on now, tell big brother Tenzo what's eating you up, Gilbert?"
"Gilbert?" Naoto tilts his head.
"Never mind... you going to fess up or not?" He grins.
Naoto nods slowly, "My father is a police officer and as much as I admire his works –I feel like he doesn't make time for me or Hinata. " Noato confesses.
"I see..." Tenzo nods.
The sun has fully been tucked in by the night, streetlights shine to keep them from complete darkness. The winds passes with a cold warning of the temperatures to come.
"Look Naoto, I'm not close with my old man either but I'd suggest you talk to him about your feelings before it grows to resentment or hatred. Start with chatting with him about why he chose to be an officer and maybe you'll move to soccer or something. " Tenzo advices.
"That's not a bad idea." Naoto smiles.
"Yeah, and you should be proud your dad is keeping delinquents like me out of trouble. " He teases.
"You're a delinquent, Eze-sama?" Naoto gasps.
"Oi–don't call me that. Tenzo will do." He shakes his head.
"Apologies. "
"Darn it Kid. Listen, your sister is a pain alright? She's bound to get herself in trouble trying to meddle in my business, so get stronger and protect her when I can't. " Tenzo gives some half-ass motivation.
"I promise. " Naoto nods, a spark of determination flashes in his eyes.
"Good, I'll hold you to that."
———————————————————
[System Update]
[Mission Completed]
[+5000 SP]
[Relationships: + Naoto and Hinata Tachibana]
[+5 Influence]
———————————————————
'Yes!' Tenzo smirks.
"Now, Noato –"
Ring...ring...
Tenzo's phone rings out.
"Senju?"
"Tenzo–we have a problem, hurry!"
---
[Local park]
"Let her go damn it!" A bruised Toman member barks out.
"Heheh–do something about it." Osani chuckles.
"Please –stop it." A blonde haired girl with light blue eyes sobs.
Ayame Sato is just an ordinary senior student at Mizo high school. She met her boyfriend Ken at this very park and even though her parents warned her to stay away from him as he is delinquent, she continued to go out with.
To think on a ordinary school night where they agreed to have a walk and chat about life and their future– they were ambushed by a red uniform wearing gang that quickly overwhelmed Ken, beating him down while the others held her down by her limbs.
The leader of the attack is looming over her restrained body, the blonde bastard is removing his belt with a sinister look on his face.
"Please...don't. " Ayame pleads with the little hope she has left.
"Don't worry Love, just enjoy it."
"Nhnnm–" A goon clamps his hand over her mouth while the others keep her pinned down.
"Osani! Please don't do this!" Ken begs for mercy.
"Keep his eyes on me, I want him to remember this day for the rest of his life." Osani cackles, pulling down his pants.
"Oi! What the f#ck are you doing?" Senju scowls.
"Who the f#ck are you?" Osani clicks his tongue.
Senju stood by with 4 other Brahman members.
"You sick bastard!"
Osani chuckles, "Get that bxtch over here." Osani orders.
10 Moebius goons approached Senju and her squad. Some are holding metal pipes and pocket knives.
"They got weapons!?" A Brahman member gasps, taking a step back in utter fear.
"Tsk."
Whoosh
Senju charges at them, long sleeves moving in the wind as she leaps off the ground, foot first to the nearest members face.
"Aaaahhhh –" The unlucky goon groans as Senju lands on his face.
"What the?"
Whoosh
Senju whips a kick at another goon's jaw, a clean hit making him loose consciousness.
"Get her!" A goon holding a knife slashes at her back.
Senju ducks the slash, sweeping his legs.
"Ouff!"
"Raaaaahh!" Another delinquent jumps on her back, pressing his body weight fully on her.
"L-Let go." Senju strained under the weight.
"We're going to enjoy you, Bxtch~"
A member brandishes a metal pipe as he approaches Senju.
"Aaahhhh –" Senju's subordinates are not holding off the rest, the four members are screeching in pain as Moebius attacks with metal bats.
Osani has a shxt-smearinging look on his face.
"This is amazing~" He licks his lips, turning his attention back to Ayame.
"Look, we have an audience, let's not disappoint them~."
Author's notice:
Thinking of daily updates?
Thank you JoMan_Ruiz for the powerstones 🫡