Workers

"Wait a moment!"

Takada Shiori finally reacted. His face turned cold as he pointed at Fangmura and said,

"Despicable! To use this method to threaten others, are you even considered an adult? It's disgusting!"

After speaking, he urgently pulled Kato Yusuke's arm.

"Kato-kun, don't agree to such an unreasonable request. We will write a report and submit it later, and let the boss handle this matter!"

Seeing Takada Shiori's favoritism, Fangmura was visibly angered, staring coldly at the two and sneering.

"If you think you can, try it!"

Just when the atmosphere was tense, Kato Yusuke spoke up.

"Okay, I'll do it," he said calmly.

"Kato-kun!"

Shiori was both angry and anxious, stamping her feet as if to say more, but then she saw Yusuke Kato shaking his head.

"Fine."

After saying this, he pulled his hand away from Shiori's grip and looked at Fangmura.

"Just move all of these boxes in...? Manager."

Upon hearing Kato Yusuke's words, Fangmura's face lit up with a triumphant smile.

"Ah, you know what to do. Hurry up, we've already wasted a lot of time."

Kato Yusuke nodded, then silently walked towards the box.

"Ah ha ha ha ha!"

Fangmura couldn't contain his laughter, mocking Kato Yusuke's compliant demeanor.

"That's why I despise you kids. You think you're something special but know nothing about the harsh realities of society. Let me teach you a lesson today, Kato."

He pronounced each word distinctly.

"Let me teach you well unlike your grandfather."

Kato Yusuke stopped in his tracks.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.

The scene around him rapidly regressed, and Fangmura's smile froze for a split second before it turned into shock.

Thump—

A muffled sound echoed; a harsh, real pain engulfed his body as stomach acid mixed with blood surged up his esophagus and burst from his mouth.

"Ugh! Puff cough cough cough cough..."

"Crack..."

The stone wall cracked at the center from the impact of a fist; smoke and tiny pebbles tumbled down beside Fangmura, clouding his vision.

From the swirling dust, a chilling voice asked,

"You... what did you just say?"

The eeriness in the calm tone struck fear into Fangmura, sending an uncontrollable chill up his spine.

His mouth opened, but no words came. Five fingers, firm as old tree branches, pressed against his face, immobilizing him completely, leaving only his eyes free to stare in terror at the young man before him.

"I said..."

Kato Yusuke spoke up, lifting Fangmura off the ground by his feet, his deep gaze piercing.

"What did you just say?"

The pain contorted Fangmura's features as sweat, mixed with tears and saliva, dripped down his face. He couldn't fathom how this previously submissive boy could now exhibit such terrifying fury.

"No...no...don't..."

He managed to choke out these words, his body writhing in the air,

While frantically batting at Kato Yusuke's hand, he cried out,

"I'm sorry! I know I was wrong! So please, please... don't hurt me!"

It felt like an eternity before Kato Yusuke finally released him.

Thump—

Fangmura's hefty body hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Gasping for air, dirt smudged across his face, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Kato Yusuke observed silently, then squatted down, wiped his hand on Fangmura's clothes, and stated flatly,

"If there is another time..."

He left the rest unsaid but gave Fangmura a chilling glance before turning to leave.

Fangmura shuddered and cowered even lower.

...

"Liar..."

Takada Shiori, who had witnessed everything, covered her mouth with her hands, staring at Kato Yusuke with wide, disbelieving eyes, and involuntarily stepped back.

Then, she watched as the young man, two years his junior, effortlessly moved a mountain of drink crates at the store entrance into the warehouse.

In truth, the entire process took no more than five minutes.

This sight left Fangmura, lurking hesitantly in the background, shivering with fear and regret.

If given another chance, he would go back to the moment before the altercation and beat himself senseless to avoid it.

...

"I'm sorry, I'm leaving first, everyone has worked hard."

At four in the afternoon, after a day's work, Kato Yusuke bowed slightly towards the store and started his journey home. His plastic bag carried goods from the store: two bentos, a few manga magazines, and some snacks favored by girls—choices based on the top-selling items in the store, guided more by instinct than knowledge.

His expenses totaled 2800 yen.

En route home, Kato Yusuke also stopped at a daily necessities store and bought a new set of futons, pillows, and a pair of one-size-fits-all pajamas.

This additional cost was 10,000 yen.

Given his location in central Tokyo, Kato Yusuke earns an hourly wage of 1,200 yen. Today's eight-hour shift, after all expenses, left him with a net loss of:

-3200 yen

Carrying not only his purchases but also a bulky cloth bag on his back, Kato Yusuke attracted curious glances from passersby.

As the sun set, a sense of weary resignation filled the air...

"You're back, Yusuke~"

"...?"

"Even if you give me this 'Who are you?' look... I can only tell you that I'm a high school girl," said Sayu, emerging with a smile in a plaid skirt, hands clasped behind her back, inadvertently accentuating her figure.

puff~

...

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