Books and Thugs

The composed Rika suddenly became unstable as the question pounced her.

She wasn't expecting a question like this.

" A writer? Uh, no? " Unsure? That can't be right.

She could've easily denied this but it's like there's a part of her that she want to admit.

But choosing Apollo as an author's name, it's certainly unique.

There must be a hidden meaning beside this and i'm very eager to hear it from her.

But looking at she reacts, now's not the right time.

" Anyway since you like those kind of books, take this. " She passed the books one after another.

By the end, I was pilled by books.

Unable to decide what to read first.

" You can borrow them for a week, but i'll give you an exception. "

She hands me a ticket which says, " Extention Card "

Isn't this a only limited that patron's wish to have?

Why is she giving this to me easily?

" Patrons would go crazy if they knew about this. " I told her but she doesn't seem to be shaken off, more on she looked at me with fire in her eyes.

I guess I should read these, huh.

I might end up disappointing Rika if I don't.

Suddenly a ringing from the counter catched Rika's attention.

She left her seat, " I wish we can talk more but I have a duty to do, see you at the club. " She waves her goodbye.

Does Rika like smart guys?

Forget it, i'm too dumb to tell.

I grabbed up the books she gave me and slip my ticket on one of them.

It was a nice encounter, I wish I could spend more time with her.

Speaking of which, I forgot that Yuki needs me.

But I ended up pissing her off.

I wish I could make up to her real quick.

" Yuki, where would you be? "

I went out at the library and thinks on what to do next.

Seeing that the class was almost done for today.

I return back into my class to wind down.

" You're late, Akabe. " One of the students called out my name.

" Enju was taken by someone, an upperclassmen! "

Why are they bothering me about this?

" She looks completely uncomfortable, she was forced to. "

" We couldn't do anything about it so will you? "

What the? Now i'm a way for Enju to them?

But Enju, to be courted by people.

It's not a new thing for her.

But hearing that she's forced to, I was bugged a bit.

Something might have happened to her, and if I just ignored this.

Then the Enju that will come back later on will be unknown.

I sighed, " Where? " And their eyes lit up.

" They went at the rooftop! But be careful, there's like five of them. "

Five of them? Just to court her? Now this is something.

I walked out of the class that I just went in.

" God, this Enju. " I said as I make my way up to the rooftop.

When I arrived at the place, I couldn't open the door.

But I could hear the voices behind it.

" I told you, I don't like you. I... like someone else. "

" Someone else? Who? You mean that wimp you always stick your nose to? I'll fuck him up. "

As I thought, they really are forcing their way in her.

I tried to twist the door but it didn't budge.

Another voice drops in, " Come on, Enju. " It was a bit forceful.

Suddenly, Enju screamed in pain.

" Let go of me! It hurts! " She groaned.

" Hey, senior. If you finished up, can we have our way with her? "

" Fukusa! " Enju screamed.

There's no helping it.

There will be bones that will break today.

I searched for a pack of smoke on pocket, only to be disappointed by a piece.

Well, beggars can't be choosers.

I put the cigar on my mouth.

Fuck, there's no lighter.

" Son of a bitch. " I mumbled with the cigar on my mouth.

I bust the door open by kicking it, blasting the guys behind the door.

Everyone was shocked to see me.

" Anyone have a spare lighter? " I smirked.

" Akabe? " Enju's voice was shivering.

" Fukusa, you dumb fuck. I thought no one would snitch from those guys. " One of the guys complained.

" Shut up, Osaki. It's just a nobody. "

A nobody?

Well, he's not completely wrong.

Although I was a bit pissed hearing that from a delinquent like him.

" Hey, aren't you Enju's friend? Are you trying to play the hero? " Fukasa looked at me as he was holding on Enju's wrist.

She's clearly in pain.

" Akabe, you idiot. Why did you come here? " She was completely unaware and thinks that my action was reckless.

Because it is.

Cigar in mouth, bold entrance.

Clearly a bravado act.

The two guys that fell because of the door kicking stood up.

" This bitch, you got some nerve. "

" Hey, Fukasa. You don't mind? "

Fukasa nods and looked away as he gave his orders, this guy is so disrespectful.

" Man, these guys need some beating. " I said to myself as I hit on my smoke.

I forgot that it wasn't lit.

Both of the guys cracked their fist as they come close.

" Don't worry, you'll only end up at a hospital. " They tried to reassure me.

Before they could react, I grabbed both of their face with my hands and slammed their face onto the ground.

" Sorry, I'm not into cucked. "

Slam!

Everyone could hear the impact of the two guys getting their head slammed into floor.

Fukasa looked back to see a kick, about to hit his face.

He couldn't react properly as it hit his face, he was taken aback removing his grip at Enju.

" What the fuck? " His legs shaked momentarily as he wipe the blood on his nose.

I pulled Enju close and place her on my chest.

" She's taken, you see? " I could hear Enju shrieking from my statement.

" W-wha--Akabe, you idiot. " I could feel a trace of happiness in her voice.

" Go down first, i'll have to finish this. "

" B-but--that's Fukasa and Osaki. "

" Don't worry. " I thought she was going to be more stubborn than she already was but she listens this time.

Enju quickly goes out leaving me and the two remaining fools.

" So? Do you think you're enough just because you manage to get a few hits? " Fukasa snort and walks towards me.

" What are you talking about? " I was confused.

Clearly these guys haven't got a real beating to still act like this.

" Haaah! " Fukasa clenched his fist and moves forward closing our gap.

Swings!

It missed.

Another one.

Missed again.

" How are you-- " A solid kick hits his face.

He was shaken and distance himself.

" I didn't know someone could fight like this. "

" Who are you? " He was confused yet angry at the same time.

" Just a guy who enjoys a good eroge. " Both of them looked at each other, dumbfounded.

Their probably thinking, " What the fuck is this guy talking about? "

I can't blame them, only a good amount of people appreciate the beauty of it.

" Let's finish this. Wraagh! " He went all out, shouting as he dashed in along with his clenched fist.

Pow!

His body flipped as I hit his temple, completely spinning him in the air.

His body hits the floor and there he lost consciousness.

Suddenly, Osaki started clapping.

" Incredible! "

He was?

Amused?

" You're something else. "

" Seeing how you move and fight, it's clear that this isn't the first time. "

" So, I have to take some countermeasures. " He pulled out a knife on his back.

He then licked it, pretty digusting.

Raising the knife in the air, he ready his battle stance.

" Don't blame me into this! " He dashed in, way faster compared to Fukasa who's just a delinquent.

Osaki, a third year student.

With his frame, you can clearly say this guy isn't normal.

He also fights dirty, so in other words.

A thug.

Slash!

He slash his knife sideward, but it was a bit slow.

Enough for me to take a step back.

He went a couple more until he was exhausted.

" Fwaa... Shit... You're too good. "

He gritted his teeth and advance forward, now using a new pattern.

He raised his knife upward and gave a downward strike, I take a stepback once again but I forgot about the two unconscious men behind me causing me to trip.

" Woah. "

My body slowly descends and so is the knife towards my chest.

I could see the tension rising as a grin crept up on his face.

Smack!

I used my feet to kick upward hitting his face before the knife hits my chest.

He was pushed down slightly as the knife drops on the floor.

He did his best to recover from it but I manage to do it first and punched his face.

He was pushed all the way back into the rooftop's fence.

" I-I gave up! " He begged.

" You've done a lot of bad things and still ask for forgiveness? "

" What do you think I am? "

" I'm not a saint. " I could've deliver another bloe at his face but I hesitated midway

" Give me reasons to spare you. "

" Well--I–I won't about you again? How's that? "

His eyes slowly drift somewhere.

" That's not enough. "

" I--H-how about-- "

" How about you die! " He grinned as someone creep up from behind.

" Take this! " Fukasa shouted as he stabbed the knife from behind.

The knife pentrated through my waist.

" Haha–You've messed with the wrong--! " I elbowed Fukasa's jaw as I tilted my body on the side.

I could hear the crack, and so is my bloodlust rising.

But I remained calm and face the now terrified Osaki.

" S--spare me! " He cried.

I slowly removes my top, revealing something that terrified him completely.

" Ah–shit, you've seen it. I guess I have to knock you out then. "

" Goodbye. " I smiled as I punched his face.

Knocking him out.

I completely forgot about my cigar which's bent now.

" It's because of these guys! " I blamed the unconscious victim as I gave Osaki a slap in the face.

I stuck my broken cigar on his nose.

" I hope these guys learn their lesson. " I put my uniform back and head at the infirmary.

Before I could even go down, I bumped into Enju who's going upstairs with someone.

Not just someone, it's the club with her.

Surprisingly, everyone is present.

" Akabe! " Yuki rushed in to help me on the side.

Enju did on the other side.

" I--I'm okay, though? "

" No, you're not. " Enju shouted at me.

" What happened? " Chiharu was shocked as she peeked at the rooftop.

" Nothing, just some grown ass men taking a nap. " Like who would believe that.

" Okay. " She did?

" We rushed in as soon that we heard you were in trouble. " Rika said.

" Yeah, but it looks like you already finished it. I could've solo them. " Sophie added.

" A--Ah! There's a knife at your back! " Eri panicked, waving her hands all over the place.

Everyone was shocked as I remain calm as ever.

" Infirmary! "

" Quick! "

In the end, I was placed at the infirmary.

I lost consciousness that time, due to the loss of blood.

I woke up to see someone beside me.

" Who? "

Sniff.

Huh?

Did I hear someone crying?

" You... idiot... Huuu... " I opened my eyes clearly to see on who it was.

" Enju? "

She was biting her lip down, crying.

" Eh? W-why are you-- "

She starts to hit me repeatedly.

" Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. "

" Why did you do that? "

Ah, so that's how it is.

Somehow, I couldn't help but to smile.

" You–could've died on that–huuu " she kept on crying and blaming herself.

" It's okay. " I tried to reassure her but it wasn't enough.

" I'm sorry–? " I place my hand on her cheeks, wiping her tears.

" So unfit for a beautiful girl like you to cry. " She blushed, trying to stop herself from crying any further.

" I hate you. " She mumbled.

Too shy to express her feelings.

She looked away from my touch.

" Thank you. " She said in a soft voice as she blush harder.

This decision of mine, if Osaki decides to reveal it.

Then I might have to take some measures to stop them from getting involved.

My peaceful life.

Is it going to end?

I hope not.

" gosh, what a moron. " she sobs.

" I'm going now. " She stood up from her seat, leaving me.

Just when I thought it was over.

A girl comes next.

My eyes widen, sweat falling in my cheeks.

" Eri? "