[Kaori Houjou]
This was supposed to be simple, just a short walk. Just once—without bodyguards. Kaori tightened her grip on her bag as she stepped out of the convenience store, the quiet thrill of freedom still lingering in her chest.
So this is what it feels like… No one watching her every move. No distance. No walls just… normal life. But that feeling didn't last.
"…Hey."
Her steps slowed.
"…You're alone, right?"
Kaori froze eight men blocking the street ahead, their eyes weren't curious. They were predatory.
"…Excuse me," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Please move."
They didn't, instead, one stepped closer.
"Come on. Just talk with us for a bit."
"I said no."
She turned— Another man was already behind her cutting off her escape. Her heartbeat quickened.
"Don't make this difficult."
A hand reached out— Grabbing her wrist Kaori pulled back immediately.
"Let go."
Her voice was firm—but fear was beginning to seep through.
"Someone—!"
She looked around and people were there watching. But— No one moved, no one stepped in, no one helped.
"…Please…!"
Her voice wavered for the first time silence answered her.
"…Let her go."
A single voice is calm, clear and close. Kaori's eyes widened as she turned toward it, Someone had answered.
[Tenjou Yuuya]
"…Eight of them."
Yuuya stepped into the alley, his gaze sweeping over the group, no hesitation, no fear, just quiet calculation one of the men clicked his tongue.
"…Tch. Another idiot."
"Walk away if you know what's good for you."
Yuuya didn't respond, his eyes shifted to the girl then—to the hand gripping her wrist.
"…Let her go."
This time— There was weight behind it, the man holding her scoffed.
"You got a death wish or something?"
Another one laughed.
"Do you even know who you're talking to?"
A pause then—
"We're Red Ogre."
The name hung in the air infamous violently, the kind of group people avoided at all costs Yuuya didn't react.
"…Doesn't matter."
He took another step forward.
"Let her go."
A brief silence then— Laughter.
"Alright."
"Guess we'll just break you first."
The moment shifted tension snapped they moved Yuuya's eyes were sharpened.
…Fast.
No—
Not fast, slow everything felt slow, every movement was clearly predictable telegraphed.
"…I can see it."
A punch came toward him, obviously Yuuya moved without thinking a slight shift— The fist passed right by him.
"…Huh?"
The attacker stumbled confused and Yuuya blinked.
"…That worked?"
Another came from the side Yuuya ducked instinctively too easily.
"…This feels like…"
His thoughts raced like everything's slowed down.
[Instant Reaction] was active.
Combined with his stats— It created a gap that shouldn't exist.
"…Then—"
Yuuya stepped in awkwardly untrained. But— precisely he threw a punch not refined, not practiced just something he'd seen before. It landed, clean and the man dropped instantly.
"…No way."
Yuuya stared at his own hand for a split second.
"…That actually worked?"
Another rushed him Yuuya turned—
Dodged—
Countering everything felt natural not because he knew how to fight— But because he could react perfectly.
"…I don't know how to fight…"
A breath, another step, another dodge.
"…But it doesn't matter."
Even as he held back— Every movement was overwhelming. And the fight— had only just begun. Kaori couldn't look away, her eyes followed every movement— Every step, every shift, every impossible dodge.
"…He's… amazing…"
At first, she thought he was just lucky then she realized— He hadn't been hit once, not even close. The men circled him, growing more frustrated with every failed strike.
"…What is he…?"
There was no panic in his expression, no hesitation, just calm control. Like he could see everything before it happened her chest tightened.
"…He came out of nowhere… and he's…"
Fighting for her.
"Damn it—!"
One of the men staggered back, clutching his side, another dropped moments later.
"This guy's not normal!"
"…Then stop playing around!"
The tone changed completely.
"Everyone—jump him!"
All at once— they rushed him, no more spacing, no more hesitation, just overwhelming numbers. Then— Metal flashed a rod, a knife, another blade.
"…!"
Kaori's eyes widened.
"No—!"
Her voice broke as she took a step forward.
"Stop! That's—!"
Too dangerous too much even for him—
But—
Yuuya didn't move back, he didn't flinch, he exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
Something shifted the world slowed again no— slower than before. Every movement became clear, every angle, every attack, every opening.
"…I see it."
Kaori froze.
"…What…?"
Something was different: his presence and the air around him had changed. He moved faster than they could see a blur, a step— a strike— A man dropped before he even realized what happened.
Another swung a metal rod— Yuuya slipped past it effortlessly. A kick— clean precise, the man collapsed.
"…No way…"
Kaori's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes widened, reflecting every movement.
"…He's… overwhelming them…"
Yuuya didn't stop, punch, dodge, counter and kick every movement that flowed into the next. Not trained, not refined but— Effective.
"…This is just like…"
His thoughts flickered scenes he'd seen before movies showing fights he'd only ever imagined. And yet— His body followed through perfectly.
"…So I can actually do this…"
Another came from behind—
Yuuya turned—
Struck—
Dropped him instantly, the knives didn't matter, the numbers didn't matter, nothing could reach him. Kaori pressed a hand against her chest and her heartbeat raced.
"…He's…"
Her voice trembled not from fear— But something else.
"…He's incredible…"
The man holding the knife hesitated for the first time— fear showed.
"…What the hell are you…?"
Yuuya stepped forward calmly and unstoppable.
"…Just someone who told you to let her go."
Another step.
"…And you didn't listen."
The remaining men faltered in the fight— already decided Kaori stood there, frozen— Watching breathless eyes locked on him. The one who came for her, the one who stood alone— against all of them and won.
The last of them hesitated just for a second— but that was enough Yuuya stepped in. No wasted movement, no hesitation, a straight punch— Clean the man dropped instantly. Silence one by one, the remaining men fell a kick to the side— another to the ground. A final strike— and the last one collapsed. No one was left standing Yuuya lowered his fist slowly.
"…That's enough."
His breathing was steady, not a single injury, not even a scratch behind him— Kaori stood frozen, her eyes wide, her breath unsteady.
"…He really…"
She looked at the fallen men then back at him.
"…He did it… alone…"
A faint sound broke the silence distant at first then— Louder sirens Yuuya's gaze shifted slightly.
"…Police."
The sound grew closer, echoing through the streets Kaori blinked, snapping back to reality.
"…Ah—!"
Her posture straightened instinctively.
"They must've been called…"
Within moments, patrol cars pulled up near the alley way doors opened and officers rushed in.
"Everyone stay where you are!"
Their voices were sharp, alert—ready for escalation but when they saw the scene— Eight men all down unconscious.
"…What happened here?"
One officer looked between Yuuya and Kaori, confused and cautious. Kaori hesitated for a split second then—
"He saved me."
Her voice was clear, she stepped forward slightly, glancing at Yuuya.
"…They tried to take me. He stopped them."
The officers exchanged looks then nodded.
"Understood."
Yuuya exhaled quietly.
"…Guess that's over."
Kaori looked at him again and really looked this time at the calm in his expression and the strength in his presence. The way he stood there like nothing had happened.
"…Thank you."
Her voice was softer now but it carried weight. Yuuya glanced at her briefly.
"…You're fine. That's what matters."
Simple direct but to Kaori— It meant everything. As the officers began securing the scene, Yuuya turned slightly, ready to leave like it was nothing like it was just another moment. And Kaori watched him go— Her heart still racing, her thoughts still catching up.
"…Who… are you…?"
The scene had settled, police officers moved around the alley, securing the unconscious men and speaking into radios. But Kaori— she wasn't paying attention to any of it her eyes were locked on Yuuya. He turned slightly.
"…Guess I'll go."
Like it was nothing like he hadn't just taken down eight men alone.
"W-wait!"
Her voice came out before she could stop herself Yuuya paused.
"…?"
He glanced back and Kaori took a step forward, her heart still racing.
"I—"
She hesitated for a second then gathered herself.
"…I need to know your name."
A brief silence Yuuya scratched the back of his head slightly.
"…It's nothing special."
Clearly trying to brush it off.
"You're safe. That's enough, right?"
Kaori shook her head immediately.
"No, it's not."
Her voice was firm now determined.
"You helped me. You stepped in when no one else would."
Another step closer.
"…The least I can do is know your name."
Yuuya sighed quietly.
"…She's not letting this go…"
"…Tenjou Yuuya."
Kaori's eyes widened slightly.
"…Yuuya…"
She repeated it softly, as if committing it to memory.
"…I'm Kaori Houjou."
Yuuya blinked.
"…Houjou?"
The name felt familiar—but he didn't press it.
"…Nice to meet you."
A small pause then Kaori spoke again.
"…Can I—"
She hesitated.
"…Have a way to contact you?"
Yuuya raised an eyebrow.
"…Contact?"
"I want to properly thank you."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"…Please."
Yuuya looked away for a second.
"…I was just about to go practice…"
His thoughts flickered briefly to the other world to the weapons to getting stronger.
"…This is a hassle…"
"…But…"
He glanced back at her and she wasn't backing down.
"…Fine."
A few moments later— They exchanged numbers.
"Thank you."
Kaori held her phone close, almost relieved.
"…I'll definitely reach out."
Just then— A sleek black car pulled up abruptly near the alley doors opened quickly.
"Lady Kaori!"
A man in a suit rushed out, followed by others with their expressions tense alert.
"…You're safe—thank goodness…"
The lead bodyguard looked around, immediately assessing the situation.
"…We received word about an incident—"
Kaori turned slightly.
"I'm fine."
Then— She glanced back at Yuuya.
"…Thanks to him."
The bodyguard's eyes shifted to Yuuya's sharp evaluation.
"…I see."
A brief pause then—
"We need to leave immediately."
"…Already?"
Kaori frowned slightly.
"But—"
"Your father has been informed."
That was enough.
"…I understand."
Before getting into the car, Kaori turned back one last time her eyes met Yuuya's.
"…I'll contact you."
Yuuya gave a small nod.
"…Sure."
The door closed, the car pulled away and Yuuya stood there for a moment.
"…That was… something."
He glanced at his phone her contact info still open.
"…Houjou…"
He muttered the name quietly then— He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"…Alright."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"…Back to training."
Without another word— Yuuya began walking home.
Calm unhurried like everything that had just happened— was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 4