'Good job, kid.' The teacher said as she walked over. 'You're awfully strong. Do you train?'
'Yeah.'
Inside my head, however:
Kid?
Kid?!
Listen here, young lady. I've fought demons, survived tavern brawls and watched a
A grown man fight with poo leaking out.
My soul is older than your parents.
But outwardly, I just nodded.
No need to start a lecture.
'You should join my club, it's basketball.' She asked, eyes sparking.
'No thanks.'
She leaned forward slightly, hugging her clipboard that pressed against her massive chest.
There's your fanservice.
'Come on, pleeease?'
I stared at the basketball court.
Kids were running around screaming like someone had released caffeine into the hall.
Then I imagined joining.
Kids flying across the court.
Teacher screaming.
Parents filing lawsuits.
'If I play with them,' I said, 'they'll end up crying for their mothers.'
The teacher blinked.
'Sigh… you sure know how to use that mouth.'
'Fine. I give up.'
She pointed towards the wall.
'You can watch the match if you want or go do something else.'
She walked away looking mildly disappointed.
—————————-
I found an empty spot along the wall.
I sat down and closed my eyes.
School has two useful activities:
Lunch.
Sleep.
Everything else is filler content.
*BANG*
A basketball slammed into the wall right beside my head.
I slowly opened one eye.
A boy sprinted over in panic.
'I'M SO SORRY!'
I waved lazily.
'It's fine.'
He bowed repeatedly like he's just insulted a feudal lord.
I sighed.
'Guess I should find somewhere less… sporty.'
I stood up and walked over to the teacher.
'Can I go outside?'
'Sure,' she said. 'But don't wander off.'
'Got it.'
———————————-
Fresh air.
Quiet.
No screaming children.
Much better.
As I walked around, I spotted someone familiar.
It was the stubborn girl from earlier.
The one who insisted she could lift things twice her weight.
She was crouched on the ground.
Watching ants.
A long line of ants marched across the asphalt like tiny office workers commuting to their miserable jobs.
And she was smiling.
Not her usual blank expression.
Just a soft, peaceful smile.
Like she was watching something precious.
'…Huh.'
I decided not to interrupt.
Anyone who finds joy in watching ants probably needs that moment.
So I quietly walked past.
Eventually, I found a tree.
'Perfect.'
I lay down under it.
The breeze was nice.
The shade was nice.
Within seconds-
I was asleep.
———————————-
'Shii yuu tomaroo, Ku-reiji san.'
'See you tomorrow.'
Kasumi waved before heading off to her club activities.
Meanwhile, I had a completely normal after-school plan.
Meeting loan sharks.
Typical student life if you ask me.
Before that, I stopped by to see my guys.
You know.
Check on the gang.
Give them some life advice.
Important leadership lessons.
After that, it was time to visit Hina.
The big nanny insisted I bring ten guys.
I refused.
After a bit of arguing, we compromised.
I brought two.
The same guys as yesterday.
——————————
*Knock knock*
A cautious voice came from behind the door.
'Who is it?'
'The Freedom Fighters level 100 mafia boss.' I said. 'The guy from yesterday.'
The door opened.
Hina greeted me with a relieved smile.
'Welcome.''
I handed Hina a suitcase full of money.
'This is the cash.'
'Thank you.'
Inside the apartment sat Saki.
The blonde girl from yesterday.
She looked at me the way a cat looks at a vacuum cleaner.
Pure hostility.
I ignored it.
'Hina,' I said calmly, 'pretend I'm not here when they arrive.'
'If things escalate, I'll step in.'
'Th-thank you.' She said.
'Tch.' Saki scoffed. 'Trying to play hero.'
'Saki,' Hina said gently, 'don't be like that. He's here to help.'
'Can't you see?!' Saki snapped.
'He's trying to win your favour!'
Before the argument could continue-
*Knock knock*
The room froze.
I nodded toward the door.
Hina swallowed nervously and opened it.
Then I turned to my boys.
'Hide.'
They nodded immediately.
We all slipped into the bathroom.
Because if a horror movie monster can pull it off, why can't we?
The door creaked open.
'Hello?' Hina asked.
A greasy voice answered.
'Well well… long time no see, Hina.'
Silence filled the apartment.
'Did you miss me?'
Hina wore a face of disgust.
Saki shouted from across the room.
'Get to the point, why are you here?!'
They peered past Hina.
Saki stood there with a bokken in her hand.
'You're one feisty girl.'
'Shut up! Tell us why you're here before I smash both your heads in!' Saki pointed her bokken at them.
'Relax, relax, we're here to collect the debt. But if you can't pa-'
'I have the money.' Hina interrupted him.
Hina shoved the suitcase at them.
'You can count, all the money is in there, so leave me alone.'
He opened the suitcase and only gave it a brief glance.
'You see Hina. Our boss raised the interest rate by another 50% a couple of months ago and 3 months have already gone by.'
'What?! You never told me any of this!'
'Oops.' He covered his mouth. 'I must've forgotten, but the boss is willing to waive the principle for your body, Hina.'
'That's it, I'm going to beat you all!'
Saki charged at them.
But then a few dozen men stormed into the building with weapons of their own.
'I won't do that if I were you, however, I will be willing to forgive you if you give each of us a blowjob, how about that?' He said with a smirk.
'How about we all calm down.' I stepped out of the bathroom along with my boys.
All the men froze.
Which was understandable.
After all, it's not every day you see three guys casually walk out of a girl's bathroom during a crime scene like they're about to discuss policies.
'You whore!' The thug looked at Hina. 'You did it with three guys?!'
Hina blushed.
'And who the hell are you?!'
I ignored the question.
'I heard you admit that you never informed her about the interest rate increase.' I said calmly. 'Is that correct?'
The thug frowned.
'And what if I did?'
'Then wouldn't that make it your fault?' I said. 'So shouldn't you be the one providing compensation?'
'Even if it was my fault.' He snapped, raising his weapon, 'What right do you have to demand anything from me?!'
Around him, his boys lifted their weapons as well.
Negotiations had reached the fighting stage.
Classic.
I sighed.
'So…'
I looked around the room.
'Are you going to compensate or not?'
I cast my gaze at them.
The air suddenly became heavy.
Confidence evaporated.
The men who had been shouting seconds ago went pale.
Hands trembled.
Knees shook.
Some of them dropped their weapons.
Others simply forgot how standing worked.
Those unworthy…
Shall never stand before the monarch.
One man started crying.
Another whispered something that sounded like a prayer.
'P-PLEASE!' He screamed. 'I WILL!"
He threw the suitcase onto the floor.
'You can take the money back!'
'I'll tell the boss she already paid!'
I tilted my head.
'And if your boss asks to see the money?'
'I-I'll cover it myself!' He cried. 'Please!'
'Good.'
I nodded once.
'Hina.'
'Take the suitcase.'
'O-o-o-o-o-o'
I turned around.
Then paused.
Hina and Saki were both on their knees.
Neither of them had been the target of my gaze.
Yet they looked like someone had just told them the final boss had spawned.
Why was my power acting up?
Was it the gift that God sent me?
'… Seriously?'
I rubbed my temple.
I turned back to the thug.
'Take me to your boss.'
'I'd like to have a chat.'
'Y-YES!' He shouted immediately.
The room exploded into motion.
Every thug scattered like someone had just yelled 'inspection!' At a corrupt office.
Within seconds, the only one left was the leader.
He stood up shakily.
'I-I'll take you there…'
My two boys stepped forward.
'Boss, we're coming with you.'
'You don't need to.' I said.
They shook their heads.
'We must protect you.'
Protect me?
From what?
I tried convincing them for about ten seconds.
They refused.
'Yeah, I should've expected that.'
———————————-
We walked through the red-light district.
Neon lights glowed everywhere.
Girls called out to passing customers.
Men stood outside clubs trying to drag people inside.
'Hey handsome!'
'Come inside!'
'Best girls in town!'
One woman even grabbed my arm.
'Come relax for a bit-'
I gently removed her hand.
'Sorry. Busy.'
Debt collector management service.
Very important.
Eventually, the thug stopped walking.
He pointed nervously at a building.
'W-We're here…'
I looked at the building.
Neon lights flashed everywhere.
Music blasted from inside.
A giant glowing sign hung above the entrance.
Tokyo's best host club.
I fought demons for years… and now I'm raiding a boyfriend rental business.
One of my boys whispered beside me.
'…Boss?'
'Yes?'
'…What's a host club?'
'You really don't know.'
I thought every Japanese person knew, especially if you are a criminal yourself.
He shook his head.
I thought about it.
'Imagine emotional support if owned by EA.'
'What's EA?'
'A greedy company. But ...'
I pointed to the host club.
'They make EA look like Make-A-Wish Foundation right now.'
He nodded.
'That sounds evil.'
'Yeah.' I said. 'Probably the most evil thing I've fought so far.'
Then I pushed open the door.
'Alright.'
'Let's put an end to microtransactions.'
'Yeah! Let's go!' The boys said.
They both had no clue what their boss was talking about.
But that was who their new boss was.
A scholar of literature.
They were learning new words every day.
'We shall slay this worse than EA club!' They both chee