A Misunderstanding

"Now let's become one."

At that moment, Yamamoto Ichiro's gaze was no longer just feverishly crazed; it had taken on a lecherous edge as well.

Terrified by Yamamoto Ichiro's horrifying appearance, Sakura Airi instinctively scrambled backward on her hands and feet.

With fear completely consuming her, she had forgotten that Tanaka Yukishin was secretly following her to protect her.

Then she felt a solid barrier behind her.

Sakura Airi was already backed up against the wall.

Overwhelmed by panic, tears spilled from her eyes.

As Yamamoto bent down and closed in, she wanted to scream, but it was as if her throat had been choked shut.

Watching from the side, Tanaka Yukishin couldn't help silently applauding Sakura Airi's performance.

Even knowing she was protected, she could act as if it were real.

Airi-chan should have been an actress, not a model.

As Yamamoto Ichiro drew closer and closer to Sakura Airi,

Tanaka Yukishin knew it was time.

If that scumbag actually touched her, she'd probably be left with a psychological scar.

He immediately pushed off with his legs and leaped into the air.

As he cleared the wall, he pressed his palm against it.

Changing the point where his leaping strike would land.

Take this, Justice Rider Kick!

The sole of his size-45 shoe slammed hard into Yamamoto's chest.

Yamamoto Ichiro flew three meters and crashed into the wall to the side.

After a dull thud came a sharp crack.

Yamamoto Ichiro's head struck the wall, leaving him injured.

Seeing that Yamamoto Ichiro had no chance to escape for the moment,

Tanaka Yukishin turned around, ready to praise Sakura Airi's acting.

He had barely turned when Sakura Airi threw herself into his arms.

"I was so scared, Tanaka-kun."

Looking at the girl in his arms, her eyes blurred with tears and her face full of panic,

Tanaka Yukishin realized he had misjudged the situation.

He wrapped both arms around Sakura Airi and patted her back.

Then he stroked her hair with his right hand, moving down along her neck and back, and repeated the motion several times.

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here."

Only after Sakura Airi had calmed down

did Tanaka Yukishin lean close and say,

"I was right beside you. Didn't you check my location on your phone back in the shopping district?"

"How could you still be afraid?"

"I just..."

Sakura Airi felt a little embarrassed, but she still told him.

At that moment, Tanaka Yukishin heard a noise.

He turned around and saw that Yamamoto Ichiro had recovered enough to get up and try to run.

He had no time to keep talking with Sakura Airi.

He picked up a drink bottle lying on the ground,

aimed at his target's right leg, and hurled it with all his strength.

The bottle shot through the air at high speed and struck the hollow behind Yamamoto Ichiro's knee.

His knee dislocated, and his muscles spasmed.

Yamamoto Ichiro stumbled and fell to the ground.

Clutching his injured left leg, he howled in pain.

Tanaka Yukishin walked over, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up.

"**"

"Scumbag."

With every word, Tanaka Yukishin slapped him across the face.

A few minutes later, Yamamoto Ichiro's face had swollen up like a pig's head.

It was blue and purple in places, and, together with the blood from when he'd struck the wall,

he looked like a pig bled for the New Year.

As he kept hitting Yamamoto Ichiro, the urge to unleash violence grew stronger in Tanaka Yukishin.

It had been a long time since he'd gotten to use violence so freely.

The last time, if he remembered right, had been after his sister was stalked by a pervert. He'd thoroughly swept through the local delinquents, yakuza, and lowlifes several times over.

Those were the days.

This human punching bag wasn't bad, either.

Under the circumstances, he might as well break all four limbs first.

If anyone asked later, he'd say he'd lost control in a fit of anger.

With that thought, Tanaka Yukishin threw a left punch, striking Yamamoto Ichiro's right wrist.

His swift punch shattered the wrist joint in one blow.

Hearing Yamamoto Ichiro's agonized screams

was music to Tanaka Yukishin's ears.

Two more punches, and the bones in Yamamoto Ichiro's right arm had broken into four pieces.

From the excruciating pain, Yamamoto Ichiro immediately passed out.

Tanaka Yukishin couldn't stand to see anyone sleeping in a place like this.

A quiet hospital room or a narrow, silent coffin would be the best place for him.

So he switched hands and grabbed Yamamoto Ichiro by the collar.

Then he threw three punches with his right hand.

From the pain,

Yamamoto Ichiro passed out, woke up, and passed out again.

Sakura Airi crouched in the corner, blood seeping from the scrapes on her palms.

Watching Tanaka Yukishin's back, she noticed the hem of his uniform was dusted with wall grit, tiny motes rising with every punch.

When his fist came down, Yamamoto Ichiro's right arm made a sound like a dry branch snapping. She clapped a hand over her mouth as bile rose in her throat.

At that moment, Sakura Airi came to her senses. She braced herself against the wall and stood, her calves still trembling.

She hurried over and wrapped her arms around Tanaka Yukishin's waist from behind, her forehead bumping into his shoulder.

His tense muscles dug painfully into her, but she didn't dare let go.

"That's enough, Tanaka-kun."

Not wanting to hurt the girl, Tanaka Yukishin didn't pull away.

"Airi-chan, let go."

"I know you're a kind girl."

"But he's no longer an ordinary person. He's a criminal now."

"Criminals don't feel pain."

Sakura Airi's voice was muffled against his back, her warm, damp breath seeping through his shirt.

"Really, that's enough, Tanaka-kun. He'll get the punishment he deserves."

"Don't kill him. He's not worth it."

Tanaka Yukishin was at a loss for words.

He had sent too many scumbags to the Pure Land.

As an old hand, he knew full well that this much would only leave someone crippled.

Still, with someone pleading with him, Tanaka Yukishin couldn't very well keep going.

Feeling the tension gradually leave Tanaka Yukishin's muscles,

Sakura Airi let go.

"You're lucky, scumbag."

Releasing Yamamoto Ichiro's collar with his left hand,

Tanaka Yukishin kicked him squarely in the stomach, sending him flying.

The impact boomed through the alley.

Yamamoto Ichiro's back slammed hard into the wall. He fell to the ground, limp and motionless.

Sakura Airi stood rooted to the spot, clutching her skirt so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her palms.

The red light on the surveillance camera mounted on the utility pole was still blinking, but Sakura Airi's eyes were fixed on Yamamoto Ichiro's unresponsive body.

She looked at the blood on Tanaka Yukishin's knuckles, and her breathing suddenly grew ragged.

"Tanaka-kun, you..."

Her voice trembled as she suddenly realized something: if Yamamoto Ichiro died, Tanaka Yukishin might go to prison.

In Japan, even when acting in self-defense, causing serious injury or death could still be judged excessive self-defense.

Her breathing nearly stopped.

It couldn't happen.

"Tanaka-kun, listen to me..."

She suddenly rushed over and grabbed his sleeve, her voice shaking with tears.

Before he could react, she was already tearing at her collar and tie. A black button popped off and hit the ground.

"When the police get here, just say he was assaulting me..." Her forehead beaded with sweat as she spoke through the tearing fabric. "Then it'll count as legitimate self-defense..."

Her voice was soft, but each word seemed forced out through clenched teeth. "I'm a witness. They won't be able to hold you responsible."

Tanaka Yukishin caught her trembling wrist.

The girl's body heat passed through his palm, colder than he'd expected.

He saw tears clinging to her eyelashes, though she was forcing herself to look resolute. Something suddenly pierced his chest.

"You don't have to do this. A girl's virtue..."

"I'm willing!"