Problem Children and Delinquents

Elsewhere.

Lin Bei was strolling along with a can of iced coffee in one hand and his backpack slung over his shoulders.

Training had been exhausting, but the improvement in his stamina still delighted him.

Hanamichi Sakuragi, as noisy as ever, and Ayako, who was headed the same way, walked beside him.

"Master! What are we having for dinner today?"

"These shoes are seriously amazing!"

"I feel like I jumped five centimeters higher than yesterday!"

Hanamichi circled Lin Bei like an overexcited husky.

"Shut up."

"If you keep making noise, I'm taking those shoes back."

Lin Bei took a sip of coffee and sighed helplessly.

"No, no, no! I won't say another word!" Hanamichi immediately covered his mouth.

Ayako watched their interaction from the side and could not help laughing.

"I never expected Sakuragi to listen to you so obediently."

"Lin Bei, what kind of spell did you cast on him?"

Lin Bei shrugged.

"Probably... the power of money?"

"Or maybe personal charm?"

The three continued down the road, chatting and laughing.

Just then.

Several figures suddenly emerged from the mouth of the alley ahead.

The leader had long hair that fell to his shoulders.

He was fairly handsome, but his missing front teeth gave him a somewhat sinister look.

Hisashi Mitsui.

At this point, he was still the fallen delinquent gang leader.

Tetsuo Hotta and several other lackeys followed behind him.

"That's..."

Ayako frowned, recognizing them as the school's infamous delinquent gang.

"Where's that brat Miyagi?"

Hisashi Mitsui held an iron bar and repeatedly banged it against the wall, his fierce eyes sweeping the surroundings.

"I clearly saw him come this way."

Tetsuo Hotta pointed ahead.

"Brother Mitsui, he's over there!"

Not far away, Ryota Miyagi was walking toward them with his head lowered, seemingly preoccupied.

Enemies really did meet on narrow roads.

Ryota stopped and looked at Hisashi and the others blocking his path, a trace of disgust flashing through his eyes.

"You lot again."

"Haven't you been beaten enough, Mitsui?"

Ryota said coldly.

"Bastard!"

Hisashi had been struck where it hurt, and rage surged through him.

"You ambushed me last time!"

"Today, I'll show you who the real boss is!"

Just as the two sides were about to fight.

Ryota Miyagi's gaze suddenly passed over Hisashi and landed somewhere behind him.

His pupils instantly contracted.

The world seemed to freeze in that moment.

He saw Ayako.

The goddess who haunted his dreams, who had made him join the basketball team, and whom he could not stop thinking about even while hospitalized.

Ayako was walking beneath the setting sun, smiling like a flower in bloom.

But...

There were actually two men beside Ayako!

One was a tall redhead, wildly gesturing as he tried to make Ayako laugh.

The other was a black-haired guy with dead fish eyes.

Though he looked utterly lifeless.

Ayako kept turning to speak to him, her gaze gentle.

"Boom—!"

It was as if a nuclear bomb exploded inside Ryota Miyagi's mind.

The string of reason snapped.

"Ayako..."

"Why..."

"I was only gone for a few days..."

"And yet you..."

The flames of jealousy instantly consumed his reason.

Tears welled up in his eyes.

Ignoring Hisashi Mitsui in front of him, Ryota Miyagi charged forward like a wounded beast.

"Hey! Miyagi! How dare you ignore me?!"

Hisashi Mitsui froze. He had just been about to stop him, but Ryota's killing intent-filled gaze gave him a start.

Ryota's target was clear.

Not the redhead who looked like an idiot.

But the somewhat handsome, arrogant-looking black-haired guy walking beside Ayako!

Lin Bei!

In Ryota's eyes, a pretty boy like that was absolutely the greatest threat!

"Unforgivable..."

"Absolutely unforgivable!!"

Ryota Miyagi moved with astonishing speed, like a bolt of black lightning, instantly passing Hisashi and the others.

"Watch out!" Ayako cried.

Lin Bei was drinking his coffee when he suddenly felt a wave of killing intent rushing toward him.

He raised his eyelids.

A short guy with streams of tears pouring down his face like noodles and a twisted expression was lunging at him.

"Give Ayako back to me!!"

"You damn pretty boy!!"

Ryota Miyagi roared as he leaped into the air.

A flying kick filled with rage and jealousy shot straight toward Lin Bei's face.

The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded.

Lin Bei sighed.

"What a pain..."

"Am I seriously getting attacked just for drinking coffee?"

He could not even be bothered to dodge.

Because he knew someone would step in.

Just as Ryota's toe came within ten centimeters of Lin Bei's nose.

A massive red figure cut in from the side.

Bang!

With a dull thud.

Hanamichi Sakuragi grabbed Ryota's ankle with one hand, forcibly stopping him in midair.

"Hey, shorty."

Hanamichi Sakuragi's face darkened.

A terrifying light flickered in his eyes as he spoke in an icy voice:

"What are you trying to do to my long-term meal ticket... ah, no, my master?"

Ryota Miyagi felt as though his foot had been caught in an iron vise. He could not move it at all.

He stared in shock at the red-haired giant before him.

"So strong..."

The two remained locked in place.

It was as though sparks were crackling through the air.

"Sakuragi! Miyagi! Stop!"

Ayako finally snapped out of it, shouting as she rushed forward.

"Ayako..."

At the sound of his goddess's voice, the killing intent in Ryota's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by the aggrieved gaze of a little puppy.

He pulled free from Hanamichi's grip, landed, then pointed at Lin Bei and demanded in a trembling voice:

"Ayako! Who is he?!"

"I was only gone for a few days, and you're already with this pretty boy who looks like all he does is sleep..."

"Waaah! My heart hurts so much!"

Ryota clutched his chest and burst into tears.

Lin Bei: "..."

He took a sip of coffee, looked at the farce before him, and helplessly shook his head.

"What is this even supposed to be?"

"I'm just a passing Kamen Rider. Can you let me go home and sleep?"

At that moment, Hisashi Mitsui, who had been ignored for ages, finally could not stand it anymore.

He led his group of lackeys over, his face livid.

"Hey! You lot!"

"How dare you completely ignore the great Mitsui?!"

"None of you are leaving today!"

Hisashi waved his iron bar menacingly.

Hanamichi Sakuragi turned around, looked at the long-haired Hisashi, and tilted his head.

Then he said something that nearly made Hisashi cough up three liters of blood:

"Auntie, who are you?"

"This has nothing to do with you. Hurry home and make dinner."

"A-Auntie?!"

Hisashi Mitsui's iron bar fell to the ground with a clang.

He touched his long hair, his mentality completely shattered.

"I'm a man!!"

"I'm Hisashi Mitsui!!"

"Pfft."

Lin Bei could not hold it in and laughed.

That laugh completely ignited the powder keg.

Ryota Miyagi glared at Lin Bei. "You still dare laugh! I challenge you to a duel!"

Hisashi Mitsui glared at Hanamichi. "You red-haired bastard! I'll kill you!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi shielded Lin Bei. "Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"

Ayako clutched her forehead, feeling a splitting headache coming on.

"Now... everything's a complete mess."

Amid all the chaos.

Lin Bei silently took two steps back and leaned against a utility pole.

"Ugh... so tired..."

"System, use Slacking Points."

"Redeem Tai Chi."