"Yo, if it isn't Junpei Yoshino! Perfect timing. We've been a little strapped for cash lately. Since we're such good buddies, why don't you 'lend' us some spending money?"
"I'll check around. The big guys aren't nearby..."
"Tch, relax. This guy's a total loner with a lousy personality. Who would go out of their way to teach us a lesson for him?"
They surrounded Junpei Yoshino, closing in step by step.
Junpei pressed his lips together. When he realized every escape route had been blocked, he cursed himself for being careless. Now all he could do was brace himself and face them.
"I don't have any money on me."
That was the truth. Junpei had come out to exercise, not shop. He hadn't even brought his wallet.
Unwilling to give up, they stepped forward and roughly searched all his pockets. Apart from a packet of tissues and a battered phone, they found nothing of any value.
"Tch, what a waste! What a piece-of-junk phone!"
Even his phone, which should have been worth something, wasn't worth their attention. It was an old feature phone that was practically obsolete. Selling it would barely fetch a thing.
Junpei had been raised by a single mother. To ease the burden on her, he had chosen this model himself for its low price and durability. He had always treasured it.
Even when calling his senior earlier, he had worried that "One Missed Call" might damage the phone. He had only worked up the nerve to make the call after checking that his savings would cover repairs.
Yet something precious to him had been carelessly thrown away without a second thought.
With a clack, their leader hurled what he considered trash at Junpei, then angrily grabbed him by the hair.
"You broke-ass loser! Don't you know