Late at night.
Kobe Port, Osaka Bay.
"Damn it, I made a fool of myself again. That was so pathetic..."
After leaving the school infirmary, Teruzo Kurogane had sat alone by the sea in a daze, from afternoon until evening, then from evening until sunset, until the stars and moon hung high overhead.
After spending most of the night in the sea breeze, the hotheaded Teruzo Kurogane gradually calmed down.
"There are plenty of men stronger than me, like Senior Noro. Why would she ever fall for a good-for-nothing like me?"
Teruzo Kurogane gave a self-mocking smile, turned his head, and looked around.
This was the stretch of shore where he had met Teacher Arisa yesterday.
He had been beaten to a pulp by the thugs who had hit on her, while Senior Noro had stepped forward to save the damsel in distress, rapidly bringing the two of them closer.
"From the very beginning, I never had the slightest chance with Teacher Arisa. I was just reaching way out of my league."
Watching the waves churn across the sea beneath the night sky, Teruzo Kurogane finally let go.
He couldn't keep indulging in this one-sided fantasy.
At least Senior Noro had excellent character, good looks, and fighting ability.
Teruzo Kurogane pulled his secondhand smartphone from his pocket and glanced at it. It was already past one in the morning.
He brushed off his backside, stood up from the steps, and set off toward Kobe Bridge.
Spanning Osaka Bay, Kobe Bridge connected the Kobe Port docks to the north with Wharf Island North Park to the south. It was a double-deck steel arch bridge with a total length of 319 meters.
Kobe Bridge had a walkway set aside for pedestrians.
"Sorry, Mr. Might Guy. I lashed out helplessly and made an