Chapter 91 This Is Just The Beginning
Kota's face turned ashen, the blood draining from it as he caught Haruto's menacing smile.
It was the smile of someone who knew exactly what was about to happen—and enjoyed every moment of it.
Kota barely had time to react before Ren stepped forward, his fist already swinging.
The punch landed square on Kota's face, sending him sprawling to the floor.
It wasn't the pain that paralyzed him—it was the sheer humiliation.
Ren's punch didn't hurt as much as Haruto's once had, but the oppressive atmosphere and the gang's mocking laughter made it feel far worse.
"You're as weak as you look," Ren spat, standing over him with a sneer. He nudged Kota's side with the tip of his shoe before delivering a hard kick to his stomach.
"Get up, moron! If you stay this weak, you'll just embarrass the gang."
For them, it was a test of endurance and how strong Kota was to decide his position in the gang. If Kota couldn't even hold two or three punches, he was a failure to the gang.
"Y-Yes…" Kota stammered, clutching his aching stomach as he struggled to his feet.
His legs wobbled, and the hyena-like laughter of the gang surrounded him, amplifying his fear.
Before he could fully stand, another fist slammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He doubled over, gasping for air, but Ren's voice barked in his ear.
"Don't you dare fall! I'll kill you if you do!" Ren's words rang out like a command, leaving Kota trembling as more punches and kicks rained down on him.
Despite his best efforts to stay upright, the relentless blows overwhelmed him. He dropped to his knees, shielding his head with his hands as the gang continued their assault. \\
Their laughter echoed in the abandoned classroom, their voices dripping with sadistic amusement.
"This weakling is so annoying!" one of them jeered, delivering another kick to Kota's side.
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"Right? He's gonna end up as our punching bag if he can't even fight back," another chimed in, his tone dismissive.
"Haha, let him be! We haven't had a proper punching bag since the last one landed in the hospital," a third member added, laughing cruelly.
Haruto watched it all unfold, his arms crossed and a small smile tugging at his lips. To him, this was a natural progression of Kota's foolish ambition.
He had spent two weeks observing the gang and knew the hierarchy well. The bottom-tier members weren't comrades—they were tools, errand boys, and, worst of all, living punching bags.
"This is all you've got?" Ren growled, delivering one final kick that left Kota sprawled on the floor, motionless.
Whether he was unconscious or simply playing dead, it didn't matter. Ren scoffed and turned away.
"What a joke! I'm not even satisfied."
Without warning, Ren turned his frustration toward Haruto. "You think this guy's good enough? Let me show you how to take a hit!" he snarled, swinging a fist at him.
Haruto's smirk didn't falter. He sidestepped the punch with ease. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he retaliated.
His fist connected with Ren's jaw in a powerful uppercut, sending the man flying backward and crashing into the sofa.
The room fell silent. The gang froze mid-motion, their eyes sharp and focused on Haruto.
"What?" Haruto said, shrugging casually as he dusted off his shoulder. "It's called self-defense. You can't expect me to just stand there, right?"
The tension in the room thickened, but Haruto's relaxed posture didn't waver. His smirk grew as he met the gang's stares, knowing he had just shifted the power dynamics in his favor.
Ren groaned, slowly pushing himself off the ground, his face a mixture of embarrassment and seething anger.
His glare fixed on Haruto, but the lingering fear in his eyes betrayed his confidence.
"Ren, if you hate him that much, how about a duel with Haruto? I can set it up at the underground ring," Daiki said, his tone laced with amusement.
He leaned back on the sofa, an entertained gleam in his eyes as he looked between the two.
Ren's body tensed at the suggestion. The memory of Haruto and Daiki's previous duel—an all-out fight that had sent both of them to the hospital—flashed in his mind.
"H-huh? Why would I duel this loser?" Ren said, his voice faltering as he tried to maintain his composure.
Daiki scoffed, his amusement turning to disdain. "As expected. Big mouth, no backbone," he said before turning his gaze to Haruto.
"It's a shame you're with Murder of Crow. If you were one of us, you'd replace Ren in no time."
Ren's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles whitening as he ground his teeth. His glare at Haruto deepened, filled with resentment and hatred.
'I'll crush him,' he thought, though the cold sweat on his brow said otherwise.
Daiki grinned knowingly, satisfied with the tension he'd created. Watching Ren squirm and Haruto remain unfazed was more entertaining than anything else that day.
"I'm loyal and peaceful," Haruto said with a calm smile, his tone almost mocking. "I think I'm right where I belong."
"Suit yourself," Daiki said with a shrug, before gesturing at Kota.
"Now take that bowl cut with you. This isn't a hospital, and we don't fix broken toys."
With a dismissive wave, Daiki turned his attention back to his comic book.
Haruto didn't bother responding. Instead, he crouched down, hauled Kota up, and slung his arm over his shoulder to help him walk.
Kota leaned heavily on him, limping as they made their way out of the abandoned building.
Once they reached the hallway, Haruto suddenly let go, letting Kota crumple to the floor.
The thud echoed through the empty corridor as Kota groaned in pain, looking up at Haruto with a mixture of confusion and despair.
Haruto squatted in front of him, his smirk dark and taunting. "So? How's your first day in a gang? Fun, isn't it?"
Kota's trembling hands clenched weakly into fists as he glared up at Haruto. "You… Is it true? The woman in that video… is she really my mother?"
Haruto chuckled, his laughter cutting through the cold air like a knife. "What do you think, Kota? You're her son. Haven't you ever seen your mother naked?"
Kota's eyes filled with rage, bloodshot as his teeth sank into his lower lip until it bled. "You… I'll kill you!" he spat, his voice trembling with fury.
Haruto only laughed harder, his voice echoing down the hallway. "Kill me? Try it, Kota. You'd be the one ending up six feet under."
Without hesitation, Haruto raised his foot and stomped down on Kota's hand, eliciting a scream of pain.
"Ahhh! You bastard!" Kota's voice cracked, his cry filled with a mix of agony and humiliation.
Haruto straightened, dusting off his hands as if the act of cruelty was nothing more than a chore. He turned and began to walk away, his steps light and unhurried.
His laughter echoed behind him, each chuckle a dagger in Kota's pride.
Humming to himself, Haruto couldn't help but savor the moment.
"That's just a fraction of my pain, and he's already breaking," he murmured, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
But his thoughts soon drifted.
'Yoshida wasn't at the meeting. She must be in the library,'
he thought, his curiosity piqued.
'Why not pay her a visit?'
Haruto recalled the information he'd gathered about Ayaka Yoshida, the quiet, untouchable third-year.
Her connection with Ren had kept others at bay, isolating her from her peers. Most of her free time was spent in the library, away from prying eyes.
As he entered the library, the stillness greeted him. Only the librarian was present, sitting quietly at her desk.
Haruto scanned the rows of bookshelves, his eyes narrowing in mild irritation.
'Did I get bad information?'
He was about to turn back when he caught a glimpse of someone at the far end of the library.
There she was—Ayaka Yoshida.
She was tiptoeing, reaching for a book on a high shelf, her slender fingers try to grasping it.