Chapter "A Hero's Stand"

With a confident smile, Hisashi declared, "Let's enroll in the Ryugari-Sha dojo." Subaru grinned and shouted enthusiastically, "Yeahhhh!"

Walking side by side, Subaru expressed, "That's fantastic! This way, we can pursue our dreams and gather funds for the treatment."

Hisashi nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "I'll need to give it my all. I'll only earn five million if I become the tournament's MVP.”

Subaru reassured Hisashi, saying, "Don't worry at all. Even if I become the MVP, I'll give you all the money, and if it's not enough, I'll even sell my MVP Trophy." Hisashi was taken aback, his gaze locking onto Subaru's bright smile.

Continuing, Subaru said confidently, "I'm not sure how much it'll cost, but I'm sure it'll be more than a million, so we'll have an additional one million. There's no need to worry." Overwhelmed with gratitude, Hisashi pulled Subaru into a tight embrace.

Initially taken aback, Subaru's shock quickly melted into a warm smile as he hugged Hisashi back, saying, "You're more than just a friend; you're family. Your mother is my mother too, and I'll do whatever it takes to save her."

Breaking the embrace, Hisashi looked at Subaru with gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Subaru. You truly are more than a brother to me."

Beaming proudly, Subaru replied, "Yes, I am." Both of them shared a smile, filled with the unspoken bond of brotherhood,

Subaru suggested, "Since we missed our university today, let's head back home now. Tomorrow, we'll visit Ryugari-Sha Dojo." Hisashi smiled and nodded in agreement.

As Subaru walked away, waving at him, Hisashi reciprocate the gesture with a smile before heading towards his apartment.

As Hisashi was on his way, his attention was soon drawn to the sound of a girl yelling. Hisashi's curiosity piqued, and he swiftly began to follow the voice, eager to investigate.

As Hisashi approached, he witnessed several boys harassing Hanae, who was alone and clearly distressed.

One of the boys had a tight grip on Hanae's wrist, forcibly pulling her towards the others who sat nearby, laughing at her plight.

Despite Hanae's cries and struggles to break free, the boy's hold remained firm, dragging her relentlessly.

Just as it seemed hopeless, a hand intervened, grasping Hanae's other hand firmly, halting her movement.

The laughter abruptly ceased as the boy who had been dragging Hanae turned to find Hisashi firmly holding her hand, a sight that surprised both him and Hanae.

In a low whisper, Hisashi commanded, "Let her go." The boys, now perplexed and irritated, exchanged glances, while Hanae remained stunned by the sudden turn of events.

The boy confronting Hisashi demanded, "And who are you?" Unfazed, Hisashi repeated, "Release her hand." Reluctantly, the boy complied, allowing Hisashi to pull Hanae behind him, shielding her from further harm.

The boys remained baffled by the sudden intervention, while Hanae struggled to process the unfolding scene. The boy confronting Hisashi stepped forward, locking eyes with him.

"Do you think you can just take her away from here?" he challenged. Hisashi's response was unwavering. "If she's not safe here, then I'll take her with me."

With a determined stride, the boy closed the distance between them, pressing his forehead against Hisashi's in a confrontation. Hisashi remained composed, his resolve unshaken.

"Show me what y-" The boy's sentence was cut short as Hisashi delivered a lightning-fast uppercut to his chin, sending him staggering backward in disbelief.

The stunned silence was shattered as Hisashi swiftly followed up with a powerful blow to the boy's face, sending him careening backward. With a thud, the boy crashed into the side wall before collapsing to the ground.

Concerned voices rose among the other boys as they rushed to check on their fallen friend.

"Hey, Todoka, are you okay?" one of them called out, but Todoka's response was fueled by anger. "Catch them!" he bellowed, directing his comrades' attention toward Hisashi and Hanae, who wasted no time in bolting away.

The boys' enraged shouts pierced the air as they relentlessly pursued Hisashi and Hanae, their fury driving them forward with determination.

Hisashi and Hanae sprinted swiftly, hand in hand, Hisashi leading the way with Hanae close behind. Despite their efforts to evade their pursuers by changing directions and darting through various valleys, the boys remained steadfast in their pursuit, always hot on their heels.

As they raced away from their pursuers, Hanae's breaths grew ragged with exhaustion. "I can't run," she gasped between breaths.

Hisashi glanced back at her, concern etched across his face, but he pressed on, his determination unwavering.

Ahead, a towering wall loomed. With a determined sprint, they reached the wall, coming to an abrupt stop. Hanae, her energy drained, struggled to catch her breath.

Without hesitation, Hisashi scooped her up and placed her in front of the wall. "Quickly, climb up," he urged, his voice urgent yet steady,

As Hanae exclaimed, "I can't," their hearts raced faster upon spotting the approaching boys. With urgency, Hisashi called out, "Quick, climb up!" Responding swiftly, Hanae began scaling the wall. With Hisashi’s assistance, she reached and sat at the top of the wall.

Hisashi swiftly backed up a few steps, then charged towards the wall, scaling it with agility. With Hanae's pulling him up, they perched themselves on the wall, just as the boys approached.

Sensing the urgency, Hisashi secured Hanae around the waist, and together they descended from the wall in a daring leap.

The boys surged forward with anger, their strides quickening as they each scaled the wall. Landing on the other side, they scanned the area, finding it deserted.

Amidst the maze of three dark alleyways, Hisashi and Hanae were mo where to be found,

With a sharp command, one of the boys bellowed, "Spread out! They can't have gone far!" The group dispersed, disappearing into the shadows of the alleys.

In the dimly lit alley, one of the boys dashed forward, his footsteps echoing against the walls. Unbeknownst to him, Hisashi and Hanae lay in wait, concealed within a narrow alcove, their breaths held in anticipation.

Hanae sat pressed against the wall, her breaths shallow and rapid, while Hisashi knelt in front of her, his hands forming a protective barrier against the wall.

Hanae and Hisashi stood in silence, their breaths coming in shallow gasps. Beads of sweat glistened on Hanae's forehead as she fixed her gaze upon Hisashi, who was looking to his right.

Suddenly, Hanae reached out and placed her hand on Hisashi's chest. His eyes widened in surprise, and he turned his gaze towards her, locking eyes with her. In that moment, a wordless understanding passed between them as they held each other's gaze.

As Hanae leaned closer to Hisashi, his expression froze in stunned silence. His eyes widened in disbelief as her forehead gently pressed against his chest. Then, unexpectedly, she collapsed, fainting away. Hisashi, utterly taken aback, his own eyes widening in shock.