143 Avoid Dark Alleys at Night 

Okudera's apartment was located near Otsuka Station in Bunkyo Ward, just a ten-minute walk from both the subway station and Ochanomizu Women's University.

It was convenient for commuting while still being relatively quiet.

The streets of Bunkyo Ward closely matched the image foreigners often had of Japanese urban life—clean, orderly, and well-maintained.

Since Okudera's apartment building was right above a shopping street, the sidewalks weren't paved with asphalt but with decorative tiles, adding to the charm of the area.

"Want to grab a cup of coffee?" Okudera asked, nodding toward a café across the street with a large coffee sign.

Kyousuke wasn't particularly fond of coffee, nor did he quite understand the Japanese obsession with it, but he wasn't about to refuse.

Walking through the city at night, holding a warm cup of coffee in hand, and having someone as stunning as Okudera by his side—what could be better?

Even though it was already past nine, the streets were still filled with salarymen in black suits and white shirts, briskly crossing the intersection.

Kyousuke felt that much of Tokyo's fast-paced energy came from these workers, especially the ones wearing backpacks.

There was probably no other country where people could pull off wearing a formal suit while naturally carrying a backpack and even running in one, quite like the Japanese.

"I really admire them. I can't wait to graduate and start chasing my dreams," Okudera said, her eyes following the salarymen as they hurried past.

Kyousuke had a vastly different dream, one that involved endless wealth and a life of indulgence but he wisely chose not to argue.

"Yeah," he agreed, internally thinking, 'Let's work hard so they can fulfill my dream instead.'

Outside the café, the line wasn't too long.

At this hour, most people probably preferred bars over coffee shops. The few customers here were mostly couples.

As they waited, Kyousuke noticed Okudera occasionally glancing at the couples around them.

Wanting to steer the conversation away, he quickly changed the topic.

"So, what do you think of my manga?"

"It's amazing! Absolutely incredible!"

Okudera turned to face him, giving two enthusiastic thumbs up with an exaggerated tone.

Kyousuke had heard plenty of compliments about his work at school, but somehow, the admiration from a beautiful woman like Okudera felt entirely different.

Looking at her beaming face, eyes shining with genuine excitement, his heart swelled with satisfaction.

"Oh, come on, that's too much," he said modestly. 'Damn it, Kyousuke, when did you become so fake? You're actually enjoying this!'

"I mean it! If I didn't know it was your work, I'd have thought it was a new release from a famous mangaka. It's really that good!"

"Well, there's still a lot of room for improvement. And actually, I worked on it with someone else," he admitted.

"Huh?" Okudera tilted her head in confusion.

"I wrote the original story, but a friend of mine helped refine it and did the artwork. She's the real artist."

Thanks to Eriri's explanations, Kyousuke had learned that in Japan's manga industry, it was common for a writer and an artist to collaborate.

Many legendary mangaka had never drawn a single panel themselves, they just created compelling stories.

"A manga artist? So you did the storyline, character design, and panel layouts yourself? That's still really impressive!"

"I could practically see Saitama punching the villains to oblivion as I read."

Okudera pulled out her phone, skimmed through the manga again, and even searched for related content online.

Kyousuke found this side of her incredibly endearing.

She clearly wasn't a regular manga reader, yet she was going out of her way to find something nice to say about his work.

It was both touching and amusing.

"Okay, okay, if you keep praising me like this, I won't be able to sleep tonight from excitement," he said, waving his hands in surrender.

"Great work deserves great praise," she chuckled but still put her phone away.

"When does it go on sale? I'll make sure to tell my friends to support it! I bet Shizuka will love it."

Thinking of her slightly violent friend, OKudera couldn't help but smile, imagining her reaction to the manga.

"Uh… maybe don't tell her I'm the one behind it," Kyousuke said awkwardly.

"Why not?" Okudera asked curiously.

"I don't know… It just feels a little embarrassing when people I know read my work," he fibbed.

"Hah! you embarrassed? Then why did you show it to me?"

"Well, our relationship is different," he replied smoothly. "Oh, look, our coffee's ready."

With their drinks in hand, they stepped out onto the street.

Tokyo was a strange place.

No matter the hour, it was always alive, like a city with two different species of people.

There were the Day Dwellers, who toiled away in this concrete jungle, chasing dreams that weren't even their own.

Then there were the Night Wanderers, who stumbled from bar to bar, drinking as if their lives depended on it.

But in truth, maybe they were the same people, corporate warriors by day, reckless revelers by night.

Did they even need sleep?

As Kyousuke watched groups of partygoers disappear into neon-lit bars, he couldn't help but wonder.

"This is Tokyo," Okudera murmured, taking a small sip of her coffee.

"Yeah," Kyousuke agreed. "This is Tokyo."

Even pleasure here felt fast-paced.

Compared to the rushing salarymen and the energetic nightlife, the two of them strolling leisurely through the streets seemed completely out of place.

Kyousuke raised his cup to take a sip, but the steam rising from it made him hesitate.

"You have a cat tongue?" Okudera asked, amused.

"Huh? Shouldn't I be the one surprised?"

"What do you mean? If you can't handle this temperature, you totally have a cat tongue."

"No, no, no. The real question is how you can drink something this hot like it's nothing."

"Isn't that normal for everyone here? Do you even eat ramen?"

"Ramen? I guess… I might have…"

As they chatted, their steps unconsciously veered off the main street and onto a quieter side road paved with asphalt.

Compared to the bustling avenue, these backstreets were dimly lit and much more secluded, yet they held a certain charm of their own…

Billiard halls, izakayas, bars, karaoke joints, and love hotels were all clustered in this area. Of course, there were also vending machines at every corner.

"How did we end up here?"

Having left the bustling streets, the quieter, cooler atmosphere here made Okudera appreciate her long-sleeved shirt.

The temperature had definitely dropped significantly.

"I'm not sure, but I guess it just felt too noisy back there, so we ended up walking this way unconsciously," Kyousuke said, his eyes caught by a few figures standing at the corner of the sidewalk.

"Could that be... what I think it is?" he asked, uncertain.

Okudera followed his gaze and saw two women standing at the corner near a street sign, both dressed in very short skirts.

"Looks like we really did wander into a pretty secluded spot. Maybe we should head back," she said.

She didn't answer, but the slight flush creeping across her face told Kyousuke everything he needed to know.

As they turned to leave, Kyousuke took a rare second glance at the scene.

Having traveled all the way to Tokyo, he'd avoided walking into dark alleys for safety reasons. This was the first time he'd seen such a Tokyo "specialty."

"Hey, boy, show us your wallet."

Just as they passed a pachinko parlor, Kyousuke was still taken aback by the novelty of the area when an ominous voice suddenly echoed from a nearby alley.

Wait a minute, I'm trying to avoid this clichéd scenario.

We're just minding our own business when these guys have to come out and make their presence known?

Kyousuke turned around, incredulous, as Okudera nervously grabbed his arm, trying to pull him away.

"Run, Kyousuke-kun! There are polices patrolling the streets!" she urged.

"Run, it's the handless demon!" a much deeper voice came from the alley.

When the group of thugs saw Kyousuke's face, they froze in terror.

The tough-guy act quickly crumbled as they turned and scrambled back into the depths of the alley.

"Wait for me, you idiots!" the last one in line shouted as he grabbed the person in front of him.

"Let go, damn it!" the second one yelled, pulling at the one ahead of him, and the three of them tangled up in a mess.

"What... What are they doing?" Okudera was left stunned by the sudden turn of events, the fear she had just felt evaporating in an instant.

"They're probably practicing for a play," Kyousuke said with a smile, patting the hand Okudera was using to hold onto his arm.

"Impossible, those are definitely bad guys!" Okudera protested, still processing the scene.

"Don't worry, it's over now. Stay here for a second, I need to take care of something," Kyousuke said, glancing at the alley and noting that it was a dead-end.

He wasn't worried the thugs would escape, so he led Okudera to a nearby convenience store.

Unlike Korea, convenience stores in Japan were fairly safe, there was no way that all the troublemakers in Tokyo would gather here, right?

"Kyousuke, be careful," Okudera warned, her sharp mind having quickly caught up with the situation.

She recalled how those would-be muggers had fled at the mere sight of Kyousuke.

"Yeah, don't worry. Stay put, and I'll be able to see you as soon as I turn around!" Kyousuke instructed, his tone firm.

"I will! This is Bunkyo District, so there are patrols everywhere," Okudera said, visibly relaxing. Her natural charm returned as she smiled at him.

"Just don't wander out of my sight."

"Yes, yes, go ahead. Those three guys are already on the run," Okudera teased, giving him a playful push.

She could tell that Kyousuke was still pretty upset about being interrupted during their stroll.

Indeed, Kyousuke was quite annoyed.

Being rudely interrupted while enjoying a quiet evening wasn't something he took lightly.

When they reached the mouth of the alley, he saw the three thugs climbing a wall in a desperate attempt to escape.

"Hey! You three, get over here!" he shouted.

Upon hearing his voice, the three of them froze and quickly tumbled down.

Too scared to continue running, they slowly walked over to him and, without hesitation, kneeled in front of him.

Meanwhile, Kyousuke dialed a number on his phone.

"Hey, Onizuka, I was just mugged near a pachinko parlor by Otsuka Station. Can you come over?"

"No need to call Makki and the others, just bring Danma and come. There are only three of them."

"Yeah, I've got some other stuff to take care of. If you can't find them, just call them. Teach them a lesson, but don't go overboard."

"Got it. See you tomorrow."

Onizuka's voice on the other end of the line was full of unease at the mention of "see you tomorrow."

He knew that his big brother was likely planning to "reward" him with extra training the next day.

"Damn it, who the hell do these punks think they are, causing trouble for Onizuka-san?"

After jotting down the phone number Kyousuke had provided, Onizuka called out to Danma Ryuji, who just so happened to be playing pachinko in the same parlor.

"Ryuji, let's go, the boss needs us."

"Oh," Danma Ryuji replied, casually handing a tin box filled with pachinko balls to a bystander before he left with Onizuka.

"They'll come looking for you soon. Just stay here and behave."

After sending his warning, Kyousuke cast one more glance back at the convenience store.

Okudera was standing there, looking perfectly calm.

When she saw him turn, she flashed him a sweet smile.

He smiled back before turning to face the three thugs again.

"Is it clear now?" he asked, addressing the kneeling trio.

"Yes, yes!" they responded in unison.

"You're not planning to run, are you?"

"No, no way!" they quickly replied.

Now that their faces had been seen by the second-generation "Rampaging Angel" and the infamous "Handless Demon," the three of them were far too intimidated to think about escaping.

This was Bunkyo District, the base of the "Rampaging Angel."

Even if they hadn't been recognized initially, they weren't confident they'd stay under the radar for long.

The two younger members of the trio were seething with resentment toward the boss who had suggested they stir up trouble in Bunkyo District, and even more so toward themselves for following the idea.

Kyousuke was tempted to deal with them himself, but since Okudera was still waiting for him, he reluctantly decided to leave it to Onizuka.

He'd seen Onizuka handle troublemakers in Bunkyo before—he had a very... traditional method.

First, the miscreants would have to line up, take off their clothes to avoid getting dirty while being beaten, and after the punishment, they would be sent out to clean the streets or do volunteer work.

After such a thorough process, they would be sure to follow the rules when they entered Bunkyo again.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

Putting that issue behind him, Kyousuke returned to the convenience store.

"Everything handled?" Okudera asked after a moment, shaking her head at his question before continuing.

"I called a friend over. He'll take care of these three and make sure they leave Bunkyo District," Kyousuke explained with a smile.

The two walked out of the convenience store together, heading toward the main street, not once glancing back.

As they stepped out from the asphalt road and onto the sidewalk covered in tiles, the noise of the city hit them, and the temperature seemed to rise again, as the street lights blazed brightly.

Without saying a word, the two of them silently made their way toward Okudera's apartment building.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

As they waited for the light to change, Kyousuke turned his head and asked with a smile.

Okudera was slightly tilting her head, looking at him with her amber eyes full of curiosity.

"I just didn't expect you to have this side to you, Kyousuke," she said, her full lips moving to speak softly, her voice filled with surprise, as though she had just discovered a new continent, much like Columbus.

"Did I scare you?" Kyousuke asked.

"No, it's just that I didn't expect the second-generation leader of the Rampage Angels, the 'Handless Demon,' to have been right beside me all this time," she replied.

"Please, can we stop with that nickname?" Kyousuke groaned.

Hearing that humiliating nickname twice in one night—one time from Okudera no less—had him feeling thoroughly embarrassed.

It was like the rush he felt when a beautiful woman complimented him earlier had now turned into pure shame. He felt like he'd exhausted all his shame for the week.

"What? Isn't it cool? 'Handless Demon!'" Okudera said, completely baffled.

It seemed that the "chuunibyou" (middle school syndrome) of the Japanese people really ran deep.

"Maybe I've contracted some kind of disease where I'll die if I hear that nickname again. Please, just stop saying it," he said with a smirk.

"Okay, okay," she chuckled. "But I still think 'Handless Demon' sounds really cool."

"Okudera-senpai!" he half-whined, half-laughed.

"Hahaha, alright, I won't tease you anymore," Okudera said with a light laugh before continuing, "But I really didn't expect you to be the leader of the Rampage Angels. I was totally shocked when I realized that back in the convenience store."

The blue pedestrian light turned on, and they crossed the street with the crowd.

It's true that in Japan, there's no such thing as a "green light" for pedestrians.

Technically, it's called a "red-blue light" (red and "blue" for green, because the Japanese word for blue, aoi, is also used for green in certain contexts).

"It's just the leader of a biker gang. What's so surprising about that?" Kyousuke replied.

Even though his subordinates were efficient, he didn't really think it was anything to be impressed by.

"The Rampage Angels are different, though. Me and my classmates all see them as the protectors of Bunkyo District," Okudera said.

"Eh?"

"Because of the Rampage Angels, no other delinquents can come into Bunkyo District. Compared to other places, it's much more peaceful here."

"And ever since the second-generation leader took over, even those annoying exhaust pipe sounds have disappeared."

"The students who study late at night have probably thanked the 'Handless Demon' many times."

After hearing Okudera's explanation, Kyousuke nodded.

It made sense for him.

Though he never felt the need to pay attention to the peace in Bunkyo, the situation in Tokyo as a whole was definitely complicated when it came to safety.

In the bustling areas, there are patrols everywhere, and tourists can enjoy the beauty of the city.

But as soon as you step into the darker parts, delinquents, gangs, and all sorts of troublemakers will emerge.

The city's duality was evident.

"So, Kyousuke, is the hero in your manga based on you? Even though you're a delinquent, you still protect this area in your own way?"

"..."

'Don't overanalyze.'

'Makki and I just didn't want the place we live and study in to be overrun by troublemakers.'

"Let's hurry. We've got school tomorrow," he said, changing the subject.

"Hahaha."

Okudera smiled as she noticed Kyousuke's refusal to answer, thinking he was embarrassed again, just like before.

But to her surprise, the gentle Kyousuke was actually the leader of the Rampage Angels, the very name that made those troublemakers run away in fear.

Her heart fluttered a little, and she felt like she was getting to know him better.

———————————————————————

"Well, I'll see you later, Kyousuke," Okudera said, standing at the entrance of her apartment building, holding her bag in both hands.

"Yeah, see you," Kyousuke replied softly, watching her—the cute girl with chestnut-colored hair and long lashes that were clearly visible in the glow of the apartment hallway lights.

———————————————————————

Meanwhile, on the other side, Eikichi Onizuka was grumbling as he followed the GPS to the alley.

"You three idiots are the ones who tried to rob our boss and got me rushing out this late?" he muttered.

"We're really sorry, Onizuka-senpai. We didn't know that was the 'Handless Demon'!"

"What school are you from? Don't you know that Bunkyo District doesn't allow delinquents from other areas?" Danma Ryuji grumbled too, frustrated after just winning a huge batch of steel balls.

Damn, what a rare streak of good luck wasted!

"Stop talking. Take your clothes off and get on the ground," Onizuka ordered.