A Cold Hearts - The Promise

Days pass one after another as if I'm stuck in a time loop in some old-ass movie. I go to school, then head to Kojo's training, then call Aya—we just chat—and then I go to sleep. This short description is my entire life for the past month. Nothing more, nothing less.

And then there's this disgusting self-pity. I feel like I can't just act like a man and think accordingly. I can't get the thought out of my head that Kosmo wanted to kill me.

And then there's Lia—she hasn't called again. Damn it, do I want her to? I must be insane…

Trying to push all these thoughts away, I glanced at the nightstand next to my bed. A golden, shiny pendant lay on it.

Right… I promised Aya I'd take care of this. Though, to be honest, those words just slipped out of me when she pressed her head against my chest, crying in my arms."

Damn it, I would've promised her anything in that moment.

Actually… I do have an idea.

The Next Day

As soon as the break started, I quickly rushed out of my classroom into the wide school hallway. I had to act fast. I went down to the first floor of the school and entered the very first classroom near the entrance.

Looking around, I saw students much younger than me. Not the right place.

Next classroom. I stepped inside—these students seemed to be my age, maybe slightly younger. I stood near the blackboard, next to the teacher's desk, trying to draw as much attention as possible. I scanned all the boys in the room, but I didn't see any hostile or angry glares.

"Young man, I don't remember seeing you here before. Are you a new student?"

Not here either.

I went from one classroom to another, searching for those who looked aggressive towards me.

.All I got were confused stares from teachers and curious glances from girls.

I checked every room on the first floor. Nothing.

Only two left.

Regretting this stupid idea more and more, I stepped into yet another classroom. I didn't see a teacher inside, but the moment I walked in, I came face-to-face with a guy walking toward the door. He was about to step into the hallway.

I immediately recognized his dumb face—one of those bullies.

We stared at each other in surprise for a few seconds.

"Well, hello there, sweetheart~" I said in the most charming tone and poked his nose with my finger.

"YOU SON OF A—! I'M GONNA BURY YOU!GUYS! THIS LITTLE LOSER CAME TO US!"

As he turned to call his friends, I bolted out of the room and slammed the door behind me. I ran.

Before heading downstairs, I glanced back to make sure they were chasing me. The guy I had poked on the nose was in the lead, looking furious. Guess I really pissed him off.

I quickly dashed down the stairwell, through the school hallway, and out of the building, then slipped behind it.

Behind the school were storage sheds—places where they kept maintenance equipment, snow shovels, and other tools. It was a quiet area, hidden from view, and no one was inside the buildings.

I climbed over the fence and stood tall, waiting for the three raging bulls charging after me. They caught up and climbed over the fence as well.

The oldest of them was about to shout something at me, but he was too out of breath from all the running.

Meanwhile, I was calm, controlling my breathing—just like Coach Namura taught me.

"You! Do you have a death wish or something? BOYS! Grab him! I'll beat him so bad he'll be leaving in an ambulance!"

His lackeys, like obedient dogs, started circling me from both sides.

BAM!

Right on target!

I threw a rock I had picked up along the way, hitting one of them right in the groin area. He immediately collapsed to the ground, wailing in pain.

With a graceful move, I grabbed the second guy by his shirt and performed a sweep.

Two of the three bullies were down on the ground. Their leader just stood there, mouth agape, staring at me in shock.

"What's wrong? You were always the first in line to beat me up. And now you're just standing there, leg shaking.

Where did the tiger go?"

Hearing one of the guys on the ground stop whining and start getting up, I turned to him and pressed him back down with my foot.

"Here's the thing. I'm not like you. I don't enjoy beating people up. But I do have a proposal for you."

At that moment, the other lackey got back on his feet and tried to take advantage of the fact that I was talking, he ran.

''Aaaagh~''

I stuck out my foot in time, tripping him instantly.

"So. About a week ago, you messed with my friend. A small girl with short black hair and a squeaky voice. You ruined something very important to her."

I pulled Aya's broken pendant from my pocket and tossed it at their leader.

"In one week, I'm going to ask that girl: 'Hey, Aya, did some kind upperclassmen return your repaired pendant and apologize sincerely?'If her answer is no, I will beat the crap out of you three EVERY SINGLE DAY until the end of the school year."

I lifted my foot off the guy beneath me and stepped closer to their leader.

He couldn't look away. His legs wouldn't stop shaking. His face was filled with pure terror.

The sight of it made me feel weird.

I moved him aside with my hand, then climbed back over the fence.

I don't know if this will work.

But I don't have the money to fix the pendant myself, and the money I earn from cleaning Kojo's gym goes toward food and paying the hospital bills for Aunt Tomo.

To be honest, fighting people weaker than me makes me feel sick. This isn't me.

Besides, I broke Coach's rule—never use what he teaches outside the gym.

But, hey, what's done is done. Let's see how this plays out.

Brushing myself off, I headed back to the school building with a satisfied smirk.

 Incoming Call: "Tomo"

"Hello. Aunt Tomo?"

My heart stopped for a second.

From the other end of the line, I heard short, hysterical giggles.

"It's me, ahaha, your aunt. Hello, Isao. I'm doing just fine, yes, yes. Hehehe~"

A grotesquely distorted high-pitched voice came through the phone.

Killy.