Quest - Part 5...
~ Ayano's Pov, A few hours later ~
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Today was definitely one of the better days I've had since waking up in this world... Sekai was opening up to us all a bit, smiling a bit more as well. Still, we all had a great time with each other.
'Nothing pleases an elder like myself, than seeing these kids smiling.' Actually, that kind of sounded more creepy than I thought it would be, despite being in my own head...
"A-Ayano-san!" I heard Katsura's voice call out to me. I turned around, seeing her running towards me.
Katsura fidgeted slightly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She looked down, gripping the strap of her bag tightly before finally speaking, her voice sounding a bit quieter than usual...
"A-Ayano-san… um… would you mind if we… Walked together?"
I blinked. That was… unexpected. I mean, this would be the second time now, huh? The first time, she had seen what I did—But this time? She was actually asking me?
I tilted my head slightly. "You sure you're okay walking with someone like me? Y'know, with all the stuff you see me do." I wasn't one to dig up old stories, but it was like a few days ago, nearly a week now...
I saw Katsura glancing up, then quickly looked away, cheeks a little pink. "I… I don't really care about rumors. I just… I enjoy your company, and since we live on the same path..."
Well, that was a pretty honest answer. I'm pretty flattered too. Plus, I didn't want to make this conversation anymore awkward than it already seemed or needed to be.
I laughed it off, adjusting my bag. "Alright then, let's go."
She looked up at me, surprised for a moment, then nodded with a small smile. And with that, we both started walking off...
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"It sucks that we can't use the gaming cafe'. Those guys Yushuku High just constantly flock it now. I heard that they were taxing guys to even get in to the place."
"Yeah, I even heard the manager of the place can't do anything about it. Apparently they all threatened him, or something like that..."
I listened to the conversation these two guys were having in front of us. I knew the high school they were talking about too. Hell, it's the one I went to yesterday to beat all those nitwits up. Now they flock these cafe's too? I guess I've got some more locations I need to search...
"…You're... thinking about getting involved, aren't you?"
I winced, 'Fuck...' Was I that easy to read?
I had to respond, "Maybe."
I heard a small sigh coming from her, hugging her bag a little closer. "You can't fix everything, you know…"
I nodded at that, why wouldn't I? But, I didn't expect her to this perceptive about me. "I... Never said I could. But I can make things real uncomfortable for the ones messing everything up."
She frowned slightly but didn't argue. Instead, she just walked a little closer, keeping pace with me as we continued down the road...
"If you're going to go through with what you were thinking, at least walk me home first."
I glanced at her, raising a brow. "Was... that your way of keeping me out of trouble for a bit?"
Katsura looked away, fiddling with the strap of her bag. "…Maybe."
I smiled, shaking my head. A part of me was glad that she cared enough, or that part of me was glad that at least someone did... "Fine, fine... I'll be on my best behavior—for now."
She didn't respond to that, but she had kept on walking... Unfortunately, it's not like I could just fail this thing, or drop it without facing any consequences. I can't take that risk...
"You don't have to speak... Just, listen... I don't want to come off as the type of guy that does this kind of thing for no apparent reason, and I just wanted to say, is that I do have one." It took a bit, but she nodded after a while. I'm glad she did, she was both very mature and understanding.
Katsura didn't say much after that, and honestly, I didn't mind. She just kept walking beside me, the occasional glance in my direction probably her way of making sure I wasn't about to take off and cause trouble. Smart girl. She knew me too well already.
The road ahead stretched under the dim glow of streetlights, the sky tinged with the last traces of sunset that was left... It was, quiet between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it was kind of nice...
"...Hey." Katsura spoke up suddenly, her voice softer than before. "You said you have a reason… Does that mean you've always been like this?"
I stopped walking. It wasn't a question I expected. Katsura even slowed her pace too, turning to face me, her expression... I couldn't even make it out myself.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "You're asking if I've always been the type to beat the crap out of people who deserve it?"
Her lips pressed together, but she didn't deny it.
I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head. "I don't know, maybe. I guess I've just never been the type to sit back and watch shit go down when I can do something about it."
Katsura didn't break eye contact, even as I looked away. There was something about her gaze, like she was trying to understand more than just what I was saying.
"I see," she murmured. Then, after a pause, "...It must be exhausting."
That made me pause. Not because it was wrong, but because it wasn't something people usually said. I let out a breath. "You're... not wrong." It was tiring. The only thing keeping me going was my recovery passive. It's incredibly useful, and because of it, I've even managed to push past my limits in certain cases...
She gave a small nod, as if that was enough of an answer. And then, just like that, she started walking off again.
I followed, side by side, back into the silence. A few minutes later, we reached her place. Katsura stopped at the gate, gripping her bag strap like she was hesitating about something.
I leaned against the fence, hands shoved in my pockets. "Alright, I walked you home. You gonna tell me to behave again, or what?"
She shot a glance at me, then away... "N-No… Just don't do anything reckless, and please stay safe."
I smiled, being as confident as I could. "No promises." What kind of man would I be to let a kid worry about me?
Katsura sighed but didn't argue. Instead, she turned toward her house. Before she stepped inside, though, she hesitated—just for a second—then quickly turned back around.
"...Goodnight, Ayano-san."
I blinked. That was… nice. Unexpected, but nice that she cared. I shrugged, pushing off the fence. "Yeah... Later, Katsura."
She soon disappeared inside, and I stood there for a moment longer, staring at the closed door. Then, with a deep breath, I turned on my heel and walked off. I still had business to take care of.
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"I said let GO of me!!"
My steps came to a halt.
The voice—sharp, panicked, and definitely not coming from some punk looking for a fight—cut through the quiet street like a knife. It came from somewhere up ahead, just past the alleyway to my right.
I narrowed my eyes, adjusting the strap of my bag as I turned the corner.
"Quit struggling, lady~ We just wanna talk."
That tone. That fake, sickly-sweet condescension... I'd heard it before.
I stepped closer, keeping to the shadows. Three guys. High schoolers, probably—judging by their uniforms, Yushuku High. The same school those other idiots were from. And between them, pinned against the wall of a closed shop, was a woman.
She looked older than me—probably mid 20s? 30s?—but she was fighting back, trying to yank her arm free from the one gripping her wrist... Her bag had already hit the ground, its contents spilling across the pavement.
"G-Get your hands off of me!" she snapped, eyes blazing with anger, but the way she was slightly out of breath told me she'd been at this for a while.
"Come on, no need to be so rude~" one of the punks chuckled, stepping in closer. "We're just being friendly. Plus, it's not us who're gonna do anything, it'll be our boss."
I clicked my tongue.
That's enough.
"HEY!!!"
My voice cut through the alley like a blade, and just like that, all eyes were on me. The guy gripping her wrist frowned, while the other two turned toward me, clearly irritated.
"The hell do you want?" one of them sneered.
I tilted my head slightly, taking my time stepping fully into the light. "Isn't it a little pathetic, cornering a woman like this?" My tone was light, but the weight behind my words wasn't. "Didn't your school teach or parents you guys any damn manners?"
The grip on her wrist loosened slightly. The guy who'd spoken first took a step toward me, trying to puff himself up. "You don't know who you're messing with."
I let out a small, humorless chuckle. "Oh, trust me," I rolled my shoulders, already feeling the familiar heat of adrenaline, "I really couldn't give two shits who I was doing it to, now let the woman go, now."
The woman—who I still thought was a stranger—stared at me, her expression flickering between shock and something else I couldn't quite place...
The punks exchanged glances before one of them smirked. "Tch. You've got guts, I'll give you that. But unless you want to get hurt, I suggest you walk away."
I took another step forward. "Oh? You wanna hurt me now?" I gestured lazily toward their uniforms. "Aren't you guys from Yushuku? I ran into some of your friends yesterday night—broke their noses, busted their ribs... Hell, If you hurry, maybe you can still catch them at the hospital."
That one got them to hesitate... "So, what's it gonna be-"
PING!
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{HIDDEN QUEST: I don't think I need to tell you what to do here...
REWARD: 3 Bronze Keys and 1 Silver Key}
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I was going to let them off with a warning, but it's clear the system didn't. Now, I know I didn't have the choice to back off from this one.
Well… looks like I can't just let them off easy this time.
The punks were still hesitating, glancing between each other, clearly trying to gauge if this was a fight they could win. One of them—the one who had spoken the most—scoffed, straightening up and rolling his shoulders.
"Tch. You're really gonna make us do this?"
I smiled. Slow. Sharp.
"No." I took a step forward. "I'm gonna make you regret it."
I moved.
Faster than they could react.
Before the first idiot could even blink, I was already in front of him. My fist drove into his gut like a hammer, folding him in half instantly. His breath left him in a strangled gasp, but I didn't give him time to fall. My knee shot up, slamming into his chin. His head snapped back, and his body went limp before he even hit the pavement.
The second one barely had time to register what happened before I was on him. He threw a sloppy punch in panic—I caught his wrist mid-swing. With a sharp twist, I felt his bones snap under my grip. He howled in agony, but it turned into a wet gurgle as my elbow crashed into his throat, sending him sprawling against the alley wall.
The last guy tried to run.
I caught up with him in an instant, seizing him by the back of his uniform and yanking him back. His body whipped around from the force—just in time for my fist to meet his face. The impact cracked across his skull like a gunshot. Blood sprayed, splattering across my cheek, but I didn't stop.
For once, I didn't want to...
Boom!
I slammed him into the ground. His body twitched, but he was still conscious. Unlucky him. I stepped down onto his wrist, the sharp crack of bone breaking beneath my heel echoing through the alley.
"ARGHHH!!!!"
The other two were barely moving. The first one? Out cold. The second was coughing up blood, clutching his crushed throat.
Good.
I turned back to the woman. She was staring at me. Wide-eyed and scarred... She took a step back—then her legs giving out.
I quickly caught her before she hit the ground.
Her breathing was shaky, her body trembling slightly against mine. I could feel the way her fingers curled into my jacket, like she wasn't sure if she should push me away or hold on tighter.
"I'm sorry you had to see this kind of thing miss… At least, you're safe now," I apologized, making sure my voice was quieter than before...
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{HIDDEN QUEST: I don't think I need to tell you what to do here... (Complete)
REWARD: 3 Bronze Keys and 1 Silver Key}
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I felt my pockets get weightier than before... Almost forgetting, I helped her stand up straight...
She wobbled slightly, still unsteady, but I kept a steady grip on her arm until she found her balance. Her breathing was uneven, her fingers twitching slightly as she clutched at the fabric of her blouse. I can tell she was trying to remain strong, but any woman would be scared in that situation...
I took a step back, giving her space. "You alright miss?"
She finally looked at me and nodded hesitantly, but her eyes never left me. Not my face—my hands. The ones still stained with fresh blood... I should put them away.
Ah...
I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand, smearing the crimson across my skin before shaking as much of it as a I could, off. "S-Sorry... That must've been a heck of a sight."
Her lips parted slightly, but whatever she was about to say caught in her throat. Instead, she let out a small, shaky breath. "You… you helped me?"
"Of course." I frowned slightly. "What kind of bastard would just walk away and not do anything?"
When she heard that, I could see something in her gaze had changed. Surprise? Gratitude? I couldn't tell at this point. But then, her eyes softened.
"…Thank you."
Still, when I take a good look at her, I realized just how beautiful she was... And, how familiar she looked...
Before I could respond, she took a sudden step forward—her hands clasping mine, firm despite the way she trembled... "I... I don't know what they would have done with me if you hadn't come."
I exhaled through my nose, glancing at the bodies groaning on the pavement behind me. "Well, they won't be doing much of anything for a long while, I made sure of that..."
Her grip on my hands tightened for just a second before she let go, pressing her hands together as if grounding herself. "I should—I should get home. My daughter will be worried if I don't…"
I nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea. Umm... You want me to walk you there?"
She hesitated, almost looking conflicted.
"…N-No, I'll be alright." She looked up at me again, her eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "But… I really can't thank you enough."
I rubbed the back of my head. "Don't mention it. Just be safe around here, yeah?"
She nodded at me once before turning on her heel and hurrying off, her pace quick but uneven. I stood there for a moment longer, watching her disappear down the street. Interestingly enough, she even lives in the same direction as Katsura does too....
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"Phew..." The weight in my pocket reminded me that the system had just paid me for what I did...
'Guess I was always meant to finish that little fight earlier.' With a final glance at the broken bodies littering the alley, I turned and walked away... I had a few stops to make before I called in the night. But before that, I should use all my keys.
I went deeper into the alleyway, taking out all the bronze keys I had saved up over the past month and week I had spent piling up. Coupled with that quest, I had ten of them flat... Each should give me +200 energy...
So one by I used all ten of them, this time, putting them all into my energy stat. After a few minutes, I was completely done; now It's time I used that new Silver key I got too... Of course, when I used it, I saw multiple different cards flashing in front of my face, before it finally landed on one...
'Woah... This thing's considered a legendary Passive?' All the other skills I got were just called passive, the only other one that was different was the 'circulation of light' but It's considered a hidden passive. So I guess they have a ranking system now...?
I saw the card flash in front of my face, with its name being Energy Manipulator, it's description saying, 'The cost for all active skills are now halved permanently, and their effectiveness has now doubled.' It has a note at the very bottom that says it doesn't work on any other type of skills...
Regardless, It if essentially halves the cost of all my active skills, and makes them twice as strong. Then that's quiet a well needed boost...
'Status!'
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Name: Ayano Keiji
Class: The Little Chosen One
Height: 173 cm | 5.67 feet
Age: 17
Health: 6000 / 6000 [50000 / 50000]
Energy: 3100 / 3100 [10000 / 10000]
Strength: 251 / 1000
Defense: 251 / 1000
Agility: 251 / 1000
Spirit: 251 / 1000
Passive Skills;
-Martial-Arts-Mastery
-Recovery
-Critical Hit
-Circulation of Light
Skills;
-Charge Shot - Cost: 100 Energy
-Multi-Strike Destruction - Cost: 100 Energy
Martial Arts Learned;
-Judo
-Brazilian Jiu-jitsu [Mastered]
-Muay-Thai [Mastered]
-Boxing [Mastered]
-Taekkyeon
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'Hmm? There are definitely so changes here... My energy capacity had actually increase to a little over 3000 and the system even has a martial arts section to it, and it didn't have just that. It was even showing that I mastered those specific martials arts as well, so that means I'll need to work on my Judo and Taekkyeon then...
'Ha...' Isn't this thing essentially telling me that I shouldn't waste my time with the other fighting styles then?
Regardless, it's time to continue my quest.
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END