Heart Swamp

" Shit... "

I, Masayoshi Kagetoru, have never experienced hardship in my whole life. Today seems to be an exception.

A perpetual crowd of people has gathered in the town's center, all of which are awaiting my answer.

Yes?

or

No?

I have no idea why I must suffer such a cruel fate called marriage.

I hate sharing stories, but I will make an exception and tell you all about how I got here and how it all started six years ago.

On one, dark and starry night, I was making my way downtown-

Ahem- I headed over to our local izakaya ( informal Japanese bar ), famous for its delicious snacks and potent drinks. Truthfully, I had no reason to be there.

I never went to drink and have fun with friends. I was only there to uphold the face of my seniors, who did nothing but invite women to sleep with them. I wouldn't say I was good-looking, but it was the sole reason they brought me along. After I was introduced, my scummy seniors took the liberty to show off their money.

Handsome friends, tons of money, alcohol, you can guess what happened next. I won't bother explaining.

As I was about to leave, a loud squeal rang through my ears, it wasn't pleasant, but it was all too familiar to be ignored.

The sound came from the alley behind the izakaya, I could be wrong, but I won't lose anything by checking.

As I got there, I saw her. Unrivaled beauty with white hair similar to silk, skin so smooth it could only be called glabrous.

Hold on, never mind.

It was my archnemesis, Fukai Hikari.

" You there! Please help me! "

There she was, a future theft victim. Alright, time to ignore this.

To describe some uncouth beast such as her as beauty is a disgrace of the Masayoshi Family. No, of humanity.

Though she does seem to be struggling to resist those guys, here I was expecting more of our school's Karate representative.

" Don't just leave me! Aren't you Kagetoru? I'll tell everyone about how much of a douchebag you are at school when I get back! "

" That's assuming you'll feel proud enough to attend school after almost getting your money stolen. Furthermore, I thought you were a fighter, not a whiner. "

She stayed silent, as well as the men who were about to rob her. I can't blame them. I could care less about this shameless woman.

Though, I am not entirely heartless.

This random skit allows her to escape them while they're confused; that's if she had a brain inside that head of hers.

" Wait, almost? "

" You're hopeless, Fukai. Just expect you'll be owing me ¥5,000 after this. "

" No way! That's about my whole allowance per month! "

I ignored her cries and ran towards the moonlight molesters-

I'm not sure I should be calling them that, if ever, I should call them criminals because they dare show sexual interest towards an animal. Worst of all, there are two of them!

I know you're wondering why I call them molesters, and I'm here to answer why. That's the story we're going for if ever this case goes to court. The jury would obviously favor Hikari over these two guys.

A girl getting stolen from forcefully is no different from them assaulting her sexually. Well, it's the most likely situation when you hear the words " forced themselves on her ".

I threw out my left hand and poked the eyes of the taller man. Then, I positioned myself for a roundhouse kick towards the more petite man's temple.

I won't apologize for lacking details. It's me who's telling my tale, not you.

With that said and done, it was an easy fight without retaliation. Both of these practitioners of molesting ran away like dogs. Fitting, isn't it?

" Now my ¥5,000, if you don't pay, I'll tell them all about this- "

Fukai leaned into me and looked at me with sad, teary eyes. She got even closer and leaned in for something more.

" Stop, if you're trying to pay me with this, it's not even worth ¥5. Furthermore, I do not associate myself with beasts. Please get away from me. "

" How rude! I am our school's top beauty! Number 1, you understand?! I'm intelligent, kind, and funny too! "

" Might I add you are egotistic, loud, and a narcissist too? "

" KAGETORU!!! "

I ran away from that hungry dog as fast as I could. Luckily Fukai was tired from her early struggle against the men earlier, so she was out of breath while chasing me.

I look back and see her panting; not only that, but she was also tearing up. Perhaps I shouldn't be so harsh. The only thing she ever did wrong to me was bothering me every day with her incessant chatter and trolling.

When I say bothering, I mean I couldn't catch a break no matter where I went, not even the male's toilets.

She was persistent, but I have never understood why.

I walked towards her and kneeled, offering my back. At first, she looked confused, but she eventually got on since she was tired.

" Sorry, Fukai. What I did was a bit too much; I'll carry you home. Please, lead the way. "

" It's okay, though I- preferred if you called me Hikari instead... " She mumbled.

" What? "

" Nothing! "

" I was planning on dropping the ¥5,000 since you were being obedient, never mind then. "

" KAGETORU!!!!!!!! "

" OW! "

And that concludes how we first met.