Showdown Under Streetlights, Part 2

Yuuto's Terms of Service:

5. No matter what, If it comes to it, I will ALWAYS protect my clients.

_______________________________________________

Sendo ran.

His advantage?

His stamina.

Their advantage?

Numbers and his wounds.

The blood dripping from Sendo's chest left a trail, letting them know his direction.

The fact that he constantly had to stay on the run caused the wound to keep dripping and not heal properly. They ran relentlessly as if they were hungry dogs, hunting a small rabbit.

"He went this way!!!"

Receiving a blow to the side and a laceration from a knife to the ribs. After taking down 4 adult men. This is not some sort of manga or comic situation. This isn't supposed to be something usual.

He is not some wanna-be delinquent high-schooler that is 3 times stronger than adults just because he knows little martial arts. He has a limit and an underdeveloped body and mind. That was just a child, running away from adults with murderous intentions. Somehow, he had to bring them down and save his upperclassmen.

Simply because Sendo was a very simple guy. A lot of people would come to watch his Kendo classes and matches, but no one would join the club. Amongst his club members, he was the only one striving to go to the nationals and succeed, while the others joined in because they thought it was cool.

In a sense, he was lonely.

But Sendo always cared whenever he saw someone in trouble. Because he knew how that felt better than anyone, despite his towering and wild appearance... He knew what it feels like to have no helping hand in the darkness until a few years ago... But that's a story for another time.

While he may have adapted, it was a terrible experience - one that he hates seeing others going through. So right now he had another thought running through his head, despite being stressed immensely.

He had to be brave like his senpai on the train!

Sendo heard their cries as he shuffled ideas. He had to find a place where he could tip the odds.

He saw an unfinished construction site of a medium-sized apartment building unusually designed like an apartment building in new york rather than one you'd find in Japan! With a fire escape on top of it all! He quickly ran in front of the construction site, making sure all 3 of the men chasing him saw him entering the building after climbing over the fence, scratching himself even more on his abdominal area.

"FUCK! The little shit ran into the construction site!! Now what!!?"

"We break in, obviously!! That place won't have a single person still inside at this hour!!"

"SHIT!"

They all shouted as they ran toward the fence, struggling to climb in; Giving Sendo enough time to position himself.

They all clumsily got in, injuring themselves a bit but not to a noticeable degree, after climbing the fence. There they saw Sendo climbing the fire escape.

He was no longer wearing his shirt on him, he was using it to seal the wound around his ribs as he was wearing his backpack properly, wielding the kendo sword in one arm while sweating like crazy all over. It was indeed, a hot evening.

The apartment building didn't have lights on - the only way they and Sendo were able to see was due to the blue streetlights scarcely surrounding the construction sight.

He looked at the 3 from the fire escape after climbing several flights of stairs of the fire escape... There was no other way to go back down from there, besides jumping to either his death or to break his legs.

That other guy who was talking to him isn't there. Maybe he gave up chasing him, he thought.

"Well, well, well, look at our little sword hero up there!! WHERE'S ALL THAT SPUNK YOU HAD EARLIER, HUH!!?"

"You're our prey now, kid!!"

"Don't worry, we'll only break your teeth and hands!!"

They all yelled as he stood at the top of the fire escape, with no way that connects to the building. All the windows were sealed with some form of hardwood.

"Even if you say sorry and give us that bottle now..." One of them uttered as he climbed clumsily and stood at the bottom of the fire escape.

"...I'll still beat you to death, little shit!!"

By then they all climbed to the bottom of the fire escape. Sendo stood 5 floors above them, and stood there, seemingly in shock as they began climbing.

"I can't fucking believe dis is actually happening...!" Sendo mumbled loud enough so they could hear as they could only guess the expression on his face.

"What's that!? YOU SHIT YOUR PANTS, LITTLE FUCKER!? Your mommy and daddy aren't coming to save you!!!" He said as they all climbed to the 3rd flight of metal stairs.

Sendo then took a moment to look at the stars. Breathing in the fresh air on such a high floor for a few seconds.

"Tell me about it..." Sendo quietly uttered as he sighed when they reached the 4th flight of stairs.

"But what I can't believe even more..." They slowed down as they reached the 5th flight of stairs, with Sendo standing at the top of it.

"Is how damn STUPID ya all are...! THANK YA for lining yerself up for me so nicely!!" Sendo yelled earnestly with a triumphant smile at the 3 adults - who had no room to maneuver anymore after climbing the sets of stairs.

Sendo then pointed his sword confidently at them as they faced him from below.

(In Street Fighter Announcer's Voice)

Sendo Mahito VS 3 Horny Adults! START!!!

HEALTH BARS:

SENDO = |----------- | 32/100 [STATUS: BLEEDING, FATIGUED]

ADU.#1 = |----------------------------------| 100/100

ADU.#2 = |----------------------------------| 100/100

ADU.#3 = |----------------------------------| 100/100

"Don't act all cocky, shitty kid!! You also can't run away anymore...!!!" The adult at the front shouts as he throws himself at the teen with a knife as he was running up the stairs.

He was desperate for the bottle. But Sendo was ready. He masterfully flicked the grown-up's hand, disarming him - afterward strongly poking his eye with his wooden sword. He missed his eyeball by just a little, but it was enough to incapacitate his eye and make him bleed.

He then shouted and gasped as he tumbled backward. The other two caught the injured man and pushed him out of the way to the bottom of the 5th flight of stairs. He then laid on the bottom, squirming in pain as his eye bled as the other one ran up the stairs, without hesitation.

ADU.#1 = | | CRITICAL! -100hp! 0/100

ADULT 1, DEFEATED!

Yet, unexpectedly, Sendo jumped while latching onto the railing with one hand, and kicked the other man in his face as he climbed the stairs. He didn't weigh enough to injure the man badly, but it was enough to make him stumble down the stairs.

ADU.#2 = |---------------- | -51hp! 49/100

However, he didn't fall down - as he was quick enough to also grab the railing as Sendo was kicking him. The man was stunned, but Sendo was too close to him to use his sword in an effective way! He had to do something quick before the man recovers and he'd be surrounded by these two adults! He had to make a decision quickly!

BOOM!

Sendo was kicked by ADU.#3! But it was not very effective due to the differences in their height! He stood too low in comparison to Sendo on the flight of stairs!

SENDO = |------- | -10hp! 22/100

It was now! Sendo had to make a call! He quickly decided to drop his sword, and repetitively beat ADU.#2 in the face until he fell down with his fists!

He dropped his sword through the flights of stairs. It fell all the way to the ground in the darkness as he began pummeling ADU.#2 as he was stunned by Sendo's kick.

He dragged ADU.#2's body to stand between him and ADU.#3 to make sure he wouldn't get hit again as he rested his other arm on his shoulder to prevent ADU.#2 from attacking as he pummeled his face repetitively in quick successions!

ADU.#2 = |---------------- | -5hp! 44/100

ADU.#2 = |------------- | -5hp! 39/100

ADU.#2 = |---------- | -5hp! 34/100

-10hp! -10hp! -5hp! -5hp!

ADU.#2 = | | -4hp! 0/100

ADU.#2 Lost consciousness as his entire face turned swollen and sprayed with his own blood! He was then yanked away by ADU.#3! He threw him off the staircase! He fell all the way to the 2nd flight of stairs and broke his leg!

ADU.#2 DEFEATED!!

But Sendo is growing more tired by the minute! His wound bled some more and he forgot to check his own status! He was more fatigued and injured than he thought!

SENDO = |---- | -4hp! 18/100

ADU.#3 = |-----------------------------------| 100/100

"It's over, kid! Our little game here ends now! I'm gonna fucking kill you!"

He has to end this NOW if he wants to win!

Sendo huffed and puffed. He barely had any strength to lift his arms...

And yet...

"... Take yer shot...!" Sendo whispered with a determined, fiery gaze staring down the final opponent.

Any trace of fear disappeared completely. Sendo leaped with all of his weight at the final adult!

They both tumbled down the stairs and reached the railing that was positioned at the bottom of the 5th flight of stairs.

"Crazy fuckin' kid!"

ADU.#3 Said as Sendo pinned his back with his weight against the railing, almost dropping both of them down to the darkness.

ADU.#3's back was struck powerfully against the railing!

But...

It wasn't nearly enough.

ADU.#3 = |----------------------- | -25hp! 75/100

Sendo was too tired, ADU.#3 took advantage of the momentum to turn the tides! He pinned Sendo's back against the railings! He then powerfully pushed him off of the railings!!!

....

...

..

BUT!!! Sendo managed to grab onto the metal floor right beneath the railing before falling!

"FUCKING SHIT!! Now give me the fucking bag, shitty kid! Maybe then, I'll save you and kill you more quickly." He uttered triumphantly and angrily as he looked downwards on the youth who was holding on to his life...

Gradually losing strength in his grip and his grasp on consciousness which was also fading away...

SENDO = |--| 11/100

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

-1hp!

His breathing became heavy and rugged, he could bearly keep his eyes open...

Sendo's fate is sealed...

Or so it would've been if it weren't for two more advantages he had...

The Adult Man's Greed...

ADU.#3 Reached beyond the railings and tried to reach Sendo's backpack which he was still wearing.

ADU.#3: "Almost there...~!" He bent further and further beyond the railings as he was stretching his arms to get to Sendo's backpack.

ADU.#3: "GOT IT-"

He latched onto the backpack, but Sendo's spirit's reach was far beyond the opponent's hand! Just as ADU.#3 grabbed the backpack's handle, Sendo LATCHED his hand onto ADU.#3's!

THE SECOND ADVANTAGE! SENDO'S INDOMITABLE SPIRIT!

ADU.#3: "H-hey... KID! The FUCK ARE YOU DOING! LET GO!" He yelled as he felt his body weight slightly tilting more than he accounted for to beyond the railings, but he was still holding on, trying to release Sendo's grip with his other hand...

However... Sendo, with his final flame of fight... Did one last push-up as he clung to the man's arm... Getting his face as close as possible to ADU.#3.

ADU.#3 knew what Sendo was about to do almost instinctively. His face paled as his eyes widened.

It was then, he realized, Sendo was no rabbit. He was a Jaguar, waiting for his opportunity to hunt his prey; the prey that wore the shape of 3 grown men.

Sendo then released all of his weight at once all the while still grabbing onto ADU.#3's arm and yanking it in addition by using his remaining strength - making the adult fall beyond the railings along with Sendo into the darkness.

Sendo, in midair, used the adult's state of shock and turned their positioning upside down midair. But instead of being greeted by hard concrete, they hit a high surface that was previously unseen, hidden away in the darkness.

A wooden scaffolding! ADU.#3 hit the scaffolding on his back as Sendo laid on top of him, breaking the scaffolding! They fell to the next, breaking it as well using the adult's back!

He sustained a critical hit after critical hit while Sendo's damage was minimal as they fell!

They finally hit and broke the last scaffolding, hitting the ground!

Needless to say...

ADU.#3 DEFEATED!!!

SENDO WINS!!!

The silence was palpable, only interrupted by Sendo's labored coughs as he rolled off the unconscious adult, collapsing onto the ground. Staring up at the stars, he panted heavily, his body marked by dust, blood, and bruises. His condition was deteriorating rapidly; he was on the brink of passing out and desperately needed medical attention.

Struggling against his weakening body, Sendo managed to stand once more. His eyes, adjusting to the darkness, caught sight of his wooden sword nearby. Clumsily, he limped over and grabbed it. There was no time to call the police, and he doubted he could last long enough for help to arrive. He had to reach Riko's house immediately.

Limping through the construction site toward the exit, he muttered to himself between heavy breaths.

"Mommy... And Daddy... Screw dem all... I can't... Wait until da club hears about dis... Dis will surely... Draw... More members in..." Despite his dire state, he laughed and coughed simultaneously, each step forward a monumental effort.

Reaching the main exit, Sendo found it bolted shut, his body too drained to consider climbing. However, he wasn't ready to give up—not yet. Scanning the construction site, he spotted bolt cutters nearby.

"Pant... pant... I sure am lucky today..." he gasped. The dusty, stagnant air of the site filled his lungs, each breath a mix of pain and determination as he forced himself towards the bolt cutters.

Every movement was exhausting, and ducking to pick up the cutters felt like an insurmountable task. Time was running out, both physically and mentally, but Sendo clung to his resolve, driven by the need to reach Riko and by the thought of his kendo club's reaction to his ordeal.

If by some miracle he managed to muscle through and get to her house in time, what then? How would he face an even larger group? Sendo's answer to that daunting question was as straightforward as his resolve:

'I'll make do, somehow.'

He reassured himself internally as he summoned every ounce of strength to cut through the chains locking the exit gate. Light beckoned at the end of the tunnel; he could finally start making his way there, despite his battered condition.

However, just as he pushed past the construction site's boundary, he was met with the cold, hard reality of a gun barrel pointed directly at his head.

"Yo," a familiar voice said nonchalantly.

BAM.

A loud, thundering noise erupted just outside the circle of the warm streetlights, shattering the night's silence.

--------------------IN FRONT OF RIKO'S HOUSE, SHORTLY BEFORE SENDO'S BATTLE STARTED-----

A large group walked toward the big house.

"That little girly seemed really cute back there..."

One uttered as he licked his lips, recalling the recent incident on the train.

"Hehehe... I can't wait to fondle those big boobs..." Another one added as he made crude gestures with his fingers and hands while looking downwards in front of him - as if he could almost see himself doing it right then and there.

"I call dibs on her virginity... She's definitely still a virgin. That boyfriend is just too much of a limp." One more person added as he walked in front with a box of tools towards the house's main gate.

10 people approached menacingly, breaching the main gate to Riko's house's garden without tripping the alarm...

"The other group won't be mad if we have fun with her first... You know... We could say we tested the food before applying the sauce..."

They all erupted in manic laughter, the kind sparked by a particularly bad joke...

"Yo," a voice cut through the cacophony.

...The type of joke this person would probably say.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"A foreigner?"

"What the fuck are you doing here? You a part of Seichiro's group or somethin'? You're supposed to be with them, robbing that blonde kendo kid."

Their confusion mounted as they stared at the figure before them: a man with a shaved head, dressed in a black hoodie that shrouded just the parts he intended to hide, wielding a pristine metal baseball bat.

He stood alone between them and the door to Riko's house.

Yuuto exhaled a weary sigh.

"You see, fellas... Normally, I'd stick around to chat, point out just how idiotic you all are, and boast about my superior intellect. I'd brag about the hidden cameras I've placed here, here, and here—all ready to catch your grimaces as I take you down. But tonight..."

Without warning, he swung his bat with precision at a crowbar-wielding man in front of him, effectively breaking his jaw. The impact sent the man crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

As the group reeled from the sudden violence, Yuuto continued, his tone cold.

"...Tonight, I'm just pissed because I broke my phone. So, come at me..."

"I'll baseball your asses!" he declared, his expression blank but seething with anger.

TO BE CONTINUED....