Chapter 51: Thrashing Takahashi

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"Miss Yukino." Hikari Hikaru greeted Yukinowith a smile.

Seeing the two completely ignoring him, especially Yukino, who had just spent minutes refusing to open the door for him, the landlord, Takahashi, clenched his teeth in frustration. He broke up their cheerful reunion with a harsh voice. "What business does this brat have here? I'm here for the overdue rent interest, fully within my rights."

Takahashi waved the contract in his hand for emphasis but took a cautious step back, wary of getting another beating from Hikari.

Hikari paid him no mind, instead turning to Yukino for details. "What happened?" he asked quietly.

Yukino sighed, explaining, "He's been hammering on my door for half an hour, demanding two hundred thousand yen in rent interest."

The noise had attracted a small crowd of tenants, who filled the hallway, curious to see what the commotion was about.

Emboldened by the audience, Takahashi sneered. "Yes, that's right. Yukino owes me two hundred thousand yen. What's wrong, kid? Are you going to try and cover for her again? Can you even afford it this time?"

Before Yukino could speak up and say she didn't want to trouble Hikari further, he held up a hand to stop her. Turning to Takahashi, he replied coolly, "No, I won't pay. And this interest you're charging? It doesn't need to be paid."

Takahashi scoffed, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Not only does Yukino not need to pay you interest," Hikari continued, "but as for the repairs at Natsuha Shionomiya's place, that's also not your concern."

Seeing Takahashi's incredulous look, Hikari explained, "I've already spoken to the building owner, Director Rikka. Yukino's rent and Natsuha's apartment repairs are all sorted out. You're not needed."

The crowd of tenants exchanged surprised glances, recognizing the name Rikka Sumeragi. Though she owned the property, she rarely got involved directly, to the point where many tenants hadn't even known she was the owner of their building.

Takahashi laughed dismissively. "Where'd you hear that name, brat? Trying to scare me by dropping a high-ranking name? Do you even know who Rikka Sumeragi is?"

Hikari remained calm, producing the official property documents Rikka had given him, and handed them over. "See for yourself."

Takahashi fumbled to catch them, his eyes widening as he took in the documents. "This… this is the actual deed for Harmony Apartments?" he stammered, the color draining from his face.

Some of the surrounding tenants glanced at Hikari with incredulous look, amazed that this seemingly ordinary high school student was connected to someone as influential as Rikka.

But Takahashi wasn't ready to concede just yet. Stubbornly, he said, "I refuse to believe a high school kid like you has Director Sumeragi's permission. These documents? You probably found or stole them."

In truth, many of the tenants shared Takahashi's skepticism. After all, it was hard to believe that someone as young as Hikari could handle a situation involving such powerful connections.

While Takahashi sputtered, Hikari calmly dialed a number and spoke into the phone, "Director Rikka, just as I expected, Takahashi doesn't believe me. He's saying I must've stolen your documents."

A composed, aristocratic voice replied on the other end, "Hand the phone to him. I'll explain it myself."

Hearing the unmistakable voice on the line, Takahashi's face turned pale as he realized the truth. But still, in his desperation, he rejected Hikari's offered phone, instead shakily dialing the number himself. "You… You probably faked that call!" he accused. "I'll call Director Sumeragi myself."

In the watchful eyes of Hikari and the surrounding tenants, Takahashi punched in the number and anxiously waited.

The line connected. "Director, someone's pretending to—"

"Enough, Takahashi. You're fired. Effective immediately, you are no longer the administrator of Harmony Apartments," came Rikka's cold and firm voice from the other end. "I'm appointing Hikari as the acting administrator. Pack up and leave."

With that, the line went dead, leaving Takahashi standing there in a daze. He hadn't expected Hikari's words to be true. He really did know Director Sumeragi. The tenants, too, stood in stunned silence, staring at Hikari in awe.

No one looked more astonished than Yukino. She gazed at Hikari, unable to comprehend how this same high schooler who'd paid off her rent a few days ago now knew the influential Rikka Sumeragi—and had resolved the whole mess with such ease.

As she took in his composed expression and confident demeanor, Yukino felt her heart flutter. How could a boy so much younger than her have such quiet strength?

Her fingers clutched her skirt, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she realized she was truly captivated by him.

"Takahashi was always looking down on people," one of the tenants remarked, disdainfully glancing at him. "Thought he could bully people just because of his position."

"Good riddance," agreed another. "He always used rent as an excuse to get extra favors from us. Just last week, he borrowed a dozen eggs from my fridge and never returned them."

"You think that's bad? Last month, when I couldn't pay rent on time, he harassed my wife."

A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd as tenants vented their grievances. The voices of scorn and ridicule grew louder, making Takahashi feel as if he were the target of a public spectacle, like an animal trapped in a cage.

Unable to bear it any longer, Takahashi tried to escape, wobbling on his feet, desperate to get away from the scene. However, he had barely taken two steps before he collided with Hikari's solid frame.

Thud!

He stumbled back and fell to the ground.

Hikari looked down at him, speaking with quiet authority. "Return the two hundred thousand yen I paid for Miss Yukino's rent."

Takahashi glared up at him, gasping, "Why should I?"

"Director has waived Yukino's rent for a year," Hikari replied coolly.

Takahashi scoffed, "I'll believe that when I hear it from her directly."

As Takahashi staggered to slip past him, Hikari shook his head in exasperation. "I gave you a chance," he muttered, reaching down to grab Takahashi by the collar and lifting him effortlessly off the ground.

Panicked, Takahashi stammered, "W-Wait, I'll—"

Before he could finish, Hikari's fist crashed into his stomach, the impact sending a jolt of pain through him.

"You had your chance," Hikari said as he delivered another blow, each punch punctuating his words. Takahashi could only cough up blood, eyes rolling back.

The surrounding tenants gawked, astonished at Hikari's strength, then broke into applause, cheering him on.

"Good job, kid. That lowlife had it coming."

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