I'm afraid

The cursing that burst out of his mouth left him no time to dodge, and the hook-like fingers of the hand grabbed his head.

Feeling the immense pressure on his cheeks and forehead, as if his head were about to be crushed, Nagami, who had been in many fights but was far from a hardened veteran, cried out in pain.

"It hurts, it hurts! I was wrong, bro, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

As if his begging had worked, he felt the grip on his face loosen slightly.

The pitiful plea in his eyes quickly turned into a mocking sneer:

"I was wrong... about what? I, ugh..."

Before he could muster the strength to break free from the hand clutching his face, a force like being hit by a speeding car slammed into his stomach.

Though he couldn't see his own state, Nagami felt like his body was bent into a C shape.

This was his only thought before he was kicked to the ground.

Lying on the ground, feeling the excruciating pain as if his bones had been shattered, Nagami Inoue listened to the continuous slapping and cries of pain around him.

He knew his companions were being slapped around.

Hissing sounds.

Footsteps approaching.

Dragging sounds like a sack being pulled across the ground.

Struggling to sit up despite the pain in his abdomen, Nagami turned his fearful eyes to the towering figure in front of him.

Thud.

Looking at his companion thrown beside him, he swallowed hard.

Before he could utter any plea, the overwhelmingly strong figure before him spoke:

"Don't play dead. I know exactly how hard I hit. Take out everything you have. You have thirty seconds."

"Bro, big bro..."

"Pleading counts as time."

Realizing pleading was useless, Nagami Inoue and his companions gritted their teeth, enduring the pain, and took out their phones, wallets, small knives, and other items, placing them at the feet of the inhuman figure.

As they thought this predator of delinquents would gather the items and leave, they saw him place a piece of paper and a pen in front of each of them.

"Write down your home addresses and school classes, each for the other. Make it clear."

"Don't tell me you don't know. I don't like being fooled."

"And... if what you write doesn't match... heh."

Though they didn't hear the consequences, the cold laugh, like a winter wind, sent chills down their spines.

Despite their strong reluctance, once one of them couldn't withstand the pressure and picked up the pen, the others followed suit, writing down each other's home addresses.

After kicking the small knives far away, Sasaki squatted in front of them, scrolling through their phones' photo albums and contact lists.

Standing not far away and watching the boy quickly subdue the five delinquents, Natsuha Shinomiya closed her slightly open mouth in shock and walked over to his side, her long, toned legs moving gracefully.

Seeing him making the delinquents write something on paper, the girl, who hadn't heard their previous conversation, asked in confusion, "What are they doing?"

Stopping his scrolling, Sasaki stood up and met her puzzled gaze with a sigh. "I don't know why you suddenly rejected my help, but I can't ignore your safety."

Glancing at the delinquents lying on the ground, he continued, "They're delinquents, but not extremely wicked.

With me holding their weak spots, they won't dare to do anything too bad. After school, they'll follow you and make sure you get home safely."

Not expecting him to see through her thoughts, Natsuha opened her mouth to say something but ended up murmuring guiltily, "Sasaki..."

She really didn't know how to explain her sudden change.

How could she say she was afraid of falling for him if he kept protecting her?

Neither of them was wrong.

Not knowing whose fault it was, she looked at Sasaki's expressionless face, her emotions in turmoil.

.

.

.

Sasaki couldn't read minds, so he couldn't know exactly what she was thinking.

However, understanding her thoughts didn't require mind-reading.

A girl who suddenly changes her attitude and rejects your kindness is usually influenced by your words or actions.

Excluding the possibility of her period, it could only be your actions impacting her, either positively or negatively.

Since Sasaki was certain it wasn't her period, it had to be his actions that affected her.

The result could be good or bad.

If it were bad, she'd be angry and ignore him, but that wasn't the case with Natsuha Shinomiya.

So, excluding the bad option, it must be the good influence.

What was good for Sasaki?

Increasing her affection for him, potentially comparing to her feelings for her boyfriend.

Though he didn't know the exact level of her feelings for him, her sudden rejection indicated his actions threatened her boyfriend's place in her heart.

She wouldn't insist on taking the lead despite knowing his strength unless she was truly concerned.

Normally, she wasn't this stubborn.

Considering her hatred for betrayal, her rejection of his help became clear.

She feared becoming too close to him and betraying her boyfriend.

Recognizing the problem, Sasaki, as a 'doctor,' could prescribe the right medicine.

Shinomiya's fear of falling for him made her reject his help.

So, he wouldn't protect her directly anymore but he also needed to ensure her safety and retain her recent affection for him.

In a story, the most memorable characters are the protagonist and the antagonist.

She feared liking Sasaki too much, so she chose to distance herself.

And he didn't want her to forget the current feelings but needed to ensure her safety.

So his choice became clear.

Looking down at the delinquents who had finished writing, Sasaki squatted and took their papers, asking, "Name yourselves."

"Nagami Ikki."

"Sanjo Kyojo."

"Murakami Yota."

"Kodai Naruto."

"Hayashiya Shiro."

Listening to their names, he looked up at the brown-red-haired boy with ear studs who had a decent appearance.

"Nagami, you're their leader, right?"

Sitting on the ground, clutching his stomach and feeling like his internal organs were shattered, the boy answered shakily:

"Yes, that's right."

Getting the confirmation, Sasaki nodded and smiled, asking:

"Did you understand what I said just now? Do I need to repeat it?"

Glancing at the purple-haired girl with a complex expression, Nagami turned his head and nodded to the seemingly kind but ruthless guy in front of him:

"No, no need, we'll protect her."

"Good, I hope you keep your word."

Without mentioning the consequences of failing, Sasaki leaned on his toes, placing his elbows on his knees, and folded the personal information they had written down in front of them, putting it into his pocket as he continued:

"Take your things back."

One hand on his stomach, the other took his phone. Nagami Inoue looked at the LINE interface with a newly added friend labeled 'Sasaki' and copied contacts and family photos, his face showing a mix of anger and helplessness as he held his phone.

Knowing that pushing too hard would backfire, Sasaki stood up and transferred 100,000 yen to him through his phone.

Seeing his surprised expression, the boy bent down and patted his shoulder:

"This money is like my protection fee. If your brothers get hurt protecting my friend, I'll cover their medical expenses, so..."

"I'll protect the lady's safety!"

Five of them couldn't last even a few seconds against him, and with their weaknesses in his hands and the considerable amount of money given, knowing they couldn't resist, Nagami quickly adjusted his mindset upon seeing the transfer.

Not correcting his address, Sasaki nodded and then took the bag from Natsuha Shinomiya's arms, turning to her:

"I'll send you the specifics of where to wait and where to escort her later.

Now, go take care of your injuries."

Realizing Sasaki had no intention of draining them further, Nagami took his wallet and stood up, clutching his stomach:

"Then, boss, we'll take our leave."

Raising his hand slightly, Sasaki waited until they left the alley before speaking to the embarrassed girl:

"Let's go."

"Okay."

Slightly tilting her head to look at the expressionless Sasaki, Natsuha Shinomiya, filled with guilt, followed behind him and spoke softly:

"About that money, I..."

Before she could finish, Sasaki interrupted her without turning back.

"What? Are you going to help me pay for treating my brothers, Shinomiya?"

Turning around, Sasaki looked at the girl, whose eyes were flickering with inner conflict, and laughed as he teased:

"Do you like me, Shinomiya?"

Hearing his words, flickering in her eyes gradually turned to a steady gaze, her heart beating faster as if a fish had been hooked and pulled up to her throat.

Feeling her face gradually heating up, Natsuha, knowing that staying silent would surely lead to a misunderstanding, was about to deny it and state that she already had someone in her heart when Sasaki continued:

"But then again, it seems unlikely. If Shinomiya really liked me, you wouldn't be trying to distance yourself from me."

With that, Sasaki turned around.

Although she didn't see his expression as he turned because of her shyness, Natsuha Shinomiya couldn't help but feel that Sasaki's once upright back seemed slightly hunched.

Reflecting on everything the boy had done for her, she felt that he must like her.

Otherwise, why would he care so much about her safety?

But she already had a lover and could not respond to Sasaki's feelings.

Walking in silence, Sasaki escorted the girl to her doorstep and then left.

Looking at his retreating figure, she sighed with a complex expression.

"Um, Natsuha-chan?"

Returning from grocery shopping, Shinomiya Chiako, holding a shopping bag, looked at her daughter standing at the door and called out in confusion.

Then, following her daughter's gaze, she saw the familiar but distant figure.

"Sasaki-kun..."

Walking slowly to her daughter's side, Shinomiya Chiako, meeting her daughter's puzzled gaze, gently stroked her flowing hair and asked softly:

"Can you tell mom what happened?"

"Mm."

Turning around, the girl buried herself in her mother's warm embrace like a boat finding harbor after a long journey, softly voicing her troubles.

Quietly hugging her daughter and listening to her speak of her worries, Chiako only spoke after her daughter had finished:

"What do you want in your heart?"

"Do you want to break up with Yuuta?"

"Break up with Yuuta?"

Facing her mother's question, the girl shook her head decisively:

"No, Yuuta is my boyfriend, I won't break up with him."

Nodding, without passing judgment, Shinomiya Chiako gently stroked her daughter's hair and continued:

"That's good. As long as you can still recognize your own thoughts, there's nothing to be troubled about. As long as you know your goal, just keep moving towards it."

"Mm, I understand, mom."

"Always remember that, okay?"

"Okay!"

...