CHAPTER 51: AN UNEXPECTED SAVIOR

«I’ll say this one last time: let those two brats go and beat it. Do exactly what I say and don’t piss me off — I’m in a really bad mood today,» Miori hisses in a flat, cold voice, her icy sapphire eyes darting between Kaito and Hiroshi.

«And who the fuck is this bitch supposed to be?» Kaito spits. He lowers his gaze to Aoshi with a sneer. «Hey, toothpick, happy now? Looks like mommy showed up to save your ass,» he says, grinding his heel into Aoshi’s ankle like he’s stomping out a cigarette.

«Whoever she is, she’s definitely a hotter piece of ass than this flat-chested chick,» Hiroshi adds, yanking his hand out of Ayane’s panties — after shamelessly groping her — and shoving her aside hard enough to make her stumble.

M-Miori... what the hell is she doing here? And why is she defending us?! Don’t tell me she found out I punched her brother and she’s only getting me away from these creeps because she wants to kick my ass herself. Knowing her... she totally would. Great. Out of the frying pan and straight into the fire.

Why does nothing ever go right in my damn life?!

«I warned you. Now you’re fucked...» Miori sighs — a sigh loaded with threat and cold annoyance. She takes off her heeled ankle boots one by one, unzipping them, left only in her tights, and carefully places her black glittery purse on the ground.

She bends her knees and... SWISH! She darts toward Kaito like lightning, closing the distance in a split second, and smashes a brutal elbow strike straight into his chest — a blow that knocks the breath out of him instantly, making him collapse to the ground with heavy, labored gasps.

Kaito drops harshly onto his knees and instinctively clutches his throat — the scream of pain stuck there, suffocated by the violent impact to his ribcage. A strike that would have been lethal if Miori hadn’t purposely held back, channeling just enough strength to take him down.

«Looks like this little kitty’s got claws. I like that...» Hiroshi sneers, charging at Miori like a bulldozer.

But before he can even get close, Miori leaps into the air, kicking him in the temple with a strike as sudden as it is powerful. The hit dazes Hiroshi, making him stagger backward until he falls on his back on the asphalt.

But it’s not over yet.

«M-Miori... behind you!» Ayane cries out, her voice cracked and trembling after those unwanted hands were all over her only moments ago.

«There’s no need for you to tell me,» Miori snaps back, shooting her a disapproving glare. She whirls around instantly — Kaito is right there, fist cocked, about to smash it into her face.

But with phenomenal reflexes sharpened by almost two decades of martial arts, Miori moves first, stomping her right foot straight into his knee — a strike so violent it bends backward and tears a horrified scream from him. She pulls her foot back in an instant, only to kick again a heartbeat later, this time slamming it into his chin. The blow sends Kaito flying backward, crashing to the ground, stunned and writhing in agony from his shattered knee.

And through all of this, Aoshi and Ayane can’t help but stare at Miori and her swift, lethal movements — awe and gratitude flooding their eyes, a look they never imagined would be directed at her.

M-Miori’s strength is truly incredible — she just managed to take down two guys much bigger and more muscular than her all by herself. I knew she could fight, but I never imagined she was this strong!

And yet... all that strength was completely useless when she fought Eliss that night. Miori was utterly humiliated, like some helpless kid instead of a skilled martial artist.

It’s insane how Eliss’s power is completely off the charts compared to normal human beings like us — and since she’s a princess, I’m sure she isn’t even close to being as powerful as her bodyguard, that Raelor guy. If demons like them really wanted to... they could wipe out humanity as easily as we squash an ant.

What a terrifying thought — waking up every morning knowing you could be wiped out without even the slightest chance of fighting back by a race from another world...

M-Maybe I should stop making Eliss angry...

Meanwhile, Hiroshi manages to get back on his feet with difficulty, his head pounding as a thin line of blood trickles from the ear on the side where Miori’s kick hit him. But his feeble attempt at a counterattack is shut down instantly by a single look from Miori — cold, cynical, merciless eyes that make him abandon any thought of attacking her again.

«Pick up your friend and leave while you can still walk,» Miori hisses — her words sounding more like a threat than advice. Hiroshi doesn’t need to hear it twice: he staggers toward Kaito, still writhing in pain on the ground, and somehow helps him up, dragging him away as fast as he can.

«This isn’t over, bitch! This isn’t over!» Kaito growls as soon as they’re at a safe distance. But Miori doesn’t even acknowledge him — her gaze is fixed on Aoshi, staring down at him with eyes almost full of pity, like someone looking at a hurt little puppy.

«I-I never thought I’d say this, but... thank you, Miori,» Ayane murmurs, immediately rushing to help Aoshi.

But Miori doesn’t pay attention to her either — right now, it’s as if Aoshi is the only one who exists. He looks up at her, teeth clenched and eyes filled with fear and resignation, bracing himself for the worst, knowing the beating from Kaito was only the appetizer.

And yet, he’s shocked when none of his fears come true — and even more when Miori offers him her hand to help him get back on his feet. He accepts it, but more out of fear of what refusing might cause than gratitude.

«Now we’re even,» Miori states, putting her heeled boots back on and picking up her elegant purse.

«We’re even...? What do you mean...?» Aoshi asks, puzzled.

«You lost your job because of that unfortunate incident with my brother, didn’t you? As foolish and senseless as your gesture was, I can’t help but be grateful.»

Then she tosses her purse to Aoshi, who catches it mid-air and turns it over in his hands, confused, staring at it from different angles.

«I don’t expect you to know what model this is,» Miori continues. «Judging by the look of it, the purse and the wallet inside should be worth about four or five years of salary from that pathetic former part-time job of yours, plus a few thousand yen in cash left inside. Sell everything and you should be fine for a while.»

With that said, she turns her back to them, ready to leave.

«N-No — it’s worth a ton of money! I can’t accept it!» Aoshi stammers, hesitating — though the truth is he’s simply convinced there must be something behind this. He’s learned the hard way that Miori and kindness just don’t mix, and that any gesture of hers, even the ones that seem the most altruistic and sincere, always hide some ulterior motive. And Aoshi has no intention of falling for it again.

Miori catches that suspicion instantly from his tone.

«Don’t worry, Aoshi — I’m not playing any double game this time, I swear it on my little brother’s life,» she says, a faint hint of sadness in her voice. «I no longer have the time nor the will for childish tricks like that. If you think there’s something behind it, feel free to throw it away — it’s not my business what you do with it. The fact I’ve repaid my debt to you more than generously is already enough for me.»

«Th-Then... thank you, Miori...» Aoshi murmurs.

She merely waves her hand in response before disappearing into the crowd filling Nagano’s main street.

«W-Well, Aoshi... d-do you remember when you said you’d get me anything I wanted for my birthday?» Ayane mutters, rubbing her hands together as she stares wide-eyed at that gorgeous black purse covered in sparkling jewels.

«Forget it, Ayane,» Aoshi replies firmly. «That bag isn’t ours, and tomorrow morning at university I’m giving it back to its rightful owner, along with everything inside. Remember who we’re dealing with — you can never trust that girl, no matter what she says! What do you think would happen if she filed a report tomorrow claiming someone stole her priceless handbag, and — what a coincidence — I suddenly put that exact one up for sale online, or you were seen flaunting it? We’d definitely end up in jail, and I don’t know about you, but I’m not thrilled about that!»

«Y-Yeah, I guess you’re right...» she grumbles, crossing her arms and staring at the purse with a mix of desire and resignation. Well... she is a girl, after all. And no girl in the world could stay indifferent in front of a bag no ordinary person could ever dream of buying.

«By the way, before Kaito interrupted you, you were about to tell me something that sounded really important,» Aoshi murmurs.

Hearing those words, Ayane blushes and freezes instantly — all the courage she had just moments earlier now completely vanished.

«I-I don’t remember, really,» she replies, forcing a smile and chattering her teeth like she’s submerged in freezing polar waters. «O-Obviously it wasn’t that important if I already forgot it...»

«I see...»