V2Ch1: Fate Part 3

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Translator: Soafp

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The car drove through the nighttime streets and stopped in front of Hikaru's house.

“Thanks for tonight. Next time, I'm definitely treating.”

Even though she had told him “I'm not angry”, the truth was that he had made her worry. Feeling guilty, Sho pressed his palms together apologetically.

“Honestly… I told you I wasn't angry. You worry too much, Sho-chan.”

With a small sigh, Hikaru got out of the car…

“Next time, you owe me sushi at a proper place, not a conveyor belt one.”

She flashed him a wide smile, then disappeared into her house without waiting for a reply.

Watching her go, Sho leaned back in his seat and let out a sigh.

“Phew… I really can't beat her.”

Hikaru had always been by his side, supporting him when he was sad, encouraging him when things were tough.
Her warmth, her brightness, like the sun—it had saved him countless times.

“Well then…”

Across the road was his own home. But instead of returning straight away, Sho started up the car again.

The streets gradually opened up. Still, compared to a metropolis like Tokyo, this place was far from developed.
Here and there, farmland remained, as though reminding him that this was still the countryside.

This town was far from being “the city that never sleeps.”

After 11 p.m., almost everything went dark except for streetlights and the glow of convenience stores. Traffic thinned, and you could count the number of 24-hour shops on one hand.

That meant that even if Sho kept driving, there wasn't really anywhere to go. If he went as far as Utsunomiya, where he worked, there were bars and karaoke joints. But here…

“…Guess here's fine.”

He ended up at a large park in Nikko City. A few streetlights dotted the place, but at night it was far too dark to enjoy the scenery.

He was only there to get some fresh air. With no real purpose, Sho walked into the park. There wasn't a single person in sight.

That solitude calmed him.

Around the park, houses stood sparsely. Even their lights gradually went out, one by one…

(Hm…?)

Among the rows of homes, one stood out. It was slightly apart from the others. From a distance, it looked grand.
But as he drew closer, Sho saw graffiti on the walls and part of the fence broken. The place radiated malice.

And yet, a light was on inside.

(Someone… lives there?)

From how rundown the walls and yard looked, Sho had assumed it was abandoned. That was how ruined it seemed.

He found himself walking closer. He hadn't planned on it, but for some reason, his feet carried him forward, as if being drawn there.

“You worthless plague! Just die already!”

As he got nearer, he heard shouting. A man was dragging something along the ground, screaming.

(A fight?)

Peering into the dark, Sho squinted. Slowly, the scene became clearer. But it was far from a fight.

It was one-sided. The man was beating someone mercilessly.

(Sheesh… night parks are either for couples making out or for thugs like this. Always trouble…)

Letting out a small sigh, Sho walked toward them.

“Don't you think you're overdoing it?”

“The hell? Who the hell are you?”

Irritated by being interrupted, the man turned toward Sho. And finally, Sho could see the victim.

(You've got to be kidding me…)

It was a woman.

He had assumed it was two men fighting, but the realization shocked him. And the fact that it was a woman being beaten filled him with anger.

“Hey… want me to call the police?”

“What did you say…?”

The man stepped toward him threateningly, but Sho didn't flinch.

Ever since his sister's murder, Sho had practiced karate all the way until he graduated high school.

At first, it had been out of a desire for revenge—to one day defeat the killer with his own hands.

But even after the culprit was arrested during his middle school years, he kept training.

Karate had taught him more than just strength.

It disciplined his body, yes, but it also taught him courtesy and restraint.

He learned that true strength wasn't just about power.

Karate had helped him grow as a person. And that was why he could face this thug without fear.

“So, what's it gonna be? Shold I call the cops right now and hold you down until they come, or would you rather fight me, get knocked out, and then wake up in a police station?”

Sho glared at him.

“Tch.”

With an exaggerated click of the tongue, the man slunk away into the darkness.

“If you knew what she really is, you'd have done the same. Her blood is cursed! As long as she lives, she'll only bring ruin! She's—”

“I said, I'm calling the cops.”

Cutting him off coldly, Sho didn't let him finish. The man spat one last insult and disappeared.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Sho called to the woman lying motionless in the dark. She didn't move.

“Hey, can you hear me?”

He could tell she was alive—her breathing was ragged, and her body twitched faintly.

“Do you live around here?”

He had a hunch. That wreck of a house was hers. The state of the house, the malice toward it, and the violence she had endured—it all connected.

“…Just leave me alone.”

At last, she responded.

“Eh?”

“Please… just leave me alone.”

Her words pushed him away.

“I can't just walk away. You're hurt all over—”

“What do you want from me?”

“Oi…”

How broken must she be to reject people so completely? Sho's chest tightened. What kind of pain could twist someone this far?

“Is it my body you're after? If so, I'll resist with everything I have. Don't think I won't.”

“That's not what I'm after!”

Frustrated by her misunderstanding, Sho raised his voice.

“I stepped in because you were being beaten. How could I just ignore a woman getting kicked around right in front of me?”

Whether it was thanks to karate or simply his nature, Sho had a strong sense of justice. Even at his own expense, he couldn't ignore someone in need. That was just who he was.

[You really are hopelessly straightforward. But… that's what's good about you, Sho-chan.]

Hikaru often praised him that way.

“You could've just pretended you saw a stray cat being kicked around and walked away.”

“Even a stray doesn't deserve that. It's cruel.”

“Haah… what a bleeding heart I ran into tonight…”

Sitting up, the woman let out a weary sigh.

“Anyway, let's go sit on that bench. I'll grab us something to drink.”

Pointing to a nearby bench, Sho glanced around, spotted a vending machine, and jogged toward it.