(V2) Chapter 7: All Roads Lead to Violence

I finally stepped on the location where Saori was first found. The old gym entrance.

The wind blew, carrying a choking scent of dust.

This place used to be the pride of Komorebi High—a stage for festivals, celebrations, and victories. Now, it was a wasteland. A forgotten graveyard of rusted chairs, shattered tables, and everything the school didn’t bother to throw out.

Not just messes flooded here, but also the amount of delinquents trying to control this unguarded place for their operations.

Untold stories of students who endured punishment of delinquents lingered, not just for Saori. She wasn’t the first, and if I didn’t stop them, she wouldn't be the last.

I marched towards the entrance, the broken glass doors guarded by four delinquents flanking each other.

They didn’t seem to acknowledge me at first, maybe some idiot who accidentally stumbled straight to their den. But I wasn’t stumbling.

I marched forward, my steps deliberate, steady.

I felt their eyes sharpen, their silent glances passing between each other in a language I didn’t care to understand.

I kept moving forward no matter how deep their gazes went through me.

Right now, I didn’t feel threatened.

I didn’t feel any weight.

I didn’t feel fear.

I didn’t even feel my heart beat.

There’s no emotions surfacing on my face.

Only rage and greed piling up inside, wanting to be released through my fists.

One of them stepped forward, raising a hand. “Not a step closer.”

I didn’t stop.

His expression twisted into a scowl. “I said—”

I was already in front of him.

Before he could react, my fist slammed into his gut. A sharp exhale escaped his lips as his body folded, knees buckling under him.

“Damn you!” The others lunged.

One grabbed my shoulder—I twisted, driving an elbow into his ribs. Another tried to swing at me, but I ducked, swept his legs from under him, and sent him crashing to the floor.

The fourth hesitated, realizing too late that this wasn’t a fair fight. Not for them.

A sharp steel glinted from his pockets, lunging straight at my abdomen.

But before I could disarm him, a shadow appeared in front of me, sending a knee towards the attacker. His body took flight to the entrance, forcibly opening it. He groaned, sprawling on the floor and threw a coughing fit.

I turned to the student that aided me, and found myself surprised.

“Akito?”

He didn’t respond right away. He just gasped for air, as if he dedicated all of his energy to that one kick.

Silence followed.

The four of them lay sprawled across the entrance, groaning in pain.

“Why? You don’t need to follow me here.”

He shrugged, and his face was full of unfulfilled vengeance.

“...I wasn’t able to save Saori-chan…” he grits his teeth. “They will pay.”

The anger and hatred behind those words were unmistakable, but Akito still held himself with dignity. It seemed like a good idea to have him tagged along.

So we marched forward.

Inside, the gym was a maze of discarded furniture and dim light filtering through cracked windows. Shadows stretched across the floor, blending with the figures lounging near the back—more of them.

And at the far end of the area, one figure slouched on the sofa, fumbling with his phone.

His hair was a mess of red and gold, and a windbreaker jacket adorned his school uniform. He carried a perpetual scowl, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.

“Kanegawa Yuuto, is it?” I started.

“Who is this frick?” he asked, raising his glance from the screen.

“You bitch!” another guy exclaimed from the flanks.

I turned, and a familiar goon pointed at me accusingly.

“That’s the guy that beat all of us! And now that coward brought reinforcements!”

The delinquent leader from before. His face was a mess of bandages, all marks of my victory.

“Beat all of you?” For the first time, Yuuto’s face sparked expressions of interest. He got into his feet, and put his phone back in his pocket.

He wasn’t like the others.

Where the rest were petrified with restless expressions, he stood with confidence, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. Like he had seen this play out before.

Like he was waiting for me.

“No wonder.” Yuuto shrugged. “You can’t even lead your room by example.”

“But I swear that he’s just lucky he went through our defenses!” the delinquent leader protested.

“Lucky or not, he still won. In battles, only the final outcome matters.” Yuuto responded.

“Only the last one standing matters.” I followed up.

Yuuto chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m surprised that Shizuku’s classmates aren’t as brainrots as they seem.”

I stepped a few feet closer, fists clenching. “I didn’t come here for games and remarks. I came here to give you a warning.”

My voice was calm. Steady. But beneath it, a fire raged.

“Oh?” He arched his brow. “And what might that be?”

Akito stepped in. “Touch my friends again, and we won’t hold back next time!”

The room fell silent.

Then Yuuto laughed. A slow, deliberate chuckle that grew into something louder, echoing through the abandoned gym.

“Damn,” he said, wiping a tear from his eye. “You really think nerds like you can scare me? That’s the thing about people like you. So predictable.” He spread his arms. “You think storming in here and knocking out a few of my guys gonna change anything?”

I took a step forward.

He stopped laughing.

The shift in the air was instant.

But he turned around, and snapped his fingers.

“Punish them.” he mumbles.

Feverish footsteps of men resonated in the gym like drums. Screaming, charging, running and fists squaring up collectively.

I had fought before. Bled before. Nearly died before. And at that moment, I knew it.

I didn’t care about winning or losing.

I only cared about ending this.

The first one came to Akito fast—too fast.

The bulky guy walloped his jaw without resistance and Akito and his glasses were sent to the floor sprawling.

And then, he shifted his gaze to me.

I raised my guard. He charged relentlessly.

His fist grazed toward my jaw, but I twisted my body, feeling the air brush past my cheek. Before he could react, I slammed my elbow into his ribs. A sharp exhale left his lips as he staggered, and I followed up with a swift kick to his knee, sending him crumbling to the floor.

I heaved a sigh, outnumbered, but not overpowered.

But there was no time to recover.

The next one was already on me.

He swung his baseball bat downward, sending dust and dirt to the air. I raised my right foot as hard as I could, and his body was sent upward, head first.

One tried to lock my neck from behind, but I grabbed his head and slammed him straight to the floor.

More footsteps.

More bodies rushing in.

I didn’t have time to think.

So I started moving before they could reach me.

One stood in my way, stunned by my speed. He raised his guard, but too late. My fist already cratered his nose, sending him motionless to the floor.

All of the men I passed through were armed up too late.

Then another, and another. Bodies are falling down.

I twisted, dodging a kick aimed for my side, then lunged forward, driving my shoulder into another’s chest and sending him crashing into a pile of rusted chairs.

The sound of metal clattering filled the room.

And yet, more came.

A blur of motion. A fist grazed my temple—I rolled with the momentum, ducking under another swing. My muscles burned, my breath ragged.

One tried to tackle me—I grabbed his arm, twisted his elbows, and sent him face-first into the ground.

Another leaped at me from the side. I sidestepped, hooked my foot around his ankle, and swept his legs out from under him.

Bodies hit the floor, groaning.

I didn’t stop moving.

I couldn’t.

One by one, they fell.

The chaos blurred together—the taste of copper on my tongue, the sound of fists meeting flesh, the scent of sweat and blood thick in the air.

Then, suddenly—nothing.

Silence.

The last one hit the ground with a thud, groaning in agony.

I exhaled, my breath ragged, my knuckles raw.

And then, a slow clap.

I turned.

Yuuto stood there, arms crossed, amusement flickering in his eyes.

“Well,” he mused, “That was impressive.”

I wiped the blood from my lip, glaring.

He smirked.

“But tell me, Ishida—” He tilted his head. “Did you like my gift?”

I didn’t answer.

If he’s talking about Saori, then it’s obvious why we’re here.

“Not gonna talk, are we?” He followed up.

I stood still, still not answering. Because only actions mattered here.

Finally, he smirked. “Fine, let’s settle this.”

Then he moved.

Fast.

His fist shot toward me, and I barely managed to parry, the impact sending a shockwave up my arm. Before I could counter, his knee rammed into my gut. Pain flared, and for a split second, my vision blurred.

Not good.

I staggered back, but he didn’t let up. A sharp kick to my ribs—I blocked just in time, but the sheer force sent me skidding back across the dust-coated floor.

He was strong.

Stronger than the others.

I wiped my mouth, tasting iron. My breath was ragged, but I forced myself to straighten.

Yuuto clicked his tongue. “You’re still standing? Damn, I expected more of a reaction.”

I exhaled. “You talk too much.”

That actually made him laugh. “Maybe. But I’m not the one covered in bruises.”

His stance shifted, his weight settling lower. He was analyzing me—waiting for an opening.

I tightened my fists.

Then I rushed him.

A feint to the left—his body reacted instantly, and that was all I needed. I pivoted, aiming a sharp strike at his jaw.

He tried to block it—but just barely.

He spun along the impact, his chuckle echoing in the gym multiple times.

“Ah, you’re good!”

He dashed forward, and a shove landed on my shoulder—another clipped my cheek.

I barely felt them anymore. All I wanted for this to end once and for all.

“Show me your emotions, Ishida! Show me what makes you tick!”

A sickening crunch echoed as Yuuto drove his knee into my chest.

I retaliated when I saw an opening in his jaw. I didn’t stop. I dragged the momentum and sent a hook straight to his cheek.

It’s his turn to feel it. Everything that Saori felt.

Everything I’ve been brewing inside.

His smirk faltered, just for a second.

“Your body language,” he remarks. “I like it. You’re the same as me, Ishida. No style, pure brute.”

With all of his weak points exposed, I took advantage. My knee slammed against his solar plexus, sending him back to the sofa he once slouched on.

He stood up, still smirking. But he wobbled as he took his steps down the platform.

“Come on. You can’t fool me. You think this whole thing is about justice? About protecting your friends?”

That made me pause.

He grinned, knowing he got my attention.

“That’s a lie,” he continued, voice smooth, deliberate. “You just want a reason to hit something. You’re just like me.”

I launched forward, throwing a punch meant to shut him up.

He didn’t dodge, so I contained my strength halfway, and my fist barely moved his face.

“Why aren’t you fighting back?” I asked.

I saw the way his smirk widened.

“Because I wanted to have the proof,” he taunted. “You felt that, didn’t you? That little thrill? That satisfaction?”

I hated that he was right.

That I could feel it.

The rush. The fire in my veins. The addictive high of a fight. I promised Akio-san to never use violence long ago, but now, I am longing for it.

“You think this is for your friends but—” Yuuto sneered. “You don’t fight for them. You are only fighting your itch for something more. You only use it as an excuse.”

He sat on the floor, his condescending smile unwavering.

“At this point, I already defeated you. I don’t even need to beat you up, even I can. It will only waste my time and ener—.”

I swung again. This time, I didn’t hold back.

His body rolled against the dusty floor, his body jerking on the impact.

“Y-you fight…because…”

I raised his collar, and brought down the hammer of ‘justice’ he was babbling about.

And then again, for a good measure.

His body trembled beneath my bloodied fists, but his lips refused to surrender.

“...you can’t let go…”

What do you know?

If you haven’t stepped on my shoes?

We endured different things.

And what set us apart—-you punished weaker people for entertainment, I killed my own demons for vengeance.

Those are two different things.

I kept striking, until his face contorted in red and blue, his lips barely sputtering a syllable.

I stood up, catching myself on shaking legs.

Yuuto lay there, motionless, his expression a mixture of fear and disgust.

Silence stretched between me and all of the bodies of the students I defeated.

“Is it over?”

I turned to Akito, and he adjusted his crooked glasses. I caught him when his legs buckled at his injuries.

“For now.”

I forced my breathing to steady.

Forced my thoughts to silence.

Because this action wasn’t wrong. Defending my friends wasn’t wrong. Destroying them wasn’t wrong.

And I wasn’t like him.

I refused to be.

I lifted my head, and headed to the exit dragging Akito with me.

I turned around halfway, glancing at Yuuto over my shoulder.

“You don’t know a damn thing about me.”

Then I moved.

And this time—I finally concluded this delinquent saga.