Chapter 11:

Treat me to coffee again someday

BARAMAKU RANSHIN

At the same time when the ‘date’ was reaching its end. A man was staring at a couple walking down the street interlocking their hands.

“Senpai!”

He didn't listen.

“Senpai!!”

He still didn't.

Shouting in his ears he finally grabbed his attention “NATSUMI SENPAI!!!!”

Jumping back he yelled back “What!!!!”

“Where were you lost? I called you many times but you didn't reply.”

Looking back at the couple he answers “I was imagining me holding hands with my girlfriend the same way and having a walk around the park at night.”

Yamamoto kept staring at his face for a second then responded,

“You don't have a girlfriend, senpai.”

“I said the word ‘imagining’ didn't I ?!”

“You did but I just wanted to remind you.”

“THANKS!”

“Your welcome.” he smiled and continued “Anyways,I found nothing in this area either.”

“So this area is also clear.”

“Senapi, can we talk somewhere else? We have been doing it for hours, let's sit in a cafe and rest for the day.”

“Well, I am also exhausted. Let's go.”

Their feets started moving in search of a place to rest..

“By the way, I don't have money, senpai.”

“Again!! I am not paying for you this time!”

“Why?! Please do it, do it for your cute kouhai” he clinged to him.

“I am not! let go of me!”

“Please~”

And they walked away.

Sitting on the seat at the back corner, those two were waiting for their orders to come.Looking outside the glass window Natsumi passes his time.

A lady walks past other tables and puts 2 rice omelettes and 1 coffee on the tables at the back.

Taking a bite from it, one of them said, “So senpai, I think it's just a natural thing that it's rising.”

“I agree with you.” taking a bite he continued “Well, we only have one area to check after this, why not check it also and then report back.”

“One more area…..ahhh……... “ Yamamoto let out a sigh after thinking one more area is left.

Two more customers entered the cafe with their ruckus.

“We are getting summer break after this right Senapi?”

“Haha, nice joke.”

“Seriously!!???”

Natsumi was having fun with Yamamoto to pass the time.

They both finished their rice omelette. Natsumi was enjoying his coffee and Yamamoto had his eyes staring at the rowdy customers who came earlier.

They were not that noisy when they came. Their voices increased slowly and so did their rude behavior with the staff.

When the owner Masato-san tried to kick them out they became more aggressive saying they are paying for the stuff and they will not step out until they finish it.

Seeing it all Yamamoto said, “Senapi, should we do something.”

“No.Don't do anything, don't interfere in human business.”

“But-”

“But if they crossed the line I can overlook you going on a rampage.”

One of the men among them requests for a glass of matcha.

“ So how's your time going with your wife Tajima-san?”

“We are getting divorce.”

“Eh! Why?? It's been only a month since you got married.”

“She says I am an unreliable husband and keeps getting angry at me for no reason.”

“Huhhhhh… it's the same with me, the women don't understand how great we are ."

“Righttttt..they should be grateful for having us. Whatever, she will understand how much I looked after her when she separates from me. Maybe I should start seeing another woman.”

“Yeah, you should.Go for beautiful women and make her jealous.”

The lady comes with the drink at the table.

“Ohh, look we got a good deal here.”

A look at her whole body and he said,

“Hey miss, why don't you spend the night with me.”

She responded with “Dear customer, please finish your drink and leave if you don't then we have to do it forcefully.”

Placing the drink at the table she turned to go back.

“Don't be like that, a day with me and you will be head over heels for me.” Said Tajima and grabbed her hand.

“Dear customer, please let go of my hand.” She tried to shake off his hand while staying calm and not making a scene.

She could easily do something about them but there were other customers and making the environment awkward would not have left a positive impact on the cafe.

“Look at the figure you have, such a waste to not let this flower be touched.” His hand started to reach out for her waist.

She snapped. Walked closer to the table.

“Sorry Masato-san.”

“Nah, go on, I should have done it earlier.” said the owner Masato.

She lifted the ramen bowl and emptied it on his head.Grabbed the matcha and throwed it at his face.

“Look ya shit, I ain't gonna keep listening to ya’r trash talk. And no one will ever want to hang around a distorted ass shaped face, so get both of ya’r ass’s out af here before I call the police.”

“Pffft-” Yamamoto could hold the laugh in. “It does look like that now that I think.”

Tajima blood boiled more. He pushed the lady, she fell on the ground and rushed towards while picking up the glass bottle from the table.

“What are you laughing at boy?” Rage in eyes and lost common sense.

“Your ass…oh sorry I meant face.”

With a scream he swung the glass bottle aiming at Yamamoto’s head.

Before Natusmi or Yamamoto could act, a boy around the age of a high schooler who was sitting just behind them grabbed his hand.

“Oi oi, cant even enjoy my coffee.” he takes a sip from the cup in his other hand.

Smacks lips and dislocates his arms. Without any hesitation his hand was bent by the young boy.

Tajima cries in pain, the bottle falls on ground and the glass shatters.

While Tajima was suffering in pain, he finished the rest of the coffee and put back the cup.

Grabs his shirt and pulls him closer.

“Look, I love this place and pests like you make it dirty. “ Grabbing the chopsticks from tables he continued “If I ever heard your voice in this area again a thousand chopsticks like these will be decorated in your body by me.” giving him a devilish smile he said “Now please leave.”

“Y-you, you will pay for this.I have a friend who is in the police.” he dared to say it after one his arm was dislocated by a man who did not show any hesitation doing it.

“Oh, is that so?”

He pulled his other hand.

“Wh-What are you doing?” his futile attempt to resist only made him grip it tighter.

The seemingly young boy had strength which contradicted his young figure.

Gently gripping his middle finger he said “Bring him next time, I will show my utmost hospitality.” And snapped his finger backward.

Tajima screamed in pain and rolled on the ground.

Pulling him by collar he commands this time “Now, Run!”

With all his strength he ran away from there. His friend also tried to run away but the boy stopped him saying with death glares,

“Where are you going? Pay for all those orders first.”

Sweat running down his whole body and hands trembling, eyes refused to blink. He pulled out his wallet and throwed at him after pulling out his necessary things and ran away.

“Miss, can I get another coffee and sorry.”

“N-No, instead thank you for helping us. I will prepare the coffee in a second.” propping herself up from the ground she bowed and thanked him.

“Thanks. And here is the money from those idiots.” he drops the wallet on the counter.

Watching it all from side Yamamoto could help but say,

“Senpai, that guy is cool!!!”

“Hmmm…” Natsumi looked at his cup. It was empty.

“Can I also get another cup please?”

“I also want one!!”

“Ahh..have you ever had one?”

“No, but I want to try.”

“Don't know if you can handle the caffeine or not but, sure. Can we have two cups of coffee?”

“Sure.” the lady responded

The boy was sitting on the stool near the counter.

After a few minutes the coffee was ready. The lady served it to both of them.

The boy was awfully quiet. Taking small sips and savoring his coffee. Meanwhile Yamamoto and Natsumi went back to their silly talks.

After the cup was empty, the boy said to the owner,

“Masato-san,” he pulled out a check “Fill whatever amount you want for those glass windows.”

“What do you mean?” leaving him in confusion he walks towards Yamamoto and Natsumi.

“Yes?” Looking at him approaching them Natsumi questioned, staring in his eyes.

“Oh! The cool guy!!” Yamamoto looked at him like an idol fan.

“The name’s Katsuo, may I ask if you have finished your coffee?”

Drinking the last sip in the cup Natsumi answered “Yeah.”

For a moment it felt to everyone present there that they skipped time. Even before the sound could create itself or the eyes could capture the actions, Natsumi broke through the window and landed outside.

Glass scattered on the whole table, ground and seat. Yamamoto’s brain was processing the things slowly. Lips slightly open , eyes connecting the dots of what happened, switching slowly between Katsuo and Natsumi.

Yamamoto was still a newbie so he wasn't perfect in controlling his power nor did he ever see someone use it to full extent up until now. And now that he did, he couldn't comprehend.

“....It… it hurts…hufff……I…..I had my doubts when I saw you break that finger without hesitation.” Natsumi pulled himself up from the ground. Bruises and a couple of cuts from glass shards. Luckily not any lethal injury because he reacted to his attack and attempted to block it. But still it did some serious damage which was enough to stop Natsumi from performing his best afterwards.

“Looks like I can swing some punches freely today.”

Natsumi and Katsuo both snapped their fingers while calling out At same time “SUBSPACE!”

Before the owner and the lady at the cafe could do anything about the situation all 3 of them vanished in front of their eyes, as if they were an illusion of their own minds.

A glass piece fell off from the broken window and echoed its shatter in the silent cafe.

In the noisy night of peoples hustle bustle two mans fists were raising their sounds of clash. They passed through humans as if they were fogs and collided into buildings like a bouncing ball.

Yamamoto tries to keep up with their pace. No matter how much he tried to join, he couldn't. Even keeping up with their speed and figuring out movements of their hands was hard enough for him.

Both of their feets stop in a park, Yamamoto catches up after a moment.

Panting, he was now solely focusing on their movements.

He was now able to see. Hands and legs moving, sometimes with sudden jerk while sometimes like the flow of water. Precise and fast.

Countering, defending, attacking,predicting, finding an opening their bodies moved for minutes. Throughout that time Yamamoto could only see the two beasts fighting in front of him.

Feeling guilt, he takes a step forward to do something.

“STAY BACK!” Natsumi shouted.

“EH!?..WHY SENPAI???”

“JUST LISTEN TO ME AND CALL FOR BACKUP!!!”

“B-BUT-”

“JUST GO NOW. IT'S AN ORDER!!”

After thinking a bit Yamamoto runs away from there.

“What a boomer, your cute Kouhai is gone.” Katsuo commented.

“Dont worry, our night is still young.I will accompany you till my last breath.”

A smile crept up and “So you know you are going to die.” followed it.

The battle kept going on for a few more minutes. The exhaustion was catching up to Natsumi but Katsuo was still fighting without breaking a sweat.

Sparks lightning with each strike. The ground could barely hold the pressure of each blow and started breaking apart.

Natsumi started to take some hits. It escalated from there, from some hits to some serious blows. To buy some more time until Yamamoto arrives with back up he puts every last bit of his strength into his strikes and maintaining his ground.

Still, the truth didn't change that he was reaching his limit.

The number of strikes he received kept increasing. The panic started taking over calm senses.

And it was then when Katsuo realized that the SUBSPACE created by both of their contributions was now maintained solely on his powers and he played his card.

One of his fists was pulled back by him. Black sparks ignited, the blue coloured flame wrapping his fore arms disappeared and it turned in black.

In a mere half of a second it all happened. Natsumi's tired body didn't notice it.

And like a knife the fist opened and targeted Natumi’s heart.

According to Katsuo, his win was certain. His eyes smiled.

But.

A random gust of wind blowed.The eyes which were smiling stretched opened to its limit with shock.

His fingers pierced through a hand's palm. His eyes looked behind that hand.

A face splattered of blood, a menacing smile and eyes reflecting his own shocked face comments,

“Hello~ Don't forget about me.” and clenched the half-pierced hand of Katsuo's in his.

Pulls him in. Lands an upper cut. Grabbed his recoiled face back down by hair with the other hand and smashes his knee into Katsuo’s face.

Not stopping there, throws a punch in the face and throws Katsura over his shoulder.

“Yamamoto!!?” Natsumi, who was pushed back by Yamamoto, called in surprise.

“Yo, it's Yamamoto~”

“Wh-”

“Ha ah hahaha…... .sniff……… nice blows kid.” Blood red eyes. Blood drips down the nostrils, making the lips extra red. Forearm wiping the blood, staggering a little Katsuo complimented.

“Oh oh ho, that was just one tenth of my strength.” looking back at him Yamamoto said.

“Too bad, I can't see any more of it. Take a look at your hand.” Shaking his head, Katsuo said.

“Oh, that. That much is like ah……….” pain ran through his injured left hand. The skin around the wounds started turning brown and it started rotting.

The pain intensified gradually. Yamamoto cried in pain.

“Now, which one of you wants to die first?”cracking his neck, Katsuo gazes fixes on them.

Worried, Natsumi takes a look at Yamamoto’s hand and says “Yamamoto, run.” and steps in front. Blood running down the cuts, body worn out.

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SENAPI~” Yamamoto shouted in excitement.

“LET ME SHOW HIM, WHICH MAD MAN’S KOUHAI AM I~~” Grinning to the fullest and eyes burning with flame, His right hand rises.

The sparks ignites.Blue flame covers the forearm. The eyes narrow themselves as in mocking and showing madness. And the rotting forearm was chopped off.

Either in an attempt to hide the pain or show the insanity he laughs loudly.

“YAMA-”

“SENAPI, ONE HAND IS ENOUGH FOR ME RUB HIM IN GROUND, YOU JUST SIT BACK ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE I GIVE.” As his eyes flared this mad man walked towards Katsuo. Each step weighs much to feel around the air.

“HA HA HA, NOW MY BLOOD IS ALSO BOILING KID. BRING IT! I AM NOT LEAVING UNTIL THE GROUND IS BATHED IN EITHER OF OURS BLOOD!” The face smiled with excitement.

This figure which was ready to crush anything into ash got distracted by something.

Katsuo felt an outsider entering into the SUBSPACE.

He knew he could handle these two at the same time but a third one would be too risky and fatal.

Calming down all of his excitement Katsuo said "Looks like your help arrived. Too bad it was getting heated up.Will meet soon again.” The ground disintegrated and he fell down with a hand wave throw at them.

Yamamoto fell on the ground, the adrenaline just wore off. Natsumi rushes over to check on him.

“Oi oi oi! Idiot Why step in!!? You should have come back with them! Why did you butt in!!? If you had found someone you should have let them fight.” Natsumi showed his anger without any delay in one breath as he checked the chopped hand and closed the wound with his torn clothes piece.

“He…..help?....hufff….huffff...I-I didn't….went to call for any.”

“T-Then…”

Putting the matter aside, he helped him stand up. He knew that he could seek the answer another time but the blood wouldn't stop for their chit chat.

“It can be healed. Let's go back quickly.”

“Senpai, my legs are at their limit.”

“Ah, can't be helped.” Natsumi puts Yamamoto’s hand around his shoulder and helps him walk.

Natsumi’s eyes caught the view of blood strained clothes warped around his arms by him as they walked and the pain Yamamoto’s face showed.

“Hey,... Sorry.” Natsumi’s usual confident and cheerful voice was heavier and filled with gloom.

“Senpai~..”

“What?”

“I saw a lady kissing a pole when I went to call for help or rather enter the park from behind.”

“Uh…”