Chapter 22 — A Butt Whooping

(Wednesday, April 20, 2050 — Two days later)
◽ At the University ◽
「Did you get his message?」Miyeon asked, tilting her head.
「Yeah…」Jiyeon sighed softly. 「It’s kind of sad he won’t be here.」
「At least he’ll make it up to us when he’s back,」 Miyeon replied with a small smile.
Jiyeon’s lips curved into a mischievous grin. 「I can’t wait to drag him shopping. I’ll make sure to exhaust him.」
「Giggles Exhaust him… in more ways than one,」 Miyeon teased.
Jiyeon’s eyes widened. 「Ugh, can’t believe you’re the older twin.」
「Me too,」 Miyeon laughed.
「Err… so this is why JJ avoids being alone with Miyeon,」 Riyuka muttered.
Hana smirked knowingly. 「Yup. She’s surprisingly more twisted than me when it comes to that.」
Riyuka crossed her arms. 「I may hate him with every fiber of my being, but I understand why. Being alone with her is… too much.」
「Yeah, it—」 Hana suddenly froze. 「Mei?!」
Mei was standing there, tears streaming down her face.
「What happened?」 Hana rushed to her side.
「...」 Mei broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Hana met Riyuka’s gaze.
Riyuka nodded. 「Don’t worry. Just go to the police sta—」
「No!」 Mei cut her off, trembling. 「We can’t… he’ll find me again.」
「Then let’s go to the house,」 Hana decided firmly. 「Whoever ‘he’ is, he won’t dare cause trouble there.」
Mei hesitated… then nodded.
「Miyeon, Jiyeon, come with me. There’s a chance she was followed,」 Hana ordered.
「Got it,」 the twins replied.
◽ University Parking Lot ◽
「The car’s right there, Mei,」 Jiyeon said gently. 「Don’t worry.」
Mei wiped her eyes, nodding again.
「ZHANG MEI!!!」
The furious voice echoed across the lot. Mei froze.
Hana turned sharply. 【So that’s him. The bastard who’s been hurting Mei.】
She shoved the car keys into Miyeon’s hands. 「Drive. I’ll catch up.」
「Okay.」
Miyeon helped Mei inside, while Hana strode forward to face the man.
Yong grinned when he saw her. 【Oh, is she coming to me? If I break her… that bastard will break too.】「What do you want, woman?」 he sneered.
「Leave Mei alone.」
「Or what?」 Yong shoved her hard. 「Bitch.」
Hana’s hand flashed. 「Hah!」
Pepper spray hissed, straight into his eyes.
「Aaaaghhh!!!」 Yong screamed, clutching his face.
Hana’s knee slammed into his groin.
「FU—!!」 Before he could finish, she spat directly into his open mouth. He gagged, choking.
「I’m a Kaapstad naaier,」 Hana growled. Her foot cracked up under his chin— THWACK!
Yong collapsed unconscious.
Hana exhaled proudly. 【JJ was right… dirty fighting feels so wrong, but so damn good at the same time.】
Miyeon rolled up in the car, lowering the window. 「Where’d you learn that?」
「JJ,」 Hana replied simply, climbing into the backseat.
「Maybe I should join his fighting class too.」Miyeon said as she giggled.
「You should. It’s very beneficial.」
They drove off.
Minutes later, Yong stirred awake, humiliated. 【That bitch… I’ll kill her next time.】
◽ Later That Night ◽
「You think he’ll pick up?」 Miyeon asked, biting her lip as the phone rang.
「Yeah,」 Hana said. 「This qualifies as an emergency.」
JJ’s image flickered onto a holo-projection. 「Hey.」
「Wha—are you getting shot at?!」 Miyeon shrieked.
Behind him, gunfire rattled as JJ crouched behind a wall. 「Yep. Shootouts tend to happen. But are you okay?」
「It’s Mei’s boyfriend,」 Jiyeon explained quickly. 「He’s the one who’s been abusing her.」
JJ’s expression hardened. 「I see. I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, stay in the house. Someone from Militia will arrive tomorrow.」
The projection cut.
Miyeon let out a shaky breath. 「That’s… a relief. Did you hear that, Mei? You don’t have to worry about Yong anymore.」
Mei nodded solemnly.
Miyeon’s gaze softened. 【It must’ve been hell for her these past few years…】
Hana clapped once, breaking the heavy mood. 「No need to sulk. We’re well guarded now.」
「How so?」 Jiyeon asked.
「We’ve got Garm and Fenrir, and soon, someone from Militia.」
Jiyeon giggled. 「Yeah, you’re right. And Mei, you don’t have to worry either, okay?」
「…Okay. I understand.」 Mei whispered. 【I just hope this doesn’t bring more trouble to JJ.】
◽ The Next Day — Thursday, April 21 ◽
Hana sat at her desk, lost in thought. 【I wonder when they’ll come… and if they’ll make it clear JJ sent them.】
「Hana, are you okay?」 Sakura whispered. 「I heard you were in a fight yesterday.」
「Yeah.」 Hana chuckled. 「But it was more of a one-sided beating.」
「Hmm… I also heard Jerry’s in Italy.」 Riyuka’s eyes narrowed.
「Are you still suspicious of him, Riyuka?」 Hana sighed.
「Why aren’t you?」
「Because JJ has always been open with me about where he goes.」
「Oh? Is that really so?」
「Yes.」
Before Riyuka could reply, Mr. Tachibana entered and the lesson began.
◽ Thirty Minutes Later ◽
Knock knock.
「Come in,」 Mr. Tachibana called.
The door opened. A tall young man stepped inside, his grin playful. 「Heh. Seems this is the right place.」
The students murmured in confusion.
Mr. Tachibana’s face drained of color. 【No way… as if one wasn’t enough trouble, the other one had to show up.】
Hana’s eyes widened. She stood up. 「You—who are you?」
「The name’s Devon Samuel Junior, but you know me as DJ, Ms. Allen.」 He smirked. 「Or should I say… future Mrs. Samuels, since grandmother has high hopes for you.」
The class gasped.
「Stop addressing me like that. No need to put a target on my back.」
「As you wish.」
「So you’re the backup JJ mentioned… from Militia.」
「That’s right.」 Devon’s eyes slid to Tachibana. 「Oh hey. Long time no see, Assassin.」
Mr. Tachibana froze. 「Y-you… h-how did you know? Even your brother wasn’t—」
Devon laughed coldly. 「My younger twin can smell a whore from a hundred kilometers away. Did you really think he wouldn’t recognize the stench of someone who once tried to kill him? Truly laughable.」
Mr. Tachibana’s thoughts reeled. 【No way… so Jerry Samuels was playing me this whole time…】
「I don’t blame you.」 Devon shrugged. 「JJ—just like Hunter—likes to play with his prey. Even an apex predator needs amusement. But don’t worry. Unlike my brother, I won’t trouble you.」
He sauntered over and sat casually beside Hana.
「So that’s why JJ enjoys annoying Riyuka’s dad,」 Hana muttered.
「Exactly. He thinks killing everyone who wronged him would be pointless if they’re all gone.」
「Sounds like something he’d do.」
「It is.」 Devon chuckled.