Driven By Vengeance

It was currently noon. As the sky turned darker, the showdown between Kazuma and 'The Owls' reached the climax.

A countless number of delinquents gathered around the place to witness the match. No one of them dared to enter the field after they saw how mercilessly the Toujou cousins were beaten up by one person.

"What are you scared of, Hirata?" Shinya asked with a confident expression after he noticed that Hirata was trembling slightly.

"..."

"I tell you there's no need to be afraid. Remember, we trained hard for this day!"

Smack.

"Y-you're right!"

Hirata stood firm after he slapped his cheeks to find his resolve.

Thus, the two rushed at Kazuma who waited for them to be ready.

"Haaaa!" they yelled from the bottom of the longs in unison while they retracted their arm for a punch.

Just like last time, Kazuma fixed his eyes on one person. This time, he targeted Hirata.

Pow.

"Mmnng!"

"?"

Shinya looked shocked at his right side.

It felt like time slowed down as he burned the image in his mind. He witnessed how Hirata got kicked in his face by Kazuma who previously jumped in front of them.

Thud.

Hirata fell on the soil again.

"Hira-"

Pow.

"Ugghh!"

Looking back to Hirata, Shinya loosened his focus and paid for it by getting kicked in the stomach.

With an agitated grin, Kazuma switched his targets again and jumped on Hirata. He held his arms down with his knees.

"G-get off me!" Hirata yelled desperately.

"And why exactly do you think I would listen to you?"

Kazuma's demeanor got more intimidating. His smirk left his face and any kind of emotion was nowhere to be seen in his now hollow eyes.

The only thing filling him was the urge to kill the two.

Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam.

Having no care for anything else anymore, he started to hit Hirata repeatedly on the face without a break.

Blood spilled and stained Kazuma's fists and the soil.

There was no sign of Kazuma stopping his attacks.

After a while, Hirata's body also stopped moving. He was unconscious.

But Kazuma did not care and continued.

Pow.

"You sick bastard!"

Finally recovered by the previous kick, Shinya hit Kazuma in the back of his head to free Hirata.

"Heh, now it's your turn again."

"..."

At that moment, Kazuma looked nothing akin to being sane. His face was stained with drops of blood, his eyes were sharp and yet shallow at the same time and his mouth formed a eerie smirk again.

It was the expression of the boy who lost everything and was driven by revenge.

Shinya had to grab his right arm strongly to control the shivering. Despite appearing fine, deep down he also felt fear.

"Tch." Shinya clicked his tongue after he saw the state of his friends.

Hirata, Daisuke and Ryota were knocked out and Kyouko was currently taking a nap on the bench.

"Whatever."

"Let's do this, Kazuma!" he shouted.

Kazuma was brimming with excitement as he rushed at him.

"Take this!"

Bam.

"Keh!"

"Ugh!"

The two hit each other in the face.

"I'm not done!" Shinya stated vividly.

Bam. Bam. Pow. Bam.

Both of them neglected their defense and mainly focused on attacking.

Shinya was hit everywhere. Be it the face, chest or stomach, he received fists, elbows, knees and so on.

But the same could also be applied to Kazuma.

This brutal exchange of blows continued even when their faces became bloody.

"Haaa... haaa..."

"Haaa... haa..."

The two jumped back to create some distance. The two started to become exhausted as they grasped for air.

"Shit... How could this happen?!"

Shinya was furious and confused by the fact that Kazuma was still standing. The elite of his gang were almost completely wiped out and he himself was on the verge of collapsing.

"Haha... Seeing your actions today, made me realize why I admired you so much back then..." he laughed weakly.

Then, Shinya's laugh and smile disappeared and instead, he gritted his teeth.

"Kyouko! Wake up, I need you!" he shouted aggressively.

"Mmh, don't wanna." she replied with a sleepy voice.

"Kyouko!"

"Hm?"

"Get up! Now!"

"Fuaah! Fine, fine..." she replied after she yawned while she stretched her arms. 

She rubbed her half open eyes before she analyzed the current situation.

"Oh! Are they all dead already?" she asked half-heartedly.

"No. Just unconscious." he answered.

"It doesn't matter. Hurry up!" he ordered.

"Alright. What do you want me to do?"

Shinya pointed at Kazuma who was also on the verge of collapsing.

"Let's bring him down together."

"Together? Can't you handle him alone?"

Shinya had to swallow his pride.

"As much as I hate to admit it but you're the strongest of us all and I can't beat him alone... He is just like an animal just like you." Shinya said with a stern look.

"I'm an animal? That's rude, Shin-chan!" she pouted.

"Geez, spare me your complains for now and help me out." he stated as he held his head as if he had a headache.

"Okay." she answered with a carefree attitude.

Realizing that they were ready, Kazuma was about to attack Shinya again.

Pow. Crack.

Thud.

Before he could even come close enough, Kazuma was sent flying after he was kicked in the ribs. He fell on the ground.

"Pheeew. It amazes me every time, seeing your kick." Shinya whistled and complimented Kyouko.

"Hehe, of course!" she puffed out her chest arrogantly.

Shinya walked to Kazuma.

"It sounded like some bones were broken. No wonder, Kyouko is a national champ at kickboxing after all." he explained as he crouched down.

"Aargh!" Kazuma let out sounds of agony while he pressed the location where he was hit.

"Are we done now?" Kyouko asked.

"Not yet."

"Huuuh? But why? There's no way he can stand up again."

Shinya ignored her and focused on Kazuma.

"Hey, Kazuma. Maybe you're right. Maybe I was just envious of your parents who managed to win you over. Maybe I just wanted you to stay with us."

He pulled on Kazuma's hair until they saw into each others' eyes.

"So how about this? Return to us. If you decline now, we will get rid of your girl. What's her name again? Nagisa Yui, right?"

"!"

Kazuma's eyes widened in shock. On the other hand, Shinya grinned again.

It was grin full of vileness.

Bonk.

Kazuma gave him a headbutt.

"Ahrg! You piece of shit!"

Despite having to endure immense pain, Kazuma managed to stand up.

"I dare you to repeat yourself."

Kazuma looked menacingly at Shinya.

"Shit! Kyouko!"

"First, you killed my parents and now you want to get rid of her, too... As if I would let you do it again!"

Kazuma's eyes were filled with rage and hatred as he was about to launch a punch.

Pow. Crack.

Kyouko interfered between the two on time. She launched a kick to stop the fist.

"Tch." she clicked her tongue.

Unlike last time, Kazuma was not sent flying.

Both of them retracted their leg and arm slowly.

"What the hell..." she muttered in a serious manner.

"What's wrong?"

"That guy... He broke my ankle when my foot and his fist met."

"W-what?!"

"If I hadn't stop him, then you would have had to say goodbye to your nose."

"..."

Shinya was baffled. he found it impossible to believe that a national champion at kickboxing was on equal footing with an ex-delinquent.

While the two were talking, Kazuma cracked his knuckles and his wrist.

"Seems like I gotta take this serious." Kyouko stated as she took up a proper fighting stance.

"Let's finish this already!" Shinya said after he straightened his posture.

Whereas the two were full of energy, Kazuma had already trouble keeping his eyes open. He reached his limits. Everything was blurry and despite not even moving, he began to totter.

"..."

Kyouko relaxed her posture.

"What's wrong?"

"Just take a look at him. One punch and he's out."

"I see. Well, I'll finish him off alone." Shinya said with a confident smirk.

"No."

"Hm?"

"Let me do this. After all, my broken ankle is his fault."

"Geez, fine. I guess I can beat him up all I want after we take him with us." Shinya shrugged his shoulders.

With a stern expression, she approached the worn out Kazuma.

"It woulda been interesting to see who would emerge as the winner between us two if it was a fair match. Don't think badly of me, okay?"

Kazuma did not even notice her presence as he still looked at Shinya.

"Sorry."

Kyouko formed a fist and launched it at Kazuma.

"Stop."

"Huh?"

"!"

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm from behind.

"What are you doing here, Shiho?" he asked while his eyes got grimmer.

"Isn't that obvious?" Shiho replied provocative.

"Let go!"

Shiho jumped backwards after Kyouko swung her arm to free herself from the grip on her arm.

"Geez, do you still think you can handle this alone, Kazu-kun?" she asked, ignoring the other two.

Hearing her voice, his face became a bit livelier.

"Shiho? What are you doing here?" he asked surprised.

"To help you."

"What? I told you already I-"

"Can you beat her?" she pointed at Kyouko.

"..." he averted his gaze.

"Thought so."

Then, Shiho also took up a fighting stance.

"Don't be stubborn and let me help you. I'll take of that girl, okay?"

"..."

Kazuma was against the idea but he knew that he had to accept.

"Fine." he said unwillingly.

"Heh." she smirked satisfied.

Thus, the third and final round was about to unfold.