Just as Raito neared the exit of the skate park, he caught sight of a man approaching the teens. The man's demeanor was far from friendly—Raito could feel the tension radiating from the newcomer even at a distance. Still, he didn't think much of it. Not his problem.
Kurai's voice sounded in his mind, teasing him. Are you really going to let this slide, or are you going to interfere?
Raito kept walking, his pace unhurried. "I have better things to do."
With that, he continued on his way, ignoring the situation behind him. There was no reason to get involved.
Raito's footsteps were steady as he continued walking, his mind focused on anything but the noise behind him. The man's voice called out to him, sharp and demanding, but Raito didn't even glance back. He wasn't about to get involved in something that wasn't his business.
The man called to him again, louder this time. "Hey! I'm talking to you, kid!"
Raito kept walking, maintaining a calm, collected pace, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He had no interest in turning around. The teens, however, seemed less than pleased with the situation.
"Stop calling him!" one of the boys shouted, a nervous edge to his voice.
But the man, clearly irritated, slapped the boy across the back of the head with a grunt. The teens winced, fear flashing in their eyes. They were visibly uncomfortable, but there was nothing they could do.
Kurai's voice slid into Raito's mind, amusement laced in every word. You're not going to just stand there and let him walk all over you, are you?
Raito's response was curt, though he didn't slow down. "I'm not some hero. I just want a quiet life."
Right, a quiet life where you get harassed by thugs and delinquent teens every day.
Raito shook his head, pushing the thought aside. As he neared the street corner, however, a nagging feeling started to gnaw at him. The man wasn't letting up. The teens were following, unsure of what to do next, and the more Raito ignored them, the closer the man seemed to get.
That's when it hit him.
The last thing he wanted was for this man to know where he lived.
Reluctantly, he stopped and turned back toward the skate park. He could feel the man's gaze on his back, but Raito wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of thinking he could scare him off. He faced the man, watching as the thug grinned, clearly entertained by the turn of events.
The man sneered at him, leaning casually against a lamppost. "Oh, you've got guts, huh? Well, these boys here can do whatever they want, and you" He looked at Raito with mock amusement, "you're just a good boy, right? Just stand there and take it."
Raito's eyes flickered briefly to the teens. They looked uncomfortable, as if they were waiting for the situation to somehow resolve on its own. It wasn't just the man who was making them uneasy.
The man grinned, his tone growing even more smug. "These boys are gonna be the next members of the Tora Brotherhood, you know?" He chuckled at his own words, clearly enjoying the intimidation factor.
Raito's brow furrowed. A local gang maybe? He'd never heard of any gang in this area. He looked at the teens again, who now seemed more and more like they were just caught in the middle of something they didn't want to be involved in.
His confusion must have been apparent, because the man's expression twisted with irritation. He stepped forward, the arrogance in his posture clear.
"They know what they're getting into and they have no choice," the man said, his voice low and threatening. "And you? You think you can just stand there after intimidating our future members? You have no idea what you're dealing with."
The teens, clearly uncomfortable with the growing hostility, looked at Raito with a mix of apprehension and concern. One of them even whispered, "Run… just go, sir. He's crazy."
Kurai's teasing voice echoed again in Raito's mind. Look at that. The boys are worried about you. Aren't you flattered?
Raito's mouth twisted into a frown as he glanced at the teens. Despite their earlier cockiness, it seemed they weren't as tough as they looked. But that was their problem, not his.
However, as the man took another step forward, Raito realized he'd reached his limit. His eyes narrowed, and the air around him seemed to shift as he straightened.
"Alright, alright," Raito muttered under his breath, rubbing his neck in resignation. "Guess I'll just have to knock some sense into this guy, huh?"
The tense atmosphere hung in the air like a storm about to break, but Raito's expression remained as cool and impassive as ever.
He stood still, his posture unwavering, as the man approached him with an almost predatory look in his eyes, a mocking grin on his face. "You're really something, huh? I'll knock that smug attitude right off you."
Raito didn't move as the man swung a fist toward his face. But just before it could connect, Raito tilted his head slightly to the side, easily dodging the blow. The man, now off balance, stumbled forward, but Raito was already there. With a speed that caught the thug off guard, Raito grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the lamppost with a sickening thud.
The teens froze, their mouths agape, watching in stunned silence. They had expected a some what of one sided fight, but not this—Raito's movements were precise, controlled, like someone who had done this countless times before. It was like he had no emotions at all, no hesitation. Just cold efficiency.
Without a word, Raito pulled the man's head back and slammed it against the lamppost again and again, the thuds echoing through the park. The man let out a weak groan, but Raito showed no mercy. Each slam was deliberate, methodical, as if he was hammering a nail that wouldn't go down.
The man's struggle grew weaker with every impact, his attempts to push Raito off faltering. The teens stood there, still frozen, their wide eyes locked on the scene unfolding before them. No one had expected this. At least they didn't.
The man's initial bravado was quickly fading into confusion and fear.
Raito's face remained expressionless as he gave the man one final, forceful slam, the thud resonating with a dull finality.
The thug's body slumped in Raito's grip, his head lolling to the side, his consciousness clearly a thing of the past. Raito let out a sigh of irritation, his grip relaxing as he dropped the man to the ground like a ragdoll.
He stood there for a moment, looking down at the thug with a detached gaze, his mind already calculating the next move. He checked the man's pulse—still there. Good enough. He leaned down slightly, his voice quiet but firm. "Take him to the hospital," Raito said, his tone completely indifferent.
The teens exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale with shock. They had expected to be terrified by Raito, but instead, they were left in awe. His calmness, his total lack of hesitation—it was like he had just done something trivial. They looked at each other, unsure of what to make of him, before slowly nodding.
But Raito's confusion deepened as he noticed their expressions. They weren't scared. No, the look in their eyes was far different—it was a mix of admiration and awe. They were staring at him as if he were some kind of legend, some figure they could never hope to measure up to.
Raito's brow furrowed in confusion. What the hell were they looking at him like that for?
Without saying another word, he turned and began walking away, his steps heavy but purposeful. He didn't need to deal with this. He had bigger problems.
But as the skate park slowly disappeared behind him, Raito couldn't shake the feeling that something had just shifted. Something about the way those teens looked at him—it felt strange, uncomfortable even.
Still, he wasn't about to dwell on it. "At least I got to relieve some stress" He mumbled to Kurai. As he disappeared into the distance, Kurai's voice broke through the quiet. However you made quite the impression, didn't you?
Raito didn't respond. He didn't need to.