Kota lunged forward, knife in hand, his eyes full of resentment. But Haruto stayed calm, quickly calculating his next move.
As Kota swung the blade towards him, Haruto sidestepped again, grabbing his wrist with a firm grip.
With a sharp twist, he forced Kota's hand open, making the knife fall to the ground with a metallic clatter. Kota gasped, trying to pull away, but Haruto wasn't letting him go that easily.
"Really? Pulling a knife on me?"
Haruto said, his tone icy as he tightened his hold on Kota's arm.
"You must be out of your mind."
Without hesitation, Haruto brought his fist down, landing a powerful punch across Kota's jaw, sending him stumbling backward.
Before Kota could regain his balance, Haruto followed up with a swift kick to his stomach, knocking the air out of him.
Kota collapsed onto the ground, gasping and clutching his torso, struggling to recover.
"Stay down. That's where you belong," Haruto growled, his voice low and steady, but full of pure bliss.
He watched as Kota tried to lift himself, face bruised and twisted with rage, but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes now.
Haruto stepped closer, pressing his foot down on Kota's head, forcing him against the ground.
His scream of pain tore through the air as he thrashed weakly, trying to strike back with a feeble punch to Haruto's leg. It felt like a bug bite.
"See, Kota? It's not just my body that's changed—it's my power. Don't you feel it? Don't you feel how powerless you are?"
Haruto taunted, his lips curling into a grin as he kept his foot firmly in place.
Kota's strength was draining, his body slumping until he barely had the energy to resist.
Satisfied, Haruto finally stepped back, watching Kota gasp in a defeated heap on the ground.
"This is my last warning. If you try anything like this again, you won't be getting back up," Haruto said coldly.
Despite his bruised and helpless state, Kota glared up at him, spitting out a bitter threat.
"I... I'm gonna upload that video of you and... her!" His voice was laced with venom, but it trembled, undercut by pain and anger.
Haruto's eyes narrowed. He hated the resilience in Kota's voice—the refusal to break.
Anger simmered beneath his calm exterior as he kicked Kota's stomach one more time, sending him rolling across the ground.
"Don't get too cocky, Kota," Haruto sneered, looming over him.
"I'm only doing this for Mari's sake, not because I'm afraid of you. Know your place."
His words were calm, almost mocking. "Understood?"
Kota nodded numbly, though he managed to mumble, "Then, let me join the school gang... and I'll delete the video."
Haruto smirked inwardly. 'He took the bait.'
In a different future, Kota would sell his sister to Daiki to get into the gang. For some reason, his friend desperately wanted to join Red Fang.
For now, Haruto would use this to take revenge. To make him feel what he felt when Kota betrayed him.
"Fine," he agreed.
"But don't bother deleting the video. Watch it whenever you want, you might need it for masturbating."
His laugh cut sharply through the silence, watching as Kota's knuckles turned white.
"Now, tell me where all your little hidden cameras are, and I'll stay away from Mari. But if she ever comes back to me on her own..."
Haruto paused, leaning in, his smirk widening, "You'll only have yourself to blame."
Kota stayed silent, his head bowed, fists clenched as Haruto's words settled in.
"Oi! Did you hear me?"
Haruto snapped, his voice rising impatiently. Kota flinched, tension stiffening his shoulders.
"Yes... I understand," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes finally lifting to meet Haruto's with a smoldering hatred.
"But I still want into the gang," he spat, determined.
Haruto laughed, nodding with mock approval. "Of course. I'll help you with that."
With that, Kota turned, limping away from Mari's house, leaving Haruto behind, still chuckling to himself.
'Did he think joining the gang would make him tougher or make her fall for him? Or that he could ever hope to beat me?'
"Dumbass," Haruto muttered, a dark grin spreading on his face as he imagined Kota's fate.
'I'll make sure your life in Daiki's gang is nothing less than hell.