å å³¶ @falsiliarā Continued from HereĀ ć®é¾
Ā Ā Famous last words in cases like this were usually pretty dumb. On one hand, the victim could beg āWait, stopā as if saying that to someone fully intent on their actions was actually worth a crap. But on the other, for those feeling braver, you could goad the attackers: āOh yeah? Like you actually have the ballsā or āWhat, youāre really going to throw that at me?ā
Ā Ā Kokichi typically leaned toward the latter. If the stupid street thugs planned on harming him, then he at least wanted to enjoy himself before it happened. Nothing would change their minds. He knew this from experienceāwell, many experiences. And so, simultaneously with his thoughts weaving through about three different escape routes, heād managed to utter, āWow, wasting a perfectly good bottle on me? Pretty weak move, guys.ā
Ā Ā The phrase itself shouldāve been all it took to tempt them to actionāenough with the pussyfooting, right?ābut just as Kokichi was targeting a gap in the group through which he could weasel himself (maybe even between that big lugās legs...? Eugh, gross, but fineā), he heard a shatter at the same time as a new player entered the field. A much... larger player, and with his back facing Kokichi, it became clear all too quickly whose side he was on.
Ā Ā A new party member, huh? Ā Ā Well.
Ā Ā The action sequence was over in what felt like a blink. This guy was, like... super over-levelled or something; Kokichi still heard the pump of adrenaline in his ears and that never-ending itch to moveāto runābuzzing like electricity in his legs even after the thugs were handled. He looked down at their remains (still alive, no worries, but definitely gonna feel this for awhile) in rightly stunned silence in those seconds of calm after the fact.
Ā Ā But then, so incredibly unperturbed by the danger he was just in, he faced his āheroā with an all-too wide grin and gasp of awe.
Ā Ā āWoooow! You really showed them, Mister Tough Guy! That bottle didnāt even stand a chance against you.ā Delighted energy bounced in his heels, and Kokichi raised his volume to speak over the pained grumbling in the sea of thugs around them. āIām sure youāre toootally not gonna get in trouble for that or anything! As long as you were protecting the innocent, how could anyone be mad?ā
Ā Ā GUYS LIKE THIS have been around for as long as Kiryu himself could remember (Most definitely longer, even). And while he himself tended to mind his own business for the most part, never would he allow himself to turn aĀ BLIND EYE to a kid in danger. For regardless of what the reason was, it was still PATHETICĀ of these men to corner him like this. Away from the public eye, with no chance of escape or call for aid.
Ā Ā And sure, while his line of work (Or at least, just before his expulsion) tended to involve communicating with his own FISTS.Ā Thugs like these thought will always think thatĀ INTIMIDATION alone will be enough to get whatever they wanted. And so, what better way to resolve this than to speak their language?
Ā Ā Kiryuās already had enough of all this.
Ā Ā And the fight was over in a moment, as he would smash the remaining thugs down with a swing of a nearby garbage can. Wasting no more time, once it became clear that these guys werenāt leaving.Ā But, just like so many others-- these stubborn idiots would still believe that outnumbering him with weapons in hand would be enough to beat thisĀ āold manā.
Ā Ā With one last glance to the groaning bodies at his feet, the ex-yakuza would return his attention back to the boy. Noticing that he hadnāt taken the chance to run, and instead stood by to watch the entire thing.Ā And before he could ask if he was alright, the boy would suddenly begin to chatter excitedly to his saviour. Those purple eyes actually SPARKLING then, as they peered up at him.
Ā Ā ... Mister Tough Guy, huh?Ā
Ā Ā And he was quick with the nicknames too, wasnāt he? Still, with how lightly he was taking all of this, something told Kiryu then that this wasnāt exactly his first rodeo. Almost appearing as if he was having the TIME OF HIS LIFE, instead of it being on the line. In fact, the SHEER DELIGHT on the otherās face and in his voice would incur the slightest raise of a thick brow... before furthering to a deep furrow of both brows themselves over what was said next.
Ā Ā ... The boy was probably concerned then that he himself would get in trouble over all of this. Though, it was a little hard to tell. Especially when he was still grinning away like that.Ā And so, offering nothing more than a shake of his head to that statement (No, the cops normally had more important things to focus on than this, actually), Kiryu would then gesture for him to at least follow him back out into the streets, where it would be much safer.
Ā Ā āJust be careful from now on, alright, kid?ā After all, this wasnāt the only group of thugs that was terrorising city, after all.Ā āItās best you donāt mess around with guys like that.ā