LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 228: Damsel In Distress
Ayaka felt nothing.
The pain had become an old companion, numbing her senses as her body curled inward from another brutal strike.
Her mind wavered between consciousness and darkness, yet she didn't resist. She had learned long ago that fighting back only made it worse.
'If I don't react, they'll get bored. They'll stop.'
The metallic taste of blood spread across her tongue, but she forced herself to swallow it down. She had survived this before. She could survive it again.
Haruto will come… He always does…
But then—
The tearing sound of fabric ripped through the air, and cold fingers yanked at her shirt. A fresh wave of terror crashed over her, and before she could stop it, tears slid down her cheeks.
'Haruto… help me.'
But the abuse stopped. Their laughter turned to silence.
Through her dazed vision, she saw a shadow standing in the doorway. The light from outside made it hard to see, but she knew. She knew that figure. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire
Haruto.
A baseball rolled at his feet, and without hesitation, he picked it up and hurled it with full force.
One of the men staggered back, clutching his broken nose as he collapsed to the ground with a pained groan.
"You fucking pieces of shit," Haruto seethed, his voice trembling with rage.
His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Trash like you don't deserve to breathe."
His furious eyes swept over Ayaka, assessing her condition. Bruises, blood, torn clothes—but she was still conscious.
She was alive.
Relief flickered through him for the briefest second before his fury reignited.
One of the thugs scoffed, stepping forward. "Hah? You think just 'cause you beat Ren, we'll back down?" He grabbed a baseball bat, followed by the others.
"You're outnumbered, dumbass. There's six of us and only one of you."
Haruto smirked. He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck before flexing his fingers, the sound of his knuckles popping filling the room.
"Six, huh?" His eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "More like six fucking insects."
He took a step forward.
"Let's see if you buzz before I crush you."
"Huh! What an arrogant bastard!" One of them rushed first, bat raised.
Haruto stepped in, parrying the swing with his forearm before smashing his elbow into the thug's jaw.
A loud crack echoed as teeth snapped. Before the bastard could fall, Haruto grabbed his head and slammed it against a metal locker.
The dull clang was followed by the thug collapsing to the floor, unconscious.
"Just that? Fucking weak." he spits on the floor, "What are you guys waiting for? Come here! Fight me!"
Another came from behind, swinging wildly. Haruto ducked, pivoted on his heel, and drove a brutal sidekick into his ribs.
The impact sent the man flying into a stack of volleyballs, his body crumpling as the balls scattered across the floor.
"Fuck you!" The third man threw a punch.
Haruto caught his wrist mid-air, twisting it with a sharp motion. A scream tore from the man's throat as his arm bent at an unnatural angle.
"ARRGGHH!!! STOPP!!! STOPP!!!" The man's scream echoed in the narrow space.
"Why would I stop? You and your friends didn't stop when Ayaka was screaming in pain, didn't you?" Haruto's voice was cold and unforgiving.
He wanted to make them suffer for what they did to his woman!
He yanked the bastard forward and kneeed him square in the gut. Spit and bile flew from his mouth before he collapsed, dry-heaving.
The fourth and fifth tried to flank him together.
Haruto exploded forward. He dodged the first punch, weaving under it like a whip before burying his fist into the thug's stomach.
The man doubled over, wheezing. Haruto grabbed his hair and drove his knee into his face.
A wet crunch followed—his nose shattered, blood gushing down.
The last guy hesitated, but Haruto didn't give him a chance. He lunged, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the door.
His grip tightened, squeezing the air out of the thug's lungs.
"Please—!" the man choked, hands clawing at Haruto's wrist.
Haruto leaned in, voice low and venomous. "Tell Ren that if he tries this shit again, I'll fucking bury him alive."
Then, with a final punch to the temple, the last thug dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.
Silence filled the storage room, broken only by Ayaka's trembling breaths. Haruto turned, his anger fading into something gentler as he sat beside her.
"It's over," he murmured, brushing her hair from her face. "I'm here."
Ayaka, finally letting go, buried her face in his chest. Her small frame shook, but she was alive. Safe.
Haruto held her close, his grip was strong but protective. But his mind was full of rage and storm as he needed preventive measures to protect all of his women now.
After ensuring Ayaka was no longer in shock, Haruto carried her in his arms, cradling her gently as he made his way to the infirmary.
He had wanted to take her to the hospital, but she refused, reasoning that it would be too suspicious if she ended up in the ER with him again.
Fortunately, the school was nearly empty by now, with only a handful of students staying behind for cleaning duties or extracurricular activities.
Even the infirmary was empty.
"Haruto… you can put me down now," Ayaka murmured, her face red.
But despite that, there was a warmth in her chest, a fluttering sensation she loved the most.
"Alright, let's get you settled," he said, lowering her onto the bed gently.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he let out a sigh.
"You know," he began, crossing his arms, "I'd really like to see you on a normal day for once. No bruises, no wounds—just you, safe and happy."
Ayaka bit her lip, lowering her gaze. "That would be nice…"
Haruto sat beside her, meeting her eyes. "How about learning some martial arts? I could teach you."
She hesitated before whispering, "If I do… does that mean you won't save me anymore?"