"It's fine, don't worry about her." Ho Fei-yu glanced sideways at Kokoro Aono, who was walking with her head down, and said nonchalantly.
His relationship with Kokoro Aono wasn't that deep. He couldn't ignore Hanatsu Amakawa for her sake, and he wouldn't do that even if the girl was very generous.
In the span of two months, their relationship was like their tightly intertwined fingers—unless one let go first, they would remain held together.
Hearing Ho Fei-yu say this, Hanatsu Amakawa quietly withdrew her gaze.
Kokoro Aono somehow managed to get on the train, her mind in a fog. In her confusion, she found a seat not far from Ho Fei-yu and Hanatsu Amakawa. Her fair fingers clutching her school bag were pressed so hard that they turned an unnatural bloodless color, yet she showed no sign of letting go.
"Are you really not going to check on her? She looks very sad." Hanatsu Amakawa pressed her thumb a little harder against Ho Fei-yu's hand. Anyone could see that Kokoro Aono was distressed. She lifted her fair face, her eyes showing sympathy.
"Am I your boyfriend or hers?" Ho Fei-yu playfully pinched Hanatsu Amakawa's cheek, the soft and elastic touch clearly transmitting to his hand. Two light red marks appeared on her fair, rosy face.
"Fei-yu-kun is my boyfriend, of course~" Hanatsu Amakawa answered without hesitation.
"Then why are you telling me to go and care about another girl?"
"Hehe~ Since Fei-yu-kun already has so many people who care about him, one more won't hurt, right~ Big~ Radish~" Hearing this, Ho Fei-yu almost fell into the seat. Since the last incident, he had acquired the nickname Big Radish when the girl teased him.
"Cough cough... Having you... all of you is enough." Ho Fei-yu coughed a few times, then looked seriously into the girl's smiling eyes. He meant every word. The high school life he had planned in his mind was supposed to be peaceful, with disturbances only occurring when he ruthlessly eliminated nasty NTR. He wished for the girls he was destined to save to walk a bright path, a broad road free from NTR persecution. He would not actively seek them out.
Ho Fei-yu thought this way for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he already had enough emotional connections; any more would become a burden, as taking care of everyone's feelings was challenging. Although once they had sex, their bodies would forever belong to him, that kind of restriction didn't feel much different from NTR's control.
Secondly, and most importantly, he realized the System really did seem different. For instance, the nearly free points he received daily during the two-month summer vacation had disappeared. Ho Fei-yu had a feeling that future missions might no longer require him to conquer girls, although the missions triggered during the summer vacation still remained.
Hanatsu Amakawa hummed softly, leaning against Ho Fei-yu and closing her eyes to rest, a sweet smile on her fair face. In truth, she didn't mind what Ho Fei-yu said. It wasn't that she didn't believe him, but as long as he was by her side and kept her in his heart, that was enough.
Ho Fei-yu also rested his head on Hanatsu Amakawa's soft hair. The peaceful image of the two of them was completely out of place with the noisy, chaotic train, as if they didn't belong in this space-time.
Some were happy, some were troubled.
For Kokoro Aono, her heart was in turmoil.
Even as the train stopped at station after station, her thoughts were constantly fixed on the intimate pair.
Her fair, beautiful face unconsciously showed an expression of pitiful sadness that would make any compassionate person feel a sting in their heart. Of course, it also attracted certain dirty vermin.
Just like now, new crowds surged into the train car when it stopped.
It was peak commuting time for both work and school. Crowding was inevitable in the train car, and occasional physical contact was usually tolerated. In the past, incidents of perverted molestation were frequent, but due to the arrival of the Dark Star over the past few months, many perverts had been caught, and so the incidents of molestation seemed to have decreased, giving a false sense of security.
However, sudden lust could never be eliminated.
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth with a long, slanted fringe and dyed blonde hair, whose looks couldn't be called ugly but were far from handsome, swaggered through the crowd, pushing people left and right. Two equally flamboyant lackeys followed behind him, swearing under their breath.
The middle-aged people shoved by the trio initially wanted to argue, but they quickly backed down when they saw the boys' faces. The law protecting minors was their best shield, especially for small-time hoodlums. Even if they were beaten, they would only be detained for a few days, receiving no real punishment, and they might even hold a grudge and seek revenge later in secret. Thus, older people didn't have the time or energy to argue. This, in turn, fueled the arrogance of some underage thugs.
"What the hell are you looking at? Do you know who we are? If you've got guts, step outside and fight when we get to the station!"
Some hot-blooded youths tried to resist, but they were met with an immediate beating. Even a lion can't stand against a pack of jackals, let alone students with virtually no fighting talent. They could only endure the humiliation.
"Tch~ What a bunch of losers!"
Endurance brought no retreat, only further encroachment. But there was nothing they could do...
"You! You! And you! Get up now and let us three bros sit down!" The blonde thug casually walked up to three people and spoke arrogantly, as if he owned the train.
"But... I was here first..." A short, unassuming girl weakly protested. Her voice was trembling as she spoke, and she kept her small head tucked into her chest, lacking confidence.
"Heh heh, who the hell cares! Get your ass up now! Your big brother is tired of walking, or there will be consequences!" As if he had heard a great joke, the blonde thug picked at his ear, issuing his final command.
The frail girl was trembling but still didn't choose to get up; she just bit her teeth tightly.
"Oh ho~ You're looking for—"
"You can have my seat. Let her go!" The blonde saw that the frail girl had no intention of moving her butt. He had no pity for women. Under the gaze of his two cronies, he raised his hand, just about to slap the girl's face when a gentle yet firm female voice rang out.
"Who the hell dares to interfere with my business... Heh heh~ What a hot chick~" Hearing the voice, the blonde, who called himself "Brother Zayin," raised his voice and looked toward the source of the sound. He saw a girl who looked gentle and cute but appeared delicate and youthful standing up and speaking to him. His high-pitched tone immediately sank into a low, vulgar one as the girl's appearance became clearer.
"Slurp~ You two, don't try to steal this one from me. I found her first. You can have her after I'm done playing. Okay?"
"Gulp~ Okay!" The two guys beside "Brother Zayin" swallowed their saliva and nodded upon seeing the girl's beauty. Her looks were so good that even the leftovers would be more than enough for a good meal.
"What... what are you trying to do? Don't come closer! Th-there are so many people on the train! Why... why isn't anyone helping..." The girl was, of course, Kokoro Aono. She couldn't stand to see someone being bullied, so she gathered her courage, stood up, and tried to exchange her seat with the frail girl. But she hadn't expected the thug to walk towards her with a lecherous smile, and the people in the train car even consciously moved to clear a path. Only then did Kokoro Aono become scared, stammering nervously.
Hearing her plea, most people chose to look away or lower their heads.
"Heh heh~ Little sister, don't worry. Nobody will help you. Just come with your big brother when we get off and play. If you're good, I'll give you a lollipop~" "Brother Zayin," the blonde, was very pleased with the reaction of the people around them, especially Kokoro Aono. The thought of such a righteous girl soon submitting under his crotch, being slowly corrupted, and then given away after he got bored—since there were plenty of preys—made him expose his big yellow teeth and laugh shamelessly.
"What the hell are you all looking at? Close your eyes! Heh heh~ Of course, if you want to watch, that's fine too." "Brother Zayin" couldn't hold back. Kokoro Aono's fair, rosy, fragrant, soft skin was too much for him to bear. He immediately felt the urge to kiss her right now. So, he yelled sharply, though he added a vulgar afterthought.
"Heh heh~"
He was close to the girl, looking down at the perfect, rounded shape. He couldn't wait any longer and reached out his hand, wanting to grab it and manipulate its shape freely.
"Who dares to ruin my good time, you punk! You don't want to live, do you!? Tell me, where do you go to school!" Before he could touch Kokoro Aono's body, "Brother Zayin" felt his hand clamped by what felt like a large pair of pliers, completely immobilized. He immediately felt humiliated, especially since his two companions were behind him. Without thinking, he looked at Ho Fei-yu furiously and threatened him as he usually did with middle and high school students.
"Choose one: apology or a broken hand." Ho Fei-yu remained expressionless, gripping "Brother Zayin's" hand and speaking calmly. Even the words 'broken hand' were said casually.
"Hahahahaha~ That's hilarious! A broken hand? You wouldn't dare... Ah!!! My hand! It hurts! Wuu~ Ah! Wuu~" Upon hearing this, "Brother Zayin" almost covered his stomach and burst into laughter. A little brat who looked younger than him was talking about breaking hands. He was probably still breastfed! The amusement made him forget the hand Ho Fei-yu was still gripping. Before he could finish his mocking words, he heard a snap. "Brother Zayin" first felt a disconnection between his hand and his brain, and then excruciating pain rushed in like a floodgate opening. His face, which had been red from laughter, instantly turned pale. If Ho Fei-yu hadn't been holding his hand, he would have already fallen to the ground wailing and rolling.
"You piece of trash, you dare touch my person." Ho Fei-yu's gaze was sharp, like a newly forged sword, piercing "Brother Zayin's" eyes. Before he could beg for mercy, Ho Fei-yu kicked him directly, sending him tumbling to the ground. He stepped on the grotesque, pained face with his foot, using the dusty tip of his shoe to silence the wailing mouth of "Brother Zayin."
"What about you two? Apology or punishment? Choose one."
"I... I... I'm sorry... Ah!"
"Ah? I wasn't just talking about her; I meant the other three ladies too. Well, no choice then. Blame yourselves for not being clear." The remaining two blondes unconsciously took a step back and glanced at each other. They could see fear and humiliation in each other's eyes. How many times had it been them who were the overbearing ones? Now, the tables were turned. A strong sense of shame surged in their hearts, but seeing "Brother Zayin" lying on the floor, they immediately withered. They could only unwillingly bow their heads and apologize to Kokoro Aono. As soon as they looked up, Ho Fei-yu delivered two strong slaps, sending them both crashing to the ground. However, their condition was better than "Brother Zayin's," as they were unconscious and at least couldn't feel the pain.
Before falling, the two blondes couldn't understand why they had still been hit, even after apologizing. Ho Fei-yu's preceding sentence was something they would never hear. Even if they had a chance to repeat the situation, they would choose to stay far away.
"Are you alright?" After dealing with the two troublemakers, Ho Fei-yu asked Kokoro Aono. The girl's courage was commendable, but her action wasn't something he could praise. If this were his past life in China, he wouldn't think so, as the public was generally fair and passionate. But this was the second dimension, or rather, the hidden second dimension, a world where women could turn into ragdolls at any time. Being brave without power could only lead to disaster.
"I-I'm fine. Th-thank you." Kokoro Aono's current mood was as sweet as honey. The few words Ho Fei-yu had said earlier made her completely forget her fear. Her previous fear and discomfort dissipated like the clouds giving way to a bright moon.
Normally, with Ho Fei-yu's protective nature, he would have lectured Kokoro Aono. But after thinking about it, the righteous girl was right; the error lay with this filthy world. In this world, without his existence, even if the girl coincidentally avoided the first NTR incident, she might still fall victim to the next one. Instead of forcing the girl to change her kind nature, it was better to change the world and correct this flawed society.
"From now on, be bold and do what you believe is right by my side. I will always be your solid support."
"Mhm." Ho Fei-yu said something that Kokoro Aono didn't fully understand, but the girl grasped the deeper meaning—like, being by his side~ With a sincere smile, the girl nodded emphatically.
"Mmmph—Mmmph—Mmmph—"
"Oh, I forgot about you." "Brother Zayin," under his foot, kept twisting his body and making muffled sounds. Ho Fei-yu impatiently kicked him unconscious.
[Ding! Detected Host performing an act of Justice: brutally beating arrogant, bullying street thugs and protecting a girl's pure and innocent heart. Based on the above, the evaluation is B. Reward received: 1,000 Points.]