Chapter 9 – Non-Violence Principle

“We’re not the bad guys! They started it—they provoked us first!”

“Excuses can wait till we’re at the station. Come on, let’s go~”

Obviously I couldn’t pull violence in front of a crowd. The police stepped in immediately. The older guys got hauled off. One officer fussed over me and nearly called an ambulance. I politely refused.

“But… you really okay?”

“I’ve been training.”

Though that’s not exactly the problem.

“If you feel any changes in your body, go to the hospital immediately, alright?”

The police kept fussing over me until the very end. Then we dispersed.

“Senpai…”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Why didn’t you fight back?”

“I don’t like violence. It’s my non-violence principle.”

“Gandhi?”

“Well, it’s my ideal.”

“If you had punched, would you have won?”

“Probably I would’ve been the one the police took in.”

“You sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah. Actually I’m a vampire. I’m immortal.”

“Your jokes are terrible.”

“I’ll improve next time.”

“But… it was a little cool.”

“Oh…”

I let out a small sound.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just Sudou Karma calling me cool.”

“You’ve said it several times today already.”

“That was the first time it came from the heart.”

“That’s… not true?”

“You might have been trying to evaluate me on this date, but I don’t have anything to hide. I’m just a regular mob character, type three.”

“A mob character winning one-on-one against Masakari-senpai?”

“Basketball is my hobby.”

“So a lot is already exposed?”

“I don’t know the fundamental reason. But I know you view me as an enemy and invited me on this date in a bad mood for some enemy reconnaissance.”

“False accusation.”

“I’m quite perceptive. If you don’t want the things you’re carrying in your gut to be exposed, it’s better not to approach me.”

“Senpai, are you a womanizer?”

“I’m not seducing you.”

“But Tokoyami-senpai is totally infatuated with you.”

“I didn’t make any advances.”

Got it. The side-eye rejection thing was pretty much what I suspected.

“Alright, time to split.”

“Eh, already?”

“Objective’s mostly complete. For me there’s no productivity in spending more time with you. Is there for you?”

“Wanna go to the arcade?”

“Go with the other guys.”

“But I want it to be with senpai.”

If those words were sincere, even I’d go along.

“Then I’ll walk you. Where’s your house?”

“You think I’d tell you?”

“Of course.”

“Haa… Talking with senpai is exhausting.”

“Good. Suffer while you’re young.”

“Didn’t you enjoy being with me?”

“Having your tits pressed against my arm was happiness itself.”

“Lowest of the low.”

She pulled away dramatically. For me it was just that level.

“That’s why you can’t get a girlfriend.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“I think you’re cool though.”

“A ‘cool’ that doesn’t make me happy at all is a first in a while.”

“You’ve experienced this before.”

“I’ve got my own life story.”

Let’s go back.

“At least let me escort you to the nearest station. You don’t have to tell me your house.”

“Okay, together till there. Senpai commutes by train too?”

“Yep.”

“Which station?”

“――――――――”

I told her precisely.

“Eh?”

“Senpai, are you rich? Living in a station-front mansion there?”

“No. A relative does real estate. I cried and begged for a reasonable price. The great one is my relative, not my financial situation.”

“Haa. I see.”

“Let’s go.”

Checking the train times on my smartphone, we headed back to Anshuku Station.

“But I think senpai’s non-violence principle is cool.”

“It’s just that I don’t have the resources to spare on the labor of punching.”

Not like I’m going to die or anything. If I don’t have to use violence, all the better.

“But what if I get raped because of that?”

“We’ll hold a condolence party.”

“You could be a little more… welcoming to me, senpai.”

“If you’re the love-fallen angel, there are plenty of guys who are in love with you.”

“Right now. I’m talking. With Fushimi-senpai.”

“I see.”

I was completely stonewalling her.

“If Akira saw us here…”

“Senpai? Bringing up another girl’s name here? On a date? Normally…”

“If you don’t like it, cover your ears or something.”

“It’s a date with me, so look only at me.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Also, tell me your SNS account.”

“Here.”

I showed it without hesitation.

“Added. Reply within three minutes.”

“At least make it three days.”

“You’re seriously an old man. Your way of thinking.”

“How rude. I’m still a fresh high school boy.”

We walked to the station and parted with Sudou Karma’s “See you tomorrow.”

In the end, I just ate a crepe and got punched?