I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life After Transferring, but I Fell into a Rom-Com Trap and a Hidden Battlefield No One Knows About - Chapter 26: Before we knew it, Satohama Ayana had become… no, our café’s strategic weapon.

Chapter 26: Before we knew it, Satohama Ayana had become… no, our café’s strategic weapon.

“Hey, hey, you’ve already worked all day. How are you still so full of energy and chatting away?”

“Then should I be all worn out like Nagisa-chan?”

“I’m not worn out! I’m just tired, that’s all!”

“That is what being worn out means!”

“Satohama, you…”

“Geez! You two, stop fighting! Here, eat some watermelon!”

In the middle of our argument, Nakano suddenly interrupted, handing each of us a slice of watermelon and forcefully stuffing it into our mouths.

“Eat the watermelon, eat the watermelon. We’re friends, so no fighting!”

Then, Nakano happily took a bite of her own watermelon… Friends? What the hell is she talking about? I don’t accept that!

“Wow~! It’s so sweet and delicious~!”

Seeing her expression, the watermelon in my own hand suddenly seemed… not as sweet as hers.

After finishing our watermelon and drinking Hirotsugu-san’s iced coffee, our work for the day was done.

Tomorrow is Monday. I should head home early today, eat a proper meal, take a bath, and get some good sleep.

Stretching my exhausted body, I quickly got up and started getting ready to leave with Nakano and the others. Sasaki-sensei and Sasaki seemed to be staying behind to finish cleaning up.

“Phew… Just how much longer are we gonna have to keep working here?”

“Working here isn’t so bad, is it? We get paid, and it’s good social experience.”

“Well, yeah, but in the end, we’re only working here to help sort out the café’s problems, right? But the current issue isn’t something we can solve on our own.”

“Let’s give it a little more effort. Maybe Sensei will come up with a solution. Misaki-kun, don’t slack off too much!”

Seriously, when it comes to work, Nakano is always so enthusiastic. Does she actually enjoy this?

“Well, well, if it ain’t the cute café girl!”

At that moment, a provocative voice rang out from ahead.

Turning to look, in the dimly lit alley about 50 meters away, four men were standing.

“Tch… Are those the guys who caused trouble at the café before?”

Tsunekawa squinted at them but tilted his head, seemingly unable to see clearly from that distance.

“Dude, if you’re nearsighted, just wear glasses already…”

After throwing in a quick jab, I stepped forward and called out to them.

“What are you guys doing here again? The café’s already closed. If you want coffee, come back tomorrow!”

I deliberately spoke in a provocative tone.

We’ve only met once, but I remember their faces perfectly. Those annoying punks!

…But that long-haired guy—I don’t know him.

The other three are the ones that Satohama completely beat down last time. The fact that they’re acting so high and mighty again pisses me off.

Judging by the situation, the new guy is on a different level from those three.

After all, this is a quiet area with hardly any foot traffic. Considering that Satohama single-handedly took them down before, they’ve got no right to be strutting around like this.

Which means… That guy isn’t just some random punk!

“You really helped us out last time!”

“Oh, not at all! You were customers, after all. It’s only natural that we provide you with excellent service!”

Both of us smiled, but it was obvious to anyone watching that we each had our own motives behind those expressions.

On the surface, things seemed calm, but underneath, it was a battle of wits.

“You’ve got such a punchable face, y’know that?”

“Quit talking to this little punk,” the long-haired guy muttered irritably to his companions before stepping forward to face me.

“Listen up, brat. That café ain’t a place for weaklings like you. Get lost.”

“The café belongs to Hirotsugu-san, and we work there. Where we go isn’t any of your damn business. Besides, breaking things in the shop is a crime. You guys will be paying for the damages.”

“Hah! Looks like you don’t get it yet. Guess I’ll just have to teach you!”

The long-haired guy suddenly swung his fist straight at my face.

With a single blow, I was sent sprawling onto the ground.

“Ugh… That hurt like hell…”

“If you get it now, then scram! Next time, I won’t hold back!”

His punch wasn’t normal. The moment it hit, it felt like getting smacked in the face with a rock. Damn, that really hurt…

But—

“Any action taken to protect oneself or others from harm is never punishable.”

“Hah? The hell are you spouting?”

“I’m talking about the legal definition of self-defense. In other words… Satohama!”

“Got it! Take this!”

WHAM!

In an instant, the long-haired guy crumpled to the ground.

…Weak!! Was he all talk? He went down way too easily! Is he one of those high-attack, low-defense types in games?

Or maybe… Satohama is just too strong.

“W-What the hell?!”

The other three stood frozen in shock, their faces filled with a mix of fear and disbelief.

“Like I said, according to the legal definition of self-defense, actions taken to protect oneself or others are justified. You threw the first punch, so we’re well within our rights to fight back.”

“Now then… who’s next?”

Satohama cracked her knuckles and slowly stepped toward them.

“D-Damn it, this chick—!”

“Eh? Huh? Aahhh—! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!!”

With a loud thud, Satohama suddenly collapsed to the ground, clutching her foot.

“What the—?! Why?! What’s going on?!”

Looking at her foot in a panic, we saw the culprit—

A rusty nail.

No way…! Who the hell leaves something like that lying around?!

…Well, better her than me.

“Ayana-chan! Watch out!”

“Die, you damn bitch!”

One of the guys quickly grabbed a wooden stick nearby and swung it down at Satohama.

Shit!

I jumped up from the ground and tried to intercept him with a flying kick, but he dodged at the last second.

“You little shit!”

Now it was his turn—he raised the wooden stick toward me.

I quickly lifted my leg to kick it away, but I was a fraction too slow—his strike landed squarely on my torso.

I managed to kick him back, but—

“Aaahhhh!!! That hurts like hell!!”

Pain. Pain. Pain! It was like having a needle stabbed straight into my heart!

“Misaki-kun!”

“Misaki-kun, are you okay?!”

I couldn’t answer right away. I clutched my side, waiting for the pain to subside a little before speaking.

“I-I’m fine… just hurts a bit…”

“Tch! Nagisa-chan, I’ll avenge you! Watch this—my ultimate move! Satohama Swallow Kick!!”

WHAM!

Satohama suddenly leaped into the air, delivering a flying kick straight to the guy’s chest.

With an explosive impact, he was sent flying several meters.

W-What kind of insane strength is this?! Is she a monster? Or… is she Bruce Lee? Jackie Chan?!

“Ayana-chan is seriously terrifying!”

“Guess all that karate practice wasn’t a waste.”

“This chick… what the hell is she…?”

“She’s way too strong…”

It looked like they were completely terrified.

“So, still wanna keep going? This girl’s seriously strong, y’know. If I were you, I’d run while I still could. Piss her off any more, and you won’t like what happens next.”

Tsunekawa stepped forward, exuding pure intimidation.

“S-Sorry! We won’t do it again!”

“W-We get it! We’re leaving right now!”

And just like that, they grabbed their fallen comrades and bolted.

Thanks to Tsunekawa’s intimidation and Satohama’s insane combat skills, they probably won’t be coming near the café anytime soon.

Seriously… Satohama is amazing. With just a single punch and kick, she took them all down.

At this rate, she might as well be our café’s strategic weapon.