The Story of A Beautiful Girl I Rescued From An Attacker Who Became My Seatmate. - Chapter 37

“Cheh. Didn’t you quit kendo?”

Taniguchi faced me, holding the knife. His eyes clearly conveyed the intent to kill me. If I had nothing in my hands, he would attack me immediately. Meanwhile, I noticed that my left arm was bleeding visibly. The pain from the cut and the fact that my uniform was soaked in blood were evident.

“Why would you know that?”

“You thought I hadn’t investigated your background? Nevertheless, it was miscalculated that your kendo skills haven’t dulled. And me, I practice karate. If you dare to make a move, I won’t hold back.”

This man has thoroughly researched my background. I don’t know what means he used, but if he knows that I used to do kendo, he must also know my trauma. The incident where I cut off ties with a large group of adults.

“You quit kendo for the sake of your sister, right?”

“…Stop it.”

I don’t want to hear this story. In fact, even remembering it makes me feel sick. However, Taniguchi, paying no attention to my discomfort, continued speaking with a pleased expression.

“Well, well, I respect your actions to save your sister. Although it seems it didn’t have much meaning.”

“You…!”

Unable to suppress the emotions welling up inside me as I watched Taniguchi eagerly talking, I finally took action. I swung the baton I had in my right hand toward Taniguchi’s right hand.

“Ugh!”

My swing struck Taniguchi’s right wrist perfectly. Of course, Taniguchi resisted, but I managed to incapacitate him before that. Unlike a wooden sword, the baton is significantly lighter but has sufficient lethality due to being made of metal.

Taniguchi let out a groan and dropped the knife he was holding.

“Just so you know, even if you report this to the police, I will resist. You were the one who attacked with a knife. I wonder what will happen when it comes to trial.”

“Eek!”

Taniguchi, clutching his right wrist, looked at me with a fearful gaze. He probably didn’t expect to experience such pain. This is just my speculation, but people like him target only the weak and squeeze them relentlessly.

If his parents’ influence were to be used, I would probably have no chance, but I have prepared countermeasures for that as well.

“By the way, it seems that Kirishima doesn’t even recognize you. Yet, you’ve been chasing after Kirishima all this time. And I heard that you’ve left several women scarred in the past.”

“W-Where’s the evidence for that?”

“Some of the individuals involved have said so. Oh well, if something like this were to circulate on the internet, it might affect your father’s political activities, don’t you think?”

Upon hearing that, Taniguchi’s face turned pale, and he averted his gaze. I knew that Taniguchi’s father was a member of the House of Representatives, but in recent years, he had made various gaffes and scandals, which had led to scrutiny even from the opposition party. If it were to be revealed that his own son had committed a crime, his influence would undoubtedly diminish further.

“…I understand. I have no intention of reporting this to the police. So, don’t cause any trouble for my father.”

“Oh? Quite audacious of you to say that so brazenly. You scoundrel.”

“…”

“Well, I don’t want to escalate the situation either. So, you’ll stop interfering with Kirishima from now on, right?”

“…Yes.”

Taniguchi, biting his lips in frustration, accepted my demand. Or rather, it was a mystery why he thought he could challenge kendo, which has a large attack range, with his close combat karate.

“Hey, by any chance, were you also interfering with the Minami Group?”

Observing the recent chain of events, I began to suspect that this guy might be the mastermind behind it all. Considering his father’s position as a member of the parliament, pressuring the Minai side would be an easy task.

“Who knows?”

While saying so, Taniguchi lifted himself up using only his left arm.

“You’re definitely involved based on that reaction. Stop it right now.”

In response to my warning, Taniguchi didn’t utter a word. He had his back turned, and I couldn’t discern his expression.

Finally, without turning his face towards me, he opened the classroom door.

“Kurata. You’re too slow. You’re too late.”

Uttering those enigmatic words, Taniguchi slowly left the classroom.

Left behind in the classroom, with the evening sun casting its glow, I couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the words Taniguchi had thrown at me.