Locked and wounded. (A Hololive fanfic)

Chapter 9: Things will be okay... Right?

(Arato's POV.)

Oh boy... Today is officially... The worst day of my life, me and Sora were just staring at this duel challenge paper for a bit while Tanigo-sensei looked on at us with an alarmed look on his face, waiting for me to react to it. And boy did I. "I'm really questioning that guy's sanity right now..." I remarked, slowly losing my mind inside as I looked at this damn paper. I didn't think he'd go this far over a damn girl that just wants to move on from her old life being enslaved by his piece of shit father. While I could sense the genuine care he has for Sora, it kinda makes me wonder, if he knew about the bullshit that she faced daily under his dad's ownership, why didn't he do anything? Why'd he only show that concern now that she's much happier and living better? Something about that just doesn't sit right with me, as much as I hate to bring this up, I'll ask Sora about this when we get home... I'll just have to moderate the questions I'll ask since its such a sensitive topic. I just need some more info on this guy about what he does behind closed doors, just who exactly is this guy when nobody's looking? Up until he threw that tantrum and assaulted Sora I've only seen him acting as a calm and collected rich dude that was relatively easy to speak with and didn't cause any trouble, and seeing him act all insane like that recently was extremely foreign to me. He was a completely different person at that moment, a person who's not only threatening but possibly dangerous. And the fact that he went as far as this means that I'm done with this guy's bullshit. You wanna know what are the things he demanded on that paper? He demanded ownership of Sora, that I leave this school, and that I move out of town if I lost the duel. I was usually a cool guy who only ever lost his composure during a particularly bad medical emergency I have to deal with at least once a week, but this rich kid went too far, and I'm genuinely pissed right now.

I let out a sigh as Sora and I finished reading the whole thing, and I looked over to see her with a terrified expression on her face. I can't blame her, this situation is genuinely scary for the both of us, this bastard is demanding that I hand her over to him and leave this town where I worked so hard to build myself up. What kind of sane person asks for that sort of shit because a girl kept rejecting him? Seriously, 'normal' people would've just sucked it up and moved on. Not this guy, and he has such a large foot up his ass that he decided that if he can't have Sora using just his words, he'll take her forcefully and ruin someone else's life in the process.
"A-Arato-kun..." I was pulled out of my thoughts by Sora whispering my name, and I looked back at her again to see her trembling in fear for what might happen. Admittingly even I'm scared of what's gonna end up happening in that duel, its a tradition here in this crappy country, seen as an honorable way to settle disputes without actually killing someone. However throughout history people haven't been taking the 'don't kill your opponent' part seriously, and there were even records of the victor in the duel finishing off their opponent instead of just being satisfied with their win. This is why we can't have good things in this country at all, the people here are pretty shitty about it, this tradition in particular has become a joke in recent years from all the dumbest things that people started duels over, and many of them ended fatally. Once I got these thoughts out again I finally responded to Sora, trying to put up the most calm tone of voice I cold muster. "Hey... Calm down okay? We'll find a way through this." I said with a bittersweet smile, running my fingers through her hair. I felt her lean towards my touch ever so slightly as she let out a hum, though the worried look on her face remained.

"Are you sure...?" She responded with skepticism, but I was determined to not have this bastard have his way. Not when it would cost two people so much, and I have a feeling he's gonna go overboard on me if I do lose the duel... I have to make sure he doesn't. I'd like to keep living in this town thank you very much, and I'd like Sora to live in peace away from this guy's child predator father.
"Yeah... It sounds impossible but... I'll make it work." I said, maintaining my forceful smile, which she caught on to quickly. "It doesn't even look like you believe your own words..." She remarked, those words struck a nerve because it's true. I have no idea how to make this whole situation Vincent put us in work except beat him in that duel.
"Truth be told... I'm not sure how to make this work, all I know is that I have to, for your sake and mine." I said, and I could see a genuine and warm smile subtly creep up on her face to replace the look of fear and concern that once resided there. A smile that was worth cherishing and protecting, and it brought up the questions of 'why would people want to hurt this girl?' all over again. "I don't know if I can win against Vincent, but I have to try since we both don't like the consequences of him winning." I added, and she just nodded in response. Meanwhile Tanigo-sensei looked on at us like he was watching his son take his first steps as a baby, I guess he didn't want me to back down and lose to this crappy challenge either. And I won't, not when so much is at stake. I don't want this guy to have the last laugh.