KNB: Strong (Himuro Tatsuya)

8 - Hero

Quick warning for the presence of violence, and creepy men twice your age under the influence of alcohol. Read at your own discretion!

Regardless, enjoy this chapter!

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CHAPTER EIGHT – Hero

Ayano wakes up to her phone ringing. It was a text from Himuro, saying that he and Murasakibara will be out to explore more of the town – particularly the new sweet shops that had just set up.

She eventually gets up and gets ready, wondering where to go next. She didn't want to disturb their time together, and she didn't want to risk getting diabetes and weight gain by exploring every sweet shop in this big city. She eventually decides on shopping for souvenirs, and then meet up with the two boys afterwards.

It takes her more than half a day to pick out souvenirs – she got each one for the Journalism Club members, her classmates, and her friends in school. She even got something for the nice elderly couple and their pet dog near her dorm. It came to a time where she couldn't handle all of them. She decides to call the two boys.

She was about to bring out her phone to call one of them when she felt something drip on her face. One drop of water turned into thousands in an instant. The rain suddenly pours down, and Ayano quickly tries to find shade.

In her search for one, it seems that she couldn't find any. Anything with a roof has been occupied by people, so she constantly had to find a new one someplace else. She tries to call a cab and then go back to the hotel, but all cabs have been occupied. From the bustling streets of the city, she finds herself in a residential area, and finally some shade.

It was in an alleyway, and there was no one there. It was the perfect place for her. Now she only needed to wait 'till the rain stopped or to call a cab and go back to the hotel. But judging by how hard the rain pours, she felt like it won't stop anytime soon. It was a residential area so there are not much cars, or cabs for that matter, passing by there. And if a cab did pass by, it was already occupied.

It has been around 30 minutes since she's been stuck in that alleyway. She already sent a text message to Himuro about where she was, hoping to bring an umbrella or two with him. The sun was starting to set, and yet the rain refuses to stop. She's starting to feel cold, not bothering to bring a jacket today since she thought it was summer and there was no chance of it raining. The worst part of it was her phone's battery is low. She is bored beyond belief. Fortunately, she was the only person there.

Well, not for long.

She hears heavy footsteps coming towards her direction. They were five men, who were too drunk for that time of day. They didn't have any umbrellas with them, so they settle to the same alleyway, hoping to sober up as they were there.

Ayano tries to calm herself down. She didn't know why she even felt nervous the first place. They were just five men. It wasn't that they would do something bad to her, right? Regardless, she moved the furthest she can from them, hoping not to disturb them.

It wasn't long.

As she finally settled her things, one of the men turned to her direction, finding her there. She flinched a little, but tried to calm her nerves as he turned back to his mates. She checks her phone to find Himuro still not responding, and then finally shutting down.

She hears one of them whistle. She tries not to look at their direction.

"Hey there, beauty," one of them hollers. His voice was raspy and he hiccupped afterwards, meaning that he won't go sober anytime soon. "Got stuck in the rain, too?"