"I am thine to command" {Prince of Tennis fiction}

Chapter 9 [Assault]

**** Scene change ****

It was in the evening, when co-curricular activities had just ended. 4 huge figures were cornering and towering over a petite figure.

"You damn scoundrel! How dare you seduce my girlfriend?" A guy grinded out the words between clenched teeth as he shoved Marui Bunta up the wall.

"What are you talking about? When did I seduce your girlfriend?!" Marui retaliated angrily as he rubbed his shoulder, which was searing with pain.

"Don't act innocent! Because of you, my girlfriend doesn't even eat lunch with me!" A second guy roared in a harsh voice.

"Yeah, she doesn't even make bento for me!" A third guy spoke in a gruff, masculine voice.

"All she does is to chatter about how awesome you are, it's so annoying. What the hell is so great about you anyway?!" The fourth guy's cold, crisp voice rose above the clamour.

"That's because I'm a genius." Marui smirked as he puffed out his chest.

"You damn conceited jerk! We've got to teach you a lesson!" The guys barked as he swung his fist around threateningly.

"Wait!" Marui blocked the fist with his reflex. "I wasn't the one who seduce them; those girls willingly come to me. It's your girlfriends who aren't being faithful; it's not my fault! Maybe if you guys were cooler, your girlfriends wouldn't leave you~" Marui acted like a wisenheimer as he gave a self-satisfied grin.

"What the hell did you just say?!! You damn bastard!!" The guys bellowed indignantly as he landed a hit on Marui's left cheek.

"We'll get to see how cool you are after we'd you all beaten up!!" Two guys kept a firm hold of him on each side while the Karate Master and the Wrestler took turns to pummel the self-proclaimed genius mercilessly, till his face turned black and blue.

"Damn it! You guys will regret this!!" Marui spat out his words as he coughed out blood. He could feel his head became dizzy as it was being whacked repeatedly in full force. 'Someone... Anyone... Help!!'

**** Scene Change ****

Kirarin took out her black-rimmed spectacle and rubbed her eyes. She had just completed the assigned works given by Takahiro-sensei, the Discipline Master.

'It's so beautiful...' Kirarin looked out into the window. The few thin strips of cloud on the horizon turned shimmering gold as the sun set. The rays of light gave her warmth after spending hours in the air-conditioned room.

"Isn't that Niou Masaharu's friend?" Kirarin thought as she spotted Marui Bunta being surrounded by 4 other tall and muscular figures.

Kirarin couldn't hear them, due to the enclosed space she was in, but she could discern that it wasn't just a friendly greeting amongst friends.

The guys were gesticulating furiously, and their mouths contorted grotesquely. One of them landed a hit on Marui Bunta. The impact caused him to crumble to the ground as he cupped his face; his eyes looking over piercingly back at the assailants before hissing a curse word spitefully.

That seemed to incite wrath from his aggressors, as they gave him a warning look, their eyes smoldering in hatred. In a split second, Marui was being held up by 2 of the guys. He was struggling desperately, trying to wrench himself out of their grasps but to no avail as they rained blows on him relentlessly.

Kirarin was trembling, not due to the cold air, but rather, the fear that was rendering her immobilized. Memories were spilling out from the chest, which she'd locked, and stored away deep in her heart.

It was as though she could hear Marui's desperate pleas for help, despite being alone in the room, which was 3 levels up. The scenario was so similar, the murderous glint in the attackers' eyes; the cruel and sadistic smile on their twisted expressions. It was sending shivers down Kirarin's spine.

'Please... stop... don't hit him anymore...' Kirarin begged desperately as a tear escaped her eye. Nevertheless, the battering never once ceased, rather, it became more violent, as Marui's face became visibly swollen.

'I- I'll regret it if I don't do anything. I- I won't be able to forgive myself if I just let it happen right before me. No, I won't let history repeats. Not when I could stop it.' Kirarin blinked her tears away as she clenched her fists in determination, as if summoning all her strength and courage before facing a decisive battle.

After a few seconds of composing herself, she sprinted down the corridor to the alley where they were.