Chapter 69: Agreement
Kota lunged forward, knife in hand, his eyes full of resentment. But Haruto stayed calm, quickly calculating his next move.
As Kota swung the blade towards him, Haruto sidestepped again, grabbing his wrist with a firm grip.
With a sharp twist, he forced Kota's hand open, making the knife fall to the ground with a metallic clatter. Kota gasped, trying to pull away, but Haruto wasn't letting him go that easily.
"Really? Pulling a knife on me?"
Haruto said, his tone icy as he tightened his hold on Kota's arm.
"You must be out of your mind."
Without hesitation, Haruto brought his fist down, landing a powerful punch across Kota's jaw, sending him stumbling backward.
Before Kota could regain his balance, Haruto followed up with a swift kick to his stomach, knocking the air out of him.
Kota collapsed onto the ground, gasping and clutching his torso, struggling to recover.
"Stay down. That's where you belong," Haruto growled, his voice low and steady, but full of pure bliss.
He watched as Kota tried to lift himself, face bruised and twisted with rage, but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes now.
Haruto stepped closer, pressing his foot down on Kota's head, forcing him against the ground.
His scream of pain tore through the air as he thrashed weakly, trying to strike back with a feeble punch to Haruto's leg. It felt like a bug bite.
"See, Kota? It's not just my body that's changed—it's my power. Don't you feel it? Don't you feel how powerless you are?"
Haruto taunted, his lips curling into a grin as he kept his foot firmly in place.
Kota's strength was draining, his body slumping until he barely had the energy to resist.
Satisfied, Haruto finally stepped back, watching Kota gasp in a defeated heap on the ground.
"This is my last warning. If you try anything like this again, you won't be getting back up," Haruto said coldly.
Despite his bruised and helpless state, Kota glared up at him, spitting out a bitter threat.
"I... I'm gonna upload that video of you and… her!" His voice was laced with venom, but it trembled, undercut by pain and anger.
Haruto's eyes narrowed. He hated the resilience in Kota's voice—the refusal to break.
Anger simmered beneath his calm exterior as he kicked Kota's stomach one more time, sending him rolling across the ground.
"Go ahead. Upload it," Haruto sneered. "Let's see who everyone focuses on—me or Mari."
"D-don't call her name… with your filthy mouth!" Kota stammered through gritted teeth.
"I'll blur her face! Everyone will only see you!"
Haruto laughed, squatting down to grab a fistful of Kota's hair and pull his face up close. "How many girls at school have that same blonde hair?" he whispered, his tone chillingly smug.
"No one cares about a guy in porn videos; it's the girls everyone talks about."
A flash of horror crossed Kota's face as Haruto's words sank in.
Haruto leaned in, taunting, "Mari's first time was something else. I know you see her expression. Pure satisfaction… right beneath me."
"Are you hard seeing the video of your dream girl being fucked by your 'best friend'?"
Kota's eyes widened in shock and fury, his body jerking with a desperate, useless punch that Haruto dodged effortlessly.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU! YOU ASSHOLE!!! AHH!! AHHH!!!"
Haruto couldn't help but chuckle at the sight—the once-proud Kota, desperate and broken before him.
It was everything he'd waited for seeing Kota reduced to this helpless, groveling state beneath him.
Satisfied with how pathetic Kota looked, beaten and powerless, Haruto straightened up.
"But you're right," he said, casually brushing off his hands, "It wouldn't be good for my image—or Mari—if that video got out."
Kota's eyes widened, a glint of triumph sparking in them as he managed to stand, shakily but with confidence.
"Then stay away from her," he snapped, his voice rising with a forced authority. "Don't talk to her, don't even get close to her!"
Haruto tilted his head, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Hmm… not bad. I'll accept that."
But then, Kota's confidence surged, his eyes narrowing as he took a bold step forward.
"Then kneel. Beg for mercy," he demanded, grinning as if he held all the cards. "Or I won't delete that video."
Haruto stepped closer, making Kota instinctively step back, the fear flashing across his face again.
"What's the matter?" Haruto taunted, lowering himself slightly as if to humor Kota's demand. "Are you scared of me?"
Kota's smile began to fade just as Haruto's head shot up, slamming into his jaw.
Stunned, he staggered, his vision blurring before Haruto followed up with a punch to his face, forcing him to his knees, clutching his bloodied nose.
"Don't get too cocky, Kota," Haruto sneered, looming over him.
"I'm only doing this for Mari's sake, not because I'm afraid of you. Know your place."
His words were calm, almost mocking. "Understood?"
Kota nodded numbly, though he managed to mumble, "Then, let me join the school gang... and I'll delete the video."
Haruto smirked inwardly. 'He took the bait.'
In a different future, Kota would sell his sister to Daiki to get into the gang. For some reason, his friend desperately wanted to join Red Fang.
For now, Haruto would use this to take revenge. To make him feel what he felt when Kota betrayed him.
"Fine," he agreed.
"But don't bother deleting the video. Watch it whenever you want, you might need it for masturbating."
His laugh cut sharply through the silence, watching as Kota's knuckles turned white.
"Now, tell me where all your little hidden cameras are, and I'll stay away from Mari. But if she ever comes back to me on her own…"
Haruto paused, leaning in, his smirk widening, "You'll only have yourself to blame."
Kota stayed silent, his head bowed, fists clenched as Haruto's words settled in.
"Oi! Did you hear me?"
Haruto snapped, his voice rising impatiently. Kota flinched, tension stiffening his shoulders.
"Yes… I understand," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes finally lifting to meet Haruto's with a smoldering hatred.
"But I still want into the gang," he spat, determined.
Haruto laughed, nodding with mock approval. "Of course. I'll help you with that."
With that, Kota turned, limping away from Mari's house, leaving Haruto behind, still chuckling to himself.
'Did he think joining the gang would make him tougher or make her fall for him? Or that he could ever hope to beat me?'
"Dumbass," Haruto muttered, a dark grin spreading on his face as he imagined Kota's fate.
'I'll make sure your life in Daiki's gang is nothing less than hell.