"So you have huge debts." Zua understood.

Sitting on a bench, Suoh could only nod slightly with her head. Eyes reddened and dark circles even more visible than before, Suoh affirmed.

"Just a year ago I was a regular student! But last year, my father passed away and in his will he bequeathed his business to me and wanted me to be the new manager! But, I don't have the necessary capacities for that! In addition, I was promoted to manager at the time of the strongest financial crisis of this century! because of that, the turnover of the company s collapsed! And because of that, I have 2 billion in debt."

Hissing, Zua asked.

"I wonder how many steaks I could buy with that."

"It's something serious." Suoh retorted. "How am I supposed to get out of this situation?"

"And who were the two guys who came?"

"It's Kasana's men! A creditor I borrowed a lot of money from! Nevertheless, I can't afford to repay him."

Trembling with terror, Mihono was desperate.

"They said that Kasana will come to my business tomorrow! What am I going to do?"

Showing a slight bored look, Zua wanted to tell her that it was not her problem. Still, she questioned her.

"If you have money problems, why did you buy me this meal?"

"I...I understand how people who don't have money feel! I...It may be ridiculous, but I thought to myself that if I was in the same situation as you , I wish someone would help me."

" I see ... "

Then heaving a sigh, Zua affirmed.

"Do you need a bodyguard?"

" Huh ? "

"If you want someone to protect you, I'll take care of that." Zua assured. "Have you seen my strength? These people can never defeat me."

"But…But…I don't want to get you involved in this! Besides, I don't have money to pay you a salary."

"Don't worry about that! Just, is there a sofa in your business?"

" A sofa ? "

As midnight was almost past, the door to Suoh's office opened, as the headmistress walked into her office. Following her, Zua looking around the room before pausing on the sofa that was there.

Sitting on it, Zua assured.

" It's perfect. "

"Do you really want to sleep here?" Suoh questioned.

Settling on the sofa, Zua lay down on it, before stretching.

"After years of sleeping on the streets, this sofa can be compared to a bedroom in a luxury hotel."

Then getting up, she asked.

"Are there showers here?"

"Huh…yes! In the locker room."

"Perfect! It's been ages since I've been allowed to wash myself in hot water."

Seeing her rejoicing over few things, Suoh questioned her.

"Is that really all you want? You want to be my bodyguard, in exchange for being able to sleep on a couch and a hot shower."

"If possible, I'd like something to eat too! I doubt it, I know perfectly well that you won't be able to afford me! So I'll settle for what I can get."

"But... Kasana is a deceitful and devious man! He will categorically refuse to forget me, until I pay him back."

"Don't worry." Zua affirmed. "To survive on the streets, you can't imagine the number of people I had to fight! Killing me had even been the goal of some of them."

Finally, it being perfectly installed on the sofa, she affirmed.

"I have a debt to you! So, just worry about yourself, okay? If you want to put me in as little danger as possible, do your best to pay off all your debts! Until then, I promise you that nothing won't happen to you."

Hearing this Mihono wanted to reply. Nevertheless, she was taken aback by what Zua had just told her. Then, finally, she declared.

" Thanks. "

Without understanding the reason, Mihono suddenly felt protected by this woman she had just met on the street.

The day after

Looking at the uniform she had just received, Zua looked skeptical about her new work outfit.

"Sorry." Suoh apologized. "All I can get you is company work clothes."

Simply tapping the end of her new shoes against the floor, Zua declared.

"It's going to take me some time to get used to walking in shoes again."

Then she sat down on the couch in Suoh's office. She had slept on it all night, and honestly, it had been a long time since she had slept so well.

No car noises... no feeling of wind or rain... no people coming up to her to try to steal her... Zua had been able to sleep without being dangerous.

To tell the truth, it was a little before seven in the morning when Mihono returned to her office, to find her already awake and performing a series of squats. Like every morning, Zua had trained. Then, she went to take a shower, before receiving a uniform from Suoh.

"Listen Zua! You have to keep this uniform on, otherwise my employees are going to wonder! It's essential that they think that you are really a new recruit to the company."

"Must they know I'm your bodyguard?"

"Honestly, I'd rather not! If my workers know that my life is in danger, he surely came to be afraid to continue working here."

"It's up to you." Zua affirmed, grabbing a box of instant noodles, which she began to eat with relish.

"Huh…maybe you wanted to eat something else?"

"That's fine with me." Zua assured him.

Suddenly someone at the door and a man shyly walked into the office.

"Suoh-san... Kasana-san has just arrived."

Hearing this, Mihono's face paled further. However, trying to maintain some semblance of composure, she declared, stuttering.

"Make...Make him come to my office."

" Aye. "

Finding herself alone with Suoh again, Zua saw her sitting down at her desk, still unable to help but shake.

"Of course, if he sees you behaving like that, Kasana will try to intimidate you more to get his way."

"I... Anyway, what difference does it make? I can't pay him back."

"You can at least try to negotiate paying it at the end of the month."

at that moment, the office door opened again and, this time, three men entered the room. Among them, Zua quickly recognized the duo she had met yesterday and even dared to greet the one who was wearing bandages on his face.

Seeing her, the man began to growl and seemed to want revenge on her. Nevertheless, seeming to foresee what he wanted to do, his comrade put a hand on his shoulder and silently ordered him to stay still.

For his part, ignoring Zua and the duo, the third man, dressed as a businessman walked towards Suoh. Then, without waiting, he sat down on a chair in front of her desk, before starting to light a cigar.

"Suoh-chan, what a pleasure to see you! I haven't heard from you lately! It's like you were ignoring me on purpose."

"Kasana-san..." Suoh could only say, unable to calm her fear.

"You know why I'm here, don't you?"

"Kasana-san...regarding the money I owe you, I..."

"Indeed, yesterday, my main objective of wanting to speak to you concerned the astronomical sum that I kindly lent you and that you promised to reimburse me as soon as possible! Nevertheless, today, it is no longer a question of of that."

Using his thumb to point at the injured man, he declared.

"Since you have always made sure to avoid me during these last days, I asked them to bring you to my company so that we can discuss between responsible adults! And what do I hear? That one of your employees is having fun beating up my guys."

Inhaling a large amount of smoke, he blew it in the direction of Mihono's face, who couldn't help but cough.

"Suoh-chan, I always seemed to have been honest with you! You are the one who came to me and the one who assured me of my money back! Am I to understand that you lied to me and that you weren't planning to pay me back from the start?"

"Huh...no! Kasana-san...I assure you it was a misunderstanding! The person who hit your man doesn't actually work at my company."

"And who is this person?"

"It's me." Zua affirmed, stepping towards them.

Glancing at her, without moving his head, Kasana looked at her for the first time, as if discovering her presence. Then, looking suddenly irritated, he took his cigar out of his mouth, before turning to the injured man.

"Hey, Ixo! What's this story? You told me his bodyguard beat you...but you never told me it was a woman."

The injured man could only lower his gaze, proving that he hadn't wanted to tell her that he had been knocked out by a woman.

"Ridiculous." Kasana growled.

Then, looking again at Zua, he questioned her.

"Did you really knock him out?"

"Yes! With a kick."

"Do you work for Suoh Company?"

"At that time, not at all."

"Then why did you meddle in a matter that didn't concern you?"

"I owed Suoh a debt." Zua replied, shrugging. "Besides, you should thank me! Your men almost carried out an act of kidnapping in an urban area! If the police had known about it, I doubt you would have got away with it."

Hearing this, Kasana couldn't help but laugh.

"HAHAHAHA! You're a comedian! But from what I see, you don't know anything about the world of politics! Do you really think the police are going to come and bother me for such a trivial matter? Besides, it's Suoh-chan who is at fault."

Again, his gaze was directed to Mihono.

"Now let's talk money! When are you going to pay me back?"

Suoh lowered her gaze, showing that she couldn't give him any satisfactory answer.

"My company is still struggling to recover from the crisis...so..."

"That's not the question I asked you." Kasana retorted. "I asked you when you can pay me back."

Suoh stood still, as she struggled not to sob. She really hated this life. This life as a boss did not suit her at all. She wanted to get back to her life before, where no creditor came to harass her to get reimbursed.

"Hey, the boss asked you a question." The injured man roared, reaching out his hand towards Suoh.

But before he could touch her, he felt a hand grab his forearm, stopping him.

" That ... ? "

now sitting on Suoh's desk, Zua affirmed.

"Yesterday, I had no particular connection with Suoh! But today, I am officially her bodyguard! So, I advise you not to touch her."

Feeling genuine hatred towards Zua, the man swung his fist in her direction causing Zua to tilt her body backwards to avoid him. Leaving the office, she was followed by the man who tried to hit her several times.

Dodging again and again, while flashing a mischievous smile, Zua affirmed.

"I've known gorillas faster than you."

"Shut up." The man roared, attempting to punch him again.

However, like yesterday, Zua's foot came up and hit him in the cheek. And like yesterday, the man immediately lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Zua growled.

"There is nothing more pathetic than people who don't learn from their mistakes."

Seeing this, Kasana frowned. Then he declared.

"You are not a woman like the others."

"Have you noticed? If you want advice, don't bully Suoh! Today, she can't pay! But if you give her time, and stop harassing her, she can concentrate on her work in order to repay you."

" Really ? "

Sweating immediately, Mihono wanted to ask Zua to stop, before she angered Kasana further. Yet the man began to laugh again, while declaring.

"I love women like you! Hey, Suoh, I have something for you."

" Huh ? "

"A Kengan match."

Immediately, Suoh swallowed in fear.

"A...kengan match?"

"It's going to be very simple! Since you seem unable to pay your debts, we are going to organize a fight! If you win it, I would be willing to postpone the date of payment of your debts by a month! But if you lose, you will be forced to close your business and give me its ownership rights."

Hearing this, Suoh stuttered.

"But...if I lose..."

" It will be your bankruptcy." Affirmed Kasana. "But I doubt you have a choice." "

Standing up then, he declared.

"I leave you until tonight to decide! If you are unable to pay me, the match will take place the day after tomorrow! Until then, I wish you a good day."

Then, he left Suoh's office, stepping over Ixo's unconscious body.

"Kuroki...pick up that incompetent."

"Aye, boss!" The second man said, picking up his mate.

Nevertheless, eventually reacting, Suoh asked.

"Wait! If the fight happens...who are you going to select to represent you?"

Stopping, Kasana turned to her, before displaying a wicked smile.

"The best fighter...Harada Tokujiro."

Hearing this, Suoh's soul seemed to leave her body.

"You look like you're about to vomit." Zua remarked.

" It's normal. " Suoh affirmed, still sitting at her desk, while she looked desperate. "It's the worst situation that could happen."

"Are you talking about the Kengan match? What is it?"

"A clandestine fight." Suoh affirmed. "These are fights that take place without the Japanese people knowing about it! The biggest companies in Japan use these fights to settle their differences! In any case, the stakes of these matches must always be respected! So, if I lose ... I would be compelled to give the business to Kasana."

"In that case, all you have to do is not lose." Confirmed Zua.

"How? His fighter is Harada Tokujiro! He's a fighter who has won nine kengan matches and never lost! He's very powerful."

"And you? Who do you have to represent you?"

At that moment, the door to the room opened a third time and a man with horrible scars on his face walked towards Suoh.

"Suoh-san, I have heard that you are going to need my services."

"Yaki…thanks for coming." Suoh thanked him. "A kengan match will take place soon and I will need you to represent us."

"Huh?" Zua wondered, looking at the man.

" Thank you for your trust. " Yaki affirmed. "Don't worry, this time I'll win."

"This time?" Zua repeated.

Looking at Suoh, she questioned him.

"What's his track record?"

"Huh... 1 win and 5 losses."

Hearing this, Zua understood the obvious.

"This guy is an amateur."

"What did you say?" Yaki roared.

Giving a simple wave of the hand to order him to leave, Zua affirmed.

"Suoh will do without your services."

Then she pointed to herself.

"I'm going to be your fighter."

"What?" Mihono wondered.

Immediately, Yaki laughed.

"HAHAHAHA! A female fighter doesn't make me laugh."

Suddenly, he gave a powerful elbow strike that hit Zua's side. The force of the blow was so strong that the poor woman collapsed on the ground.

" ZUA ! " Said Suoh.

"Don't worry." Yaki assured. "I got my strength under control! I hope this will make him realize that a woman like her has no place in the Kengans matches."

"Hey! I really hope for you that you know how to hit harder than that."

Surprised, Yaki saw Zua get back to her feet. Seeming to have felt nothing, she cracked the muscles in her neck, before getting into a fighting position. Her fists were thrust forward, while one of her legs was raised.

"Thai boxing?" The man wondered.

"If I take you down, I will represent Suoh's company in the fight."

Sighing, Yaki finally said.

"Don't complain when I broke a bone for you."

Then, charging like a bull, he found himself in front of Zua and tried to give her a powerful punch. Positioning her arms in front of her face, Zua felt Yaki's fist forcefully slam into one of her forearms. Then, Yaki's other fist hit her second forearm.

Continuing to punch hard, all the while forcing Zua back, Yaki laughed.

"HAHAHAHA! Do you understand now? It's obvious that you don't have the slightest chance of…"

Suddenly, Zua's foot hit his left knee with devastating force, causing a crack.

"Your leg guard is very bad." Zua told him.

Immediately crying out in pain, Yaki fell to one knee. Seeing him in a disadvantageous position, Zua then performed a quick pelvis movement that sent his leg towards the man's face.

The next moment, Suoh's eyes widened, seeing Yaki crumble to the ground, with a bloody nose, as Zua had just knocked him out.

"Tssss! Not even worthy of a warm-up."

Then staring at Suoh, she questioned her.

"Are you okay with me representing your company?"

Remaining speechless, Mihono thought he had witnessed a miracle. To repay her debts, Mihono had played many Kengan matches, which ended in humiliating defeat for her company. And yet, Yaki was the best fighter she could find.

But today, it was clear that the woman in front of her was now her last hope of saving her business.