I introduce another fic with a System. This time it is a Like a Dragon/Yakuza x Kiseki crossover with System. This is co-written by myself and FairyNChevalier, a friend of mine who helped articulate my ideas to scenes better... which means a fic full of 3rd POVs! Once again, an OC fic and kinda self-indulgent, if you hate these kinds of fics, click out now so you don't waste your time reading!
For those who wish to continue, I hope you enjoy this first chapter.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
An 18-year-old boy stared at his reflection in the mirror. Shaggy, tousled dyed blonde hair that fell on his face. Bangs swept to the side, covering his forehead. He felt his mane reach up the nape of his neck. Multiple piercings were on his ears.
Combined with his appearance?
He looked like a total delinquent!
His hands shook, practically trembling as he touched and inspected his face as if it were a foreign object.
"Did I... Did I just transmigrate into this body!?"
One moment, he had been standing on a graduation stage, listening to the commencement speeches at his high school, anticipating his final walk to accept his diploma before tripping and falling off the stage. The next moment, he was lying on his back in an unfamiliar room, staring up at a ceiling that was definitely not the high school gymnasium he was in moments ago.
Indeed. He was a transmigrator.
He somehow woke up in the body of Keisuke "Kress" Hibiki, the young master of the Hibiki Clan— a small yakuza clan of the Eastern Quarters of Calvard. The memories that flowed into his brain like an information current nearly made him pass out again.
The Hibiki Clan was very small, but from the snippets of the original owner's memories, he could tell that their operations had enough risk and enemies to make things dangerous, especially for someone who wasn't exactly the "young master" type in his previous life.
But more importantly, realization struck him.
The transmigrator ended up in Zemuria— in the world of the Legend of Heroes series.
A series he had only casually followed, though he did finish the games up to Reverie. Now, he was here, thrust into the body of a character he didn't even recognize. Keisuke "Kress" Hibiki wasn't a name that had ever been mentioned in any of the games he played. If he was here, then who was Kress supposed to be?
The logical conclusion?
A nameless, throwaway mob!
He wasn't even a named NPC!
The blonde-haired teen fell on his back on the mattress of his bed, his brain processing everything that had happened to him.
Based on the memories Kress received, he was currently living in an apartment in Edith— the capital of Calvard. The year was S. 1208 of April... Did he end up in the plot of the new arc or something?
For some, it might be a great opportunity to experience an amazing life in a fantasy world...
But to Kress?
Someone who was supposed to have graduated high school by now?
"Dammit! I don't want to go to school again!" He whined. "Damn, my luck...!"
He ended up in the body of a second-year high schooler!
Just as he was about to throw another fit out of frustration, the transmigrator heard a knock on his door. He sighed, aware of who was behind the door.
"Come in, Hikaru."
"Excuse me, Young Master."
The door opened and revealed a young woman with short black hair and pink eyes. However, what would likely catch one's attention the most would be the maid outfit she wore as her uniform.
Hikaru Aozaki. The maid and caretaker of the delinquent young master of the Hibiki Clan.
Despite seemingly being the same age as him, she stayed by his side, caring and protecting him from danger. Having read a fair amount of webnovels in his past life, Kress didn't even need the original's memories to figure out that Hikaru was a trained assassin. No way someone from a yakuza clan was ordinary!
The dyed-blonde teen sat up, unintentionally scowling. "What is it?"
"I am done preparing breakfast, Young Master," Hikaru stated, hands folded in front of her. She would ask, "Will you be going to school today?"
Kress pursed his lips, which to others, looked like his scowl deepened. Hikaru was used to his facial expressions, so she wasn't affected and just stared at him blankly, awaiting his answer.
The reality of his situation hadn't entirely sunk in, but the idea of resuming the life of a high schooler wasn't exactly appealing—especially when it came with yakuza baggage. Still, he realized that blending in and acting like the original "Kress" was probably his best shot at figuring things out without getting into serious trouble.
"Yeah, I'll go to school today..."
Hikaru blinked, a rare expression of surprise flashing across her usually stoic face. "You… will?"
Kress noticed the uncharacteristic reaction and inwardly cringed, realizing that his decision was probably out of character for the original Kress Hibiki.
"What? Surprised that I actually want to go for once?" Eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn't intention to glare, but it looked that way without him even trying. "I'm not in the mood to stay cooped up here all day."
"I understand, Young Master. Please enjoy your breakfast while I go prepare your things."
"Fine."
The transmigrator got up and left his bedroom, finally letting out a sigh of relief. He probably sounded off, and he feared that Hikaru, someone who knew the real Keisuke Hibiki, would see through his mediocre acting and claim him as a fraud.
Well, he was a fraud, but it's not like he had any choice in the matter!
For the time being, he went to the small dining area of the modest apartment unit.
Rice, miso soup, and a rolled omelet, huh? He supposed that's to be expected from an Eastern household— er, clan. As he placed a piece of the egg dish in his mouth, his eyes went as wide as they could possibly go.
...Delicious.
Okay, he might enjoy this new life... just a little bit.
After eating the breakfast prepared by the maid, Kress retreated to his room. He saw his uniform placed neatly on his bed. It was the uniform of Aramis Academy students. The transmigrator could vaguely call it the school that Renne Bright attended as an exchange student in one of the post-game scenes.
And if that blue necktie was any sign, it meant that he might run into Renne Bright in one of the original's classes. He had more important things to worry about... like his reputation in school.
According to the fragmented memories and the glances he'd caught in his student notebook, he had barely shown up to Aramis Academy in weeks. Not only was the OG Kress a truant, but he was also seen as a notorious delinquent by his peers.
What a pain in his ass...
He sighed and started to get dressed in his uniform. Kress gazed at his own reflection. Yup, that scowl didn't exactly scream friendly vibes. The worst part was that he wasn't even trying to frown.
"Maybe it's all a misunderstanding... Then again, this guy seemed to have a slight temper and was cold to people." He mused to himself before he heard a knock on his door. "Come in."
Hikaru entered the room with her master's bag in hand. She handed him his bag, and they set off toward the door.
"You seem... different today, Young Master. It's not like you to… take this kind of initiative."
"I just want a change of pace. That's all."
"I understand."
The two of them left the apartment together. Kress didn't bother sending the maid back or telling her he could walk to school on his own. This seemed to be what she had done for the original back when he was still attending his classes.
The journey to school was uneventful. Hikaru wished him luck after escorting him to the front of the academy. But as Kress stepped through the gates, he felt the weight of dozens of eyes falling on him. Whispers spread like wildfire among the students, and he could practically feel their apprehension.
"Is that Keisuke Hibiki?"
"He actually showed up?"
"Why's he back now...? Oh, Aidios, could it be because he joined Ronald's entourage!?"
He soon realized that, despite being a 'nobody' in the grand scheme of Zemuria's history, the original Kress Hibiki wasn't exactly invisible in his own world. His bad reputation as a delinquent seemed well-established. The students parted in the halls to avoid crossing his path, their stares filled with fear and wariness.
Kress's scowl deepened as he walked down the hallway, but this time it wasn't unintentional—he was genuinely annoyed by the tense atmosphere.
But no matter how much he was annoyed or frustrated, the transmigrator couldn't vent it out.
How could he?
Everyone knew him as the same old Keisuke Hibiki— a delinquent of Aramis. They didn't know he wasn't Keisuke Hibiki.
"What a hassle..."
Letting out a sigh, the transmigrator did his best to ignore the stares and whispers as he continued making his way to his first class.
Turning the corner to reach his classroom, he wasn't watching where he was going and nearly bumped into someone. He quickly stepped back, looking down to see a girl with long, violet hair crowned with a black ribbon, her vivid golden eyes staring up at him curiously. There was an air of maturity around her that stood out even among the elite students of Aramis.
But he didn't recognize her as some elite student. He recognized her as Renne Bright.
"Pardon me," she said with a small, polite smile, yet it unnerved the teen. Her eyes briefly widened for a moment; recognition flickered in her eyes. "Keisuke Hibiki? Now, this is a surprise. I see that you decided to finally show up to classes."
"Yeah," he replied curtly, keeping his voice steady. "Decided it was about time."
"Oh?" She raised an amused eyebrow. "In that case, good luck with your first class. You're going to need it to catch up on all of the materials you missed."
"...Yeah, thanks."
Kress watched her go, feeling an odd sense of relief that she didn't press him further. It wasn't that he was afraid of her—okay, maybe a little—but more that he didn't want to draw any more attention than he already had.
With a resigned sigh, he pushed open the door to his classroom and stepped inside.
The atmosphere immediately grew tense, the low hum of murmured conversations dropping into an awkward silence. Kress's reputation had clearly preceded him here, too.
Even the instructor, a middle-aged man with graying hair and glasses, seemed taken aback by his arrival.
"Keisuke Hibiki," the instructor said, raising an eyebrow. "It's... been a while. I'm surprised to see you here."
"I figured I'd try to catch up."
"I-I see... Go ahead and take your seat, then."
Kress kept a sigh to himself and made his way to an empty seat near the back of the room. He recalled another memory. Instead of reprimanding or getting angry at a truant like Keisuke Hibiki, the instructors just let him do whatever he wanted since he hadn't done anything violent and because of his background.
As the lesson began, Kress pulled out a notebook and a pen, deciding to actually take notes.
He wasn't exactly thrilled about being back in school, but since he'd been thrown into this situation, he figured he might as well make the best of it. Besides, he needed to know as much about this world as he could to navigate it properly.
The transmigrator could feel the stares drilling into his back, but he tried his best to ignore them.
"What's he doing? Is he actually... taking notes?"
"Is this some kind of prank?"
"Maybe he's trying to turn things around..."
Kress ignored their whispers. He kept his eyes on his notes and his mind on the material, occasionally underlining key points or jotting down questions for later. The teacher paused for a moment, clearly surprised to see Kress actually engaging with the lesson. He didn't say anything, but there was a slight flicker of approval in his gaze before he continued the lecture.
As the class continued, the stares gradually began to lose their intensity. The students seemed more perplexed than intimidated, their expressions shifting from wary distrust to cautious curiosity.
He'll take what he could get.
Kress continued through the rest of his morning classes in the same focused manner, ignoring the stares and whispers that followed him from one room to the next. Each time, the reaction was the same: initial shock at his presence, followed by surprise that he was actually paying attention and taking notes.
It felt strange to be on the receiving end of such scrutiny, but he forced himself to stay diligent.
As the bell rang to signal the start of lunch, Kress packed up his things and made his way to the dining hall.
The moment he stepped inside, the usual buzz of conversation dimmed noticeably, and he felt dozens of pairs of eyes turn toward him. It was almost enough to make him lose his appetite, but he pressed forward, grabbing a sandwich and scanning the hall for an empty seat.
There were free spots to use, but the tense atmosphere was harder to ignore compared to the ones in the classrooms.
With a sigh, he turned and walked out of the dining hall. The courtyard would be quieter, at least— somewhere he could have a moment of peace without all the prying eyes.
As he stepped into the courtyard, a cool breeze came by as if comforting him. He found a bench tucked away near the garden, shaded by a cluster of trees, and sat down to eat. The sounds of distant chatter and the rustling of leaves were very much welcomed than experiencing deafening silence or unpleasant whispers.
But just as he was about to take the wrapping off his sandwich, he heard voices nearby. Very nearby.
"We won't take too much of your time, Agnes. We just want you to hang out with us after school."
"I-I'm sorry, but I'm really busy and have an early curfew."
"Oh, we know that's bullshit."
Kress leaned back slightly to catch a glimpse of the source. A small group of students had cornered a girl with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
She stood tall despite the situation, her expression calm and composed, but there was no mistaking the tension in her shoulders. The three boys surrounding her had the look of typical delinquents—disheveled uniforms and smug grins.
She tried to keep herself amicable, but she couldn't stop a frown. "I really am."
"Come on, we just want to hang out and get to know you a little better!"
One of the punks' hands reached toward her, and she flinched.
"Hey." Walking toward them, Kress' voice pulled their attention away from Agnes and into him. "You guys deaf or something. She already refused you once."
The three boys turned to face him, their expressions shifting from surprise to annoyance.
"Well, if it isn't Keisuke Hibiki," one of them huffed, crossing his arms. "What's it to you, huh? Last I checked, you're not exactly the moral authority around here."
"True. But I'm not a fan of idiots who can't take a hint," He glanced at the blonde-haired girl. "And if you've got nothing better to do than run your mouths, then I'd say you're the ones who need to rethink your priorities."
The ringleader's eyes narrowed. "You think you're better than us now, Hibiki?" he spat. "Don't think you can act all high and mighty just 'cause you showed up to class for once."
"Nah. I'm not trying to be 'better' than anyone," he said, stepping forward. "I'm a punk with a nasty reputation. Well, probably not as nasty as yours after everyone finds out you're harassing a first-year."
Their incoming outbursts would be put on hold when Kress held up his Xipha— the sixth-generation battle orbment of Calvard, a picture of the delinquents harassing the girl in high resolution. Anyone who saw the picture could tell the blonde was uncomfortable.
"So, what will it be?" Kress smiled with a chuckle, his voice lacking any warmth or humor. "You can leave, and we pretend this never happened... or I can show this to the instructors and get you three suspended. I don't mind either."
The courtyard fell silent, the tension in the air thickening as Kress's words hung in the space between them.
The ringleader's face twisted into a snarl, and his two friends exchanged uneasy glances. They seemed torn between backing down and trying to save face, but the sight of Kress's Xipha made them hesitate. There was no mistaking the high-resolution image of their harassment, clear as day.
"You think you can blackmail us, Hibiki?! You're just a punk like the rest of us! Nobody's gonna believe you over us!"
"I knew you were an idiot, but I didn't think you were this stupid." He scoffed. "I have evidence against you lot. Even if the instructors don't believe me, they'd end up asking this kid for confirmation anyway. Now, who do you think will she back up? The notorious Keisuke Hibiki, who she had never met and spoken to, or the punks harassing her?"
The ringleader's jaw tightened, and he took a step back, his gaze shifting to his friends. "Tch, whatever," he spat, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Let's get out of here. This isn't worth the trouble."
With that, he turned on his heel and stalked off, the other two boys following close behind.
Kress released a sigh, lowering his Xipha and slipping it back into his pocket. He turned to Agnes, who was watching him with a surprised but thoughtful gaze.
"You okay?"
"Um, yes! Thank you for your help, Senior!" She bowed sheepishly as he waved it off. "I'm glad it didn't escalate further..."
"Yeah, me too. I really didn't want to fight them."
"Eh?"
"Eh...?"
The blonde-haired student covered her mouth, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry for my reaction. It's just... you're different from the rumors— Ah! I'm sorry for allowing them to assume!"
"Don't worry about it. It doesn't bother me." At least, he tried not to. Kress reluctantly accepted his reputation due to the original. The transmigrator patted her shoulder and left. "Later."
"W-Wait!"
He glanced over his shoulder as the blonde scratched her cheek.
"...I'd like to thank you properly. If there's anything I can do, please let me know. You have my word, Senior."
"Don't sweat it," Kress replied, waving off her gratitude. "You don't owe me anything. I just did what anyone should've done."
She looked like she wanted to protest but simply nodded again, a small smile forming on her lips. "Understood. But... if you ever need help with something, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Sure."
As he walked back toward his bench, the transmigrator felt an odd sense of satisfaction. The girl's genuine appreciation felt like water in an oasis... or a similar metaphor. Maybe because he had been receiving scorns and glares since this morning, or maybe because the original owner of the body had never received such appreciation in a long time.
Either way, the fact that the girl was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt left him feeling lighter, even if just a little.
He returned to his spot and finally unwrapped his sandwich, about to take his first bite, completely unaware of a pair of golden eyes watching him from a distance.
"It's finally over!"
Stretching his arms out, his final class of the day had come to an end. It was a class with Renne Bright as one of his classmates, but to his pleasant surprise, he had only received a polite greeting and nothing more. That was relieving... if it weren't for the annoying whispers that filled the classroom when the rest of the students saw the exchange.
Kress was forced to go into 'delinquent mode' and glare at the whispering students to make them shut up, much to the purplette's concealed amusement.
He decided to lounge around a little in the classroom, reviewing the notes he took. One by one, the students left the classroom to go to their clubs or whatnot. Renne had just finished packing her things when a teenage boy surrounded by some students walked up to her desk.
The kid looked familiar, Kress thought. But he couldn't quite place who he was. His attention returned to his notes, ignoring their conversation with the young lady.
That didn't last long when he overheard the boy suddenly snap at Renne. The transmigrator turned his attention to the commotion as Renne revealed that the kid, Ronald Griffith, had been the source of poorly concealed animosity toward the purplette since she started attending Aramis.
His intervention was not needed as the purplette gave a courteous nod and left the room, paying no mind to the wide eyes and shock on their faces.
"T-That bitch! Who does she think she is to make a fool out of me!?"
Ronald's seething gaze landed on Kress, and a cruel smirk appeared on his face. It was quick to vanish as he cleared his throat, but the transmigrator already noticed the malice in his eyes.
Walking over to his desk, Ronald smiled, "Hibiki. I've got a proposition for you."
Kress released a tired breath and packed his things. He would raise his brow at the other.
"What do you want from me?"
"Oh, it's simple really! All you need to do is bother and harass Renne Bright for me. You can even humiliate her if you want!" He laughed coldly. "Just make it so that she would stop coming to school until the student council president elections have passed."
Kress's eyes narrowed as he absorbed Ronald's words, his expression turning stony. "You're serious?"
"Absolutely," Ronald replied, his grin widening. "I'm sure someone like you could—"
"Let me stop you right there." Kress stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. "What exactly makes you think I'd want to do your dirty work?"
Ronald's smile faltered, and the other students shifted uneasily, glancing between Kress and their supposed ringleader.
"Come on, Hibiki," Ronald said, trying to recover his composure. "It's a win-win for you. A little troublemaker like you could use the leverage. I'll even make sure people give you some space for a change and compensate you generously with mira. You'd be doing us both a favor."
"So you think just because I'm a 'troublemaker,' I'd jump at the chance to mess with someone who hasn't done anything to me?"
"It's not like you have any friends here, Hibiki. You could at least make yourself useful to someone."
"You think just because you don't like her, it's okay to make her life miserable until she leaves?" His voice dropped, becoming dangerously low. "Pathetic."
Kress despised bullying and harassment, even in his previous life. Bullies didn't know when to quit until they thoroughly crushed the victims' will to live. They don't know how much their actions affect others. But in a world such as this, where people possessed power that could easily harm others' lives... Kress didn't even want to know what they were capable of.
Ronald's sneer twisted into a scowl. "You think you're better than me, Hibiki?" He snapped, stepping closer. "You're just a punk who got lucky to even be here! Don't act like you're some kind of righteous hero—"
Kress moved before Ronald could finish, closing the distance between them in a single step. He grabbed Ronald by the collar and lifted him off the ground, his eyes boring into the boy's startled face. The other students gasped and backed away, but Kress's voice was steady and calm.
"If you've got a problem with Renne," Kress growled, "then deal with it yourself. But don't you dare try to use me for your petty grudges."
He released Ronald, letting him stumble backward.
"And for the record, I don't need your leverage. I don't care about what people think of me, but I'm not about to play along with your nonsense."
Ronald stumbled, barely catching his balance. His face was flushed red with a mix of rage and embarrassment. "You... You'll regret this, Hibiki!" He spat, his voice trembling with anger. "You think you can just—"
The dyed blonde ignored his outburst and left the classroom. He didn't bother to listen to whatever insults or threats Ronald hurled in his direction; they weren't worth his time. As he made his way down the corridor, he caught a glimpse of purple hair turning the corner ahead— Renne, who had apparently been lingering just out of sight.
They stared at each other for a moment before Kress simply nodded and continued on his way.
He failed to notice a certain shine that now resided in her golden eyes as she watched his retreating form.
The transmigrator would leave the main building of the academy, a weight lifting off his shoulders as the day finally came to an end.
He had planned on heading straight back to the dorms and calling it a day, but as he reached the courtyard, he noticed a group of familiar figures loitering near one of the side paths that led to a secluded corner of the academy grounds.
It was some punks— the same ones who had been harassing the blonde-haired girl from earlier.
When they noticed him approaching, they grinned, stepping forward to block his path.
"Leaving already, Hibiki?" The ringleader sneered, crossing his arms as his friends closed in, effectively surrounding Kress. "We need to have a little chat."
"If this is about what happened earlier, then I'm not interested. Now, move."
The ringleader's grin widened, showing teeth. "Oh, you'll be interested, alright. You think you can make fools out of us and walk away like it's nothing?" His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "We've got a score to settle."
Before Kress could respond, two of the boys lunged at him from behind, grabbing his arms to pin him in place.
A third came at him from the front, aiming a punch at his gut. Kress twisted his body to avoid the hit, using the momentum to drive his elbow into the ribs of the boy on his left, breaking free from their grasp.
However, there were too many of them. Another blow caught him across the jaw, followed by a kick to his side that forced him to stagger backward. They were coming at him from all directions, overwhelming him with their numbers. The transmigrator managed to land a few hits, but he was slowly being cornered, outmatched by the sheer number of assailants.
For a moment, Kress struggled against the overwhelming odds, his vision blurring as they pummeled him from all sides.
Then, out of nowhere, an almost mechanical, booming voice in his head spoke as time seemed to stop for a moment. A transparent blue interface popped out of thin air, making his eyes go wide.
-YAKUZA SYSTEM ONLINE-
[Welcome, Young Master! The Yakuza System has been integrated into your consciousness to help you become a 'real yakuza.' Progress through various objectives, level up your skills, and take control of the streets!]
"H-Holy crap...! A system?!"
He hadn't expected that his transmigration would come with a System! Excitement would probably take charge if it weren't for his current situation but for now...
"Get me out of this situation, System!"
[Situation Detected: Confrontation - Outnumbered Street Fight]
[Force Unlock of Combat Style...]
[Thug Style Acquired!]
-Thug Style-
[A combat style specialized in street fighting and rough brawling techniques. This style excels in raw power and improvisation, utilizing punches, grabs, and environmental objects to overwhelm opponents.]
After the notification prompt had appeared, a wellspring of knowledge flooded his head, but he endured the slight pain, flexing his fingers as the muscle memory provided by Thug Style began to spread through his veins.
-MISSION ADDED-
[Delinquent Cleanup]
Defeat the Aramis punks!
Rewards: 100 Yakuza Points, 1 Random Skill, Minor Reputation Increase
A grin would stretch across his face, time resuming once again.
Payback time.
The punks surrounding him noticed the sudden change in his demeanor and hesitated for a split second. That was all the opening Kress needed.
"Come on then," he taunted, his voice dripping with a newfound confidence. "You wanted revenge, right? Let's see if you can handle this."
The first punk rushed him, swinging wildly. Kress sidestepped with ease, catching the boy's arm mid-swing and twisting it into a painful lock. With a sudden yank, he threw the assailant into the two others, trying to come at him from the side. They collided, the pain causing them to pass out.
[Use your surroundings!]
The System's voice served as a guide, and Kress instinctively glanced at his surroundings.
Spotting a trash can nearby, Kress dashed toward it, grabbing the metal lid. When the closest punk came at him again, he swung the lid like a makeshift shield, smashing it into the boy's face. The impact echoed with a loud clang, and the boy staggered back, clutching his bloodied nose.
[Apply force strategically. Make every hit count!]
The next opponent came in low, aiming to tackle Kress to the ground, but Kress leaped up, bringing his knee down hard onto the boy's shoulder. As his opponent collapsed, Kress followed up with a brutal stomp that kept the boy down for good.
A punk came at him from behind, attempting to grab his arms again. Kress reached back, grabbing the attacker by the hair and yanking him forward, slamming his knee into the punk's gut. As the boy gasped for air, Kress delivered a vicious headbutt, knocking him to the ground.
Kress flashed a crazed grin upon seeing the ringleader shaking in his boots. His arrogance was now replaced by fear.
He took a step back, glancing at his fallen comrades, then turned to run.
Oh, but the System wasn't going to let him run off that easily. Its mechanical voice almost seemed commanding.
[Chase him down and finish what you started!]
[A bonus reward is guaranteed if successful!]
That's all Kress needed to hear!
He lunged forward, catching the ringleader by the collar and yanking him back. With a swift motion, he slammed the boy face-first into the wall, holding him there with one arm pinned behind his back.
"You thought you could corner me?" Kress growled into his ear. "You thought I'd just roll over and let you beat me down?"
The ringleader whimpered, his previous bravado shattered. "L-Let me go! I swear, we won't bother you again!"
"I'm not interested in your promises," he said coldly, pressing the boy harder against the wall. "Just know if you try to lie and accuse me of being the one to beat you for no reason to the instructors, I might have to break an arm or two."
Kress finally released him. The ringleader collapsed to the ground, scrambling to put as much distance as possible between himself and Kress. The dyed blonde almost turned green, noticing a wet patch forming on the punk's pants as he ran away.
-MISSION COMPLETE-
Rewards Obtained: 100 Yakuza Points, 1 Random Skill, Minor Reputation Increase
[Random Skill Acquired!]
"Almost forgot about this. Let's see..."
-Menacing Aura-
[Intimidates and weakens the resolve of nearby foes. Scales with user's overall strength.]
Allowing a chuckle to come out, Kress smiled and walked away. He wasn't sure what Yakuza Points or Reputation were for, but at least his random skill drop was promising. Menacing Aura looked like to be a pretty useful skill to have against nameless mobs.
Kress made his way out of the gate, eyes widening at the sight of his maid standing by her lonesome.
"Hikaru? What are you doing here?"
Hikaru turned her gaze toward Kress, her expression calm as ever. "Good evening, Young Master," she greeted with a bow. "I came to escort you back home." Oh, he almost forgot about that. "I had a feeling you might encounter some... inconveniences on the way."
"What gave you that idea?"
"I received word from another maid at the academy that there had been some unruly students causing trouble earlier. I thought it best to ensure your safe return," Hikaru explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "It seems my intuition was not unfounded."
"It's kinda ironic you're worried about delinquents wanting to harm a delinquent you serve."
"I believe you are not the type to harm others without reason, despite your reputation at school, Young Master."
He flinched; her words struck his chest. Kress hadn't expected them at all. Shifting his discomfort from side to side, the transmigrator rubbed his neck.
"Well, I handled it. They were just petty thugs that wanted revenge since I stopped them from harassing a first-year."
Hikaru stopped trying to hide her surprise, now it was as obvious as the fact his hair was dyed.
"You did?"
"Yeah. They were giving some girl a hard time, and I wasn't about to stand by and let it happen."
"I see," Hikaru replied, her expression softening. "...You really have changed"
"Huh?"
"It's nothing." She shook her head, but there was a strange glint in her eye— approval...? "Are you ready to return home?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
The two made their way back to the apartment complex of the Auber District. Their conversation remained silent, just like this morning. But somehow, it was slightly pleasant compared to before.
For any ideas of our protag's appearance, it's the reincarnated guy from the music video of Ai no Scenario by CHiCo with Honeyworks... or you can just squint at the cover art of this fic. Anyways, later.