Shirakawa Miwa jolted awake from the enchanting illusion, the harsh voice snapping her back to reality.
"Shito-kun... Let's hurry and leave," she urged, her face flushed with embarrassment as she buried it into Ito Yoshito's embrace, seemingly too shy to face anyone.
However, the hot masculine scent of Ito filled Miwa's senses, making her cheeks redden even more. Gradually, her rational thoughts were drowned out by waves of warmth, and her sense of modesty began to fade. Miwa felt herself stirring in Ito's hold, her body unconsciously molding against him.
"Miwa, I'm afraid... even if we want to leave, that Tachibana guy won't let us..."
Gently soothing Miwa, Ito noticed her unease but thought it was simply nerves. Opening his eyes slightly, he caught a flicker of cold light in them, remembering only that morning when Tachibana had acted so hypocritically.
"You're right, Tachibana-san."
With a slow turn, Ito locked his gaze onto Tachibana, who was standing nearby with a wicked grin, flanked by a group of rough-looking thugs adorned with tattoos and piercings.
"Tachibana Tobuki?" Miwa blinked in surprise, her mind still foggy. She tried to orient herself, but with her thoughts muddled, she could only see hazy figures that danced in and out of focus.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, those eyes are really burning" Tachibana smirked, swaying as he approached Ito. "You guessed it! Too bad there's no prize. Oh wait, maybe my friends behind me can give you a proper welcome"
"And as for this bitch, Shirakawa Miwa... hehehe~" His tone turned lewd as he stepped closer to Ito, reaching out as if to stroke Miwa's cheek like she was prey.
"Pretending to be so innocent in front of me, yet acting like a desperate fool around this little brat—"
"Now that the drug is taking effect, I'll let you watch as I turn her into my little plaything!"
"Smack!"
"Hm?" Tachibana's outstretched hand was caught in a vice grip, and he looked down at Ito's fierce grip. His arrogance cracked momentarily. "Kid, I advise you to let go now. If you do, my friends might just go easy on you, haha… ugh!"
As Tachibana's bravado turned to muffled cries, the tightening pressure on his wrist made him grimace in pain.
Ito increased his grip just enough to evoke another yelp from Tachibana. "Let go...!"
"Shito-kun~~ Mmm ♥~" Miwa, nestled in Ito's arms, let out a soft, unintelligible moan that sounded almost like a contented kitten, wriggling against him. Her icy fingers trailed along his abs, stimulating him further.
With a firm embrace, Ito held Miwa closer.
"Behave, and I'll let you act cute later—first, I need to crush these vermin!"
His soft gaze melted away, replaced by a fierce glint, like a predator focused on its prey.
"Boom!"
With a powerful kick, he sent Tachibana flying.
"Ah!"
A piercing scream echoed like nails scraping against a chalkboard, fracturing the calm with its sharpness.
"Bang—!"
The sound of Tachibana crashing to the ground filled the air as he collapsed, howling in disbelief at Ito's unexpected resistance.
"Ah! Damn it! Kill him! Kill him! Make sure this brat is dead!"
Seeing their employer down and hearing his frantic orders, the henchmen stormed toward Ito, snarling obscenities.
Kneeling slightly while still holding Miwa's soft frame, Ito charged at the incoming group of thugs.
"Bang!"
His legs tightened like iron pillars, delivering powerful blows that sent the first thug sprawling.
"Bam~ Bam~ Bam~!"
In rapid succession, three thugs were sent flying through the air, crashing to the ground in disarray.
Even while carrying Miwa, Ito moved efficiently, knocking them out with ease and swiftly concluding the brawl.
Fortunately, they hadn't brought any weapons, or protecting Miwa would have proven far more challenging.
Gazing down at the moaning thugs on the ground, Ito then turned his attention back to Tachibana.
Seeing the situation deteriorating, Tachibana struggled to rise, pain etched across his face as he limped away, wanting to escape Ito's wrath.
"Gah— ngggh—"
Tachibana wheezed, hunching over like a defeated stray dog.
"嘭!"
With one last desperate effort, he stumbled over some gravel and fell to the ground, his expensive suit now stained with dirt and his former bravado lost.
"Ito-san, listen to me... this is a lawful society..."
Tachibana gasped as he tried to negotiate, his lips smeared with drool as he spoke feebly.
"Law? You know this is a lawful society?" Ito scoffed.
He pulled out his phone from his pocket.
"Tsk, tsk, those eyes are really burning..."
"You recorded it!" Tachibana exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Slap!"
A heavy boot landed squarely on Tachibana's face, mercilessly trampling it down.
"I don't want to hear your nonsense. Just tell me where the antidote is."
In Ito's arms, Miwa had begun to unbutton her blouse, her fingers trailing over her delicate collarbone and down the well-defined muscles of his chest.
"Ugh... I—I don't have an antidote... You know, men are the ultimate antidote," Tachibana stammered, his previously arrogant bravado evaporating under the pressure.
"Shito-kun~~"
With glistening eyes filled with longing, Miwa lifted her head, exhaling warm breaths perfumed with the scent of gardenias.
"Take me~~"
It was as if a thousand horses were galloping through Ito's veins, a rush of blood pounding through him, overwhelming him with desire.
"Alright~"
Impatience slipped from his dry lips as he hugged Miwa tighter, ready to leave.
"Wait, um... Ito-san, can you delete that recording? I'll pay you; we can discuss the price."
Tachibana seized this chance to plead, desperation written all over his face as he tried to bargain.
"Oh—almost forgot about you."
Ito halted, turning back to look down at him with scorn.
"Ugh—"
Another kick landed in Tachibana's gut, causing him to double over, retching and gasping for breath as his eyes bulged with pain before he finally blacked out.
As consciousness faded, Tachibana caught snippets of thought.
"Raping women with drugs, even if it's an attempted rape, should be enough to get you convicted..."
'My life is over...'
The last rays of sunlight vanished, and the night crept in, swallowing him whole.
However, the moon and stars sparkled brightly in the night sky, casting their glow upon the world—even as Tachibana lay there, devoid of any glimmer of hope in his eyes...