Chapter 005: Chiyuki Kamihara

Almost at the very instant that the slender, snow-white hand lightly rested on Su Cheng’s shoulder, he reacted instinctively, gripping the wrist behind him and twisting it back without mercy.

“Ow! Let go, you’re hurting me!”

Su Cheng spun around sharply. Standing before him was a girl with a face reminiscent of an Akihabara anime character, her cheeks tinged with red, lips pursed in a pout as she glared at him aggrievedly, her voice uncannily similar to a certain famed voice actress from the Neon Isles.

“Sorry, is your hand alright?” When he’d seized her wrist, Su Cheng had clearly felt her pulse—delicate and lively. A genuine, flesh-and-blood young woman, not some specter.

“Of course it’s not fine. You have to take responsibility now.” The Akihabara girl, still simmering with indignation, rubbed her reddened wrist and grumbled. Chiyuki Kamihara had not expected this boy to have such strength. She’d learned a few self-defense moves herself, but under Su Cheng’s grip, she hadn’t been able to muster any resistance at all.

Su Cheng looked momentarily dazed, scratching his head awkwardly. “Should I take you to a pharmacy for some ointment?”

Seeing his befuddled expression, Chiyuki Kamihara’s anger evaporated without a trace. She let out a snicker. “I was just teasing you. My hand’s fine.”

“Then why did you suddenly tap my shoulder?” Su Cheng studied her seriously. Her skin was white as porcelain, her features delicate as a masterpiece of blue-and-white china. She was even more beautiful than those so-called once-in-four-thousand-years internet idols—a true feast for the eyes.

“I saw you running alone and thought you might be bored, so I came over to keep you company.” Chiyuki Kamihara’s cheeks reddened further, her manner growing a bit awkward.

So she’d come over to strike up a conversation? It was the first time a Neon girl had approached Su Cheng like this, and he found himself rather enjoying it.

Then he noticed a flicker of fear in her eyes and realized what was going on. She must have been frightened by the shadows of the trees and the eerie howling of the wind, and had come to him seeking a sense of safety.

“Aren’t you afraid I might be a bad guy and do something improper to you?” Su Cheng teased.

To his surprise, Chiyuki Kamihara shook her head with utter seriousness. “I have a good eye for people. You’re a good person.”

A good person... Su Cheng’s expression stiffened. He’d just been handed a “good guy” card by Chiyuki Kamihara. Ouch, that stung.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Chiyuki Kamihara.”

“Su Cheng.”

“You’re from Huaguo? Your Japanese is excellent! And was that kung fu you used just now?” Learning that Su Cheng was from Huaguo, Chiyuki Kamihara’s curiosity was instantly piqued. She peppered him with questions like a child.

“Uh, not all Chinese know kung fu,” Su Cheng explained, a little helpless. “I still have half an hour of running left. If you’re afraid of the dark, just follow behind me.”

Chiyuki Kamihara’s face flushed at being seen through, but she remained stubbornly defiant. “I’m not afraid of the dark! I just didn’t want you to be bored running alone, that’s all.” Despite her words, her actions betrayed her, as she obediently ran after Su Cheng.

After less than twenty minutes, Chiyuki Kamihara was already struggling to keep up, her breath coming fast, a sheen of fragrant sweat on her skin. Su Cheng, meanwhile, had barely broken a sweat and was breathing steadily.

“How is he so freakishly fit? I can’t keep going,” she thought. Chiyuki Kamihara had never been particularly athletic, and her stamina was average at best. After this stretch, she was completely spent.

When the night run was finally over, Su Cheng turned around to find Chiyuki Kamihara had vanished, presumably heading home.

“My constitution really has improved so much. That soul crystal truly works,” Su Cheng mused, taking a deep breath and letting the cold night air fill his lungs, invigorating every pore. After a night’s exercise, he felt the mysterious energy from the soul crystal had fully merged with his body. Thanks to this nourishment, his minor nearsightedness, back pain, and various small ailments had all disappeared.

Leaving Edogawa Park, Su Cheng stopped by a nearby convenience store for a bottle of water. On his way home, he spotted a familiar figure—Chiyuki Kamihara, the girl he’d just met. But something was wrong.

“Hey, pretty lady, I know a great bar nearby. How about coming with us for a drink?” A blond youth with a pompadour blocked her path, leering.

His two companions stared at Chiyuki Kamihara, their eyes nearly dripping with lust.

“Sorry, I have to go home. My family will worry,” Chiyuki Kamihara replied nervously, trying to sidestep the blond, but he clearly had no intention of letting her go.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a drink. Come on.” The blond reached out to grab her arm.

“Don’t touch me!” Panicked, Chiyuki Kamihara reflexively kicked him in the most sensitive spot.

From not far away, Su Cheng could almost hear something shatter.

The blond doubled over with a howl, face contorted in agony, clutching himself as he collapsed to the ground.

“Come with us, or we’ll carve up your pretty face,” threatened another delinquent, his eyes flashing with malice as he drew a switchblade and waved it menacingly in front of her.

The sight of the blade drained all strength from Chiyuki Kamihara’s limbs, paralyzing her with terror. If they really scarred her face, she’d be haunted by nightmares for the rest of her life.

Seeing her petrified, the delinquents relished her fear. One of them lunged at her, blade in hand.

But the moment he touched her, a hand seized him from behind. Before he could react, he was hurled through the air and crashed to the ground.

“Sei-kun?” Chiyuki Kamihara’s eyes lit up, instantly recognizing Su Cheng. So he really did know kung fu!

“You trying to play hero?” The blond, having recovered, pulled a hidden switchblade from his pocket and charged at Su Cheng, face twisted with malice. They were only delinquents, not murderers—they had no intention of actually stabbing anyone, just scaring Su Cheng off.

In their experience, flashing a knife usually sent people fleeing in terror. But the man standing before them was utterly unmoved, showing not a trace of fear.

After surviving the horrors of a zombie-infested cafeteria, such petty threats seemed child’s play to Su Cheng. Compared to those savage monsters, these delinquents were almost endearing.

Suddenly, the blond’s vision blurred, and before he knew it, the switchblade was in Su Cheng’s hand.

“What are you going to do?” The delinquents found his gaze unsettling, but they couldn’t afford to lose face. Besides, the blond didn’t believe Su Cheng would actually dare to use the knife.

“I’m just giving you a haircut,” Su Cheng replied.

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of cold steel gleamed in the blond’s eyes.

The sharp blade skimmed across his scalp, and before he realized it, a swath of thick hair from the crown of his head had been sheared away, leaving a shiny patch of bare skin.

His two companions burst out laughing at the sight of his new hairdo.

“What’s so funny? Get over here and help me!” the blond shouted, humiliated and furious, lunging at Su Cheng for revenge. But more flashes of cold light followed, and when he touched his head, he found only smooth, naked skin.

“I’m bald?!”

Only then did the group realize they’d messed with the wrong person. His knife skills were terrifying—if he hadn’t held back, the blond would have lost far more than just his hair.

“Let’s get out of here!” They didn’t abandon their friend, but dragged the bald blond away at top speed, terrified they’d all end up shaved bald if they lingered.

As they fled, Chiyuki Kamihara finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was about to thank Su Cheng, but he had already vanished.

“He just left without waiting for me?” she fumed. Back at school, she was idolized by countless boys; they’d do anything for a chance to talk to her. And yet Su Cheng seemed utterly indifferent. Was it because she hadn’t worn makeup tonight?

“Just wait, I’ll definitely find you,” she said with a sly smile. She knew Su Cheng lived nearby—tracking him down wouldn’t be difficult.

Su Cheng, oblivious to Chiyuki Kamihara’s determination, went back to his apartment, showered, and slept soundly until noon the next day.

When he awoke, he habitually checked his phone and saw an unread message.