Chapter 3: “Alarm” Clock Awakens the Rabble, A Small Trick Breaks the “Game” Plan

“No… no way, how can you be sure it was me? I never threw any stone!”

“I ran all this way, sweating—how could I possibly try to hurt Shizuku Sakurai?”

“You… you’re definitely lying!”

Hideo Saiki’s twisted mouth soured like a bitter lemon, teeth grinding as he desperately tried to clear his name.

He couldn’t understand—his disguise was so perfect, how could anyone notice?

He threw it from across the street, hidden in the alley’s shadows.

With his honed pitcher’s skills and carefully planned position, he was certain his actions were undetectable.

Yet he was still found out?

What a joke!

If that guy hadn’t blocked his stone with a Hakimi, would he be in this mess now?

Not only did he fail to win Shizuku Sakurai’s favor, but this guy stole it?

F*ck, why does it feel like I’m the one being NTR’d!

And who the h*ll is this guy?

His actions were so swift, with a perfect alibi.

Even if it was just a weak guess, how could it prove he threw it?

Utter nonsense!

Wait… no!

Not seen, but… guessed?

Sh*t!

Realization hit Hideo Saiki, and he opened his mouth to retort, but it was too late.

The guess had already taken hold.

“Uh, what are you muttering to yourself about?”

“Threw? Threw what? What did you throw?”

“I only said you might’ve tried to hurt Shizuku Sakurai.”

“But I never said you definitely did, or how you’d do it.”

“So… you exposed yourself?”

Su Buyu watched Hideo Saiki’s gritted teeth, his earlier grim expression easing at the sight of his foe’s breakdown.

The voice in his ear confirmed his goal was achieved.

[Congratulations, Master, for successfully engaging with Shizuku Sakurai.]

[Current Shizuku Sakurai Corruption Risk: 93%]

Still not below 90%.

Would Hideo Saiki need to leave for the corruption risk to drop further?

So… what now?

Call the police.

In his original world’s logic, once the cops showed up, the guy would have no choice but to leave.

But would that logic work in this world?

Tch, tricky.

Even trickier, he’d already tried calling the police.

His phone screen showed garbled text, reminding him he couldn’t get through.

And somehow, a striking red color appeared in the alley.

Like blood seeping from skin, it caught Su Buyu’s eye instantly—a button in Hideo Saiki’s hand.

What’s he doing with a button? Planning to blow something up?

A flicker of confusion crossed Su Buyu’s eyes.

But Hideo Saiki, panting heavily, licked the sweat from his lips with a gleeful grin stretching ear to ear.

He couldn’t hold back his emotions, bursting into manic laughter.

Shizuku Sakurai tilted her head, eyeing the thing, sucking in a breath with a hiss.

“Uh… a detonation button? A pacemaker? A shock device? Or that super-cool invincible Hakimi they say works like medical equipment?”

“…The first few guesses were decent, but what’s with that last one?”

Su Buyu couldn’t help but quip.

Hideo Saiki sneered, confirming it.

“Sharp eye! It is the super-cool invincible Hakimi! Scared now, huh?”

“How’d you even recognize it?”

Su Buyu turned to Shizuku Sakurai.

She looked away, awkwardly twirling her silver-dyed hair, saying she’d seen it online by chance.

“It said it supports Bluetooth, can control multiple devices with one button, and even works as an alarm clock, but I’m curious—those tiny terminals, like quail eggs, how do they work as an alarm…”

She trailed off, frowning as if realizing something bad, her gaze shifting to the thugs, then silently to the boy beside her.

Seeing her expression, Su Buyu’s eyes widened, coughing hard as if grasping a shocking truth.

He clearly remembered Hideo Saiki was a hardcore straight guy.

Even if he bought such a device, he’d pick a Holy Grail!

So Hideo Saiki wouldn’t use this button’s terminals.

Where were the terminals it controlled?

And, knowing it had an alarm function that Hideo Saiki didn’t use himself…

Could it be… he bought it for someone else?

As if answering Su Buyu’s guess, Hideo Saiki tilted his head back, smirking with a raised brow.

“Heh… time to take control of you two!”

Click—

The button pressed.

Instantly, the alley filled with phone-alarm-like ringing and vibrations.

Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~

Like being jolted awake from deep sleep by an annoying rhythm.

The trembling surged from the ground like a mini-earthquake, racing up the spine to the skull, shaking dust loose around them.

The thugs, previously out cold, suddenly stood, eyes gleaming like they’d been shot with adrenaline, their booming voices unstoppable even by concrete walls!

“Arghhh! No… not there… not there!”

“We’re sorry! We won’t sleep in again!”

“Forgive us!”

“Forgive? How should I forgive you, hm?”

Hideo Saiki sauntered toward the thug leader, teasingly lifting his chin, then turned, glaring viciously at Shizuku Sakurai and Su Buyu.

“The girl’s mine.”

“The guy’s for you to enjoy. Sound good?”

“Ohhh! Y-Yes… Boss… ah… no… it’s too much!!!”

As if hitting a peak of ecstasy, their frail bodies suddenly burst with strength.

A thug roared, lunging at Shizuku Sakurai.

But before his hand could touch her fragrant skin, her black round-toe boot slammed into his face.

Side kick, direct hit, no holding back.

Bam—

The force crashed his head into the wall, the sound echoing through the alley.

A delinquent girl’s years of fighting honed a strength that should’ve knocked him out for good.

But no.

He could get up again!

Hideo Saiki casually pressed the button.

With a delicate cry from the ground, the thug Shizuku Sakurai knocked out staggered up, knees buckling, trembling like a sieve.

“No… don’t fix me like that…”

His weak voice contrasted sharply with his earlier bravado.

A terrifying scene—Su Buyu started sweating.

He’d seen this world’s absurdity in the game, but feeling it firsthand was a first.

Su Buyu missed his old world.

But he knew he had to defeat this guy to move forward.

So…

Take down the leader first!

But the thugs around them had all “stood” up.

Fight them?

They were outnumbered, with endless stamina like zombies.

Even if Shizuku Sakurai could take them, Hideo Saiki’s “control” over them meant she’d tire out eventually.

When that happened, forget her corruption—he’d probably get wrecked for days.

No… think fast!

What did he have?

What could he use?

…Wait?

He glanced at the Hakimi in his hand, then checked his ability.

[One Carrot, One Hole]

[Warning: Don’t use this ability for bad things, like on people, or else…]

“Or else?”

[It’s immoral, heh!]

“Oh! I’ve got an idea!”

A spark lit in Su Buyu’s mind, and he grinned.

But Shizuku Sakurai, puzzled, punched a thug’s face, turning to Su Buyu’s sudden excitement with confusion.

“What? If you’ve got an idea, use it! I can’t hold them off forever!”

Her fist’s impact dazed the thug briefly.

But the trembling in his body jolted him awake, lunging at her like a zombie.

Tricky.

Shizuku Sakurai stepped back, keeping distance to avoid being swarmed.

But what next?

Move the fight to the street?

No… that’d drag others in.

Was there any way to turn this around?

Hot breath hit her face as she shook her hair, tying her cherry-dyed strands back, ready to give it her all.

“Hey, I don’t know your name, but I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

“Next, I’ll create an opening for you to escape. Take it and get out, got it?”

But a light pat on her shoulder answered her.

“Relax, I’m not running.”

His figure stepped in front, gripping the Hakimi like a knight’s blade, unwavering.

“I’ve got a way to win. This’ll be over soon.”

Su Buyu activated his ability, ready.

But Hideo Saiki, backlit at the alley’s exit, burst into laughter, scoffing.

“Ha? Win? You think you can win with some headspace delusion? Crazy much?”

He eyed the thing in Su Buyu’s hand, tearing into him.

Win?

With just the two of them?

With that pathetic stick?

“Hah, dreaming!”

“Maybe you’re right about one thing—it’s about to end!”

“When it’s over, I’ll have them play with your *orchid* for three days and nights!”

Hideo Saiki raised the button, certain of victory.

What could their noise do?

He saw the dawn of triumph!

When it was over, he’d not only humiliate Shizuku Sakurai…

He’d force that stranger to watch, helpless, crying in pain—a perfect sight!

“Get them! Take them down!”

“Ohhh! Yes… Boss—”

Sensing Shizuku Sakurai’s stamina waning, Hideo Saiki struck, cranking the button higher, waving his hand as the thugs charged like rabid beasts!

Madness, cries, taunts, and Hideo Saiki’s near-insane mockery filled the alley, their stampeding steps like warhorses, unstoppable.

Their snake-like momentum closed in on Su Buyu and Shizuku Sakurai.

Yet Su Buyu, unfazed, locked his gaze on the man.

Maybe it was time to end this.

But not as he wished.

Not as Hideo Saiki wished!

He gripped the “blade” tightly, as if seizing victory’s light.

“Don’t look away. The chance to counterattack is just a moment—stay calm and seize it! A certain master once said that.”

“Counterattack? Master? What are you even talking about?”

Did this awful scene drive him insane?

Hah, your mind’s so fragile, nameless guy!

“Come… end…”

But before he finished, the figure before him vanished into the shadows.

The next instant, a sudden sensation erupted inside Hideo Saiki, piercing his nerves, shattering his schemes and vain intentions, pain and pleasure crashing into his brain like a volcano.

What… what’s happening?

His shocked eyes widened, but as he tried to glance back, a pair of gazes like blades pressed against his neck, chilling him.

“Hey, buddy, I slipped in behind you like Flying Thunder God~”

“You… how did you…”

He tried to speak.

But too bad—Su Buyu had already pressed the button.

The decisive button!

“Here, taste my victory-driven strike!”

The vibrating energy unleashed like a high-frequency cutting blade, erupting from Su Buyu’s hand like a volcano!

Endless heat coiled around Hideo Saiki like a python, a sensation he’d never felt, leaving him stunned, shocked, his roars filled with unwillingness!

“Arghhh!!! You… you dare do this to me! I’m not done!!!”

His shouts echoed through the alley.

Hideo Saiki tried to flee, to run.

But Su Buyu’s single hand gripped tight, muscles and joints locking his neck, trapping him in a hellish experience.

[Wah… Master, you’re so immoral!]