"If you're going to negotiate, you should take this elsewhere." Sumire, however, did not give the two leaders or anybody else a chance to speak. "But even if you do, it's too late. Maybe you'll learn your lesson after I break a few limbs?"
The moment she said those words, the group members started screaming. It was just a second, but she took down one of the leaders, who now lay at her feet in cold blood. His blood spurted onto her hair and dress.
"But just dislocating your limbs would be boring." She taunted as the energy around her body grew stronger.
"Flames- the flames of hell!"
"Run for it."
The members of either gang were wise; nobody wanted to stay and fight her as they speedily tried to flee. But it was far too late. Do they think they can escape after making such a ruckus? Somebody rushed towards her, and she swiftly moved back and brought out a concealed blade, and in one swift motion, a fountain of blood rose from the man's chest.
What a desperate attempt. The more energy that emitted from her body, the stronger the flames grew.
She was nine or was it ten years old, when she discovered this power. Her parents seemed startled when they saw it, but they did not seem surprised. She had no memories before she was eight years old, so she assumed something must have interfered with her memories. Perhaps she discovered this power a long time ago.
Strange enough, she was not frightened when she first saw the flames; she even thought it was beautiful. But despite not being afraid, she decided not to use these powers. People around her already saw her as abnormal.
Even if she did not use these powers, the wall between her and other people grew. Subconsciously people avoided her and feared her; even her parents and siblings did not get along with her. For the longest time, she thought that was fine.
Sumire cut down people gracefully with her blade; each step looked like she was dancing.
But surprisingly, Yuhi and Mamoru did not fear her, and they even treated her like a normal girl. She has many friends now, and she forms new bonds through each encounter she has. However, those people fear her whenever she uses her powers.
Yuhi-san and Mamoru do not; no matter how strong she is, the two of them would foolishly call her cool.
The more people that charged at her, the more the aura around her body grew. This otherworldly power is strange; it feeds on people's fear and weakness.
It did not take long before the only person that remained was a man with white-colored hair. She grabbed hold of his collar and lifted his body into the air.
"Someya Lucien," Sumire spoke coldly. "Did I not just warn you recently?"
Lucien did not reply, and Sumire sighed. Is he still trying to be stubborn?
"Everything in this world happens for a reason, even the daily misfortunes. However," Sumire said sharply. "-that does not mean I can tolerate your disrespect for the order. How dare you initiate violence on this scale?"
The flames and aura around her body grew, and Lucien's breathing became unsteady. Even though she did not hit him with her blade, the man was coughing out blood.
"-even if it isn't me. Somebody else would do this!" Lucien cried out. "You have no idea, do you? How do members of the lower groups feel. We are treated worse than street rat. Even though we are all delinquents, why do some groups get special treatment?"
Sumire only sighed when she heard his reasonings. She tossed him to the other side of the road, causing him to break the glass of an empty shop. Sumire walked over to the other side and saw Lucien groaning, and she extended her blade towards his neck smiling.
"So, for a reason like that, you would do something like this? If you're going to break our rules, you should at least learn to be more discrete. Or perhaps you wanted to be caught by me? Now that is a strange fetish."
Lucien's face broke into a cold sweat.
"Unfortunately, if you did this to earn my attention, you failed. I can't tolerate dirty men like you." Sumire stepped on his legs, and in the next second, he screeched in pain.
"Please stop, Sumire. I'm sorry-"
"Sumire?" Her gaze dimmed. "Are we on familiar terms that you could use my first name? But I see now so you truly did this to earn my attention. How pathetic, now you'll be disabled for the rest of your life." She did not hesitate to pierce her blade several times on his legs before he finally passed out.
Sumire exhaled deeply as she put the blade back into the concealed pocket in her outfit. It got quite dirty, but it shouldn't stain much since she wears dark colors.
She exited the empty shop lot and went back out into the streets. It is a good thing the civilians fled at the start of the fight. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for her to take action.
Even though she has not debuted yet, many people know her face. It would be bad if she got caught here. Sumire slipped on the hood of her hoodie. This should be enough in terms of disguise.
Sumire glanced at the bodies sprawled across the floor. Perhaps she overdid it a little? Her thoughts broke off hearing a siren. A familiar blue-colored van appeared before her, and a woman with violet-colored hair and blue eyes stepped out. She took one glance at the scene and sighed.
"As usual, you seem to get faster here than us."
Sumire laughed awkwardly. "This time, it was just a coincidence."
Right she just happened to be recording.
This person is Kiragi Asuka; like herself, she also belongs to one of the underworld groups. But she is a member of a more righteous organization, Hyou4. A group mainly focuses on people with unusual abilities and strength beyond a normal human.
"Even then, did you have to use your flames?" Asuka asked her with a disapproving look on her face.
"I got caught up in the flow." Sumire lied.
'I can't tell her I am having difficulty controlling my abilities lately. She will surely tell her captain if I do, and that guy will conduct some strange experiment.'
Asuka sighed and suddenly rubbed her face with a handkerchief. "You need to go to school after this, right? At least dispose of the evidence; otherwise, you will be lectured."
"Mmm." Sumire trailed off. "Oh, these people are the heads of the lower groups. It seems they have been in conflict lately because the leader of the someya group stole the katagari group's woman."
"Another petty fight. But really, with that information network of yours, you could find something more useful out."
"Did your captain tell you to say that? Sorry, but my main focus is my career!"
"Says the girl who has delayed her debut this entire time."
Sumire chuckled. "I have my own plans."
Besides, she is a member of the underworld because that man saved her life. The man named Aki who is the leader of the underworld organization Holy Knights.
Three years ago, when she was thirteen, an accident occurred that led to the death of her family. When she was on the verge of starvation in the forest, that man helped her.
Even now, she wonders whether or not it was just a coincidence. In exchange for him saving her, she decided to work for him. It was not like she had anything else to lose; moreover, she needed the money to survive.
For awhile, she hid away from the rest of the world and discovered the true nature of her external relatives.
She was never fond of them in the first place but thought they would focus more on the inheritance and properties left behind than the funeral. Even if they cannot hold a funeral for bodies they cannot find, they do not show any remorse.
She needed money, power, and strength. Aki could give her these things. After adjusting, she slowly returned to school and continued her life.
Three years in the last three years, too much has happened from the talks about her debut and encountering that person.
"Are you alright?" Asuka asked, concerned. "If you are not feeling well, I can drop you off at home."
Sumire shook her head. "It's better for me to head to school. But thank you, Asuka."
"Stay safe, and just today, I won't let him know what happened. You would prefer this, correct?"
"Mm, though, maybe we should let him know. That guy slacks too much."
"In his own way, he does his job."
"I suppose that is true."
Asuka suddenly leaned closer and placed something in the palm of her hand. "Have a look at this later."