Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

Haruto knew Kota wouldn't apologize to Mari. Not easily, at least.

The boy was too blinded by his delusions, too absorbed in his belief that he had done nothing wrong.

That was precisely why Haruto had orchestrated this gathering, inviting Mari to bring her friends and ensuring the entire schoolyard bore witness to Kota's downfall.

'Keep talking, Kota. Show them your delusional self. Let them see you unravel until there's not a shred of dignity left,'

Haruto thought, his expression calm but his gaze sharp.

'This isn't even half of what my sister and I endured in our first life,'

he reflected bitterly, his eyes scanning the crowd.

In the past, he and his sister had cried out for help, but no one came. No one dared to step forward.

Instead, they stood by, watching their suffering from a safe distance, treating their pain as nothing more than morbid entertainment.

Haruto's jaw clenched.

These students were no different. Sheep, gathering to watch a wolf tear another apart, their indifference was witness of how cruel they actually were.

And above them, on the rooftop, loomed the real wolves—the Red Fang.

Their gang leaders observed the chaos below, their eyes cold and calculating as they assessed the situation like puppeteers deciding which strings to pull next.

"I'm doing nothing wrong…" Kota's muttering pulled Haruto back to the moment.

The words were barely audible, but Haruto caught them.

"Without me, Mari would be… a slut. I'm the one who protected her…"

Haruto's lips twitched into a faint smirk.

'Even now, you cling to that delusion, don't you? Twisting reality to shield yourself from the truth.

'

For a moment, he almost pitied Kota's self-inflicted ignorance.

Almost.

"Look at the woman in front of you," Haruto said suddenly, his voice cutting through Kota's murmurs.

"Do you think she loves you?"

Kota froze, his words caught in his throat. For the first time in a long while, his eyes shifted to Mari.

She wasn't the girl he remembered from elementary school—the kind, shy girl who once smiled at him, the only one who wanted to be his friend.

This Mari was different.

Confidence.

Beautiful.

Out of reach.

And standing beside her, always overshadowing him, was the one person he had thought would always be his shadow, someone beneath him.

Haruto.

"You… you bastard!"

Kota's voice cracked as rage consumed him. Without thinking, he swung his fist at Haruto.

This time, Haruto didn't move to dodge. He let Kota's punch land squarely on his cheek. The students gasped in horror, their murmurs quickly turning into a chorus of disapproval.

"What the hell is wrong with him?"

"Kota's lost it!"

"He's gone too far now."

Haruto stood his ground, his expression unshaken as Kota's fist trembled against him, wanting to punch him again but he knew what's more important.

Making Mari aware that she has been manipulated all this time.

Kota, losing all control, turned toward her, reaching for her in desperation.

"Mari!" he shouted, his voice laced with desperation.

Mari flinched, her hand was grasped by him, as Kota said nonsense, "You are mine! Only mine!"

"Don't believe in that bastard! I'm the only one who deserves your love!" forced Mari to get close to him.

She struggled hard, Kota's arm lashed out in frustration. The force sent her stumbling, and she fell hard onto the ground, scraping her knees.

"Mari!" one of her friends screamed, rushing to her side.

"Are you okay?" another friend cried as more students swarmed to help her.

Haruto stood still, watching as the scene unfolded exactly as he had planned. He leaned closer to Kota, his voice low but brimming with mockery.

"Look what you've done," he whispered. "You've hurt the one you claim to love."

Kota's eyes darted to Mari, his face paling as he saw her wincing in pain, her friends surrounding her protectively.

Her scraped knees, bruised hand, and teary eyes were a stark reminder of his own recklessness.

"I… I didn't mean to…" he stammered, reaching toward her.

"Get away from her!" one of the students shouted, shoving him back.

"You coward! How dare you hurt a girl!" another yelled, their anger fueling the growing crowd.

More students began closing in on Kota. One shoved him roughly, while another threw a punch.

Within moments, Kota was on the ground, curled up as fists and kicks rained down on him.

The once-angry shouts had turned into a chaotic uproar.

Meanwhile, Haruto's classmates approached him, checking if he was okay.

"Haruto, are you hurt?" Sayaka asked, her voice trembling.

But Haruto wasn't paying attention to her or anyone else.

His eyes were fixed on Kota, lying bruised and motionless on the ground as the students vented their fury on him.

Haruto took a slow breath, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint smile.

It was time to be the hero.

Haruto turned to Sayaka and the others who had rushed to check on him, offering a calm smile.

"I'm fine," he reassured them, his voice steady.

Without waiting for a response, he made his way to the mob surrounding Kota.

"Enough!" Haruto's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

He pushed through the students, pulling one person away and shoving another back.

"Stop it! He'll die if you keep this up!"

Though he wore a concerned expression, his mind was alight with satisfaction.

'Good. Let him taste despair. Let him see how it feels to lose everything.'

The crowd hesitated, slowly dispersing at Haruto's insistence. Kota lay on the ground, battered and bloodied, his breaths ragged.

He crouched down beside him, leaning in close. His voice dropped to a whisper. Continue your journey with empire

"Look at the rooftop," he murmured.

Kota's gaze followed Haruto's subtle nod, landing on the figures of Daiki and other Red Fang members observing the scene from above.

Their expressions were unreadable, but their presence alone was enough to send a chill down Kota's spine.

"You've embarrassed yourself, and now they're watching. Do you think Daiki's going to let this slide?"

Haruto's words were low, venomous. "You better behave, or he'll end you without hesitation."

Kota's eyes widened in horror, his mind snapping back to reality.

He had hurt Mari—the woman he claimed to love—and now his boss's cold gaze was fixed on him.

Everything he thought he had was crumbling before him.

Shakily, Kota pushed himself to his feet. The students around him bristled, blocking his path as he stumbled toward Mari.

"It's fine," Haruto said, raising a hand to calm the crowd. "Let him through."

Kota finally stood before her, his vision clearing as if for the first time. Gone were the delusions that had clouded his mind.

Mari's expression wasn't one of love or concern—it was cold, distant, and filled with disdain.

His voice trembled, breaking under the weight of his realization. "I… I'm sorry, Mari. I truly am."

His body shook as tears threatened to spill. His physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.

He bowed deeply, his posture rigid at a full ninety degrees. "I'll never disturb you again. I'll do anything to make up for what I've done. Please… forgive me."

Mari's expression didn't soften. Her voice, sharp and icy, cut through his plea.

"Don't ever come near me again. Don't ever show your face in front of me."

Kota froze, her words piercing him deeper than any blow. But he didn't protest.

Slowly, he nodded, turned away from the crowd, and limped off, his figure shrinking into the distance like a shadow of the man he once was.

Haruto straightened, dusting off his uniform. "Well, that settles it," he announced to the gathered students.

"Kota apologized, and Mari forgave him. Everyone can go back to what they were doing now."

The crowd murmured, some dispersing reluctantly, while others lingered, their eyes still drawn to Haruto and Mari.

He approached Mari, kneeling beside her with a gentle smile. "Let me take you to the clinic." His tone was soft, his concern genuine.

Before Mari could respond, Haruto scooped her into his arms effortlessly. The students around them erupted into cheers and whispers, their excitement filling the air.

"Are they dating?"

"They're so cute together!"

Some students looked on enviously, while others admired the romantic gesture. Mari's face flushed crimson, her heart racing as she looked up at Haruto.

Seizing the moment, she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, catching him off guard. The crowd's buzz grew louder, some gasping, others clapping in surprise.

"We're dating again, right?" Mari asked, her voice low and sweet, her lips close to his ear.

Haruto blinked, startled, before breaking into a sly smile. "Of course. As you wish, princess."

The students cheered louder, their voices following the pair as Haruto carried Mari toward the clinic, her heart fluttering in her chest, while his mind remained calculated and calm.

There would be another surprise for Kota and he couldn't wait to show it to him. He would make sure that the bastard lost any hope in life anymore, the same as he was in the first life.