[player]Argh! Oh no!!!
When I wake up from my dreams, I realize I must have overslept because the sunlight sneaking through the gaps in the curtains is hot and bright. This is obviously the "MJ Top Beam" that only appears when the sun is at the apex of its parabolical movement.
I grab my phone next to me and tap the screen a few times. As I expected, it's out of power because I forgot to charge it last night.
But that's understandable. Even though I acted like it was nothing when I promised Sara and Ryan that I would help them, I was quite confused about what I need to do, should do, and can actually do today, so I fell asleep really late.
Sigh... I really don't like to stay up late. It's just really easy for me to suffer from insomnia.
Once I start charging my phone, it starts vibrating for a long time, buzzing non-stop, as more than a dozen notifications pour in. Most of them are notifications of calls I missed from Nana Shiraishi, but one of them is a "declaration of regret."
[Nana Shiraishi](Text Message) Junior, you'll definitely regret not picking up my call today!!!
What did I miss to prompt her into making such a declaration? I call her back quickly, but no one answers my call.
[player](Text Message) What is it?
[player](Text Message) Why will I regret it?
[player](Text Message) Is it really that serious?
[player](Text Message) What are you doing?
[player](Text Message) Nana, can you give me some information first?
[player](Text Message) Are you really not doing this on purpose?
[player](Text Message) Riddler, get out of Asaha High School!!!
[player](Text Message) ↑ I made a mistake, it isn't supposed to be Asaha High School...
[player](Text Message) Riddler, get out of One Han City!!!
Sigh... Why doesn't everyone understand something as simple as "curiosity will kill the cat of Mahjong Soul Shrine"? Why doesn't she just tell me the reason?!
But... when I check the time, I realize that Soul's performance of the day is about to start. I can't waste any more time on Nana Shiraishi. The thing about regrets can wait until I remember it again.
There's a shortcut I can take to go to Soul. It's an alley that is used by very few people and can even be said to be rarely visited, but it can save more than 20 minutes of travel time, so I often use it to go to Soul when I am in a hurry.
But it doesn't seem too peaceful here today. Right after I take a few steps into the alley, I hear the sound of fighting from the corner ahead of me.
The reason I'm so sure that it's the sound of fighting is mainly because I hear a mixture of the sound of metal banging together, moaning, yelling, and cursing... and because I see Ciri staggering as she backs out of the corner and almost falls onto the ground.
Eh? Ciri? After seeing someone I know, I immediately change my mind about minding my own business. I rush up to her to help her up and take the chance to observe the situation.
Three to four youths who are dressed like thugs stand opposite us. The one in the middle, who has a crew cut, is wearing a pair of sunglasses, and is holding an unlit cigarette, looks like their leader.
[Thug with a Crew Cut]Hey! You over there! I advise you to mind your own business. My bat hits anyone in its way.
After he talks tough in the familiar local accent, a brawny thug standing behind him takes a big step forward until he is within two meters of me.
[Brawny Thug]I'm warning you, we members of Raven are allowed to kill up to five people every year. I don't want to waste the last quota of the year on you. Get out of here if you know what's best for you!
I look at Ciri next to me. It's obvious that these people are here for her. Should I help her?
Even if I ignore my friendship with the members of Soul, just seeing a girl like Ciri getting singled out and bullied is something I can't ignore, so I step forward in front of Ciri and muster up the courage to confront the brawny thug.
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