Roy hadn't intended to pay much attention to such a cliché disturbance; after all, it was usually the restaurant owner's job to handle unruly customers.
However, the conflict was happening right behind him, and the girl being harassed looked strikingly similar to a character from his memories. He put his phone down and turned to look at the commotion.
"She looks familiar..."
Roy searched his mind. Between her appearance and the name Ayatsuji the thugs had shouted.
Ayase Ayatsuji.
In the anime, Ayase was desperate to qualify for the Seven Star Sword Art Festival. She had gone so far as to challenge Ikki Kurogane to a duel under rigged conditions, forcing him to use his trump card, Ittou Shura, beforehand to weaken him.
Despite her desperate measures, she had still fallen short. Eventually, Ikki had looked past her actions and helped her resolve the issues surrounding her father's dojo.
'I remember her father is quite a celebrity in the world of swordsmanship.'
Roy thought, a small smile playing on his lips.
An identity issue could easily be solved through someone with those kinds of connections. Besides, interacting with her had already netted him 60,000 Dimensional Points.
"You're being awfully cold, Ayase-chan! Are you still upset that you haven't come out to play with us lately?"
The thugs laughed unscrupulously at Ayase's angry shout. They were acting entirely out of line, their leering gazes lingering on her.
"Yeah, we finally bumped into each other after all this time. You shouldn't be so distant. We need to improve our relationship again."
"Or maybe Ayase-chan's strength has taken a leap? Is she planning to show off in front of us?"
"No way! I remember her kneeling in front of us, crying and begging us to return her dojo," another mocked, spitting out insults meant to degrade her.
The group of thugs, consisting of both men and women, seemed to take pleasure in her humiliation. Other guests in the restaurant looked away, afraid to intervene.
These thugs might have looked like common punks, but they were all Blazers. For an ordinary person to challenge a Blazer was nothing short of a death wish.
Ayase sat there, enduring the insults in silence. Her hands gripped her utensils so tightly that the veins on the back of her hands bulged. She was clearly at her limit, trying with all her might to restrain herself.
"I'm finished. Get out of my way," she finally said. She stood up, picked up her tray, and tried to head toward the checkout.
"So rude! Leaving without even saying hello?"
The thugs didn't seem inclined to let her go. Ayase ignored them, wanting nothing more than to escape the situation. She walked toward the tray return area.
"What are you acting so high and mighty for, you bitch!" one of the girls in the gang snapped. Looking irritated by Ayase's dismissal, she stepped forward and gave Ayase a violent shove from behind.
Caught off guard and walking with a heavy heart, Ayase lost her balance and stumbled forward.
However, the expected pain of hitting the floor never came. Instead, she felt a firm hand support her body, stopping her fall. With a slight exert of force, the hand steadied her, helping her regain her balance.
Ayase looked up, her eyes meeting a strange yet incredibly handsome face.
"Are you alright?" Roy asked gently.
"T-Thank you," Ayase stammered, grateful for the help. If not for him, she would have suffered an embarrassing fall in front of her tormentors.
"Tch! Mind your own business!" one of the thugs barked. Seeing his prank ruined, he glared at Roy with an unhappy expression, clearly wanting to teach this stranger a lesson.
The girl who had pushed Ayase, however, found herself staring at Roy. His looks were leagues above the thugs she hung around with, and she couldn't help but feel a flicker of interest.
"Look at me like that again, and I won't mind gouging your eyes out," Roy said lightly, his voice devoid of emotion as he glanced at the lead thug.
"Huh?" The thug looked stunned, then burst into a mocking laugh. "Hahaha! Who the hell do you think you are?"
"What's the commotion? I already ordered, and the food will be out soon."
At that moment, an imposing voice cut through the laughter. A boy walked over from the ordering area. He carried a heavy, dominant aura, it was clear he was the leader of this group.
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