Haru hadn't yet returned with the drinks when Utaha led Yukino and Megumi closer to the store.
As they reached the entrance, all three girls' expressions changed instantly.
Inside, there were three men wearing masks and black clothes, clearly in the middle of a robbery.
The staff had already crouched in the corner, frightened, while the robbers were casually smashing the glass display cases with hammers and filling their bags with expensive watches.
"No wonder those people earlier were so nervous... We should call the police!"
Utaha immediately made the decision.
As she pulled out her phone to call the authorities, Yukino softly reminded them, "Have you been following the social news recently?"
Megumi nodded instinctively. "You mean the robbery cases in Yokohama and Shibuya?"
"Yeah. I heard from the police that someone might be remotely controlling the operation, but the details are still under investigation."
While speaking, Yukino glanced at a car parked nearby, and just as she did, the door of the car opened. A man wearing a monkey mask stepped out.
"What are you doing? Put that phone down!"
The man, clearly one of the robbers, immediately targeted Utaha, who was still on the phone with the police.
Yukino's face turned cold. Seeing the man about to reach into his pocket, she swiftly performed a standard karate straight punch, driving her body weight into her right fist as it collided with the man's face.
This type of attack aimed at the face was considered illegal in competitions without protective gear, but this was no competition.
With a loud thud, the punch landed, followed by the man's painful scream. It was unclear if his nose or brow bone had broken, but the blood began to pour from his face, dripping silently to the ground.
Megumi and Utaha, both frozen, stared in disbelief.
Yukino nonchalantly withdrew her fist, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the blood off. "Don't be surprised. Haru won first place in the karate tournament, so I've been practicing too."
She smiled slightly, a bit proud. "My strength has improved so much. Consistent training really pays off."
The man, clutching his face in agony, staggered back a few steps, unable to retaliate as the blood blurred his vision.
The other two robbers, startled by the noise, rushed outside. Yukino immediately instructed Utaha and Megumi to step back.
With their physical abilities far surpassing those of their peers, the three girls easily outran the robbers, who were far slower.
At that moment, Haru appeared, carrying a bag of drinks as he exited the convenience store. He saw the three girls running and, noticing the masked robbers rushing into their car, immediately understood what was going on.
"Can you hold this for me? Thanks."
Haru handed the bag to a nearby store clerk before the clerk could speak. In the clerk's stunned gaze, Haru suddenly released an astonishing burst of speed and almost in the blink of an eye, darted forward.
As he passed by Yukino and the others, he quickly checked that they were unharmed and then sped towards the car.
As the engine roared to life, and before the car could move, Haru slammed his fist into the window, shattering it. The robber in the driver's seat turned in panic.
"What do you think you're doing?" he yelled.
"I'm elbowing you."
True to his word, Haru raised his elbow and smashed it into the man's face. The mask shattered on impact, and the man screamed in pain, clutching his face.
The two remaining robbers, now panicked, pulled out their weapons to fight back. But Haru, in a blur, landed several rapid punches, causing the car door to cave in, twisting and warping in the process.
What kind of monster was this?
The two robbers inside the car were completely stunned.
The locked car door was broken open effortlessly by Haru, who was intentionally holding back his strength.
The next moment, the two armed robbers were thrown out of the car, crashing heavily onto the ground. One unlucky man slammed his chin on the steps, losing a few teeth and bleeding profusely from his mouth.
The onlookers, who had been quietly watching from a distance, were now completely dumbfounded.
Had there not been a camera, they would've sworn it was a scene from a movie.
One person had taken down three armed robbers with nothing but his bare hands. It was as if they were watching a real-life superhero.
"Wait! I recognize him! Isn't this the karate champion who made the news recently?"
"Yeah! I think his name is Amamiya Haru , right?"
"This is only going to add to the karate champion's reputation!"
As the crowd excitedly murmured, Yukino and the others returned.
They weren't surprised by the scene at all, as they were already well aware of Haru's strength.
Haru glanced back at the three girls and asked, "I didn't get a chance to ask earlier, but are you all okay? No one's hurt, right?"
Utaha looked over at the robbers lying on the ground, still groaning in pain. "We're fine, but why were you so decisive in your actions?"
Haru smiled. "When Yukino was wiping her hands earlier, I guessed she'd take action. As the Photography Club president, I figured I'd better keep up with the rhythm and support you guys, right?"
"That's a strange logic, but you did well," Yukino said, complimenting him generously.
After Haru had been recognized, his title as the personal tournament champion proved useful. Nearby businesses, eager to show support, even provided rope for tying up the robbers.
Before the police arrived, all four robbers were securely bound and unable to move.
"Amamiya-san, could we take a photo with you?"
A few lively girls from the local school raised their phones eagerly.
Haru politely refused with a smile. "Sorry, no photos. My girlfriend doesn't like that."
"Eh? You have a girlfriend?"
The girls' faces showed surprise.
Yukino and Utaha both smiled.
Megumi quietly took photos of the scene, capturing everything on her phone.
It seemed like "Hooded Hero" had done it again, bringing justice to the scene.
She thought to herself.
After the police arrived, Haru and the others went to give their statements.
He didn't forget to retrieve his drinks from the clerk who had been holding them earlier—after all, he'd already paid for them, so they shouldn't go to waste.
The statements at the police station went smoothly. Haru and the others had acted in self-defense, and with the robbers armed and committing a crime, using force was considered normal.
Haru, of course, had controlled his strength. If he hadn't, with his ability to dismantle buildings with his bare hands, one punch could've sent the robbers straight to their demise.
By the time they left the station, it was already after 5 p.m. Haru and the others headed back home. Haru sat at the kitchen table, peeling garlic, while Yukino and the others relaxed on the couch, reviewing the events.
"Yukino, you were a bit impulsive earlier. We should've left the scene right away."
"Senpai, what kind of nonsense are you talking? Do you think I didn't know that?"
"If you knew, why didn't you avoid it? That guy had a knife in his pocket."
"Because I wasn't afraid."
Yukino spoke calmly, unfazed. "We were all wearing uniforms. To him, we were just harmless high school girls. I decided to catch him off guard. As long as I injured one, it would slow down the others' escape."
Megumi, who had been fiddling with her phone, looked up in surprise. "You thought all that through in such a short time?"
Yukino smiled slightly. "It's simple, don't you think?"
Utaha couldn't stand her smug attitude.
But there was no denying how calm Yukino had been in that situation.
From across the room, Haru called out, "Aren't you guys going to help me peel the garlic?"
"You're the chef, so we'll leave it to you," Yukino said, shaking her head.
Utaha, however, liked to contradict her and immediately set aside the orange cat she had claimed earlier, standing up to walk over.
Yukino smoothly reached over and picked up the cat, smiling in satisfaction.
Megumi glanced at them, thinking to herself, Senapi, you've fallen for Yukino's trap. She probably knew you'd act contrary, and her real goal was the cat.
When Utaha sat down at the table and picked up the garlic, she suddenly realized what had happened.
Turning quickly, she saw Yukino happily stroking the cat's belly, and she realized that Yukino had done it on purpose.
"Stop staring. Now that you're here, hurry up and help," Haru said, somewhat confused, but not wanting to see the two beautiful girls argue again.
Utaha huffed, muttering quietly, "You think you're the only one who can stir things up?"
She looked up at Haru, a knowing smile on her face, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You just said the word 'help,' right?"
"Yeah, so what?" Haru responded, still puzzled. "Didn't you come over here to help?"
"Mhm, I'm here to help."
Utaha's smile grew more mischievous.
Haru didn't quite understand.
Until suddenly, beneath the table, he felt something soft and slippery.
His hand froze mid-peel.
There were black stockings moving beneath the table... and they were heading straight for his private space!
Haru stared in shock. Utaha, her face flushed, avoided his gaze, as if nothing had happened, and continued peeling garlic.
It was clear now. She was really good at "helping."