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

Chapter 80: You Should Always Stay Below Me

Kota had always been obsessed with being respected. It was a fixation born from his childhood—a time when no one, especially the girls, wanted to play with him.

He was mocked for being "ugly", words that sank deep into his fragile heart.

Yet, amidst the sea of ridicule, there was one light: Mari. She was the only one who didn't seem to care about his appearance.

She stayed by his side, smiling and treating him like an equal. To Kota, Mari wasn't just a friend; she was salvation.

But as they grew older, things began to change. While others experienced growth, Kota's body betrayed him, leaving him stuck in a scrawny frame.

His friends grew taller, broader, and more confident, while he remained stagnant, a boy in a man's world.

The distance between him and Mari became painfully obvious. She blossomed into a beautiful young woman, the kind that turned heads wherever she went.

Boys flocked around her, their gazes lingering a little too long for Kota's comfort.

He hated it.

His frustration festered, morphing into an obsession. Mari was his. She had always been his, and no one had the right to take her away.

The day she got a boyfriend shattered him. Watching them together felt like knives twisting in his chest.

Mari's boyfriend was everything Kota wasn't—handsome, tall, muscular.

The guy exuded confidence and strength, the kind that made people take notice.

And, worst of all, he was a good fighter.

When Kota's stalking got out of hand, Mari's boyfriend confronted him, beating him to the ground like it was nothing.

The humiliation burned as he was humiliated.

'But so what?'

Kota thought bitterly. Mari was his to begin with. That guy didn't deserve her.

It was then he saw Daiki and his gang. Watching them beat someone to a pulp, being feared, ignited a strange admiration in him.

They were everything he wanted to be: strong, respected, untouchable. If he could become one of them, people would finally look up to him.

Staring at his wiry reflection in the mirror, Kota resolved to change. If he couldn't be handsome, he would become powerful.

He'd join Red Fang, learn to fight, and force the world to acknowledge him.

Yet, as he plotted his future, his gaze landed on Haruto.

From a distance, Haruto was surrounded by classmates, who genuinely seemed to like him and think he was cool.

Even Daiki had reached out to him. Kota clenched his fists.

'That bastard,'

he thought bitterly.

"How did he change so much in just a month?"

Kota's thoughts spiraled, venom dripping from every word in his mind.

Haruto had been nothing but a loser before. A shadow, lower than Kota.

But now, Haruto stood above him, towering over everything Kota dreamed of.

"No," Kota hissed under his breath, nails digging into his palms.

"He's still below me. That bastard is nothing more than a welcome mat—meant to be stepped on."

As Kota sat, lost in his twisted thoughts, his eyes suddenly locked with Haruto's. The confident smirk on his face made his blood run cold.

Haruto excused himself from the crowd, his deliberate strides causing Kota's nervousness to bubble up to the surface.

"What are you looking at?"

Haruto's voice was calm but menacing, a quiet edge that sent a shiver down Kota's spine.

Kota's throat went dry, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple as he fumbled with his words.

"N-nothing…"

He hated himself because he was scared of Haruto. It couldn't be helped, the man in front of him punched him into a pulp the other day. The trauma still persists.

Haruto's gaze sharpened, his presence suffocating. "Are you done with the hidden camera locations?" he asked, his hand extending expectantly.

"Let me see it."

Kota's heart pounded as he rummaged through his bag, pulling out a neatly folded piece of paper.

But instead of handing it over, he stood abruptly, his voice shaky yet defiant.

"Let's talk in a more private place."

Without waiting for a response, Kota turned on his heel and walked out of the classroom.

Haruto followed as they made their way to a secluded, dimly lit corner beneath the stairs.

In the stillness of the space, Kota handed Haruto the paper.

Unfolding it, Haruto's eyes widened. The paper was a detailed map, meticulously drawn with precision.

Red circles marked multiple spots—five alone in Mari's room. The bathroom was also circled.

"You nasty prick," Haruto growled, his grip tightening as the paper crumpled in his hand.

His glare bore into Kota, and he pressed a finger against the shorter man's forehead.

"If I took this to the police, you'd be rotting in a jail cell right now, you perverted freak."

Kota jerked his head back, defiant despite the sweat pouring down his face.

"Shut up! Mari is mine! She's just confused right now, but I know she'll come back to me once I'm cooler."

"You're fucking delusional," Haruto spat before his fist collided with Kota's face.

The punch sent Kota sprawling to the floor, clutching his throbbing cheek.

"No one will ever like you," Haruto snarled, his voice filled with disgust.

Haruto's mind flashed to Haruka, how she had been tormented when Daiki forced her to be his girlfriend.

He remembered her paranoia, the way she tore apart her own room, leaving nothing but the bare essentials.

He recalled how she feared the bathroom as if someone were lurking behind her.

And now, Mari was facing the same nightmare.

The thought fueled Haruto's anger as he crouched beside Kota, grabbing a fistful of his hair and yanking his head up.

"If you so much as breath near her again," Haruto hissed, his voice a low growl, "I'll have Daiki drag you to the underground ring and let them maul you. Do you understand me?"

Kota's eyes widened in terror as he nodded frantically, his voice caught in his throat.

For now, he needs to give in. After all, once he becomes a gang member, Mari will surely come back to him.

Haruto let go, allowing Kota's head to hit the ground with a dull thud. The smaller man winced, clutching his head as he stood to leave.

But Kota grabbed his wrist, desperation lacing his voice. "I-I'll still become a gang member, right?"

Haruto's brows knitted in irritation. He kicked Kota's hand away, forcing the boy to release him.

"You will," he said coldly. "But not now. I've got other things to handle first."

"What? But you promised!" Kota's voice rose, impatience boiling over.

"You said if I gave you the paper, I'd get into the gang!"

Haruto glared down at him, his tone steady but firm. "I don't break my promises. You'll get into Red Fang. Just stay still and stop doing stupid shit."

With that, Haruto turned and walked away, leaving Kota trembling on the floor, clutching his bruised ego.