####**Sato Hashimoto** // [Warakuma Shopping District](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUXsfKa5mls)

After having taken the verbal lashing for a sad amount of time, Sato was pretty ready to leave as soon as the opportunity arose, and so he paid heed to where the man’s attention was direction in case he looked away for a moment. Sato was confident he could run faster than this guy allowed himself for some young brat that spilled hot drink on his back. But, however, it seemed Sato’s effort in staring down the unfortunately unpleasant guy’s eyes was all for naught, for the strange (presumed) student wearing the uniform that had basically caused the whole situation had stepped in front of him while telling the older guy off. Sato himself stepped back a little further. Just in case things went past obnoxious spiels.

Sato wasn’t sure where it came from in terms of responding to the older man, but the boy suddenly launched the semi-full can he was holding straight at the guy’s face, spraying the contents of the can around and on him. It was cringe-worthy to Sato, considering the whole thing had started the same way (albeit a little more accidental). Having stepped out from behind the unusually-uniformed student and to the side, Sato was able to see the punch the man threw that was immediately countered by a swift kick to the face, knocking the victim straight flat on the ground and groaning in pain as he withdrew into himself.

A police officer drew near and Sato distanced himself from the presumably slightly older boy just to avoid any potential guilty-by-association business. The two men started talking in an almost familiar manner, like they knew each other not-so-fondly. He tried not to listen in on the rather short conversation, but it was easy to hear how “Riku had a good record going.” The officer gave the boy an icy look before walking away to go tend to the guy that was just kicked in the jaw and Riku gave a sigh that seemed a bit fed-up to Sato. Maybe he was just reading into it too much. Though, after said sigh, the boy finally drew his attention to Sato, much to his surprise. He couldn’t place his finger on why but he didn’t really want to interact with this… delinquent much. Though that delinquent did just “save” him, so a thanks would at least be in order.

It didn’t seem like the guy wanted much of a thank you though, as he brushed Sato off almost immediately after commenting on how he “must be a kid from that other school”, confirmed the fact that this guy was from some other school around Warakuma that Sato didn’t know of. The fact that he was just blatantly pushed to the side by his apparent saviour didn’t deter Sato, for he took a few steps after the boy before calling his name out, a thing he regretted saying almost instantly. Hoping that he’d at least stop and turn around, Sato continued.

“Thanks for, er… taking out that old guy.” Sato lowered his eyebrows a little at his own words. He felt like that he was the kind of guy that Riku would punch. “You were pretty cool. I could give you some reimbursement for that drink you threw at him if you’d like.” Sato shoved his hands into his pockets after having said what he said due to the shiver he felt go down his spine. He didn’t even know why he was having trouble looking at Riku but he was and it felt shitty, for lack of a better word. He also didn’t exactly want the guy to say yes to his offer for fear of having to interact further with a guy with a streak as bad as his but offering seemed like the right thing to do.