The so-called "Transformation" is a legendary manga created by Shindou L. It carries strong realistic and educational significance.
It tells the story of a plain girl named Yoshida Saki, who never made a single friend until she graduated from middle school. She longed to change herself.
That desire to change is not inherently bad. Human beings naturally yearn for beauty.
But due to her inexperience, Yoshida Saki was easily deceived by a small-time thug, just like those girls who get tricked in the news.
Because of this lowlife, she became entangled in things she should never have touched, and from there, her life began to spiral downward.
Anyone who has watched Iron Man and knows about Robert Downey Jr. understands how destructive addictive substances can be. Downey eventually resolved to change and, with great luck and effort, succeeded.
But Yoshida Saki was not so lucky.
If she had continued to fall apart, Kitahara Sousuke would not have felt any particular sympathy for her. If someone wants to ruin their own life, that is their choice. As long as they do not hurt others, why should he meddle?
However, this girl was different.
She did not want to stay in the dark. She endured the pain and fought desperately to change herself.
And in the end, she got better. She even dreamed of a future where she lived happily with her daughter.
It was beautiful.
Except it was only a hallucination before death.
God gave her no chance.
Kitahara Sousuke thought that maybe he should do something. Even if this girl was still naive, had not faced any real hardships, and did not yet know suffering.
Besides, he needed to vent the disgust building up inside him, towards people like that thug.
"Let me see..."
Sousuke found the answer deep within his thoughts. He turned around and noticed the two were already leaving.
Silently placing the magazine back on the shelf, he exited the store with a grim expression.
He had a height advantage, so he quickly spotted the girl in the JK uniform walking beside the thug.
"Smooth bastard. I wonder how many girls he's fooled already..."
Sousuke muttered as he observed the man's polite behavior.
Without drawing attention, he glanced around, then quietly followed behind them.
"Um, excuse me... where are we going?"
Yoshida Saki asked nervously. She seemed genuinely happy, this was the first time someone had approached her like this.
If she knew the future, she would not be smiling.
"Karaoke, of course. You're really cute, Saki. You've never been, right?"
The man named Hayato smiled charmingly.
He knew exactly what she wanted to hear.
But things would not go according to his plan.
To the left of the road was a narrow alley, one that gave off the kind of ominous vibe you would expect from a bad drama.
And in that alley, something was about to unfold.
"No. You are not going to karaoke."
A low voice spoke, and a hand landed on Hayato's shoulder.
"Huh? Who the hell are you, brat?"
Hayato had just been planning how to handle his prey when he turned around and saw a tall man wearing a disposable mask.
He had no time to react.
"Get in there."
The hand on his shoulder pushed firmly. Like a lion teaching a cub a lesson, Sousuke shoved Hayato into the alley.
The man stumbled, lost his balance, and landed on his backside.
Large trash bins lined the walls. It was dirty, unpleasant, and smelled foul.
"What the hell is wrong with you, "
Hayato cursed, then felt something wet under him. He touched it with his hand. It was some kind of green liquid. He had no idea what it was.
"Ugh..."
Saki stood frozen. The masked man seemed familiar, and her thoughts were in chaos.
"Kita..."
Just as she was about to speak, Sousuke cut her off with a stern voice.
"Shut up. Just stay there and watch."
"O... okay..."
Yoshida Saki had spent more than ten years at the very bottom of the social ladder. Of course she dared not talk back. She obediently followed them into the alley.
Sousuke had no interest in wasting words. His cold gaze landed on Hayato.
"You know how much this outfit costs, you bastard?"
The man, enraged, clenched his fists and charged forward, yelling to cover up his fear.
Slap
A single slap sent him flying backward into the reeking puddle.
This time, face-first.
Hayato tried to get back up, but his thoughts were foggy and his limbs unsteady. It felt like he had been drugged.
If Sousuke had not held back, that slap would have given this guy, who had long been hollowed out by drugs, women, and booze, a concussion. Or worse.
"Not enough? Then here's a few more."
Sousuke kicked his backside with deliberate force.
No combat techniques were needed.
As Hayato's face swelled and he groaned, Sousuke slowly pulled a pair of linen gloves from his bag and slipped them on, visibly disgusted.
"I'll f, "
The thug never finished.
"You wanna try cursing again?"
Sousuke yanked up his dyed, styled hair. The sharp pain shut the man up instantly.
Then, with one arm, he threw him into a trash bin.
Trash belonged in the trash bin. That was only logical.
He was still a minor, and Japan's laws protected minors well. Sousuke knew that. He had no intention of killing the guy, but he could not let him off without punishment.
Even if it was just a personal release of frustration.
He paused, thinking of a cleaner way to finish things.
Saki stood there, almost in tears.
She did not want to just stand and watch this classmate beat someone up, but her legs refused to move. She was terrified.
She wanted to run, but her knees buckled. She collapsed.
Sousuke ignored her completely.
He delivered a few more casual hits to Hayato. After vomiting everything in his stomach, the thug finally broke.
He knelt.
Head to the ground.
"Admit your mistake, trash?"
Sousuke tapped his foot lightly and asked with a faint smile.
"Y... yes... I'm sorry... please forgive me..."
Hayato had no idea what he had done to anger this stranger, but he dared not protest. He figured revenge could come later, but right now, survival came first.
Too bad for him, Sousuke had no plans to let him try.
"So, what mistake did you make?"
Sousuke placed the sole of his shoe on the back of the man's head.
Hayato's thoughts spun. He dared not stay silent.
Then, he felt the forbidden powder in his pocket.
And he remembered the debt he owed to some very dangerous people.
"I... is it the money for... that thing?"
"I'm sorry. I'll pay it back. Just give me a little more time!"
He thought Sousuke was a debt collector.
But hearing the name of that drug again triggered something in Sousuke.
The rage that had just faded flared back up.
That manga had left a scar in his mind.
Sousuke pressed down with his foot.
"You really deserve to die."
In that moment, he laughed in anger.
And the alley swallowed them both in silence.
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