Sasagawa Kyoko hated violence.

She hated it so, so, so, so much. She despised it. She wanted nothing to do with this spiteful term known as 'violence'. Why couldn't people just live in peace and harmony? Why can't people just live without raising their fists and punches at each other?

This world centers around love. A little kindness and gentleness can make everyone's day better, but it seems there are brainless vultures in the world that are unable to comprehend the fact.

And Kyoko is really tired of all that.

Kyoko wasn't always the bright and brimming sunshine of adorable in everyone's lives. There was a short time in her life that she was the exact opposite.

Few people remember that Sasagawa Kyoko was once the epitome of vulgarity and brutality.

Kyoko had buried that part of herself into the deepest depths of her consciousness as well-- but well, let's just say that there are times when the seal to the tiger's den cracks ajar.

-------

"Wasn't that cream cheese mille crepe the best?" Haru fawned, a hand at her cheek as she savored the lingering taste of cream at her tongue. "The chestnut cake too! It was perfectionnn!" she swooned, wanting nothing but to run back to the store and order more--

"It'd be so nice if we could just eat more than one every time," Kyoko admitted, sighing, "But the calories..." she whined, sulking sadly.

The two had just exited the cake shop, having just feasted on their fill of Cake Appreciation Day. The two girls met up every month like this, and are nowadays meeting up on alternating weeks too, just to hang out and go shopping like the girls they were.

They giggled and chatted, walking towards their next destination-- that cute gift shop that just opened up in the next street.

And suddenly, someone bumped into them. An older man, wearing a red cap and a dark jacket, his head hung unnaturally low--

"Oh, sorry." he said.

"Ow!" Haru said, startled by the sudden impact, "Oh- it's alright!"

The man walked on without much more of a word, his steps rushed as they were before.

Haru chuckled awkwardly. "Well, that was surprising!" she joked, "Let's go, Kyoko-chan! The cute charms are waiting for us!" she suggested, her hand already at Kyoko's as she pulled ahead toward the rest of the way--

But Kyoko wasn't budging.

Her gaze was stuck on the strange man in a little distance away, as if she was glued to him. Her face was blank but contemplative as she seemed deep in thought.

"Kyoko-chan?" Haru spoke up, concern in her voice.

"Hey, Haru-chan," she spoke up, her tone a little zestless, "Could you look through the contents of your bag?" she asked.

Surprised at the sudden cold treatment, Haru did so anyway. She shuffled through her hand-carry, wondering what Kyoko was suggesting.

"Hahi??" she shrieked, "My purse is... my purse is gone!?"

Kyoko bolted, dropping her own bag right at Haru's feet.

"Hahii?!?" Haru freaked out. "Kyoko-chan?!?"

Kyoko was running at a speed Haru didn't think she had in her, her gaze fixated on one thing. She swerved and ducked at perfect times, in nimble reflexes to dodge the crowd--

And before Haru knew it, Kyoko had her shoulder at the man in the red cap.

The man turned around, "huh?" he had been careless. In his hand was Haru's wallet, and he had flipped it open and was checking the amount of money in it when Kyoko emerged behind him.

Kyoko was smiling. "Hey, mister, I think my friend dropped her purse around here. Have you seen it?" she asked innocently, in her usual sweet voice and cheery smile that brimmed with innocence.

The man casually tucked the wallet into his pocket, feigning innocence. "No..." he said, "I don't think so--" he tried, but wasn't able to finish his sentence.

At the first word, Kyoko's eyes sharpened in irritation. At his second word, Kyoko had an iron grip on his shoulder, and her other hand took him by the wrist.

The vice grip hurt. It hurt much much more than what someone would expect of a girl. No, even if a male, this was abnormal.

And before the man could register anything, his center of gravity tilted and-- huh? Wait- was he in the air-- He was flipped over, landing harshly on the hard gravel, his back aching terribly at the impact.

He was mortified to find that the girl had done that with one hand.

The girl's hand was still tight at his wrist, a frown marring her face, all traces of that sugary sweet smile gone from existence--

She glared at him like he was the scum of the whole earth-- and like-- he felt like his life was being threatened. Bloodlust seethed from every pore on her body as she glowered at him, staring down at him-- the whole time, she was being abnormally silent.

And that silence made it all the more scary.

Dripping in cold sweat, the male tossed the stolen wallet at her and apologized on his knees, then scurried away with his tail between his legs.

Just then, Haru rushed over to her friend's side.

"Kyoko-chan!" she called, "Hahii, what was that just now?" she called worriedly, surprised by the sudden change in her good friend.

Kyoko, checking the contents of the wallet, sighed. She turned to Haru with a bright, childish smile. The smile she normally wore, the smile that sparkled like the sun, the smile that could charm the nations--

"Here, Haru-chan!" she handed the purse back to Haru, "You dropped this!"