The person who appeared in front of Asada Shino was, of course, the sneaky creep who had posted on the school network about how she shot a bank robber when she was a child—
Shinkawa Kyouji.
Just seeing him—seeing that smile—made Shino feel sick. The extreme disgust made her whole body tremble.
Yet Shinkawa Kyouji spoke with a gentle smile.
"Asada-san, I'm so glad to see you're okay. You haven't picked up my calls or replied to my messages these last few days—I thought something might have happened."
Hearing his show of "concern," Shino's face only grew darker. If she hadn't learned the truth from Hayashi Maki, she wouldn't have believed that someone who spoke so softly to her was actually the culprit who had dumped her into a situation where all her classmates ostracized her.
Taking a deep breath, Asada Shino tried to calm herself. She decided not to expose his true face. On one hand, she was timid—she feared that if she called him out, he might do something irrational. On the other hand, Shinkawa Kyouji knew her weakness: the moment she saw a gun like the one she had used to shoot the robber, her body would go limp and her eyes would glaze over.
With that in mind, Shino dialed Hayashi Maki behind her back on her phone while forcing a smile.
"I'm fine. Sorry to make you worry.
Shinkawa-kun, if there's nothing else, I'm going home. I'm a bit tired from work today."
Seeing her forced, perfunctory smile, Shinkawa felt as if his heart were breaking. From the first moment he saw Asada Shino, he thought she was so cool—especially after learning that, as a child, she had shot an adult man, a bank robber. His admiration had only grown. That Asada who took a life without hesitation was the person he approved of!
So he deliberately posted her story on the school network, wanting everyone to know her "heroic deed." Instead, it made everyone fear her and left her isolated.
At first he felt guilty, but then realized it was a perfect chance to get close. He put on the act of a considerate "nice guy," fussing over the ostracized Shino; he even arranged for them to be extorted together by Endou's group a few times. Of course, that was his design—so they'd have "shared experiences" and he could win her trust.
But in recent days Endou and the other two had disappeared. Asada Shino stopped contacting him—no answer to calls, no replies to messages.
He even saw her at school, and she still wouldn't greet him, just walked by with her head down. After hacking the camera by her door, Shinkawa saw a pair of men's shoes.
He completely lost it. In his eyes, Asada Shino already belonged to him—how could he let another man defile her? So he showed up before her today.
Wearing that same gentle smile, he pretended not to notice her strained one and went on, "Asada-san, I have something important to tell you. Could we go talk at your place?"
Shino's hand tightened around the phone behind her back. She refused on instinct.
"Sorry, Shinkawa-kun—today isn't a good time."
Shinkawa lowered his head, face going dark. Suddenly he looked up, eyes blazing, and stared straight at Shino.
"Asada-san—no, Shino—why are you shutting me out? Is it because you already have another man?"
"It's not like that!" At his words, Hayashi Maki's face flashed in Shino's mind; her cheeks reddened and she shook her head in reflex.
She and Hayashi-kun hadn't reached that level of intimacy yet—and she also had to consider Shiina-san's feelings.
Seeing Shino flustered and blushing adorably only enraged Shinkawa.
"Liar! There was a man's pair of shoes at your door! And you still deny it? Ah, I get it, Shino—you're so brazen because I've been too indulgent with you, and now you've gotten cozy with another man? I won't allow it!"
His crazed expression and violent tone made Shino step back.
"Shinkawa, what are you saying?"
"What am I saying? That guy's already touched you, hasn't he? Shino-chan, you're mine! Only I get to touch you!"
As he spoke, Shinkawa pulled a replica handgun from behind his back. "Shino-chan, look—your most familiar thing! The treasure that takes lives!"
"N… no, don't!" Shino's eyes went wide and she collapsed weakly to the ground. As she'd feared, he'd brought a lookalike gun to threaten her!
Trembling, she curled up, repeating "don't" over and over. Though she struggled to overcome it, the instant she saw that familiar gun, the bloody scene of shooting the robber surged back, chilling her limbs and sapping her strength.
Shinkawa's face twisted with smugness. "Ha! I knew it. You love me—only I know this weakness of yours. So, Shino-chan, I won't be polite!"
"Let me take good care of you. I'll show you I'm the man most suited to you!"
He rubbed his hands together and moved in to lay hands on her—
—when a fist suddenly filled his vision.
With a whoosh, Hayashi Maki appeared and flattened Shinkawa with a single punch.
"Aaagh! That hurts! Who are you? Damn it, don't hold her! Shino-chan is mine!" Clutching his face, Shinkawa scrambled up and glared at Hayashi Maki—especially when he saw Hayashi Maki pull Shino into his arms. He was livid.
Hayashi Maki sneered. "I'm Asada's man. Those shoes at her door are mine, so Asada is with me. And you think you get to touch her?"
"You! So it was you! Damn you, damn you, damn you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
Raving, Shinkawa pointed the gun straight at Hayashi Maki.
Shino stared, stunned, then hurled herself at Hayashi Maki, shielding him.
Bang!
The gun was real!
But the bullet didn't hit Shino, who had thrown herself in front of Hayashi Maki; instead, Hayashi Maki caught it precisely between two fingers.
With a flick, he sent it back. Shinkawa shrieked—the bullet struck him right in the groin. The pain made him howl like a beast; he foamed at the mouth and passed out.
Hayashi Maki had no intention of letting him off with that. He snapped a mass of pitch-black flame onto Shinkawa. Before the man could wake and scream, the judgmental blaze reduced him to ash.
If you don't pull up the roots, the spring wind will make the weeds grow again. Hayashi Maki would never spare someone like this—and Shinkawa Kyouji was a blazing red name full of sin. From that madness, he didn't even seem normal; he was practically a cultist.
As he finished with Shinkawa, Hayashi Maki covered Asada Shino's eyes and whispered by her ear, "Don't look. Leave it all to me. It's okay… Shino-chan."
"S-sob… y-you… are you okay? Did you get shot?"
The instant Shinkawa pulled the trigger, her memories told Shino the gun was real.
Panicking, she hadn't thought; she'd just thrown herself over Hayashi Maki to take the bullet for him. That kind of resolve was rare.
Still covering her eyes, Hayashi Maki said gently, "I'm fine—I wasn't hit. And I've already taken care of him. Shino, don't open your eyes, okay? Otherwise it'll make things difficult for me."
"B-but…"
"No buts. Be good, okay?"
"…Okay. I won't open them."
Fighting the pounding of her heart, she obeyed—on the verge of tears. He had saved her yet again. He even soothed her so gently, not letting her see anything frightening. In that moment, Asada Shino fell for him.
Holding her, Hayashi Maki carried her up the stairs to her door.
"Shino, where's your key?"
"In my left pocket."
He took out the key, opened the door, stepped into her tiny room, and sat on the bed. Nestled nervously in his arms, she hesitated, then asked:
"Maki-kun, can I open my eyes now?"
Following her heart, she naturally switched from "Hayashi-kun" to the more intimate "Maki-kun."
"You can—it's all right now."
At his words, she opened her eyes at once and ran her hands over him.
"Are you really not hurt? Let me see! That was a gun—a real bullet! Don't you dare try to act tough!"
~~~
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