A deafening boom—piercing their ears—thick smoke billowed high and obscured Yuuka and Noa's view. Three members of the helmet gang were thrown against the wall next to Noa.
Noa ran over to check on the three of them. Yuuka just stood there, not expecting a investigation to turn out this chaotic.
Through the smoke that covered the area, Yuuka saw the silhouette of someone standing with a rifle still clutched tightly in their hands.
"Hey! Are you alright!?" Yuuka shouted.
The silhouette looked towards Yuuka, its eyes seemingly glowing—the orange light from its halo piercing through the thick smoke.
Yuuka immediately pointed her rifle. Her instincts told her that the figure was dangerous.
But before Yuuka could pull the trigger.
Bang!
The shot whizzed past right beside her head.
Yuuka turned quickly, only to find a figure clad in black plastic charging at her.
With a fist aimed directly at Yuuka's face.
Bam!
The energy projection shield could not fully protect Yuuka.
She was thrown back, slamming hard into the wall behind him.
Dust flew, mixing with black smoke.
Yuuka's vision blurred as she looked up. A figure clad in black plastic stood directly in front of her.
Yuuka stood up, "Not bad." She cocked her rifle.
"Get ready, you're going to be arrested."
A barrage of shots flew from the barrel - bullet casings fell to the ground.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, her eyebrows drew together and her lips pressed tightly together.
The silhouette, aka Alisa, stepped back. Dodging Yuuka's bullets, she returned fire.
Alisa used smoke and objects around her to evade.
Until she stopped, taking cover from Yuuka's bullets behind the building wall.
While continuing to shoot.
Red liquid dripped from behind the black plastic. Alisa remained unmoved by the bullets that sliced through her plastic.
Yuuka stepped forward, her energy shield deflecting Alisa's bullets.
Sparks flew and smoke began to billow as the bullets struck Yuuka's shield.
Yuuka continued to advance, her figure resembling a war machine.
Alisa was cornered, her breathing becoming ragged. But she had to free her friends immediately.
Her eyes searched for an opening.
But her bullets ran out quickly.
Leaving her rifle empty.
Alisa moves, running while using the terrain around her to hinder Yuuka.
The black smoke from the explosion makes it difficult for Yuuka to find Alisa.
With her calculations, she determines Alisa's location.
Her calculations were fast, but not as fast as Alisa's attack.
Alisa launched herself from Yuuka's blind spot.
With a kick as powerful as she could muster.
The wind seemed to gather at Alisa's feet.
Time seemed to slow down, Yuuka's shield trembled slightly. Her heart was beating fast.
Unable to turn around, Yuuka relied on her shield. But...
Bam!
Alisa's shin bone struck Yuuka's energy shield, shattering it...
Alisa's raw kick landed squarely on Yuuka's unprotected midsection.
Yuuka was sent flying, colliding with a pole before crashing to the ground.
She lay there, her rifle thrown far away.
"Yuuka!!" Noa shouted from afar.
Breathing heavily, Yuuka muttered, "Ugh, wh-when will help arrive?"
Yuuka's perfectionist soul trembled, anger taking over her heart.
She stood up, her whole body shaking. But her ego overcame the pain.
Yuuka's shield twitched, her second breath felt heavy.
Silence...
Both of them took a breath.
Yuuka stood up, her legs burning with anger. She faced Alisa, her legs trembling after the kick.
Seeing that, Yuuka took a breath.
She charged forward.
Her steps felt heavy, her vision blurred.
But her feet kept moving forward, towards Alisa who was also running towards her.
Blood dripped with every step Alisa took. Her shinbone ached.
Both of them focused their blows.
Their eyes locked.
Both of them shouted, fighting cries until the very end.
When their blows met... A strong wind was born, slapping objects.
Black smoke blew away with the strong wind.
Pebbles shook...
Noa covered her face with her hands. Protecting herself from the strong wind and dust.
"Yuuka!! Stop!" shouted Noa.
The blows continued, blood dripping with every hit.
Yuuka's hair was matted with dust and dirt.
Yuuka's vision continued to fade, her breathing becoming heavy.
As their blows converged once more, ready to strike both of them...
Puff, puff...
Smoke began to billow again. Not black smoke, but grey.
Their blows halted.
At the same moment, Alisa was pulled by someone's hand.
Alisa's fist swung back, intending to strike that person.
"Alisa! Let's get out of here first!!"
Alisa's fist stopped, but the wind still blew against Krisna's body.
"K-Krisna!? E-eh? Kr-"
Alisa's hand was pulled, then carried away.
From behind the plastic, her cheeks turned red.
Krisna ran as fast as he could before the smoke disappeared, carried away by the wind.
He ran as fast as he could towards Aiko's house with his injured leg.
Noa was confused, the smoke obscuring her vision. Guilt for not being able to help pierced her heart.
The wind slowly blew the grey smoke away.
From behind the thinning smoke -
Yuuka stood - looking up at the sky.
Her gaze began to fade, she had won the battle. However, her task was incomplete, even though some evidence remained.
Her breathing felt heavy, her adrenaline began to fade, leaving a feeling of exhaustion weighing on her back.
Her legs felt weak,
Brak...
She lay on the ground, her hands aching, her heart beating steadily.
Noa's figure appeared blurry in her eyes.
Slowly, her eyes closed - but her anger remained open.
In Yuuka's mind, "I won... but I'll get my revenge, for sure."
Yuuka then lost consciousness, leaving Noa who was treating her.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Krisna carried Alisa away from there.
Even though his whole body felt so sore and painful with every step he took.
His spear was on his back.
With Alisa resting her head on Krisna's back.
"I... will win later, Krisna... definitely," said Alisa, before exhaustion began to overcome her.
Her eyes began to close, her breathing stabilised.
The black plastic she was wearing was blown away by the wind during the journey.
---
To be continued
---