Chapter 84 - Volume 5 (2/2)

The driver seemed to be trying to get “something” out of me. No…… It seems that he wanted “confirmation”?

“…… Mr. driver, isn’t this the wrong way?”

“…… My apologies, but there are many roads that aren’t accessible thanks to the road construction.”

This might be bad…… I’m not one to panic in such a situation, generally, but it’s quite the distance between being afraid of the danger and being at ease.

That strange [power] doesn’t always come out according to the situation. Since it comes out only when I tried to protect someone, I still don’t know for sure if I’m in danger.

Besides, this construction work itself is also suspicious.

“I wish to get off here. Please stop the car.”

“…… I can’t do that. It’s only a little more until we get onto the highway.”

“The highway?”

Although it could take up to 20 minutes by car to get to the ramen shop from the Toukaki estate, there’s no need at all to use the expressway.

Ah, this is bad. Even if it wasn’t a kidnapper or some devious criminal, there’s no doubt at all that this is one of those corrupt taxis.

“If you don’t stop…… I’ll get violent?”

“Heeh…… why not try?”

The driver dropped his veneer of goodness, and his voice dripped with condescension. It’s a guilty confession.

“……Then, I won’t hesitate. *pusu*”

Without a single ounce of restraint, I stabbed a sharp pencil into the base of the driver’s skull.

“GyaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?”

He howled. But, because I was weak, it only stabbed in about a centimeter. I pulled out the tip of the pencil, and rolled myself under the seat.

*gagon*!

“*cough*”

The fake driver made a sound like he was spitting out air, and the car came to a sudden stop. Thinking about it properly, it would’ve been dangerous if he’d collided with an oncoming car. But it’s too late by far now.

“……You… you cheeky brat”

“Oh my, you survived?”

While he bled profusely from his forehead and neck, he stretched out his hand to grab me, but I gave an elegant smile, and left the car from the back seat.

Bag: ok, wallet: ok, uniform: a little wrinkled, and the mobile phone was charged to 3% or less. I’m all set.

“But… where is this place……?”

Apparently, it seems to be a street lined with office buildings. There seems to be a lot of places without power because of the hour of the day.

Let’s search for a police box for the time being. Even though I can’t see it, I think there’s a convenience store somewhere.

“…………Why…”

That [Black Cat] was in the alley of the office town……

Those silver eyes stared straight at me. Did you want to say something……? What did you want to tell me? What on earth are you……

“Ah, wait!”

As I approached it, it ran away. Even as I stopped, it ran further away. …… But, you were the one to appear before me.

“Something” was scratching with its claws in the depths of my heart and mind.

It urged me to follow [Him] as he ran away.

I’m out of breath. It’s natural, since I have no stamina. But I could still move more? And I was faster? And… stronger?

The fractured memories that my daily life had painted over, slowly regained their color.

You…… what did you want of me?

“You brat, I’ve found you!”

“……eh?”

Where…… was I? I was in something that looked like a vacant lot when I recovered my consciousness, and from behind me, while holding the back of his neck with a cloth that was dyed with spots of red, was the fake driver, looking at me angrily.

“……oh my, you seem energetic.”

“Stop playing the fool.”

Beside the fake driver, there were also some other ill-bred ruffians.

At my words, the fake driver clenched his fists and came at me. Will it hit?

“Cease your actions, Shimabara.”

“……tch”

A calm voice came from behind him, and the fake driver Shimabara stiffened, and stopped.

Two black-suited men came from the right of the car. A slender man walked in the middle of them.

Surely, meeting like this in this place……

“Long time no see, Miss.”

Said the man calmly, with a snake-like smile. The very man who I met in that shopping district.

… To lead me to such a place, you, what did you want from me.

Author’s Notes:

The serious tone will continue a little more.

The volume enters its climax.

Next time, what will Yuzu who got exposed to malice do?