CH 266

Chapter 266 – Arrival

“Ugh, Riwa! That was way too reckless!” (Shakuhara)

I immediately put her arm around my shoulder and tried to get away from the area. I could already hear Ryoji’s impatient voice behind us.

If only we could run into the city and hide… But with Riwa in this state, it was impossible for her to run.

After running for a bit earlier, Riwa had reached her limit and was unable to move her legs at all.

What should we do…? At this rate, they’ll catch us.

“……Kei-chan.” (Saniwa)

“Riwa?” (Shakuhara)

“…Leave me… here…” (Saniwa)

“Eh?” (Shakuhara)

“Run away by yourself, Kei-chan…” (Saniwa)

“W-What are you saying?! There’s no way I could do that!” (Shakuhara)

“But… I’m just holding you back now. We… definitely won’t be able to run away together…” (Saniwa)

“Shut up! I will never abandon you! There’s no way I can abandon you!” (Shakuhara)

“Kei-chan…” (Saniwa)

I would never give up on her no matter how hopeless the situation was.

Ever since that time when I was filled with nothing but despair… she was always by my side, supporting me. Because Riwa was there with me, I could get back on my feet.

She was my hero. She was my indispensable other half. That was why I didn’t want to lose her, ever. No matter what happened, we would be together, even in death. That would never change.

“―Finally caught up.” (Oshikura)

Suddenly, that menacing voice could be heard from right behind us.

Ryoji and his men were standing there, pointing their guns at us.

“Keika, you shouldn’t do something so sad like running away from your lover.” (Oshikura)

“W-Who are you calling your lover?! A lousy, scumbag human like you should just go and die!” (Shakuhara)

“Oooh, scary, scary. Are you still holding a grudge about that time? …If you want, maybe we should do a little reenactment of that time right here?” (Oshikura)

Ryoji laughed creepily. I almost had another horrible flashback to the despair of that time, but…

“…! If you think you can, try me! I won’t give in to you anymore!” (Shakuhara)

At that moment, the gun that Ryoji was holding let out a series of dry clicks.

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…He’s out of ammo?!

“It seems my luck has run out. Oi, oi, you guys. These guys are no longer of any use to us. Kill ‘em.” (Oshikura)

But at that moment, I felt an impact and was knocked to the side. I looked back and saw that it was Riwa, pushing me away.

“R-Ri—?!” (Shakuhara)

‘Sorry…Kei-chan.” (Saniwa)

The bullets whizzed towards Riwa.

Stop… No…! Don’t kill my best friend…!

I desperately reached out my hand, but of course, I wouldn’t make it in time.

But just when I thought Riwa was about to be mercilessly shredded by the bullets…

Something suddenly jumped out of Riwa’s pocket, and—BANG!

Much to our astonishment, something appeared in front of Riwa with a puff of white smoke.

This object caught the bullet, leaving Riwa, who was behind it, unharmed.

I immediately rushed over to Riwa, who was still stunned. I hugged her tightly and asked her if she was okay and still alive and well.

“Y-Yeah… B-But…” (Saniwa)

For some reason, Riwa’s eyes were fixed on the large object that saved her rather than the fact that she had been saved. I also took a closer look at it.

“H-Hey… This… Isn’t this that thing you got from Torimoto?” (Shakuhara)

“…Yeah.” (Shakuhara)

This large object was the small doll that Torimoto had given Riwa. Riwa had been delighted when she received it, and she always carried it around with her wherever she went.

And just now, it had somehow sprung out of Riwa’s pocket, grown into a giant doll, and protected her.

“W-What is with that huge stuffed panda…?!” (Oshikura)

Naturally, Ryoji and his men were astonished by the appearance of the mysterious giant stuffed animal that had blocked their attacks.

But at that moment, the stuffed animal started to deflate like a balloon, returning to its original size.

Riwa picked it up and hugged it tightly to her chest.

“I see… You protected me. Thank you…” (Saniwa)

That was how it seemed to me too. Honestly, I didn’t know how, but looking at the situation alone, this much was true. After all, I could only be grateful that my best friend’s life had been saved by this stuffed animal.

But at the same time, the dangerous situation hadn’t changed at all.

“W-Well, I dunno what’s going on here, but now there’s nothing in my way. This time, I will kill you all. I will slaughter the religious order that killed Touya-san! Even if those people are you!!” (Oshikura)

I embraced Riwa tightly, using my body as a shield to protect her.

“I’ll kill the two of you together. Consider that my mercy to you as a former childhood friend. DIE!” (Oshikura)

Please, let divine punishment come to this scumbag of a villain.

I would have liked to save Riwa at least…

—And at that moment, it happened.

“Mow them down, Shiki.”

The familiar voice rang in my ears.

In the next moment, the gun-wielding arms and heads of Ryoji’s subordinates were severed. Ryoji’s right arm was also sent flying.

“GYAAAAAH!! MY ARM!! MY AAAARRMMM!” (Oshikura)

Ryoji fell on his backside, blood gushing from his severed arm. He looked at the freshly severed heads of his subordinates rolling around him and squealed pathetically.

Riwa and I were shocked, unable to process what in the world had just happened. Then, I saw a young man approaching us with slow, unhurried steps.

“Good grief, so this is where you were. I had to search for a pretty long time.” (Torimoto)

Everyone there couldn’t believe their own eyes when they saw who had appeared.

It was none other than Torimoto Kentaro, who had just been shot with a bullet and turned into a puppet right before our eyes only minutes before.