Chapter 13: Almost Turned into "Mami"
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"Morning~"
"Gooood morning~, Rikkaaa~ now that you've got yourself a guy~"
"…Wait, Namiko, what is that supposed to mean?"
"Ren and I both saw it yesterday! You went home with Kihara after school!"
Rikka Takarada was momentarily speechless.
There was no way she could explain something like monsters to them… and honestly, it was better if they never knew.
"…Believe whatever you want," she sighed. "By the way, doesn't it feel like there are fewer desks in the classroom today?"
"Huh? Nope, looks the same as always."
During morning class, Rikka casually scanned the room.
Then she noticed it.
The desks belonging to the two loudest girls in class, the volleyball duo, Fuyukawa and Tomiyori were gone.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She immediately raised her hand.
"Sensei, Fuyukawa and Tomiyori aren't here today!"
The homeroom teacher looked confused.
"Takarada-san, there are no students by those names in this class. Are you mistaken?"
"…Ahaha… maybe I'm just half-asleep."
She forced a laugh, but her expression stiffened.
Slowly, she slipped her hand into her desk and pulled out her phone, quickly messaging Kihara.
Rikka: You remember Fuyukawa and Tomiyori, right?
Kihara : Yeah, the two girls from the volleyball club?
Rikka: How do two people just disappear like that? Do you think it's related to those monsters?
Kihara : Very likely. Do you know where they live?
Rikka: I think Fuyukawa's family runs a ramen shop. Tomiyori… I think they were childhood friends.
Kihara : Let's investigate together after school.
Rikka: Okay!
Putting her phone away, Rikka let out a small breath.
If she kept going out with Kihara like this, Namiko and Ren would definitely tease her again tomorrow…but strangely, she didn't feel as bothered anymore.
Guess you really can get used to anything…
Since both of them were in the "go-home club," they left school as soon as classes ended.
They deliberately exited from different doors to avoid suspicion, but ended up meeting again at the school gate anyway.
Ironically, that only made things look more suspicious to their friends.
By the window, Akane Shinjo quietly watched their backs as they left.
Resting her cheek on her hand, she smiled faintly.
She liked how proactive they were.
About thirty minutes later, Kihara and Rikka arrived at a ramen shop with a large wooden sign.
They exchanged a glance and stepped inside together.
"Welcome! What would you like?"
"Two tonkotsu ramen, please."
"Coming right up."
The shop looked like any other ramen place, lanterns hanging from the ceiling, the kitchen hidden behind a navy curtain.
Rikka's eyes wandered and then froze.
On the highest shelf was a photo.
Fuyukawa.
She quietly tapped Kihara's shoulder and pointed.
He nodded slightly.
When the owner brought their ramen, Kihara suddenly asked:
"Sir, we're former classmates of Fuyukawa. Which high school is she attending now?"
The owner froze.
Then his expression darkened.
"…My daughter passed away back in middle school. Don't joke about things like that."
"…What?"
"…Forget it. Judging by your faces, you didn't know. Just finish your food and leave."
The two of them were practically ushered out after paying.
Kihara scratched his head awkwardly.
"Did I ask that the wrong way?"
"No… it's not that," Rikka murmured. "Let's check Tomiyori's house."
"You know where it is?"
She pointed across the street.
"Over there. I saw her name on the mailbox."
Just as they feared.
The result was the same.
Both girls had supposedly died years ago.
After leaving, they stopped by a small kiosk to rest.
Kihara noticed Rikka crouching down, hugging her knees, her expression heavy.
He bought two bottles of ramune and walked over.
"Are you scared of being attacked again?"
The soft clink of the marble echoed as he handed her one.
She hesitated, then accepted it.
"…Wouldn't anyone be scared?"
This wasn't just death.
It was as if those girls had never existed at all.
No memories. No traces.
Nothing.
Rikka suddenly stood up.
"We should go back to my house. I need to call Namiko and Ren—tell them not to wander around."
"Yeah."
They had just left the kiosk when.
A sudden chill ran down Kihara 's spine.
Without thinking, he grabbed Rikka and pulled her back.
"Huh? What—"
Before she could finish.
CRACK!
The unopened ramune bottle in her hand suddenly burst, the neck sliced cleanly at an angle.
"Ahh!!"
If Kihara hadn't pulled her back.
that wouldn't have been the bottle.
"Transform!"
"Complete!"
Kihara moved instantly, stepping in front of her.
Rikka fell to the ground, shaken, as he shielded her and scanned their surroundings.
The sunset painted the street red, but the warmth didn't reach them.
The buildings stood silent, windows closed, like unseen eyes watching from the shadows.
Even the wind felt wrong.
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
This time, with enhanced vision, Kihara finally saw it.
Nearly invisible blades of compressed air, faintly tinged with green.
Without hesitation, he switched his device to blaster mode and fired toward the attack.
From the shadows ahead.
something emerged.
Tall, Thin, Unnatural.
Its twin scythe-like arms easily deflected the shots.
A faint, unsettling presence lingered in the air around it.
Realizing it couldn't reach Rikka without dealing with Kihara first, the creature lowered itself onto all fours.
Then—
It moved.
Fast.
In an instant, it closed the distance, appearing at their side.
Its blades vibrated.
And two slicing winds shot forward, aimed straight at Rikka's neck.
.....
Thank you for reading.