≡;- ꒰ °𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙏𝙄𝙈𝙀 ꒱

➷ 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

"Tsurimi-san, how are you feeling today?" asked a man in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck.

"I'm feeling much better now, doctor," Akkun replied, looking at him. "Is your throat okay? Were you able to eat the chicken I gave you last night?" the doctor asked further.

"Yes, my throat doesn't feel sore anymore, but that chicken you gave me? I could eat it, but the taste was disgusting, so I passed it over," Akkun answered, pointing at Mitsuya, and they chuckled.

"Alright then, I'll perform a check-up on your throat shortly. If it's improving, you should be able to go home this evening," he said, which relieved everyone.

"Thank you, doctor," Akkun said, shaking the doctor's hand. The doctor left the room escorted by Yuki. Yuki closed the door and returned inside after thanking the doctor.

"Finally, I can't wait to get back to my own bed," Akkun said, trying to break the silence.

"You sure did," Mitsuya said, laying next to Akkun on the bed. "Mitsuya, that bed is for patients, not for you," Minyoung scolded as soon as she saw him lying there.

"I don't mind. Want to join me here too? There's still space for one more," Mitsuya teased, patting the bed.

Minyoung rolled her eyes, annoyed with him. "Since you're finally getting discharged, now is the right time to discuss Echiko," Yuki said, looking at Akkun, who nodded.

»»——⍟——««

"I need to get out of here..." Echiko said, looking around the room where two schoolboys were playing. "Hey," Echiko called out to both of them, and they looked at her. "Untie me. I need to use the bathroom," Echiko demanded, and they glanced at each other. "Wait," one of them said, stepping outside, presumably to find Kento.

"Damn it, untie me. I need to pee right now!" Echiko shouted, glaring at both of them. They looked at Echiko and decided to comply. One guy untied Echiko's hands while the other untied her legs. "Let's go," they said, escorting Echiko to the toilet. She walked slowly, following the guy in front while keeping an eye on the one following closely behind.

Echiko suddenly stopped and kicked the guy behind her in the stomach, causing him to fall and groan in pain. The guy in front stopped and turned to see his friend being attacked by Echiko. He quickly threw a punch at her, but she dodged it. She climbed onto him, pinning him down and choking him with her arms. She twisted his head, and within a minute, he was dead.

Echiko turned to the other guy, who was trying to stand up from the pain in his stomach. She kicked him in the face, knocking him down again, and then jumped on his throat, killing him. Echiko's swift actions kept their struggle unnoticed by others nearby. She stepped quietly out of the room.

She spotted a man walking across the building. She peeked cautiously and slowly reached into her pocket. "I'm dead if he spots me," Echiko thought to herself, scanning her surroundings for anything useful. To her surprise, she found a knife in one of the guy's pockets. "God must be looking out for me," she muttered, pulling out the knife. She stood up and glanced at him again.

"Kento, I don't understand. Why do you still want to keep her?" Kagura asked. "Because..." he started, looking at her. "Because?" she pressed. "Just because," he replied. "I don't get it, Kento. Why are you so interested in her?" Kagura questioned, dissatisfied with Kento's actions. "Well, I find her intriguing. Can't you see? She's quite captivating."

"She looks like a damn psychopath," Kagura retorted. "Sir, excuse the interruption, but Echiko is attacking our guys," one of their subordinates reported. Kento swiftly made his way to their location, witnessing Echiko cut someone's throat with a knife. Blood stained her face. Kento grinned. He missed that expression. It reminded him of the look she had when she killed Ryo before. She really did seem like a damn psychopath.

"You look stunning with blood on your face," he commented, approaching Echiko slowly. "Let me go," she demanded. "Oh, honey, I can't. Everything is arranged perfectly. It would be a shame if you messed it up," he taunted. "I said let me go!" she shouted. "Even if I let you go, what could you possibly do, Echiko-chan? Sakura has taken care of everyone," Kento smirked.

Echiko stared at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No... no way..." she sobbed, crying uncontrollably. "I wanted to protect my friends. Why didn't things go as I planned? WHY?!" She cried harder. Kento moved closer, crouching down to her eye level. "Echiko-chan, God never was and never will be on your side. You're just a sadistic psychopath, a pathetic girl who was destined to fail from the start, no matter how hard you tried. Your existence is meaningless," he said, watching Echiko sob heavily. "You, idiot, tie her up," he ordered the man watching them.

»»——⍟——««

"Bro, that's so gross," Akkun laughed at Mitsuya as they entered their hangout. They laughed together as they sat on the couch.

"Why are we here? This isn't the time to relax..." Minyoung said, looking at them.

"That's exactly why we're here. To make a plan," Ryo replied.

"Do any of you know where she is?" Akkun asked.

"With Kento," Mitsuya responded. Yuki rolled his eyes.

"You're so dense. We all know she's with Kento. But where exactly?" Yuki snapped at him, and Akkun laughed with Mitsuya.

"You're hopeless," Rina said.

"I know where she is," a voice interrupted, and they all turned to the source.

"Black hoodie, black mask, pink hair," Sora muttered.

"You're that girl," Akkun realized as she removed her mask.

"Sakura," Ryo called out.

"I'm here to give you the location. But of course, you must win the fight," she said as four more large men entered the room, closing the door behind them.

"Do we have a deal?" she asked, smirking at them.

TO BE CONTINUED...