౨ৎ 𝑺𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑺𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑲𝑺 | 𝑴𝑰𝑾𝑨 𝑿 𝑴𝑬𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑨𝑹𝑼

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵

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The Escape to Live

The echo of colliding energy echoed through the empty area as Kokichi fered off another blow against Mahito. His heart raced, and the pain ran through every muscle of his newfound body. Each breath felt heavy, as if his lungs could not absorb enough air. The energy that had previously carried him in battle began to wane.

Mahito laughed mockingly as he charged at Kokichi. "Slowly you're running out of strength, Mechamaru. Or should I call you Kokichi now?" His distorted voice broke through the tense silence.

Kokichi dodged another attack, but felt his movements slow down. His body, so new and yet so weak, was not made for this kind of sustained struggle. The years in which he was tied to the mechanical shell had not prepared him for the reality of a physical battle in this way. The thought that he might soon collapse crept into his consciousness, but he shook it off.

I have to find a way. I must not give up now.

He knew he was in a hopeless situation. Geto stood quietly in the background, his curses ready to attack him at the right moment, while Mahito barely gave him a breather. It was as if they were playing with him, driving him to the edge of his strength, only to finish him off with one last devastating blow. But Kokichi was not ready to give them that triumph.

With a loud crash, Mahito hurled another attack at him. Kokichi felt the energy barely missed him as he jumped to the side. But his body was sluggish, too slow, and part of the attack caught him by the side. The pain exploded in his chest, and he stagged, fell on one knee. He gasped heavily, his hand pressed on the wound.

I can no longer...

His gaze flickered for a moment and landed on the moon hanging above them, a silent witness of chaos. One thought twitched through him:

Miwa.

It wasn't the kind of romantic daydream he sometimes allowed himself, but a brutal reminder of why he was here. He wanted to live. He wanted to see her again. But not like that – not with this weight on his shoulders, not as a traitor.

Mahito's footsteps approached. "What's going on, Mechamaru? Do you want to give up?"

The words drilled into Kokichi's consciousness, but instead of provoking him, they brought clarity. He could not win this fight. Not now. Not like that. His mind worked feverishly to find a way out.

I have to flee. I have to survive.

With a last boom he forced himself to get on his feet. His hands trembled with exhaustion, but he concentrated on the remaining curse energy that pulsated in his body. It wasn't much - just a tiny remnant, but it might be enough to allow him to escape.

I must not make a mistake.

Kokichi began to direct energy into his legs, felt her tense up. He had to wait for the right moment. Mahito was now dangerously close to him, his face distorted by a cruel grin. Geto was still watching him with an unfathomable look, his curses ready to smit.

One more moment ...

And then, when Mahito wanted to strike, Kokichi used all his remaining energy. With a flash of speed that he himself had not thought possible, he shot away, his movement so suddenly that Mahito reached for nothing. Geto's curses chased him, but Kokichi was already too far away. Every step he took was an act of survival, every breath a silent cry of his body, which was on the verge of collapse.

His escape route was chaotic, unpredictable, and that was exactly his intention. He had to confuse them, had to escape them before they could take up the pursuit. The pain in his side was hard to ignore, but he forced himself on.

Just a little further. Just a little longer.

As he chased through the deserted streets, thoughts of Miwa came over him for a moment. He saw her face in front of him, as she had always looked at him with this undisguised kindness. But he pushed the picture aside.

I can't think about her now. Not when his life was at stake.

He threw himself into a narrow alley, his legs almost giving way. The world around him began to blur, his breathing was shallow and heavy. But he was far enough away. Geto and Mahito wouldn't find him right away. At least he hoped so.

He leaned against the cool wall, his chest rising and falling frantically. It was done – at least for now. But the relief he had expected did not happen. Instead, he felt only emptiness and unstoppable fatigue.

I survived ...

But at what price?

The reality of his betrayal weighed heavily on him. He had revealed information, revealed secrets to make this moment of survival possible. But what now? Was this really the life he wanted? A life in which he constantly had to hide from himself?

He sank to the ground, his back pressed against the wall, and stared into the star-covered sky. His whole body cried out for rest, but his mind was restless. Miwa was out there - far away from everything that had just happened here. Would she even recognize him? Would she accept him if she knew what he had done?

But he didn't have time to think about it. Not yet. He had to find a way to survive – longer than just this one night. And that meant that he had more fights ahead of him.

Fights he couldn't endure alone.

The darkness of the alley closed around him, but in the midst of all the doubts and pain he clung to a thought:

I'm still alive. I still have a chance.

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