You Lie That Time | NicoMaki

Chapter 11: Sealed

"I think this is getting worse," Nozomi whispered, her eyes wide with fear as she listened to the muffled, deadly exchange through the door.

She quickly pulled out her cellphone and, using a hushed but frantic tone, called the number she had prepared. "Hello? We need immediate help at Otonokizaka High School. Something terrible is happening! A threat of violence in school, hurry!" She hung up, her face resolute.

Inside, Maki stood her ground. "Don't you dare glare like that at Nico-chan!"

Nico, terrified, tried to edge away from the central danger and toward the door to the expanded, seeking safety. 

"Where are you going?" Touma's voice snapped. He shot out his hand and gripped Nico's wrist with painful force, instantly draining the strength from her small frame.

Maki instantly slapped Touma's hand away, the force of the blow echoing the sound of the previous confrontation. "I said, don't you dare touch Nico! Do you even have ears?!" Maki roared, her control finally shattering.

A minute later, the club members saw a flurry of police uniforms rushing toward them down the hallway. The girls ran to meet them.

"Wait! One by one, please!" the officer insisted, overwhelmed by the sight of seven hysterical girls.

Eli stepped forward, her stoic composure returning to command the situation. "Officer, I'm the student counsil President here, something violent is happening inside our clubroom. We must hurry! Please, follow us!"

Back inside, Nico had retreated a few steps, but Touma was fast. He grabbed her arm and brutally hauled her against him, his other hand gripping her neck.

"You have such smooth skin here," Touma murmured, his voice devoid of any kindness as he gently increased the pressure, beginning to choke her.

"S...top... it.." Nico wheezed, clawing at his hand.

Maki saw the sickening scene and completely lost control. "I said... STOP IT!" she screamed, grabbing the nearest hard object, a metal pen from the desk, and lunging at Touma.

The police and the μ's members arrived at the clubroom busting the door opened just as Maki attacked. They burst in and froze at the horrific sight. Maki was standing with a pen in her hand, tipped with fresh blood. Touma was clutching at the back of her shoulder, blood seeping between his fingers. Nico was bent over, desperately coughing and rubbing her bruised neck.

The police officer stared, confused. "Wait, what's really happening here?!"

Maki ignored the officer, her eyes blazing with an almost predatory look as she glared at Touma. The officer, unnerved by Maki's gaze, stumbled back.

"This guy is harming a student!" Maki growled, her focus solely on the threat.

"Wait! harming student?" the officer challenged, looking at Touma's bleeding shoulder at the back. "But it looks like you are the one trying to kill someone!"

"You don't believe me?! Then don't believe me!" Maki yelled.

Her rage was so intense it terrified Nico, who burst into tears. 

"Maki-chan, stop it!"

Nico stepped away from Maki's destructive fury and walked toward the police, taking charge. 

"I'll explain everything," she choked out. 

The officer nodded as the other went to hold Maki and Touma to avoid further actions.

"When Maki, the red-haired one holding a pen, returned, we were celebrating. But when this guy came in, Maki completely changed, like she was fighting something evil. The guy said he was a 'friend' from Paris. Then this guy started to choke me, and even tried to kill me. Maki just defended us, that's why when you came in, the thing you just saw was a self-defense."