Erase

Act 5: The Assailant

Shino was feeling very, very uneasy after it was revealed that Jun shared the same dream as her: a dream about a "God of death" that calls himself "Ezdeath" who has invited her and 12 other individuals for a fight to the death battle royale. What's more, all three of them woke up with purple collars strapped in their necks, an indication of their participation in Ezdeath's game.

Jun and Yuichi can't help but notice Shino distancing herself from them for most of the day. Both of them felt that something was wrong, and wanted to approach Shino, but couldn't at the moment. Shino, meanwhile, was looking for someone whom she can trust.

-Back Alley 8:28 AM-

Shino went out of the Ozawa bar and into a back alley, looking very worried, and decided to call the oy safe haven whom she knows: her girlfriend Mayuka.

She tried dialling Mayuka's number, but nobody answered. She dialled it again, no luck. It took 2 more tries for Mayuka to answer her phone.

"Hello?" Said Mayuka.

"Mayuka! Oh, thank goodness, you finally answered!" Shino replied. "By the way, what happened yesterday?"

"Oh, hiya Shino!" Said Mayuka. "Yesterday? Oh nothing. It was just some... urgent business. Hehe!"

"So, any new stuff?" Mayuka added.

Shino went silent for a moment.

"Hello? Shino?" Said Mayuka.

"It's... well... I don't know how to put it..." Shino replied, trying to hold back her tears.

She may not have been there to witness anything, but knowing Shino for a very long time, Mayuka knew there was something wrong with her right now.

"Don't worry, Shino. You know me. Always here to listen to your burdens..." Said Mayuka. "So, what is it that bothers my cutie little Shino today?"

"Well... you know my father... right?" Shino replied.

"... Yeah, you told him a few... unsavory things about him before." Said Mayuka. "What about him."

"He's... gone." Shino replied, breaking down in tears. "I... killed him."

Mayuka went silent for a moment. Having been told stories of the extreme abuse that Shino is enduring from her father, she is conflicted about what to feel for her friend and what she did. Should she be angry... or understanding?

"It was last night... He was mercilessly beating on me... I tried to fight back... and now..." Said Shino. "I'm so scared, Mayu... I'm very, very scared..."

Finally, she understood Shino's motives about why she did what she had to do.

"Shino... you know I'll always be there for you." Said Mayuka. "We're best friends. Always looking for each other... through thick or thin."

"But... I killed someone. With my own hands..." Shino replied. "Shouldn't you be-"

Suddenly, Shino felt someone from behind her. Shino glanced from behind and saw a mysterious entity clad in all black leather gear and a black helmet.

But what really caught Shino's attention was the purple collar on the entity's neck. It was the same as the one she had, as well as the one on Jun's neck.

Who is this mysterious person? What do they want from her? Shino's mind is full of questions, but nary any answers.

"Umm... Who are you...?" Said Shino, with a fearful tone in her voice.

Overhearing what Shino just said, Mayuka tried to call for her friend, to ask what was going on.

"Shino? What's going on?" Said Mayuka. "Hey! Shino!"