Chapter 77

I've started Twitter a bit late.

I'd be grateful if you could take a look at it when you have some free time.

Username: @animekasitai

Account Name: Tansan

The icon is a strange character soaking in a teacup with a carbonated drink on its head.

"Rin, don't worry, everything will be fine. Dies will definitely come to save us."

"Uh-huh, I understand."

Risa and Rin, unable to escape, were laid on the back seat of the transport car with their hands and feet tied. Risa, trying to keep Rin from getting anxious, continued to speak gently to her in the car. Meanwhile, Rin was quietly worrying about the situation.

(Mmm, I lost my sword, but I can't get it back with this lady around... but I want it back...)

Rin glared at Toujou, who was driving the car, as she thought.

(I can easily cut the ropes and the car with this kid, but I can't let this lady or this man see me. If they see me, Shiro will definitely get mad. What should I do?)

Rin, feeling frustrated, continued to think about what she should do, sensing Shiro's spiritual power trailing behind the car. She had been told by Kousuke, Kuro, and Shiro not to let her abilities be seen by ordinary people, which is why she was in a situation where she couldn't move.

(Um, I should help this lady without being seen and get my sword back... Ah! I can do it when no one is looking!)

Rin transformed the entity she called "this kid" into a sword, cut the ropes, and used a shockwave to knock out Toujou. She then cut the car to the point where it couldn't move. Rin thought she could complete all these actions in about 2 seconds. She kept an eye on Risa while continuously glaring at Toujou, who was in the driver's seat, waiting for the moment when both Risa and Toujou would be distracted.

◇

(What... is this pressure?)

Toujou, feeling a mysterious tension, drove the car while a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.

(It's like the feeling I had when I fell into the enemy's trap in the Middle East... the feeling of being cornered, where one wrong step could cost me my life. The source of this pressure is this girl with the white sword? No, I feel pressure from other places too. I don't understand, but it's clear that I can't let my guard down.)

Toujou, puzzled by the inconsistency between his current situation and his senses, continued to analyze the situation calmly.

(Damn, this feeling again, what's going on?)

Whenever he glanced at the back seat, he met the gaze of the white-haired girl, who seemed to be waiting for an opportunity. Each time, he felt a strange sensation, as if he were facing elite soldiers in a battlefield, and his confusion deepened.

(She looks like just a child, someone I could crush without even trying... but what is this strange feeling? I can't let my guard down.)

Toujou's danger perception ability exceeded that of an ordinary person. He had relied on this ability to survive countless life-threatening situations... but now, he felt a deep unease that even shook his trust in his senses.

(Well, it doesn't matter. There's no point in wasting time on something I can't understand. My task remains the same. I need to keep an eye on Risa until the end and subdue the subordinates of Kurenai, who will come to rescue her.)

With that thought, Toujou pressed down harder on the accelerator.

"Still, it's noisy outside today..."

Murmuring this while glancing at the flock of crows flying overhead, Toujou drove the car to the hideout.

◇

"Caw..."

Shiro, perched on a utility pole, watched Risa and Rin being carried into the hideout with a worried expression.

"Caw, caw, caw..."

I'm worried about Rin... Shiro's concern wasn't about something happening to Rin, but rather the possibility that Rin might cause an irreparable situation in an attempt to break free.

"Caw, caw, caw..."

More importantly, the mysterious presence that overlapped with Rin. Shiro was concerned about this entity. Although she didn't sense any hostility, it was a powerful presence similar to that of Kousuke and Kuro. Shiro had been on guard since this presence suddenly appeared next to Rin during the car ride.

"Caw, caw, caw..."

For now, I can only gather information...

As Shiro murmured this, the crows perched on the street trees and power lines around her took off in unison. A large flock of crows, darkening the sky, flew around the hideout where Toujou was hiding, as if hinting at the ominous events to come.

The prologue has become too long.

From next time, I will take them down one by one... and resolve the situation.