25 Chapter 25: Am I going to die, right here, right now?

"Huh? Kira, what are you talking about?"

"Matsuki-kun, calm down. I think you're misunderstanding. Takumi was trying to help me."

"Takumi? She's trying to help you?... That Takumi.."

"Yeah, taku-chan, Takumi. You remember, right?"

Of course, I remember her. There's no way I would forget her.

Wait, how did she know Takumi? And what does she mean, childhood friends? What the hell is she even talking about?

"Kira, what you're saying doesn't make sense. Now get moving, and I'll take care of her."

"No!" Standing in front of me, Kira shielded Takumi with her hands.

"Can't you see that I'm in a rush here?"

"No! No!" She shook her head and stood firm, preventing me from getting near Takumi.

"Whoa, what happened here? Why are most of our men down?"

Attempting to remove Kira out of the way, I halted as I heard voices.

Tsk... They're already here? Why do they still have so many people? I thought there weren't many.

"Kira, we shouldn't stay here anymore. Let's go!" Grabbing Kira's hand, I pulled her with me toward the door.

"But Takumi,"

"Don't bother with her. I don't know how you two know each other. For now, we must leave this place."

"But..."

"No 'buts.' We're leaving!" I had no time to worry about her; our safety is more important right now. I'll deal with her later.

"Wait, the way you're heading to is..."

Takumi tried to follow us, saying something, but I ignored her. As we continued to run, a bunch of trees welcomed us.

"Mango trees?" I mumbled. "Is this supposed to be a farm? There are just too many."

***

"Motomeru, Kira, wait!" Takumi's voice echoed, desperate, as she ran after us.

"Takumi? Why are you following us? As I thought, you're trying to keep an eye on us, huh?"

"Matsuki, I told you, Taku-chan is mmmph."

Blocking Kira's mouth with my palm, I whispered urgently, "Yeah, yeah, for now, quiet down." I peeked through the other side of the tree, keeping Kira's mouth shut, as I noticed figures managing to catch up.

"It's just a matter of time before they see us in this huge mango tree. We've run far, and they still managed to catch up. This is bad. Let's continue to run, hurry!"

"Wait, that way is..." Takumi insisted on tagging along and getting in our way.

"Takumi, are you trying to slow us down?"

"But that way is not the right way."

"I don't care, and don't follow us."

Ignoring Takumi's warning, we pressed on, the urgency palpable. The foliage grew thicker, and the distant sound of pursuers drew nearer.

As we ran, Takumi, determined to intervene, darted in front of us, attempting to block our path. "Matsuki, listen! There's a better route. We need to—"

"Not now!" I cut her off, my focus solely on escaping the encroaching threat.

The terrain shifted abruptly, and soon we found ourselves at what seemed like the edge of a forest, only to realize it was a cliff. My eyes widened as I glimpsed the dizzying depth below. A river with relentless, fast-flowing waves awaited at the bottom, turning our escape route into a perilous dead end.

Takumi, now desperate, continued to plead with us, "this way is dangerous! We need to find an alternative!"

"We have no time for alternatives!" I barked, frustration boiling over.

A guy from the pursuing group closed in, his eyes locked on Kira. Reacting instinctively, I positioned myself between them, both hands raised to shield Kira from the sudden punch he threw. "Get behind me, Kira!" With a swift motion, I reached for my taser and activated it.

"Ugh!" The assailant trembled in shock, but the looming threat persisted.

"That guy has some trickery. Be careful, even if he's a child. And hey, you!" The apparent leader with black shades and a mustache barked orders, "Call our boss and inform him that the one he was looking for has found his way out here."

"Yes, sir!" The subordinate hurried off, presumably calling for reinforcements. Panic set in as I realized the gravity of our situation.

"Kira, I think it's best for you guys to leave," Takumi mumbled behind me. "Some group will also reach this place."

"Taku-chan, what about you? I don't know what's going on, but... I know we'll be fine, right?" Kira asked worriedly.

"I'll handle this one, so the two of you, Kira, Motome..." She shook her head. "No, Matsuki, take Kira and jump out here."

Huh? Is she insane? We'll basically end up dead if we jump there; the tides are pretty scary

"All of you," one guy brandished a gun. "Come back here and be obedient."

"I don't know how you managed to get into this place, but..."

"It's hopeless; we've surrounded you already."

Damn it, no matter how many self-defense tools I have, I have no way to defend against a gun. This just got serious.

Many middlemen in black suits surrounded us; one of them had a gun. And behind us is a cliff, its edge revealing a treacherous descent into a deep abyss, where turbulent waves of a river awaited. How can we make it out alive here?

Then, after a moment, Kira gently removed her hands from my grasp and stepped forward.

"May I talk sir... I honestly don't know how I ended up here, but one thing is clear, you guys kidnapped me... T-that means you're after me." Looking at me, wearing a faint smile, "These two don't have anything to do with you, so if you let them go, I'll come with you properly."

"Hey, are you an idiot, Kira? There's no way they would negotiate with us with them having the advantage, and there's no way they won't harm you..."

"And do you even know why I came here? To fucking get you out here."

"But..."

I flicked her forehead. "I told you no more buts. Just stay behind me."

I felt a chill of a stare coming from my side. I glimpsed at Takumi, who wore a lonely expression, as if she were hiding something.

"Boss, we have the upper hand here," the guy holding a gun said. "Is he the one who barged into our place? If that's the case, let me take care of it."

"No, you idiot, don't shoot!" The shady mustached guy demanded.

"Stop him!" The shady guy yelled as he tried to intervene, but it was too late.

*Bang

As I saw his gun smoking, pointing at me, time seemed to slow down, and my hearing faded.

Am I going to die right here, right now?...

Wait.. I can't..

Shit! Closing my eyes to brace for the inevitable, an abrupt force sent me staggering.

"Ugh... that hurts," I muttered, my vision slowly returning, my eyes focus in front of me, before me stood Kira.

"My head, it's hot..." she mumbled, her hand tenderly reaching for my cheek, she smiled.

"B-blood?.." I stammered, the crimson streaming down her cheek unfolding right before my eyes.

[Image]

"Don't look at me like that. You know, taking the hit and being able to protect you," she continued, tears welling in her eyes. "Am I finally worthy to be standing beside you..."

As she crumpled onto me, her head found refuge on my shoulder. "Matsuki... no," her voice trembled, "Motemeru... I wonder if this is how you felt back then, protecting me from those kids..."

"Huh, Kira, Kira?"

With no answer,

"Don't joke around and talk." I tenderly caressed her hair, crimson stains marking my hands.

Holding her limp form, desperation laced my call, "Kira!"

With a sense of urgency, I delicately removed her from my shoulder, my heart pounding as I beheld her. Her eyes, once brimming with vitality, were now sealed shut, and her body lay limp and devoid of the vibrant energy that had defined her.

Kira...?" My voice trembled as silence answered.

"You! Why did you shoot, you idiot?" I heard the enemies mumbling about something, but I couldn't care less.

"Take him!"

"Uhh! Sir, I thought I need to.."

"Shut up and take him!"

"Geez, we're in deep trouble. The boss told us not to lay a hand on her no matter what, and now look at the mess..." The chaos in the background continued, but my focus remained solely on Kira's lifeless form, oblivious to the unfolding commotion.

As I felt the warmth from her head, blood started dripping on my feet. Gently laying her down on the ground, I whispered, "Just wait for a bit. I'll take care of the rest and bring you to a hospital."

"Hahh!" A surge of primal fury coursed through my veins as my hands instinctively pulled the two gleaming knives from their sheaths on my back. The blades, glinting in the harsh light, became extensions of my wrath.

With an explosive burst of energy, I dashed towards my adversaries, the adrenaline-fueled rhythm of my heart synchronizing with each step. The knives sliced through the air with a menacing whistle, promising the swift justice my enraged soul sought.

Landing hits with calculated precision, two of them crumpled under the ruthless dance of my blades. But as my focus narrowed on the shady figure, his movements became a fleeting mirage, elusive and mocking. Frustration knotted my muscles as my strikes failed to meet their mark.

Instinctively, I recoiled, my senses warning of an impending threat. Before I could recalibrate my assault, Takumi emerged in a whirlwind of motion, positioning herself as a human barricade against my berserk rampage.

"Matsuki-kun, calm down!" Her voice, urgent and filled with concern, clashed with the cacophony of the chaotic scene.

But I couldn't heed her pleas. My hand, an extension of the raging storm within, swung towards her, a futile attempt to break free from the relentless tide of fury. In an instant, the world spun, and I found myself incapacitated, the ground unforgiving beneath me.

"Takumi?" Seeing Takumi up above with her figure that seem so big, "Are you really the one behind this? You're helping them!" My accusation reverberated through the air, frustration now laced with a bitter edge.

Seizing me by the fabric of my clothes, Takumi propelled me towards Kira, a forceful reminder of my powerlessness. "Give an answer, damn it!" I roared, punching the ground in a fit of frustration,

But Takumi remained silent, her actions speaking louder than any words could convey. With a swift yet calculated motion, she forced me beside Kira.

"Matsuki, I'm sorry, but the blood on Kira's head is too much. Jump into the river and take her immediately to the nearest hospital."

Torn between confusion and desperation, I questioned Takumi's motives. "Takumi, what's your deal?"

"I'll hold them off. Jump in now, hurry. Just make sure to hold her tight. Although the waves are strong, you'll be fine and end up in a safe place. The end of that river is near Manila City, so you'll be fine."

The enigma deepened, and I sought answers amidst the chaos. "What are you planning?"

"Hurry!"

Clenching my teeth, trying to stand "You think I'll listen to you." I yelled.

Caught in the maelstrom of emotions and conflicting choices, I looked up at Takumi, her resolute gaze locking with mine. And then, with an abrupt force, her foot pressed against me, propelling Kira and me off the cliff into the abyss.

"TAKUMI!" My voice, a desperate cry, echoed through the void as Kira and I descended, and in that heart-wrenching freefall, I clutched her tightly, the world spiraling into an abyss of uncertainty.