97 Chapter 91: Killing Each Other!
"Huh? That old man wasn't home?"
Machi's voice echoed through the empty room as she stepped inside Sakujiro's place.
She scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
She sighed softly, disappointment creeping into her expression, "Seems like he wasn't here..."
"Now that I think about it..."
Her tone shifted, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips, "Does that mean I can steal Sarasa's belongings?"
Excitement surged within her at the prospect of completing her long-awaited mission. Machi's eyes darted around the room, as she immediately went around to find Sarasa's heart-shaped purse.
"Hmm?"
Machi found herself standing alone in the silent kitchen, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the air.
She glanced over at the simple clay oven, its presence a familiar fixture in the room.
"He's still making that awful bread?" she muttered under her breath, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
Despite her initial disdain, Machi's curiosity got the better of her as she noticed several loaves of the bread laid out on the table.
With a mix of reluctance and intrigue, she picked up a piece and took a cautious bite.
The taste was just as unpalatable as she remembered, and she couldn't hide her grimace of distaste.
"It's still as bad as ever..." Machi shook her head in disappointment, but for some reason, she found herself unable to stop eating until the entire loaf was gone.
With each bite, memories flooded back—Sarasa's infectious laughter, the warmth of their friendship.
Machi's expression softened as she felt both nostalgic and sadness.
As she finished the last bite, she cast a wistful glance at the remaining bread.
"Alright, get back to work..."
Machi muttered to herself, shaking her head as she resumed her search of Sakujiro's place.
As she rummaged through the sparse belongings, her eyes fell upon a chest tucked away in the corner.
With a sigh of relief, she retrieved the heart-shaped pouch she had been searching for.
"There you are," she whispered softly, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface.
"Time to go," Machi declared, but as she turned to leave, something caught her eye—a framed picture on the wall.
"...!"
She froze in her tracks, her gaze fixed on the image of Sarasa, her heart sinking at the sight.
Silence enveloped Machi as she stood before the picture, her emotions swirling within her.
Slowly, she reached out, her finger tracing the outline of Sarasa's smiling face.
"That old man must have been suffering alone," Machi muttered softly.
Staring at the picture on the wall, she couldn't shake the image of Sakujiro toiling away in the kitchen night after night, baking bread in solitude.
And with Sarasa's picture hanging on the wall...
It was a kind of torment, a constant reminder of his pain and loss.
Most people would have crumbled under such circumstances, but Sakujiro endured even though he was dying on the inside.
Though Machi didn't share a close bond with him, she couldn't help but empathize with his struggle.
After all, she, too, had felt the sting of grief since Sarasa's passing.
Letting out a deep sigh, Machi shifted her gaze to the kitchen, "Baking bread is what kept you going, isn't it, old man?"
However...
A deafening boom reverberated through the city, startling her as she looked around confusedly.
"What's going on?" she muttered, her voice tinged with confusion.
Before she could venture outside to investigate, Machi's instincts kicked in, and she detected an ominous presence drawing closer. With quick thinking, she concealed her presence, blending seamlessly into the shadows.
As the approaching figures drew near, their hushed conversation reached Machi's ears, sending a chill down her spine.
"The commotion's getting too loud..."
"We gotta move quickly!"
"Spread the pine needles around. That guy's got an oven. We'll light it up!"
The unsettling words fueled Machi's growing sense of anger.
"They want to set this place on fire?"
This place held memories of Sarasa, and the thought of it being destroyed ignited a fiery anger within her.
"..."
Anger boiled within her as she stepped out to meet these people outside.
They were unlike the usual riffraff that roamed the city streets, and considering their coordinated presence here...
...they were not your average bums!
As Machi's eyes gleamed with a dangerous bloodlust, she couldn't shake the memory of the irksome old man she had encountered at Dumpster Delights a few days prior.
"They must be his lackeys..."
The sudden appearance of Machi caught the group off guard, their initial shock quickly turning into panic.
"Damn it!"
"We've got company!"
The leader barked out orders, his voice filled with urgency, "Take her down! Knock her out!"
With determination in their eyes, the group moved as one, closing in on Machi with hostile intent.
Yet, Machi remained composed in the face of their aggression, her demeanor unwavering as she muttered to herself, "This could be considered self-defense, right?"
As one man charged at Machi from the front, two others flanked her from the sides. Machi remained calm, channeling her Nen into her palms.
With lightning reflexes, she leaped over the man in front of her, swiftly placing her hand on his head and using him as a springboard to propel herself forward.
"Shit! She can fight!"
The two attackers hesitated, unsure of how to proceed.
Before they could react, the man who had lunged at Machi earlier drew a knife and swiftly stabbed the attacker on her right.
"Look out!"
"Huh? What's going on?"
Confusion filled the air as the stabbed man stumbled back, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.
"I-I don't know! My body just moved on its own!" stammered the leader, his face drained of color as fear gripped him.
In a sudden and shocking turn of events, he swiftly slit his subordinate's throat, leaving the man to collapse in confusion.
The last remaining assailant paled in terror, attempting to flee, only to find himself frozen in place.
"...!"
With dread sinking in, he turned to see Machi standing behind him, holding him immobile with a chilling gaze.
"No, no! Please, I don't want to di---!!!"
The plea was abruptly silenced as the leader thrust his knife into the man's chest, blood gushing from his mouth as he stared in disbelief before succumbing to darkness.
"You... What are you?" the leader gasped, his voice trembling with fear, hand inching toward his neck as he begged for mercy.
"Plea---!!!"
But before he could finish his plea, another lifeless body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Machi stood amidst the scene, her expression unreadable as she surveyed the aftermath in chilling silence.
"They killed each other. I didn't do anything," she murmured softly with a cold expression.
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