The story we started

[When his finger reached the city of Niigata, which was marked in the new county on the map, Zaimokuza immediately looked down at the screen in his hand that displayed Hirasawa Yui's delayed message, and a drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead along his temple.]

[“It is true! No. 26’s killing track has been extending towards Niigata. Xiao Wei and the others who are currently undergoing training in Niigata City are also on its hunting list!”]

[“Tsk!”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke, who was standing next to Zaimokuza, didn't hesitate after hearing his analysis. He frowned, smacked his lips, and immediately took out his cell phone to call the Unconfirmed Life Response Headquarters, while shouting at him.]

[“Zaimokuza, call them immediately and tell them to evacuate to the nearest police station in Niigata City. I will have the headquarters notify them and mobilize all the police officers in Niigata City to provide protection for them and all the passengers who got off the Tokaido Main Line there yesterday!”]

【"clear!"】

【Zaimokuza knew that now was not the time to talk nonsense, so he deleted the message after giving a brief reply, and started dialing the numbers of Hirasawa Yui and others from his phone's address book.】

Gifu Prefecture, Kamiyama City, Kamiyama High School, Classical Studies Department.

"This……"

Seeing this, even Oreki Houtarou couldn't help but twitch his eyes slightly, and even with his eloquence, he was speechless for a moment.

"These school girls...are so unlucky."

Fukube Rizhi, who had come to sit on the chair next to him at some point, spoke out his true feelings. His brown eyes were filled with deep sympathy and mourning for the girls in the light music club who had suffered such a tragic misfortune.

"I encountered Gurongi the first time I visited Tokyo. Fortunately, I was saved from death with the help of Mr. Zaimokuza. The second time I came to Tokyo, I encountered these monsters again. Fortunately, I was saved by someone just like the first time. As a result, I encountered them again on the way home..."

"The first two times I was just accidentally involved. If that was all, I would have just stopped going to Tokyo. But this time, I was just going to another place for training to relieve stress, but I ended up running into No. 26, the criminal, and even got targeted while sitting in the car... This kind of luck is beyond the word bad luck and can only be called misfortune."

"I suspect that if they were to buy lottery tickets, people would probably just avoid the ticket they picked to basically guarantee they wouldn't die. Amen~"

At the end, he made a weird cross prayer gesture in front of his chest with a sad face, and ended with a Buddhist gesture.

"it hurts!"

A fist hit Fukube Rishi's back of the head hard. The attacker obviously did not hold back at all and knocked him off the chair and onto the ground. Oreki Houtarou, who was closest to him, dodged to the side without mercy and did not even try to support him.

"Instead of gloating over someone else's misfortune, why don't you think of some way to save them, you idiot Satoshi!"

With an angry look on her face, Mayaka Ihara retracted her fist, crossed her arms over her chest, looked down at Fukube Rishi who was stroking his head and getting up from the ground, and said unhappily.

“Aren’t you and Oreki pretty smart? Then think of a solution!”

"Yeah! You're going too far, Fukube-san! And Oreki-san is the same. Is there no way to help those underclassmen?"

Even Chitanda Eru, who was usually good-tempered, puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction with his remarks, and then shouted at Oreki Houtarou who was sitting upright in his chair with a scorching gaze.

“After all, you’re so amazing, Oreki-kun, there must be some solution, right?!”

"...I am grateful for your trust in me, Chitanda, but even if you say this to me..."

Oreki Houtarou had to awkwardly raise his eyes to avoid the girl who was putting her face so close to him. Not only because of those big eyes that were so bright that they seemed to pierce through his heart, but also because the angle was too close, and he could even see every single eyelash of the other person clearly.

[Too, too close! ]

Every time the pair of moist lips opened and closed, a warm breeze accompanied by the girl's fragrance blew into Oreki Houtarou's nostrils, making him, who was cold and lazy by nature, feel distracted. He couldn't even lower his head, otherwise he would see an even more embarrassing scene.

"It hurts... You're forcing me too much, Mayaka!"

Fukube Richi stood up with tears in his eyes and looked at Ihara Mayaka who was standing behind him with resentful eyes.

"Of course Houtarou and I want to help! But let's not talk about the fact that the scenes played on the screen are so far away from our reality. Even if there is a chance to help, what can Houtarou and I do? Help Mr. Zaimokuza and Mr. Kousaka fight those Gurongi? They will be killed instantly!"

"And at least this matter doesn't require our help at all. You underestimate Mr. Zaimokuza and the others, don't you think, Houtarou?"

"Satoshi is right."

Oreki Houtarou, who had finally found a chance to escape from this embarrassing situation, quickly responded. He was afraid that if he continued to maintain this posture, his body would show some unspeakable physiological changes in front of everyone present.

He placed his hands on Chitanda Eru's shoulders, gently pushed her back, and said with relief.

"Trust Zaimokuza Yoshiteru and the others. According to my reasoning, there shouldn't be any irreparable tragedy happening yet."

“Eh? Oreki-san, why are you so sure?”

"It's a simple truth."

Feeling that his heartbeat had finally returned to normal, Oreki Houtarou turned his head and spoke softly into the girl's puzzled eyes. His pair of emerald green pupils seemed inexplicably deep at this moment.

"...According to the general law of dramatic conflict, any dramatic or tragic plot is often best suited to erupt before reaching the end of the story, because the ending after such a plot can give the audience the greatest artistic aesthetic experience and spiritual shock."

"So after confirming that the tone of this story is not completely tragic, the Light Music Club, a group of characters that plays a significant role in the story, will not meet its end in the middle of the story, so don't worry."

“Oreki-san, what are you talking about? I’m so confused…”

"——Anyway."

Oreki Houtarou put his hand on Chitanda Eru's soft hair and ended the topic.

"You just need to know that if my guess is correct, they will be fine now... of course."

He turned his head again to look at his own light curtain, with an unspeakable heaviness hidden in the depths of his eyes.

"At least, nothing will happen now."

【New Prefecture, Niigata City, Police Headquarters. 】

【9:45 PM】

[“Come, have a cup of tea, it should make you feel better.”]

[“Thank you, thank you!”]

[The police chief kindly handed a few cups of hot tea on a tray to the girls in the light music club who were wearing white scarves and sitting in a row of chairs. Except for the experienced Kotobuki Tsumugi who remained calm and took the cups with a smile, the others were a little restless. Akiyama Mio clutched her scarf tightly while thanking the other party with a stuttering tone. Her slightly shaking hands almost spilled the tea in the cup.]

【“Don’t be so reserved, young lady.”】

[The director smiled, then walked back to the chair at his desk and sat down. He placed his hands on the table and faced the group of women whose expressions showed signs of anxiety. He spoke in a softer tone.]

[“In short, although it is not convenient to disclose the current situation to you, please believe us, you are very safe here.”]

[As for his consolation, Tianzhong Ritsu, who had already reached the limit of his patience with this situation, could no longer hold back and asked questions. ]

[“Please, please!”]

[Just like answering the teacher's questions in class, she raised her hand and swallowed her saliva before speaking.]

[“Well, that - we have become the target of Unidentified Lifeform No. 26... Is this true?”]

[After hearing her words, the smile on the director's face froze for a moment, and then he fell silent. This reaction made the people in the light music department sitting opposite him unable to suppress their excitement.]

[He did not answer this question, but this response is no different from an explanation in this situation.]

[“…It seems that you ladies have your own intelligence channels.”]

[After a long while, the director sighed deeply, and then the words that came out of his mouth undoubtedly gave strong confirmation to their doubts.]

[“Yes, according to the intelligence we have obtained, young lady, you have become the target of the unidentified life form No. 26.”]

[“Please wait a moment!”]

[As the only adult among the women, Yamanaka Sawako quickly calmed down after the initial panic. She gently pried open the hands of Nakano Azusa who were nervously grasping her arms, pushed up her glasses, and asked in a calm tone.]

[“Officer, I remember that according to the news, those unidentified life forms have been active near Tokyo. Why do they suddenly say that we have become their target? This is too bizarre. Can you give us an explanation?”]

[“Sorry, according to regulations, the details of this matter cannot be disclosed.”]

[In response to her polite question, the director shook his head and refused, then spoke in a low voice.]

[“But you don’t have to doubt this matter. You have indeed become the target of No. 26. This is the information just sent by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters. It has been confirmed and is definitely not wrong.”]

[“How could it be…”]

[Yamakana Sawako murmured unwillingly, and Kotobuki Tsumugi, who had been listening to their conversation in silence, suddenly spoke softly.]

[“If the details cannot be disclosed, can you give us a guarantee? Director Kudo Tsukozou.”]

[“Hmm? You are…”]

[When Kudo Suzuzo heard the yellow-haired girl in the crowd actually called out his full name, he was really shocked for a moment, and looked at Kotobuki Tsumugi with suspicion, who was smiling politely.]

[“It’s been a while since I last greeted you. I didn’t expect to meet you under such circumstances.”]

[Kotobuki Tsumugi nodded and said with a smile, while Kudo Suzuzo stared at her face, and the more he looked at her, the more familiar she looked. When he saw her eyebrows, which were too "broad" compared to those of girls of the same age, he, who had been in the officialdom for a long time, stood up from his chair with a look of shock on his face.]

[“Isn’t this the daughter of the Kotobuki family? Miss Kotobuki, why are you here?!”]

[“The last time I met you was at your birthday party several years ago, right? But please don’t get too excited. I’m just asking you questions as someone involved in the case. You don’t need to be so reserved.”]

[Kotobuki Tsumugi shook her head as the girls around her and the teacher stared in amazement, and continued to ask Kudo Suzuzo who was standing there in a soft voice.]

[“Director Kudo, can you give me a guarantee that if my friends and I stay here, we will be safe?”]

[“Of course! Miss Kotobuki, you don’t have to doubt this. I promise you that until all the police officers in this police station are killed in the line of duty, you and your friends will not be harmed at all!”]

[When he noticed that Kotobuki Tsumugi's tone became serious in the last sentence, Kudo Sukuzo nodded without hesitation and signed a military order, while secretly complaining in his heart, why is this super little ancestor of the Kotobuki family here!? ]

[This is no longer a question of whether or not to fight to the death. If something happens to this person here, given the rumored daughter-slave personality of the current head of the Kotobuki family, let alone whether he can keep his official position, I'm afraid he will have to commit seppuku in the end to apologize!]

[Just imagining the consequences of the other party getting into trouble, Kudo Suzuzo felt cold all over his body, and cold sweat oozed out of his forehead like a faucet, and he had to take out a few tissues to wipe it off.]

【“Then thank you for your help.”】

[“You’re welcome. This is my duty!”]

……

[The moment Kotobuki Tsumugi revealed her identity, she took control of the situation. However, compared to the other girls who were wondering about the family background of this long-time friend, Akiyama Mio had no other thoughts at all.]

[She held the hot tea tightly in her hand, lowered her head and looked at the beautiful face reflected in the misty surface of the cup, her heart was as messy as a ball of wool.]

[Until now, she still feels as if she is in a fog, and everything that is happening now is filled with a sense of dreaminess that is detached from reality.]

[Just half an hour ago, I was happily playing with my friends on the beach next to my friend's villa, just like yesterday. The atmosphere was filled with the sunshine and blue waves that are unique to summer. All the pressure accumulated in these days was vented out while playing with friends.]

【Half an hour later, Akiyama Mio and her friends are already in the chief's office of the city police station. The entire police station is filled with armed police officers inside and outside. The originally cheerful atmosphere has become oppressive and condensed, so heavy that it almost drips water.】

[It all started when Hirasawa Yui received a phone call. At that time, she was sitting on the beach building a fort with sand. After she heard the phone on the side ring and answered it, a deafening sound spread across the entire beach in an instant even though the speakerphone was not turned on.]

[“Xiao Wei! Hurry up and leave with your friends and go to the nearby police station for shelter. Unidentified life forms are on their way to find you!”]

[Akiyama Mio was very familiar with that voice. It was the voice of Zaimokuza Yoshiki, the unidentified life form No. 4 on TV who had saved their names several times in a row.]

[But just as they walked to the shore and wanted to ask each other questions, a large group of police cars drove up to the beach with their lights on. A bunch of armed police officers surrounded them and brought them here directly, not even giving the light music club a chance to ask questions.]

[Because they walked in such a hurry, they were still wearing their swimsuits and had no time to change out. They simply put on a scarf outside, and their private parts were inevitably exposed when they walked.]

[But the members of the light music club no longer cared about such trivial matters as being seen in their swimsuits. They all felt their brains were in a mess, especially Akiyama Mio. She felt that her thoughts were like a spinning paste, and her smart head could no longer think about anything.]

【But there is one thing she knows very well. 】

[——That means those terrifying unidentified life forms have come again, and this time they are heading straight for her and her friends. ]

[The moment she realized this fact, a sense of terror and coldness that penetrated her bones occupied all of Akiyama Mio's senses, causing her body to tremble slightly uncontrollably.]

[Unlike those at home and school who only know about these unconfirmed life forms from news and newspapers because they are too far away, Akiyama Mio, who has had close contact with those monsters several times, deeply understands how terrifying those guys are. Each one is a monster beyond human imagination, and common sense cannot be applied to them at all.]

[So even though she is now in a police station where no one dares to act rashly, and is protected by countless police officers, Akiyama Mio still does not feel safe at all. Instead, the sense of crisis that a disaster is about to happen becomes increasingly clear.]

[This feeling is so familiar, just like every night of nightmares in the past few months, all with this feeling of being oppressed to the point of almost being unable to breathe. ]

【as well as--】

[That figure appeared before her eyes again, and Akiyama Mio tightened her grip on the ceramic teacup, with a hint of hope in her eyes that she herself hadn't even noticed.]

[Will he, the hero, come again this time? ]

【"law?"】

[Another pair of hands wrapped around her own hands holding the teacup. Feeling the sudden warmth, Akiyama Mio was slightly startled. She looked up and saw the smiling face of her childhood sweetheart.]

[“It’s okay, Mio.”]

[The tomboy's face was also a little nervous, but she still forced herself to put on a smile, and comforted her best friend with a gentle voice that was inconsistent with her past image.]

[“We have survived those monsters so many times, we will definitely be able to do it this time too!”]

[“And we have to trust Yoshiki and the others. They will definitely come to rescue us like they did before!”]

【"law……"】

[Looking at the encouraging smile on Tianzhong Ritsu's face that he forced himself to put on despite being afraid, Akiyama Mio felt a warm feeling in her heart and smiled, then spoke.]

【"Thanks--"】

【--boom!!!!!!】

[A violent roar spread throughout the police station in an instant, shaking the structure of the entire floor and interrupting what she wanted to say.]