“Shiori!”

“Stop following me!”

Yuudai was faster than Shiori, but the [Inhuman] had a large head-start.

“Leave me alone!”

“I refuse! I’ll follow you wherever you go whether you like it or not!”

Hearing that does make me a little happy… No! I don’t even know if those are his true feelings! Don’t give in, Shiori!

“I don’t want your pity!”

They were starting to get to a less well-populated part of the town; many buildings were dilapidated.

Then, Yuudai remembered what had started this fight in the first place.

The enemy duo.

“Shiori, get back!”

“No. I refu- Hwah!?”

It was too late. She had already walked into what was a perfect ambush, a crossroads.

If Yuudai was in a completely clear state of mind, maybe he would have noticed the fine net on the ground.

But he was not in a clear state of mind.

The net closed around Shiori.

“What an idiot.”

The flame [Inhuman].

“Well, if it ain’t the ninja boy who cut off Rina’s hand. Your little girlfriend will pay for that.”

“Let go of her. Now.”

“Hmm… no can do.”

He took flight.

---

I was weak.

I hurt her.

I caused this.

Now she’s gone, and whose fault is that? Mine.

I lost her.

I let go of our bond.

“I will become a strong shinobi and stand by your side!”

Well that turned out to be a lie.

You can still hold on to what’s left.

Don’t let her go this time

Only you can save her.

---

I have one goal. Save Shiori. I will not let her be taken from me.

Yuudai scaled a nearby building.

As I thought, with how high he’s flying, I can see him for miles.

Flying may be fast, but I can be faster.

The general direction is right. I can take a slight detour to grab some basic equipment from home.

He set off hopping from roof to roof.

---

“You got her?”

“Yeah, boss.”

“Good.”

Rina Lebenev turned towards Shiori Yamaguchi who was still in the net, which was now hung from the ceiling.

“You know why I’m doing this, Yamaguchi?”

“...”

“Your family caused the deaths of all the people I hold dear. By your two clans. Yamaguchi and Saito.”

“I see you’re smart enough to not try and use your acid. It’s not gonna burn through the fiber, and well, I wouldn’t like to be wrapped up in a net covered in acid either.”

The knight picked up her lance.

“Finally, I have another opportunity to kill one of you.”

“...”

“It's been a while since I last got to do this. Time to finish off what I started when I killed that boy’s parents.”

“...!”

“I was originally going to just torture intel about your families out of you two, but what you did to my hand was unforgivable.”

I’m sorry, Yuu-kun.

“So die.”

The lance thrust forward.