Interlude 2 - I Don’t Want To Die

「I-I won’t let you hurt him!」

The scruffy, orange-haired girl shrieked, her chestnut eyes glaring viciously at the tanned, silver-haired youth.

Yet, seeing how her trembling legs were barely able to support her, the anger infused behind the girl’s scowl was as meek as a beaten puppy.

「You again…you should go run home already, 《Delta》.」

Having initially lost interest in the girl referred to as 《Delta》, the silver-haired young man suddenly stopped, smirking to himself before approaching with an intimidating, nonchalant gait.

「…though on second thought, you could be of use to me.」

Licking his lips, the man’s eyes narrowed, his focus honed on the girl like a hawk stalking its prey.

And in the face of such an overbearing glare-

(Are you okay, Mayumi?)

-a worried soprano voice reverberated in the girl’s head, its owner’s concern undoubtedly being conveyed by the sombre timbre.

(…《D-Delta》? I’m fine.)

The girl with scruffy orange hair--Mayumi--whispered her response unsteadily towards the unseen voice.

A voice which beared a remarkable resemblance to her own.

(Besides, I have to help that person over there.)

(But you’re no match for him!)

(I can hold out until Rin-san arrives.)

「? What are you mumbling amongst yourselves for?」

Having noticed parts of the dialogue which Mayumi leaked, the tanned youth craned his neck, continuing to stalk towards the injured girl.

Yet, in the face of this provocation, the orange-haired girl simply bit her lips, edging away slowly as she held her moist hands behind her.

And in those hands, red-coloured beads were drenched in Mayumi’s own sweat.

(Get ready.)

《Delta’s》 voice cautioned, echoing tensely as it filled the mind of the girl with scruffy hair.

(One more step…)

Mayumi glared at the tanned assailant, patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity.

And then, the instant that the silver-haired boy took that one more step-

『「Now!」』

The two soprano voices overlapped as Mayumi swung her arms forward, scattering the red-beads into the air.

Though with the help of gravity, this didn’t stay the case very long as countless miniature spheres fell towards the ground and--

*booom*

--upon colliding with the earth, the beads revealed their true nature, exploding upon impact as the blast generated by their tiny frames violently shook the grey surroundings.

「D-did we do it?」

Having witnessed the dramatic blast, Mayumi’s legs finally gave way, causing her to fall onto her buttocks as she prayed thus with a shaky voice.

And yet-

「Ka-!?」

-this false hope was instantly crushed as a silver shadow collided into Mayumi's blind spot, causing her to vomit blood as she was sent flying into the middle of the paved intersection.

「Ka ka ka, did you really think you could kill me with that?」

Unleashing a peculiar cackle, the silver-haired youth’s features contorted into a twisted joy, relishing in his superiority as he held Mayumi by the neck high into the air.

Yet, in the face of his overwhelming power, the chubby girl could only squeak pathetically as she struggled against his grip with all her might.

「Now, 《Delta》! Tell me, where is he!?」

「W-where is who?」

「Ha!? Don't mess with me.」

Unamused by the fact that the girl’s strangled soprano remained defiant, the tanned youth immediately strengthened his grip on Mayumi's throat, his fingers sinking deep into her skin as they threatened to snap her neck like a twig.

「Where is 《Cross》?」

The man with white hair repeated his question once more, his eyes no longer smiling as they possessed within them a barren, lifeless chaos.

Needless to say, the ghastly scowl deeply frightened the spirit of the high school girl as tears spilt from her eyes.

……and yet-

「Guh!」

-instead of answering, Mayumi’s lips chose to remain closed, her meagre arms clutching the ones wrapped around her throat as she attempted to pry herself free.

A feeble act of resistance.

The very same one which broke the final straw.

「…very well. My patience is at an end.」

Heaving a deep, regretful sigh, the man narrowed his metallic eyes in annoyance.

「If you won't tell me, then I'm afraid…」

You'll have to die here!

In an abrupt instance, the man's arm tensed drastically, placing a significantly larger amount of strength in his wrist as he began to strangle the scruffy, orange-haired girl held aloft.

And in response to this, all Mayumi could do was allow her face to turn pale.

She was losing oxygen.

She was dying.

She desperately forced her weak, scrawny arms to clutch onto the hand that was strangling her.

But it was no good.

Her vision turned dark.

And like a doll whose strings were cut, Mayumi’s limp arms dropped to her sides, losing the strength to resist as all of the energy was sapped out of her chubby frame.

(Mayumi!)

As she heard a voice echoing on the edge of her consciousness, Mayumi tried to respond. However, seeing how the tanned man was crushing her neck, as well as any hope of ever speaking again, it was gravely apparent that she lacked the ability to do so.

Though, in the end, all she could manage was one last pitiful plea.

A plea to whom, even she didn’t know.

「I…」

Mayumi's eyes, full of subtle tears, grew dull as her surroundings faded away.

And before she was cut off from the world completely, the girl cried inside with all her being-

I don’t want to die!