"Now then, it's punishment time." Kurumi released the brass-colored bullets caught between her fingers, and in the blink of an eye, her figure vanished from Daryl's sight.
Clink, clink. The bullets hit the ground. A second later, Daryl and his men collapsed simultaneously, their limbs twisted at unnatural angles.
Shu Ouma stood frozen, mouth agape. That's Kurumi Tokisaki? She's a monster! Who have I been getting close to all this time?!
"Relax! I only dislocated their joints—they can be reattached. No permanent damage at all," Kurumi said with a sweet smile, helping Inori to her feet.
"Are you alright? …You really thought I'd say that?" she added mischievously, grabbing Inori's cheeks and pulling them hard.
"Is this... punishment?" Inori mumbled, her words muffled by Kurumi's grip, eyes wide and confused.
"That's right! Why, you ask? Because your face just looks so pullable," Kurumi replied with a dangerous grin.
Inori: "..."
Shu's hands itched with envy as he watched. She's actually pulling her idol's face... I want to try that too!
"Don't think you'll escape so easily. I said it's punishment time—prepare for divine judgment!" Kurumi declared, tugging repeatedly on Inori's cheeks until they turned bright red.
"Kurumi-chan, you're bullying me!" Inori whimpered tearfully, her eyes brimming with grievance.
"I am bullying you. So what? You hide behind me when you meet someone new, and when there's danger, you run away from me first. You need to be punished!" Kurumi gave her cheeks two more firm tugs before letting go. Though Inori's face was flushed, it wasn't swollen—Kurumi hadn't used any real strength. She could never bring herself to truly hurt her.
"Kurumi-chan... I'm sorry..." Inori lowered her head, tugging gently at Kurumi's sleeve like a small animal. The sight melted Kurumi's heart, and a faint smile appeared in her crimson eyes.
"Um... shouldn't we get out of here first?" Shu said nervously, glancing at the fallen soldiers on the ground. A shiver ran down his spine. In his mind, Kurumi and 'monster' were now synonyms.
"You're right. Besides, I'd like to know who dared to put my Inori in such danger." A dark glint flashed in Kurumi's red eyes. If Gai Tsutsugami thought he could use her Inori as a pawn, he'd have to pay the price.
...
In the underground tunnels beneath the quarantine zone, Shu struggled to keep up with the two girls running ahead. Why... why are they both girls, yet have inhuman stamina?! he thought miserably.
"Shu, why did you come along? You'll only get dragged into trouble!" Kurumi called back, tilting her head playfully as she ran, not even out of breath.
"I just thought... maybe I could help somehow!" Shu said, forcing a nervous smile. He instantly regretted it—if something was too much for Kurumi to handle, how could he possibly help?
"Shu, congratulations! You've once again surpassed yourself," Kurumi said with mock sincerity. Her sweet smile made his heart skip a beat.
Setting aside her terrifying power, Kurumi's beauty easily rivaled Inori's. If anything, she was even more captivating—and far more unpredictable.
Still, Shu couldn't deny that Inori gave him a strange sense of warmth and familiarity, the kind that made him want to protect her. Whereas with Kurumi... it was different. There was admiration, fascination, and a dangerous curiosity.
The quarantine zone was desolate and bleak. Abandoned buildings lined the empty streets, their windows shattered and walls crumbling. It was a dying place—silent, forgotten, like an old man in his twilight years.
The few remaining inhabitants, young and old alike, all wore the same lifeless expression—eyes hollow, faces numb. They wandered aimlessly, mere ghosts of a bygone city.
When Kurumi, Inori, and Shu emerged from the tunnel and stepped onto the ruined intersection, their presence—radiant, alive—immediately drew attention. The nearby crowd slowly turned toward them, closing in from all directions.
However, the people surrounding them moved sluggishly, their actions heavy and listless. Their faces were blank, devoid of emotion. Even Shu Ouma, who was usually timid, didn't feel any real sense of danger—only a strange unease.
What's with these people? Shu wondered. Are they trying to rob us or something? Why do they look so... lifeless? Even if he tried to run, he got the feeling they wouldn't bother chasing him.
The bald man leading the group scanned the three briefly, then pointed at the robot in Inori's hands. In a slow, almost mechanical voice, he asked, "Can that thing... cook rice?"
"Huh?!" Shu exclaimed aloud. What kind of thugs are these? They surrounded three neatly dressed, beautiful students, yet didn't demand money or harass them—instead, they asked if a robot could make food. What kind of robbery is this?
"No, it can't," Inori said softly, shaking her head.
"Give it to me," the burly man said, reaching out his hand. He actually wanted the robot. Shu was completely dumbfounded—he didn't even know where to begin complaining.
"No." Inori hugged the robot, Fyu-Neru, tightly against her chest. Inside it was the Void Genome meant for Gai Tsutsugami—she couldn't let anyone take it.
"Inori, give it to me," Kurumi Tokisaki said sweetly.
"Oh." Without hesitation, Inori handed the robot over to her. Then she clasped her hands together, lowering her head with a dazed, docile expression.
"You people don't even know what you're doing, do you? You just instinctively surrounded us, and now you're trying to decide what to take," Kurumi said with an amused smile, cradling the robot in her arms.
The bald man stood there silently, his dull, emotionless eyes showing no reaction—as if he truly didn't know what to say.
"How pitiful. You don't even understand why you exist. Just a crowd of wandering, soulless ghosts," Kurumi said softly, lifting her chin slightly to meet his vacant gaze. Her wine-red eyes shone with both pity and mockery.
"That's it, then—I'll take it by force." For some reason, anger flickered in the bald man's numb expression.
"How unfortunate," Shu murmured under his breath, looking at him with pity. You're about to pick a fight with Kurumi Tokisaki... may your soul rest in peace. He mentally drew a cross for the man. Trying to attack Kurumi? You must have a death wish. She's the kind of person who can catch bullets with her bare hands.
At that moment, Kurumi tilted her head toward Shu, her crimson eyes gleaming mischievously. "Shu, isn't this the part where you're supposed to act the hero and protect the beauties?"
"Uh... Kurumi, you don't exactly need saving," Shu said awkwardly. Is she teasing me?
"How cruel. I'm just a fragile, helpless girl—how could I possibly stand up to all these big, scary men? Aren't you a man, Shu? Or are you really going to just watch as I get hurt?" Kurumi said, resting her hand on her smooth chin and giving him a pitiful, weak look.
"Step aside—I'll handle this!" Shu shouted suddenly, adrenaline flooding his brain. He dashed past Kurumi, placing himself between her and the thugs.
What the hell am I doing?! Shu realized too late. The burly man before him was nearly twice his size. This is suicide. I'm an ant charging a tree. I'm dead.
A gentle breeze brushed past his face. Kurumi blinked in mild surprise, watching Shu stand before her like a knight. Her expression softened just slightly—she looked... amused.
Then Shu felt a chill crawl down his spine. He turned around—and saw Inori staring at him with dark, brooding eyes. Her usual blank gaze was now filled with jealousy and silent resentment.
"What did I do? Why are you looking at me like that?" Shu wanted to cry. He had no idea what he'd done wrong.
"Kurumi-chan, I can protect you," Inori said firmly, still glaring daggers at him while sneaking glances at Kurumi. Seeing Kurumi's pleased look toward Shu only deepened her irritation.
"Alright, alright. I understand how you feel, Inori. But this time, let's let the man handle it," Kurumi said gently, patting Inori's head to calm her.
"You're right. A man shouldn't back down at a time like this!" Shu straightened his tie, his eyes suddenly burning with determination. Just one line from Kurumi, and he was ready to risk it all.
Just as Shu Ouma took a step forward, a soft, smooth hand caught his. Startled, he turned—and found Kurumi Tokisaki smiling gently at him. His heart skipped a beat. The school idol... she's holding my hand!
"Sorry, Shu," Kurumi said softly. "I misjudged you. I always thought you were timid and weak. But really, you're just lost and lonely. With a little courage, you can create miracles." Her smile grew even warmer, her wine-red eyes glimmering with amusement.
Before Shu could respond, another pair of hands suddenly reached in—Inori's. She grasped Kurumi's hand and pulled it away from Shu, then clutched at Kurumi's arm nervously.
"Kurumi-chan... I'm sorry," she said, lowering her head anxiously. "It's just—you told me girls shouldn't touch boys carelessly." Her voice trembled as she glanced up to see if Kurumi was angry. When her eyes accidentally met Shu's, they brimmed with hostility, her innocent face shadowed by an emotion she didn't understand. Shu was utterly bewildered. What did I do now?!
"Hehehe..." Kurumi's smile only deepened, her crimson eyes shining with delight. The situation amused her far more than it should have.
"Are you... looking down on me?" The bald thug, who had been ignored all this time, finally spoke up, his tone low and resentful.
"Of course not. I'm just saying—it's better to leave this kind of thing to the professionals." Kurumi's voice was light, teasing. As if on cue, floodlights blazed to life around the street, bathing the area in harsh white light.
Under the glare, a striking figure appeared—standing high above, wearing a black uniform, golden hair gleaming in the light. With effortless arrogance, he declared, "The dead... have no right to touch what doesn't belong to them."
Kurumi narrowed her eyes, her crimson gaze fixed on the man who exuded pure self-confidence—Gai Tsutsugami.
Since becoming the leader of Funeral Parlor, Gai had undergone a remarkable change. His sense of grandeur had grown tenfold. In short, he had turned into someone who constantly acted cool—projecting absolute confidence in every word and gesture.
Tilting her head, Kurumi chuckled softly. Poor man. You have no idea, do you?
Funeral Parlor still exists only because I allowed GHQ to hold back.
Everything you've achieved—it's all because of me. But I won't tell you that.
Your air of superiority, your unshakable confidence—they're mine to give. Yet I still won't tell you.
You're showing off in front of me and don't even realize how foolish you look. But I'm still not telling you.
I'm just not telling you.