The incident quickly made headlines the next day. People in class were gossiping about it, some felt proud, some were jealous, some were relieved, but all were waiting for Takumi and Kyoya.

Due to medical reasons, they were allowed to stay home for the morning. So they entered at noon and attracted everyone`s attention. Girls and guys flocked to them, asking them questions, while the students from afar whispered about their looks and grades.

Their homeroom teacher met them after school, asked them similar questions and then let both off. Outside the room, Kyoya nodded his head, and they went separate ways. At the hallway leading to the front door, however, Takumi found Chisato standing next to the shoe lockers.

“Hey there, my hero. You look pretty cool with those bandages on y`know.”

“Senpai, Konichiwa. It was nothing, the guy scared my mom so I had to take my revenge, that`s all.”

“Hou? What happened? Wait, come with me to this place first and we can talk.”

Shamelessly grabbing his hand, Chisato dragged her kouhai [underclassmen] to an empty classroom. She pulled out a ramune bottle and gave it to him.

“Ah… So that`s how it is…”

Takumi nodded. He suddenly felt like showing off, so he continued:

“But I think there might still be another killer out there.”

“Oh? Why so?”

Takumi took a deep breath, preparing to explain everything. But Chisato stopped him:

“Nee, Nishimura-kun… I have something to tell you…” Her usual cool was replaced by a shy look on her face.

“Eh?”

“Do you… like me?”

(Eeeh!?)

“Ah… Anou… Sonou…” [ah, well, about that…]

“Or do you hate me?”

“N-No, I d-don`t.”

For the first time, his mask almost fell off. Takumi was actually nervous because of these questions. That also means he had lowered his guard around Chisato. Inevitably, he felt dizzy, his leg failed and he crumbled to the ground.

“Na-Nani?!”

“Oh, the drug is starting to take effect.”

“Wa… Senpai… Why?”

“You are smart, Nishimura-kun, very smart. Well, let`s just start the fun first”

She went to close and lock all the doors and windows.

“Senpai… You are the second culprit?!”

“Ahehe… But you aren`t smart enough to figure this out right?”

Swallowing air down his throat, Takumi started to think of a way out.

“Wait… This is a joke right? You were just going to spike my drink so we can have sex or something…”

He ate a kick to his face.

“Nee, Nishimura-kun, right now, right here I am the greatest person. The greatest desu! That`s why, you shouldn`t defy me. Understand?”

From the corner of the room, she pulled out a baseball bat.

“Your punishment tee hehe”

She swung the bat as hard as she can at him. The fracture grew bigger and bigger on his left arm, before it broke from protecting his face.

“Now then, you should know a lot already, but I`ll explain everything for you so that you can win your little detective game anyways. Hmm… where to start… Ah right! I was raped in my first year of junior high… By my brother. He wasn`t my sibling, he was a neighbor. A very friendly one, I`ll give you that. I always went to him for advices, and he would help out our family now and then.”

She paused, shifting her gaze directly at Takumi.

“And then one day” Her pupils widened “I was raped.”

Keeping a nonchalant smile on her lips, she looked away before continuing with a sarcastic voice:

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

“My brother really hated to ever admit to be wrong. He never regretted any of his actions. He was someone who just forgets unhappy things. Even though he made a mess of me, he still tried to comforted me, saying” She put on a manly voice “Poor you! Who did this?” Weird, right? I thought so too, and so I laughed.”

A pinch of sadness brushed through her face, before she went on:

“Those incidents started at around the beginning of this year, I guess. One day, he ran to my house, covered in blood, and wanted to have sex with me. He told me that he was the one blessed by the gods, with a mission to kill all aliens that invaded earth.”

“Of course I thought about telling the police. But there was an unexpected turn of events. My brother took me on one of his “Alien hunting” trips. And when I saw his victims begging for their lives, something in me really got switched on.”

She gazed at Takumi through her shoulder, giggling.

“I kept on taking pictures until my memory was full. I couldn`t stop at all. It felt so good, watching others suffer.”

“Sometimes he didn`t completely kill off his victims, so I have to clean up after him. Using a wire and squeezing tightly. Also adds to the artistic side, no?”

“But… Lately he talked about stopping. I had to look for something that would make him continue. And so…”

“Bethlelem`s Star?!” Takumi gasped

“Sugoi~! You dug that far?! Hehehe… that`s my idea, combined with another thing. The weird white-haired girl in our school.”

“Her?!”

“I told him that, the star would lure aliens to our planet, and on Christmas Eve, a white one will appear: the alien queen. Hahahaha.”

“Saa-te,[now then] Shall we begin?”

Holding the smartphone in her hand, she moved around to get the best angles. Takumi squirmed and wiggled desperately to hide his face. She stopped, and grabbed his right arm, pulling it out of the way.

“As expected of you, Nishimura-kun, you`re outstanding.” Her voice became excited.

“The first time we met on the train, you acted so cool. And no matter what situation you are in, you were so calm and composed. That`s why… That`s why… I wanted to see your true self…”

“W-what do you mean?”

“When faced with such a bewildering reality that makes you become lost about what to do, humans will show their inner self. And you, such a cool person… Always having his mask on even when he`s being honest… You will show me something incredible! In order to get these photos, I even sacrificed my brother! So… Show me your best expression! Takumi-kun!”

His brain suddenly touched something, and Takumi showed a painful expression on his face.

“What`s the matter?”

He looked away, and closed his eyes. Then abruptly threw her a gaze. His eyes were different.

“Ha… haha… Hahahahaha. What a pathetic human.”

“What?” Her face became puzzled

“You`re so weak and stupid you don`t even realize that you are weak and stupid! Seeing my inner self? Really? Well sorry but I don`t consider myself a human. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

His cold eyes brutally gleamed with pride.

“Give me a fucking break. When you got raped by that crazy motha fucker, you were so scared that you didn`t dare to tell anyone! No one! And then your weak scaredy ass became his sex slave, only because you are weak as fuck!”

“Grh…” Chisato`s throat became stuck

“When you were on that train, the man obviously molested you. Why didn`t you yell? Oh right, you are a coward, weak, pathetic girl! But somehow you didn`t accept it. Cuz you`d have killed yourself if you did. So you went masturbating to other people`s suffering, so you can think that you`re “strong.” His voice peaked with sarcasm.

“Fucking face it you dumbass. You`re not only weak, but you don`t even know how to ask for help because your weak ass would be afraid of people knowing you are weak! Ha! Just… like me…” The vile tone died down, as his eyes became hollow.

“Shu… Shut up!”

She held the bat high, ready to swing down on him. But Takumi wasn`t there anymore. He was stranded inside his thoughts, reminiscing the painful events that corrupted him.

The windows broke, and a fleet figure jumped inside. Kyoya took a momentum step; his feet drilled into the floor, his peripheral vision spotted the baseball bat. He chambered his leg, and the spinning hook kick reaped the thing in half. Then he stood his ground:

“Yamero!”

Chisato was staggered by the force of his kick. Stumbling backwards, she threw the bat away before drawing out a paper knife.

Down there, Takumi suddenly woke up. He seemed to have thought of something, as he tried to stand up. Kyoya saw that and helped him, letting the enfeebled Takumi rest on his shoulders.

“Nee, senpai… I`m sorry, I didn`t mean to say those things…”

“Shut the fuck up! Die!”

“Senpai! Please listen to me! I know, it`s cruel, but you have to face it!”

Briefly staring at the floor, he continued

“My dad was a real special agent who worked for America`s intelligence agency. He was the world to me. But one day, he got shot on an escort mission and died.”

Chisato`s patience was being tested

“I was so lost I didn`t know what to do. So I developed this personality. Cruel, ruthless, but smart and devious, just like the world itself!” he panicked. 

“Then our family did not receive the compensation money. An impostor came and acted as if he was my dad`s friend. When in reality he was the one who took all our compensation. So the sly me came up with a plan. I pried the truth out of his mouth, recorded it. As a killing blow, I acted emotionally and jumped from the second floor to trigger his conscience.”

“After that, as if it was a punishment, even though we got the money, I came down with hyperthymesia. All those memories… I can`t forget them! I thought i was gonna go crazy! I thought that it was karma for all that hatred and anger that built up inside me. And … and I became deprived of motivation. I don`t see a purpose to live! I became so weak!”

“Enough!” She roared, and rushed at them.

Takumi noticed that Kyoya`s legs were shaking. His fear of female completely rooted him.(He won`t be able to react in time!). And so, with all his strength, he shoved Kyoya out of the way, accidentally bumping his head into a wall and making him fall unconscious. The knife, however, went straight into his torso.

Chisato`s breath was frantic. She was trembling and crying. Takumi lifted one of his arms. Then he looped it around her.

“That`s why… Don`t be like me. Call for help! Just scream out loud! Cry if you want to! Struggle! You have your whole life in front of you, and if none is willing to help you get it, then I will!”

“H-Huh?” she looked at the knife that she sank deep inside Takumi's flesh. 

“My life is useless… But if… If it can help you, if taking my life can make you feel better, even just for a short moment… Then go ahead.”

“W-Wait, this is… No I didn`t mean to…” her voice was mixed with sobs 

"No! Nishimura-kun, I'm sorry! Please! Don't die!" 

“Senpai… Are you happy now?” He smiled, but it looked like the saddest thing on earth. Then, a small gust of wind knocked his body over. He fell to the ground. Blood formed a puddle around him.