"Haa… Haa…" Ayami panted as she dodged the incoming onslaughts, her stamina couldn't keep up with the four experts. She had cuts and bruises all over her body, her once fine and neat clothes were reduced to tatters. 

She was holding on her left arm, slightly slouched. She squinted her eyes, as everything started to blur and a dizziness started to assault her. Her legs were trembling from trying to stand up, even though there was no strength left.

Ayami had difficulty in defending, much less counterattacking.

Ayami held on, thinking that there would be someone to help her. She hoped that there would be at least some student that will pass by and witness this incident, sadly, no student ever passed by, as if this path was blocked. There were other paths that she could take other than the one she was in, however that doesn't mean that the ambush wouldn't happen. 

All of this was planned. She didn't expect that they would ambush her on the academy grounds.

If they were to successfully kill her, then that would paint the academy in a bad light for having an unsafe environment. Furthermore, she was also a daughter of an influential family. If their plan were to successfully happen, then the academy's reputation would be ruined.

There's an insider helping them. If not, then how could they casually stroll inside and kill a student. 

Ayami looked at the four men and observed them. She bit her lips in frustration after seeing their condition. There was no trace of them being tired. It was like they were just playing around with her as she saw amusement in their eyes.

"I think it's enough playtime." The man responsible for throwing knives, spoke. The three men nodded their heads and started to attack her seriously, obviously aiming to kill her.

"W-wait!" Ayami said one last time before they could land an attack at her. They stopped, indicating that they will at least listen to her last words. Ayami gulped the lump in her throat. "Why do you want to kill me?"

The man chuckled and looked at her with amusement. "Buying time, little missy? Unfortunately, that won't work on us."

The man snapped his fingers and immediately, the men started rushing to her. Ayami bit her lips until it started to bleed. Her brain was rapidly thinking of ways on how to escape. It was like time was slowed down, her heart beating loudly as her brain went into overdrive mode, sweat trickling down her forehead.

D-Do I have to use this? Ayami took out the phone in her pocket. It was the phone the stalker gave her.

You just have to throw this phone away and BOOM! It will explode.

Her hands were shaking as she held onto the phone. She was unsure whether it would work or not, or what the range of explosion was. She could not trust the words of the one who sent people to kill her.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she turned around and started to run. She didn't know if she could outrun them or not but she didn't have time to care about it now.

"Trying to run? That is futile!" In a matter of seconds, they were already in front of her, making her immediately stop. 

It's over.

Ayami lost the strength on her legs. She looked at the four men with despair, as she awaited her impending doom. But behind her back, there was a throwing knife in her hand. She had to act like this to let their guards down and wait for an opportunity to strike.

"You should have just been this obedient since the beginning." The man said, unaware of what would happen to him later on.

At this time, their guards should be low as Ayami doesn't have any energy to continue. Ayami waited for the chance, gripping and loosening the throwing knife. Just then, an opportunity striked.

"Leader! We have to hurry!" This time it was a woman, dressed in the same outfit as them. The man, who was supposed to kill her, is actually the leader. 

Now!

Distracted by the sudden appearance of the woman, the leader frowned and spoke to her. "What's the ru—"

Swish! 

In a smooth motion, the throwing knife pierced the leader's neck using her last bit of strength. I did it!

The leader fell down, coughing up blood, while his hand was on his neck. He didn't know what happened as everything happened at lightning fast speed.

The leader's subordinate was silent, no they stood still as if they were frozen. They couldn't fathom what just happened. Finally, snapping out of it the woman screamed.

"L-leader!!!" The woman turned her head and viciously glared at Ayami. "You, what have you done?"

Ayami didn't have any strength to speak so she could only smile at them. 

The men approached the collapsed leader, while the leader was glaring sharply at Ayami. "Cough…! K-Kill… H…er…!"

Ayami smiled as she watched the ninjas rushing to her. So this is it… this is the end.

Ayami closed her eyes, waiting for her death. As she did so, she heard a familiar voice enter her ears.

"A guest?"