Chapter 17.4: Alone at the Convenience Store IV

Chapter 17.4: Alone at the Convenience Store IV

Takenaka!!

A layer of tears formed in my eyes. I re-gripped the wheel with the tiniest speck of hope.

Having lost my mind, I called out the other persons name at the top of my lungs in tears.

Takenaka, recognizing that this was no ordinary occurrence, asked me calmly what had taken place right away.

I-I, right now! On the night shift, a-alone!!

The words spontaneously spilled out of my lips before I could even utter them.

What was I supposed to say? From where should I explain? My impatience was leading to further impatience.

And then! She!!

My explanation would render the narrative impossible to follow but that was not really a priority. Should I turn around, she should be right behind me. She moved behind me in a split second. Even a motorcycle might not be able to outrun her.nove(l)bi(n.)com

[Please dont get worked up.]

How could I possibly not get worked up!

[Unless you calm down, Hakamada, I cant help you either.]

!

[First of all, settle down, take your time, and tell me what has happened and where you are now.]

His voice was tender and gentle, like water pouring over the blazing impatience. Each word was spoken clearly.

Right there I took a deep breath, exhaling and inhaling. Straining my stomach, I managed to regain the rationality that I had nearly lost.

Unable to completely restrain my fear-accelerated respiration, I did my utmost to convey my present situation, my voice faltering in places.

[So Hyuga is at and now youre outside the convenience store.]

I just passed the tunnel!

[Tunnel]

What was I going to do? What was I supposed to carry out?

I waited for Takenakas instructions.

[Hakamada, pleasenow!]

Huh

[At this rate, it will be a disasterpleasequickly.]

Takenaka um, Im sorry, please say it again!

[At this ratewill]

What

I couldnt stop the bike, nor could I slow it down. My body

My body, my arms, they were stuck like they were locked in place.

It should have been that way.

When my eyes drifted down to my hands, I realized why my body had abruptly lost its freedom.

My arms, which were grasping the steering wheel, were piled on top of a multitude of white arms. They were obstructing me from turning the steering wheel. I was seized so harshly that I suspected I might get bruises, accompanied by the sensation that my blood had stopped flowing.

It wasnt limited to just my arms.

The same suffering was in my pedaling feet and in my throat as I struggled to shriek

All over my body, I was being forced to ride my bike, with white arms wrapped around me.

Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies.

Lies, lies.

Lies.

Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes before flying backward.

And then

Senior.

In front of me, with widened eyes and hands outstretched, was Hyuga, who was waiting for me.

It was hopeless, I couldnt evade it.

I was plunging in.

The ensuing sound I heard next was neither Hyugas voice nor the lifelike sound of people being struck.

What I heard was

A horrific sound so intense that my eardrums ruptured. The sound of something immensely solid and strong being destroyed. Like an explosion.

My body was flung forward. An incoming floating sensation.

Exactly the same sensation as when someone fell off a roller coaster.

I plunged headlong into the white guardrail reinforced with steel plates. As I crashed into it, I smashed through the guardrail along with its reinforcements. The entire bike resounded with a deafening boom as I was catapulted vertically into the cliff at that spot. By the time I grasped all the details, it was already too late for anything else.

[Your bike! Please stop right now, Hakamada!!}

Ah, Takenaka, at that time. Was he warning me that?

I thought I heard Takenakas heartbreaking cry, which was impossible to be heard, but now it was too late.

I was cast out into the darkness and fell like I was being sucked in, and the last thing I saw was

Senior with this were the same

It was reflected in the mirror. Hyugas face was smiling as she clung to my neck