CK 35

Chapter 35…

For the Sake of Someone Who Can’t Fight

Sharp Claws

I, Shirō Hirahara, am running through a residential area.

Why am I running?
Because of what happened just a few minutes ago.

Simply put… my family’s karate dojo was attacked by a monster called a Fallen Star.
Fortunately, Yui Shirakami, who has the power to fight those things, happened to be visiting today — so we managed to escape.

But apparently… the monster’s real target is me.

At some point, it started chasing me specifically.
That’s why I’m running for my life right now.

I’m confident in my stamina, but running endlessly is impossible.
And besides, the thing chasing me isn’t even human — it’s a monster.

Eventually, it caught up.
Actually, it didn’t just catch up — it leapt over me and landed right in front of me.

“You tried to run…!”

The thing growled, its voice thick and warped, coming from a red-black, clearly inhuman body.

“Why are you after me!?”
“Because… I hate you…!”

With that, the monster swung at me — or rather, slashed at me.

Its fists had razor-sharp claws, and if I got hit by those, I’d definitely end up in the hospital.
So I barely managed to dodge.

But—what about Yui!? Where is she!?

The monster didn’t let up; it kept attacking without pause.

I dodged another swipe and threw a counterpunch.

But its body was hard.
The impact hurt my own hand more than it hurt it.

“Hahaha… you’re already… weak!”

It laughed as it kicked me, sending me flying.

I crashed onto the asphalt and rolled across the street.

This is bad.
This monster is way stronger than those black creatures that crawl out of the ground.

It’s coming closer.

I can’t outrun it.
I can’t beat it head-on.

…What the hell am I supposed to do?

Am I really going to die here?

Just as that thought crossed my mind—
a gust of wind blew past.

The monster was blasted away.

And standing before me was someone in armor.

But it wasn’t the navy-and-red armor I’d seen earlier.
It was the navy-and-black armor I’d seen before.

The armored figure muttered, “Just in time.”

“That voice… Insei!?”
“Who else would it be?”

Right after the monster appeared, Yui had given me her smartphone and told me to contact Insei.
He’d told me before, ‘Don’t ever show your face again,’ so I wasn’t sure he’d actually come… but he really did.

Yui had insisted, ‘He’ll definitely come! Just call him!’

His attitude might be rough, but… maybe he really is the kind of person Yui said he was.

And finally, I started to feel it — the relief that I was safe.

Then I heard a low growl: “You again… interfering…!”
The monster had gotten back up and was glaring straight at me.

Insei raised his staff, and fire erupted from its tip, striking toward the monster.

That kind of attack had to finish it off… right?

But the monster dodged the flames and circled around to Insei’s side.

A sharp clang echoed — metal clashing.

Insei had blocked the attack with his staff.
Then, using the same motion, he threw the monster away.

Even as it flew, the monster twisted mid-air, landing perfectly and charging again.

But before it could close the distance—
Insei was already moving, stepping in.

A flaming punch struck the monster squarely.

The blow forced it back a step, and Insei immediately followed up with a kick.

That one, however, was caught.

“You… fight with an unorthodox style!”
“So what?”
“Then you are not my enemy!”

The monster shoved Insei’s leg aside and launched a furious counterattack — punch, kick, punch, punch — over and over.

The sound of fists slamming against armor rang through the neighborhood.

That fighting style… looked familiar somehow.

But there was nothing I could do right now.

Then suddenly—
a sheep ran in from behind the monster and slammed into it.
Its combo faltered for an instant.

Insei didn’t miss that opening.

His counterpunch connected cleanly, and the monster was blown away again.

He drew his staff from somewhere and pointed it forward.
This time, a torrent of water erupted from the tip, engulfing the monster completely.

And then, the monster disappeared from sight.

I approached Insei and asked, “Did you… defeat it?”

“No. Not yet.”

He was still staring in the monster’s direction.
I followed his gaze—

—and there it was, soaked but still standing.

“For someone using untrained technique… how are you this strong?”
“This is just my way of fighting.”
“…Fine. My goal is complete anyway!”

With that, the monster leapt onto the rooftops, bounding away until it vanished.

“Looks like it got away…”

The voice came from behind — navy-and-red armor, Yui’s.
So she hadn’t been taken down after all.

Masato (Insei) sighed at her words and asked, “Yui, what were you doing?”

As he spoke, Insei pulled something from his belt.
Yui did the same.

Their armor dissolved into light, revealing two high schoolers in track suits.

But… Insei’s uniform wasn’t from our school, Seimō High, was it?

“After that Fallen Star blasted me away, I was cleaning up the miasma in the area…”
“…I see. Any injuries?”
“Nope! I’m totally fine!”

After she answered, Masato looked at me.
“Shirō Hirahara. You—”

“I-I’m fine,” I replied, a bit startled.

I probably got a few scrapes when I was kicked, but… nothing serious.

Insei glanced between Yui and me, then sighed again.

“So, Yui… isn’t there something else you should be telling me?”

This time, his voice was definitely edged with anger.