Love You Sixth Night: 04 [Scar] ★ (60) (Patreon)

*Sixth Night: 04 [Scar] ★*

Grind.

She twisted her wrist, rotating the blade to widen the wound. When she pulled it out, it made a wet squelch, and the blade was exposed from the boy's flank.

"Aaaaaahhhhh!?"

Letting out a scream indistinguishable between agony and shock, [Hound Master] rolled off the bed.

A completely naked girl, dripping with chemical fluids from her entire body, looked down at him with cold eyes. It was Sayoko Mido.

To create a decoy, she had stripped off all her clothes and shoes, cut off her braids, and even used urine to intensify the stench... luring the "Hounds" to that hospital room. At the same time, she had doused herself in a massive amount of chemical fluids, rubbing them in and holding them in her mouth to erase her human scent.

Then, after passing the pack of "Hounds" in the corridor where she had scattered the chemicals, she headed for the hospital room where [Hound Master] was likely hiding, splashing the disinfectant installed at various locations as she went.

Pinpointing his location was easy. As she proceeded down the hallway, her ears had caught the sound of [Hound Master]'s loud laughter. But even without that, Sayoko would have easily found him.

(That cheating bastard... that coward is hiding in the furthest hospital room or somewhere near it.)

A deduction close to conviction. And her intuition was correct; the prey had been lurking in the very last room.

"You!? Why, how!? Whyyyy!?"

Writhing like a fish out of water, [Hound Master] screamed breathlessly.

Sayoko did not answer his words. Quickly closing the sliding door of the room, she moved a nearby bed against it to create a makeshift barricade against the "Hounds," then turned back to the main body.

"No way, no way!?"

[Hound Master] looked into her eyes, teeth chattering and body trembling. Something warm spread from his crotch. Since being chosen as a contender, he likely hadn't faced terror like this. No, perhaps not once in his entire life.

The girl looked down at him emotionlessly, then slowly asked in a low, dark voice.

"You've only ever hunted weaklings, haven't you?"

[Hound Master] did not answer. He could no longer answer. His mind was chaotic with fear and pain, far from a state where he could give a normal response.

But she probably hadn't expected an answer in the first place. Sayoko walked over to [Hound Master] with wet footsteps, kicked him in the side of the face to turn his head away, and then straddled him. Grabbing his hair to expose his neck...

...She began the dismantling.

◆

Pan-paka-pa-pa-pa-n!

『B-Side [Hound Master] Deceased! The winner is A-Side [Scar]! Supervisor Kyoka Kuribayashi wins! Congratulations!』

(...It's over.)

Releasing her hand from [Hound Master]'s hair, she tossed the fruit knife aside.

『Round Seven will begin tomorrow at 2:00 AM. Supervisors and Contenders, please rest well until then. Good work everyone!』

The usual congratulations echoed in her head. However, Sayoko felt no emotion regarding the victory. Letting the announcement pass through her ears, she was simply worried about her childhood friend.

(I wonder if Eri-chan is okay.)

I think she's okay.

I want her to be okay.

But, what if, just maybe.

(I'm scared to check.)

As Sayoko trembled, hugging herself, darkness painted over her vision in a single breath.

◆

Ba-dump!

Sayoko's consciousness returned.

『Sayoko! You won!?』

Kyoka's avatar, having jumped at her, passed right through the girl's body and flew behind her. Watching him circle around to the front, the returnee sat cross-legged on the floor and exhaled.

"Yes. I won."

『You really are amazing! Fighting a contender managed by one of those three girls without any ability and coming back alive!』

"It's fine. This guy was the weakest one so far."

Sayoko tossed the words out nonchalantly.

『I-Is that so...? Well, I'll have you show me the battle record later.』

"Do that."

The girl no longer vomited. She showed no agitation. Kyoka stared at her, transformed in just a few days, with a look bordering on dread.

"More importantly than that."

However, that same Sayoko showed a frightened face.

"[Check Battle Records]"

She moved her stiff lips desperately, muttering quietly. With a small sound effect, the list of contenders appeared before her eyes. In that screen where white and black frames were mixed, she couldn't immediately see the name [Gunstar Heroines].

She must have been terrified. Before extending her finger to scroll, Sayoko took several deep breaths.

"...Please, be safe."

A fear she hadn't felt in the slightest against [Hound Master] was now gripping her heart as if to crush it. Sweat dripping from her chin. Breathing becoming rough. Her heart pounding as if it would burst. While nearly crushed by all that pressure... peeling her eyes open, Sayoko slowly moved the screen with her finger.

"...Found it."

Her finger stopped. At the end of her gaze, black text on a white background—the surviving frame.

Ability Name: [Gunstar Heroines]. Supervisor: Reginald Stepney. Battle Record: 2 Wins, 0 Losses, 4 Draws.

Erika had killed her second person.

"...!"

Sayoko lowered her eyelids and quietly shook her head. Emotion shook her entire body, making her tremble. But she no longer cried over those numbers.

(I see. Eri-chan. You decided. To survive.)

Yes. That's fine.

I respect your resolve.

I support your choice.

(It's okay, Eri-chan. You aren't wrong.)

So don't lose, Eri-chan.

Against the enemy, or against your own heart.

I'll do my best. I'll try even harder.

I won't let any opponent escape.

I will definitely kill them beforehand.

So, listen, Eri-chan.

A draw is fine. Defeating the opponent is fine.

Anything is fine.

Whatever form it takes.

No matter what happens, it's fine.

Please.

Just stay alive.