Love You Seventh Night: 07 [Scar] ◇ (73) (Patreon)

*Seventh Night: 07 [Scar] ◇*

Timing it for when [Heartbreak] came right next to the truck's driver's seat... Sayoko took a small spanner from her pocket and threw it.

Whizz.

The flying silver gleam would soon become the target of [Heartbreak]'s automatic defense function, be instantly disintegrated, have its kinetic energy stolen, and turn into mere metal powder.

But Sayoko's goal was not to hit the enemy's body with the spanner. Her goal was to activate [Heartbreak]'s automatic defense function.

Pop.

Just as Sayoko had planned. The spanner, having flown into the activation range, successfully activated [Heartbreak]'s automatic defense.

A disintegration barrier was momentarily deployed in a circle with a radius of about eighty centimeters, turning the spanner, the surrounding ground, and the things around them into dust all at once.

And in that instant...

BOOM!

With a tremendously loud noise, [Heartbreak]'s entire body was slammed against the side of the truck to her left. Subsequently, the bodies of the trucks on both sides made a "thunk" sound, tilted as if kneeling, and stopped.

...A few seconds passed amidst a swirling cloud of dust.

When Sayoko, who had instinctively turned her face away, turned back, she saw the figure of [Heartbreak] lying there in a gruesome state.

There were no noticeable external injuries to her body. But her clothes, including her underwear, had been torn to shreds in that one instant, leaving her half-naked. And her body no longer twitched.

"Hah..."

Sayoko let out a long, deep breath as if to empty her lungs completely and sat down on the spot.

The strength drained from her entire body. The pain in her right hand returned as her tension dissipated, and the girl's face contorted.

"...It worked."

Tire burst.

It is a phenomenon where the structure of a tire can no longer contain the air inside due to various causes such as external damage, heat during driving, impact, and aging, and ruptures. High-pressure air is filled inside the tire, and if it is released all at once, it has tremendous destructive power.

It is a sufficiently dangerous phenomenon even for small vehicles... but when a tire for a large vehicle ruptures, its power can be said to be in a different league.

For passenger cars, the main cause of death is the wheel being flung off. But in the case of a truck tire, a person nearby can die from the shockwave alone.

In other words, Sayoko had induced [Heartbreak]'s automatic defense and simultaneously disintegrated the structure of the truck tires located right next to her.

As a result, [Heartbreak] received a shockwave from point-blank range, suffered fatal damage to her internal organs, brain, and blood vessels, and died instantly.

The reason she was slammed against the side of the truck was probably that she had already died at the moment of the rupture, so her automatic defense no longer activated.

The stage for the battles is often a replication of a space where daily social life takes place. Sayoko, who had noticed this, had also investigated numerous cases of industrial accidents while gathering materials and doing research. And that is what saved her this time.

"Hehehe," laughter spilled from Sayoko's mouth.

I did it.

I did it.

Serves you right, you cheater.

I really wanted to make you regret it more, make you more afraid before I killed you.

Instant death is a shame.

But well, given the situation, it can't be helped, can it?

Sayoko let out a breath.

But she immediately looked startled and grabbed her own face with her left hand. Her askew glasses dug into her face, and creaked under the still-increasing force.

(What was I just thinking!?)

The red, black, viscous "something" in her chest rapidly shriveled and disappeared.

The violent and hideous impulse that had stirred within her. Was this created within her by the numerous nights, or was it something that had been lurking there from the beginning...? A horrified Sayoko shook her head and desperately tried to regain her sanity.

The fanfare announcing her victory, the announcer's voice, did not reach her ears.

◆

Ba-dump!

With a heartbeat, Sayoko's consciousness returned.

『Sayoko! You're back!』

Kyoka jumped at her. As usual, she passed through Sayoko's body and went behind her.

"Yeah, it was pretty close. No, it was insanely close. But I managed to win."

The girl replied with a genuinely tired face.

Although damage and fatigue to the physical body are repaired and recovered before being sent back to the real world in a "battle"... mental exhaustion is something that cannot be recovered.

Normally, she would want to collapse into bed right away. But Sayoko still had something she absolutely had to confirm.

"[Check Battle Records]"

A list was displayed in front of Sayoko. Black background with white text for the deceased. White background with black text for the survivors.

With a trembling finger, she scrolled the screen.

There were already few white frames left. It wasn't hard to find.

Ability Name: [Gunstar Heroines]. Battle record, 3 Wins, 0 Losses, 4 Draws.

"Eri-chan..."

Something hot streamed down Sayoko's cheek.

Erika had survived tonight as well. She had survived.

She wouldn't say anything more about the increasing number of wins. She wouldn't think anything more.

『It seems Eri-chan has survived.』

Kyoka, who had somehow gotten on her shoulder, spoke while looking at the list. Sayoko nodded while wiping away her tears.

(And if she survives just one more night.)

There are four contenders left.

[Scar], battle record 5 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws.

[Gunstar Heroines], battle record 3 Wins, 0 Losses, 4 Draws.

[Perorist], battle record 2 Wins, 0 Losses, 5 Draws.

[Lightblade]'s battle record is 5 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw. The reason she has one less match is because tonight was a default win.

"One more time."

『Yeah.』

Probably, no, without a doubt.

Sayoko's next opponent is [Lightblade]. If she defeats her. If she kills her. And if Erika wins the [Perorist] battle.

(No, even if it ends in a draw, I just have to finish off [Perorist] next.)

If she did that, Erika would be saved. Sayoko's battle would also be over.

"I'm tired..."

With the relief of confirming her goddess's survival, a sudden wave of sleepiness washed over her.

Sayoko told Kyoka this, and after deciding,『Let's have a thirty-minute meeting at noon today,』she collapsed into bed.

『You're really working hard. Rest well, Sayoko.』

While listening to Kyoka's voice... Sayoko sank into sleep as if she were drowning.

***

2025.02.11

The manga version of Anayuru volumes ①② will be released on 2/7, and bonus illustration cards will be included at various bookstores!

(Official announcement) https://comicpash.jp/news/283359

Rinri-sensei drew a 4-koma of the behind-the-scenes of the bonus photo shoot by Sayoko and the others!

Please take a look at the very Sayoko-and-the-others-like exchange (´∀｀)