Chapter 70

GAME OVER

-

-#- RING ! -#-

Ayane turned pale as her mobile phone rang. Kosuke and the others were petrified, looking at her as if oblivious of what to do next. Taking another glance of the men down below, who simultaneously paused on their tracks for some unknown reason, she slowly reached for her phone to answer the call.

Chills ran down her spine as the familiar voice sounded from the other line.

Surrender the disk NOW…

“You gave us twenty four hours, didn’t you?” Ayane answered, trying her best to sound as calm as possible. “We still have five left…”

Your decoy game cost us more than one year of deceit. How does a five-hour wait tantamount to that?

“No wonder Aya did a terrible mistake of dealing with you. They were right,” Ayane answered. “You never keep your word…”

Surrender the disk now.

Ayane’s eyes grew narrower and replied in a serious tone, “And what if I don’t?”

Then say goodbye to your ‘friends’.

-#- BEEP -#-

“Stream? STREAM?!” Ayane shouted.

-#- BEEP -#-

But the same sound persisted. The person on the other line hung up without further warning. Wasting no time, Ayane immediately rushed towards the window to look down and, to her astonishment, the men in black suits began to advance towards the school’s interior.

“Everyone…” Ayane said, traces of shock all over her face.

“RUN!”

All of them turning pale, adrenaline taking control of their consciousness, they motioned towards the door in full speed. Tomo and Makiko led the group in their escape, Akio and Hidemi tailing next.

“Shizu-chan, go!” Yuken shouted.

“B-But!”

“Yuken, that’s enough! We have to escape!” Kosuke said in panic.

“It’s near… Almost there…” Yuken muttered as he turned back to his laptop, which flashed a progress bar.

COPYING FILES…

72 PERCENT

“Damn it, what are you guys doing?! They’re coming!” Akio said panting as he rushed back towards the room.

“You guys leave at once!” Kosuke said. “Yuken, leave it and go! Quick!”

COPYING FILES…

88 PERCENT

“Sato-kun, please!” Shizuki cried.

“Yoshida-chan, listen!” Yuken said, finally standing up from his chair.

FILE COPY COMPLETE

Then, Yuken pulled out the Silver Disk from the Circa Constellation and said, “Never give them the disk no matter what happens… but if things get really tight… take this and run away.”

Ayane’s eyes rolled towards the item Yuken was referring to.

“The… Circa Constellation?” Ayane muttered.

“The files inside the Silver Disk can’t be copied to any other device other than to bike.”

“The Circa… is a storage device?!” Ayane’s eyes widened.

“Yes,” Yuken said. “I’ve already copied the files. The duplicate disk… is the Circa, got that?”

“I… I…”

“Enough talk! They’re coming!” Akio shouted from the door.

Five men in black suits alighted from the stairs, coming towards Akio, who stood on the doorstep. To his shock, the one in front took out a gun from his coat and pointed it towards him.

-#- BANG! -#-

Fortunately, Akio was able to dodge by entering the room the others were in. He hastily bolted it from the inside and turned towards Ayane and the rest.

“They’re… They’re outside!” Akio screamed.

“Let’s take the exit on the back!” Shizuki said as she led the group towards a narrow door on the far side of the room. Akio and Yuken immediately followed.

When Kosuke spun around, however, Ayane remained on where she stood, clenching her fists.

“Aya-chan! Let’s go!” Kosuke said.

“I’ll take it from here. You guys go!” Ayane replied.

“WHAT?! Are you crazy? Those guys have guns!” Kosuke exclaimed.

“Yes,” Ayane nodded.

“And I have my fists.”

-#- CRASH! -#-

Without warning, the door was forced open from the outside. The five men entered the room, pistols on their grasps, ready to fire. Welcoming them was nothing but an uncanny silence as they advanced, stepping on intertwining cables and speckled dust. Without putting down their guns, they roamed around the room, checking for any sign of motion.

The men nodded at each other the moment their gaze fell upon the Circa Constellation that stood beside a computer table, where an opened laptop was placed on. Slowly, they advanced towards it, their footsteps echoing to the four corners of the room.

One of them reached forward to touch the item, but when he did so…

-#- CLICK! -#-

“What?!”

The men gasped as the curtains were pulled down by an unseen foe, keeping the faint light from the afternoon sky from setting into the room. Almost at the same time, the fluorescent lights were turned off, both inside the computer room and those located on the corridors outside. The laptop on the table also shut down automatically.

In an instant, darkness enveloped the room.

“AHHHHHHH!!”

Following it was a blow straight to one of the men’s face. He screamed as the foe twisted his arm, dropping his gun to the floor as he plummeted to his knees.

Not a second has passed when a second strike pinned another of them onto the table. He shouted as he felt a thick cable winding around his neck, choking him in a pull. He crashed on the ground, a hand seizing his gun away.

“Who’s there?! WHO’S THERE?!” the third man said, pointing his gun blankly onto the darkness.

But not for long…

The three remaining shielded their eyes from the blinding light focused towards them. Soon after, they heard a familiar booming sound emanating from the engine on the center of the room – the same thing from which the blinding light came from.

-#- BRRRMMM! BRRRMMM! -#-

“What?!”

-#- BANG! -#-

-#- BANG! -#-

-#- BANG! -#-

“UGH!”

The men squealed in pain as bullets fired straight towards their hands without miss, disarming their guns. In shock, they gazed at the figure coming towards them in full speed, riding the ‘track monster’ which they have not seen for quite a long time.

-#- CLICK! -#-

The lights came back on. With the five strewn helplessly on the ground, Kosuke, Yuken, and Akio immediately picked up their guns on the floor and ran towards the exit.

Kosuke stopped midway, his jaw dropping in awe.

Ayane was on the Circa Constellation, one hand on the handlebars and the other holding a gun, which was fired mere seconds ago. She pointed it towards the men and said –

“Get out!”

-#- BANG! -#-

Ayane fired another warning shot, aiming it just centimeters before one of the men’s head. In fright, the five scrambled towards the door.

“Aya-chan…” Kosuke gasped.

“Run…” Ayane replied.

“But…”

“I said RUN!” Ayane repeated. “I’ll take care of them myself.”

“But you promised that we’ll deal with things together from now on!” Kosuke insisted.

“BUT CAN’T YOU SEE NOW?!” Ayane shouted in reply, tears beginning to swell. “YOU THINK DEALING WITH THE SPECTRA IS A GAME? A GAME THAT CAN BE PLAYED BY LOVE TEAMS?”

“Aya-chan…”

“If being with you… will only put your life to risk… will only put your friend’s lives at risk…” Ayane said sternly. “Kosu-kun… let’s…”

“Break up?!” Kosuke cut in. “Aya-chan, what the hell are you saying?!”

Instead of replying, Ayane readied the gun on her hand.

“I’ll finish them by myself. You run away… and please… take care of yourself…”

-#- BRRRMMM! BRRRMMM! -#-

“AYA-CHANNNNNNN!!”

-

-F&L-

“EEEEEKKKK!” Makiko screamed as she saw men coming up the stairs from where they descended. Immediately, Tomo covered her mouth and pulled her towards the other direction to hide. Hidemi hid on the pillar opposite them, signaling to Tomo what to do.

As the three men alighted from the stairs, Hidemi immediately charged from behind, grabbing the foe’s arm and threw punches straight to his abdomen. The man groaned in pain, holding his stomach as he collapsed to the ground. The other man pointed his gun towards Hidemi, ready to fire. But just when he was about to pull the trigger, Tomo leaped in to slam him down with his weight. The pistol spun free on the floor. Seeing this, the man and Tomo contested for it, pulling each other out of the way. Luckily, Tomo was more agile. He seized the gun and pointed it towards the man, who immediately placed his arms up in surrender.

“Tomo! Look out!” Hidemi shouted as he spotted the third man aiming for him.

Out of nowhere, Makiko leaped into the scene, holding a metal bar which she banged towards the man’s head. Instantly, the man lost consciousness, dropping his gun to the floor.

“W-W…Whoah…” Hidemi blinked in disbelief.

“You… saved my life!” Tomo exclaimed.

“Well…” Makiko shrugged proudly.

“Let’s go!” Hidemi said.

“Don’t move or I’ll blast your head into pieces!” Tomo warned the man he aimed at.

“Y-Yes!” the man said in fright.

“Bunch of losers…” Makiko said.

“Which makes me doubt…” Hidemi replied.

“Huh?” Makiko stopped.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Tomo asked.

“If they wanted to kill us, they could have already done it by now…” Hidemi said.

“It’s because you two are good fighters,” Makiko replied. “Even the Spectra couldn’t bring you down. I’m sure that Yamazaki and the others are alright too.”

“You’re right…” Tomo nodded.

“Told you…” Makiko smiled.

“No,” Tomo shook his head. “I mean… Yamada’s right…”

“EH?!” Makiko raised her eyebrow.

“This attack… these men who seemingly do not fight back the way they are expected to as compared to the time they last paid us a visit…” Tomo said.

“Something’s NOT right…”

-

-F&L-

The Circa Constellation zoomed across the school corridors, pinning the incoming men to the corner. They began firing bullets towards Ayane, which only pierced through the air. She passed in a speed of a jet, riding like a violent storm that destroyed whichever it touches. In an amazing feat, she spins around with the Circa beneath her, replying to the bullets with bullets she fired, velocity shearing their flesh, blood spilling to the floor. Each opponent fell to the ground, holding their bleeding cuts while they groaned in pain.

Ayane made sure no one was killed. She was not a murderer.

“I will never be like the Spectra,” she reminded herself as she drove her bike to the window, leaping outside and landing on the front grounds of Tsuzuya.

Another group of men charged towards her. But this time, they were not holding guns but truncheons. They encircled her, tapping their bats repeatedly onto their calloused hands as they approached nearer and nearer. She dropped her gun to the ground, its bullets already consumed.

“Aya-chan!”

She rolled her eyes towards the incoming group. Kosuke and the rest of his gang motioned forward, each with a serious look on their faces.

“Okay, time for some real showdown,” Akio grinned.

“I must say I’ve missed this somehow,” Tomo sounded his knuckles.

“Me too,” Hidemi snickered.

“Well? Care to start the show then?” Yuken sneered.

“E… Everyone…” Ayane muttered.

Kosuke led the group forward, clenching his fists, “I said we’ll do this together, Aya-chan... and I always keep my word.”

“Kosu-kun…”

“THEN BEAT THEM ALL UP!”

The men charged towards the six of them, readying their clubs as they came nearer. Ayane descended from her bike to counter her incoming foes. She grasped one’s hand and threw a powerful kick, sending him to the floor. The next one attacked from her rear, but she managed to dodge easily. She clenched her fist and punched the man straight to his jaw.

Kosuke’s gang was not left out in the action. Akio threw punches left and right. Tomo did the same, finishing each blow with a kick, sending the rivals to the ground. Hidemi used his prevailing fists, his eyes on fire as he attacked preemptively. Yuken’s agility never faltered as he dodged each incoming attack amazingly, countering them after with a mighty uppercut.

The best fighter among the five was Kosuke. He took on five at a time, never tiring as he threw fists to every direction. He leaped up, midway readying his legs for crushing boot aimed towards the enemy below, sending each of them to their knees as if they were sorry for their existence.

Five down… then three… another three on the staircase… twenty on the hallway… and now, on the front grounds lay around thirty men, groaning in pain.

-#- CLAP… CLAP… CLAP… -#-

“What…?!” Ayane’s eyes widened as her gaze fell upon the figure that entered the school gates, wearing a black coat that extended to his knees. With a mischievous grin on his face, he continued to advance towards them, clapping his hands.

-#- CLAP… CLAP… CLAP… -#-

“You…” Kosuke clenched his fists.

-#- CLAP… CLAP… CLAP… -#-

“What a show…” Stream jeered.

“Stream…” Ayane glared at him.

“Did you have fun? Looks like you did,” Stream said. “Just like how we had fun with the game of chase you’ve made us play for one and a half years, huh, Yoshida Ayane?”

“And I’m disappointed,” Ayane replied.

She pointed towards the men in black sprawled on the floor and said, “I certainly expected something more than that.”

“Then let’s stop this game, shall we?” Stream said, extending his arm towards Ayane. “Now, give me the disk.”

“No,” Ayane replied firmly.

“Give me the Silver Disk… now...”

“I won’t,” Ayane repeated.

Stream raised an eyebrow, “Are you aware of what you’re trying to pull?”

“If you are so fond of acting brave, then come over here and fight…” Ayane warned.

“Hahaha… Now you’re trying to take control of the game?” Stream grinned. “Have you no idea whom you’re talking to?”

“You are Crosse’s insane brother,” Ayane replied.

“Ahhhh… Crosse…” Stream frowned. “If he was here, for sure he’ll have to agree with me when I say that you surrender… while you still have the chance.”

Ayane’s eyes widened.

“Why do you look so surprised? Ah, I know… He slipped out of your consciousness all the while and now you suddenly remembered him, am I not right?” Stream shrugged. “Now that we’re talking… Where is Crosse just when you needed him?”

“N… No…” Ayane muttered.

“OH! That’s right…” Stream smiled. “He WAS crying pitifully on that girl’s grave.”

“Y… You didn’t…” Ayane turned pale.

“Of course he’s still alive. After all, we’re family, aren’t we?” Stream answered. “But… I’m not so sure about the others…”

“W… What are you talking about?”

“Don’t’ tell me I didn’t warn you,” Stream said with a shrug.

“W-What?!”

-#- Flashback -#-

Surrender the disk NOW…

“You gave us twenty four hours, didn’t you?” Ayane answered, trying her best to sound as calm as possible. “We still have five left…”

Your decoy game cost us more than one year of deceit. How does a five-hour wait tantamount to that?

“No wonder Aya did a terrible mistake of dealing with you. They were right,” Ayane answered. “You never keep your word…”

Surrender the disk now.

Ayane’s eyes grew narrower and replied in a serious tone, “And what if I don’t?”

Then say goodbye to your ‘friends’.

-#- BEEP -#-

-#- End of Flashback -#-

“And when I said ‘friends’…”

An evil grin formed on Stream’s lips as he continued –

-

-

“I meant… your other friends…”

-

-

“W… What…” Ayane’s eyes widened in shock.

Suddenly, Makiko and Shizuki came out of nowhere, running towards Ayane, panting.

“Y…Yoshida-chan! Something terrible happened!” Makiko said.

“Nagahara-chan?!” Ayane exclaimed.

“I…I received a p..p-phone call just now!” Makiko stuttered in panic. “T…T-The noodle house I work part time in… w-was… was…”

“Restaurant you work part time in?” Akio blinked.

Then, he recalled that time when they all went out investigating on Ayane’s whereabouts when she suddenly disappeared.

-#- Flashback to Chapter 38 -#-

“Haaaaawwwrrrr……” Akio yawned, stretching his arms apart as he walked down the busy streets of Tokyo. “This is so boring. Everyone’s so pre-occupied with Miyazawa, Miyazawa, Miyazawa, and Miyazawa…tsk. Even Yamazaki’s going nuts!”

-#- Stomach grumble -#-

“I called everyone out to eat, but all four of them said they’re ‘busy’,” Akio frowned as he held his tummy. “And it’s a Saturday! Man, is Miyazawa even more important than basic commodities like food?! Well then, I hope they all starve!... AH!”

A smile spread across Akio’s face as he stopped by a nearby restaurant from where he perceived the aroma of freshly prepared seafood noodles.

“That’s what I call food, baby!” Akio cheerfully said. He read the name of the small noodle stall that stood in front of him.

WHITE THUMB NOODLE HOUSE

Akio pushed aside the cloth with Japanese calligraphy that hung by the entrance of the small restaurant. He reached for the bamboo sliding door to enter.

However, before he was able to do so, someone from the inside opened the door. With the door opened, the inviting scent of the newly prepared food for the customers made Akio fall into a temporary daze.

This was halted, however, when suddenly the outgoing person bumped against his shoulder that was so strong that it pushed him several paces back.

“Hey you! Why don’t you watch where you’re going?!” Akio said as he pointed threateningly at the person.

When they came face to face, however, their moods suddenly changed.

“Y-YOU?!” Akio exclaimed in shock.

The stout person who bumped Akio by accident was holding a box of newly made sushi and a heated container with crab and corn soup. He glared back at Akio, who seemed to recognize him instantly upon seeing what stood next to him - - a yellow delivery motorcycle.

-#- End of Flashback -#-

“What happened?!” Ayane said, her face turning white.

“He… He…” Makiko continued to stutter.

“Yoshida-chan, the restaurant…” Shizuki answered for Makiko as her friend burst into tears, unable to speak further, “…was engulfed in fire…”

“WHAT?!” Kosuke exclaimed.

“But… wait…” Akio said. “Yoshida-chan, the fat dude that works in that noodle house is your friend right? What’s his name again? Hmmm… Buyo, was it?”

“N…No… NO!” Ayane’s jaw dropped in horror. “What did you… WHAT DID YOU DO TO BUYO-KUN?!”

-

-

Then, as her eyes rolled towards Stream, his arms were folded proudly on his chest as he replied –

“But of course…”

-

-

“… that fire was an accident.”

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