Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

7 Nights:Chapter 01 part3

2009-08-16T01:58:40Z

74.178.196.38: /* Chapter 1 - The woman warrior dances in the night - Part 3 */

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===<noinclude>Chapter 1 - The woman warrior dances in the night - </noinclude>Part 3===



I rushed for my classroom at the first-year corridors of the high school building. I usually still have time when I arrive every morning, but I lost it this time as I dusted off myself at the shoe racks.

"Good morning..."

Passing through the classroom door, it's 8:25 as I looked at the wall clock, 5 minutes till HR period. Most of the students are already inside, amusing themselves with morning talk.

"Yo, Hoshi! Got all dirtied up, ''ne''?

"Yup, got up late and had to run..."

With a vague smile, I replied to my friend's back carelessly as I hurried to my seat, breathed a sigh of relief, and slumped myself into the desk. My backside still throbbed from the pain, my face red from that slap. What a messy morning.

After that, Teru-san  interfered and the incident was settled. After the girl thoroughly scowled at me, she left with her shoulders squared. I looked at the swinging twin ponytails at her back as I massaged my swollen face.

Due to the accident at the school gate, I was the center of attention for many students. Someone seen in that acquaintance would probably burst flames from his head and burn to death --

"Sa-kun!"

A sweet girl's voice knocked at the back of my downed head.

Raising my head, in front of my raised eyes is a sweet smile. Kure Nazumu. My classmate since 3rd year middle school, she's still my closest classmate among the girls.

I've got it; right now she's all cheery.

"... morning, Nazumu"

''No way'' -- As a wary me replied cheerfully, Nazumu smiled brightly.

"''Iiiyaa'', Sa-kun's unexpectedly daring, ''ne''?"

''Gaaah''! I knew she witnessed it!?

"What do you want!? Is it Vittoria's Montblanc ...!?"

"You're way ahead--! Anyway, for hush-hush, I wish for the Montblanc from that well-known cake shop, and I won't say a word♪ Well, I wanted to say 'give me', but then..."

"I... I'll think this over..."

"All riight! I like Sa-kun♪ I'll be so tight-lipped so don't worry, ''ne''"

"''Phew'' ... safe ..."

"''Moou''! And I talked to you seriously ..."

After Nazumu puffed her cheeks, she lowered into the chair in front of me (after going around me in the back).

"I'm not telling anyone anything, and I'm giving you some good news. What are trying to hide from me? Acchan's a good friend!"

Nazumu stuck out her chest as she spoke.

"Acchan? Who?"

"Yup, Akeno-chan"

"A-ke-no?"

"... eh?"

We stared each other for several seconds.

"A, ah! That very girl!"

"'That very girl'!? What do you mean? You didn't even know her name when you confessed to her?"

"Well, that's no confession ..."

"What's with your sudden shyness? With such audacious confession♪"

"So you mean, 'You didn't even know her name when you confessed to her'?"

"In short, you're taken with her at first sight, ''ne''"

Ah, ''mou'', what are you talking about. Get back on topic!

"Anyway, they call her Akeno, right? Just who is she? What's her relationship with you?"

"So you don't know apart from jokes..." 

As Nazumu murmured "love is blind", she answered seriously with earnest.

"She's Kasugamori Akeno-chan. She's one year junior than us, probably class 3-C. I played lacrosse with her until last year."

"I see, you knew each other through club activities"

Nazumu's with the lacrosse club. Juniors and seniors play separately, so that explains the "I played lacrosse with her until last year."

"Anyhow, isn't she cute? Besides her nice character, her success rate's terrible. Every month, she was confessed to --"

"12 boys in one year!"

"''Nya''. Summer vacation, festival, graduation seasons included, well about 20 ... eh, are you serious?"

Nazumu talked herself into astonishment. She recalled the girl going for me at the school gates. Then her eyes must have turned to disgust . It's as if she was unable to notice. 

"And you didn't go steady with anyone despite of your looks .... Anyway, be on your guard. 'Strengthen your defenses, how many have fallen before impregnable defenses' they say. You hear?"

"Hm? Right, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

"''Mou''! Freshen up! No matter how desperate, don't despair. Don't ever lose hope. Until that day your feelings reach her, keep on attacking! ... Ah, but stalking or depression is a no go, ''ne''. Keep on moderation your heartsickness and agony, and you'll keep on moderation you amusing me. 

"That's your real intention, you're wicked."

"Well, if Sakkun and Acchan were stuck together, don't you think that's a happy thought?"

"Sorry, won't happen either way. My bad if I can't live to your expectations."

"Oh. If you want to make the arrangements, just say it anytime.♪"

Just as Nazumu stood up from the chair, the opening chime rang. As the students chatted while returning to their seats, the HR teacher enters the classroom.

(''What a nice character, ne.'')

My mind murmured as I suddenly remember Nazumu's words. The way I see it, she's but a violent character, dreaming or not. Well, at least she's cute.

"..............."

That time, I recalled the sensation my palms felt on that hidden thing, just as my face reddened. My heart, due to my shortened breathing, began to thump.

"Stand -- !"

Today's order resounded in the classroom.

<noinclude>
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| Back to [[7 Nights:Chapter 01 part2|Chapter 1 Part 2]]
| Return to [[7 Nights|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[7 Nights:Chapter 01 part4|Chapter 1 Part 4]]
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|}
</noinclude>

7 Nights:Chapter 01 part2

2009-08-16T01:49:49Z

74.178.196.38: /* Chapter 1 - The woman warrior dances in the night - Part 2 */

===<noinclude>Chapter 1 - The woman warrior dances in the night - </noinclude>Part 2===

“-yeah, that’s basically what happened in my dream last night… Even now, I kinda think that it might’ve been ‘real’. It seemed so damn realistic…”

Teru-san, who was listening to me talk, seemed pretty confused…

On my way to school this morning, I passed by my senpai and friend, ‘Teruhiko Hiruma’ (nickname: Teru-san), so I started talking to him about the dream last night. To me, it was a topic that was so extraordinary, yet when I try to put it into words, it’s hard to explain properly… So it ended up making no sense and becoming a very boring topic, but even then, Teru-san listens to me, watching me with his sleepy eyes, hiding behind his glasses.

“Hmm, that’s sure an interesting story.”

Then, after a minute of silence, he said it as if he remembered just then.

“…Yeah, that’s interesting, especially how it actually… ‘Hurt’ you.”

While scratching his messed up hair, he continues mumbling.

“It’s interesting how it ‘hurt’…?”

When I asked the question, he says “for example…” and stretches his arm towards my face!

“Owowowow!!! Stop!”

Then he suddenly pulled my cheek!

“It hurts! What are you doing!?”

I quickly back away and glare at Teru-san. He doesn’t seem sorry and he just said,

“It hurts, it’s not a dream.”

“…Yes?”

“It hurts, it’s not a dream. Haven’t you ever heard of that quote?”

“I have… In manga and dramas… What about it?”

“It’s a pretty old quote now… But what the quote says is true.”

“Um… And?”

“So, in dreams, there’s no pain.”

While saying that Teru-san starts walking.

“Inside a dream, people can ‘hear’ and ‘see’. Those are the two main senses you use in a dream. Other than those, when you touch something, you use ‘feeling’, and when you eat something you use ‘tasting’ and ‘smelling’.”

“Yeah… You’re right… I do feel a lot of different things when I need to take a piss in a dream…”

“The way you feel things is different for everyone. It depends on each person and what is happening. But ‘pain’ is a part of ‘touch’, and in most cases you’re not supposed to feel it…”

“Yeah… You’re right, because I’ve never really had a dream before which ‘hurt’ in the past…”
When I think about it, I kind of feel special. The creepy experience I had ends up being a unique experience, which is strange… That’s pretty unfair…

“Also it’s interesting about the time… A watch came out in your dream, and time inside a dream flows with your own thoughts, so it doesn’t count each second and each minute. Maybe the reason the time stayed the same was because of that?”

“That makes sense…”

While I was being impressed with Teru-san, we reach the school gate. All of a sudden, I realize that there were many other students walking around us.

Private School Suijou Academy, the school I go to, is the biggest school in the city.

There’s a medium school and a high school, and the corresponding uniforms have small differences. I in high school first year, while Teru-san is in the second.

“Also Hoshi-kun, was the girl you met in the dream truly someone you don’t know? For example, a relative, classmate, or even an idol you like?”

“Well, if she was an idol, she was closest to, umm Yun Yuzuki?”

“…Yuzuki… Who?”

“Yun Yuzuki. She’s a recently popular pinup girl.”

She’s even on TV a lot recently, Teru-san’s knowledge is really one sided…”

“She was similar but definitely not the same person. She definitely was someone I don’t know. Why do you want to know anyway?”

“That’s pretty interesting… If you say it simply, dreams are there to tidy up your mind. And the ingredients used to create dreams are your own memories or an over exaggerated imagination of your own. So it’s actually highly likely for the girl to be someone you already know.”

“Is that… so…”

I think about it over again. That girl was… oh yeah, the uniform she was in was the ‘middle school’s uniform. She had twin tails and… Yeah, she looks just like the girl passing through the school gate…

“WHA-”

“What?”

I quickly swallow the ‘T’ back in.

“It’s that girl!!! It’s that girl!!! She came out in my dream!!!”

“Hmm? The one with the twin tails?”

I don’t know what he means by ‘twin tails’ but, it’s that girl!!! I leave Teru-san and dash at full speed!

“Hey…!”

My voice was a lot louder than I wanted. The girl and her friend walking next to her got freaked out and turned around and looked at me with puzzled faces.

I gazed the girl. The uniform, the hair, it’s exactly the same. She has the cute and young face. Even though, this is definitely the first time I’ve seen her in real life. I’ve never spoken, seen, or heard of her before.

“…Excuse me, but what do you want?”

Because I was staring at the girl, her eyes changed into a mean look.

“Sorry for suddenly calling you back. But can I have a talk with you?”

“What do you want to talk about with me?”

“Umm… I don’t know what to say, it’s very hard to explain…”

Shit. I called her back but, how should I put it out? -“We met last night in a dream, didn’t we.”- isn’t gonna work. -“Do you know me?”- What kind of idiot am I? -“Haven’t we met before?”- I’m not asking her out!!!

“……………”

The girl gives me an annoyed stare, and the girl next to her seems excited. I think she's misunderstanding what I’m thinking… She probably is thinking that I’m gonna ask this girl out or something… Oh man I must look like an idiot.

At the rate this is going, nothing’s gonna move on. It’s just giving them less trust for me by the second.

Stop thinking! Just do what you want to say! I’ll say it right now!

-

-

-

“Haven’t we met before?”

“……What?”

Oh shit I said the wrong thing!!!~

“Do you know me?”

“No… I don’t know you…”

Thought so… I don’t know you either! Nooo that’s not what I wanted to say!!!

“We met last night in a dream, didn’t we.”

“… uh!?”

The girl had a surprised look.

“…huh?”

I thought for sure that next thing she would do was to shout at me. Her emotion was stoned, so I didn’t know what to do. Her wide opened eyes, stare at me with surprise.

“…that’s…bullsh*t…”

By her reaction, is it that she also remembers me from the dream? Are you seriously saying that we actually both remember the dream?

My heart pounds faster and faster. Each pound makes me remember the pain I had from being smashed in the head.

“Is it really you…? The one who tried to kill me in the alleyway…”

I took a step closer to her. The girl looked freaked out and suddenly-

“No! Stay away!”

And pushed me with all her might.

“Oh, ohhh, ahhh!”

I fall back and lose balance, and my hands which are wobbling around,

“Wha-?”

Grabbed the girls wrist.

“Wha, wait, kyaaaa!”

The girl couldn’t shake me off, nor push me away, and just came down with me.

“-uh…!”
I fell on the ground and hit my back. I managed to not hit my head my head, but now the girl falls down towards me!

I catch her with my arms, and she was a lot lighter than I thought. She proved to be just as elegant as she looks.

“………….”

She was soft and elegant. I felt that as our bodies stacked together. The girl’s hair, which was moving across my face, had a great smell.

[[image:7 Nights 001.jpg|thumb]]
“Ou…Ouchh…”

“Are…Are you alright?”

“Uh… Sorry! I’ll get off right away…”

The girl quickly tries to get up, and I try to help out by holding her and-

“………….”

“…………”

We both froze.

She is in a horseback riding position above my waist. And my hand is touching her-
The hand which tried to hold her up is on the girl’s breast. The soft lump touching my palm softly bounces a bit with the squishy feeling. Our faces are close together, and if I let go I have the feeling that our lips are going to have contact, so we stared at each other for awhile. People around us were saying unwanted words as they walked past.

In the insecure feeling silence, the girl’s face goes all red, and she started shaking.

“You…Freak…”

“C… Calm down, this was an accident. It wasn’t on purpose, you know that too, right?!”

“You pervert! You freak!”

She flattened her hand and, with a nice, soothing sound, I was slapped.

And I saw fireworks…

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
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| Back to [[7 Nights:Chapter 01 part1|Chapter 1 Part 1]]
| Return to [[7 Nights|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[7 Nights:Chapter 01 part3|Chapter 1 Part 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

7 Nights:Chapter 01 part1

2009-08-16T01:28:01Z

74.178.196.38: Is this book supposed to be in past or present tense...? Grammar/awkwardness fixes.

===<noinclude>Chapter 1 - The woman warrior dances in the night - </noinclude>Part 1===



My name is Sakuya Hoshi

I go to Suijou Academy

I’m in high school, from the 1E group, and my student class number is 33.

I’m just a normal high-schooler.

Or rather, I think I should say I ‘was’ normal. These past few days, I’ve been involved in some rather strange events.

It started… yes, it started 3 days ago---

“………?”

When I realized it, it was nighttime and I was standing in the middle of a park.

“W… Wha?”

I looked around, and all I saw was playground stuff such as swings and slides. I was standing in the middle of this park, wearing my school uniform.

“What… What’s this all about?”

I was supposed to be in my room, on my bed, wearing a T-shirt and underpants. That’s what I last remember.
Maybe someone brought me here? Wait… If I’m standing up right now, that would mean someone hypnotized me? If it wasn’t that…

“Did I sleep walk all the way here…?”

Mumbling, I shook off each possibility of what happened one after another… I don’t understand the current situation at all. It’s useless to think about how I came here.

I put my hand in my pocket… And, it was there, my mobile phone. I took it out, unfolded it, and checked the time. It said 2:14am. Today is Monday, the 25th of June.

“It’s the time where even the plants sleep…”

Most places will probably be closed by now. The only places open would probably be the Gyuudon-shop, the convenience store, and the police station. So it’s not very likely for anyone to have spotted a sleep-walker at this kind of time.

“So I wonder, how far away has this sleep-walker walked?”

I don’t think that this place is too far away from home… Besides, I kind of think I’ve been here before.

“It was over here? Yeah I remember now.”

Just as I thought, there was a map of this area on the sign post.
This small park does not have any light-posts, so I use my mobile phone to light up the map and the first thing which got to me was the park's name. Which was…

“Shiraishi city park… Shiraishi!?”

I shouted it out. This is crazy! Why!? How!?

I can’t help but question my current situation over and over again. The city I’m in at the moment is the neighboring city of my city…
I was currently a 1 hour walk away from my place.

For me, Shiraishi City is a city filled with memories. When I was young, I lived in this city, and I played in that park. But, when I was in middle school, I moved houses and since then, I haven’t even visited this city once.

If the situation was different, I probably would’ve been glad I came here. But, unfortunately I am dreadfully worried. I just want to hurry up and go home.

I remember this area vaguely… But still I know how to get back home. My house is located in Naobi City, which is to the north of Shiraishi City, so I must advance north and enter the shopping district, then I must enter the station and go through the south exit to the north exit, pass through Suijou Academy and arrive home. The average time that would take is 1 hour, but after trying it for real, I disagree.

“Damn it… Why on earth did I… go to such a far place?”

Around this area, everyone’s house lights were turned off, and it was so quiet it was actually scary. The outsides lights were strangely all off, and the moonlight was the biggest help of all. This place is just like a ghost town. Since this is the case, I would be more than happy to hear the noise of a truck or some other loud noise. Also, I really want a taxi. I wonder if I’ll find one once I exit the station.

“Oh…”

Where I walk, I see a building with light. It’s the convenience store! The banner which shines green and white says “Cran Mart”.

“I wonder why… I’m just so happy!!!”

Inside the store would be really cool, with the air conditioner working well and, while listening to the radio, I would stand and read some magazines. And then I’ll grab an ice-lolly and bring it to the nighttime shop-keeper who has a blunt looking face, give him the money, receive the change, and have a great time. I've thought of an awesome plan indeed!

I happily open the door-

“Wha?”

I was standing at the door, the air conditioner was on. But, there was no radio, and there was no shop-keeper.

“Hello? Is anybody here?”

Maybe the shop-keeper thought no one was going to come at this time of day and decided to read manga over around the corner? Or maybe he’s sorting out the products around the corner? Either way it’s strange… If I were a bad person, I could’ve swiped a couple of things and went off.

Either way, there’s no reply.

“Helloooooo~!?”

I shout out into the room behind the cash register, still no reply. Is he ditching his job by taking a nap?

“Hello? Please reply back! Your lack of security is over the limits!”

I walk in and check inside the room.

“Not there.”

The room had no one in it, on the desk was some magazines, and the computer was left on. There were many boxes filled with products which had passed the use-by date…

“Wait a minute… Is this a joke?”

Why doesn’t anyone answer? Why isn’t anyone here?!

“Hello!? Hello!? Anyone here!?”

I shouted from the top of my lungs. Even then, there’s still no reply. All I can hear is the sound of the computer and the fridge buzzing. That noise makes me lose my temper even more.

“Damn… Damn it!!!”

I can’t stand it anymore, so I dash out of the store and shout.

“ANYBODY HERE?!!!”

I shouted as hard as I can. But even that gets sucked away by the night's darkness. There’s no change and, again, it’s just silence.
What… This is as if… This is as if I’m the only one left in the world!!! What the hell!?

“Somebody! Answer me!!!”

Isn’t there… Isn’t there anyone? I need a way to confirm that I’m not the only human being here… That’s it! Mobile phone!
I take my phone out of my pocket, who should I call? Home? No, calling the police is the quickest solution, right? I try to call 110 and-

I was so freaked out I even forgot to breathe.

2:14am.

All of my previous thoughts just floated out of my head in an instant. I just stare at the time with no expression. The seconds tick away, “56… 57… 58… 59…0”, but, it’s only the seconds which move, and the minutes don’t change at all. It stays as 2:14am.
Is this even possible? Is it some kind of trick? Someone’s trying to scare me? I’m too confused. This situation I’m in-

“………!?”

A loud scream wiped away all my panicking thoughts. There’s someone else besides me!

“Kyaaa~!!!”

It’s a voice of a girl. Even though I’m filled with joy, now’s not the right time to be happy. It’s clearly a voice calling for someone’s help!
I run towards where the voice came from. Is it a molester or something? Even if this weren’t a ghost town, it’s certain that there are no people here. I have to help her!

“! Are they over there!?”

I hear someone’s footsteps, getting further away from me.

“Hey, wait!”

I can’t save anyone if they keep moving. Then for a moment, in the corner of my eyes, I see a figure of a girl who disappeared around the corner of the alley.

“Wait…!”

I increase my speed. I’ve finally found ‘someone’ here besides me. I must not lose sight of her. I dash into the alley and-

BANG!!!

All of a sudden something hit me, and I see stars. The dull shock I received has gone all over my body, I’m dizzy and I fall over and land on my butt.

“Wha… What?”

Why am I… Why am I sitting down…? I can’t think about it properly. My vision is blurry and I am dizzy. Trying to fix that, I shake my head and, *KIIN!* -I receive a huge headache and I curl my body up.
Right next to me… I hear footsteps. Is… someone there?

“………”

I lift my head up. In my blurred vision what I saw was… a girl. She was a cute girl, who is probably the same age as me. The uniform she’s wearing is something I am very familiar with.

“Owww…!”

The headache came back, and I dropped my head down again. Then while falling down, what came in my sight was a wooden bat. The bat slowly lifts up, and my eyes follow it back up.
My eyes caught the girl’s eyes.
The girl was staring at me, and in those eyes I saw fear. She was breathing hard. Was it because she ran? Was it because she fears me? Or is she worrying about what she’s about to do next?

“….u….”

What the hell is she doing? Why is she glaring at me like that? The thoughts confuse my mind. But, because I was smashed before, my tongue isn’t moving properly. The words don’t come out of my mouth. My confused body just won’t order my mouth to speak.

“haa…haaa…ha…!!!”

The girls pants even harder. The bat she lifted up, is being swung straight down towards my head! Shit!!!

“Shi-”

<center>◆　◆　◆</center>

“ARGHHHHHHH!”

While shouting so, so hard that my throat could’ve exploded, I wake right up.

“Meoooooooow!”

Right next to me on my bed, my cat Miiko screams and runs out of my room.

“Whohhh, oohhh this place is…”

I don’t even need to confirm it, it’s my room, in my home, in my city. It’s not in Shiraishi City, nor is it nighttime… The sunlight coming out from the gaps of my curtain confirms that the sun has already risen.

“Wha… Dre… Dream?”

My heart is beating really quickly. Sweat has covered my entire body. Was this because of that dream, or was it because it’s just a hot day?

“Tha… That was a dream, right?”

I can’t help but question myself. It was that much of a realistic dream. I remember it perfectly. The nighttime town, with no sign of people, the footsteps… and even… the massive pain I got from the girl who smashed me in the head…

“………”

I carefully touch my head with my hands… With worried thoughts, I slowly rub my hands around… But my head does not have a bruise, nor is it damaged in any way… My hand does not get covered in blood and the pain is not there anymore.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[7 Nights:Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[7 Nights|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[7 Nights:Chapter 01 part2|Chapter 1 Part 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

7 Nights:Prologue

2009-08-15T23:08:29Z

74.178.196.38: Fixed some awkwardness/incorrect grammar. Were there this many exclamation marks and ellipses in the Japanese text?

==Prologue==



<nowiki>*FSSSSHHH* *SSSHIIIIINNNGGGGGG*</nowiki> 

In the darkness, the white-blue shining tip of the blade slashed through the monster, burning away it's outer shell.

<nowiki>*GRRAAAAH!* *SPLORGHHH*</nowiki>

The monster moaned, but only for an instant. It swung its serrated, scythe-shaped claw towards us at full speed!

“Heh…”

I quickly dodged the attack. The claw slashed through the air, crushing the asphalt and creating a huge hole in the ground.

I am tired... but I make sure not to show it.
I keep my distance from the monster and my eyes focused on the prey.
Inside my hand is a metallic cylinder-shaped handle, and coming out of it is a shining blade, creating rays of blue and white light.

“GIII… GIIGIGIII!!!” 

I point my ‘Laser Blade’ at the monster who is taking its time pulling its claw out of the crushed asphalt. Its head resembles an upside-down triangle, with multiple eyes on each side of its face.
It glared at me.
The wound I gave it must have made it angrier, as it was gritting its jaws so hard that I could hear it clearly.
The monster turned its disgusting body to face me, its 4 legs coming out of its torso allowing it to stand up.

Illuminated by the lights of the neon signs, this monster, if you describe it as a normal insect, is closest to a praying mantis. Although, calling it a ‘praying mantis’ when it’s over 3 meters tall is a bit of a stretch.

“A small praying mantis is scary enough, but this isn’t fair!”

I remember watching the scene of a praying mantis feast when I was a kid. Just like how the grasshopper got devoured, will I have my body ripped apart piece by piece by this monster? You are kidding me! This has got to be a joke!

“___GI!!!”

Suddenly the monster lunged forward! The gigantic figure covered the distance within seconds. It was fast! Even if I back away, it will still catch up to me. All I can do is stay and fight... Can I do it?!

“GIGUIII~!!!”

The monster jumped with no wasteful movements and lashed out at me with its deadly claws! I managed to avoid a direct hit, but there was a burning pain in my left shoulder. The serrated, scythe-like claws must have ripped into my flesh. No matter! Without hesitation, I kicked off the ground and launched myself straight at the monster. Gripping my Laser Blade tightly… 

“Hiyaaaah!!!”

I stabbed the monster in it's torso, landing a deadly blow!

“Gi…Giyuuuuu!”

The monster let out an ear-splitting screech. I thrust the shining blade deeper into its chest cavity. The dying noises were just as bad as the smell that came from its burning insides.

“a…Haa… haa… haa…”

It seems this shall be my victory. Now to make this screeching to stop. I pushed the blade in up to the hilt.

“Ga!”

As soon as the monster noticed the drop in my guard, it quickly got its claw hooked in the back of my leg.

“Arghh!”

With the claw firmly embedded, it gave a strong jerk. Losing grip of the sword, I started to plummet towards the ground. Unfortunately for me, the monster's other claw was waiting for me! I was suddenly impaled and lifted into the air. I already stabbed it! I stabbed its chest already with my own two hands! Why is it still moving? Why, why is it still alive?! How much vitality does this creature have? This isn’t fair!

“Guh… Puh…!”

I spat out some blood… The stomach acid tasted sour and burned my throat. The smell of my escaping internal organs and blood mixed together to make my nostrils go numb.

“You… Get… Get off me!”

The praying mantis’s ‘feast’ had started. Its scythe-like claws and sharp fangs were only used for dismembering its prey. The larger jaws were chattering away, while the smaller jaws were preparing to eat. As if I were some French dish, it started to cut the meat into pieces and place them into its mouth.

“u..chi…gachi…guchu…” 

Without even taking a break, it kept feasting off of me. I think I’m gonna go crazy. Being eaten alive… This is torture!!! I shook my blood filled thoughts away and tried to reach the Laser Blade that was lying uselessly on the ground. But, as I watched blood slowly flow down my arm, I realized it was just out of reach.

“Argh… Arghhhhhhhh!!!”

Extreme pain ran across my entire body, and I started to lose my grip on consciousness. What was that…!? I didn't want to watch a praying mantis monster happily chewing apart my body… And, I sensed that it was about to reach my ‘vital’ parts… This is bad! Any more and I was going to be killed! I didn't want to die like this! But, I couldn’t do anything about it… It had completely disabled my movement...

“Ju!... Gijigiji…”

Ouch! No! It hurts! No! It hurts it hurts it hurts!!!

“Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

---*BANG!!!*

The sound echoed the area. In an instant, its entire body has been smashed by something rock-hard.
And the pain that has been killing me has reduced down.

“Giuuuuuuuuuu!”

The monster screeches. The half-closed eyelids have now completely opened up, and if I look at it even with my blurred sight, I see a praying mantis jumping and screaming and rolling around like crazy. The stomach area and below had been blown off.

I think ‘back-up’ has finally arrived. I have been released by the monster, and had been dropped to the ground.

“Guh… Cough…! Heh…”

Then something pops in my head. I swallow all the blood whirling in my mouth, stretch my hand to reach, and grab the toy blade.

Despite my shaking body, I stand up, but I’m wobbling unbalanced. Then I focus my mind onto the ‘toy blade’, and the plastic object turns into a sharp metallic blade. The object starts to shine blue and white. This isn’t enough! I must put in more energy!

“Wuoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

I focus even more. I use all my willpower and sharpen my consciousness. The lighting blade shines stronger, and starts to become gold. All the power causes the air around me to mix in and creates many explosive noises!

The praying mantis, having half its body blown off, is still crawling around using its scythe-like arms and is trying to get up. It did well for an insect, I can say I’m impressed. But…

“It’s over now!”

I dived to the praying mantis! But that moment I felt the biggest pain come back right into my entire body… But, that doesn’t matter!
As if drawing a semicircle, I swing down my blade right in front of me…

“Gi…”

The praying mantis head flies off! My blade keeps cutting through and chops its arms off.
The monster's body, without a base, drops to the ground.
I, so exhausted myself, fall to the ground also.

“I… I beat it…”

I was panting really hard, panting really fast without a break. The dry ground absorbs all of the blood streaming out of my body. It’s okay that I defeated that monster, but at this rate, I’m gonna die… Well, at least it’s a lot better than being eaten alive by a praying mantis…

“Sakuya!!!”

My mind, which was floating away, quickly came back because of that loud voice calling me.

“Sakuya! Are you alright? Sakuya!”
A girl in school uniform speaks to me. This girl, who is usually aggressive, is unusually caring towards me. She is leaning over me. In the girl's hand is a Hand Gun. That is what saved my life.

“! You have a terrible wound…”

The girl, not worrying about the blood staining her clothes, puts her gun on the ground and leans over my head.

“Akeno…”

My voice which mumbled the girl’s voice was a lot worse than I thought.

“Thanks for that. You saved my life. Are you okay yourself, Akeno? Have you received any wounds?”

“You should worry about yourself, not me! Sakuya… What should we do? This terrible wound…”

“It’s okay, this is just a dream, just a nightmare… I won’t die, probably…”

“‘Probably’ isn’t good enough! If you die, who’s going to protect me!?”

She frowns at me. I’m glad, because it’s just like Akeno to add extra irrelevant words into everything she says. Even if her voice is trembling and tears are running down her eyes.

“W… Why are you smiling? I’m seriously worried about you!”

“I know… I am glad that you’re worried about me, but…”

“But… What?”

“You’re usually tsun-tsun (snobbish) so… Your worried face is cute… Kinda…”

“Wha-”

Akeno looked surprised, and maybe in another situation she would’ve blushed… I think I just did a confusing thing.

“You… You idiot! Even if you compliment me like that I’m not happy! You have a bad personality!”

“May… Arghh*cough*!”

“Sa-Sakuya!?”

I coughed blood out again. I’ve lost so much blood already… There’s still more!? I think I’ve lost too much… Thanks to that I don’t have any blood left in the edges of my body… So I don’t feel anything on my fingers and even my head… It feels weird… If I realize the pain has gone too…

“Just wait a sec… I’ll give you treatment!”

“Yes... Please…”

I’m becoming tired and sleepy, I can’t keep my eyes open and I’m getting so tired it’s hard for me to even talk.

“Let… Let me rest… o… ra…”

“No! You can’t sleep! Open your eyes! Please!”

Akeno’s voice starts to fade away. I can tell she’s shaking my body. But… Give me a break… I’m so tired… I really need to sleep… It… It feels really good like this…

“G…Night…Ake…o…”

I just managed to say that sentence, and then I rested my body into a deep, deep sleep.

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