Chapter 251: Event Triggered!

“Is… is it a prop?”

It sounded like Yuigahama’s tongue was tied, like she’d lost her soul.

Well, anyone who saw that kind of scene would feel the same, naturally.

Except for Yukinoshita—

“I’m afraid not.”

The girl seemed to have a way to stay smart and calm at any time, in any place.

Even though what was ahead was really scary and too much—

A big puddle of blood on the floor, and one lone left hand cut off, with four fingers held tightly shut, missing the little finger.

Blood kept bubbling out from the cut part.

It was hard to look at!

Not a prop. It was real.

Himekoji held back his sick feeling, looked once, and quickly made the same judgment as Yukinoshita.

There were no cameras at the spot, meaning it wasn’t a movie set.

Plus, the cut hand with blood gushing out didn’t look fake at all.

Even the best-looking prop couldn’t be just like the real thing.

Some students who ran to the scene early to see the excitement had started leaning on the wall and throwing up.

What they saw made them want to turn and run away without thinking, but their legs were weak and shaky, with no power at all.

…

“Is it done?”

The man standing by the blood pool, lighting a cigarette quietly, spoke out, asking the other guy coming from the alley.

The first one wore normal clothes, had a hat on, and carried a backpack, looking the same as any tourist.

No way could anyone tie him to the cold word “killer.”

“Done.”

The other was middle height, wore glasses, and looked gentle.

But his jacket with bloodstains didn’t fit his gentle look at all, making a big difference.

When answering, he made an “OK” sign with his hand, then took off his jacket to wipe his hands. Of course, just doing that wasn’t enough to clean all the blood off.

At that, the guy with glasses frowned unhappily and cursed about bad luck.

“Why did you go and cut off his whole hand? Cutting a little finger would’ve done the job.”

The guy with the hat seemed more like the boss.

“He wasn’t listening.”

The man with glasses gave a short reason for what he’d said.

“How could a dead person not listen?”

…

“D-Dead person?! N-no shooting? Call the police! Right away!”

The scared Yuigahama actually yelled out at that moment.

Himekoji realized it too late and tried fast to cover her mouth.

Idiot! She should’ve done that kind of thing in secret!

It might anger the killers!

Sure enough, the two bad guys looked over at the sound.

“Huh, quite a few people watching.”

The man with the hat blew out smoke like he was annoyed, shaking his head.

“Ugh, those annoying bodyguards are to blame for making this mess bigger.”

“So then…”

The other guy squinted his eyes at Himekoji and them, asking the man with the hat what he thought.

“Doesn’t matter now, pretty sure someone called the cops earlier.”

He said this, pointing with his chin to Hayama who’d arrived before Himekoji and the others.

Hayama’s face suddenly got tense—he’d thought he was quiet enough.

“Well, the police might come any minute. So, how about helping us out? You nosey, justice-loving good people.”

The killer said this, pushed down his hat brim so most of his face was in shadow, showing only a big smile that made everyone sweat.

Nobody dared to say anything to the criminals just then.

This was their first time at a murder scene, like a bad dream.

All the students were pale with fear, already feeling sorry they came to see what was fun.

Only Yukinoshita was different. She took a tiny step forward, standing in front of her classmates.

“We will not help a murderer.”

Facing a mean killer holding a weapon, Yukinoshita Yukino had nothing and was alone, but she stood firm.

That shape of hers was as pretty as a blue fire—right and yet hard to take.

Yukinoshita said well, but what she did was very bad.

No, it was terrible!

At such a time, saying things back to the mean guys made no sense.

Instead of that, keeping calm and stalling for the police would’ve been better.

Even if they had to pretend around the killers, or let them run off?

It wasn’t their job. The only thing they had to do now was stay safe themselves.

The rest could be left to the experts.

But—

That was Yukinoshita Yukino.

Not the same as someone selfish like him who only cared about his own safety.

Not giving in to mean force, not sweet-talking them, holding to her “truth” and “right way,” and using that as a sword to stop them.

Totally right.

Even if her right way, in this bad world, might actually be wrong.

…

“We will not help a murderer.”

“No, you will.”

The man with the hat smiled and pulled out a gun.

“I bet you want to know how many bullets are inside this gun.”

Seeing Yukinoshita about to speak again, Himekoji, scared things would go wrong, rushed to cut in ahead of her.

“How can we help you?”

He stepped forward, shielding Yukinoshita behind him.

Surrendering to criminals—others might not dare say it, but Himekoji didn’t care.

After all, in everyone’s eyes, he was just a Pervert with no morals.

…

“Help them? Seriously?”

“Aren’t we becoming accomplices to murder?”

“Of course… that’s just like him…”

Gazes stabbed at his back like needles, burning and painful.

Himekoji stayed unmoved.

Because he knew this was the only right choice.

That was enough.

His sense of “right” differed from Yukinoshita’s.

“Smart kid.”

The bespectacled man gave a thumbs-up, a grotesque smirk on his bloodstained face.

“We need two of you to drive for us.”

“Drive?”

The criminals’ meaning was crystal clear.

The students’ faces instantly turned ghostly pale.

Damn it! They’re making us be hostages!

“Um… we’re only here for a School Trip. None of us can drive. You have to be eighteen to get a license, so… we really can’t help,” Hayama stepped beside Himekoji, trying to reason with them.

“Hah… typical Hayama.”

“Hayama’s always reliable when it counts,” some naïve classmates sighed in relief.

“That’s your problem. You have thirty seconds to pick two drivers. Otherwise—” The man in the cap raised his gun and casually pulled the trigger.

PONG.

The severed hand lying in blood splattered into pieces.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

They weren’t joking!

Someone broke down sobbing instantly.

…

“Hey… Tobe, didn’t you say your dad taught you to drive last summer?”

A voice rasped out from the crowd—hoarse, frantic, desperate to escape.

“Pfft—! That’s bullshit! I-I don’t know how to drive! Not at all!” Tobe paled, sweat beading on his forehead as he shot down the thought.

Soon, another voice followed:

“Sakai knows how, right?”

“No! You’re the one who can! It’s you!”

…

The best way to escape danger? Shift it onto someone else.

Fear makes humans crack.

One crack was enough to shatter the thin mask of decency.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The criminals applauded, thrilled by the ugly scene they’d created.

“Time’s up. Have you decided?”

“Tobe!”

“Sakai!”

“Shuusei!”

“T-Tobe!”

One name after another filled the air.

“Tobe, huh? Seems you’re quite popular,” the man in the cap grinned at him.

“N-No! I can’t! Please! I can’t!”

Hostages? Who knew what awaited them?

“Haya— Hayato! What do I do!?” Tobe looked to Hayama for salvation.

Hayama bit his lip, covered in sweat, racking his mind for a solution.

“Get him on the truck.”

The man in the cap signaled to his partner. They’d wasted enough time already—any more delay risked police showing up.

The bespectacled goon grabbed Tobe. Tobe resisted wildly, hopelessly.

Until the cold muzzle of a pistol pressed against his forehead.

He froze, going utterly still.

Am I… going to die?

He shivered at the thought.

“Not at all. You’ll be alright.”

Then, someone’s hand closed firmly around Tobe’s. Warm. Strong. Just like the quiet but unshakable voice that came with it.

…

As the bespectacled thug shoved Tobe past him, Himekoji reached out. Held him steady.

After comforting him, Himekoji turned to the criminals:

“Pick me instead. I’m a good driver,” he volunteered.

“A-Akito—?”

“Akito, are you crazy!?”

“Onii-chan!”

“The Pervert actually—?”

Shocked whispers spread. In a moment everyone was shoving danger onto others, he volunteered to be a hostage?

Was he suicidal?

Insane?

Did he even understand what this meant?

Just moments ago, they’d scorned him for surrendering first. Now, this turn left them conflicted.

…

“H-Himekoji—!” Tobe wept, tears and snot streaming down.

Hope returned to him at his bleakest moment, offered by… Himekoji.

Himekoji said nothing. Just gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.

Truth was, he wasn’t being noble.

Standing in for Tobe served only one purpose: The countdown was over—

[Ding!]

[Three o’clock sharp!]

[Event triggered!]

The System’s cold voice echoed through his mind.

This crisis was undeniably the System’s fault.

And so, Himekoji alone should bear the consequences.

Tobe was innocent. This mess was the System’s doing. Himekoji’s mistake.

He wasn’t noble—just willing to take responsibility.

…