Chapter 14: Attack?!
Even after lunch break ended, Kushibiki did not return.
The fifth period began, and the modern literature teacher announced that Kushibiki had left early due to illness and started the class.
What on earth happened? Did she suddenly feel unwell?
Indeed, Kushibiki was clearly acting strange at lunch. She let out weird shrieks and even ran off with my smartphone.
I can’t concentrate in class because I’m worried about where my smartphone is. I don’t understand why I feel withdrawal symptoms just because I don’t have my phone.
It might be a sign of how much modern people are dominated by technology, but I’d like to put aside such modern problems and ask Kushibiki to please return my smartphone soon.
It’s tough to get in touch without my smartphone. If so, I’ll have to ask Kushibiki herself to return it tomorrow or later. Sigh… well, it’s okay. I can manage with my PC when I get home.
School is over, and I’m pondering what to do next. Kushibiki should have my smartphone, but she’s not at school because she left early.
I have no choice but to trust that she will bring it tomorrow and wait, but there’s no guarantee she will.
I decline Takahashi’s invitation to hang out and decide to head straight home.
Without my smartphone, staying at school would be boring since I have nothing to pass the time.
Thinking about it, I realize how much humans are dominated by technology in this era.
I’ve come to know once again just how restless I am without my smartphone.
I’m thinking about taking a break from technology, like a digital detox. It’s a bit of a change for me, but I’m considering it on my way home.
As usual, I ride my bicycle, pedaling briskly, but suddenly a figure appears in front of me.
It was a blind spot around the corner, but I wasn’t going too fast, so I managed to brake in time. I was relieved that I didn’t collide with the person.
But then, something was pointed near my temple.
“If you move, I’ll shoot. If you don’t want to get hurt, listen to what I say. Got it?”
A woman’s voice. She’s wearing our school uniform, but her face is unrecognizable due to her suspicious disguise of a knit hat, sunglasses, and a mask.
She points the muzzle at me and has her finger on the trigger. Of course, it must be an air gun she’s holding, but if she shoots at this close range, pain is inevitable.
More importantly, the fact that she’s pointing an air gun at someone in public and using it as a threat means she’s a dangerous person. For some reason, she’s emitting an extraordinary hostility and murderous intent towards me, but I don’t remember doing anything to earn her resentment. Right…?
Considering she might have other weapons, it’s wiser to comply obediently.
I raise both hands to show my non-resistance and intention to surrender.
“Understood. Please be gentle.”
“Get off the bike. Hand over your bag to me. If you resist or argue against my instructions even a little, I’ll shoot. Okay?”
“Roger that.”
It hurts to have my bag taken. I can’t run away because my wallet is inside.
For now, I have no choice but to do as she says. I hand over my bag from the bicycle.
She takes the bag with one hand, but it seems heavier than she expected, and she lets out a cute noise as she loses her balance. I was about to bring home all my notebooks to study for the upcoming tests.
She slings my heavy bag over her shoulder and slowly moves behind me, pointing the air gun at my back. I follow her instructions and push my bicycle forward.
After a while, we gradually reached a deserted area.
From the residential neighborhood, the scenery changed to one with abundant nature, and eventually, we were in a forest devoid of any man-made structures.
I couldn’t help but worry about the danger to my life. I hoped her intention wasn’t to harm me. Given the possibility of robbery, I couldn’t let my guard down.
Soon, the view opened up, and we arrived at a dimly lit clearing that seemed like a hidden spot, large enough for children to play in.
“Stop the bike and kneel down.”
Now, what to do?
I didn’t want to resort to violence, but I also couldn’t just obediently follow her commands without knowing what she might do to me.
For the moment, I did as she said, stopping the bike and kneeling down.
The ground was damp, perhaps because it was shaded from the sun. My uniform pants slowly began to absorb the moisture. Great, now I’ll have to wash them when I get home. Disgusting…
“What do you want? If you’re thinking of demanding a ransom from my family, don’t bother. They’d abandon me. It’s a waste to kidnap someone as worthless as me.”
“Aren’t you embarrassed to say that about yourself?”
“Not at all. In fact, being worthless means I’m invincible.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hah.”
“I don’t have time for your nonsense. Are you ready?”
“Please, go easy on me.”
I heard rustling behind me as she seemed to be taking something out. What’s next after the air gun?
A whip? What kind of SM show is this? I’m neither a masochist nor a sadist.
I was trying to stay optimistic, but then a loud snap! startled me, and I stood up. That sound… could it be…?
“A stun gun…?”
“Correct.”
Another snap, and the sound of electricity was louder and seemed more powerful than before.
This isn’t a joke! What’s with the stun gun?!
Isn’t that deviating from its intended use? It’s supposed to be for self-defense, right?
“Don’t move. And don’t turn around. If you don’t listen to me…”
Snap!
I felt cold sweat pouring down from various parts of my body.
“Hey, what are you thinking?! That’s definitely not okay! What’s the reason for going this far?!”
“It’s revenge.”
“What?! What did I do to you?!”
I had no recollection of doing anything to deserve someone’s grudge.
I insisted on my innocence, but the girl behind me silenced me with the threat of the stun gun.
“You don’t need to know. Just quietly accept this.”
I won’t die, right…?
But I’ve heard that stun guns are quite painful. I remember watching a video where a grown man fainted from the shock, and it sent chills down my spine.
If I stay silent and comply, I’ll be at the mercy of the stun gun.
But if I move carelessly, I’ll get hit directly by the stun gun, rendering me incapacitated for a while, and I can't expect further attacks.
Damn it… Do I have no choice but to fight back?
Kick her on the clam
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