His heart will be extracted by me alone and alone

The sound of clashing echoing in the silent street made some people question what was going on. The audience birds sitting on trees were forced to flee away due to the impact of sound and Shockwaves.

For anyone far away from this scene it sounded similar to a firework which didn't show its beautiful colours in the sky. Seeking for the colours in the sky their eyes only met disappointment.

Only their first strike ringed in the heavily sky as a declaration of the start of the duel.

Thinking that this time he wasn't struck by a surprise or attacked from the shadows, Natsumi shouldn't have been pushed back this time. But that wasn't true. Again, Natsumi was pushed back.

Not because he was feeling unwell, not because he was hesitating, not because he was scared of another failure, but because Katsuo had gained more power. And it was also clearly known to Natsumi and he was also ready for it.

When they started searching for Katsuo he took a look at all the maps of the region they were going to search. The maps were not the ordinary ones found in human realms, they were special because they showed some black fog type projection which moved coming out of it like a 3D projected object.

Those fogs were showing the positions of people with bottled up feelings. Mainly Anger, Sorrow,Grief,Misery,Sadness, Hate,Loneliness, Disappointment, Hopelessness,Disgust,Jealousy,Irittation,Frustration, every negative emotion you could name.

When they were caged inside the chest for so long and in such a vast amount that it could take a dark turn, they would mould in the form of a fog and pop out from the map indicating their place.

The darker and denser the fog would be, the worse that person's mind state will be.

When Natsumi first went through all the maps he didn't see that many fogs, but as the days went by they kept increasing. Maps of 5 close regions had much more fogs which marked the possibility of Katsuo being in that area but they already checked a large number of regions prior to noticing it. That's why the region they were in now was their last region for the search.

Each fog showed how much disgust he had spread across those areas, though the fogs didn't necessarily represent disgust but it was clearly his doing due to the abnormal numbers of them in those particular regions.

And each of them contributed to the rise in strength of the people associated with the Disgust fraction.

And katsuo was one of them.

Natsumi wasn't taking any blows at him. He was just pushed back to only defend and not get any chance to have a turn in attacking.

Blocking a kick aimed at his neck with his forearms he gripped it tightly and threw Katsuo behind with a spin. Adjusting himself in mid air Katsuo made sure to not hit the ground and skid on the ground for a distance.

Taking that opportunity to refill his lungs and stabilise his breath, Natsumi peered at him from a distance.

“You have become weak in just a mere few days.” Straightening his posture, Katsuo rotated his right wrist.

“You haven't encountered me at my peak so don't go assuming how weak or strong I am.”

Natsumi guided his hands in the pants pocket and after a search in it he pulled out a closed fist and aimed it towards Katsuo.

Being on guard, Kastuo stared at it in deduction that something was going to be shot at him.

The tightly closed fist started slowly opening.

A golden light radiated out when the fists were half opened. The lights illuminated the dark streets and everything around it.

Blinding Katsuo, it took his vision away for a second.Katsuo covered the front of his face with hands. The intensity of light decreased slowly, and when his blurry vision cleared up he saw two golden luminous balls rolling against each other in a circular motion in the hand in front of him.

Bewildering Katsuo, Natsumi just glared at him. He thought for sure some type of attack was aimed at him but the sudden summoning of two golden balls made no sense to him.

–what are these balls for?

While he was left in confusion Natsumi threw one of the golden balls in the air. As Katsuo saw the ball slowing down in air to get pulled back to ground by gravity he put his guard up again.

It was a natural habit of the body to blink, to give rest and clean those eyes. And Katsuo was no special being for it to not happen.

He blinked.

And the things which occurred at that time span–

Drawing a beautiful arc with his right leg, Natsumi kicked the ball. After a millisecond of comprehending what amount of power it was hit with, it flew like a bullet towards Katuso’s gut splitting the air between them in two halves.

–happend at such an absurd speed that what greeted Katsuo eyes when the eye lids separated and opened the view was the golden ball a finger length away from his solar plexus.

It hit him hard. It hit him hard and pushed his body along with its momentum. The moment it hit him all the air in lungs were forced out along with coughed blood. After making Katsuo drag his feet several yards it changed its trajectory and shot itself upwards with the same speed it was hit by Natsumi’s leg.

Hitting Katuso’s chin in its path it soared high in the dark sky and shone as bright as it could.

Propping himself up Katsuo wiped the blood around his mouth as he saw the darkest and purest sky without any stain being stained by golden light colour up to the end of the sky Katuso’s eye met. Aloft in the sky the ball was calling out someone.

With some flickers the golden light vanished, by that time Katsuo was back on his feets, glaring at Natsumi and the golden ball which returned back to its owner and was hovering beside him.

Taking a deep breath his eyes narrowed as he spoke “That hurt you asshole.”

Juggling the other ball in his hand Natsumi took his stance again.

“Always respect the elder, never heard of it brat?”

The chaotic fight which was going to resume with new higher stacks was just about to being, but—

BM-BOOM!!!! BM-BOOM!!!! BM-BOOM!!!!

—Three consecutive different coloured explosions right above them stole the spotlight of the new stage which was just set.

Coming out of a tatami styled ‘Gate’ , someone blasted three successive thunderous roar of explosions and crashed on Katsuo with another Boom

With the impact of the blast, Katsuo was sent flying into the trees on the side of the street.

The dust and smoke filled the air. There was a large cavity in the ground and coming out of that cavity and dust in the air a silhouette of a lady wandered her sharp eyes around.

“Where is the bastard, Natsumi-san?”

Her first speech lingered on the silent street in question.

“His heart will be extracted out by my hands alone and alone.”

And her second speech declared her intentions in the silent street.

<>

“Againnnn!!!? Hey mister! You are not playing any tricks right?”

“Ha ha, No. You are just really bad at it.”

Questioning the fairness of the game, Fumiko stared at the one handing the scoops to catch the fish in the bowl.

“Don't mind him, mister. -Agh! See that's how you do it, maybe they just hate idiot's.”

Catching a fish in her bowl, Kiyoko brought it to her face with a mocking smile.

Upset at that remark, Fumiko brought her hand forward and asked for another paper scoop.

“Ha!” Kiyoko snorted, “Want to taste another failure?”

“I get that both of you are really enjoying it but we really should check other things out.”

“That doesn't sound convincing when you are also sitting beside us with a scoop in hand, Ari-chan.”

“W-What? I just want one fish in my bowl!”

“By the way, Mae-kun hasn't come back. What's taking him so long?”

“Maybe it's crowded at the yakisoba stall-Arhg! ” Giving a last try with the newly gained scoop, Fumiko failed.

“... Let's go to the yakisoba stall.” Releasing the fishes back in the water, Fumiko stood up and patted her yukata.

“Yeah! I am hungry now.”

“Okay.”

As they walked away from there the owner waved hands. Catching a glimpse of that scene from a distance 4 boys went the same direction after a little chat among themselves.

<>

Holding 3 boxes of yakisoba, a boy came out of the crowd in front of the stall.

“Looks like everyone is hungry for yakisoba.”

Carefully holding the boxes, he made his way through the peoples around.

“ Mae-kun.”

Calling him out, Kiyoko waved hands to let know of her position. Fumiko was also standing beside her but Uragao Ari was not in sight to be seen.

“ Here Fumiko-san and Kiyoko-san.” After handing them the 2 boxes he looked around.

“What happened?”

“I was looking for Uragao-san.”

“She is right behind…”

Turning around, she pointed at the thin air thinking she was saying the obvious thing.

“Where did she go?! Fumiko, Ari-chan was behind us, right?

Savoring the yakisoba in her mouth, she turned with her brows raised in question and mouth enlightened with the taste.

“ Bfffaaaat?(what?)”

“... Where is Ari-chan?” Kiyoko overlooked her impatience.

“Wasn't she right behind us.” Turning back she looked at the same thin air and said, “She is gone!”

“Where d–”

Ping. By a notification she was cut off in the middle. Taking out the phone from the small drawstring bag she checked the newly came message from Uragao Ari and furrowed at it. Her eyes twitched a little during the end when she was done reading it.

“She said she will be away for a while so don't worry about her.”

“...oh. Let's take a look around until Uragao-san comes back.”

“...Yeah, let's go.”

“Oh! I want to play the candy engraving with needles game.”

“I think I saw it somewhere over there. I also wanna try it.” Pointing to his back he guided them.

<>

After playing around for a while it was almost time for the fireworks to paint over the black sky.Concerned with the fact that Uragao Ari still hasn't came back Fumiko raised the question,

“Hey Kiyoko, Ari still hasn't come back. Did you get any new messages from her?”

A look at her phone and she said, “No”

“Let's wait a little more, tell her at least come back when the fireworks start.”

“Okay… done” A few taps on the screen and she sent the message.

Turning around, their inaction legs were stopped by a call from behind ,

“Hey! Fumiko-san!”

4 Guys, 4 familiar faces sent chills down the spine of ■■■■■■, whose mind flashed back the horrifying memories.

Eyes tried to lie that what he was seeing was a hallucination, the leg wanted to run away, the hands went cold, the heart beat vibrated through every bone.

The guy with piercing looked at ■■■■■■ and ignored him with a Tsk.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

Fumiko, the same woman who was enjoying the festival with a smile on her face, switched a flip on and went into serious mode. Her cold eyes glared at all of them and the displeased lips spoke,

“What?”

“Not here, somewhere else.” Glancing at Kiyoko and ■■■■■■ He added “ Only the two of us.”

“No.” Fumiko turned away to leave.

“Fumiko-san!”

Turning back again for one last time she said, “ I said No.”

“Okay, at least listen to me here.”

Denying wasn't helping and she also knew either way they will keep pestering her so she asked,

“What?”

With a confidence he spoke,

“You know I am popular and handsome, a second year also confessed to me.”

“ Confess what? That she hates your presence in school? I agree. I also admire her for speaking the truth on the face. It was a nice thing to hear about now. If you have nothing else to say, bye.”

“Wait wait, listen.”

The clear disinterest in him escaped through her sigh and sharp gazes looked at his face again.

“What!? Get on the topic straight.”

“Okay. I Love you Will–”

“ I Hate you. I hate breathing the same air with you filths. Everytime you open your mouth I hate hearing your voice. Even crows sound sweet compared to you, so don't talk to me anymore.Don't you feel ashamed of how useless you are? Your worth is comparable to roaches.Now the sole presence of you guys before my eyes is irritating me,bye.“

Turning around, her legs didn't stop this time even though she was called out by them.

“Let's go, Kiyoko and Mae-kun.”

Pulling ■■■■■■ by hand she walked away from there. With a farewell glare at them Kiyoko followed Fumiko and ■■■■■■.

Talking loudly from behind, The boys spoke,

“What he has that I don't?I know you girls are being kind to that ugly guy but isn't it too much?”

He didn't say it to get an answer from them. Directing his anger at ■■■■■■ was the only pathetic thing he could do.

Even ■■■■■■ wondered about it at the start. It was only around a month in which they got to know each other, and the time he spent with them wasn't also much but somehow the 4 of them were on pretty good terms.

He didn't think much about it. Seeing the personality of Uragao Ari it was given that she will talk to ■■■■■■ when there is a chance because she didn't judge people by their outer appearance. And even if it was out of kindness he ‘thought’ he wouldn't mind it.

“This disgusting bastard is nothing but fed sweet poison by you.”

“ We know you are going to show your true feelings towards him at some point, so why not drop the act now? Why not accept dating with our bro?” The guy with blond hair said.

“Are you planning on doing the whole ‘I don't know him’ act after summer break and making fun of him ? Let us join!!”

Their mouths didn't stop. ■■■■■■ could hear most of it as he walked awake or rather, was pulled away.

Their feets stopped where the small crowd was gathered waiting for the fireworks to start.

Letting go of his hand Fumiko turned around and said “Don't believe them Mae-kun.” in a firm tone.

“I don't. Not at all.”

Her tense face relaxed a little.

“Because I know you guys better than them.”

Her eyes narrowed and lips curled up a little. “ Oh you do, huh?”

Speaking from behind, Kiyoko walked a little closer, “ They have once before approached Fumiko. They had the nerve to do it again after that brutal humiliation suffered.”

Fumiko was also merciless back then too but a little toned down.

“Anyway, don’t waste time thinking about them. Let's go, the fireworks are about to start.”

“... okay”

Walking side by side with them Fumiko asks,“What about Ari-chan? Any news?”

“Don't know, let me check.”

Checking her phone she found a new message [I will be waiting for you guys around the bench underneath the tree near the last stall.]

“She said she will be waiting around a bench underneath a tree.”

They were already at the last stall, “ ...Where?” After looking around a little, Kiyoko found the bench she was talking about on the right side of the path.

“...Oh! There!” But no one was there.

They decided to look around the area but found no clue of her. The message didn't come too long ago, it had only been 5 minutes. She should have been there if they weren't at the wrong location.

“Where did this girl go?” All three of them met back underneath the tree.

“Is this the only tree and bench around?” Relaxing on the bench Fumiko asked.

“Yes, this is the only one and if there's another I am scolding her for why she separated with us in the first place.”

“Let me call her and ask where she is.”

Taking out the phone Kiyoko called her.While her call was on line ■■■■■■ stray eyes caught a vision of a girl in sakura petal coloured yukata with a single large flower patter on it running in the trees on the left side of the path.

The left side was kinda slopped upwards and it was like a forest. Seeing that figure run in there ■■■■■■ thought she resembled Uragao Ari and chased after her.

“I think I found Uragao-san. I will be back with her” waving his hands he followed the girl.

“Really!?”

The call wasn't picked up and when Kiyoko saw the screen she found another message sent by Uragao Ari at the exact moment the call ended.

[I may not come back.I am with senpai.Sorry.]

Her eyes slumped reading the name. Seeing that Fumiko couldn't help but ask,

“What happened?”

Her lips struggled to say that awful name,

“She is with…that senpai.”

Fumiko exasperated hearing the name.

Something happened which made them hate it more.

Fumiko’s eyes widened when she realized something.

“Didn't Mae-kun just see her!!?”

“Yes. He is going behind them.”

“We should stop him!!”

Before she could start following her Kiyoko stopped her saying,

“We shouldn't interfere…At some point it's bound to be revealed to him.”

Stopping her ready to set in motion body, Fumiko lowered her gaze and sat back on the bench.

“...If only Ari-chan could look past her foggy vision of affection.”

“...If only we had evidence we could have convinced Ari.”

Only regret filled their words which came out and at last their words stopped at “If only, huh…”