Slaughter (4)

*Look!! Butagami-kun!!*

*SFX: GUAU!!!!*

I LOOKED AGAIN!!!! “Manami-sama, please!! Use my jacket to cover yourself!!”

*I can’t do it, Butagami-kun. The reason why you took control over your body is because I got my clothes damaged and I activated your [Trigger Factor]. You need to keep looking to regain full control over your body.*

Noooooo!!! I can’t do that to Manami-sama’s body!!!

*But it is Chizaki that worries me most. He didn’t attack us. It may also be because of me!! It may be that Yamazaki’s [Trigger Factor] is… no, it may be someone else.*

It’s true… Chizaki is inmovile, talking with himself. Kira-san you hear me??

*Of course I hear you!!! You fucking pervert!!*

I don't know what you are talking about… hehe…he…

*Are you stupid or what?? You forgot I can feel the same you feel?? You have a boner!!!*

*Look*

*Stop looking at Manami, you pervert!!! How could you get so horny just by looking at her bra?? Is barely visible!!!*

You underestimate the power of virginity, Kira-san. Even the slightest suggestion can get us going. Also, I need to gain more power!! I need to become stronger to defeat Chizaki!!

*If you keep peeking at Manami’s bra, you will make me lose consciousness!! And I won’t be able to help you at all.*

Then, I'll need you to boost my strength the same way I did!! This way, we can take down this monster!!!

*Okay, I'll help you, but after that, you'll give me control over the body again.*

Don't worry, I won't be controlling it for much longer. I promise that after today I’ll let you take control over it.

*Good!! Finally, you made a good decision. If you obey me, we can be friends, and you will have your ideal school life.*

Yeah... I will…

*Butagami-kun.*

“Yes, Manami-sama?”

*It’s Chizaki. He stopped mumbling and now he’s talking louder. Pay attention to what he says.*

…

…

*~Come on, Chizaki!!! Let me out for just a minute. I promise I’ll give you back control as soon as I have a little fun. Hehehehe!!!~*

*You fucking bet!!! You are the worst of them all!!! If you think I’m letting a monster like you out, you are indeed fucking crazy!! I'd rather have Yamazaki control us again until we die! *

*~Oooohh… But look at that girl. Young… virgin… gorgeous… and look at her bra showing from the clothes you just ripped!!! Please, I beg you!!!~*

*Fuck you, monster!!! I just have to stay still until you lose your power!!! You can’t gain enough control over the body just by looking!! Your [Trigger Factor] will be over in a matter of minutes!!*

*~Or you can lick a Dr. Pipper lollipop to get rid of me sooner. I think the old Yamazaki had some in his pockets.~*

*Muahahahaha!!! Nice try!!! But if I move just a bit, you will gain control!!!! It’s the same thing you did at Butagami’s home when he picked up those teen panties!! And I’m not licking a shitty lollipop ever again!!! I don’t want Yamazaki back either!!! That clown kept us imprisoned for 40 years just by licking lollipops!!! You know how rare this situation is?? This is our last chance to get the body back from him!!! Just go away and let me beat those kids, so I can keep the body for us!!!*

*~Don't worry about Yamazaki. He's asleep. 40 years of sucking lollipops has been too much. The recoil from this is going to put him to sleep for the next 10 to 15 years for sure.~*

…

*He’s speaking with another personality!!?? Or maybe he just lost his mind.*

No, it's true. That's what Manami-sama said. Manami-san fed me my [Trigger Factor] so much that when she stabbed us, it made you gain control of the body. The more you feed the mind of one of us with his [Trigger Factor], the more control the other one will gain over the body after his repressed [Trigger Factor] is activated. That's why you were able to control my body for a week.

*Our body, Butagami. You have promised that after today you will give me full control over it.*

You are right, Kira-san. But first, I need to save Manami-sama from that monster. From what he’s saying, he wants to do awful things to her. We can’t let him walk away from here!!!!

*Yeah.*

…

*~I can keep the body for us too if you let me play with that cutie!! I bet this high school is full of beautiful young girls… he… hehehehe… he…~*

*Drool*

*~I can get more power than you, faster and more efficiently!! You fucking blood addict!!!~*

*Blood addict?? Big words for the worst scum on earth!!! I had enough!!!!! I’ll get rid of you the next time we meet the goddess!!!*

*Blablablabla… Discussion!!! Shouting!!!!*

…

Goddess?? This guy has lost his mind… I can’t understand a shit about what he’s saying… If he just hadn’t thrown my knife through the window… I would have slashed him right ahead!! Now it’s all up to Butagami and Manami-2.

“Manami-sama!! This is our chance to knock him out!! We need to hurry up and…!!!”

*Let me tell you something before that, Butagami-kun.*

“Why? He's distracted now and he himself said that he can't move.”

*He might be fooling us. Just listen to what I'm going to tell you.*

“We have to defeat him now that he's distracted!! Ouch!! My arms hurt?? They’re… they're completely broken… I can see the bo… nes… coming… ooooooouuuuttt… aaaahhh…”

*Sway… sway…*

*Don't faint, Butagami!!! Or Kira will take over your body again.*

Manami-sama is right!!! I can’t faint now!!

*You have to use the power of your mind to heal yourself. You just have to imagine it. It's the same thing I explained to you to do in your mind to control your senses. Focus.*

“Are you serious?? How is that even possible??

*You don’t believe in me, Bitagami-kun?*

“I do!! Okay... I just have to concentrate... Heal... Bones setting right... Coming together…”

*Slow heal*

It’s working!!! If I don't lose my concentration, they will heal in just a minute!!

*I've had a crush on you for the last two years, Butagami.*

PFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!! How am I supposed to focus after hearing that??!?!!!?! Why is she telling me this just now?!?!?!!! “W-w-why are you saying that right now, Manami-sama??”

*Because…*

*Fist clench*

*...we may die here today.*

*MATURE STARE*

Eh? Die?? GYAAAAAHHHH!!! Why is she so serious??? I can’t let that happen!! I can’t let Manami-sama’s life end here!! “Manami-sama, this is no time to be joking about that.”

*I'm not joking. This may be the day we die. I don't want to leave this world without telling you the whole truth. About my real plan. I don't want to regret it again.*

Again? She regrets not having told me that she liked me before?? "How could you have liked me for two years if I was a fat guy who was bullied. Besides, we had never talked before. Did you lie to me when you told me about your plan on the cliff?"

*It's not that I lied to you; I just didn't tell you the whole truth.*

*I kissed you because you ate the strawberry lollipop. That's my [Trigger Factor].*

Why am I remembering that specifically?? Was that a lie?? No. Manami-san told me that she was allergic to strawberries and threatened me to death if I ever gave her one… Aaaaahhh!!! This is too complicated!!

*Now that you have seen my true appearance, I must look hideous to you.*

*BLONDE*

"Not at all!!! Your outside doesn't matter to me!!! The Manami-sama I admire is the one inside you!"

*I know. Your eyes are the same as they always were.*

“My eyes?? Does that have something to do with you having a crush on me??”

*All that Chizaki said about me is true.*

Ah… She’s ignoring me. “So it’s true that you killed Manami-san's parents 5 years ago.”

*Yes.*

“But she said she broke their necks. Why would she say something like that?”

*Sometimes people hide their traumas in made-up lies. They distort their reality. They convince themselves of things that didn’t happen to protect their identity. Without it, they would lose their minds. That’s why she thinks she killed her parents because they didn’t buy her a plushie.*

“But why would she keep killing people?? Are you saying that her personality changed after that traumatic event?? She’s been so kind for the last 2 years!! It couldn’t be.”

*Butagami-kun. It was me the one controlling the body for the last 5 years.*

Ah… I forgot..

*She started killing after I found your stabbed victims at school.*

“So it’s all because of me… If I wasn’t such an overweight loser, all of this wouldn’t have happened. Kira wouldn’t have shown up, and people wouldn’t have died…”

*No. You are mistaken, Butagami-kun.*

“What do you mean?”

*They would have died anyway.*

“What?? How??”

*I’ve been following you daily in secret for the last 2 years. I was ready to jump when Sasaki was about to smack your head. But then, you… better said, Kira, killed him. I also knew what your [Trigger Factor] was. But I couldn’t tell you. I needed you to realize it in order for my plan to succeed!!*

That she's been following me… eh?... Daily…?? EEEEEEHHHHHHHH!!!!!?????????!!!! “Ma-Manami-sama… Why have you been following me dail…?”

*Both me and my other self have 2 [Trigger Factors]. For me, it’s the strawberries and when someone reminds me of the other me's childhood. That's why I took control right now. But it's also why I took control and organized everything that happened. Also, at the cliff, I took control with my second [Trigger Factor]. Being able to activate your own trigger is amazing. I could have controlled this body whenever I wanted.*

Nonononononono I don’t care about that!! Why isn’t she elaborating about having followed me daily??!!??!?! “Then you lied to me. If you had full control over your body at any moment, what was the purpose of the lollipop? Why did you kiss m…”

*It was me who planned the show at the hostel. It was also me the one who gave the speech to prove your innocence. I forced my other self to wear a black wig in order to let her control my body.*

What?? Why would Manami-sama let Manami-san control her body?? “About having a crush on me, Manami-sama…”

*I’ve been trying to help you for a long time while you were being bullied. I fought every day against my other me to prevent her from killing your classmates. But that day, I couldn’t control her. And I lost full control until the day before the school trip. That’s when I put the lollipop in the coat and spoke with the homeless man.*

SHE KEEPS IGNORING MY QUESTIONS!!!!!!!! “Manami-sama, It’s all good. I know you are a good person. But can you elaborate a little more on the crush thing?? Why did you kiss me at the cliff if you didn’t need the strawberries??”

*I… No. We haven’t been honest with you. It’s not like we lied to you, but we haven’t told all the truth. The plan I told you about was just to achieve my final dream. A smaller plan to fulfill a bigger ambition. After we beat this psychopath, I’ll show you all the books about the Sakuragami Syndrome. They are all hidden in a secret room behind a fake bookshelf in the student council room.*

She won’t answer me… “Then. The other you wasn’t really planning to kill me? Is she also in love with me?”

*The lollipop was just an excuse to kiss you.*

AND YOU ANSWER NOW??!?!?!??!??! “Manami-sama, I need to know why you…”

*Look, Butagami-kun!! Your arms are fully healed!!*

“What…?? It’s true… This syndrome is amazing!! Doesn’t this make us invincible?? We could be in a Shonen manga if we wanted!!”

*DEPRESSIVE FACE*

*Butagami-kun… What's your dream?*

"My dream?? It’s simple. I just want to have a normal school life like the one shown in manga. To have friends, go shopping with them, make curry at a camp… everything I couldn't do because I was an outcast."

*I can help you, Butagami-kun. My dream is to free this world from the Sakuragami Syndrome. This means that Kira and I would disappear from the world.*

*She wants to kill me?? Ey, Butagami!!! Don’t help her, you hear me?? You said you would give me control over the body!!!*

Manami-sama disappearing?? But… why?? That may be the bigger ambition she mentioned. But I don’t care about her lies… I know she’s a good person. “Manami-sama, I won’t let you dissa…”

*While reading the 551 books, I found a way to make the Sakuragamy Syndrome disappear. 500 years ago, someone stopped the mysterious disappearances by burning down the Sakuragami shrine that was built here. I need your help to fulfill my dream!!*

I see… This is what Manami-sama wants… If I help her, she will fulfill her dream. The perfect Manami-sama never makes a mistake. All of her actions as the student council president were for the good of all the students. I need… I need to help her… die…

*Then… Let’s finish him with our combined force, Butagami-kun. After we finish this psychopath, I’ll explain to you how I fell in love with you.*

*Gentle sad smile*

Manami-sama… She looks… sad. Maybe I should stop her… I don’t want her to die… “Manami-sama I…”

*RUN!!!! BUTAGAMI-KUN!!!*

*RUN*

I started running without a doubt!! Everything started to move in slow-motion!! Was that also because of the Sakuragami Syndrome?? Some kind of accelerated synapsis?? Well, I don’t care. Manami-sama… I don’t understand why she said all that to me. But I couldn't let her waste her life for me!! That was the moment. I felt it. That was the moment I was born for… TO SAVE MANAMI-SAMA’S LIFE!!!

*JUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Kira-san!!! Now or never!! If you didn’t master the power boosting, we are all dead!!!

*He!!! Who do you think I am???!!? I did more than that, Butagami!!! Our arm may blow after this… But it is worth the try!!!*

WHAT??!!?? Why will our arm blow??!!?

*Because this is not a x2 boost!! This is a x8!!!*

A x8?? How could you do that??

*I just can!! It doesn’t matter why!!! I just managed to do it!!!*

That may be the power of friendship, Kira-san. Just like the main characters in Shonen manga!!

*Stop daydreaming and focus on landing the hit!!*

But Chizaki said he could boost his defense by 10!! Our punch will still not be enough!!

*Butagami, you forgot?? Look at your side!!*

*Glance*

Manami-sama…

*We are not alone, Butagami!! I trust her!!!*

Kira-san… You really started to change. Is this what the power of friendship can achieve??

*This is not a manga, Butagami…*

****

Outside the high school, near an old warehouse, a young man rose with his hand on his head. Dizzy and confused, he struggled to get up again.

*Sway... sway...*

…

Mmmhhh… My face hurts so bad… I can’t breathe normally, I think my nose is broken. God damn it!! Why did Yamazaki hit me like that?? How long have I been unconscious here??!!

“He… lp…”

That’s right!! The stabbed student!! I need to call for reinforcements!!

*BAM*

*BLAM*

What are all of those tremors?? They are coming from the upper classrooms??

*Sakurashi city police department. What’s your emergency?*

“Kawizaki hwere!! I nwed an ambwulance and rewinforcements at thwe Sakurwagamwi Acadwemy!!”

*Is this a prank call??*

“NWO!!! It’s mwe!! Sub-inspwector Kawizaki!! I’ve bween assaultwed and mwy nwose browke. I cwan’t pronowunce cleawrly!! I’m at twhe nworth swide of twhe Swakuragwami acwademy with an injurwed stwudwent!! Cwome qwuickly!!”

*Roger, sub-inspector Kaizaki. Sending units to your location.*

*Hang up*

Shit!! It hurts so bad!! I heard that if you don’t fix your nose fast enough, you could have a brain seizure because of the blood clots!! I think I can…

*CRACK*

FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT HUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But… I think I fixed it. At least for the moment.

“He…lp…”

Shit!!! I wanted to go explore the school, but I can’t let this kid here. “My name is Kaizaki. I need to press your wound to stop the bleeding. This will hurt. You need to endure it.

*PRESS*

“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I know, I know. Just resist for 10 minutes. Help is coming soon.” As soon as the ambulance arrives, I’ll go search for you, Yamazaki-san!!

****

*JUMP!!!*

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”

*OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

*GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!*

SHIT!! I need to hurry up and get control over this body!! But I can’t!!! This stupid Kozaki won’t let me control the body even if it means to die!! But I won’t let him out!! He really is the worst scum on earth!!! I'd rather die here!!! FUCK!!! They are very close!!!!

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”

*OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

*GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!*

…

…

…

…

*Scratch*

*Pause*

Hello again! This is the narrator of the story. Lots of people asked for me to participate more in the novel. That's why I would just love to pause the novel right here, just when those young boys are about to smack the shit out of this monster. Well… A monster for some people. Some personalities more than others I would say. And look at the pose of the young teens!! Those punches are going to hurt badly!! Chizaki has nothing to do!! His body is being paralyzed by a personality who appears to like young girls… Man, that really is a monster, don’t you guys think?? Would you readers enjoy a little chit-chat?? I could speak forever!!! Wouldn’t it be nice to end the novel right here?? You know… A second part and that stuff?? Marketing… Plushies with blood and guts… I can do it. I mean… I’m the narrator. Who’s going to say something to me…??

*SHUT UP, YOU FUCKING ANNOYING PERSONALITY!!!!!!!!!*

Excuse me… What?? First Yamazaki and now this dude is talking to me?? I’m the narrator. You are not supposed to be doing that!!

*You are not the narrator of anything!!! You are just an annoying personality within me!!! Just shut up already, Koezaki!!! I have enough dealing with the monster that is Kozaki!!! I used the accelerated thinking to reflect about what options I have right now!!! I have no time to deal with your narrative shit!! You unsuccessful poet!!*

You had to ruin it, right, Chizaki?? I was about to save your life by ending the novel right here!! But nevermind. Let’s just see how you handle those combined punches.

*I’ll handle them!! I have the power of 10 men like me!! I can take all your power and combine it with mine!!! The attack from 4 personalities won’t surpass my boosted defense!!*

Yeah, that’s true. But I can feel a special power coming from the boy’s punch. Wasn’t his second personality called Kira?? The same Kira who killed all of those crime-clans back then in our era??

*That was just a rumor!!*

Then… good luck!!! And so, Chizaki prepared himself with the might and force of his 10 other personalities, which I’m part of. We may see again later, fellow readers!! If Chizaki doesn’t die… ACTION!!!

*Pause stops*

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”

*OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

*GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!*

*FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!*