章 46: Chapter 046: Hina Tachibana: "I’m Calling the Police"
After parting ways with Lin Ye, Hina Tachibana walked straight toward the train station at the intersection ahead.
It was late at night, and a gentle breeze carried a slight chill. The air in Chiba, near the sea, was especially damp, prompting her to pull her clothes tighter to retain warmth.
"Lin-kun seems pretty normal," she thought to herself. "Not as bad as Hiratsuka-senpai described."
"Maybe it's because of his amnesia!"
Having lost the memories of his mischievous and troublesome days, Lin Ye now displayed his true nature kind and well-mannered. To Hina, his amnesia might actually be a blessing in disguise.
As she neared the train station, Hina instinctively quickened her pace, the sharp click-clack of her high heels resonating on the smooth asphalt.
Sniff, sniff...
Suddenly, she caught a faint burnt smell, like overcooked barbecue that had turned to charcoal.
It was pungent.
She frowned slightly but didn't think too much of it, quickening her steps reflexively.
"Probably someone nearby having a barbecue," she guessed.
But after just a few more steps, a shadowy figure appeared under the light of the streetlamp ahead.
The elongated shadow obscured the figure's face, making it impossible to see their features.
Hina instinctively slowed her pace and turned left to avoid any unnecessary interaction with the stranger.
Japan was generally safe, even at night, so there was little need to worry. Still, as an adult woman with an attractive appearance, maintaining some vigilance was essential.
She understood well that there were bad people in the world, and encountering one could lead to terrible consequences.
However…
As she turned and tried to avoid the figure, the shadow moved as well, once again blocking her path.
Hina is heart skipped a beat, and her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
This couldn't just be a coincidence.
She deliberately slowed her pace and moved to the other side of the street.
But once again, the shadow shifted, stepping directly into her path.
They were now about 15 meters apart.
Suppressing her growing anxiety, Hina decided it was better to retreat. Her right hand slipped into her bag and gripped her phone tightly, ready to call the police at any moment.
The burnt smell grew stronger, each breath irritating her senses more and more.
She cautiously took small steps backward, her eyes locked on the figure ahead, which moved slowly and stiffly, as if its body were unnaturally rigid.
The distance between them grew smaller.
Hina Tachibana couldn't hold back anymore. She decided to speak up and warn the person. If it turned out to be a misunderstanding, she would sincerely apologize.
"Excuse me, sir! Could you please stop blocking my path on purpose?"
She resolved not to provoke the person unnecessarily, especially if they had malicious intentions.
"If you need money, I can give you some."
She pulled out a ¥10,000 bill featuring Fukuzawa Yukichi. Truthfully, it hurt to part with it.
As a new hire at Sobu High School, her monthly salary was only ¥200,000. But compared to her safety, ¥10,000 was insignificant.
However, the figure remained motionless, ignoring her completely. Instead, it continued stepping closer, one deliberate footfall at a time.
"My student is just behind me," she said firmly. "I'm calling the police."
She held up her phone, its screen displaying the emergency dial.
Still, the figure showed no reaction.
And then
Under the streetlamp's bright light, the figure's face became clear. Its humanoid visage was cracked and blackened, resembling charred coal. From the fissures, dark red fluid seeped, mingling flesh and blood grotesquely.
Hina is eyes widened in shock, her mind briefly blank.
"So... painful..."
"So... hot..."
The stench of burning hit her full force, sharper and more intense.
A monster!
Hina finally realized what she was facing.
"Ahhh!"
A scream escaped her lips, uncontrollable and filled with terror.
She stepped back, ready to turn and flee, but a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
Thud!
She lost her balance and fell to the ground.
"Ugh..."
Lying there, she looked back at the shadowy figure looming over her. It was even more hideous up close, its grotesque grin amplifying her fear.
She kicked her legs desperately, trying to put distance between them, but her legs felt weak, as if all strength had drained from her body.
It's over. It's all over!
Her panic surged, filling every corner of her mind.
Shhhk!
The charred figure's eyes bulged unnaturally like a dead fish, and the flesh on its face cracked open, revealing raw, bloody tissue beneath.
"Burn..."
It lunged at her.
Hina closed her eyes tightly and let out a scream of despair.
But when she opened them again, a new figure stood before her.
A familiar silhouette.
"Lin... Lin Ye-kun?"
"Get up and leave with me."
Lin Ye helped the terrified Hina to her feet.
The moment he'd heard her scream, he activated his time-stop ability and arrived just in time. A few seconds later, and Hina would likely have met a terrible fate.
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