Chapter 336: The Attack
"Um, what's wrong? You've been staring at me..." Since he had been like this since childhood, Totsuka was used to people's gazes. But that didn't mean he was completely unaffected, especially by Komachi leaning in and staring at him so intently.
"No, I was just thinking I should head back." Komachi checked her phone. Over twenty minutes had passed since she left home. She could already feel the resentment of the two people waiting in the living room.
"Then, see you next time." Seeing that she was leaving, a hint of sadness appeared on Totsuka's face. He had walked for so long and finally met an acquaintance, only for her to leave after a few words.
"If you don't mind, would you like to come to my house to play for a bit?" Perhaps finding Totsuka too pitiful, Komachi couldn't bear to leave him alone in the store. After a moment's hesitation, she extended an invitation.
But unexpectedly, though Totsuka looked longing, he eventually shook his head. "Sorry, I have something to do today. If there's another chance, please invite me again."
"Ah, I almost forgot..." Totsuka's answer reminded Komachi that he was only here because he was lost on his way elsewhere.
After helping Totsuka confirm the exact address and route for his destination, Komachi waved goodbye and prepared to head home with the bentos.
She approached the sensor doors, which slid open automatically. Instantly, the rolling heat from outside surged in. Sensing the temperature, Komachi grimaced, prepared to run home as fast as possible.
But just as she stepped out, a blue butterfly with intricate patterns on its wings caught her attention.
"A blue butterfly? That's rare." Butterflies weren't common in the city, but they weren't exactly exotic. Furthermore, Komachi was currently on a mission to bring food to the three people at home. She gave the beautiful butterfly a few extra glances but didn't stop.
However, the blue butterfly didn't seem to want her to leave. Noticing it hadn't fully captured her attention, it flapped its wings and began circling her.
"Sorry, Komachi has things to do, so I can't play with you." She waved her hand, trying to shoo the butterfly away. But for some reason, the blue butterfly was like sticky candy—no matter how much she tried to drive it off, it wouldn't leave.
With no other choice, Komachi let it follow.
"Hello there." Suddenly, a boy's voice came from ahead.
"Is there something you need?" Komachi carefully observed the boy who had stopped her. Seeing that he was bundled up tightly despite the heat, she immediately labeled him a "weirdo."
"No, I just wanted to confirm a few things up close." Looking at the girl before him, Mitogawa sighed inwardly at the Nine-Tailed Fox's eye for people, then looked up again.
"Confirm... things?"
"Yes. Like this."
As soon as Mitogawa finished speaking, the blue butterfly circling Komachi suddenly transformed into a steel needle and lunged viciously at her neck!
Clang.
Detecting an attack on the wearer, the bracelet on Komachi's wrist automatically deployed a defensive barrier, intercepting the strike. It was only then that Komachi realized, with a delay, that she had been attacked!
"Why?!" Moving backward instinctively, Komachi decisively activated the bracelet's combat mode and questioned the stranger.
"So she really is Special-grade?" Mitogawa ignored the question. After Komachi's transformation, he could clearly feel her strength skyrocket from that of an ordinary human to Special-grade levels.
"I really didn't want to lay a hand on you, but since it's that person's request, I have no choice but to comply." Mitogawa spoke words Komachi couldn't understand as a massive swarm of butterflies flew out from various corners, encircling them.
"I have to fight." Seeing that Mitogawa clearly wasn't interested in talking, Komachi abandoned the idea of avoiding a battle. After sending a distress signal to Hachiman, she raised her right hand. The twin-tail hair clips on her head transformed in the air into a greatsword, which landed firmly in her hand.
"Seems you're quite capable." Mitogawa watched quietly as Komachi fully prepared for combat. Yet, he still didn't attack, merely keeping her surrounded.
"No attack?" Komachi felt suspicious. Since the opponent had chosen to show up and make a move, why was he just standing there posing?
Something's wrong! Thinking Mitogawa might be plotting something, Komachi decided to strike first. She swung her sword, sending an experimental blade wave toward him. The surrounding butterflies immediately separated, a portion of them forming a shield to block the wave.
"Calculating the time, it should be about now." Suddenly, Mitogawa said something nonsensical.
"?" Just as Komachi was wondering what he meant, the ground beneath her feet began to vibrate violently. In the next instant, several meters of the street caved in!
Lacking combat experience, Komachi lost her balance in the sudden change and fell into the deep pit. This was when the previously observing butterfly swarm acted. Countless steel needles rained down from the sky, forming a relentless storm that slammed against the bracelet's barrier.
Within seconds, the bracelet began beeping a warning. The shield was about to break!
"What should I do? It'll take Onii-chan quite some time to get here." Hearing the constant warnings, Komachi bit her lip and made a decision: she would lure Mitogawa toward Tokyo.
With the bracelet's reinforcement, she performed a crouching jump and leapt straight out of the pit. Then, before Mitogawa's stunned eyes, she turned into a red blur and vanished around the corner.
"So fast?" It wasn't until her figure had completely disappeared that Mitogawa realized she had escaped.
Without hesitation, he commanded the butterfly swarm to give chase.
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