Kobayashi had actually prepared himself long ago for arrest and imprisonment. As a mentally mature adult—or rather, as a law-abiding citizen in his "previous life"—considering the consequences before acting had become instinct. If he couldn't bear the outcome, he would have preferred not to do it at all.
Still, compared to being taken in by some unfamiliar security officer, Kobayashi would much rather be arrested by Yomikawa Aiho. Even if she couldn't violate her principles to protect him, given their acquaintance, she would probably look after him a little within the bounds of the rules.
After Torahachi Toumi disappeared, Kobayashi gently shook his head and sighed, hoping Yomikawa Aiho wouldn't be too rigid—at the very least, that she would understand his hint and not drag Toumi into this.
All responsibility borne by himself alone was enough… Kobayashi didn't see this as shielding Torahachi Toumi. Deep down, he genuinely believed it.
After all, the entire incident had begun because of him—albeit his pre-transmigration self. Since he had inherited this identity, it was only natural that he also inherited its cause and effect.
Leaning against the wall, Kobayashi carefully replayed the course of events in his mind.
It was actually very simple: Experimental Subject "007" escaped from the Dark May Project. The project members attempted to recapture him. In the process, he fought back in self-defense—then went a bit too far…
After that, since he'd already crossed the line, he decided to finish the job—cutting the weeds by the roots, leaving no future trouble. And that was how things ended up like this.
Perhaps it was because of awakening his esper powers. With his strength greatly increased, Kobayashi's courage had grown as well, leading him to choose the most direct and brutal solution: killing and arson.
"Heh… the old me probably wouldn't have done this," Kobayashi sighed with a bitter smile.
As the saying goes, once you carry a weapon, murderous intent follows. After gaining power, even one's personality and way of acting would inevitably change.
As the extreme tension brought on by the killing gradually faded, Kobayashi's thoughts began to drift uncontrollably.
Standing guard at the entrance to the archive room, using a telekinetic barrier to block the waves of heat, Kobayashi was like a stoker, occasionally flipping shelves inside to make the fire burn more thoroughly.
After some time—he didn't know how long—hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the end of the corridor.
No need to think. Toumi had brought Yomikawa Aiho with her.
Kobayashi gathered his thoughts, took a deep breath, prepared himself mentally, and then turned to face the approaching "judgment."
Seeing Yomikawa Aiho's taut expression and her brisk stride toward him, a trace of guilt rose in Kobayashi's heart.
No matter what, his actions today had caused her a great deal of trouble. Since he was still a minor, once judgment was passed, Yomikawa Aiho, as his guardian, would inevitably be implicated.
Calling Yomikawa Aiho here in secret also carried his hope of finding a way to reduce her burden.
"Nana-Kun!" Yomikawa Aiho rushed up to him, carefully checking his condition from head to toe. "How are you? Are you hurt?"
"Huh? Hurt…" Kobayashi subconsciously glanced at Torahachi Toumi behind her. "Well, sort of. But it's fine—nothing too serious."
Thinking about it carefully, the worst injuries he'd suffered today had actually come from his ally, Toumi.
—At the time, to stop Kobayashi from losing control and worsening his injuries by beating the enemy with his own hands, Toumi's restraining hold from behind had ended up aggravating his fractured bones.
For Toumi's sake, Kobayashi brushed it off vaguely without explaining in detail.
At least on the surface, there were no obvious external injuries.
Only then did Yomikawa Aiho let out a sigh of relief. But her face soon tightened again as she spoke solemnly, "I went down to the basement first…"
Naturally, she had seen the bloody scene in the underground training area.
She sighed heavily, pressing a hand to her forehead. "In any case, we've completely sealed off the underground area. No one other than the Security Department is allowed to enter."
Catching the implication in her words, Kobayashi let out a small sound of surprise and was about to speak—when she cut him off.
"Kobayashi, tell me carefully about your injuries," Yomikawa Aiho frowned at him. "Are you really hurt?"
"Yes," Kobayashi nodded, floating slightly as he moved his limbs. "I used my telekinesis to re-stabilize them, but it feels like the fractures have cracked open again…"
"Does it hurt?" Torahachi Toumi couldn't help asking.
"It didn't really register during the fight," Kobayashi said, frowning slightly. "But now that I've relaxed…"
As if reminded, the pain surged up from his injured limbs in wave after wave.
"That alone isn't enough…" Yomikawa Aiho muttered, then said to him, "Kobayashi, come a little closer."
Not quite understanding, Kobayashi obediently floated forward until he was in front of her.
He saw the female officer clench her right fist and draw it back to her waist. "Don't use telekinesis to resist, okay?"
After that warning, Yomikawa Aiho threw a straight punch.
Faced with an attack from someone he trusted, Kobayashi naturally didn't defend. He let the punch land squarely on his face.
Stars burst before his eyes. His nose felt like it had broken, and two streams of blood flowed cheerfully down.
"Yomikawa Sensei!" Toumi cried out in shock.
"Kobayashi, why haven't you fallen yet?!" Yomikawa Aiho barked.
His vision still spinning with colors, Kobayashi reacted quickly. He immediately released the telekinetic support holding him up, and his body crashed to the floor.
Having guessed Yomikawa Aiho's plan, Kobayashi didn't mind being even harsher on himself. As he fell, he did not attempt to protect himself. The plaster cast on his legs shattered completely—rendering all prior treatment and rest useless, even worsening his injuries.
"Ah! Why like this?!" Yomikawa Aiho panicked instead, her reaction clearly genuine. "Ambulance! Doctor! Get a stretcher up here, now—there's a critically injured patient!"
And just like that, less than a month later, Kobayashi was hospitalized again due to severe injuries.
Yomikawa Aiho's feelings were extremely complicated. Faced with Kobayashi suddenly committing such serious crimes, she didn't know how to handle him.
As a Security officer, upholding justice and protecting students were both her duties and beliefs. In Kobayashi's case, those two responsibilities were now in direct, violent conflict.
On top of that, she was also his guardian. Though they hadn't known each other long, she had indeed received much care from this boy. She couldn't bring herself to deal with him in a completely cold, by-the-book manner.
In her desperation, the solution Yomikawa Aiho came up with was to stage a bit of a "self-harm ploy" and send Kobayashi to the hospital first.
Anything was better than going straight to a cell.
(End of Chapter)
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