Neck ambushed, the lanky youth thrashed silently, stabbing back with his dagger.
Shuichi anticipated—right hand clamped the wrist, left arm choked the throat tight.
"Urgh..."
A minute's struggle, then blackout from oxygen starve.
Shuichi snatched the blade, hilt-smashing the nape twice hard.
Out cold for now, he rose, heading down the fork the thug emerged from.
Every stretch, he lit a timed cracker from the soda shop, tucking by the wall.
Park's haunted house? Middling size, but forks galore—mind-bending maze.
Their fun run took half an hour; straight-shot? Ten minutes tops.
Five minutes blind-creeping: midpoint reached. Cig-fuses due.
Wall-hugging shadows, Shuichi lurked.
Half-minute: first bang!
Then second, third...
Hunter-still in dark.
Fourth crack: nearby yell: "Boss, why so many shots?"
Other direction: "Bull—ain't me! That bitch's trick! Watch yourself!"
"Got it!" Nearby: "Boss, where's Hayato?"
"Sent him entry guard," boss snapped. "Hunt hard—flush her! Gems back before cops!"
"Easy, boss—she's shot, won't last."
Talk-gap: Shuichi mapped. Boss far—exit guard. Thug close. Obvious pick.
Sound-guided, to the corner shadow.
There: thug plus wooden tengu statue.
Their pass: wings flared, eerie cackle at path-center.
Thug triggered it—wings snapped, laugh pierced.
Startled, dagger plunged into wood.
"What?" Boss called.
"...Nothing—hit a trap."
Yank-freed the blade.
"That bitch hides slick!" Boss cursed. "Saw our faces, knows the goal—find her, you know the drill?"
"Got it, boss—old hat for me." Mid-boast, nape-crack—lights out, face-planted.
Shuichi hilt-bonked twice more, crouched for the dagger.
Fingers brushed—then rear rustle.
Instinct-roll aside—too slow.
Attacker pinned arms, powerful thighs locked neck in triangle choke—legs squeezing for blackout.
Sudden assault: Shuichi's left braced thigh, right gripped blade on reflex.
Nose hit blood reek.
Wounded—left touch: micro-shorts, black silk. Her?
Struggling whisper: "Phantom Lady?"
Triangle-trapped, face mashed to body—mumble garbled low.
Louder try— she sensed, cranked arms-legs, slamming his face to lower belly.
Shit!
Face purpling, Shuichi's sambo training buckled to asphyxia—uncontrollable.
No blade on wound; haze closing—seconds to fade.
Desperate: teeth sank in!
"Ow..."
Pain yelped—grip slackened.
Shuichi reared up, louder: "Phantom Lady—it's me!"
Halt. Girl's voice hushed: "That annoying punk detective?"
One meet, that many barbs?
Grumbling inwardly, he nodded frantic.
"Pervert—freeze!" Purple-hair hissed, mortified, releasing limbs.
"Hah..." Fresh air gulped, Shuichi wheezed greedy. "Not my fault—who triangle-faces in jiu-jitsu? Check your target!"
"Tracked your voice—who knew you'd pop here!"
She glared fuming in blind dark, hand probing wound—seething.
This jerk—that's how you break a lock? She's a girl—can't just bite there!
"Came to save you," Shuichi leaned, low. "Shot?"
"Don't need saving—I'd escape!" She scooted aside, dismissive. "Didn't expect guns—caught off-guard, gut hit..."
(End of Chapter)
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.