Mob Yandere

[Part 3/4]

And then Akane pointed at me with confidence.

"Oni-san!"

"Who's Oni?"

Then Akane pointed at herself.

"Dragon!"

"Not a lizard?"

Then Akane declared she was taking a strong stance.

"Let's go! Like Oni-dragon!!"

It was only natural that I wouldn't say that out loud until now, but it was no good.

"Huh? Why not? Since Oni and Dragon are together, it's Oni-Dragon, right?"

"Call it Sensei and lizard instead."

Sensei isn't a proper noun, and it's too much to call you Dragpm. Oh no, don't boo.

"I'm dragon! I'm absolutely dragon!!"

"Will you be the one who is defeated?"

She must have been influenced by some imported picture book from the Tachibana Trading Company or something. It's ridiculous.

"Fine, fine. I'll take you along. So don't cause a ruckus, okay?"

"It's a given!"

"But don't let me worry from the first move...?"

I was worried even before I answered Akane's loud voice.

"Haa. Alright, let's go... umm?"

I reluctantly gave in, and before I could even take a step, someone grabbed my sleeve and pulled me along, her eyes fixed on me.

...There was a cow-girl grabbing my sleeve with both hands.

"No, don't sell her, don't do that. Don't sell Akane-oneechan..."

"..."

I was at a loss, looking up at the sky, wondering what to do as the little girl pleaded with me in tears....

* * *

It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. She could feel her condition getting worse. Her body was burning hot inside. Her joints and muscles were screaming in pain.

It's painful. It's painful. It's painful. The armor is too tight. She wants to take it off. She's suffocating. She's suffering.

She's breathing roughly. She feels like she's suffocating. Her lungs are begging for oxygen. She can feel her heart pounding violently, like a torrent of blood flowing through her veins. Sweat is pouring out like a waterfall. She's painful. She's painful. She's painful.

How did it come to this? Why is it so painful? Am I going to die? Why? Why? Why?

She's twisting and turning in agony, and then she saw it in her blurry vision. She sees the bell.

She remembers. If something happens, use this. Call for help. She couldn't take it anymore. She wanted someone to help her. She hastily reaches out her hand. As she stretches out her hand, she realizes... her arm has changed.

What? Has her arm always been this long? Has her palm always been this big? As she wonders about this, her doubts grow more confused. And then, she forces her sweaty body to stand up.

"――!!?"

She let out a scream of agony as her whole body aches. Sweat drips down to the floor. In her blurry vision, she searches for it, and she finds it. She finds the hand mirror....

The reflected scene leaves her speechless, and then she turns pale, and then....

* * *

"Shiro? Are you awake? ...Are you sleeping?"

In front of the room where the white fox, was resting, I called out to her through the shouji paper door. However, there was no response...

"Are you sleeping, or――"

"Eh, I'm bored!"

"It's not like we're here to have fun and visit her, is it...?"

I warned the lizard girl, who was already misunderstanding, and the cow girl had her hand over her mouth, muttering "Don't sell us, don't sell us..."

"...Wait, Akane, Ume, let's wait for a bit. I'll go in first. It's okay, I said I'd go in."

If it were just a normal cold, it would still be okay, but there's a possibility of her having a terrible infectious disease like measles or chickenpox, or maybe even a youkai-related illness. This morning, she only had a fever, but... it's possible that her condition worsened rapidly while we were away. I want to confirm her safety before entering.

"It's me. Can I come in? ...Can you hear me? Can you give me some kind of signal?"

I tried to confirm again, but... there was still no response.

"...Is she sick, or...?"

"The possibility is low..."

"Is she sleeping again?"

The cow, Oni, and lizard spoke in that order.

"Can I come in? Is it okay?"

I warned Shiro and opened the shouji paper door. The room was dimly lit, and I couldn't see ahead.

"...?"

Was it dark? Did the sun set? I turned around reflexively. The intense sunlight was shining mercilessly. I turned back to face the front.

"What's...?"

I took a step forward, but it was careless and reckless. This was the mansion protected by Azuma Hibari's curse. I was taking it lightly because I was used to it.

As I stepped into the room, something long and white wrapped around my ankle at the same time.

"Ah...!!?"

I tried to turn around and escape, but it was all in vain. Something white wrapped around my wrists and neck. Before I knew it, I was dragged to the back of the room.

"Oni-san!!?"

"What's going on!!?"

The two kids rushed into the room with shocked faces, following me as I was being dragged. Idiots! Don't come in!!?

"Hngh, ng!!?"

Before I could shout to stop them, a white fur covered my field of vision, enveloping me...

"Nh...?"

When I regained consciousness, I was restrained. White cloth was wrapped around me from all directions――around my torso, arms, legs, and neck, capturing me, binding me, and suspending me in mid-air.

"..."

I remained silent, only moving my gaze to observe my surroundings. It was an extremely bizarre space. White cloth hung from the ceiling, scattered all over the place, making it hard to sense distance. The visual chaos was disorienting.

"!? Akane, and Ume too...!!"

After a brief observation, I finally found them. Two kids, similar to me, were captured and suspended in the air, caught by the cloth, and hung limp, unconscious.

"Ku, I'll help you..."

"Ho, you're finally awake?"

The moment I tried to break free from the cloth restraints, a soft, whispery voice spoke in my ear. And a moment later, something gently stroked my cheek with a warm, smooth sensation, making my body tremble unintentionally.

Then, I froze at the sound of that voice. I slowly moved my gaze from the hole in the wall, and my eyes met hers.

A white woman was there, her cheek touching mine. A white fox was there. White was there. No, this is...!?

"Ruri... Shiraki?"

Astonishment, agitation, and her name were intertwined, as the almost naked vixen with 9 white tails fluttered them, responding with a bewitching and ominous smile that seemed to pierce through anywhere.

It was a beauty that could eat its prey alive, a carnivorous beast in disguise....