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Shizuka Hiratsuka grew anxious.

"I'm sorry, I didn't doubt Ms. Hiratsuka."

Tsuruko Aoyama apologized, then drew her sword and bowed to Shuya, saying, "Excuse me."

"Demon-Slaying Sword. Second Blade!"

She slashed at Shuya with her sword, the blade parting the air and passing through Shuya, but it didn't cut anything.

Shizuka Hiratsuka said, "See? I told you so."

Tsuruko sheathed her sword. "That's right, we didn't cut anything."

Shuya had also recovered by then.

What are you doing?

He stood up and asked, puzzled.

"Actually, it's like this."

Yukino stepped forward to explain.

After hearing Shuya, Xiu's expression changed when he realized that they actually suspected Rena of having problems, and he fell silent.

Shizuka Hiratsuka and the others exchanged glances upon seeing his expression.

Haruno tentatively asked, "I don't think you and Rena are a good match?"

Yukino observed him. "Is the age difference too great?"

"Stop talking!"

Shuya clenched his fist, anger rising within him.

Motoko Aoyama asked, "Is Rena really that good?"

As Tsuruko Aoyama gestured for everyone to step back, she said, "Miss Rena might have a problem."

"That's enough!"

Shuya had lost control of his emotions; he felt as if someone was speaking to him, urging him to take action.

He looked at them, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

His face went from contorted to calm, but his whole body exuded an unsettling aura.

Shizuka Hiratsuka stood beside Tsuruko Aoyama, blocking the Yukinoshita Sisters and Motoko Aoyama.

Finally, Shizuka Hiratsuka said solemnly, "That woman, Rena, is a complete bitch."

Shuya's eyes flashed with a crimson light, and he lost his reason.

Without warning, he drew his sword, and an extremely fast blue light surged from the scabbard, slashing towards Shizuka Hiratsuka's neck.

Shizuka Hiratsuka was prepared; the dark Heavenly Demonic Qi surged from her gauntlets and blasted out fiercely.

Boom boom boom boom!

The explosions caused by the clash of energies were terrifying. Shuya's entire body was radiating murderous intent, his eyes filled with an eerie red light, and every move he made was aimed at killing.

Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't intend to kill him, he was left only with the ability to defend himself.

Soon, Tsuruko Aoyama joined the battle.

She leaped up and raised her knife.

"Shinmeiryu Secret Technique, Thunderclap Sword!"

This strike, imbued with lightning, blazed through the darkness, its immense killing power slashing down upon Shuya.

"Northland New Snow Thousand-Fold Style. The Snow Dragon Roar!"

Shuya and raised his sword to meet the attack. Ice-attribute energy swirled around the blade of the First Snow, forming an ice dragon. The dragon, carrying unparalleled power, collided with the attack.

As the two remained locked in a stalemate, the phantom of Snow Woman appeared behind Yukino, the two staring intently at the ice and snow dragon.

The ice-attribute dragon twisted and contorted, Tsuruko Aoyama saw the flaw, using the Thunderclap Sword to pierce through the dragon.

But she was also knocked away by Shuya's backhand slash.

At that moment, Motoko Aoyama crept over Shuya.

"Shinmeiryu Secret Technique, Rock-Slaying Sword!"

She launched a sneak attack, slicing First Snow away from Shuya's grasp.

Shuya suddenly kicked her away and tried desperately to grab First Snow back.

But Shizuka Hiratsuka had already caught her breath and punched him back to the ground, then knocked him unconscious with two more punches.

With their combined efforts, they successfully subdued Shuya.

Haruno then realized what was happening. "Hey, what just happened?"

Speechless with astonishment. jpg

Shizuka Hiratsuka clicked her tongue. "What else could it be? It's obvious there's something wrong with the woman this kid likes."

Thinking it was a rare opportunity, she punched Shuya's stomach twice more.

"That's so satisfying!"

She got off Shuya feeling refreshed.

"... Let me treat him."

Yukino walked over, her hands glowing with blue light.

She learned Strange Arts for healing external injuries from a lineage passed down through generations.

After her treatment, Shuya quickly woke up.

He lay on the ground, looking at the people around him, and asked in a daze, "Why are you all surrounding me?"

He sat up, looking bewildered. "Strange, how did I fall asleep... Could it be...?"

He said thoughtfully to Shizuka Hiratsuka, "You're already this thirsty? I knew you were lusting after my body, you're shameless!"

"Alright, stop talking nonsense. You remember what happened just now, right?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka gave a cold laugh.

Shuya stiffened for a moment.

Then he let out a long sigh.

Shizuka Hiratsuka waited for his explanation, only to hear him sigh, "To have my acting seen through by Gorilla, this is truly a dark chapter in my life."

"Roll."

She punched him, sending Shuya rolling far away.

He coughed up blood, feeling as if his internal organs were churning.

"Inoue- kun?!"

Yukino was startled and ran over to help him treat the injury.

Shizuka Hiratsuka stiffened for a moment. "Why didn't you dodge?"

She wanted to go over, but Tsuruko Aoyama was standing in the middle, blocking her way.

Tsuruko said, "I think it's best if you keep your distance for now."

Motoko stood to the side, somewhat at a loss.

Haruno was also confused, not knowing why things seemed to have gotten so serious.

Shuya thanked Yukino, then stood up. "You punched me just to ease my guilt, after all..."

He grinned at Shizuka Hiratsuka: "I really did want to kill you just now."

Upon hearing this, the air on the rooftop seemed to freeze.

"So, you know the reason yourself?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka ignored his words and asked...

"It was just a guess at first, but it's confirmed now."

Shuya continued, "The matter between Rena and the Fox God... also involves me."

Everyone listened silently as he continued.

"What initially made me suspicious was the Fox God's apology to me four years ago. But after thinking about it again and again, I still couldn't figure out what connection I had with the Fox God."

"I have absolutely no recollection of this, but if there really is a problem, it should be related to Rena. Rena is the only connection between me and the Fox God."

"What really made me realize something was wrong was a misunderstanding I had with Haruno and my mother right after I came back this year."

Haruno said, "Ah, you mean the day you pinned me down and talked to me about Yukino- chan?"

Everyone: "?"

Yukino gave Haruno and Shuya a deep look. "Although there are many things I want to ask, Inoue- kun, please continue now."

"Hmm," Shuya said, "That day, when my mom wanted to say Rena, I was immediately filled with unreasonable anger..."

"At that moment, I suddenly realized that my emotions were very wrong. After thinking about it carefully, I remembered that I had also lost my temper with my dad, Mai- chan, and Li Shuhong before."

"But at the time, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it."

"From that moment on, I realized I had a problem."

"I lose my mind whenever it comes to Rena. Just now, when you verbally attacked Rena, I really wanted to kill you all."

Shuya's calm words sent chills down their spines.

At this moment, Shizuka Hiratsuka and Tsuruko Aoyama frowned and looked at Shuya's hand together.

He nervously repeated the action of clenching his fist.

Shizuka Hiratsuka took a breath and asked, "Then why didn't you tell us?"

Shuya's right hand twitched slightly.

He said, "It's not that I don't want to talk about it, but as soon as I think about it... it triggers."

"Whenever I have a doubt, it will turn into this!"

He raised his right hand and abruptly summoned the First Snow back.

Yukino, Haruno, and Motoko reflexively retreated with all their might.

Shizuka Hiratsuka and Tsuruko Aoyama rushed over.

Shuya then reversed his katana and stabbed himself fiercely!

Tsuruko timely knocked away First Snow, Shizuka Hiratsuka.

His hands had just been reaching for his own throat.

Shuya's cold voice rang out:

"You might not believe it, but..."

My hands wanted to kill myself---

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"Kid, you've got a serious problem."

Shizuka Hiratsuka only released Shuya after he had calmed down.

Can we stop talking about this?