Riko Amanai woke to a gentle jostling.
Overlapping shadows filled her vision. She blinked with difficulty, and the first things to enter her blurred sight were a head of dazzling white hair and black sunglasses perched on a nose.
The man was tall and broad, looking every bit the stereotypical villainous kidnapper from a movie.
"You're awake."
Riko Amanai mustered all her strength, raised her hand, and slapped Satoru Gojo hard across one cheek.
Smack!
The sharp, resounding slap rang out, particularly clear in the guest room.
Satoru Gojo froze in place, his sunglasses knocked askew. He slowly raised a hand to cover his reddening left cheek.
The shock in his eyes gradually turned to aggrieved hurt. He puffed out his cheeks, never having expected the hostage to lash out the moment she woke.
Using both her hands and feet, Riko Amanai struggled free of his arms and dropped to the floor, stumbling once before steadying herself.
She spread her legs in a textbook fighting stance, held her chin high, and delivered a threat in a strong, ringing voice:
"You shameless scoundrel! If you dare try to harm me, I'll make sure you die here first!"
Qingxiao, who had witnessed the whole thing from the side, finally lost it. Leaning against the doorframe, he laughed until his shoulders shook. "Hahahaha, Satoru! Never thought you'd see this day! A little girl slapped you in front of everyone! Where was your Limitless?"
Suguru Geto helplessly took half a step forward, placing himself between them.
His expression was gentle, and he softened his voice, trying to soothe the agitated girl:
"Calm down. We're not with the Curse Users who ambushed you earlier. We're the people Jujutsu High sent to protect you."
"That's nonsense!" Riko Amanai didn't believe a word of it. She turned