Part 25: The Laugh Of Survivors

"What do you want?"

"Well first, I want you to throw that iron bar away. Far away."

Miyoko grips the piece of metal tightly. She's emanating an aura of hostility that makes it obvious she really wants to take my head off. But she knows she doesn't have a choice but to comply. She winds up her arm and with a single swift motion, throws the iron bar over the plywood wall of the construction site, landing with a loud clang a few seconds later.

"You happy now? Wanna delete those pictures in return?"

"You really think I'd give up my only bargaining chip? I'm surprised you made it to third year with that backwards logic of yours."

Her expression turned into a sinister scowl that sent a wave of dread throughout my body. Seriously, is this girl really just a high school student? Someone could tell me she's from the Yakuza and I'd believe them.

"Well then, waddya want? Spit it out already."

"I want all three of you to leave right now. Do that, and I promise I won't upload the pictures."

The two girls behind her seem eager to take this deal. But Miyoko looks like she still has some fight left in her.

"If we walk away now, will you delete the pictures?"

"And what would I gain from doing that?"

"I won't beat the shit out of you."

"I think deleting the pictures would actually make you more likely to beat me up. So no, I'll keep them as a safety net for now."

I see her jaws clench and fists tighten after hearing my refusal.

"Hey Miyoko, maybe we should just go?"

"Yeah, it'll be bad if anyone sees those pics."

The two girls try to persuade Miyoko to back off and just go. It seems to work as she somewhat loosens up.

"What's your name?"

"You think I'll give you my name? Not a chance."

"Hmph. You sleazy bastard,"

"Takes one to know one."

After that brief exchange, she turns around and begins to walk away, her two minions following closely behind. As she passes by Kurebayashi, she stops for a moment.

"You won't get so lucky next time. I'll make sure you pay for what you did,"

And with that, she continues to walk away until the three of them are out of sight. I then head over to Kurebayashi, who still has her back against the wall.

"You okay?"

"...Yes, I am fine thanks to you. I'm really glad you came."

After uttering those words, she slowly slides down until she is now sitting on the ground. Looks like all the tension in her body came out all at once, making her knees give out and lose all strength. Why do I know this? Because it's the same feeling I'm having right now.

After confirming that she's okay, my knees also begin to shake, sending me crashing down to the ground butt first. I was able to get through such an insanely scary moment because of the adrenaline. But now that that's worn off, the gravity of just how dangerous that situation was has stuck me.

"Man, I really thought I was going to die. That girl is seriously scary!

"Indeed she is. Miyoko-senpai is known for being a strong-willed person that everyone respects."

"That's a very polite way of saying that she's bat shit crazy and insanely violent."

I take my phone out and scroll through the pictures I took. Kurebayashi inches towards me, wanting to take a look as well.

"It was clever of you to take pictures beforehand. I find myself at a loss for words to properly thank you. I am truly indebted to you."

She bows her head low to the ground, like some kind of feudal era princess.

"Y-you really shouldn't thank me. I mean, it was a bluff on my part. If they called me out on it, both of us would have been in trouble."

"A bluff? I don't quite understand what you mean."

I hold out my phone and face it towards her to show the pictures I took.

"You see, I did snap my camera at them, but I had my finger in front of the lens the entire time."

As I show her all twelve pictures with my finger as the main star, her eyes widen in disbelief and she covers her mouth out of shock. Looks like she gets it now.

"If that girl had kept coming at me or even just managed to get a look at the pictures I had, my leverage would have been gone."

"Indeed… It was a favorable turn of events."

"And what's worse… I don't feel like eating my special porkchop meal now."

Upon hearing my seemingly random blabber, she lets out a slight chuckle that gradually turns into a burst of laughter. I begin to laugh out loud as well. I don't even know why we're laughing. Because of what I said? Or because it just sank on us how really lucky we were to have escaped that situation.

Regardless of the reason, there we were; two survivors sharing a laugh after escaping death's clutches.