Never Touch Her II

Ayami—still in her cheetah form—lunged forward with terrifying speed.

Her claws gleamed in the pale light as she pounced on Haruto and Yuki-Onna.

Slash!

Her claws tore through them mercilessly.

Yuki-Onna barely had time to scream before Ayami's powerful jaws clamped down, teeth sinking into flesh.

Haruto, already broken and bleeding, could do nothing as Ayami shredded him apart.

The sounds of tearing flesh and cracking bone filled the temple.

Ayami devoured them without hesitation—ripping, biting, consuming.

A god, eaten alive.

The icy floor was stained crimson.

I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to speak.

The cold around me felt suffocating, but it wasn't the ice—it was the brutal reality of what I was witnessing.

Ayami slowly lifted her bloodied head, golden eyes gleaming with a primal hunger, breath heavy and steaming in the frigid air.

Her voice rumbled low and dark, even in her beastly form.

"That's what happens when you cross me."

My breath grew heavier, each inhale sharper than the last. My chest tightened as I stared at the gruesome scene before me—Ayami, blood dripping from her mouth, the mangled remains of Haruto and Yuki-Onna sprawled across the frozen floor.

What... what just happened?

Earlier, I hadn't felt fear. Not when I pulled the trigger. Not when I watched them fall.

But now... this?

Is this... fear?

"My adrenaline must've saved me from fear..." I murmured under my breath, barely audible.

Ayami slowly shifted back into her human form, blood still smeared across her mouth and hands. Her golden eyes locked onto me, glinting with something wild yet composed.

"Sorry, Hikaru-kun," she said with a wide, unsettling smile, her bloodstained teeth showing. "You probably shouldn't have seen that."

I swallowed hard, my breath shaky, and managed a small nod.

"Yeah..." I whispered, unable to form any other words.

Then—

WEE-OOO WEE-OOO

The distant wail of police sirens pierced the cold air.

"A police siren?" I asked, blinking in confusion.

Ayami casually wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. "Probably because of the gunshots. Someone must've heard them."

She stood up and walked toward me, completely unfazed.

"So... should we go? Back to the mirror world and head home?" she asked, her tone almost too casual for the situation.

I hesitated for a moment but nodded.

"Yeah... let's go."

***

The late afternoon light filtered through the window, casting a soft, amber glow across the room. Ayami and I sat side by side at the kotatsu, our legs tucked beneath the warm blanket. The scent of steaming ramen filled the air as we slurped up noodles in comfortable silence, the weight of the day's events hanging heavily in the background.

I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest. It all felt so surreal—the chaos, the violence, the gods, and magic. One moment, we were fighting for our lives, and now... we were sitting here, eating ramen like it was just any other day.

Is this what it's like? I wondered. To live like this? To kill, to survive... to feel nothing?

I glanced over at Ayami. She was calmly eating her ramen, seemingly unaffected by the carnage we had just witnessed. Her golden eyes flickered over to me, noticing my gaze.

"You're quiet," she remarked, her voice low and teasing. "Something on your mind, Hikaru-kun?"

I didn't answer right away. I wasn't even sure what I wanted to say. The adrenaline had long since worn off, leaving me feeling hollow and a little numb.

"Yeah," I finally said, my voice rough. "Just... thinking."

Ayami raised an eyebrow, setting her chopsticks down. "About what?" she asked, sounding genuinely curious.

I hesitated, pushing the noodles around in my bowl. The taste of the ramen didn't seem as satisfying as it usually did. I felt like I was processing something deeper, something I wasn't sure I could articulate.

"About... today," I muttered, trying to make sense of it all. "About what we did."

Her expression softened slightly, though the usual distant amusement still lingered in her eyes. "Heh, you'll get used to it. It's normal to be shocked. But I didn't see you hesitate to shoot. What's wrong with that?"

I paused for a moment, then let out a shaky breath.

"Oh yeah... I think it's because... I was on adrenaline," I said quietly. "I guess it's different now that it's over."

She moved closer, sitting beside me at the kotatsu, her soft hand gently resting on my side. Her arm then stroked my arm, a light touch that made me feel ticklish, and I couldn't help but shiver.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked, her voice soft and almost comforting.

I glanced at her, feeling the lingering ache in my side. "Oh, earlier... I bumped into the wall too hard," I said, trying to keep my voice casual. "I'm glad it was made of wood, but still... it kinda hurts because that guy threw me into it."

I winced slightly as I rubbed my side, feeling the dull throb. It wasn't excruciating, but it definitely reminded me of what had just happened.

Ayami tilted her head, her golden eyes focused on me with a hint of concern. "You really went through a lot today..." she murmured, her fingers lightly brushing my skin as she continued to stroke my arm. "But you're tough, Hikaru-kun. You'll be fine."

Ayami smiled softly, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. Without a word, she suddenly shifted into her cat form, the smooth fur of a small, adorable home cat now resting on the edge of the kotatsu. She gracefully jumped up onto my lap and curled up, purring contentedly as she settled in, her soft body fitting perfectly against mine.

I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her in her more playful form. It was a stark contrast to everything that had happened earlier, and I felt a sense of warmth wash over me as I absentmindedly stroked her fur.

Her purring was soothing, the rhythmic sound calming my mind. I glanced down at her, my fingers still gently brushing her soft fur. Despite everything that had transpired—everything that felt like a blur now—I felt a sense of comfort in the moment. Maybe it was the softness of her form, or maybe it was just the way she could make everything feel so simple again.

I leaned back against the kotatsu, taking a deep breath and deciding to just let go for a while. "Thanks, Ayami," I murmured, feeling a sense of peace settle over me as I let myself relax, the gentle weight of the cat in my lap reminding me that, for now, I could just breathe.

***

The cold night air bit at my skin as I walked home, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty streets. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling my attention away from the path ahead. I pulled it out, unlocking the screen to find a flood of messages in the student council group chat.

Aoi was going full throttle with her texts, excitedly talking about a "special gathering" for snowball fights and winter fun. Her messages were filled with endless exclamation points and snowflake emojis. To me, it just sounded like a casual hangout with friends. Riku and Mayu quickly jumped in, telling Aoi to stop spamming the chat unless there was something important.

I scrolled through the messages, a small smile creeping up as I read the banter between them. Then, I typed a message, curious about something.

Me: "Hey, can I invite someone along?"

Aoi replied almost instantly, her excitement practically jumping off the screen.

Aoi: "Omg yes, of course! I'm so happy you're not mad at me for spamming! Who are you inviting?"

I paused, thinking for a moment. It had been a while since I'd had a chance to hang out with someone outside the chaos of everything that had happened recently.

Me: "I'll invite my classmate, Sakura."

Aoi sent a thumbs-up sticker, still bouncing with enthusiasm.

Aoi: "Sounds great! I can't wait!"

I chuckled quietly and slid my phone back into my pocket, continuing on my way home. The night felt a little lighter now, despite the cold pressing in on me. Maybe a bit of snowball fight fun would be just what I needed to clear my head.

The next day, the mall was bustling with energy as people milled about, preparing for the weekend's activities. The air was crisp outside, but inside, the warmth of the mall was inviting, the hum of conversation and laughter filling the space. Aoi and Mayu arrived first, stepping inside with excited expressions on their faces.

"So, what do you think we should do first?" Aoi asked, grinning as she looked around. "Shopping? Or should we hit up the ice skating rink? We've got options today!"

Mayu shrugged, her eyes scanning the shops nearby. "I say shopping first, then we can skate after we buy some cute stuff. Maybe a cute sweater for the cold."

Aoi nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds perfect! Let's hit those stores!" She started pulling Mayu toward the shops, already thinking about what she could grab. The two of them chatted animatedly as they walked, already planning their day of fun.

It wasn't long before Riku appeared, walking briskly through the entrance. He waved when he saw the two of them.

"Hey, what's up?" he greeted, smiling as he approached. "So, any sign of Hikaru and his friends yet?"

Aoi and Mayu exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.

"Nope," Mayu replied, folding her arms. "They're not here yet. We just got here ourselves."

"Yeah, I think they're running a little behind," Aoi added with a mischievous smile. "But don't worry, we're gonna have fun either way."

Riku chuckled, nodding in agreement. "I'm sure they'll show up soon. In the meantime, let's make the most of the day!"

"Let's just wait for them," Mayu said, her eyes scanning the area.

Then she spotted them—Hikaru and Sakura walking closer. "There they are."

Aoi perked up, her attention snapping to where they were coming from. She saw both of them walking together, and there was an awkwardness between them that she couldn't help but notice.

As they got closer, Hikaru waved his hand. "Hey, sorry we're late!"

Aoi immediately stood up, her excitement palpable as she saw Sakura. "Ahhhh! You are so cute! What's your name again? Sakura-chan, right? From class 1-3?" Without waiting for an answer, Aoi grabbed Sakura's hand in her usual overly enthusiastic manner.

"A-Ah, yeah! Sorry for coming here late," Sakura stammered, clearly flustered by Aoi's warmth.

"No way! Don't apologize! I'm so glad my junior came here! You're adorable, where'd you get that jacket?" Aoi beamed, practically glowing as she looked Sakura over.

"Ahh... here she goes again, adoring the junior..." Riku muttered, a smirk on his face.

Hikaru chuckled at the scene, his gaze shifting to Riku as he giggled a bit. "Well, so, where should we go?"

To Be Continue.