Part 41: The Night Raid Continues
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BGM: WARNING
He grabs Shigetsugu by the collar before closing the door behind him. Their sheer differences in height and build cause Shigetsugu to get lifted right into the air by his shirt. Part of me wishes Numeral IV was down here with us. There was no opportunity to call for him, though. Not to mention that it'd probably be for nothing if all the noise so far hadn't woken him up.
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He returns his attention to Shigetsugu.
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I can't lie... Right now, I'm terrified. Those frigid eyes alone are enough to instill fear in most people, but add in his build and lack of hesitation to use force like this... I can't run away, though. I won't abandon Shigetsugu. If you asked me why, well... I'm not quite sure.
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Although hesitant, he eventually releases Shigetsugu. And Shigetsugu lands on his backside again... Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have hurt all that much.
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He takes a threatening step toward Shigetsugu. The height difference between them is staggering. How intimidating, to have someone of his stature look down at you from so close...
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BGM: Silence
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BGM: Intel Investigation Underway
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I can hardly believe that I was able to talk him down. Maybe it's thanks to what he pulled at the hospital with Keiko. There's no way the police wouldn't have eyes on him after that. It makes sense if he's trying to tread carefully.
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I'm not sure how he managed to figure that out based on what Shigetsugu said. Which means I need to really watch what I say from here on out. I might've convinced him for now, but there's no guarantee things will keep going smoothly.
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I start to fret over just how much he can glean from the tiniest bit of information. Still, his statement proves that even he makes mistakes. Hearing him assume the wrong gender, just as I did, serves as a bit of relief.
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BGM: Silence
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*wham*
BGM: Odette
Immediately after hearing that voice, I feel my body get sent flying toward the wall. Lucky for me, it is the wall where one of Shigetsugu's coats is hanging, so it cushions the impact for me. The culprit- Numeral XI. She made her way in and knocked me aside straight away.
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*wham*
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Her sights are locked on Alan. Surely he holds the upper hand based on physical build alone. Doesn't stop her from kicking at him like a bucking bronco in the narrow hallway, though. I should call for help. I should, but... I can't bring myself to move. I'm not like Alan. The fear I have toward her in the dream world pales in comparison to how I feel now. This is someone who takes pleasure in harming others. It's entirely possible that she'll target me if I make even the slightest move or raise my voice. That terrifies me. I don't even have it in me to try and negotiate with her.
BGM: The Battle Begins
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Alan is no slouch, either. I'm not quite sure how to describe his fighting style. He keeps finding opportunities to strike back after dodging and parying.
*wham*
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I can tell how powerful each of her blows are based on the loud smacks heard when Alan blocks each one. Neither is able to score a direct hit on the other. And this long, narrow hallway doesn't allow them to move sideways, so they pressure one another without moving from their initial positions.
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*wham*
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Letting your guard down now, even for a split second, could prove fatal. Even I know that much. But Alan seems to have done just that. She wastes no time in delivering a swift kick to his gut, causing him to back away. This might sound weird, but I'm rooting for him this time. I need him to win, for my own sake. Neither are my ally, but Alan was at least willing to talk. That makes him a safer bet than that woman. And as much as it pains me, I am praying that Numeral IV will come down to save us. That's how powerless I am in this situation.
Alan takes another step back to create more distance between them, which effectively corners him.
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*thwack*
Alan takes this opportunity to deliver a counterattack. He lands a solid hook against her shoulder, which causes her to retreat back to her initial position.
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She grins from ear to ear. Then I notice that Shigetsugu has managed to slink off during all this. Just as I start to wonder where he's snuck off to, footsteps from the stairway give me my answer.
BGM: Impatience
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The footsteps belong to Numeral IV, who comes running down the stairs. He's likely just woken up, but he doesn't seem tired at all.
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Shigetsugu reveals himself just long enough to nod in affirmation.
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Numeral XI shows no fear. Just as her words imply, the prospect of this fight has her thrilled.
BGM: Silence
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But just before they can start, the blaring of police sirens pierce the walls of the house. They are getting louder. Closer.
BGM: Odette
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She bursts out of the house immediately after, uninterested in hearing any replies. The sirens continue for a while afterward, so I assume she manages to get away. I'm relieved that at least one problem has resolved itself, but I have to at least admire her ability to react and make snap judgments like she did.
BGM: A Dot on a Piece of Paper
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I couldn't bring myself to speak up, let alone move. Numeral IX was wary of me the entire time, but her line of sight was focused on Alan. It gave me enough of a window to message Miharu. I gave her this address and asked her to call the police. It was a gamble, not knowing if she'd actually check her phone, but the cards were in my favor this time.
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We pile into Shigetsugu's room just as the police park in front of the house.