Moving on to a different place, here is Shimizu (The Class rep).

She left the hotel behind and sprinted through Santorini. Her destination was the local police station, where she had been directed during a previous accident. With her friend being kidnapped by yakuza members, she couldn't sit still. Her sense of camaraderie and determination were unwavering.

"Haa, haa, haa..."

However, the chances of it leading to her happiness are surprisingly low.

Thinking back, over the past few weeks, she has been noticeably drifting aimlessly.

And once again this time, she found herself climbing the uphill battle of her own making, sweat pouring down her brow. The unfamiliarity of being in abroad, visiting a city for the first time, and walking through a poorly lit area at night had robbed her of her usual sense of direction.

As expected, just as Nishino had anticipated, the Class rep got lost brilliantly.

"W-Where is this place...?"

The intended police station is far away, and now she doesn't even know her own whereabouts.

She was completely lost, unable to even find the location of the hotel she should return to.

"...It's not like I got l-lost or anything, okay!?"

She howled without saying it to anyone in particular.

Her eyes seemed to have a hint of tears in them.

She became saddened as memories of the events from earlier in the day resurfaced.

To herself who feels like there is no personal growth.

"Exactly, i-it's not like I got lost or anything..."

Due to recent events of the past few days, the seventeen-year-old's self-esteem had sharply declined.

She is not aiming for Tokyo University of Foreign Studies without a reason.

But lately, it seems she has been losing a bit of confidence in taking the entrance exam.

"......It's hot."

Underneath her semi-long black hair, her forehead and neck were drenched in sweat. Despite running a considerable distance, her well-trained legs from being part of the swimming club never faltered. However, being a girl of her age, she seemed to be bothered by the sweat pouring out.

While moving her feet, she repeatedly wiped and then let the sweat drip off with the sleeves of her shirt.

"Seriously, what's going on with this trip..."

It was a valid complaint.

But there is no one to respond to this.

"......"

After running for a few more minutes, it seemed that the Class rep's feet finally came to a stop.

It seems that she has decided that she should use her brain instead of moving her legs any further.

About half an hour has passed since she fled the hotel, and finally she has lost the momentum to run. It could be said that her mood has calmed down after fully exerting her body.

However, that decision was somewhat delayed.

With the late hour and the absence of any other people around, there was no pedestrian traffic. The sound of car exhausts was also absent. Naturally, catching a taxi was out of the question. For someone like her, accustomed to the bustling streets of urban Japan even in the middle of the night, this scene might have brought about a certain level of unease.

"...Should I make a phone call?"

Reaching out absentmindedly, her fingertip touched Nishino's device in the pocket of her skirt.

Until this very moment, she realized that she had been holding onto it since daytime and had completely forgotten to return it.

"But to be helped by him is..."

For Shimizu, it is the last resort.

If the person she had to contact was Nishino, she probably wouldn't have had such worries. After mustering up the courage to contact him despite the embarrassment, she would deliver a satisfying jab to the cheek of the futsumen who made light of it, and the matter would be settled. This has been the recent trend.

However, unfortunately, the device that she's holding right now belongs to Nishino. Naturally, the person on the other end of the line is someone other than him. In that same place, there are no other options besides Rose. In the first place, it didn't look like the Class rep would be honest and willing to ask for help, even after being contacted.

"Oh, that's right, the map..."

She took out the mobile device from her pocket and after a while, she suddenly came up with the best solution.

These days, it's rare to come across a device that does not have online maps and GPS.

"Well, it's not a big deal to use it a little bit, right? He did lend it to me and told me to use it, so whether it's for emails or maps, it's not that important, is it? I don't even want to know about Nishino's private life anyway!"

She muttered excuses and tried to unlock the device's simple lock.

When she moved her fingers into a Z shape, the lock came off in one go.

"He really has terrible taste..."

The screen lights up, displaying the preset background image on the display. She mutters curses under her breath while skillfully summoning the desired application with practiced hands. Filling the entire display is a map depicting the nearby area.

Her current location information is reflected, and the coordinates are plotted.

"Ah, what was the name of the hotel again...?"

And once again, Shimizu, who can't remember the crucial details.

This also made the person herself very sad.

"......"

She excels at handling the preparations and planning involved in events, but when faced with unexpected situations or emergencies, it appears she has an unfortunate disposition. This is why she played a significant role in the success of the cultural festival, yet she ended up getting lost today.

"There are so many hotels in Santorini..."

Amidst the darkness, she gazed at the device with a perplexed expression.

With a bit of escapism, or rather, abandonment.

The spot where she currently stood was a bit north of Fira's city center, and the surroundings looked different during the day and night. Due to this, she had passed by her intended destination area and had veered off course.

As she move away from the city, the number of buildings decreases, and the pavement along the roads becomes less well-maintained. The scene of somewhat dull white-walled buildings scattered across the land, resembling a wilderness with exposed earth, appears quite lonely, especially during the nighttime.

"As I thought, I'm getting farther away from the city..."

Continuing like this, she probably wouldn't reach the police station she had visited during the day. Along the path she had been running, the arrow-shaped icon on the map pointed to an area where the flat background color extended endlessly. It easily gave her a premonition that a lonelier scene lay ahead compared to the current one.

Santorini is often portrayed as a beautiful and vibrant white island in tourist guides. However, such a uniform white architecture is limited to just a few areas. The majority of the land is open and endless countryside.

"Let's go back for now..."

Reluctantly, she turned on her heel and headed back the way she came.

Then, an unexpected voice of a third party reaches her.

"—Still, Diego-san is also such a troublesome person, isn't he?"

"—I completely agree. I'm ready to head back to my hometown right away."

Two men emerged from the shadow of a building at the street corner where she was heading. Both had fair skin, chiseled features, and ash-brown hair. They were undoubtedly foreigners. Naturally, the language they exchanged was neither Japanese nor English.

If it were Nishino, at this point, he would have already questioned their origin.

"Oi, look at that."

"An Asian? She looks familiar..."

"Don't you remember?"

"What do you mean?"

"Doesn't she look like the girl in the airport camera photos?"

"Now that you mention it, we didn't catch all of them..."

"Why don't we catch and take her instead? Diego-san must be getting tired by now, so he'll do whatever he can. Also, it wouldn't be good to overstay our welcome and get caught by that evil brat."

"Yeah, you've got a point."

The distance between Shimizu and the duo is about a dozen meters. Considering that the other party may not understand their language, the duo continues exchanging words with their usual volume, without worrying about whether their voices reach her or not.

On the other hand, witnessing their presence, the Class rep pondered. Perhaps, she thought, if she were to ask these people, they might know the location of the police box. Perhaps they could even assist in rescuing Risa-chan. And so on.

Japanese women's evaluation of white men is said to be by far the highest in the world.

"U-Um!"

Act immediately when the idea strikes!

She quickly walked toward the two of them.

In response, the duo took out knives from their pockets, grateful for this opportunity.

"......"

Class rep, initiate an emergency halt.

In response to her, the duo quicken their pace.

"Little miss, sorry, but please behave quietly, okay?"

"Actually, I always wanted to hold an Asian kid."

"I get you, they look younger than white people."

"Before we take her to Diego-san's place. Should we play with her for a bit?"

"Good idea."

The duo approaches her with evil grins on their faces.

Naturally, even the chairman will notice something is strange.

"H-H-Hold on! A random attacker!? Give me a breakk!"

It was the beginning of an unexpected chase.

* * *

As his classmates, friends, and acquaintances hurriedly darted around the bustling city of Fira, Nishino and Rose were about thirty minutes behind the starting point. The two of them, led by Nishino, set off towards the city after leaving the hotel, walking under the night sky.

"Hey, Nishino-kun. How about taking a little break at least?"

"I'll take a break, as soon as we find Class Rep."

"I'm suggesting that you take a break right now."

Once again, their mode of transportation is a motorcycle.

As they made their way through the streets at night, the lively rhythm resounded in the air. Nishino, gripping the steering wheel, still wore sunglasses even though the sun had long set. He claimed it was to hide his facial injury, but in reality, it's one of his favorites and he didn't want to take them off because they looked cool.

Out of the two motorcycles Francisca rented in advance, the replica motorcycle was left abandoned by Rose who lost the keys in front of the church and no one has gone to retrieve it since then. As a result, they had to move using just the remaining American bike in tandem.

At the time of departure, Nishino hesitated to let Rose accompany him. He said something like, "I'm enough on my own." However, considering that he had just been rescued from a vigilante ordeal by Rose not long ago, he couldn't strongly refuse. As a result, they ended up being an uncommon pair of two people riding together, with the futsumen giving in.

Thanks to that, Rose's arms were wrapped around Nishino's waist, and she had a wide grin on her face. She hadn't been able to control the smile on her face for some time now. Due to their positioning, Nishino couldn't see her expression. Rose took advantage of this and did as she pleased.

She is a crazy woman who is at the peak of happiness right now.

"How about you move a little further away? It's getting quite stuffy."

"If I do that, you might drop me, won't you?"

"I don't think you're so fragile that you'd break from being dropped."

"Will you wait for me until I settle back into this seat again then?"

"...Do as you please."

It's Nishino's defeat.

Ever since they left, Rose has consistently taken the lead.

Thanks to that, she can stick her body tightly to Nishino. Naturally, she holds onto his waist with both knees, needlessly straightening her back and adhering from her lower abdomen to her chest. There is no gap, not even a millimeter, creating a scene reminiscent of a koala mother and child.

From an onlooker's perspective, it may seem odd to see an American motorcycle with an elongated tandem seat positioned so far forward. One might wonder why it is necessary to have it pushed so far ahead. However, for the rider, there are unseen events happening outside their field of vision.

Her wet crotch is shamelessly pressed against the futsumen's waist.

"Also, you mentioned earlier that you haven't been sleeping much lately."

"What are you talking about?"

"Lack of sleep is said to be one of the causes of erectile dysfunction, you know?"

"Don't worry, I'm making sure to use it properly every night."

"Ara? So you have someone like that in your life?"

"I told you before. I liked doing things at my own pace."

"You never mentioned that you liked it before, though?"

"........"

"If you're that eager, I could keep you company tonight, if you'd like?"

"...No thanks."

As Rose casually asks questions, she subtly brings her face closer to the Nishino's neck. She carefully chooses the timing so as not to be noticed, and begins to sniff the scent, widening her nostrils. She takes a deep whiff of the scent coming from the futsumen's nape.

However, by doing just that, the foolish behavior would be exposed to the person in question.

While savoring the scent, she continues the conversation.

"By the way, just to confirm, where are we heading?"

"To Class rep's location."

"Can you tell that from that device?"

Sniff, sniff. She's responding while sniffing.

Sniff, sniff.

"This device is equipped with GPS capability, so I can check it through the network."

"Oh? A nice collar for setting that child free in the wild, isn't it?"

"Sorry for putting it bluntly, but yeah, that's what it means."

On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, Nishino was currently operating the handlebars with one hand while fiddling with the device attached to the holder with the other. It seemed like he was looking at a map displayed on the screen.

On the map, his controlled bike becomes an icon and moves gradually.

Furthermore, in addition to the icons indicating the whereabouts of Rose and Nishino, there was another one on the map with a different color and shape. This one was moving somewhat slower than the former, yet still gradually distancing itself from the town of Fira.

It's heading north—even farther north.

As she look over Nishino's shoulder to confirm the situation, even Rose is left dumbfounded.

"I wonder how far that girl intends to go? She's really a troublesome person."

"I think she's a much better woman than you, though?"

"Do you think so? It's pretty pathetic that she can't even read a map properly."

"Well, being directionally challenged like that is rather cute for a woman."

"......"

Nishino's casual muttering made the blonde lolita's expression harden.

A woman with a strong knowledge of maps, her name is Rose Rebmann.

Despite her composure, she appeared to feel the pain in her heart. Her next words were a somewhat earnest question.

"H-Heh, really? Is that kind your type?"

"There's no doubt that she is an attractive woman."

"Just out of curiosity, what exactly do you find appealing about her?"

Even as she was digging her own grave, Rose still asked that question. Forgetting to smell the nape of his neck, she tightly embraced the futsumen's body with her arms. Her perfectly flat chest was pressed against Nishino's back.

In response to her, Nishino unusually replied with sensible words.

"The sight of someone putting their heart and soul into something is truly captivating. I got to see this aspect of her during the preparations for the cultural festival. Ah, it's the same for Takeuchi-kun. He also have a consistent passion."

It seemed that this futsumen had a certain fondness for the Class 2-A. Although the classroom no longer feels like a place where he belongs, he is determined to regain his seat before graduation, with high aspirations and determination.

And even after graduating from school, throughout his lifetime, he desires to organize reunions and similar events at various milestones, in order to engage in friendly conversations and share memories with classmates. Among these intentions is also the desire to stand there himself, wearing a smile.

Naturally, Shimizu's enthusiastic participation in the cultural festival that he appreciated, had various other purposes. One of them could be, for example, to appeal to the teachers or to be mindful of his academic performance. There are various not-so-great aspects as well. However, Nishino is not aware of these details.

"...Hmph."

Of course, Rose is not amused.

"Do you always strive so hard like this that you end up seeking the same things?"

"...What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was simply stating what I thought."

"She knows more than I do about hard work, and she truly takes ownership of her efforts. This fact should be respected by others."

"Whether it's twisted or not, effort is still effort, right?"

"Depending on the underlying reasons, the perception of effort can change. Between a person who works hard for themselves and a person who works hard for others, which one appears more admirable?"

"Is she working hard for someone else?"

"No, I don't know that much."

"However," Nishino continues, giving her answer.

"I just wanted to disagree with your words."

"Ara? How honest."

"Is it bad?"

"Are you that curious about what I think?"

"How many times do you think I've answered the same question in the past?"

"Six times?"

In a soft voice, Rose teasingly nibbles on Nishino's ear.

Clinging to him while riding on the top of motorcycle for about ten minutes, it seems that she can no longer endure it. She licks the depressions around his ear, tracing the contours with the pointed tip of her tongue, meticulously removing earwax. After collecting this in her cheek pouch, she mixes it with her own saliva and applies it to the roof of her mouth, similar to using a dental plaque tester.

She's a crazy woman who has decided not to brush her teeth tonight.

"...Oi, stop it."

He couldn't possibly be a futsumen with sufficient opposite-sex experience to ignore that. His shoulders were trembling slightly as he received an unknown pleasure.

It's his first experience of having his ears licked.

"If you continue to fool around too much, I'll drop you."

"Ara? That's a shame."

A thin thread of saliva stretched between Nishino's ear and Rose's lips.

"If you were to die, you would lose these pleasurable experiences forever. Of course, you wouldn't be able to run around for the sake of your classmates anymore either. I believe that taking care of yourself is also an important investment in your future."

"I'm definitely not in the mood to debate whether your tongue feels good or not. However, I can understand what you're trying to say. I appreciate your help this time. That's why if you're saying that the previous agreement is insufficient, I hope you won't just vent your frustrations, but instead settle it with money."

As a result, it seems that the futsumen misunderstood Rose's desire for something different.

"It's a fact that you saved my life. If you want to double the contract amount without resorting to such elaborate tricks, I believe I have the decency to accept it without hesitation. If that's still not enough, feel free to say anything. My life is already in your hands."

"Ara? you're quite generous, aren't you?"

"You should rejoice. Strangely enough, it turned out just as you wished."

'...I haven't made any progress at all.'  Rose whispered, unable to keep the words from escaping her lips.

No matter how much she tries to reduce the distance through interactions related to work, she continues to be a woman in unrequited love, feeling very unhappy. What she desires above all else is nothing but the heart of the futsumen.

However, this debt may not necessarily be inconvenient for her. If handled skillfully, she might be able to advance the situation more favorably, so she gathers her thoughts with a positive outlook.

"If that's the case, should I have you serve me in various ways in the future?"

"You're the one who saved my life. You should use it to the fullest."

"......"

Nishino's bravado made Rose's womb flutter.

As usual, her perspective on men remained as unpredictable as a major natural disaster.

'This isn't the time for me to be falling for him again, but he's... h-he's so cool!'

She muttered to herself, as her mind was filled with immersive fantasies. Unbeknownst to her, her secret spot pressed against Nishino's waist had already soaked his shirt with her juices.

Unaware of Rose's inner turmoil, Nishino continued to ride the motorcycle steadily.

Their destination was getting closer.

"...She's in a strange place."

The marker indicating Shimizu's whereabouts was stationary at one end of the cliff facing the sea.

* * *

In the midst of Nishino surrendering completely to Rose, the scene changes to Tarousuke.

"...I finally shook them off! How about that!? Haha!"

As he walked through the night streets with false confidence, there was no one behind him, just as previously mentioned. It seemed he had successfully escaped from the intimidating men they had encountered at the restaurant. To confirm the relief he had obtained, he let out a shout.

It looks like Takeuchi-kun's group managed to escape safely as well, giving him a sigh of relief.

"Good grief, what a peculiar trip this turned out to be."

The entire area is a desolate wilderness with no other signs of life. Once you leave the city center of Fira, the number of buildings rapidly decreases, and the scenery resembles a remote village rather than a tourist destination, stretching endlessly. That is the island of Santorini.

In the midst of it all, he continues on foot, walking along the narrow asphalt road.

"...If it were him, he'd probably rock it out more."

Once he had calmed down, what naturally came to his mind was the image of the futsumen whom he idolized. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that the person in question right now was riding a motorcycle, getting flustered, as a certain woman pressed her breasts against him.

The ikemen lifted his chin to gaze at the night sky while admiring the canopy of stars, creating a truly picturesque scene. If someone like Takeuchi-kun were to witness the faint self-deprecating smile he lets out, it would undoubtedly be something worth emulating.

"Well, I guess this is the best I can do for now..."

He sets off towards the town of Oia, seeking accommodation for the night.

He probably thought it would be unwise to return to Fira.

In the corner of his field of vision, there suddenly appeared the figure of a person. It was someone rushing hastily along a deserted midnight road. Moreover, there were not just one figure, but two, three, forming a single line proceeding down the road.

This is a sparsely populated area away from the city streets, offering a view that extends far into the distance. The road Tarousuke is walking on leads to a crossroads ahead, where they intersect in relation to each other. It's a distance of several tens of meters.

"...Oi, oi, isn't that Nishino's woman?"

After a few steps, the details became clear.

The one leading at the front is Shimizu.

"...It's truly an amusing photography trip, isn't it?"

While striking a pose with style, he begins running again.

The reason is the presence of two men chasing after her. One of them is holding a knife in his hand. From their suspicious appearance, Tarousuke naturally senses the same danger as the individuals who had been pursuing him all along, and his expression tightens with tension.

Fortunately, in the midst of misfortune, the other person was so focused on chasing Shimizu that they didn't notice him. The Class rep was known for being a fast runner, so she was desperately trying to keep up. If she had been wearing sneakers instead of dress shoes, there's no doubt that the distance between them would have widened.

In the meantime, Tarousuke closes the distance with a full sprint.

By the time the opponent noticed Tarousuke's approach, they were already in an irreparable situation. The darkness of the night likely played a significant role in this. Seizing this opportunity, Tarousuke swung his fist downwards towards the side of the man chasing Shimizu, aiming for his face.

"You perverted scumbag!"

The tightly clenched fist struck the man's cheek with a resolute force.

"Gya!?"

With a short scream, the opponent was blown away forcefully.

The fist, fueled by the momentum of the run, exhibited more power than he had imagined. The man was sent flying without any means of defense, falling onto the road. He lay motionless there, not moving a muscle. Simultaneously, something hard fell from his pocket, making a dry clinking sound.

Naturally, the one who threw the punch wasn't getting away unscathed either. He desperately endure the throbbing pain in his fist.

'It hurt, really hurt!' And he had to fight back the urge to let out a groan. He endured it as his clenched fist began to throb with heat, trying to cool it down in the night air.

Thanks to that, everyone was frozen in the same place, taken aback by the unexpected intrusion.

Both Shimizu, who had been running at the front, and the remaining man chasing after her were panting heavily, their attention fixed on the intruder. It seemed like they had covered quite a distance running, as beads of sweat were glistening on their foreheads.

"Eh? Ah, eh...?"

In the darkness, Shimizu realized that the person approaching her was also Japanese, just like her.

Furthermore, it is a shocking revelation for her as she realizes that the person in question is someone she knows well.

"Are you okay?"

"A-Are you perhaps, T-Tarou-san!?"

"Yeah, I'm Tarou-san. Nice to meet you."

Even at this point, Tarousuke's determination to show off his coolness remains unwavering. It is an aspiration towards a distant ideal—mimicking a certain futsumen. Therefore, in any situation, he never forgets to display his composure. According to him, this behavior is what he calls the epitome of 'ultimate rock.'

"Oi oi, you've got something interesting there, don't you?"

As Tarousuke continued to converse with Shimizu, his body moved. What caught his eye was the item dropped by the man he had punched. It was a handgun. It seemed to have been holstered on the man's waist and had fallen to the ground when he was hit.

Fortunately, there's no harm in having more assets, so he decided to collect it.

He picked it up with a hand different from the one he used to punch the man.

On the other hand, the remaining man who had lost his partner started to panic greatly. With the odds already stacked against him in terms of numbers, and especially after one of his comrades was taken down in a single blow, he appeared to be in quite a struggle. The impact of the recently recovered handgun also played a significant role.

"You bastard... Why are you here of all places!?"

The remaining man shouted.

It was a reasonable opinion.

Tarousuke, in reaction to this, purposely keeps his cool and responds.

"There's no need for a reason to help a good woman. Isn't that right?"

"......"

Right next to him, Shimizu's face turned bright red.

It seems that she was very happy to be treated nicely by a handsome guy. Earlier today, when she received a similar comment from Nishino, she didn't show any reaction. However, when Tarousuke said the same thing, she turned bright red.

Thanks to that, the man who was brought up for discussion is extremely irritated.

"B-Bastard...!"

"Otto, don't move too hastily, okay? I have a little experience with this, you see."

He reminisces about last night's flight and conveys it.

In response to the man displaying anger, Tarousuke confronted him by aiming a pistol. The aim is somewhat shaky. However, to an onlooker, he appears in a posture that is enough to seem like he's targeting the man. Considering the recent knockout punch, a little embellishment doesn't hurt. He also exudes a certain authority.

"Damn asian..."

The man reached into his pocket with his hand.

Tarousuke barks as if to reprimand him.

"Try not to do anything suspicious, okay? If you don't want to suffer some consequences."

"......"

This conflict was entirely one-sided.

From Tarousuke's perspective, this is a rock-solid scene right now. He's single-handedly rescuing a high school girl being chased by burglars. It's an even more thrilling and heart-pounding development than any high-budget movie set.

I'm cool.

I rock.

I'm awesome.

It was a thrilling moment for Ogata Tarousuke, as he received an admiring gaze from a high school girl, who he himself had set as his goal. At this very moment, the handsome guy's heart was at its peak of excitement.

—However, his efforts end here.

It was conveyed along with the engine's exhaust noise.

Suddenly, a car emerged from the side of the building behind them. Its headlights swung around, changing direction and dazzling Tarousuke and the others. Accompanying this was the voice of the Aloha shirt man peeking out from the passenger seat window.

"—Oooh, I finally found youuu!"

Diego, the man in Aloha shirt, is barking in satisfaction.

"Diego-san! Over here! This way!"

The cornered man called out his companion's name with delight.

It seems that Tarousuke has once again been caught up by pursuers. Through the front windshield, multiple individuals can be seen inside the car, including other comrades. However, without a chance to confirm the exact number of people, his eyes accustomed to darkness screamed as they were illuminated by the car's headlights.

"Q-Quick, let's flee!"

He's an ikemen who had no choice but to change course.

It's a chase game once more.

"Go after them! I'm tired of this, let's just kill them all at once, shall we!?"

On the car roof, jeers from the Aloha shirt man were heard.

In the wilderness on the outskirts of Fira, Tarousuke and Shimizu ended up being chased by Diego and his companions in a car, resembling a deer hunting. Occasionally, live rounds were fired with a high-pitched sound, piercing the ground beneath their feet. One of those shots grazed Tarousuke's arm, leaving a red mark on his skin.

"Kuh, they're doing as they please."

While running, Tarousuke muttered irritably.

In his right hand, he holds a gun, while his left hand grips Shimizu's right hand.

"Is it fine if we raise the pace a little more?"

"Y-Yes! I've been training for this!"

In contrast to someone like Matsuura-san, Class rep's tone in her response is very reassuring.

After confirming this, Tarousuke increased his running speed slightly.

"That's a good response. As expected of the woman Nishino had his eye on."

"Eh? 'N-Nishino', you mean..."

When unexpectedly facing unexpected remarks from an unexpected person, Shimizu immediately begins to feel anxious.

"If the terrain gets rougher, it should make it difficult for them to chase us in a car. Let's continue off the road and head to the other side. It's this dark, so even the footing might be uncertain, but please hold on for now. I will surely get you out safely."

"Y-Yes!"

As she nodded, Shimizu suddenly noticed.

His hand, which had confidently promised to rescue her and had pulled her along, had somehow become moist with sweat and was trembling ever so slightly. Even someone who didn't know him well could easily grasp that fear still existed, no matter how tough he pretended to be.

"......"

For this reason, Tarousuke's selfless struggle for the sake of others, even at the cost of suppressing his own desires, deeply touched the Class rep's maternal instincts. Furthermore, since the subject happened to be handsome, it intensified her feelings even more. Naturally, her gaze became affectionate and tender.

In such circumstances, she understood that she needed to be strong and motivate herself.

With the momentum of leading Tarousuke, she summoned her inner strength in her legs and lower back.

Being alone is lonely. I find myself complaining and wanting someone to rely on. However, even in similar circumstances, when there is someone weaker than myself by my side, I become a little stronger. That is what it takes for her to be a worthy Class Representative.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

Even her reply carried a sense of strength.

Shimizu's pride in her leg strength is by no means unfounded.

"Even faster is fine!"

"O-Okay, I understand."

They started running towards a rugged area with intense undulations after crossing a smoothly runnable flat terrain. They utilized scattered obstacles such as house fences and randomly arranged brick blocks along the property boundaries to increase the distance between them and the approaching car.

It's the most they can accomplish in their current situation.

In the dimly lit darkness, with only the faint moonlight overhead as the light source, coupled with the anxiety of gunshots from behind, their sense of direction barely functioned. Furthermore, being their first time in this unfamiliar place, they had no choice but to make decisions based on immediate judgment.

Tarousuke and Shimizu took the path that was simply difficult for the car to advance.

Thanks to that, the Aloha Gang also got out of the car and the chase continued. The distance between the two parties kept changing, sometimes widening and sometimes narrowing. Gunshots and cursing could occasionally be heard, but they never stopped.

However, despite that, the men chasing them gradually decreased in number.

It seems that Tarousuke and Shimizu had the upper hand in terms of endurance. Compared to the thugs who led an unhealthy lifestyle without much exercise, Shimizu, who trained daily in club activities, and the Ikemen who sweated it out at a luxury hotel gym during vacations, had unexpectedly high levels of fitness.

However, not all of the men gave up on the two of them.

Even when he was the last one left, Diego continued to chase the two relentlessly.

* * *

Eventually, they arrived at their final destination, which was a cliff overlooking the sea.

"Haa... Haa... Bastards, I'll definitely kill all of you...!"

Facing Diego are Tarousuke and Shimizu, who have nowhere to run and have the ocean at their backs.

With bloodshot eyes, he glared at them. He held a pistol in his hand, its aim unwaveringly fixed on Tarousuke's forehead. His breathing was heavy and ragged from the relentless pursuit. He was a man of extreme determination.

The gap between both parties is around ten meters.

Tarousuke, too, has a stance with his gun ready, facing Diego. Next to him, at a slight distance, is Shimizu. Both of them were breathing heavily, trying to suppress the urge to scream out in this critical moment.

"How about exercising a bit more? Your breathing is getting out of control, isn't it?"

"Cut the crap, aren't you the same too!?"

In this quiet area, they could easily hear each other's breathing. Everyone was panting heavily. The air was filled with heavy breathing.

"T-Tarou-san, we can't go further..."

Having lost their escape route, even the dependable Class Rep's expression tensed up.

It was clear that the cliff behind them was anything but gentle, not even close to being a place where they could jump in and be saved. With the sea surface several tens of meters below and a slight incline, no matter how much they prepared to jump, their bodies would only be slammed against the hard rocky surface.

"Well? There shouldn't be any problem with settling it here."

"Fine, I'll shove bullets into that annoying face of yours!"

By the way, the words exchanged between these two men are in English.

For Shimizu, who scored 500 on the TOEIC, she can hardly understand what the two are talking about. Despite her proficiency in English language, seeing a conversation between native speakers is quite a shock for her.

Class rep made up her mind to study English more diligently if they were able to return alive.

"......"

"......"

With guns at the ready, Tarousuke and Aloha Man lock eyes in a standoff.

Speaking of the former, his knees are trembling uncontrollably, impossible to hide. Unpleasant, sweaty odors are oozing from his armpits and chest, changing the color of his shirt. Due to running around for a long time, his throat is parched. Sticky saliva clings to his throat, causing damage to the airways with even the slightest breath.

His condition was extremely bad.

Staring at the opponent's muzzle through the sights, his anxiety intensifies all the more. His heart beats painfully, pounding like a drum. In the next moment, he might be shot. He might be dead. Such tension profoundly shakes Tarousuke's psyche.

"(How am I supposed to handle this...?)"

The muttered lines, spoken in a hushed voice, were private thoughts that escaped his lips in a whisper.

Neither of them is taking the initiative, and the state of stiffness persists.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that even Aloha Man has a dead-serious expression. Having run continuously, his entire body is soaked with sweat, completely drenched. From his forehead to his neck, down to his limbs, he's wet all over. In fact, he's wet enough for droplets to fall from his chin.

Still, he didn't even make the slightest move and remained focused on the opponent in front of him.

"......"

"......"

It looked like a duel straight out of a western movie. However, the guns were already drawn. They had completely lost track of the perfect timing to shoot. When was the right moment? No one had the answer.

From below the cliff, several tens of meters away, the sound of waves receding and returning can be faintly heard. It is repeated in a constant rhythm, as if being kept by a metronome. With each wave receding, their tension increases.

Tarousuke, who finally had a gun in his hand, now wanted to throw it away and run away.

Amidst all this, what came to his mind in the very last moment was the pompous talk of a certain futsumen. It was a passage from a lecture given with full confidence just the day before yesterday, in the airplane cabin in the sky.

"—Jump sideways and aim for the woman's head to shoot when I give the signal."

"(...Hehe, no instructions here, no instructions.)"

It was no good.

It didn't seem to be useful.

At this moment, Tarousuke felt like he couldn't determine the timing with his own consciousness. Come to think of it, during the lecture, he had ultimately failed to grasp his instructions until he received them. Instead, it was a random woman among the onlookers whom Nishino had praised.

"(Damn, I'm so pathetic...)"

"What's wrong? Looks like your knees are trembling, huh?"

"......"

Now that even Diego has noticed and pointed it out, Tarousuke's attempt to show off has come to an end.

"Japanese kids don't really have many opportunities to play, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring them back to the shop work. Seeing their expressionless faces scream with incomprehensible voices is quite irresistible, you know? I saw it in an old porn video from your country before."

"...Bring it on."

But still, trying one's best despite looking awkward is the trend among handsome guys nowadays.

Gritting his teeth and swallowing his nervousness.

"This woman is the one Nishino fell in love with. I can't just give her to you."

"...Eh?"

Tarousuke's casual remark.

It was Shimizu who showed an unusual response to it.

"Um, that N-Nishino, about him..."

"I can handle things when the moment comes, you hear me? Nishino!"

Tarousuke leaped out with a pitiful roar.

He kicked the ground and leaped sideways. With the aim set on Diego's forehead, his fingertip tightened around the trigger. It was the behavior he had just been instructed by the futsumen. At the same time, two gunshots ring out, each with a different sound.

Without any consideration for landing and no thought for the consequences, Tarousuke's reckless sideways leap slammed his body onto the ground. He struck his side hard, letting out an undignified groan. Perhaps due to the impact on his lungs, he lost control of his breathing and began to cough uncontrollably.

"Ugh...!"

Then, in the next moment, he was holding his own thigh, his face contorted in pain.

It appears that he's been shot.

A red substance slowly spreads on the ground, seeping through the fabric of his pants.

"T-Tarou-san!"

Shimizu rushes in a great panic.

On the other hand, Diego is the one laughing at this entire scene.

This person remains in a tense position, not moving a single step while holding a gun with both hands. From the muzzle of the held pistol, smoke billows, and the same mocking smile continues to appear on his face, with a smirk.

"...Heh, heh-heh, serves you right."

In response to his muttering, Shimizu and Tarousuke's attention turns toward him.

"R-Run away!"

The ikemen lightly pushes Shimizu's shoulder.

Then, while lying down, he readied his weapon once more.

However, there was no need to pull the trigger.

"......"

Diego's body collapsed and he was unable to continue speaking.

He collapsed face-down and remained completely motionless.

The bullet fired by Tarousuke had struck the Aloha man's heart with precision.

"...I did it?"

With the tension still present, he silently asks without addressing anyone.

"H-He's not moving...."

"Yeah..."

Even after watching for a while, there is no particular response.

A while later, the two of them realized that beneath the fallen man, a large amount of blood was spilling out, forming a pool. It seemed impossible for him to be alive, given the tremendous amount of bleeding. The fact that his body showed no signs of movement confirmed that the man had undoubtedly passed away.

"It seems we've made it through for real."

"Yes..."

At that moment, both of them let out a sigh of relief. However, considering Tarousuke's injuries, it wasn't a situation where they could calmly settle down. It wasn't as severe as Diego's, but there was a considerable amount of bleeding from the gunshot wound in his thigh. Seeing this, Shimizu barked in a panicked manner.

"Excuse me, um, y-your leg, I'll do some first aid!"

She took off the cardigan she had been wearing, tied it around Tarousuke's thigh to apply pressure to the injured area. It had been her favorite, one she had purchased for this trip, but the urgent situation compelled her to act without hesitation.

She took off the cardigan she was wearing and tied it tightly around Tarousuke's thigh, applying pressure to the injured area. This was her favorite cardigan that she had purchased for this trip, but the urgent situation compelled her to take action without hesitation.

"I'm sorry for getting your clothes dirty in such a trivial matter like this."

"W-Well, it's not a big deal. I can buy this kind of thing anytime!"

"I intended to help, but I ended up being helped instead. I still have a long way to go..."

Tarousuke lowered his head in a respectful manner.

It seems like it will be a while before he achieves his ideal.

"No, not at all! Um, what you did just now, it was really cool!"

"Still, if it were Nishino, he would have pulled it off even more stylishly, I bet."

"Eh? ...About that Nishino-kun? U-Um..."

"Oh, no, it's nothing. Just forget about it."

Inwardly, Tarousuke starts to panic. He had slipped up and let his emotions get the best of him during the life-or-death battle. Now he suddenly remembers that he shouted the futsumen's name earlier, causing him to worry even more.

"May I lean on your shoulder? Let's go back to the hotel."

"Ah, yes."

In an effort to raise the body, the ikemen lifted his knee.

—Suddenly, as they stood there, a gunshot rang out.

The bullet flew past them with a sharp and dry sound. It hit Tarousuke's hand, causing the gun to be knocked out of his grasp. The force sent it soaring through the air and it fell down beyond the cliff.

"Wha..."

The two of them turned to Diego in a great hurry.

And there, next to the fallen Aloha man, stood another man.

He was one of the gangster duo who were chasing after Shimizu.

"Heheheh, looks like luck's finally on my side..."

He holds a pistol in his hand. He must have retrieved it from Diego's corpse.

The muzzle of the gun was aimed unwaveringly at Tarousuke.

The one being targeted had lost his only weapon, a gun, and on top of that, he had injured his leg, making it difficult for him to walk properly. Furthermore, the Class rep supporting him couldn't understand English at all, so she had no idea what the other person was saying.

The conclusion was already decided.

* * *