Chapter 45

It's warm. But then I realize. Blood is splattered on my face, yet it doesn't hurt at all.

Raising my head, I see a man crawling on the ground, smeared in blood, still pulling Kitsunesaki's leg.

It was Vice-Principal Kanou.

"Stop... beyond this point..."

"Why the hell are you still alive!?"

Trying to kick Vice-Principal Kanou away, blood splatters. It lands on my head again.

The incomprehensible situation leaves me at a loss for words.

Why is Vice-Principal Kanou trying to save me? I can't understand why someone who always cared about his reputation is trying to keep me alive.

Something's off. I should be in agony, my body torn apart. There's no way I could even speak.

"Ah... as a role model... I must stop...! Even if it costs my life... I must stop Professor Kitsunesaki...!"

Yet Vice-Principal Kanou's mouth moves. His body riddled with holes, he desperately holds on, while I can't even move.

Thinking this, I stand up while Kitsunesaki is distracted by Kanou and punch her. Kitsunesaki's back hits the wall, but she still holds the kitchen knife.

With murderous intent in her eyes, she charges at me. But I can't dodge sideways. There's a student crouched behind me.

If I dodge, that child will be killed.

I brace my arms and prepare to endure.

"Hah... hah... oryaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Then a deep female voice rings out. Kitsunesaki is sent flying sideways.

Drenched in sweat, collapsing alongside Kitsunesaki, is Detective Chikage. She had charged in from the side.

"W-Why is Detective Chikage here!?"

There's no time for her to answer my question as we both jump on the fallen Kitsunesaki.

Kitsunesaki slashes Chikage's stomach with the kitchen knife.

"Ugh!?"

"Detective Chikage!?"

Seeing her bleeding from the stomach, I falter for a moment, allowing Kitsunesaki to rampage. Kitsunesaki, covered in blood, shakes off both me and Detective Chikage, then starts swinging the knife wildly.

I thought it was hopeless... when an absolute miracle happened.

"...Good thing I borrowed a bamboo sword from the dojo, ahhhhh!"

With a sharp crack, the kitchen knife flies from Kitsunesaki's hand. After being struck on the wrist with the bamboo sword, Kitsunesaki clutches her hand and crouches in the pool of blood.

The one who restrained her was the President. President Tatsuya Ishii.

"No time to ask why! Call an ambulance! Get an ambulance!"

I hurriedly call for an ambulance for the collapsed Detective Chikage and Vice-Principal Kanou. After securing Kitsunesaki with a rope borrowed from someone, the President rushes over, removes his clothes and shirt, then skillfully applies pressure to the wounds, attempting to stop the bleeding for both Kanou and Chikage.

I felt deeply ashamed of my helplessness. Tears streamed from my eyes.

"Thank you... President... for coming to help... and..."

"Yeah... More importantly, we have to save these two. Press on the wounds and focus on stopping the bleeding."

"Yes...!"

Blood continues to flow from the unconscious Chikage-senpai's stomach. I press the President's clothes against the wound, applying pressure. I prayed repeatedly through my tears. Let them both be saved.

However, Vice-Principal Kanou, receiving first aid from the President, speaks in a hoarse voice as if he's given up on living.

"Save that young lady first... I... am... already..."

"Don't talk! You damn geezer! Shut up! You have to live, dammit!"

I had never seen the President so intimidating. Overwhelmed, I remained silent. But Vice-Principal Kanou didn't hear those words.

"It's... fine. I wanted to do better for the students... Grades and reputation aren't everything... Teaching things beyond academics... if it brings such joy..."

"Shut up! Just shut up!"

The President's desperate cries fall on deaf ears.

"...This is punishment for my mistakes... Yes... May the next vice-principal clear the darkness of this school..."

Unable to bear it, I also shout.

"Say it yourself! Tell that person yourself! Do it yourself! Live... live and do it...! Save this school yourself! You can still start over!"

The moment I shouted that, a nightmare occurred.

A wet splat sounds outside. I know this sound. I've heard it countless times in my nightmares.

The President and I, focused on stopping the bleeding, couldn't see it.

But I understood the situation. The President muttered with vacant eyes.

"No way... was the rope too loose...?"

"Kitsunesaki is gone..."

That sound was probably something hitting the ground hard. Either someone Kitsunesaki pushed... or...

Unable to continue first aid, Vice-Principal Kanou and Detective Chikage are carried to the ambulance. I watched them depart in a daze.

Detective Chikage. She was taken to the hospital and regained consciousness that night after surgery. Though I was worried when she fainted, the wound wasn't as deep as feared.

But she was the only one saved.

Apparently, many students who witnessed the tragedy had their hearts broken. A large number dropped out of high school.

The school that only protected reputation and grades has no future.

Vice-Principal Kanou. He was confirmed dead at the hospital due to massive blood loss.

Kitsunesaki Yayoi. According to witnesses, after ripping the rope, she moved to the second floor. Then suddenly fell from the window.

She died instantly from the head-first fall.

The reason for her suicide spread through society, mixing with misunderstandings and lies. Various distortions emerged from those who silently listened to my reasoning show.

Rumors spread that Kitsunesaki couldn't bear her guilt and committed suicide, or that she accidentally fell while trying to kill someone.

Or that Senior Kishi, possessed, killed Kitsunesaki—truly absurd speculations circulated.

But even I, who witnessed it firsthand, can't deny everything, so I can't say they're completely baseless.

Whether the school will brighten again is another matter.

Surely, the werewolf will appear again. Not just at that school, but anywhere. Wherever someone tries to hurt others, it will always begin.

A sad, sad fate—this werewolf game that creates tragedies from hatred and resentment...

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