I'm in a Messed Up Situation that I Couldn't Care More. - Chapter 50 - The Fox Mask

Chapter 50 – The Fox Mask

“Yuuka!”

Yuuka was brought in by several men who seemed to be the fake Aoi’s subordinates.

They entered the dojo with their shoes on.

The fake Aoi, who had been straddling me and brandishing a knife, stood up smoothly as they entered.

I stood up as well. 

I was relieved to be free from the knife’s edge.

“Koichi, you came for me.”

Yuuka looked a bit thin, but her complexion was good, and she seemed to be doing well.

“Are you okay, Yuuka?”

“I’m fine. All they gave me to eat was instant ramen though. 

As a result, my skin broke out badly. 

I was confined in a hotel-like room the whole time.”

Yuuka glared at the man standing next to her.

It seemed like she hadn’t been subjected to any violence.

The fake Aoi must have treated her with care.

“Set Yuuka free. Yuuka, Matsui-san and Aoi are waiting in front of the main gate.”

I quickly conveyed the message to Yuuka.

She nodded in response.

The fake Aoi grinned. 

“I’ll release Yamaguchi Yuuka, but my subordinates will always be watching her. 

Koichi, if you go against me or try to escape, 

I’ll have my henchmen attack Yuuka again. 

As a bonus, I’ll have them tear apart and kill your beloved Aoi-chan.”

“……If I do as you say, you won’t harm the two of them, right?”

I glared at the fake Aoi.

“Of course.

Yuuka and Aoi are important hostages to ensure your cooperation and freedom.”

“Damn it! Fine, I’ll do as you say. Take me wherever you want.”

I raised my hands in surrender to the fake Aoi.

“Koichi… You don’t have to…”

Yuuka looked at me with wide eyes.

“……I know… It’s not for me, is it? It’s for Aoi. Isn’t that right?”

She lowered her gaze sadly.

“Aoi has been protecting you, Yuuka, with her life. 

If Aoi cares about you, then you’re important to me too.”

“Koichi… You care about Aoi that much…”

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll torture you all night and make you cry.”

The fake Aoi grabbed my collar from behind.

Am I going to be the fake Aoi’s slave until I die…?

Moreover, she’s not a gentle master.

She’s violent, insane, and her sexual desires are enhanced.

The fake Aoi pulled hard on my collar.

“I’m going, stop pulling.”

I was led away by the fake Aoi like a captive animal.

I wondered if I would be tied up and whipped when I arrived at my destination.

Just then, the song “ドナドナ* (dona dona)” started playing in my head.

[t/n: ドナドナ” (Dona Dona) refers to a song translated from Yiddish to Japanese that tells the story of a calf being led to slaughter, highlighting themes of freedom and oppression.]

A mysterious woman in a martial arts uniform dashed towards me and the fake Aoi.

“Shaaaah!”

The woman let out a strange cry, grabbed the fake Aoi’s arm, twisted it, and threw her to the ground.

The fake Aoi performed a perfect somersault and landed in a defensive stance.

“Oh, it’s you…”

The fake Aoi, in a low stance, eyed the woman in the martial arts uniform warily.

The woman was wearing a fox-faced mask.

“A-Aoi!?”

I couldn’t help but exclaim.

Judging by her build and height, it could only be Aoi.

Aoi and the fake Aoi circled each other warily, moving in a circular pattern.

“It’s too dangerous. If the mask comes off, her life will be in danger…”

Yuuka held her breath.

“Stop, Aoi! It’s fine, I’m okay!”

“Shaaaah!”

The fox-masked woman let out another cry and charged at the fake Aoi.

She tackled her.

The fake Aoi lowered her stance and tried to maintain her balance.

The fake Aoi easily dodged the punches and kicks thrown by the fox-masked woman.

However, the fox-masked woman also dodged and evaded the attacks of the fake Aoi one after another.

“They’re the same… That’s why it’s pointless to fight. It’s not a fair match.”

Yuuka spoke.

“They can read each other’s attacks.”

“Hmph. I’m different from her.”

The fake Aoi panted heavily.

“I didn’t grow up in such a peaceful world. 

That’s why I can be more cruel than you!”

The fake Aoi started brandishing the knife she had hidden.

“That’s dirty! Fight with your bare hands!”

When I heckled,

“This isn’t a martial arts practice! There are no rules here!”

The fake Aoi said with a smirk.

The knife grazed Aoi’s shoulder.

“Chii!”

Blood spurted out.

Ahh!

This is bad.

I can’t stand by and watch anymore.

I couldn’t contain myself any longer and rushed towards the fake Aoi from behind.

It wasn’t a reckless charge.

I had a plan.

I hugged the fake Aoi from behind. 

She was startled and froze for a moment.

She also dropped the knife on the floor.

I quickly took the portal from her back pocket.

Then, I threw the portal onto the floor a short distance away.

“Stop! What are you doing? The portal will open!”

The fake Aoi was panicking.

“Let go! Koichi… You… Damn it, you’re so strong.”

I continued to hold the fake Aoi tightly from behind and backed away towards the portal.

The fox-masked woman stood still, seemingly surprised by my actions.

I kept backing away until I reached the portal, which was now fully open.

The fake Aoi struggled, flailing her arms and legs, trying to escape.

But I had no intention of letting her go.

I was determined to jump into the portal with her.

Both Hiruma-san and Mamejiro had warned me before.

That once you enter the portal, you’ll likely lose your way back.

Even so, I was willing to take that risk.

Rather than watching Aoi get hurt right in front of me.

I would choose to jump into the portal with the fake Aoi.