When My Younger Brother Stole My Girlfriend, I Began Living Together with My Beautiful Childhood Friend Almost As If We Were Married - Chapter 33

Episode 33: The Insane Ex-Girlfriend

Pushing through the crowd, Anna appeared.

Something was definitely off. Looking into her eyes, I sensed a darkness akin to that time in high school when she almost caused a major incident, instinctively realizing the danger.

“Takumi-kun has been caught, and now there’s only you left for me, senpai… Hey, senpai… Please go out with me again…”

I sensed an unfathomable darkness in Anna’s eyes.

Amamiya was the first to notice that something was wrong.

Though from a distance, he sharply addressed Anna.

“Give it a rest already. It wouldn’t make sense if Anna-chan betrayed him.”

“Shut up! This doesn’t concern you! I’m talking to senpai!”

The voice was so loud that Amemiya was at a loss for words.

The surrounding area started buzzing with whispers, and even the police officers narrowed their eyes, watching our movements.

Wiping the blood from her mouth, Reina stood in front of me.

“Enough already. Hayato is troubled. Don’t get any closer to Hayato!”

“…I see. It’s because you’re here that senpai won’t come back to me…”

As Anna swayed, she reached into her bag.

Feeling a terrible premonition, I immediately moved to shield Reina.

Just before she turned her back, I saw Anna discard her bag. In her right hand, she held something long and shining in the sunlight.

That glinting object… unmistakably a knife!

I had been cautious since the incident in high school when she had brandished a cutter out of jealousy, but I never imagined she would carry a knife.

The police officer who was on the radio moved quickly, but there was still distance. With a knife in play, Shinohara and the others couldn’t move.

The blade was aimed at me, or rather, at Reina, so I held her tighter and closed my eyes.

I felt an impact on my side. From all around came multiple screams.

“Hayato!!”

Reina’s near-crying scream shook my eardrums.

Anna, having drawn the knife, attempted once again to stab Reina, but a police officer jumped in and tackled her, preventing her from doing so.

The knife rolled away and fell into the drainage ditch, and Anna was restrained.

“Let go! If I don’t kill that woman, senpai will be deceived!”

“Don’t resist! Behave yourself!”

Sirens from distant backup police cars and ambulances could be heard.

Anna was handcuffed, and before the ambulance arrived, she was dragged away to the police car that had arrived earlier.

Feeling the pain in my side, I sat down near a flowerbed.

Though Amamiya and the others rushed over, Reina seemed to be in particularly bad shape.

Covered in tears, she clung to me, crying loudly.

“No! Pull yourself together, Hayato! Don’t die!”

She was worrying about me so much.

Feeling inexplicably happy about Reina’s tears, but realizing that I couldn’t keep consciousness much longer.

Etching Reina’s tear-streaked face into my memory, I slowly lost consciousness—

“…Huh?”

I didn’t lose consciousness. The pain in my side was also fading.

I looked at the spot where I was stabbed and saw my wallet sticking out of my pocket.

Slowly, everyone began to realize the heroic presence of the wallet that had protected me, along with Misaki and Shinohara.

“Hayato, is that…?”

“Seriously?”

Surviving because a wallet in your pocket stopped a bullet is something you often hear in fictional worlds.

But who would have imagined that a wallet in your pocket would stop a knife blade from piercing your flesh? Even the person who performed the miracle would be surprised.

Reina also seemed to realize that I was okay, and she threw herself at me again, crying out even louder.

“Thank goodness! I’m so glad!!”

“I’m sorry, Reina. I made you worry.”

“It’s okay because you’re safe! I’m the one who should apologize! I put you in danger because of me!”

“No, this is probably mostly my fault…”

Of course, most of the blame lies with Anna.

I comforted Reina, who was crying, and while trembling, I checked the contents of my wallet. Shinohara also peered inside.

“There are two 10,000 yen bills in here…”

“Both of Engyo-san’s cards are broken too. It’s going to be a hassle to get them reissued…”

The damage incurred couldn’t be ignored, but well, since our lives were safe, let’s consider it a win.

Takumi and Anna were taken away in police cars, and I was taken to the hospital by the ambulance that arrived. On the way to the hospital, Reina thanked me multiple times, and the paramedic praised me after hearing the story, so I didn’t feel too bad, I guess.