Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

Chaos spread like a venom. Yuno stared directly at Mion, her lifeless eyes fixed on hers. The grotesque and insane smile on the girl's face made the scene even more disturbing. Every gesture of Mion seemed automatic, almost animalistic, as she scratched her neck compulsively.

Yuno, already out of patience, let out a voice laden with irritation:

"I don't have time to deal with this. And who do you think you are to call me a bitch?!"

Mion clenched her teeth in rage, her voice erupting into a furious scream:

"You stole Keiichi from me! He was mine!"

Yuno made such an exaggerated grimace of disgust that it seemed theatrical, sticking out her tongue as if she despised the idea.

"Take Keiichi away from you? Please, girl, spare me. I couldn't care less about what happens to that animal. And better yet, I was actually glad to see he's almost dying. After he gave me that doll, I was disgusted—seriously, I had to hold back from throwing up. I only didn't kill him right there because I couldn't. I already have my Yuuki, you bitch."

Mion raised the gun again, pointing it at Yuno with a look of pure derangement.

"That doesn't change the fact that you took him from me!"

Before she could fire, Ryan seized the moment of distraction and threw a rock, hitting Mion's hand squarely. The shot went wild, and the gun fell to the ground. Ryan didn't miss the chance to mock her:

"I swear, I thought that gun was a toy, Mion!"

Using the time bought, Yuno teleported behind Mion, delivering a swift blow that sent her to the ground, knocking her out before she could cause more trouble.

Ryan, frowning, turned to Rika, who watched the entire scene with an apathetic expression.

"Is this really how this syndrome is supposed to act?" he asked, frustration evident in his tone.

Rika hesitated before replying, confusion visible on her face.

"No… Usually, the infected act strangely, violently even… But I don't remember them being this strong, to the point of resisting Yuno's strikes."

Ryan clicked his tongue, adjusting his shirt as he muttered:

"Damn, if that's the case, I think I know who can help…"

Before he could finish the thought, Yuno's shout grabbed his attention:

"Ryan, pay attention!"

Instinctively, he ducked, leaning back as he heard the sound of a blade slicing through the air above him.

"Shit!" he thought, turning to see Rena standing again, her neck bloody from incessant scratching, her gaze as empty as before.

"That girl is a demon!" Ryan exclaimed incredulously, kicking Rena in the abdomen to push her back. He glanced nervously at Keiichi's body and muttered:

"All we need now is for this bastard to get up too…"

Keiichi's pale complexion sent a chill down his spine. Without wasting another second, he ran to Rika, who was still gazing at the sky as if lost in another world. He grabbed her hand, trying to lift her spirits.

"Relax, not everything is lost!"

Rika smiled, but her hollow tone was unsettling.

"Yes… It's not lost. Maybe in the next world…"

Ryan cupped her cheeks with both hands, forcing her to look at him.

"Next world, my ass! I can go back in time without messing with the timeline, remember that?"

Rika tilted her head, confused.

"Timeline?"

Ryan sighed, irritated.

"Ugh, I don't know! Timeline, world… It doesn't matter!"

Yuno's scream cut through their exchange.

"You're getting up again, you bastard?!"

Ryan and Rika turned simultaneously. Mion, who should have been unconscious, was back on her feet, locked in a test of strength with Yuno, their hands pressing against each other.

Ryan raised an eyebrow and let out a smug laugh.

"What are you doing, woman? Put her to sleep already!"

Then he noticed something that froze him in place. Yuno was genuinely struggling, the veins in her hands bulging as she fought to contain Mion.

"How the hell is this happening?"

Before he could think of an answer, he heard the sound of something being dragged on the ground. Rena, with a broken arm, staggered toward them, dragging her cleaver.

"This feels like a zombie apocalypse!" Ryan exclaimed, picking Rika up in his arms.

Startled, Rika asked in a trembling voice:

"What are you doing?"

"Strategic retreat!" he replied, beginning to run. He shouted back at Yuno without looking behind him:

"Teleport to the old house, Pinkie! From there, we'll head to my house in the city!"

Yuno destabilized Mion with a quick headbutt but remained in place, breathing heavily. Ryan frowned, confused.

"Come on, Yuno, let's wrap this up!"

Her response came with a voice full of frustration:

"I can't!"

A chill ran down Ryan's spine. Something was wrong, and he knew he had to act quickly. Without a second thought, he rushed toward Yuno and launched himself at Mion with a flying kick.

As he landed, he looked at Rika in his arms with a proud smile.

"So? Enjoying the ride?"

Rika adjusted her hair and sighed.

"Well… At least it's something new. Mii~."

Ryan laughed but soon glanced at Yuno.

"So, do you want me to carry you too?"

Yuno rolled her eyes, revealing a knife hidden in her sock.

"I didn't ask for your help."

Ryan sighed as he began running again.

"Okay, I'll take that as a 'thank you.'"

Both disappeared into a nearby forest, trying to make sense of what was happening. The actions of the infected were going beyond any known patterns.

Suddenly, Ryan stopped as an idea struck him.

"Damn, I forgot!"

Yuno shot him an annoyed look.

"I hope it's not something stupid."

Ryan took a deep breath and shouted:

"Arona!"

Instantly, he felt a weight on his back, followed by a sweet and familiar voice.

"Yes, Sensei!"

He turned his head back, groaning.

"Why the hell does Yuno carry no one, and you show up right on my back?!"

Rika smiled provocatively.

"Are you saying I'm heavy?"

"No, it's just not practical to carry two people!" he snapped.

"Now answer me, Arona, what the hell is going on here? Why are the infected so strong?" Ryan asked, his irritation and frustration evident.

Arona, still calm, pressed his shoulders, making him stop running.

"It's simple: the Hinamizawa syndrome is being modified by the presence of both of you. It's like a super-syndrome activated by mood changes."

Yuno narrowed her eyes, irritated.

"And you're only telling us now?!"

Arona shrugged as if it were obvious.

"You only called me now…"

Ryan sighed, exhausted.

"She's got a point…"

Sliding off Ryan's back with a light movement, Arona adopted a serious expression as she said:

"I expected adverse reactions… but like this?" She placed her hand on her chin, deep in thought, until Ryan interrupted with his usual impatience:

"And how the hell does that work?"

Arona wagged her index finger in the air, as if preparing to explain something to a stubborn child, and began:

"Well, speaking in a dumb way, just how you like it, Sensei Ryan..."

Ryan immediately raised an eyebrow, ready to retort, but she continued, ignoring him:

"The infected are being affected by divine fortune. This is amplifying the syndrome's symptoms and randomly distributing physical or mental enhancements."

Ryan adjusted Rika in his arms and replied with a sarcastic tone:

"Oh, I get it. So it's like a Russian roulette of superpowers. And what did you mean by dumb like I like it?"

Arona opened her mouth to respond, but before she could continue her teasing, the sound of hurried footsteps cut through the tension of the moment. Everyone stiffened, their postures rigid, ready to face whatever approached.

The bushes ahead rustled, and suddenly, a girl emerged running, accompanied by a younger one who was crying hysterically. The sight was enough to bewilder Ryan: the newcomer was identical to Mion, but her outfit was entirely different. She wore a sleeveless white blouse with a high collar and vertical pleat details, paired with a high-waisted black skirt adorned with gold buttons that gave her an elegant look. She seemed both sophisticated and desperate.

Trailing behind her was Satoko, sobbing, her face drenched in tears.

Ryan was the first to break the silence, his voice full of suspicion:

"Mion?!"

The girl waved her hands frantically in the air, nearly breathless from running, and quickly replied:

"No! I'm not Mion!"

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