Chapter 38: The Horseman

Shuchi'in Academy!!!

Today marked a special occasion, a day when parents across Japan proudly escorted their children to school. This ritual was no exception, even at the esteemed Shuchi'in Academy. Beneath the graceful canopy of cherry blossoms, students strolled alongside their parents, the atmosphere tinged with a unique charm emanating from the school's venerable architectural presence.

Ding! Ding!

The clock tower chimed a few times, signaling the morning hour of 10:30 AM. However, amidst this predictable cadence, a far more intriguing sound pierced the air.

"Hah! Hah! Ahh! H-Help!"

The desperate plea belonged to a freshman named Gotoh Hitori, who sprinted across the picturesque meadows, doing everything within her power to evade a group of irate cows.

Moooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

The bovines seemed even more determined, fixating their gaze on Hitori's distinctive pink jacket.

"Hey… what is that?"

"R-Run!"

"Ahhhh!"

Chaos ensued!

The once composed crowd en route to the auditorium came to an abrupt halt. Murmurs and pale expressions spread as everyone's attention shifted toward the commotion. Like a collective instinct, they abandoned their leisurely pace, rushing towards the auditorium in search of safety.

---

In the Principal's office...

Henry couldn't believe his eyes. He turned around, his face drenched in sweat. "Oi! Who told you to release so many cows!?" he exclaimed.

"I just did what you said, Principal," Chabashira replied, her words sounding genuine.

"You did..." Secretary-chan added.

"I said just one! Just one! Not this many! Not so chaotic!" Henry turned back and noticed a poor girl running from the stampede. "Don't just stand there! Do something to protect that child!"

The two hurriedly left the room to address the situation.

"Uncle!" a woman exclaimed as they walked out, "What did you just do? Why did the cows escape from their cage?"

"CEO!" Henry was sweating bullets, then sighed. "It seems I'm getting old. I'll send you my resignation letter after I clean up this mess. Now, excuse me; I must handle this situation as the principal."

---

In the hushed atmosphere of the auditorium, the student council was momentarily paralyzed.

"Yanagi-sensei was serious? I thought he was just joking around," Chika exclaimed shamelessly, her eyes widening.

Shizuka, agape, observed a girl with a guitar and blurted out, "What the heck? They're already here? Shirogane, ring the bell now! Fujiwara, start announcing the evacuation through the school's speaker."

"Got it! Got it!" 2x

As the chaos unfolded, Shizuka muttered, "Chabashira... that bitch."

But her attention was diverted when she noticed someone with long black hair sprinting past her.

"Shinomiya, wait! Wait!"

Kaguya paid no heed, her determination propelling her forward. Shizuka, scanning the area, called out, "Briar!"

"A-ah! Yes!?" Yor snapped back, startled.

"I'll chase Shinomiya; you stay!" Shizuka declared, urgency in her voice.

Yor hesitated, her passivity masking a deeper reason. Earlier that morning, before the brief meeting, she had received a call from her workplace, the Garden.

"Briar, no matter what happens, don't reveal your true strength in public. Just show them you're good at sports. We can't risk anything; protect your background," her manager had warned.

Yor grappled with her internal conflict. 'I can stop them with just acupuncture. But, if I do that… I'm sorry, Yanagi-san.' She couldn't risk exposing her abilities and was also protecting someone dear to her.

"Sensei! Don't be like that and help us! Everyone, please calm down, don't push!" Riko pleaded.

Yor eyes welling up as she saw Riko, Kei, and Moeha struggling. She felt helpless like a coward, unable to do more to quell the panic.

"Ack!"

Meanwhile, Hitori stumbled over a rock, gasping for breath. She crawled desperately like a snail, her face distorted with fatigue. Suddenly, she felt someone pull her. Turning, she saw a girl with long black hair and red eyes.

"Your mother is looking for you, Gotoh-san," Kaguya said, guiding Hitori as they ran, the approaching danger of the stampeding cows ever-present.

"Teresa! Do it now!" Kaguya instructed through the radio.

[I can't! There are kids inside the firing area!]

"What? Kids? There's no one here except us!"

Amidst the chaos, Kaguya dragged Hitori with urgency. As they fled, Kaguya noticed something peculiar—six, no, seven serious-looking dogs and two kids!? What the heck is that!?

"Ouiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

A waku-waku sound pierced the air. Kaguya halted abruptly, causing Hitori to tumble to the ground.

"Grrrrr! Woof! Woof!"

The dogs displayed their sharp fangs, asserting their predator status. The cows, unnerved, scattered in disarray.

"Woof!"

Alpha signaled to his pack to split in half, chasing after the cows. Except for Alpha, the other six split and began their pursuit.

"Kekekeke… all according to Anya's plan," smirked Anya with pride.

"Wait! I thought we were here for Yanagin? Why are we in this mess?" Ruby freaked out at the crazy sight. She looked up, and her face paled. "There's a drone there! It means we're live on TV! No no no! Mama's gonna kill me!"

Anya blinked as she pondered what if her dad knew what she was doing? Wait, he must know what she's up to.

"Ah! Chichi will sell me out too!"

As the kids were spouting their too-late concerns, a sudden shadow cast upon them, inducing a horror feeling. They gulped with the utmost clarity of four-year-olds. Looking up and bending their necks, they saw a woman with a hat, mask, round sunglasses, and long blue-purplish hair.

"Mama!?" shouted Ruby.

"Hah… finally," she said, quite breathless. "Anyway, I'm so worried about you, Ruby, and you too, Anya…"

Ruby and Anya began to pale as Ai spoke coldly. But the chaos was not over yet.

"Moooooo!"

Ai snapped her head, looking ahead to see a big cow rushing towards them with incredible speed. Quickly, she snatched Ruby and Anya into her hug, turned around, and began to run away from the scene. Her face was sweating under her mask, her heart beating rapidly as she felt a chill down her spine, worried about these kids.

The cow, seeing a moving object, became angrier without knowing the reason. The target was locked; he increased his speed, chasing Ai.

"GRRRRRR! WOOF!"

Seeing this, Alpha launched himself and jumped onto the cow's back, aiming for the neck.

"MOOOO!"

The cow grew even angrier as it ran at Ai with full speed.

Alpha bit her neck even deeper, yet couldn't snap the thick neck with his fangs, despite being half wolf. Hearing the roar, the other cows also started running, following their leader's roar, some of them having bites from other dogs. The cows regrouped, leaving a gap with their leaders.

"Hah! Hah! Hah!" Under that cover, Ai's face turned even paler. The cow's steps got closer and closer, and even with her speed, she couldn't overpower these cows.

"Shit! Where is he!?" said the angry boy named Aqua. "Director! Could you call a taxi for me!?"

Since the situation was coincidentally broadcast on Shuchi'in TV, the live viewers reached five million. They were here for the sexy teacher, but they didn't expect this sudden and rollercoaster situation with an unknown woman running with two kids in animal costumes.

Looking at the woman, even though she hid her identity well, Gotanda knew this was Ai, recognizing her by looking at bunny Ruby.

"Shit, I'll come as well. Can't leave a four-year-old boy alone or the police will kill me," he said in a rush.

---

Whoooosh!

Meanwhile, a hazy figure darted through a forest of cherry blossoms, his intense gaze piercing through the end of tunnels, all while containing the anxiety ready to erupt within him.

As a furious cry echoed through the air, "I'll fucking slaughter every one of you, wagyu A5!"

"What is this?" In the midst of the crowd, Yor's senses tingled with foreboding.

'This thick killing intent! What was that…? Can such a bloodlust even exist? It must be an enemy!'

She searched for the source, but then…

NEIIIIIIIIIIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!

A roar silenced the academy, leaving only the haunting echoes of the wind and the tolling of a large bell. It wasn't just Yor who sensed that bloodlust; even the cows shivered, slowing their pace, yet the leader remained steadfast.

In a flash, a shadowy figure emerged from the forest, entering the meadows.

"Isn't that…?"

"Yanagi-sensei!?"

A silver-haired man on a black horse, eyes sharp as daggers, fixed his gaze on the lead cow.

"Faster!" he said as Yuuya passed through the herd.

Minoru's right hand swinging the lasso and aiming it for the neck.

Snap!

The lasso caught the alpha cow, and with all his might, Minoru pulled it taut.

Moooooooooo!

Comically, the cow was yanked backward, bellowing. Yet, the job wasn't over; 20 more cows still mindlessly stampeded, posing a danger to his wife and kids.

"Slow down!"

Spotting a running woman with a hat and familiar long hair, Minoru grabbed the horn of the saddle, swinging his body to the left side of the horse and hanging sideways, his right hand clutching the saddle horn.

"What's happening!?" Ai exclaimed, but then, "Kyaaaa!" She clutched the kids tightly, feeling her body lifted and a strong hand around her waist.

"It's me, don't worry."

"Boss-man!" Anya's excited voice rang out.

Boss? And that familiar voice…

Ai and Ruby looked up to see Minoru hanging sideways as he saved them leaving their mouth agape, "HUH!?"

He pulled himself back onto the saddle then gently lifting Ai onto the horse's back.

Calming herself, she teased, "You're late," keeping her voice low.

Minoru chuckled, "Hold on tight."

"Uh, um..." Blushing beneath her mask, Ai secured her grip around his waist, while ensuring the safety of the kids.

Minoru slowed the horse with a screeching sound, and turned back toward the oncoming cows.

Screech!

They halted, facing the predator casting deathly glares. His dogs growled menacingly, aligning themselves in front of the horseman, Minoru.

You hunted my family, now it's your turn to be hunted.

---

A/N:

Family time!

I hope this chapter isn't confusing when I mixed different places, but they all occur at the same time in the plot.