Boogiepop Returns VS Imaginator Part 1 by Kouhei Kadono Page B

Spooky E, swinging his fist.
    “No, Masaki! Run away!” Aya screamed, desperate.
    “Hunh. . .” Spooky E made a light step sideways, dodging the blow.
    Spooky E tried to punch Masaki in the back, but Masaki had read the movement and was able to twist his body enough to dodge the blow and recover his distance.
    “. . . . . . !” Spooky E looked alarmed.
    Masaki got his balance back, and hit a stance.
    But he was far more tense than the fat man.
    (. . . this guy was pulling back. . . but I still barely dodged him.)
    He should never have been able to move like that at his weight. However. . .
    Masaki's instincts told him to ignore common sense. This was clearly no ordinary opponent.
    “. . . . . . Mmph. . .” Cold sweat ran down his brow.
    Spooky E spoke to the fallen Aya. “Is this guy some sort of stupid martial artist? Or is he an MPLS? Is he an enemy of the Towa Organization?!”
    “. . . . . . . . !”  Aya’s face tumed white. “Nothing like that! Masaki's a normal human!” she almost shrieked, like Masaki's life depended on her answer.
    “Ah, so he's just some average Joe that thought he'd learn a little kung fu.”
    “. . . . . . ?” Masaki glanced at Aya. These two knew each other?
    Aya avoided his eyes.
    Spooky E took advantage of this drop in his guard, and lunged at him.
    Too fast for the eye to follow, he closed the gap between them.
    “Wah!” Instincts screaming danger as Masaki made no attempt to guard. He simply fled the attack.
    He rolled on the ground.
    But this took him farther away from Aya.
    “. . . . . . . . ! Oh no!” He wasn't thinking clearly.
    He tried to get near her quickly, but Spooky E was right there in his way.
    “You can't leave her and run away alone, eh? What a hero.”
    “If you were an MPLS, I might have to be careful. . . but an ordinary human? Let me show you why they call me. . . Spooky Electric.” He opened his fists.
    On his palms, his blood vessels stood out unnaturally. Blue and red lines ran all across them.
    Masaki thought he could hear a crackle coming from them. . .
    “O -- Orihata! Run!” he yelled, sensing danger.
    But Aya just slumped, making no attempt to stand.
    “Shit. . . !” Masaki rushed forward, desperately.
    Grinning, Spooky E waited for him.
    Inside, Masaki thought, 'To hell with it,' and, grinding his teeth, he aimed a kick right at Spooky E's unguarded crotch.
    His karate master had told him, “If you really need to, don't hesitate.”
    Masaki's toes struck directly at every man's weakest point.
    But. . . the sensation was all wrong.
    “ -- Hunh?!” He looked up at his enemy's face.
    The grin was still there, the same as ever.
    “Too baaaad ,” he said, and with a quick little jitterbug of a step, Spooky E put his palms on Masaki's head, one on each side.
    Everything went black before Masaki's eyes, and he passed out.

    ***

    My head throbbed.
    I could hear voices, but they seemed so far away. . .
    “Please, let him be. We haven't yet. There's still a chance. . .”
    “He got to you pretty good, huh? But if that boy knew what you've been up to, he won't think the same. . .”
    “I know. ..but please. . . spare him.”
    “Huh? You aren't even human. What are you thinking?”
    “Please. . .”
    “Okay, then. I’ll let him live. . . on that one condition.”
    “Thank you.”
    “But don't forget, Camille. Your primary mission is to find him . Find that -- “
    That was all I heard. After that, I knew nothing more.

    ***

    And when I woke up, it felt very warm all around me.
    “Uh. . . . . . ?” I opened my eyes, stretching. Orihata's face was right above me.
    “You woke up,” she said, gently.
    Surprised, I sat up, looking around. We were in the park where I had apparently fallen asleep on a bench.
    On her lap no less.
    “Wh-what? Why am I sleeping here?”
    I shook my head, but the last thing I could remember is getting a phone call from Orihata, and suggesting we celebrate her getting accepted into high school. I couldn't