“Wait... what's that?”

“Hide behind me!”

“But do you know how to fight?”

“Just do it! Get down!”

CA approached quickly on a skateboard, brandishing a Japanese sword.

　— Clang!

Hirasawa blocked the Japanese sword with a knife held in his reverse grip.

However, the CA's attack did not stop.

He took a step back and slashed again.

The sound of metal clashing violently echoed repeatedly.

Despite the huge difference in blade size, Hirasawa skillfully parried the Japanese sword and blocked the attack.

　――Amazing.

It was the first time I had seen Hirasawa fighting.

Having never even encountered a life-or-death situation before, the scene unfolding before my eyes felt unreal.

　No!

I can't just stand here—I have to find something I can do!

But all I can do is watch from behind Hirasawa's back.

Plus, my legs are shaking from fear.

Just standing here is all I can manage.

Think... think!

　The CA's attacks are becoming more varied.

Strikes and slashes from below are now being added to the mix.

Hirasawa is retreating one step at a time.

In sync with him, I encourage my trembling legs to step back as well.

Suddenly, as Hirasawa twists his body to dodge an attack, our eyes meet.

“Hii!”

I couldn't help but let out a small scream.

The CA's expression changed to a demonic grimace the moment he saw me.

He couldn't forgive me for interfering with his work.

“Guh!”

At that moment, the CA's attack intensified.

The powerful attack, fueled by anger, knocked the knife out of Hirasawa's hand.

“... ”

The CA silently pointed the Japanese sword at Mr. Hirasawa.

Then, he made a motion as if to swing the sword downward.

(Are you telling me to surrender quietly?)

In response to the CA's action, Mr. Hirasawa slowly shook his head.

Upon receiving that answer, the CA slowly raised the Japanese sword vertically and lowered his guard.

This is bad...

　Am I going to be killed along with Mr. Hirasawa here?

Mr. Hirasawa had said, “We specialize in information gathering, not combat.”

There's no way we can take on these professional killers!

Time seemed to slow down.

I didn't know if Miss Mari was staying silent to avoid interfering with Mr. Hirasawa or if she was preparing some kind of escape plan, but she remained silent the whole time.

“Don't worry.”

“...Huh?”

Breaking the silence, Mr. Hirasawa spoke up.

Don't worry? In this situation?

“I'll definitely protect you.”

“...Okay!”

Something hot welled up inside my chest.

That heat spread throughout my body, melting away my fear.

　And then, that heat turned into courage!

Hiding behind Mr. Hirasawa, I took a medicine bottle out of my pocket.

This was my weapon.

The rest was the Japanese martial arts I had learned for self-defense.

Come on, you bastard!

The moment I made up my mind, the flight attendant also started moving.

　The CA swung his Japanese sword.

I kept my eyes fixed on his movements. His movements became clearer than ever before.

—No way.

Hirasawa made an incredible move.

He kicked with his right foot in sync with the downward swing of the CA's arm.

The CA, who had been kicked in the wrist, dropped his Japanese sword.

　—And then, Hirasawa-san's counterattack began.

Hirasawa-san threw punches with her right and left hands.

However, the opponent skillfully parried the attacks.

Eventually, it became a stalemate, with both sides attacking and defending each other.

They repeatedly punched and dodged, kicked and dodged.

However, both sides took a few hits.

　Both of them gradually accumulated damage to their bodies.

“The escape transport AI drone will arrive soon! Wait for the right moment and jump on!”

“Got it.”

Thanks to the message from Miss Mari, there was a glimmer of hope.

Just a little more.

If we can buy a little more time...!

　However, the situation remained unfavorable due to the limited weapons available.

After a fierce melee battle, CA rolled to the rear, taking advantage of a momentary opening in Hirasawa's guard.

As she stood up, she drew her sword from its sheath at her waist and took a stance.

She pointed the tip of the sheath at Hirasawa and slowly began to move toward where the Japanese sword was lying.

　If she drew the Japanese sword again, this time she might be killed.

Hirasawa was also aware of this.

Knowing it was reckless, she moved forward and threw a jab with her left fist.

However, the difference in reach was cruel.

Her arm was knocked away by the sheath, and she took a blow to the face.

　Hirasawa, struck by the scabbard, staggered back a step but remained standing.

And he stood in front of the enemy to protect me.

“I kept you waiting! The drone is about to arrive! Hold on!”

At the same time as Miss Mari's message, the sound of the drone's propellers could be heard. A large flying object appeared at the edge of my vision, and I realized that was the escape route.

However, the situation was now desperate.

Taking advantage of the moment when the CA had pushed Hirasawa-san backward, I picked up the Japanese sword that had fallen to the ground.

Like Miyamoto Musashi, I adopted a two-sword stance with the Japanese sword and its sheath.

　“I should move too.”

I made up my mind and slowly opened the lid of the medicine bottle.

However, Mr. Hirasawa gave me a sad order.

“Did you hear? The transport AI drone is coming. Take the attack once. Then, take advantage of the opening to jump onto the drone.”

A voice filled with resolve.

However, I did not accept that resolve.

“No way. We're escaping together.”

“What are you talking about? You know the situation!”

I ignored Mr. Hirasawa's words and shouted at the CA.

“Hey, do you understand Japanese? Aren't you upset that a novice like me stole the poison bottle? You're a combat professional, right? That's lame. It's kind of funny.”

　The CA trembled upon hearing my words and glared at me so intensely that it seemed as though she could kill me with her gaze alone.

“Wait, you understand Japanese? Stop killing people here and go do something useful for others. You're such an idiot that you let a nobody like me steal from you!”

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

　For the first time, the flight attendant spoke.

With a roar of anger, she charged straight at me.

“That's why I said you're an idiot!”

I threw the liquid from the medicine bottle at the flight attendant's face.

“You... you...”

　The CA covered his face and crouched down, hurling words of resentment at me.

“Come on, let's go.”

“...!”

I pulled Hirasawa-san along.

Hirasawa-san came to her senses and nodded, and the two of us confirmed the location of the drone.

　Just then, a large number of security guards came up to the roof.

But it was too late.

Hirasawa-san and I jumped onto the transport AI drone.

It was just big enough for two people.

Even with the weight of two people on it, it continued to fly steadily.

“Well done, both of you. Good job.”

Receiving Miss Mari's words of encouragement, we collapsed on the drone.

The distance from the airport kept increasing.

The figure of the CA, who was still screaming in anger on the rooftop, kept getting smaller and smaller.

—Somehow... we managed to survive our first life-or-death battle.