"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Please don't be mad. Come out, okay?"
He took a tentative step forward, and Mita, in response, subtly shifted, sliding a few paces away. Now, she was right beside his feet, directly beneath his left hand – easily within reach.
Alain glanced down, catching sight of the mischievous girl's slightly pouting face, his plea for forgiveness seemingly unheard. She looked as if she might erupt in a huff of indignation at any moment.
Alain slowly lowered his left hand, his eyes subtly tracking her movements, judging the distance. He deliberately aimed the flashlight beam at the door, creating the illusion that he was distracted—and in that precise instant, he let the flashlight fall.
The flashlight clattered twice as it hit the floor, and the momentary absence of the firm grip that had been, a moment before, on Alain's right hand.
A soft sound of surprise escaped Mita. She hadn't noticed Alain crouching down, her attention caught by his apology. Now, it was too late. His hands moved with practiced swiftness, darting towards her ticklish spots. The young girl was utterly bewildered—
Her already pouting face puffed out even further, as if she were holding two eggs in her cheeks, instantly transforming into a picture of round, adorable exasperation.
Back when the lights were still normal, in the quiet of the bedroom, Alain had discovered one of Mita's little secrets:
And now, with Mita having forced him to use one of his skills, he couldn't let this opportunity slip away. After all, if he didn't tease her now, when else would he get the chance?
"Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack!"
Alain's fingers moved like lightning, transforming into a relentless octopus of mischief as they targeted Mita's underarms. Despite the azure-haired girl's monstrous strength, she was utterly defenseless against his onslaught. She squirmed, struggling to break free, but her efforts were futile.
Mita clenched her teeth, her cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk's as she fought to hold back her laughter. Her determination was admirable, but Alain wasn't about to let her off so easily.
"Let's see how long you can hold out! Attack!"
Her pink lips pursed tightly, and her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, locked onto Alain's face with a look that screamed, Just you wait.
"Oh, still feisty, are we? Let me remind you who's in charge here."
Alain's fingers danced with renewed vigor, like a pianist performing a frenzied Hungarian Rhapsody. His nimble fingertips became a storm of raindrops, relentlessly assaulting every ticklish spot he could find.
The relentless barrage left Mita's legs wobbling, and she finally collapsed to the floor, her face flushed a deep crimson. Yet, even as she trembled with the effort of holding back, her stubborn resolve remained unshaken: I won't give in.
But Alain knew better. He could see it in her trembling lips, in the way her body twitched with suppressed laughter. She was teetering on the edge, and it would only take one more push to send her over.
He leaned in, his mouth close to Mita's ear, his warm breath a soft whisper against her skin. "Give me a smile?"
The dam broke. Mita could no longer hold back, her pretty face erupting into a bright, sunny smile.
"Hahahahahaha! That's, that's too much! Hahahaha!"
A single tear, a testament to her shattered composure, traced a path down her cheek. She flailed, her arms and legs pushing ineffectually at Alain. The force she used, however, was light, almost playful, making it seem more like a half-hearted protest than a real attempt to escape.
"Do you forgive me? I really didn't know what I said earlier to upset you." Alain seized the moment, speaking quickly while he still had her attention. After their encounter in the small, dark room, he'd learned, much to his surprise, that Mita had a surprisingly stubborn streak. If he didn't take this chance, he feared… well, everything afterward would be an uphill battle.
"I, I... I! Hahahahaha... I won't forgive you so easily! Haha! No, I won't forgive you! Pfft hahaha..."
"Then... how about a kiss?"
"What are you saying, you big idiot?! Hahaha!"
Mita's face flushed. This time, though, it wasn't the crimson of suppressed laughter, but the delicate pink of embarrassment.
Sensing that Alain might actually be considering a solution, Mita saw her opportunity – and promptly sank her teeth into his arm.
A sharp, but not overly intense, sting shot through Alain's arm, and he instinctively loosened his grip.
Mita, her face a mask of indignant embarrassment, crossed her arms defiantly over her chest and shot him a withering glare.
He blinked, and the spot where she'd been slumped was empty. The system's arrow had vanished as well.
"Sigh… I failed again."
Alain picked up the flashlight, checking it for damage. It was fine. He then glanced at the Security Guard's pop-up, a faint smile curving his lips.
"But in a way, it was also a success."
[You have successfully obtained a Clean Up & Speed Boost usage opportunity in this mission.]
"Clean Up & Speed Boost? What's that?"
Alain immediately clicked on the skill description.
[Clean Up & Speed Boost: Grants you a weapon strong enough to contend with the virus, and enhances your body.]
He'd envisioned some kind of direct, long-range attack against the virus, but it seemed he'd still have to handle things personally. Still, it wasn't a bad outcome. Fighting the mischievous girl at close range would also give him more chances to fill that progress bar.
A sudden sound, the sharp, hurried click of a door opening, cut through the silence. It was fleeting, like the slice of a dagger.
He turned stiffly, and saw fingers, pale and slender, prying open the edge of the bathroom door.
A dozen fingers were now wedged in the half-open doorway. Then, with a sickening thud, the door slammed shut, bursting the fingers in a spray of blood.
Alain's own fingers trembled at the sight. But the gruesome spectacle was far from over.
"Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud—!!!"
It was as if some unseen strongman were repeatedly slamming the door open and shut, determined to pulverize any fingers caught in its path.
Blood, driven by monstrous force, splattered and sprayed, collecting in a growing crimson puddle beneath the door. The blood crept past Alain's shoes, leaving trails like the tracks of some bizarre, crawling creature.
Only after a final, resounding thud did the horrifying display cease. The mangled fingers were gone.
But the pool of blood on the floor remained, a stark reminder that what Alain had witnessed was real.
He looked back at the spot where Mita had been, then down at the "weapon" he'd used to tease her, and understanding dawned. This was definitely her revenge. And judging by the sheer force of those door slams, she was incredibly strong.
The door was violently slammed again, the impact even louder this time, sending Alain's guard shooting up.
"She... she probably heard me."
The realization that Mita's situation was spiraling further out of control filled him with a fresh wave of concern.
After confirming that the door was no longer behaving erratically, Alain cautiously eased it open a crack, peering outside. The dim lighting revealed… nothing. No creatures, no movement.
"Did she leave? Or is she lurking somewhere?"
He pushed the door open and stepped out.
But then, in his peripheral vision, he caught a glimpse of a graceful figure in a pleated skirt, who had clearly been waiting patiently by the bathroom door for an unknown amount of time.
Hey there! I'm Wallnut-chan! 🌸 I'm translating this fanfic and restoring some +18 scenes that were cut from the original work—since explicit content isn't allowed in China. I went through everything carefully and reinserted the scenes while staying true to the story! Hope you enjoy it!
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I put a lot of love into these translations and plan to add even more over time! Let's aim for the top of the site! Who knows... maybe I'll go crazy and drop even more chapters! 🚀🔥