"Minoru-san, right?" The young lady with the pink hair and big round glasses behind the counter asked uncertainly.

"Oh, yes, what?" I smiled at her, hoping I'd get back to my thoughts in a moment.

"I'm sorry but I've been calling your name for a couple minutes now. Are you feeling alright, sir?" She looked like she was worrying for me. Just like Angel-chan... It instantly made my heart drop again. "Erm, well, your pizza is ready."

I paid her and took the pizza in a daze. I walked out into the fresh air, my mind still wrapped around Angel-chan and what to do. I felt awful, like my stomach was full of oil. This problem was killing me on the inside.

Suddenly I started coughing. Hard.

I wouldn't stop. I doubled over. It felt like I couldn't breathe. I fell to my knees, trying to get air into my lungs between the harsh coughing. A hand was on my shoulder in an instant. I couldn't see the person because my eyes were shut hard.

"Mister! Mister, are you okay? I'm going to call an ambulance!" I shook my head vigorously. I couldn't go to a hospital. There would be women and I could risk transforming. But I knew I needed help, that much was obvious as my arms buckled, and the person had to hold me up to keep me from face planting onto the concrete. Thankfully, my rescuer was a boy so I didn't change.

"S-someone! This man needs help!" I grasped his arm. I shook my head no again. My whole body was sweating. I relaxed my eyes. I was heaving and shaking and I could hardly get a breath in. But in this moment, I felt fine. I knew what was happening.

I was going to die.

I opened my eyes slowly and discovered the pain was gone. I must have fallen unconscious. I didn't feel like getting up. I knew death was near. I didn't want to fight it anymore than I had to. But I needed to know where I was. "Where am I?" I sat up and saw a world of trees passing by at high speed. I realized I was in a car.

"Oh, thank god, you're awake!" The driver of the car pulled over and turned back to look at me. He was a boy in his early twenties, with brown hair and a light beard. He had kind eyes. "I'm sorry, I just went out to buy some soda so I didn't have my phone on me so I couldn't call an ambulance," Thank god indeed. "I was gonna just drive you to the hospital."

"Thank you for everything, really, but I'm okay now." He eyed me uncertainly. "I need to get back to my kids at home."

"I'll give you a lift then. What's your name?"

"Minoru Tadami. I'll just walk, it's not far from here. I don't want to worry the kids. Thank you again." He fell for my lies quickly. Well, they weren't really lies. They were...half lies.

"Okay, be careful." He waved awkwardly and drove away. I started walking. I took a good couple steps into the forest to keep out of sight of the cars driving by. I felt like dieing right there. I didn't want to keep going. Maybe I should just kill myself. Finish the job God wouldn't.

But then, like in all times of doubt, an angel appeared.

I heard sniffling and returned cautiously to the side of the road. I stayed in the woods out of view, trying to see what was happening. I could only hear it from where I was though.

"Ain't it a little late for a schoolgirl to be out alone?"

"Aye, where'd you think you're goin'?"

"How about havin' a good time with us, yeah?"

"Let go of me!" My heart skipped a beat. That voice. Angel-chan?!

"Quit your screechin' or I'll cut your tongue off!"

"Just be a good little girl, yeah?" I put down the pizza box. I pushed through the trees. Angel-chan, you saved my life just a moment ago. If not for you being here, I'd have committed suicide for sure. Now let me save you in return.

I punched the guy closest to me to the ground. I kicked him again. One guy ran at me with a knife. I ducked, thrusting my head up under his chin. He fell back too. I yanked the knife out of his hand as he lost guard, and stabbed the third guy in the arm.

"This guy's crazy!" The first man yelled in horror as I started stabbing the third guy over and over. Blood was staining my hand. The second guy tried to get the knife out of my hand, but I didn't let go, I just knocked him off me with my leg, kicking like a horse.

I forced the knife out of the third guy and ran at the first. "H-he's like an animal!" The first man cried out as he tried to run. But I was faster. I had him pinned to the ground. The look in his eyes were pure fear.

"Minoru!" Angel-chan cried out. I snapped out of it. The knife slipped out of my grip and the men ran away.

"A-angel-chan..." I started. I walked over to her. She gripped the edge of her skirt tight, staring at me wide-eyed. She was afraid.

I smiled weakly at her. "What ever were you doing out so late?" I knew what she needed. I knew what anyone would need in this situation.

A hug.

So I ignored everything and put my arms around her gently. I could feel her tense a bit, but I hugged her tight anyways. But as I did, I couldn't help but think something. Something that made me feel sick inside.

She was the one I had to kill.