Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

"Ahhhhaaaahhhhhhha!"

A deafening scream echoed through the bathroom as the grotesque creature emerged from the mirror, its voice laden with hatred and something disturbingly manic.

Mai froze, her eyes wide as an uncontrollable tremor took over her body. Unable to react, she let out a short, almost cute scream:

"Kyaa!"

Reflexively, she grabbed Ryan's arm, pressing it against her.

Ryan, however, showed no discomfort with the proximity. His gaze was fixed on the creature, analyzing every detail. He narrowed his eyes and murmured to himself, as if thinking aloud:

"It's not the same thing that was chasing that girl, Yotsuya Miko..."

Now he could clearly see the monster. The thing had the appearance of a deformed old man, with two protruding circles of flesh where the eyes should be, like a grotesque parody of glasses. From its misshapen body, a viscous liquid dripped incessantly, dripping onto the floor with a nauseating sound.

Yuno, unlike Mai, seemed more bored than frightened. Her expression of disgust was unmistakable as she delivered a biting remark:

"How revolting... It looks like the spirit of an ugly bastard straight out of a trash hentai."

She lifted her chin, exuding pure superiority, as though she were above even something as grotesque as the creature before her.

The creature ignored Yuno's provocations. Its deformed eyes locked onto Mai with a predatory obsession.

"Ahhh... so beautiful... your skin looks so soft... I want to touch... you'll be mine, won't you?"

Saliva began to drip from its mouth as its grotesque tongue moved in repulsive motions.

"Ahhh, I want to lick your delicious little body!"

Mai pressed Ryan's arm even tighter against her body, her fingers trembling as her voice came out fragile:

"Is... is he talking about me?"

Ryan, trying to stay focused on the monster and ignore the softness pressed against his arm, replied slowly:

"It seems so..."

The creature extended a fat, wet hand towards Mai, completely ignoring any sense of personal space. The liquid dripping from its fingers fell to the floor, burning and releasing a putrid smoke, worse than sulfur. The odor was unbearable.

Without hesitation, Ryan placed himself in front of Mai, slightly pushing her away with his arm while displaying a sarcastic smile laden with disgust.

"Holy shit, you stink!"

With a quick movement, he leaned towards Yuno, sliding his hand down the side of her leg and pulling a knife hidden under her skirt.

Yuno jumped back in surprise, but her attention soon turned to something strange: a translucent golden aura began to envelop the blade in Ryan's hand.

"Since when do you know how to do that?" she asked, surprised, watching the divine energy pulsate in the makeshift weapon.

Ryan raised an eyebrow, a smug smile forming on his face.

"I learned by watching Arona that day. She used our divine energy to create a shield. I just needed adapt."

Yuno narrowed her eyes for a moment, but wasted no time. With an agile movement, she pulled another combat knife from her skirt. This one was clearly superior, with a serrated blade and impeccable finish.

Ryan looked at the new weapon and dramatically lowered his shoulders.

"Oh, of course... yours is always better."

Yuno ignored him, concentrating. Soon, a flaming pink aura enveloped her knife.

"Good thing I brought an extra..." she murmured, before casting an accusing look at Ryan. "But seriously, do you think my skirt is your personal inventory, you idiot?"

Ryan raised the corners of his mouth in a provocative smile.

"Admit it. You already knew I was going to take it, didn't you?"

The creature hesitated, backing away slightly. Ryan and Yuno's auras clearly bothered him. Even so, his hoarse, hate-filled voice reverberated through the bathroom:

"Don't interfere... She will be my bride!"

Mai, panicked, squeezed Ryan's arm even tighter, her voice rising in despair:

"Can you stop this useless bickering and focus on saving me!?"

Ryan shrugged, adjusting the knife in his hand.

"Enough. If this piece of slime wants female attention, I'll give it to him... the right way."

Yuno gave him a sideways glance, unable to resist the provocation:

"That sounded really weird, you know?"

Ryan rolled his eyes.

"You're more hot when you're quiet."

Yuno, with a sadistic smile, threw her knife in a precise and devastating motion. The blade cut through the air before hitting the creature with force, violently throwing it back as if it were a rag doll.

"Huh?" Yuno raised her eyebrows in surprise as she observed the result of her attack. "He's more fragile than I expected. I guess those infected with Hinamizawa Syndrome were grotesque exceptions after all."

The ghost's scream echoed through the bathroom, a distorted sound filled with agony. The pink blade had sunk deep into its stomach, and the divine aura burned its putrid flesh like acid, releasing an even more nauseating smell. It writhed frantically, its deformed hands trying to pull out the knife uselessly.

"Go ahead, Ryan. I'm not going to touch that walking piece of slime." Yuno said with disdain, crossing her arms and watching as if it were a fifth-rate spectacle.

Ryan let out a sigh, raising the knife he was holding.

"Damn, so we're really strong... Of course Arona had to be crazy and throw us into a hell like that right off the bat, right?"

Before he could finish his complaint, Mai grabbed his arm, shaking it desperately.

"Can you stop philosophizing and kill this horrible thing before it gets loose?!" she shouted, her high-pitched tone laden with pure panic.

Ryan rolled his eyes, but obeyed. He prepared the throw, concentrating energy on the knife, and threw it with supernatural force. The impact was brutal: the blade hit the creature's head, tearing it off with a grotesque sound of tearing flesh. The head exploded in a cloud of viscous blood as the rest of the body was thrown against the mirror, cracking it into hundreds of fissures with a shrill sound of breaking glass.

The cracks formed a chaotic web as the specter writhed in its final moments. Its grotesque form began to dissolve, fragmenting like black smoke in a whirlwind of agony. Horrendous screams echoed through the bathroom, laden with hatred and despair, until, with a final groan, the creature finally disappeared.

Mai, her eyes wide, watched the scene, her trembling fingers pressed against her lips.

"I think... I think I'm going to throw up..."

The rotten smell dissipated, leaving a strange silence in the air. Ryan and Yuno looked at each other, the tension in their eyes relieved by the tacit relief of victory.

"Is it over?" Mai asked, her voice still trembling, but full of hope.

Before anyone could answer, the bathroom door creaked open, revealing Rika standing in the doorway. She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she faced the trio.

"And you're not going to explain to me what the hell that was?" she asked, curiosity mixed with a visible dose of irritation in her expression.

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