The following played out in only brief moments, but for the two involved, it likely felt like a lifetime of events.
The predator lept from the roof, catching Itogaya-san by surprise. A desperate swing from the batter left him open, and the predator used this chance to swipe against his ribcage, separating his skin and muscles. But it wasn't enough to cause intense bleeding, so Itogaya-san simply took a deep breath and clenched harder than before, while the fox slowly approached him from the front.
The fox wasn't stupid. Not only was it in far weaker condition than before, with its broken left arm and battered head, but it could assess that Itogaya-san was much stronger physically, even if he was likely inexperienced in fighting. And so with that in mind, it took its approach slower than before, testing what would make Itogaya-san bite.
Then it got a clever idea; why was this prey getting in the way? The fox quickly rushed back out of sight, and began scuttering around the parking lot and store to make its way towards me. But although inexperienced in fighting, Itogaya-san was intelligent enough to predict the fox's objective.
He repositioned himself to guard me properly, waiting for the fox to strike from anywhere. And it did. Leaping once again from the roof, Itogaya-san faced the fox to defend. But the fox was more interested in what was behind him. It missed the landing on Itogaya-san, and instead bounced off the fence from behind, slicing through Itogaya-san's back, spraying the ground in his blood.
And yet despite that, Itogaya-san didn't make so much as a grunt. He quickly turned around as the fox got closer, hoping to surprise him, and struck it again on the left arm. It howled and backed off, the cracked bones likely shattering to dust.
Another lunge from the fox influenced Itogaya-san to swing at its legs, but he missed. It took this chance to pounce at his vulnerable throat, which forced him to block the bite with his available left arm. The beast punctured through his arm with its sharp teeth, similarly to my own, and began to slice at his side with its claws. Itogaya-san, being much stronger than me, managed to kick the predator off with a few blows to the chest.
Itogaya: "Hahh… hahh… phoo…"
He was breathless, his sweat mixing in with his blood. Surely, at this rate, he would either pass out from the pain or lack of oxygen. What was he going to do? There was no possibility of him winning this battle–
And yet, a thin grin stretched towards his ears.
The predator retreated out of our line of sight once again, but it was obvious it wasn't running. It was finding a way to surprise us. Itogaya-san breathed in deeply, which had to have hurt his torn muscles, and stood in the silent cold, listening for a hint to the predator's location.
…
…
…There.
The fox hopped from the other side of the fence, attempting to get the jump on Itogaya-san, but the slight kickoff that sounded from its leap had reached him, and he was able to react in time. The fox had its jaw wide open, hoping to bite him in the shoulder or neck, but again, Itogaya-san prevented this by using his left forearm as a shield, which the fox grasped onto. What the fox failed to predict however, was that Itogaya-san was hoping it would take this bite.
It was the fox's fatal mistake.
Itogaya-san dropped the baseball bat and grabbed hold of the fox's right arm, and pinned it to the ground. The predator bit harder and harder into his arm, refusing to let it go. I'm sure the pain was unbearable, but even with that, Itogaya-san continued holding the creature's arm in lock. He used his legs to pin the lower half of the creature's body, and spoke.
Itogaya: "Kobayashi-san… can you stand?"
Kobayashi Amano: "...?"
Itogaya: "Can you stand?"
I couldn't even respond, let alone move.
Itogaya: "I… understand if it's too difficult for you to do anything, right now."
Itogaya: "But if you want to live… if you want to protect those around you… you need to move now."
…But I can't.
I know what he's saying is true, but my body is too weak. I can't do it. There's no way I can do anything right now. I'm sorry, Itogaya-san, but I can't help you, even though you helped me.
Itogaya: "You… don't owe me anything. This is your second chance, I believe."
Itogaya: "You can decide what to do with that chance. I did."
Itogaya: "I didn't understand before, why you would risk everything to help people you don't even know…"
Itogaya: "...And I still don't understand. But, when I heard your voice… I didn't hesitate. I simply did what I could."
Itogaya: "That's how you feel… isn't it?"
How I feel? I can't be sure, either… but… that time, and times like it, I moved without thinking. I never found a reason for it, but I never searched for one either. Even when all cards were stacked against me, I moved… and I struggled to regret it.
I pulled at the ground, my nails tearing against the solid earth. My muscles wrapped and pulled as I forced my body up, and I slouched against the wall while walking forward, my skin peeling against its rough surface. My vision was dark and I couldn't tell where I was going, until the red liquid highlighted under the streetlight led me to the predator and prey… and the bat laying next to them.
The fox pointed its yellow eyes toward me, shivering in true fear. I wonder, if Itogaya-san hadn't arrived to help… would I be the one in that position? No… I certainly would. I have to be thankful for that.
I reached below, towards the bat, but struggled to pick it up. I don't think it was even possible to lift a finger towards it. And so… I instead lifted my right foot above the predator's head, and released it. And again, and again and again, until its head was a wet surface layered against the ground and fence, with the yellow light behind its eyes blending with the mess.
Itogaya: "Hahh… hahh… phuh…"
Kobayashi Amano: "Hnhh… hnh…"
My shoe was repainted red, with bits of brain sticking to it. The smell was atrocious, and was enough to knock me flat to the ground.
Before my head could crack beneath, cold firm arms caught me. Surely… Itogaya-san's left arm ached too much to hold even a leaf, and yet… I felt secure.
…And the night sky clouded my mind, sending me into darkness, my last thoughts focused on my actions both that day, and today…
Am I… an idiot too?