Yandere Levelling in Her World-Chapter 128 - 129: Family Dinner I - Gone Wrong

Misa guided the car through the evening traffic with one hand on the wheel and a faint grin on her lips.

The sky outside had already turned rather dark and the highway lights were slowly flickering on. Hiyori sat beside her, practically bouncing in her seat like an excited puppy. Every few seconds she glanced at her mother as if she were trying to read the secret behind that grin.

In the back seat, Ren sat next to Kyouka, who still was not allowed to sit in front seats for safety reasons. Kyouka leaned her forehead against the window, her breath leaving small circles on the glass. Ren flicked her cheek.

"Kyouka, cheer up. You look like a sad goldfish."

Kyouka puffed her cheeks. "I am not sad. I am just confused where did our mother got this need to surprise us all of a sudden.."

Ren laughed. "Isn't that great? Look how happy she is."

Hiyori finally gave in to her curiosity. "Mother. Come on. At least give us a hint. Where are we going?"

Misa kept her eyes on the road. "It is a surprise."

Hiyori grabbed the dashboard with both hands. "I knew it. It is a nice place, right? Right?"

"I can already tell it is," Ren said. "I am hungry enough to eat a whole zoo."

Misa chuckled. "Do not think of it as a place. Think of it as an experience."

Kyouka blinked. "What does that even mean, mother?"

Misa took a slow breath and her smile softened. She did not say it out loud, but she was excited too. It had been a long time since she had taken her children out for something so simple and normal.

Their lives had not seen much normal lately. Work stress, security concerns, strange incidents involving colleagues being stalked. Her line of work drew eyes she did not want. But tonight, she wanted to give them a good memory.

But it was not just that. It's jsut recently her life felt lot more brighter after Ren started to show his love toward her. Not the love she expected but what she needed. She started to feel youthful again and her energy to do small things returned.

Ren leaned forward between the seats. "Alright. Then tell us at least. How much is this going to cost you?"

Misa didn't answer his question straight away, instead she showed a grin. "Do not think about it the price, Ren. Think about all the good food you are going to eat and enjoy."

"Expensive, huh?" Ren muttered, rubbing his head.

Misa grinned wider. "One of the best buffets in the district. That is what I heard."

Hiyori squealed. "Buffet? We are going to a buffet?"

Ren gasped as if betrayed. "Why did you not tell us earlier?"

"Because surprises are more fun," Misa replied.

Hiyori started humming out of pure joy. Even Kyouka perked up. Everything felt warm for a moment. A nice family evening.

Then Misa glanced at the rearview mirror.

Her smile froze.

Several cars followed behind them. Not one or two. Four. Maybe five. They were too close and too steady. Misa watched them for another few seconds. Maybe they would pass by. Maybe she was being paranoid.

One of them sped up and overtook her car. The driver gave a glance. It was a sharp, observing look rather than a casual one. Their eyes met for a split second.

Misa felt her blood go cold.

Ren noticed the tension immediately. "Misa? Something wrong?"

Misa did not answer. She gripped the wheel tight and shifted lanes.

The overtaking car suddenly swerved sideways. The impact hit like a hammer. The car jerked violently. Hiyori screamed as Ren slammed back into his seat. Kyouka grabbed onto Ren's shirt.

"What the hell!" Ren shouted.

Misa fought the wheel. "Everyone hold on!"

Another crash came from behind. The car spun slightly before Misa managed to stabilize it. Her jaw clenched.

Gunshots followed.

The sharp cracks tore through the air. Windows vibrated. Ren grabbed his side.

"Damn it. I think they got me." He looked down. There were bullet holes in his shirt. His skin was untouched. His eyes widened. "What… what is this?"

A faint green glow pulsed across his torso. It sparkled like fireflies before fading again.

He looked around. Misa's hands glowed. Hiyori's shoulder glowed. Even Kyouka's knees glowed.

Ren muttered under his breath. "Misa is insane. She did not even touch us. She is driving and healing at the same time. How powerful is she to use healing grace like this?"

"Mother!" Hiyori cried. "What do we do?"

"Hold on!" Misa shouted again as she accelerated.

More cars tried to pull up beside them. Misa swerved and rammed one of them on purpose. The shock rattled the car but the enemy vehicle spun out and struck the guardrail.

"Misa!" Ren yelled. "You are going to get us all killed!"

"We are already being shot at," she replied sharply. "I am doing what I can."

They crossed onto a bridge. Water shimmered below them, reflecting the city lights. One of the cars behind surged forward and hit them again, harder than before.

Misa lost control.

The car skidded sideways. Hiyori's scream tore the air. Ren reached for Kyouka. The world spun in a blur of lights and metal.

Then the car broke through the guardrail.

Cold air rushed in. The river swallowed them.

Water crushed the windows. Everything became dark and violent. Misa felt her lungs tighten as icy water wrapped around her. But she pushed forward, clawing her way out through the broken window.

Her head broke the surface. She gasped for air. Hiyori surfaced next to her, coughing and choking.

"Hiyori!" Misa grabbed her. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I… I am okay," Hiyori sputtered. "R… Ren? Kyouka?"

Misa turned in every direction. "Ren! Kyouka!"

No answer.

A surge of panic tore through her chest.

She dragged Hiyori to the riverbank and laid her down. Hiyori coughed heavily, water dripping from her hair.

"I will be right back," Misa said. "Stay here."

She dove back into the water.

Cold darkness swallowed her again. She swam down to where the car had sunk. Its headlights flickered weakly, distorted by the water. She reached the shattered window and searched the inside. Empty.

Neither Ren nor Kyouka were there.

She kicked off the bottom and swam back upward, lungs burning. Her head burst above the surface and she gasped violently. She could barely breathe. Panic clawed at her chest.

"They must have gone up somewhere else," she whispered to herself. "They must have."

She reached the riverbank again and dragged herself onto the mud. She looked around frantically.

Then bright lights hit her face.

Guns pointed directly at her.

Hiyori had already been restrained. She was held by two women in combat gear. Their faces were pale and tense. All of them wore the same symbol stitched on their jackets. A fisted hand. The mark of the Traitors.

A woman stepped forward. She carried a semi-auto rifle slung over her shoulder and her presence alone made the others straighten up. She looked like their leader. Her gaze landed on Misa and she exhaled sharply.

"We were not supposed to do this," she muttered. "I said to scare them, not kill them."

Misa glared at her, breathing hard. Water dripped from her hair and her clothes clung to her skin.

"This is how you talk?" Misa whispered. "By shooting at us? By crashing into us? You killed two of my children."

Her voice trembled with rage. But she forced the words out anyway because she knew Ren and Kyouka might still be alive somewhere. And she needed to make sure the attackers believed otherwise.

The leader froze. Her expression cracked. The guilt showed clearly.

"We did not want that," she muttered. "We needed you alive. All of you. They acted on their own. I am sorry. They just hate people with powers."

"Sorry?" Misa spat. "You think sorry means anything after yuo killed my children?"

Hiyori tried to shout something, but one of the women tightened her grip on her shoulders.

The leader raised a hand. "Cuff her. We take both of them. Quickly."

Two women approached Misa cautiously, their rifles never lowering. One of them grabbed her arms and snapped metal cuffs over her wrists. Another pulled her to her feet.

Misa did not resist. Her mind raced in circles. Ren and Kyouka. They had escaped the car. They could still be somewhere near the river or drifting downstream. If she fought now and died, she would never find them again. She had to be taken alive. For them.

Hiyori cried out as she was dragged toward a black vehicle. "Mom!"

"It is alright," Misa said with a forced calm. "It is alright, Hiyori. Just breathe."

The leader stepped beside Misa and looked at the river with tired eyes.

"I did not order their deaths," she whispered. "I only wanted a scare. They were never supposed to die."

Misa stared at her. The anger sat heavy in her eyes, but deep inside she knew that Ren and Kyouka were alive.

If she died here or try to struggle they would make things even harder.

So she stayed silent and let them take her.

The leader raised her hand again and gave a sharp order. "Move out. Bring Misa Tachibana and her child alive. They are essential. Do not harm them."

The armed women nodded and hurried to follow the command. Engines started. Doors slammed shut.

Misa watched the river one last time before they pushed her into the waiting vehicle. Her chest ached. Her breath shook.

"Ren. Kyouka," she whispered. "Please be alive."

The door closed and the car drove off into the night.