Chapter 9

## THE WITCH

**English:** May 25, 2023

## Chapter Chronology

**"THE WITCH"** (魔女, *Majo*) is the 9th chapter of You Chiba's manga series, *Kindergarten WARS*.

## Summary

Shaw and Hana were assigned a specific task by their father, Harry, in Japan. During their journey on the plane, Hana asked why their father had never visited Japan, to which Shaw replied that it was because of the witch. The witch was a renowned assassin in Japan, known for her black attire and mastery of various weapons. She was ruthless and would eliminate her enemies without hesitation, no matter how numerous they were. Ten years ago, when the witch was still young, she inflicted a severe scar on their father's face, causing him to avoid Japan ever since. Shaw cautioned Hana against getting involved with the witch, as it would lead to her downfall, with the witch casting a bloody spell and instilling terror in her soul. It was later revealed that the witch Shaw spoke of was none other than Rita.

Rita found herself surrounded by Harry Bradley's men, yet she skillfully defended herself against their relentless attacks, causing most of them to flee in fear. However, some of them were unfortunate and fell victim to fatal headshots before they could escape the area. Amidst the chaos, Rita couldn't help but think about Doug, whom she had recently formed a friendship with, lying motionless nearby, possibly lifeless. Meanwhile, Harry, struggling to retrieve a weapon, faced the constant threat of being shot by Rita, who skillfully incapacitated him by targeting various parts of his body.

Earlier today, Harry received information regarding Rita's presence as a Kindergarten Teacher at Kindergarten Noir. Believing he could eliminate Rita, whom he refers to as a witch, he also contemplated disposing of his own children, all in an effort to track down and confront her. However, his plan proved futile. Presently, Harry finds himself defenseless and at the mercy of Rita, who has a gun aimed directly at him. He pleads for his life, hoping to escape unharmed. However, Rita's attention is momentarily diverted by Doug, who is coughing and has just regained consciousness. Concerned for his well-being, she hurries over to him, tears of worry streaming down her face, believing he might have succumbed to his injuries. In a light-hearted manner, Doug jokingly asks Rita if she cares for him so deeply that she genuinely cried out of concern, playfully patting her head. Rita, in a mix of anger and jest, playfully strikes Doug, who is still recovering from his injuries. Fortunately, their bulletproof aprons protect them from harm, but Doug is left with the lingering pain of broken ribs, unable to escape its discomfort.

Doug inquired Rita about their plan regarding the Bradley siblings, particularly Hana who had betrayed them. It was clear that Hana's act of betrayal could result in her death, while Shaw would likely face imprisonment. However, Rita chose to keep this information strictly among the four of them, much to Doug's surprise and confusion. Rita explained that Hana was in a precarious situation and had limited options, initially giving Doug the impression that she was being sympathetic towards her. However, Doug's perception changed when he witnessed Rita making advances towards Hana's brother, even in the midst of the tense situation, asking him out for a tea date. Hana, feeling the weight of her father's bullet wound on her shoulder, questioned Doug if he was truly comfortable with allowing Rita to get away with such behavior. In response, Doug stated that he owed Rita for saving him, and therefore, he would support her decisions even if he personally disagreed.

While the four of them were engaged in conversation, Harry suddenly appeared in a helicopter above them. Doug turned to Hana and suggested that she take the opportunity to eliminate her father, but Hana's injured arms prevented her from doing so. Meanwhile, Rita requested all of Hana's bombs and swiftly made her way towards a specific location, giving Harry the impression that she was attempting to escape. As Hana expressed her frustrations about her job, her family, and the family's code, Rita had already climbed up the containers, using them as makeshift stairs to ascend to the helicopter. With calculated precision, Rita leaped onto the helicopter where Harry was situated, placing a handbag filled with grenades near the helicopter's wheels.

While still in mid-air, Rita asked Doug to shoot the grenades, to which he complied, despite the pain he felt with each breath, reminding Rita to show respect to her senpai. As Doug fired at the grenades, Rita expressed her gratitude with a peace sign gesture, exclaiming, "Thank you for participating," as she descended. Meanwhile, Hana bid her father farewell, knowing that the helicopter would soon erupt in a powerful explosion.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

**Hana Bradley**
**Shaw Bradley**
**Harry Bradley**
**Rita**
**Doug**