Beautiful Prey (2) is the seventeenth chapter of Takashi Shiina's Zettai Karen Children.
Synopsis[]
Shiho Sannomiya uses here Psychometry on the ground to detect their pursuers approaching. Upon detecting an incoming presence, she alerts the other members of The Children and Taizō Kiritsubo to to turns out to be a snake. Kaoru Akashi immediately ties the snake into a knot with Psychokinesis, and then flings it at Aoi Nogami who was pitying it.
Kiritsubo warns the girls of Akira Yadorigi's ability to control creatures. He explains that Akira can control many snakes at once. As he is speaking, many snakes fall from the surrounding trees, causing the girls to panic, and Aoi to teleport the group away.
Kōichi Minamoto and Akira are pleased with the snake ambush, having been able to manipulate The Children into teleporting in the direction they wanted. Minamoto is however frustrated to learn the Kiritsubo is aiding The Children; he recomposes himself and plots to use Kiritsubo's knowledge and desire to help The Children against them.
Akira expresses his admiration for Minamoto's tactical ability and adaptivity, citing rumors of him commanding The Children when no one else could. Minamoto tries to defend The Children against Akira's comments but quickly backtracks, remembering his history with them. Akira then explains how he and Hatsune Inugami have been a team for long time, but he is interrupted by Hatsune announcing that she has located The Children.
In her wolf form, Hatsune chases The Children through the forest. Kiritsubo suggests that they fly up, since a wolf won't be able to follow them there, and Kaoru quickly carries the group upwards. Their relief of escape doesn't last long as having followed Minamoto's instruction, Hatsune tranforms into a bird and gives chase.
Aoi teleports the group to narrowly evade Hatsune. Kaoru then flies away by herself and lures Hatsune into the trees, but is caught in a net. After crashing to the ground, Kaoru realises that it must be one of Minamoto's traps, and in that moment Akira approaches from behind and pushes Kaoru to the ground. Using his ability, he switches bodies with Kaoru, which prevents her from using her Psychokinesis. Minamoto proudly announces a successful capture and taunts Kaoru.
Akira becomes concerned of how long they have been chasing The Children, worried that Hatsune may already be tired and at her limit. Kaoru, in Akira's body, is on Minamoto's shoulders and pulling at his hair, branding him a traitor when Hatsune appears in front of them. With a gleam in her eye, she names them "prey" and attacks.