Chapter 11: Aisaka, you’re a great woman!!

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Translator: Soafp

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“…All right. For now, I've got their names and photos.”

I lay on my bed in my room, looking at my phone screen.

Displayed on it were photos of Agatsuma, her father, and her mother. I could have simply waited near their house, but knowing what they looked like would make a difference.

“Still, abuse, huh? It comes up in the news all the time, but it really is one of society's problems.”

It happened to students and children, of course, but lately you also heard plenty of stories about newborn babies being abused to death.

To me, it still felt like something from another world. But Agatsuma, someone close by, was actually being subjected to violence.

“…Even if she was hypnotized, seeing a girl cry like that makes me want to do something for her.”

How easy would it be if I could simply decide that I didn't care what happened to her, as long as I could enjoy her body?

But apparently, I could not bring myself to be that much of a scumbag.

“If Agatsuma's grandparents really care about her, I think they will take her side. If they don't, I'll have to resort to force again—but first, I need to get Agatsuma out of that environment.”

I had at least thought through the general plan.

I had told the hypnotized Agatsuma not to do anything reckless, but that did not mean I intended to make her endure this any longer.

I had also gotten her grandparents' address, so my preparations were complete. Tomorrow I would do what needed to be done, then leave everything to the day after.

Fortunately, Saturday was a day off, so the timing was perfect.

“All right. I'll use the bathroom and go to sleep.”

I got off the bed and headed to the bathroom.

When I came out, I happened to pass my dad, who seemed to have been on his way somewhere nearby.

“…Hey, Dad.”

“What is it?”

My dad worked for a small-to-medium-sized company. He was not exactly a high earner, but he genuinely treasured his family.

Now in his forties, his hair was going through some sad developments. Still, he truly loved my mother, my sister, and me.

“What do you think about parents who hit their own children?”

“What brought that on? …Well, I guess I'd say they're the worst. A person who commits violence may have problems weighing on them, but hurting the people you should be protecting above all else as a parent is something I could never understand.”

I knew Dad would say something like that.

He tilted his head, wondering why I had suddenly asked such a question. But when I told him afterward that I liked him, he laughed and asked what I was talking about—though I could tell he was embarrassed.

“…Phew. All right, I'll do my best!”

Thinking I would sleep very well tonight, I got into bed.

But whenever I tried to fall asleep, the naked bodies of the three girls I had gotten involved with kept appearing in my mind one after another.

Aisaka, Honma, and Agatsuma—their bodies returned to me in vivid detail.

“…Damn it, I'm completely like some kind of animal!!”

After taking care of things by myself for a little while, I finally went to sleep for real.

The next day, I arrived at school earlier than usual because I wanted to check on Agatsuma.

“Oh? Masaki-kun, what are you doing?”

“…Oh, Aisaka.”

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

Aisaka had arrived at school and called out to me as I leaned against the wall in the hallway.

We had started talking more whenever we ran into each other like this. Of course, she retained no memory of the various things I had done to her.

Once again, I grinned to myself, thinking I would make use of her during lunch break today. But Aisaka seemed curious about why I was standing there.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Just… something.”

“Something?”

“Yeah.”

Aisaka tilted her head. Then, as though she had decided something, she stood next to me and leaned against the wall in the same way.

“What are you doing?”

“Hm? Nothing. I'm just… doing something too, you know?”

What do you mean, “something”? And that little gesture of sticking out your tongue is way too cute.

Firmly deciding that I would grope her ample chest again at lunch, I kept talking with Aisaka while waiting for Agatsuma.

“So yesterday at karaoke—”

“Mm-hm… Oh.”

“?”

While Aisaka and I were making small talk, Agatsuma finally appeared.

As usual, her hair covered her eyes, and the atmosphere around her was still gloomy. But somehow, she looked a little different from the day before.

She always hunched over with her back bent, but today she stood a little straighter and walked while looking firmly ahead.

“Is something up with Agatsuma-san?”

“…No, I just thought her atmosphere felt different than usual.”

“Oh, I see. You might be right—she does seem a little different today.”

Unlike me, Aisaka seemed to have a lot of friends in the neighboring class too. She had likely seen Agatsuma before while visiting them during breaks.

Aisaka also had family problems, just as Agatsuma did—so I wondered whether she might understand something.

“Hey, Aisaka. Can I ask you a favor?”

“Huh? What is it?”

Looking intensely interested, she leaned her face closer to mine.

The request I was about to make would obviously confuse her. If she seemed unlikely to agree, I could always hypnotize her and make the whole matter vague.

“Promise you won't tell anyone else.”

“Okay.”

“I found out that Agatsuma is being abused by her father.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

Since family problems were also personal to Aisaka, she seemed more worried for Agatsuma than skeptical of what I said.

Thinking this might work, I made my proposal.

“I've been thinking about whether there's anything I can do for Agatsuma, but it will probably take until tomorrow—Saturday—at minimum. So, Aisaka, would you let Agatsuma stay at your house just for tonight?”

“That's completely fine.”

“…I know I'm the one asking, but you're okay with that? It's sudden.”

Her answer came so quickly that I was surprised.

When I asked whether she was sure, Aisaka nodded without hesitation.

“I'm really surprised, you know? But you looked so serious, Masaki-kun, that I thought it probably wasn't a lie. You and Agatsuma-san aren't friends or anything, right?”

“Not really. She might know my name, but that's about it.”

“I see. Doesn't that make it even more impressive? Wanting to go this far for a classmate you aren't even close to—I really respect that. You're cool, Masaki-kun.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah♪”

Strangely, Aisaka did not ask how I had found out about the abuse, even though she surely had other things she wanted to know.

She only said that she trusted me.

“You'd probably be easy to trick.”

“That's rude. I'm only following my instincts. Your voice wouldn't lie, Masaki-kun.”

What was with my voice…?

Still, it made me genuinely happy that she trusted me that much.

Aisaka, as a reward, I'll let you—cough—have another taste later.

“For now, don't tell her you heard it from me. And don't directly ask whether she's being abused.”

“I know.”

“But if, while spending time with her, there's a moment when you can learn more, be there for her.”

“Okay.”

Aisaka was seriously too good of a person.

For now, it seemed likely Agatsuma would avoid having to see her family. The only question was how Aisaka would get Agatsuma to stay over at her house.

But apparently, that would not be a problem.

“Don't underestimate my social skills. I might have to tell a small lie, but I'll manage to invite Agatsuma-san. Don't worry.”

“I'm counting on you.”

All right. Now all that remained was for me to act.

I had considered calling the police or child-protection services too. But lately, I had heard too many reasons not to trust them, and more importantly, if they called to verify things only for the abuse to be denied, there was a risk it could make the violence worse.

A hypnotized Agatsuma could not lie, so I knew the abuse was happening. But that was not evidence that would hold up anywhere.

That was why I would make it certain today.

“…It really was a dream… soothing… that voice.”

“Did you say something?”

“Nothing~. I'll take care of the rest, okay?”

“Yeah.”

It seemed safe to say there were no more concerns I needed to worry about.

Then time passed frighteningly quickly, and the long-awaited end of the school day arrived.

“Mari? What are you doing today?”

“Ah, sorry! I have something to do today!”

“Is that so? Okay.”

“Invite me again sometime!”

After overhearing that exchange, I immediately left school and headed home.

Once I had finished preparing, I went to Agatsuma's house and waited for her father to return.

“If Agatsuma hasn't come home, it looks like things went well.”

Once again, I thanked Aisaka silently in my mind.

Then the main target finally appeared.

“Who are you? Why are you standing in front of this house?”

A man wearing a suit stood before me.

He was Agatsuma's father.