Chapter 33: Sowing Seeds

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Translator: Soafp

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“You really are close, aren't you?”

“Yeah, we've been together everywhere since forever. Well, I'm not really a match for her, though…”

Asano said that while looking down a little.

“What do you mean by ‘not a match'?”

“She's smart, has lots of friends, popular in class. She's also a star in club activities and expected a lot by the school. That honor student Shiho and me… we're just not a good match, right?”

His expression looked a little lonely.

“…I see.”

I neither agreed nor disagreed with Asano's words.

Whether these two are a good match or not doesn't matter.

Even if their social standings at school are different, Asano and Fukase are surely bound by some kind of connection.

I wonder just how strong that bond really is…

“But still, I like being with her…”

The quietly smiling face of Asano… it was dazzling to me…

“Oh, really? I don't really get it.”

This is a game.

I will create a crack in Asano and Fukase's relationship, open a wound, and watch how it grows.

How will their bond transform through it?

“Endo. You'll understand when you have someone you like.”

“…Really?”

Someone I like?

I have no interest whatsoever in romance.

What I want to see is chaos and despair.

Something to fill my dry heart… a toy.

“Yes. Just being with someone you like… makes the world seem colorful.”

“The world… seems colorful…”

Does that mean it's not boring?

That every day feels fulfilling?

Well, whatever.

I act for myself… just to be fulfilled.

That's all.

“I see. Having someone you like… is a wonderful thing.”

“Yeah. I hope you find a wonderful person, too.”

How laughable.

What are you saying so casually and confidently?

“A wonderful person…”

The only refuge for you, who is shut out by everyone and has no place at school.

Shiho Fukase… childhood friend.

Someone you like.

“A lover, huh… That sounds fun.”

Really, I'm looking forward to it, Asano.

If the childhood friend who gives you hope, who you trust, ever betrays your expectations and trust…

What will you do?

What words will you say?

What expression will you show?

Show me, Asano.

Your true heart's scream.

---

The gym's windows and doors were wide open to let the wind through, and the voices of students sweating through club activities could be heard clearly outside.

Of course, also the noisy chatter of foolish girls during break time.

“Hey, isn't Asano kinda cool?”

“I thought so too. Other boys do stupid things, but Asano is quiet, right?”

“He looks scary, but he's got a nice face. I talked to him once and he was kind.”

Young people are sensitive to trends.

Once a certain number of people evaluate someone positively, it quickly becomes accepted as fact.

“Maybe I should try talking to him sometime. He doesn't have a girlfriend, right?”

Such stupid people.

Even though they are middle schoolers… can't some of them have their own opinions and act on them?

“Hey, Shiho is close with Asano, right? Could you introduce us?”

“Ah… Haruki's kind of bad with girls, so…”

“Don't say that, just introduce me.”

At this age, boys and girls become interested in sex and romance.

And that brings along dirty possessiveness — enough to cause trouble.

“The truth is… Haruki's kinda violent, or rough…”

(Ah, Asano. This is reality — it's always like this.)

I quietly left the spot near the gym door, where I had been eavesdropping on the basketball club members' conversation.

---

“Enough already, Endo!”

“What are you so mad about, Tatsumi?”

One afternoon after school.

We were on the usual rooftop, and in front of me, the basketball club captain, Miwa Tatsumi, was losing her temper.

“What do you mean? Why do you have to bring up Asano in front of Shiho!?”

“Calm down, Tatsumi.”

I said that while showing my phone screen to Tatsumi.

Seeing it, Tatsumi's anger vanished as if it was a lie, and her face slowly turned pale.

“Well, Tatsumi, you're quite the player. I don't dislike bold actions.”

On my phone was a photo.

“If this gets out, who do you think will be in trouble?”

It was a photo I took from this rooftop a while ago.

A decisive moment of a kiss between Tatsumi and the new PE teacher.

“Stop it!!”

Tatsumi shouted loudly.

“Please… stop… I don't care what happens to me, but… I don't want to cause trouble for the teacher…”

Shaking all over, holding back tears, she begged.

“What should I do?”

Ah… this is fun.

How attractive the look of a panicked person is.

And I hold the power over this situation.

I control the situation now.

I can feel the desperate feelings of the other person.

It excites me.

Like a game, I advance and conquer.

It feels good.

“Really stop… I don't care about myself, but I don't want to cause trouble for the teacher.”

This photo of the kiss doesn't show who initiated it.

Of course, the backlash will target the adult PE teacher, and his position will be severely damaged.

And, socially as well.

“That's right, you don't want to cause trouble for the teacher you love, right?”

I deliberately smiled mockingly and said that.

Tatsumi's clenched fist trembled slightly.

I could see that anger was rising in her.

“What… what do you want me to do…”

“You know that already, Tatsumi.”

In a way, I find her admirable—she doesn't panic, doesn't lose her temper when I threaten her, and doesn't run to her parents for help.

Well, it all started because she acted foolishly without considering the place.

Maybe that's why?

A question arises.

“Hey, Tatsumi… what is ‘love’?”

“Eh… wh-what's with the sudden question…?”

“Right now, you're still suffering for the teacher you like. Why can you do that much?”

That's right… I was simply curious.

People change their perspective depending on their environment.

Even if that feeling of “love” is genuine, it doesn't necessarily last forever.

So, dating, liking someone, lovers… I think it's all stupid.

If that's the case, definitely… toys are better.

Toys that keep me entertained… toys that let me release my urges… that's what I want.

“That's because… it's love, obviously.”

“Hah, that's not an answer.”

My curiosity quickly faded.

Even though she says she loves someone, she can't even put that feeling into words…

Well, women have sexual desires too.

Is this a mating season or something?

She's just being controlled by lust.

How utterly pathetic.

“You just keep casually bringing up Asano around Fukase from now on.”

“Why… why do I have to do that!?”

Because she was strongly resisting, I was getting irritated and glared sharply at Tatsumi.

Cowering under my gaze, Tatsumi shrank back.

“Yeah, Fukase has been badmouthing Asano, right? Join in on that.”

“W-what do you mean?”

I grabbed Tatsumi's collar firmly and continued speaking.

“If Fukase is badmouthing Asano, then you join in to hype it up.”

It's synergy.

If the already poorly reputed Asano is badmouthed by her childhood friend Fukase, and Tatsumi becomes a loudspeaker for it… then the other fools around will join in…

“You've got club activities, right? Go quickly.”

Right after releasing her collar, I pushed Tatsumi's shoulder, urging her to leave.

She nodded silently, opened the rooftop door, and left quickly.

You've gotta apply this kind of pressure.

Tatsumi and that newbie PE teacher… Tamiya, was it?

Their fates depend entirely on my mood.

---

“Give me a break, Endo. Honestly… I don't want anything to do with you.”

“Huh? Senda, don't you understand your position?”

This is a local plaza near my mansion.

I called Senda here, but he's trembling and scared just seeing my face.

It seems he's caught on to my true personality a little, but a girl like me is making him this scared.

What a pathetic guy.

“You've apparently been hitting on the junior girls lately.”

“W-why do you know that?”

“You're notorious for it around school. Rumors spread fast.”

Apparently, Senda has been flirting with many junior female students.

“So, did you find any good ones?”

“W-well… kinda…”

Knowing him, if he finds someone he clicks with, he's probably going to try to climb the adult ladder right away.

Most likely he doesn't approach girls his own age because no one really wants to talk to him anymore.

That's how well-known his bad behavior is at our school.

“You know Fukase from the basketball club, right?”

“Yeah, she's famous. Pretty and smart, I hear.”

“Did you try talking to her?”

“Yeah, but it didn't go well.”

(Hardly anyone has a good talk with you anyway.)

But from how Senda acts, it looks like he has some interest in Fukase.

“Senda, do you want to hook up with her?”

“Wha!? N-no way, you and me!?”

“Not with me, idiot. I'm asking if you want to hook up with Fukase.”

“Well, she's good-looking and all… but why do you ask?”

“I'm just trying to give you advice so you can lose your v*rginity.”

When I said that, Senda gave me a suspicious look for a moment, but soon asked, “What should I do?”

“Fukase is weak to pressure. Be a bit pushy with her.”

“B-but…”

Here, Senda hesitated, probably because he's wary of me.

He's a dumb guy, but I've hurt him painfully many times before, so maybe he's learned something.

If I don't push now, the conversation won't go anywhere, so I bring up his past.

The time when he caused a small fire as a kid, shoplifting, stuff like that…

There's no physical evidence now, but it's enough to blackmail him.

“Okay, okay! I'll get close to Fukase, alright?”

“Good. If you can do that, none of your past misdeeds will be exposed.”

Apparently, he plans not to go to high school and get a job, so he probably wants to avoid anything that could ruin his reputation.

Senda seems motivated to release his pent-up lust and surprisingly listens to me.

After parting with Senda, I return to the mansion and lock myself in my room so I don't run into Father.

Then, as usual, I open my diary and write about today's events and my feelings.

Honestly, I don't know how things will change after having Senda approach Fukase.

But as soon as Tatsumi started bringing up Asano to Fukase, Fukase started badmouthing Asano, whose mental state is as fragile as tofu.

This could develop in an interesting way.

Of course, not everything will go as I imagine.

I'm sowing many seeds; if even one blooms, that's enough.

“Heh… now, show me a beautiful flower that makes my heart dance.”

Looking forward to what happens next.

Asano Haruki, let's experience moments that aren't boring together.

Closing the diary, I put down my pen.