V6Ch2: A Dream part 2

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”

In a tucked-away seat of a fast-food place, Natsume was waiting while reading a book.

“No, not at all. After Kamishiro-san put so much effort into this, I couldn’t just sit back and relax.”

Natsume smoothly lifted the book. What she was reading wasn't a novel—it was a book on nutrition.

Apparently, Shiori had passed on her diet plan.

“Shiori's really good at supporting people.”

Despite being the strongest physically, Shiori's personality was more suited for a supporting role than the front lines.

She had the ability to empathize and stand by others in their pain. That was Shiori Kamishiro's strength—and her charm.

If Shiori wanted to play a supporting role, then she deserved our support too.

“Don't tell me… you planned this from the start?”

“It was purely from a pervy place in my heart.”

“The fact that you're saying that so plainly somehow makes it less pervy…”

Natsume seemed unfazed by the pervy look I gave her, but then her eyes suddenly wavered with uncertainty.

“…Do you really think I can become beautiful?”

“Trust me. I'm the guy cursed with endless girl troubles.”

“Pfft—Now that's some ridiculous credibility.”

Natsume burst into laughter. Usually quiet and always reading, she didn't stand out much in class, but seeing her like this, she was expressive, full of humor, and honestly, quite charming.

“Sorry for dragging you into this.”

“N-No, not at all! I should be the one thanking you. Please, don't apologize.”

“Well, that too—but I'm also thinking about what comes next.”

“What comes next?”

“After the beauty contest, you're definitely going to get a lot of attention. We know your journey, but to the rest of the school, you'll seem like a gorgeous girl who appeared out of nowhere.”

If she won the contest, she'd be at the center of attention overnight.

Naturally, that would mean more people trying to hit on her, and the way people looked at her would change too. Natsume's value would skyrocket in a single day.

“Those people will only see what's on the outside… But maybe I'm the same.”

Her voice quieted, and her expression darkened.

“Um… there's something I'd like to ask you about.”

Natsume's serious tone made me straighten up in my seat.

“Is Takahashi-kun… dealing with something?”

“Yes. Even when we talk, he seems distracted. And sometimes, he makes this really troubled expression, like something's really weighing on him. I can't stop thinking about it.”

The issue turned out to be about Takahashi-nii. That was unexpected—I couldn't grasp it right away.

“I had no idea. You sure you're not overthinking it?”

“I don't make mistakes about this kind of thing.”

Natsume stated it with absolute confidence. I had no idea what gave her that certainty.

“You'd be able to help Takahashi-kun, Kokonoe-san. Right?”

“My career as a school counselor is developing nicely, huh.”

“Maybe the school will officially recognize you soon.”

“That only happens in light novels from, like, a decade ago.”

Still, Takahashi-nii, huh… I've got nothing. Could he be caught up in something?

The incident with Sanjoji-sensei came to mind, but there's no way Takahashi-nii could be the culprit.

The crime was disturbingly petty and sinister, like it needed a “creep sound effect.” Takahashi-nii, on the other hand, is a genuine extrovert who treasures his little sister. The image doesn't match at all. That's not a path he'd go down.

“Maybe it's a sick family member?”

“I casually asked about that, but apparently they're all healthy.”

Natsume had already ruled out all the obvious possibilities.

“Hmm. Then I guess I'll have to ask him directly.”

“Please do. I don't think he'd talk to a girl about it.”

“That's fine and all, but…”

Natsume looked down sadly. Something about that made me curious.

“Why are you so concerned about Takahashi-nii?”

“You're always sharp, Kokonoe-san, but when it comes to stuff like this, you're totally clueless. It's because I—”

Her cheeks flushed as she smiled like a flower in bloom.

Oh. So that's what this is about.

“Seriously?”

“I went to elementary and middle school with Takahashi-kun. We were in the same class a few times, and before I knew it, I found myself watching him. I realized it was my first love a long time ago.”

I'm not heartless enough to order fries in a moment like this. I stayed silent and listened.

“I never even considered confessing. I just couldn't bring myself to believe I was good enough…”

What Natsume revealed turned out to be a full-on love consultation. This was becoming a life mission.

Apparently, Natsume liked Takahashi-nii. Back in elementary school, when her classmates mocked her for being overweight, he was the one who stood up for her. Since then, he always looked out for her, protecting her from subtle cruelty. Maybe because he had a younger sister, he was naturally caring.

That alone is more than enough reason for a girl to fall in love.

Natsume had always kept her feelings hidden. Her own insecurities held her back, and she entered high school without ever confessing.

“So I guess you are just the same.”

“Yes. People who come close only after I've become beautiful… I hate the idea of being judged by appearance alone. But… if I do become beautiful, and finally gain confidence… I want him to know how I feel. Isn't that contradictory? Doesn't that make me the same as the kind of person I hate?”

She was trapped in her own thoughts, struggling in fear she couldn't even define.

She couldn't confess as she was now.

But if she confessed only after becoming beautiful, wouldn't she be relying on appearance just like everyone else?

Two sides of the same coin—this contradiction was tearing her up inside.

It was complicated, but also incredibly pure. She had carried this one-sided love for so long.

To confess after gaining confidence and becoming beautiful—maybe that's fine. But her inability to separate those feelings… that's probably the innocence she's protected all this time.

—The longer love goes unspoken, the more tangled it becomes.

Suddenly, Shiori came to mind.

No matter how far I pushed her away or told her I didn't like her, I couldn't do anything to change her feelings.

They were immovable emotions. Even if it meant her getting hurt, Shiori never accepted the decision I made, even when I did it for her happiness.

“Well… maybe Takahashi-nii feels the same.”

“The same?”

“Ah… Say there was someone who liked you. Don't you think they might be thinking the same thing? That if they confessed now, people would assume it was only because you've become beautiful?”

The more someone likes you, the more hesitant they become. They might even avert their eyes from the brilliance of what you've achieved. People are fragile creatures who can't always handle purity.

“…There's no one like that.”

“You don't know that. At the very least, even if Takahashi-nii accepted your confession, he wouldn't want it to seem like it was only because you became pretty.”

“I'm the one at fault for not having the courage sooner.”

Natsume lowered her gaze and took a sip from her straw. The flimsy paper straw felt unreliable.

We might call this a love consultation, but in the end, the only one who can face Natsume's feelings is Takahashi-nii.

“By the way, have you ever read a time-leap story?”

“Time-leap? Yes, a few times.”

Going back in time, redoing the past. Living in a way you won't regret. Using your knowledge and experience from before to gain happiness and reclaim what you lost. Stories like that are popular.

“Would you want to time-leap?”

“I suppose… If I could do something like that, if I could go back, I'd stop just crying all the time, make up my mind sooner, and become someone I wouldn't be ashamed of. That's what I'd hope for…”

“Then what if you time-leaped right now, and the time-leaped version of you surpassed your current age? From that point on, the future would be completely unknown. You wouldn't know what's going to happen. There are no answers. What if the person you got together with after the time-leap died from an illness or accident? What if something happened to your family? What if it was you? Could you live your post-time-leap life without regrets? If things got tough, would you wish to time-leap again? Clinging to the miracle you once had?”

“That's…”

There is no SAVE & LOAD in life. We live in irreversible time.

You can't just conveniently redo things every time you make the wrong choice.

“There's no hope in the past. In the end, we have no choice but to desperately live the present without regrets.”

“Have you never regretted anything, Kokonoe-san?”

“Well, you know, just being born into this world is my regret.”

Mom… Nee-san… I'm sorry for being born.

“It's because you say things like that that you suffer so much, Kokonoe-san.”

For some reason, Natsume was giving me a suspicious look, just like Goddess-senpai. …Wh-why?

“…I see. So that's what it was. I finally understand. Why I've been feeling this way. Why I suddenly want to be brave now. Why I nodded to your suggestion, Kokonoe-san, even though I was so scared of exposing my hidden feelings.”

Natsume's expression softened. She really does have good features. Even now, she's charming and cute.

“Yes, I've been admiring it. Because the people around you, Kokonoe-san, are like that. Suzurikawa-san and Kamishiro-san—they don't lie to themselves, they live so they won't regret anything. They pursue their ideals with everything they have. They shine so brightly, dazzling, moving forward even when hurt. I hated how cowardly I was. That's why I wanted to change. That's why I thought… maybe it's okay for me to join the pageant.”

She shut her eyes tight, took a deep breath, and slowly opened them. In Natsume's eyes was the same light I saw in Hinagi and Shiori. The gaze of someone who had made up their mind. A noble spirit determined to follow a feeling they wouldn't give up on.

“A performance might be necessary. That's what you said, right, Kokonoe-san?”

I nodded. I was overwhelmed by the intensity in Natsume's voice. There's a saying: “If you don't see a man for three days, you should look at him anew.” But that kind of growth isn't exclusive to men.

The impact would be more than enough. But even so, there's still a chance she won't reach the top.

No one knows how the judges will vote. No one knows who the goddess of victory will smile upon.

“I'm going to confess to Takahashi-kun on stage.”

“You…”

Her bold declaration made my eyes widen. A shiver of shock ran through me.

That unwavering resolve—most people couldn't do it. She was going to lay everything bare and wait for judgment.

She would strip away the cowardice she had hidden for so long and throw herself wholeheartedly into love.

On the day of the event, the venue will explode with excitement. No one could outmatch Natsume's determination.

No other performance would shine brighter. Everything else would feel like an opening act in comparison.

I felt a deep respect for Natsume. Love can make someone this strong.

It's the kind of strength I long for. The kind I can't possess. The kind I can't defeat.

“…I'll have to give it my all to respond.”

I don't know what kind of answer Takahashi-nii will give. But Natsume had already shown hers—her resolve.

“Even someone like me… has feelings I want to share.”

No matter how much she puts herself down, Natsume is a wonderful girl anyone would admire. Takahashi-nii is a lucky guy.

“To secure the groundwork, I'll think of a way to win over Takahashi's little sister first. Step one: bribing.”

“Why would you start with something so shady!?”

We've talked long enough. In any case, what's important now is building a stronger relationship with Takahashi-nii.

“Natsume, can you be brave?”

“Yes.”

“Brave enough to go to a yakiniku place by yourself?”

“Eh? That's a little embarrassing, or rather…”

This whole “Natsume Diet Project”—there's only one person suited to it.

Only one person can understand Natsume's complex emotions, the process, and the outcome.

“I'm assigning your diet coach to Takahashi-nii.”

“You mean with Takahashi-kun? Wait, that joke earlier was—”

“Shiori and I will give as much advice as we can, so you two do your best together!”

“Why!? Why with Takahashi-kun all of a sudden—!”

With that added heartbeat, the diet effect will probably skyrocket.

“Victory in the pageant is in the bag.”

“Are you listening, Kokonoe-san!? With Takahashi-kun, I… what do I do…? Hey, what do you mean by this? Kokonoe-san? Hey! Kokonoe-saaaaaaaan!?”

And suddenly, I realized I had made a serious blunder.

“Not good, Natsume. We need to get out of here right now! If Takahashi-nii sees the two of us together, he might get the wrong idea. What if he suddenly distances himself and acts cold starting tomorrow? You wouldn't like that, would you? He might even be preparing a gift for you right now.”

“That kind of cliché plot from online novels doesn't happen that often!”

“But don't you think those kinds of situations always get resolved quickly if the characters just talk it out?”

“Why do you never reflect on yourself, Kokonoe-san!?”

Nowadays, childhood friends always lose in rom-coms. It's the result of a deep-seated distrust in the idea of a conveniently perfect childhood friend—wait, what the hell am I even thinking!?

“You were absolutely thinking something stupid just now, weren't you?”

“Natsume… You can do snappy comebacks too, huh…”

“Don't praise me for that!”

After returning home, I let Takahashi-nii know that I'd been put in charge of Natsume's diet plan.

He seemed surprised but agreed, so things should be fine. He really is a dependable guy.

When I told Natsume, she replied with a barrage of cow stamps and a loud, “Moooooo!”

Looks like she's more composed than I thought.

---

Just a few days ago, that whole scene happened. And now, I tried talking to Takahashi-nii about it.

“It's really not that big of a deal. I've just been having a bit of trouble with the soccer club…”

As he picked his words carefully, Takahashi-nii began to explain the situation.

Even as a first-year, he's considered a rising star with a real shot at making the regular lineup in the soccer team.

That in itself is something to be proud of, but it also means someone else will be pushed out. It's not openly said, but there's been some tension.

“Honestly, I'd be fine either way if we could all just have fun.”

It's a tough problem. If this were a famous soccer school, a merit-based approach wouldn't be an issue.

But our school, Shoyo High, isn't like that. There's a mismatch in what people want the team to be.

“So people are jealous of you, huh… That's rough.”

“I used to be really close with Kimura-senpai… So I can't stand the atmosphere right now. But he's not the kind of person who'd get jealous. I think he's struggling with something else, and that's what's—”

He's clearly shaken. Hearing Takahashi-nii's downcast tone made me wonder what I should do.

That kind of frustration—delicate and easily hurt—is what youth is all about.

“What're you guys talking about over here?”

Strutting in—no, radiantly walking in—was the refreshing handsome boy.

“You know Kimura-senpai from the second year?”

“Kimura-senpai? I've heard the name. Isn't he pretty capable?”

Lately, we'd been gathering info on other classes to win at the sports festival, so the pretty boy was familiar with the name too. Apparently, the guy's pretty competent.

“So yeah, I don't really know what to do…”

It's not just simple jealousy. If it stems from something personal, you can't just pry.

Whether it's something that'll blow over or a serious issue, we can't tell. If even Takahashi-nii doesn't understand, I sure as hell don't stand a chance.

“Sorry for worrying you.”

Takahashi-nii gave a small bow. He must really respect Kimura-senpai to be this troubled over him.

He's just that kind of kind guy. No wonder Natsume fell for him.

“You should tell Natsume all this.”

“Yeah… I'll message her later.”

It wouldn't be right to trample over Kimura-senpai's private matters without care.

I started the conversation myself, but I couldn't do anything to help. That sense of helplessness stings.

Figuring out human relationships is hard. Takahashi-nii knows that too. That's why he's waiting—for things to change. I just hope that day comes soon.

“Cheer up. Here's your pay for today. Thanks for helping.”

Hikari-san handed over a small envelope. Getting paid in cash these days feels kinda retro…

“C-Can I really take this much!?”

Takahashi peeked inside and looked shocked. Based on the hourly rate, it was way above Tokyo's minimum wage.

“You came along on a trip for me. This much is totally fair. Once the new issue's ready, I'll have Kouki bring you a copy too. Your name'll be in the credits, so look forward to it!”

“This… This might be something I treasure forever…”

My eyes met with the refreshingly handsome boy's. Ugh, we're totally in sync. Gross!

“Takahashi-nii, use that to treat Tachibana-chan to something nice.”

“We only helped out because of my sister.”

We handed over the envelopes Hikari-san gave us to Takahashi-nii.

“This is yours, not mine.”

Takahashi-nii shook his head, hesitant. So this is what they call manly pride…!

“It's fine. Don’t worried about the 1.03 million yen tax ceiling.”

“I suck at complicated stuff…”

“Listen. Even with a 1.6 million cap, it's a tiered system so the tax deduction is really just—”

It's an insanely dumb system with four new income brackets that got added—

“Shut up, idiot. Kazunari, don't worry about it. Just take it. I've got money to spare.”

For some reason, the pretty boy's simple argument beat out my detailed explanation. I don't get it…

“Maybe I'll buy some new sneakers…”

Takahashi-nii seemed to be thinking about how to spend his pay. Shopping's a good stress reliever.

“But man, making this much in such a short time really messes with your sense of money.”

“That's the Hikari-job effect!”

Hikari-san's the one saying that…?

“By the way, Hikari-san, there's something I want to ask you.”

“What is it? You want to know my three sizes or something?”

I gave a wry smile. There are way too many people around me who respond like this—I’m honestly getting sick of it. If you go through daily sexual harassment like I do, you build up resistance whether you want to or not.

“Haha. What I actually want to know is about Chisa-san.”

“Huh? You're after my mom!?”

“Hey, cut it out, Yukito! Don't say creepy stuff like that!”

Even the refreshing handsome guy like him is still in puberty. Yeah, I get it—it’s embarrassing.

“Well, jokes aside.”

“You managed to make my skin crawl with a single sentence… Yukito-kun, you're terrifying!”

“I do not want to call Yukito ‘dad'…”

The Mihou siblings took serious damage from just a light jab. Whoops, getting sidetracked again.

“Hikari-san, you know a lot about photography, right? Is it easy to make fake or doctored photos from scratch—not just edits, but complete fabrications?”

“What's this? Planning to use it for something shady? That's not allowed, Yukito-kun!”

She scolded me with a “No-no!” gesture, so I explained the situation without naming names.

“Yukito, every time I look away, you get wrapped up in some kind of mess…”

“Haa… Just like Kouki said, your life really is full of drama.”

Takahashi-nii offered me some sympathy as I was being stared at like some kind of pitiful creature. What a nice guy!

“But yeah, maybe…”

Photo expert Hikari-san put a hand to her chin. Maybe something came to mind.

Sanjoji-sensei is spending her days terrified by invisible malice aimed her way. If this can be the first clue to solving things, any information helps.

“It's a scary time we live in. With AI, you can do anything nowadays.”

“AI?”

I echoed the word that had just come out of Hikari-san's mouth.

“I'm pretty sure I've been targeted too, but there's not really anything I can do about it.”

“You too, Hikari-san?”

“Well, when you're doing things as publicly as I do, it's not surprising to get targeted.”

It was a total shock. I had no knowledge of this, so I was just stunned by how far technology has come.

Hikari-san explained how people can create images using AI. The level of freedom is way beyond anything before. Deepfakes. I looked it up—there were tons of news articles. It's apparently a serious issue happening all around the world.

“For people like me, fine, but nowadays everyone posts photos on social media without a second thought. They have no sense of danger. It's no wonder they become targets.”

“Ugh, that's disgusting.”

Takahashi-nii looked completely fed up. Even the usually cheerful pretty boy had a grim expression.

“Wait, you mean it works even without source images?”

“Yup. Once the AI learns a person's face, it can do whatever. It's terrifying.”

“Isn't that just total lawlessness?”

Once it learns, it can create something out of nothing—modern-day alchemy.

“Unless it comes to light, nobody will ever notice. There's no way to stop it.”

Hikari-san shrugged. She was right. Even if creating such things is banned, if it's not leaked, there's no way to know. But if it does leak, it becomes a catastrophic risk.

The image sent to Sanjoji-sensei was something that should never be tolerated.

“What kind of fun do people even get out of this…”

“If someone spreads that kind of thing to hurt someone, a fragile person wouldn't be able to handle it.”

Hikari-san looked serious. Considering how devastated Sanjoji-sensei was, it's clearly dangerous. If this malice were directed at a student, someone could even lose their life.

“If someone's suffering, please help them somehow. I think this is something only you can do, Yukito-kun. When people are scared, they don't have the strength to fight back.”

“Yes.”

Maybe things are more urgent than I thought. I was starting to feel the weight of the situation. I mean, I'm mentally tough like ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber, so I'll be fine, but if we don't resolve this soon, even someone like Sanjoji-sensei—who's trying to stay strong—could break.

“Thanks. I learned a lot.”

“Yukito-kun, don't try to shoulder everything by yourself, okay? Kouki?”

“I know. I won't leave him alone.”

The Mihou siblings were both worrywarts, it seems. But… AI, huh. Is that really possible?

“Kokonoe, didn't you say earlier that we're friends? If anything's bothering you, tell me.”

Takahashi-nii looked me straight in the eyes. Sigh. Everyone around me is just too kindhearted.

“Then, Takahashi-nii. Do something about the student council president.”

“That's impossible.”

He replied instantly. Isn't that a bit cold!?

---

“Here, aahh—”

“Aahh—”

She popped a peeled sweet chestnut into my mouth. Munch munch. Sweet and delicious.

After getting that hint from Hikari-san, I decided to test firsthand if it was really possible to make whatever images I wanted using AI. Luckily, there was no shortage of resources on that topic.

Which in itself proves that it is possible.

“Here, say ahh.”

“Ahh.”

When I actually tried it, it was shockingly easy. If you’re just doing simple image generation, you don’t even need any technical knowledge. You can even do it right in your browser—it doesn’t even take ten seconds.

On the other hand, if you want to decide everything yourself, from the composition onward, you do need some familiarity.

That said, it's just a matter of setting parameters and entering some code. If you’re used to this kind of thing, it won't take long. Even I, after a few days of trial and error, was able to produce fairly convincing results.

Obviously, I couldn’t use someone else’s photo for this kind of experiment.

“…Can anyone even tell this is fake?”

I stared at the printed image. If someone saw this without knowing anything, they'd never doubt it.
The me in the photo blended in perfectly. Only a professional chick sexer might be able to spot the difference.

Even knockoff brand-name goods from overseas are easier to distinguish.

If I had to nitpick, the me in the photo had a more expressive face than the real thing. Kind of suspicious, actually.

“Here, say ahh.”

“Ahh.”

With delicate fingers, she popped another peeled sweet chestnut into my mouth. Munch munch. Man, I'm getting thirsty…

“Hey, Yukito-kun. What's that?”

Still clinging to me at my side, Himiyama-san finally asked the obvious.

Maybe it was because her voice came so close to my ear, but her breath felt hot as it echoed in my brain.

“It's not really about the image itself. I'm just surprised that even as a beginner, I could get this kind of quality.”

That's the power of AI, I guess. It doesn’t depend on skill. You just leave the hard stuff to the machine.

I sighed and wrapped up the task. If this required advanced technical knowledge, we could narrow down the suspect pool. But if it's this easy, anyone could've done it.

What makes identifying the culprit way harder.

What a pain.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention—I'm currently at Himiyama-san's house. Which is basically a minefield.

For me, it’s a lion's den in a world where chastity is flipped.

But since AI generation requires some decent computer specs, I came to ask for help from Himiyama-san, who had previously bought a ridiculously high-spec PC through sheer financial overkill.

No way I could do this at home. If I tried, I'd definitely be interrupted under the excuse of “let's make a new poster.” Currently, it's the “Succubus Nee-san” arc. Nee-san, seriously?

Compared to that, Himiyama-san's kindness seeps into every organ of my body.

At worst, she just keeps shoving sweet chestnuts in my mouth every few minutes.

I'm still thirsty though… Cold tea, please.

“Huh? The mouse isn't working…”

I clicked it a few times, but nothing happened.

Click click.”

I tried saying it myself, but still no response.

“What's wrong, Yukito-kun?”

I flipped the mouse over and saw the blue light was off.

It's a wireless mouse, so the batteries had died.

Some use red LEDs, but this one used blue. It's called a BlueLED mouse, known for high tracking accuracy.

“Looks like the batteries are dead.”

“Oh really? Hold on, I'll change them.”

Himiyama-san stood up quickly and pulled out a pair of AA batteries from a drawer.

“Oh! I almost forgot—I have a present for you, Yukito-kun.”

“That was obviously a made-up line you just thought of.”

There's no stopping a rampaging Himiyama-san. I just let her do what she wants.

For some reason, she started taking off her jacket and sat on my lap, facing me.

“I found it by chance online the other day. These kinds of goods actually exist, huh?”

“Please don't say the rest out loud.”

“Bo*by mouse pad.”

“Who the hell uses the real thing!?”

Right here, apparently. Those are supposed to be fake, made of silicone…

Squish squish.

Warm and soft. T-this is the real thing!?

“Now, Yukito-kun. Can you resist this bounce?”

I, the first human in history to be challenged by a real bo*by mouse pad, will answer that question.

“Ridiculous! If you’re going to go that far, I'll prove I can resist!”

Daily sexual harassment is part of my mental training back home, but that's spiritual discipline.
It's not like my mom or sister have any impure intentions. I've reached spiritual enlightenment through a thousand days of resisting harassment. I have no weak points.

HAAH!

I grabbed both b*obs—er, mouse pads—with both hands.

“Y-Yukito-kun!? Don't tell me you're actually—”

“I'll allow a tactical retreat if you run now.”

“Don't underestimate me! I won't back down!”

Himiyama-san, fully into it, played the role of a heroine caught by the enemy.

Seems she thinks she's got this under control. But let's see how long that smug face lasts.

Due to the failure of the Three Generations One Body Law, what was enacted was the Fondle and Claim Property Law.

This law states that “Newly cultivated breasts shall be permanently privately owned.”

Poor Himiyama-san, if this continues, I might end up owning her permanently.

She must be terrified inside.

“What's wrong? You’re shaking. Are you afraid of being… cultivated?”

“Ugh! Even if you own my body, I want you to own my heart too!”

Eh?

“Aren't you supposed to deny that part?”

“Body and soul, they're all yours♡”

And so the cultivation continued, and I ended up being taxed by Himiyama-san… Wait, what?

This is why nobles can't be trusted!

“Sorry for interrupting your work.”

“Well then. Shall we see whether the right click or left click is more sensitive?”

The world's first talking mousepad is born. This is the true power of Cool Japan!

I silently tried using the mouse. It worked like normal. The accuracy was insane!?

“No, stop it, Yukito-kun. Aaah♪ Don't click me there!”

“Let's try scrolling back and forth.”

“No, stop it, Yukito-kun. Aaah♪ Don't wheel me there!”

Himiyama-san let out a sultry moan. I will master this!

“Uoooooooohhhhhhhhhh!”

Click click click click click. I furiously spammed the plump bounce.

Needless to say, I got no work done.

“You're clicking me too much—I think I'm going to lose it♡”

“Wait, you were normal until now?”

Terrifying. I couldn't even imagine what might happen if she got any weirder.

“I made some tasty udon too. Let's eat together later, okay?”

“You got that idea from that controversial commercial, didn't you?”

“What are you talking about?”

Even Mom and Nee-san did the same thing. Their minds think alike!

I'm not from Kagawa. I'm so done with udon!

“You haven't come to visit lately, Yukito-kun. I missed you.”

“Sorry. You seemed busy.”

Himiyama-san pouted as she peeled more chestnuts. Crack crack—the rhythmic sound echoed.

“Here, aaahn.”

“Aaahn.”

Could this be a new form of torture? As punishment for making her upset, I'm being sentenced to the Chestnut-Feeding Execution.

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but not seeing you really kills my motivation and efficiency.”

“I feel like I say this every time, but that's a broken system.”

Himiyama-san, the mystical Tao peach tribe, has a favorability score that rises infinitely past the limit. But letting that affect her studying is bad. And if I visit too often, I'm going to teeter on the edge of life and death.

“I'm thirsty.”

“Oh, right! I'm sorry I wasn't more considerate. Milk, is that okay?”

“Are you really being inconsiderate though…?”

She's full of mysteries. Right now, Himiyama-san is working hard to return to the classroom.

With a renewed spirit, she's brighter than when we first met and full of energy. Seeing her living her life with such drive is truly beautiful.

I don't bump into her in town as often now, and I come over less frequently, but I support her more than anyone. She'll definitely become a wonderful teacher again someday.

“Yukito-kun, I want to eat one too.”

She begged sweetly. I'd unintentionally relegated her to chestnut-peeling duty.

“Thanks. I'm done with this part for now.”

I shut down the computer and turned off the power. I made progress, but couldn't celebrate it.

I felt heavy inside, but I couldn't dwell on that. I had to figure out what to do next…

Crack crack, I broke open another chestnut. For some reason, this was surprisingly fun. I got a little absorbed.

“You'll peel my chestnut?”

“Well, it's hard as is.”

I'm not a squirrel—I can't just gnaw through the shell. I'm not a rodent.

“You'll peel my chestnut?”

“I will, okay?”

“Then say it—say you'll peel my chestnut.”

She rested her face on my shoulder as she pleaded. Has she never learned about personal space!?

“I'll peel Himiyama-san's chestnut.”

“Be gentle, okay?”

Her seductive lips slowly parted in a wickedly alluring silhouette.

“Here, aaahn.”

“Aaahn.”

I pushed the peeled chestnut into her mouth. She licked even my fingers clean.

“The chestnut Yukito-kun peeled for me is sooo tasty♪”

“Can I ask why you're speaking like a narrator?”

“Ufufu. Are you trying to make me say something embarrassing with my own mouth? How mean.”

“It may be intentional on your part, Himiyama-san, but from my perspective, it's definitely intentional.”

At this rate, the misuse of “intentional crime” will get us arrested by the word police.

“But Yukito-kun, why did you suddenly want to use the computer?”

Himiyama-san finally returned to herself and asked the obvious. It was long overdue, but I had to explain.

I told her everything. I never intended to hide it, not when she was already helping me like this.

Even Sanjoji-sensei needs allies. People she can truly trust.

Himiyama-san respects Sanjoji-sensei, and the three of us share a strange connection.

“And that's the situation. She's mentally worn down, too. We have to do something.”

“That's awful… To disgrace Suzuka-sensei like that…”

Her expression darkened as her face paled. This wasn't something she could treat as someone else's problem.

Even gentle Himiyama-san showed anger at this act of trampling someone's dignity.

“I think I understand the method now. We just need to find the culprit.”

That would be the hardest part. But we couldn't just sit around. We had to resolve this quickly.

Sanjoji-sensei was probably growing more anxious by the minute. We couldn't let this continue.

“Can't we go to the police?”

“She doesn't want to make a big deal out of it just yet. She's unsure about what might happen next.”

Of course, we'd considered going to the police. This was clearly criminal behavior, way over the line.

Hikari-san also said that if it's used privately, there's no way to find out. However, if you send it to someone else, it's no laughing matter. You can't just turn a blind eye.

And the victim wasn't even a student.

The school had no reason to deliberately downplay the situation.

Nevertheless, they paused for a moment. It wasn't the best solution, but the next best option.

The three of us—Sanjoji-Sensei, Sayuri-snesi, and I—discussed and agreed that if something similar happened again, we would file a formal complaint. If that happened, the culprit would eventually be caught and the matter resolved.

“The reason we didn't do that immediately is… because the culprit might be a student, right?”

“That's correct. It's not always adults who commit wrongdoing.”

The worst-case scenario. If that happened, expulsion would be inevitable, and the incident would be widely reported.

Given that I was the one used in the deepfake of Sanjoji-Sensei, it was a distinct possibility.

If it escalated into a sensational case, it would surely leave lasting damage.

“If it's just a prankster, that's one thing. But if there's some dark, sinister motive behind it—”

Unless something is done, Sanjoji-Sensei's feelings won't clear up. Suspicion and distrust would linger endlessly.

The only solution to standing tall with pride is to dispel the darkness.

“It's presumptuous of me to say this, but—”

I was gently embraced by Himiyama-san. Her eyes trembled, pleading.

“Please help Suzuka-Sensei.”

“Yes.”

I will definitely expose the culprit. I swear on Sekka's name!

Sorry for using your name without permission. I'll email you directly later.

[Himiyama PoV]

“Hey, Yukito-kun. I'm scared.”

“Raising the pension eligibility age limit, huh? The macroeconomic slide is a scam, right?”

Unable to stay still, I hugged the boy in front of me.

Without me knowing, Yukito-kun seemed to be fighting another reality soaked in malice.

Such a cruel and despicable act. The sharpness of the blade left drops of blood trickling down.

Suzuka-Sensei's heart was screaming in pain. I understood because I felt the same.

In the harsh reality where even breathing becomes difficult, being beside him, clear as the sky of azure, was such a relief.

The pure white light pouring down seemed to bleach away the pain in my heart.

“You're the only one who can help Suzuka-Sensei…”

He alone holds the key. Only Yukito-kun can grant Suzuka-Sensei forgiveness.

Gently opening the door locked deep in his chest with that key, he touched the feelings he had kept hidden.

Even though he usually says fluffy things, he always offers a helping hand.

At the bottom of the swamp of despair, only that hand cuts through the dark night and brings bright light.

—I want to cling to that. His purity, sharpened to the extreme.

Because he is strong. His spirit is at a height beyond human comprehension.

“You've been perfect since long ago. No one can threaten that mental strength. But because of that, I'm scared. I fear that your heart, caught between worlds, might someday wear out.”

There's no way he isn't tired. He must feel fatigue. He just hasn't noticed his exhaustion yet.

He acts for others, desperately trying to save someone. Without wishing for reward or hope, he strays after endless devotion.

A trickster no one can imitate. But—

“I do take care of my health, you know. I go to bed early and wake up early.”

“But behind the armor, it's worn down and frayed beyond repair.”

Like a house eaten away by termites, it steadily kills his gentle heart. The cost of lost value.

The unbalanced equilibrium of mind and spirit breaks down. That must be stopped at all costs.

The precious oasis I found in the desert that fulfills me. I will never let it dry up.

I've never loved anyone this deeply. It overflows with affection.

“I want to be your perch.”

Someone you can rest on when you're tired, someone who can heal you.

“You already are. Otherwise, I wouldn't come visit this often.”

With just one sentence, he easily kicked away my reason—such a bad boy.

“You're the devilish man, aren't you? …Even so, I'm holding back. You understand, right?”

“Gender equality has finally come this far…”

My arms wrapped tighter, exchanging warmth, our heartbeats communicating.

“Even if the whole world becomes your enemy, I will remain your ally.”

“Himiyama-san might be too kind to be a teacher.”

Why? Because I can be kind only because you're here.

Seeing through those feelings, Yukito-kun groans.

“If I do something bad, you have to scold me or I'll be in trouble.”

“Fufu. That's impossible. Then let's be scolded together.”

“Wow, what a hopeless adult!”

I don't mind being hopeless. I can't pretend in front of you.

“Well, shall we eat? There's still plenty left. You like my chestnuts, right? You want to peel them?”

“If you don't stop, I'll report you for sexual harassment. Hello, Goddess-sensei? I'm being harassed right now, can I sue? What? I'm harassing you too?”

Yukito-kun seemed to be calling to report his suffering but was promptly rejected.

“Looks like I can't talk.”

“Good, we're guilty together. Now we can flirt as much as we want.”

“Wait, was there any holding back just now?”

I ate the chestnuts alongside Yukito-kun, who tilted his head. For me, that is a very precious time.