Chapter 19: Mob with enough speed

Translator: Soafp

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Now it’s the other side, one monochromatic high school’s self-introduction. While the students were introducing themselves without hesitation, it was the turn of one teacher. The self-introductions are supposed to be done by the students alone, but since this is a joint meeting, a teacher has been assigned to lend a hand in case the meeting doesn’t go smoothly due to disagreements…….

　This teacher is named Sakamoto Norie. He is a very handsome man and a very popular teacher in this single-colored high school. He is a teacher who specializes in science and is popular among the girls because of his good looks and also among the boys because of his easygoing nature, even though he is quite old.

However, there is a bit of history or a kind of grudge between him and the parents of Hihara Karen. They used to be classmates in high school. And he had feelings for Hihara Karen’s mother, Hihara Konana , formerly known as Akai Konana. Akai Konana was incredibly popular during their high school days, and he was very much interested in her.

Everyone was attracted to her. And Sakamoto Norie was one of them. What made him different from the others was that he had tremendous self-confidence and pride in himself.

　From the time he was born, he was able to do anything he wanted, and he had no boundaries when it came to his desires. The only thing he could not get was Akai Konana. When he confidently confessed his feelings for her, he was crushed, and when he tried to forcefully make her his own at the place where he confessed his feelings for her, he was stopped by Hihara Enra.

　At that time, Akai Konana had a liking for Enra, and Enra had always been interested in Akai Konana, so they decided to go out together.

This was unacceptable to Sakamoto Norie. Hihara is not a good student, not good at sports, clumsy, stupid, and often made fun of, and was a student that he himself looked down on completely. So he tried to get back at her somehow, but he never succeeded.

　They are always together and hardly ever alone. And the no-good Enra tries harder than ever before in many things as a result of their going out.

Because of this, people around him gradually begin to recognize him. And the people who used to make fun of him along with others began to get along with him. However, Sakamoto Norie, out of pride and humiliation, would have none of that. Eventually, he graduated from high school in isolation.

　Although he held a grudge, he never had a chance to take revenge, and the resentment remained with him. However, he decided not to care because it was a long time ago. When he became a teacher at Isshiki High School, a joint sports festival was held, and he found Hihara Karen there.

　He is convinced at first sight. She looks just like the Akai Konana he once knew. And it is easy to guess that she is the child of a marriage with the surname Hihara.

　Here, his old resentment began to boil over. First, after the joint meeting was over, he recommended a tour of the school, during which he spoke to Hihara Karen. He told her that he used to be classmates with her parents…….

Intrigued by the story, she decided to listen as he gave her a tour. At first the tour is normal, but when she visits the science preparation room, he locks the door and suddenly attacks her.

There are no people there, and there is no way to overcome the man’s power, so she is left to do as she is told. …… He takes pictures and then threatens her. At first he thought that if he could leave some stain on his daughter, this would be enough. However, his resentment and something else comes off the leash here.

The photo threats are quite effective, and as he repeatedly commits the act, his sense of ethics breaks down, and he kills Hihara Karen. Of course, Sakamoto Norie is caught by the police, but that is the end of Hihara Karen’s life.

The person named Sakamoto Norie originally had something insane about him, and it came out completely in the course of doing whatever he wanted with Hihara Karen.

　In the “if-story” novels, there was a lot of resentment and jealousy. Perhaps, but even if she were not a member of the executive committee, he would remember his resentment if he saw her face at the joint sports festival.

If he finds someone named Hihara Karen, the crazy thing inside him will come out and try to commit the act. Then it is better to resolve it now.

The joint meeting is being conducted by the executive committee chairpersons, Fukumoto Narumi and Kaneko Taichi, as they see fit, so the other executive committee members are mostly in a state of listening, if not doing nothing. In the midst of all this, Sakamoto Norie has repeatedly turned her attention to Hihara Karen. This makes me want to throw him in the piggy bank right now, but I can’t do that …… yet.

Let’s see if I can bring the hate to me like I did with Gindou Kohaku……. He seems like the kind of guy who would get to me in a heartbeat if I agitated him a bit. Aggravate him, turn him against me, and then …… bump him off. Take him to the police. That’s perfect.

“That concludes the meeting, so does anyone have any questions or comments?”

Fukumoto Narumi, the chairperson of the executive committee over there, looks around in a circle. No one seems to have anything to say or listen to. Now, normally, the meeting would be dismissed here …….

“So, is this the end of the joint meeting?”

　After confirming this, the meeting is called to a close. The executive committee members of Mina no Iro High School are to leave here. ……

“Can you give me a minute?”

Everyone looks at Sakamoto Norie. This is where he gives a suitable reason to go ahead with the school tour. I know he’s thinking of tricking Hihara Karen at this point, but he’s trying to create a one-on-one. And if he can’t do it, he thinks he can just follow her to Mina no Iro High School.

“Since you’re all here, I’d like to give everyone at Mina no Iro High School a tour of our school. I’d like you to compare it with our own school and ask your opinions on what you think is good here or what we should improve.”

“That would certainly be a good idea. The meeting finished much earlier than scheduled. What do you guys think?”

Kaneko Taichi asked the committee members a question. The other committee members had no objections, and everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

As I thought, this is how it will be. Sakamoto Norie is looking at Hihara Karen, and although it may be an illusion caused by the fact that I know him, he looks at her in a somewhat insane way.

I’m going to stay with Hihara Karen for now, which will be a check and a provocation at the same time. I think the person he resents the most in the past is, in my estimation, Hihara Karen more than Akai Konana.

He was conscious of the fact that he had looked down upon the person of Hihara Enra and yet he had surrounded himself with friends and taken away his beloved girlfriend at the end of the day rather than himself. He may have a grudge against Akai Konana, but his true hatred was Hihara Enra.

　What I had to do here was to try to protect Hihara Karen from Sakamoto, so that he might see in me the shadow of the one he once hated the most, Enra.

Of course, Enra is a good-looking man and our faces do not resemble each other at all. I am shorter than him.

　I am only a shadow.

　If he sees me protecting like Akai Kohana, there is a possibility that he will turn his hatred toward me. Then, just like Gindou Kohaku’s stalker, I would shoot him one-on-one with a very spicy water pistol and then call the police. That would solve the problem.

“Well then, feel free to take a look around.”

　Sakamoto’s words were the start of the action. I decided to go to the library with Hihara Karen for now. We pass not many students in the school but some, and there are rare students from other schools so we can get a glimpse of them.

“I can’t help but feel like I’m being watched.”

“It’s quite rare to have students from another school on campus. It’s not something you see every day.”

While engaging in casual conversation, I shift my attention to the back. Sakamoto is following us openly since he’s on campus. Although it’s more focused on Hihara Karen rather than me, he won’t be able to lay a hand on her as long as I’m present. The only thing left to do is for me to do is to mirror Hihara Enra actions.

Entering the library, there is an overwhelming number of books, as expected. She scans the entire area and quickly spots something.

“Ah! They have ‘The Failure of Magic Academy’ here!'”

She happily approaches the corner where light novels are placed. It’s quite innovative to have light novels in the library. But I don’t mind this kind of change.

“I don’t dislike these kinds of books!”

“Right.”

As we converse, I hear Sakamoto’s footsteps approaching us.

“Is there something on your mind?”

“Huh? Oh, no, not particularly…”

She suddenly becomes reserved. It’s one of her traits not to easily open up to people she barely knows, but it’s fine with this person.

I step forward as if to protect her, and Sakamoto reacts slightly. My actions seem to have triggered something in him.

“Well, if I recall correctly, you’re Sakamoto-sensei, right?”

“…You remembered. Kuroda-kun.”

So he remembered me too. It’s not like I care whether he remembers me or not, and there’s absolutely no benefit in being remembered.

“And you’re Hihara Karen-san, right?”

“Yes…”

Hihara Karen lightly bows and averts her gaze. Standing behind my back, I faced Sakamoto. He is smiling at her, but he looks cold and crazy.

“So, what do you think of our high school?”

“It’s beautiful, spacious, and I think it’s great to have a dedicated light novel section in the library.”

“…I feel the same way.”

She replies modestly. While the other person continues to interact with a smile, I keep my expression neutral.

“Well then, shall we move on to the next location? Senpai, please go ahead. I need to have a brief conversation with the teacher…”

“Ah, okay.”

I let Hihara Karen go ahead and stay to face Sakamoto Norie alone.

“Kuroda-kun, what’s this conversation about?”

“I’ll be straightforward and say it in a few words… If you lay a hand on Hihara Karen, I’ll beat you to death.”

“!!”

Sakamoto Norie’s smile falters slightly, and he takes a step back.

“Even if you do decide to make a move, you’ll have to go through me first… Otherwise, it won’t end well for you.”

I pass by him and leave the library without looking back. I can feel a strong gaze from behind, but I choose not to pay it any mind.

“What were you talking about?”

“I heard that he’s a science teacher, so I asked him a scientific question.”

“What kind of question?”

“…It was about Schrödinger’s cat.”

Well, how embarrassing. The line I said to Sakamoto Norie sounded pretty chuunibyou-like, and now I’ve come up with a lie about asking a question related to Schrödinger…

“Oh, I see…”

She murmurs quietly, expressing an indescribable awkwardness.

“So, chuunibyou really does exist, huh…”

It’s probably because it feels like there’s a jinx associated with chuunibyou guys liking Schrödinger’s cat. It’s no wonder I was misunderstood.