17 A Hitch
“Aira Miyano fell down the stairs and got injured, so she left early to go to the hospital.”
As soon as the afternoon class started, the teacher’s indifferent report was announced, and the classroom suddenly became noisy.
Ryogo was surprised, but he didn’t show it much. It must be divine punishment.
“Teacher. Is Aira okay?”
The teacher nodded at Enka’s concern.
“It seems to be a bad bruise, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be broken. However, she will be examined just in case.”
“Is that so…? I hope she’s okay…”
She shouldn’t have to worry about that scum.
In the first place, no one in this classroom is genuinely concerned about Aira’s condition.
“By the way, Seito Uga also went to the hospital because he broke his finger bone.”
I don’t care about that guy.
“Now, let’s start class. Could someone please deliver the handouts to Miyano and Uga?”
“Yes.”
Next to him, Misato raised her hand.
“I’ll take them.”
“Then, Mayama-san, please take three copies.”
As if nothing had happened, the class proceeded more calmly than usual.
There was almost no talk of speculation about Aira.
Everyone kept their mouths shut as if it was none of their business.
Even if she’s not here, she might be listening somewhere. That’s probably what they’re thinking.
She’s afraid even though she’s not here.
That’s the curse that Aira has built up.
I thought someone would jump out as the next leader, but no one wanted to sit in the seat of the Demon Lord who they knew would be coming back.
“…”
Ryogo glanced at Misato.
She was trying to look expressionless, but she was biting her lower lip slightly. It must be a reaction that means she has something on her mind.
“Hey…”
I kept my voice down as much as possible.
I wasn’t really expecting an answer, but I decided to ask Misato anyway.
“I heard Aira fell down the stairs. Were you not there? I’m pretty sure you left class together.”
“I was there… But why are you asking me that?”
Her surprisingly calm demeanor left me a bit confused.
“No reason… I just wanted to ask.”
There was no particular reason I was suspicious.
It was just a hunch.
My gut was telling me something was off about this whole thing.
But it was just a vague feeling, with no real evidence to back it up. I knew there was no point in pressing her further.
“…Which stairs did Aira fall down?”
“Ah…”
Misato opened her mouth to answer, but then froze.
Her eyes darted around, and it was clear she was thinking hard about something.
Why would someone who was supposed there be struggling to answer?
“Hey, Misato… Don’t tell me…”
“Quiet down over there! No talking!”
The teacher’s sharp voice cut through the air, and I instinctively ducked my head.
The atmosphere in class was noticeably better without Aira around. Before, she would glare at the teacher whenever they tried to scold us or raise their voice.
It was like we were finally having a normal class again.
“…Still,”
It seemed like Misato had something to say, but didn’t want to talk about it.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
What had she hesitated to say?
What did she know?
By the end of fifth period, I was starting to feel a little drowsy.
I noticed a few other students had already fallen asleep.
I opened the app and tapped on the “Command” button.
I was still only at “Level 1,” but I wondered how far I could push it.
I knew it wouldn’t be able to do anything too impressive at this level, but what I had in mind wasn’t a particularly difficult request.
Besides, this was the perfect opportunity to test it out.
The page flipped, and a text box appeared on the screen where I could enter my command. Around it were arrows and other text that read, “Write whatever you want!” in an overly enthusiastic tone.
I’ve really gotten used to this app’s weird quirks.
I entered “Answer my questions” into the box, and
“Hey, Misato,”
I called out to her.
“…What?”
She looked at me with a wary expression.
Okay, our eyes met.
If I press “Start Hypnosis” now, the command will be executed.
“…Huh?”
I pressed it.
Or rather, I thought I did, but for some reason a pop-up appeared with an unfamiliar message.
“If you execute this command, you will lose ‘Level 3’. Are you sure?”
Annoying–no, seriously?
Ryugo hesitated to touch the “Continue” button, even though his finger was hovering over it.
This is something I had been vaguely worried about.
Using hypnosis to manipulate someone.
That in itself is an act of aggression against another person.
It’s an evil act, plain and simple, that no one can deny.
It was also written in the explanation of evil acts before.
If you commit an evil act while under hypnosis, you will lose levels.
If it were just a matter of “attitude”, then at least the victim would have some control. But when it comes to “commands”, the victim’s will is not involved at all.
In other words, it’s harmful.
In other words, it’s a sin.
This app is saying that if you want to commit the undoubted evil act of manipulating someone at will, you have to pay for it in advance.
“What? A raccoon?”
Misato noticed that something was wrong with me and frowned.
“Ugh…”
Is it worth losing a level for?
Even though I felt something ominous in the air, it was nothing more than a baseless sixth sense. It was too weak to rely on.
Besides, if I lose a level, I won’t be able to use the new hypnosis I just got.
That’s right. What was it that I got recently?
“Attitude: Obedient, Tsundere”
………………….
I don’t need it.
I’ll give her a command.
Ryugo tapped “Continue” to activate the “Command” and asked Misato.
“Is it true that Aira fell down the stairs?”
I seriously kept the question indirect.
“What really happened?”
I could have asked that too.
However, this is a different kind of hypnosis than the “attitude” I’ve used before. If the rules are different, I might step on a landmine.
For example, if she remained conscious.
When the truth that she’s trying to hide spills out of her mouth against her will, anyone would feel creeped out.
The suspicion that arose turned towards Ryugo, who had asked the question.
Why is she always forced to answer the question?
She wants to know the reason for that.
No one should know that I have a hypnosis app.
If it’s a question that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ the unnaturalness should be somewhat mitigated. A one-word answer feels more like “I just blurted it out” than an answer that requires a lengthy explanation.
I’ll sacrifice level here and go for a solid effect.
And another reason why Ryugo decided to use this ‘command.’
It’s to find out if Misato is a hypnosis app user.
“No…”
The moment she uttered the negation, Misato covered her mouth with her hand.
“Ah…huh?”
She can’t hide her agitation and her gaze keeps darting around.
Aira didn’t fall down the stairs.
That’s the conclusion I came to from the answer I just heard.
But that’s only if Misato isn’t an app user.
If she’s just pretending to be one, then this information is completely unreliable.
If she knows that Ryugo is a user, it’s possible that she prepared herself in advance and is acting.
However, Misato’s current reaction seems genuine.
Confusion and fear. Those two are in harmony.
I didn’t see any other emotions mixed in.
When I looked at my phone, the hypnosis ‘command’ had been canceled.
Apparently, it can only be executed once.
“She didn’t fall, huh?”
I didn’t use it again, but I asked another question.
I thought it would be unnatural to ‘command’ her any more than that.
Besides, if I use up my levels unnecessarily, it could be dangerous later.
My current level is ’27.’
“Wh-what’s it to you?”
Misato feigned bravado while revealing her agitation.
“What business is it of yours!?”
“It’s none of my business, but don’t get cocky.”
“Don’t act all high and mighty… Then why did you ask in the first place?”
“I was just curious.”
Yeah, at first I just thought it was strange.
Now it’s gone beyond strange and into the realm of bizarre.
If there’s an unnaturalness that makes you want to ask questions, you can’t help but ask them.
“Then can you please stop praying?”
“Is that so bad?”
“Yes, it is!”
“Then I’ll just come out and ask. Did you do something to Aira?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“So?”
“So she fell.”
“So?”
From Noble mtl dot com
“So…”
“So?”
“…Kill her”
“Please forgive me, my neck is going to snap.”
Just as Misato’s choke sleeper almost sent me to the other side,
“Then, I’ll just ask Aira later”
I chose the safe option.
That evil spirit should talk honestly if she has a ‘lover’.
Since she’s the victim, she has no obligation to help cover things up.
“…Do whatever you want”
Surprisingly, Misato agreed readily.
She must be hiding something, so why isn’t she resisting me now?
“Hey, both of you”
Then, Enka came in from the side.
“I want to visit Aira-san too. Can I come with you?”
“Yeah, no problem. Misato is okay with it, right?”
When asked, Misato mumbled with a sullen face, “Do whatever you want”.
“You’re so unfriendly”
“……Shut up”
She’s being rebellious as usual.
She’s such a contrast to the always-smiling Enka.
I want to ask her what she’s so dissatisfied with, but she’ll probably just brush me off with some random reply.
Ryugo gasped and turned his attention to Enka.
“But still, you didn’t have to ask to come visit her when we’re already going.”
Then, she put a finger to her chin and hummed.
“Well… I was once a hikikomori. I know how lonely it is to be alone.”
“Huh? A hikikomori? Really?”
“It was when I was in middle school. I just didn’t want to go to school… I shut myself in my room. My mother… Oh, I live in a single-parent household. My mother told me , “You don’t have to push yourself,” and I was happy. But, I was still lonely being by myself, and everyone at school cheered me on, so I was gradually able to go to school.”
They say there’s a drama for every person, but even the cheerful and bright Enka had such a past. You can’t judge a book by its cover.
“We have to help Aira-san so she can come back to school”
“Yeah”
Honestly, I don’t ever want her to come back, but I had no choice but to nod in front of Enka.