5: The Results of the Hypnosis
After class, Ryugo stood up, feeling Aira’s gaze on him.
It would be bad if she talked to him here. He had to avoid arousing any suspicion from those around him.
However, if he broke off the hypnosis, Makoto would come after him. The situation was still precarious, and he needed Aira’s protection.
For now, he wanted to leave the classroom and get a better view of the situation.
“Hey, Raccoon.”
Misato spoke to him, resting her cheek on her hand.
“Wh-what is it…”
He answered, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Come to think of it, he had sent Misato’s desk flying when he punched Makoto.
She couldn’t possibly not be angry about that. Some of her belongings had gone flying too. Some of them must have broken.
Could she be planning some kind of revenge?
Eager to leave the classroom as quickly as possible, he considered ignoring her and walking out. But if she made a scene later, it would only cause him more trouble.
He might as well hear what she had to say.
To his surprise, Misato spoke calmly.
“Why do you have to be so difficult? Why do you always have to rebel? Are you an idiot?”
“Why? …Because it pisses me off?”
“Excuse me?”
Ryugo’s honest response made Misato’s eyes go wide.
“Those bastards… they tried to kill my best friend… Kouki. I want them to pay.”
Trapped in a cleaning closet, suffering from dehydration… Kouki Uchikawa, my friend who was hospitalized due to pressure from Aira’s parents and the school, was forced to transfer.
I’m not fighting for justice.
It’s not that noble. This is just selfish revenge.
My best friend was hurt for no reason, taken away for no reason, and expelled for no reason. How can I not resent that?
Misato’s lips tightened.
“So, are you going to pay for what you did to my desk~?”
“Of course not, idiot.”
“What did you say, you damn weasel!? You wanna go!?”
“Hey… all I can offer you right now is two thousand yen, okay!?”
“Don’t try to threaten me and then offer a settlement!?”
“I’m sorry for messing up your desk, okay!?”
“Are you emotionally unstable!?”
Thanks to the hypnosis app, I was feeling really bold.
The idea of bowing my head to the girl in front of me like I used to was completely gone.
I guess I’m starting to get my old fangs back.
As we glared at each other, sparks flying,
“What are you doing?”
Enka asked from the side.
Ryugo’s anger melted away under her gentle smile and kind voice, like a mother’s.
“You two, no fighting, okay~?”
“Ah, yeah. Sorry…”
I guess I got too heated up and worried her.
“I won’t do it again.”
“Then it’s okay! You two, make up? Okay?”
Enka took my hand and prompted me to shake hands with Misato.
Even if Enka asked me to, I couldn’t bring myself to hold hands with someone like her and act all friendly.
Besides, Misato hates me too, so she wouldn’t do it either.
Or so I thought, but
“…”
Misato’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between my hand and Enka’s face. Her expression was as if she were seeing something “impossible.”
What?
What’s wrong?
“Misato-chan?”
Enka urged her,
From Noble mtl dot com
“……Okay.”
Misato finally gave in and held out her hand.
Awkwardly and hesitantly, Ryugo and Misato’s hands clasped together. Her palm was damp with sweat.
I could feel the tension coming from Misato’s fingers.
Even then, Misato’s attention was on Enka.
With a glance that seemed to gauge her expression.
“That’s good. I guess that makes up for the fight.”
Enka gave a cheerful laugh.
“You can’t fight anymore, okay? Well, then. I have to prepare for my next class.”
I watched her back as she left, until it disappeared into the hallway, and then I let go of her hand.
When Enka’s around, no one can fight.
She’s broken up fights like this before, hasn’t she?
“……………………”
Misato was lost in thought, her head bowed and her hand over her mouth. She was completely quiet, as if the ferocity from before had been a lie.
Did Enka’s warning really get to her?
Come to think of it, I don’t think she’s ever fought in front of Enka before. That might be part of it.
Either way, I’m glad she’s calmed down.
That takes care of the immediate problem.
Now I have to start accumulating good karma points.
I searched all over the school, but there weren’t many people in need. In the first place, if Ryugo, who never helps anyone, suddenly said, “Let me help you,” they’d probably suspect something.
Besides, after that crazy chase just now, anyone who saw Ryugo would definitely consider him a person of interest.
He wouldn’t get a word in edgewise.
“Ugh… what am I going to do…”
I gasped alone in the hallway.
I have to level up, but I don’t know how.
I guess this is my punishment for always defying Aira and Makoto and never helping anyone.
“… That’s it. There’s Enka.”
She helps people at school every day. If I follow her, I might get some hints.
“She was helping with classes, right? So, the staff room?”
I went downstairs and peeked into the staff room through the door. Teachers were rushing around the long rows of desks, busy with their work. The books and folders scattered on the desks were probably for their classes.
I saw my target in the back.
Enka and the school nurse—the infirmary teacher, Kashiwagi Yuka—were talking about something.
Come to think of it, what happened to the infirmary door? Makoto probably broke it, but maybe they were talking about that.
“I wonder how I can get in there.”
If they’re fixing the door, I can help. I have a good reason to be there. This might work.
“Okay… Let’s go in.”
As I stepped forward, something grabbed the hem of my shirt from behind.
“Hm? … Huh?”
I turned around, and,
“Eep! Aira!?”
I jumped back in surprise when I saw the girl standing there. I was so startled, I thought my heart was going to leap out of my mouth.
What’s she doing here!?
Even though she’s under my girlfriend’s hypnosis, I don’t know how much it’s affecting her personality.
If she’s here to continue our argument from before, it’s going to be a pain.
Contrary to my expectations, Aira just looked away, her face expressionless.
“…Raccoon”
“W-what is it…?”
“…I have something to tell you”
“Huh?”
I have no idea what it is, but I’m supposed to be her ‘boyfriend’ now. Knowing how self-centered Aira is, she’s bound to order me around, telling me to do this or that as she pleases.
If I defy her here, I’ll regret it later.
I might as well just agree for now.
“Fine…”
“Come here”
She grabs my arm and pulls me to another school building. What on earth does she want to talk about in such an unpopular place?
The other school building has classrooms for students, such as a library and a multipurpose room. Of course, during break time, only a few students, like those using the library, pass by. No one else comes around here very often.
We can’t hear the students’ chatter from here.
The sound of the wind, the chirping of birds, the sound of each other’s breathing… There’s a slight eeriness to the desolate atmosphere.
No one is around.
In other words, it’s a blind spot on the school grounds.
Ryugo was always aware of the corners, prepared for an enemy to jump out at any moment.
But no one comes out, no matter how long we wait.
When Aira reaches the top of the stairs in the corner, she looks up at me and says,
“…Hand over your phone”
“Why? Are you planning to do something with my phone like Makoto did earlier?”
“No… I’m not! I definitely won’t!”
She’s unusually desperate to deny it.
When she raises her face, Aira’s cheeks are slightly flushed. Her eyes are moist, and she’s showing off her natural cuteness to the fullest.
“…Let’s exchange contact information”
She shyly holds out her pink smartphone.
I’m speechless at the sight of it, decorated with girly stuff.
“…Huh?”
“II said! Raccoon’s… I mean Watanuki-kun’s contact information… Please give it to me…”
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Aira so meek.
And she didn’t call me Raccoon, she called me Watanuki.
Is this how she acts towards her boyfriend?
If a gorgeous girl like this asked me for my contact information, I’d give it to her in a heartbeat.
If only she wasn’t who she is.
But what will happen after the hypnosis is lifted if I give it to her now?
There’s no telling what kind of evil she’ll use it for.
“No way”
When Ryugo flatly refuses, Aira sadly frowns.
“…Why?”
“Why would I want to get involved with a piece of trash like you…”
“Then, then I’ll be good from now on! Aira won’t bully anyone anymore! So, please? Watanuki-kun, Aira wants to…”
“No, you can’t prove it! And stop calling me Watanuki-kun.”
“Uuugh.”
Aira started shedding tears.
She covered her face with her hand as she sobbed, but drops still leaked out from between her fingers.
She was bawling her eyes out.
“But! I don’t understand when you suddenly say something like that! Everyone makes Aira mad! Aira can’t help but get angry! It’s the fault of the idiots who make me mad! Uwaaah!”
“What is this? Are you some kind of evil tyrant? Should I get rid of you?”
She seemed to have changed her personality, but deep down, she was still Aira.
That same ugly personality that was even worse than rat droppings, thinking “I’m not the bad one, everyone else is.”
I was starting to get angry, but I had to stop myself from saying anything else. I had already said too much.
Even after I release her from hypnosis, her memories will remain.
Although she won’t think anything was strange about what happened while she was hypnotized, she might get suspicious if she remembers it.
If I treat her badly now and she starts to resent me, that would be terrible.
Having to jump from the tiger’s mouth into another tiger’s mouth just to escape… Life is truly unpredictable.
“…I’ll make you a deal.”
“Really!?”
Aira’s face instantly lit up with an innocent smile.
…So, she was faking her tears after all.
“Yeah, but you have to stop making a fuss.”
“Thank you!”
She hugged me.
Her voluptuous breasts, which didn’t match her cute face, pressed against me. They were soft yet firm. The valley between her breasts was visible through the gap in her unbuttoned shirt.
Her hair smelled like peaches. Her slender arms wrapped around my back. Everything about her was incredibly alluring, stimulating my instincts as a man.
Even though I knew she was my enemy, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and joy.
If we were just talking about looks, she was beautiful enough to be a top idol.
If we were just talking about looks…
But still, she was being so affectionate.
Was this the effect of the ‘Lover’ hypnosis?