Chapter 3 – Restart

　The day after I experienced the most unpleasant day of my life.

　I awoke to a most unpleasant mood.

　The morning sun was hateful to the extent where I wondered if I’d become Dracula.

　It was time to wake up. When I looked at the screen of my smartphone to turn off the alarm, there were calls from that guy.

　There were also mails.[1]

　… Just his name appearing in my field of vision is unpleasant.

　I deleted him from my contacts and blocked all incoming calls and messages from unknown numbers.

“… Alright!”

　Today onwards, I am reborn.

　It’s a Brand New・Torida Kii.

　I broke into tears after reaching home yesterday, and cried in the bath because I didn’t want my eyes to get all puffy.

　Submerged in the bathtub, I cried.

　Even if I raise my voice underwater, you can only hear blub blub sounds, so my family didn’t hear me crying.

　My eyes won’t feel much friction if I wipe my face quickly, so they won’t swell so easily.

　Other than that, I simply cast ‘mind control’ on myself, that it’s a waste to shed tears over that sc.u.m.

　The tears of a maiden is extremely precious. What a waste, what a waste.

　My face appears as usual thanks to my stirring efforts.

　I… worked hard!

　First of all, I naturally stopped tying twin tails.

　Leaving my hair down, I lightly coiled the ends and made soft curls.

　It gives a slightly mature feel.

　… It’s solely my personal impression though.

　I also took off the ‘cunning’ cardigan and tied it around my waist.

　I’m changing my image.

　Isolating myself from the『imouto label』!

　It’s a De-Cunning Campaign!

　Next, I’ll definitely drag that guy to h.e.l.l!

“Kii!”

　I psyched myself and opened the door at the entranceway in high spirits. I then wanted to close it the very next moment.

(… Why is he here?)

　My brows reflexively furrowed.

　The one whom I thought should be wiped out from earth, Kagurazaka Aoi from the sc.u.m family of the sc.u.m species, is there.

　It can be that he’s concerned over the disappearance of the favorability rating, and is here to ascertain that.

　Come to think of it, I was also in the middle of confessing.

　Close shave, I was just about to cross the Sanzu River[2], huh.

　I don’t want to get directly involved with him anymore, but I can’t be stuck by the entrance forever.

“Kii? … You give off a feeling different from usual, don’t you. You changed your hairstyle?”

　Looking at me who left the house, the sc.u.m acted bashful and blushed as though he was captivated.

　I’ll never be fooled by that acting again.

　The me from before would have asked something like『Is it weird?』; questions that will induce a『It’s cute』response. And once I’m told that it’s cute, I’ll go『Being told that by senpai… I’m very happy』while turning red like a tomato. However, I won’t do something cold like that now that my eyes are opened.

“Please do not call my name so familiarly.”

“… Eh?”

“Rather, kindly refrain from speaking to me at all from now on. Bye.”

“Eh? Eh?”

　He seems to be panicking with widened eyes, but even that appears irritating to me.

　As if I give a hoot! I left him be and started walking.

　In a moment, he chased after me while still looking confused.

　Gross, exceedingly gross.

　Even that face which my heart throbbed so much at, made me feel like puking when I see it.

　Gross.

　Let’s not call him ikemen from now on, but gross-man.

“Kii? What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did I… do something? It doesn’t go through even when I try to contact you…”

“I deleted your contact. Your existence inside of me has also been deleted.”

“Eh?”

　Gross-man’s legs stopped.

　For an instant I saw his stiff face, but because I moved on without stopping, the gross-man disappeared from my vision.

　I sense a presence behind me, so he’s probably following me.

　Ah, gross,

　I can feel an aura that’s asking me to be mindful of him.

　Ignore, I say! Ignore!

　Today is Monday, the start of the week.

　The capturable character whose favourability rating increases today is the clumsy student-teacher, Komatani Akari.

　Appearance-wise, she has short red hair and light brown eyes.

　Her artless figure clad in a suit is appealing.

　Gross-man is, as expected, with her.

　It’s his standard behaviour, what he usually does.

　… Does it mean that I wasn’t a deterrence at all?

　While it’s not like I want him to be mindful of me, I’m p.i.s.sed at how bold his nerves are.

　Fall into h.e.l.l.

　Step on pincus.h.i.+ons, drown in lakes of blood, death by boiling!

　The corridor on the 2nd floor along the 2nd-years’ cla.s.srooms.

　There, the two of them are side-by-side, chatting happily.

　Gross-man placed his hand on Akari’s cheek, and whispered something.

　After which Akari’s face reddened, and she gazed at gross-man with dewy eyes.

“C… Cold.”

　I was close to s.h.i.+vering, thinking that I was about to be captured like that, too.

　I’ll freeze if I keep looking at them.

　My eyes met with gross-man’s the instant I tried to look away.

　Gross-man’s eyes widened, and he stiffened.

　He hurriedly removed his hand from Akari’s cheeks, but I am no longer a capturable target.

　I will not do things like leaving in tears while crying『So it wasn’t only me!?』.

　I quickly averted my gaze so that Akari will not notice, and took my leave.

　I have an important mission.

　Bringing the iron hammer down on him.

　I cannot forget that.

　I will definitely clear my grudge.

　Or so I say, but I won’t do things like killing him.

　Well, that’s blindingly obvious though.

　I won’t do violent things.

　I am a maiden after all~!

　I’m thinking of doing something that will be damaging to him.

　That is…

　I’m thinking of s.n.a.t.c.hing the capturable targets from him.

　I’ll open those girls’ eyes.

　He probably came this far making full use of his smartphone.

　I’ll destroy it all.

　I believe that is the most effective method.

　Stop the harem![3]

　To the same extent that the global warming must be prevented, I must stop it!

　First and foremost, today’s victim, Akari.

　She comes to this school as a student-teacher.

　Despite harbouring the dream of becoming a teacher as wonderful as her respected teacher… 

　Being taken in by his trickery, she’s in a situation where the inside of her head is full of him and she can’t focus on her long-awaited job.

　I secretly left an envelope on her desk in the empty staff room.

　It was the photographs I took of him and the girls when I shadowed him, along with the words『Please open your eyes. Please cherish your dream. 』.

　That, and one more thing.

　I’m thinking of using the knowledge from the game.

　Akari’s desk had a book she received from her respected teacher.

　There should be a photograph she took with her teacher wedged within it.

“… There it is.”

　At the bottom of the lowest large drawer.

　For it to be in such a place, does it mean that she hasn’t been reading this book recently?

　That’s not good.

　I left the book next to the letter which I hope can ‘awaken’ her.

　And gently placing the photograph with her teacher on top…

“What a good smile…”

　It was a photograph of her graduation.

　The high-schooler Akari was carrying a bouquet beside her teacher, making a peace sign with a dazzling smile.

“… It’ll be nice if you can regain the feelings you had back then.”

　It might be impossible for her to immediately open her eyes, I hope that this will the impetus for her ‘awakening’.

　It was when I was thinking that I’ll look at the situation, and deal the next move if this isn’t effective.

――Thud thud.

“!?”

　The sound of heels resounding in the corridor.

　One of the female teachers is probably returning.

　Fortunately, I can make a quick escape because the door is open.

　For now, I hid in the shadow of the pillar by the door which is on the opposite side of where the sounds are coming from. 

　It is Akari who returned.

　It seems she already parted from gross-man… how early.

　She placed the key back to the key rack and returned to her own desk… where she found the letter.

　What her eyes first turned to was the photograph taken with her respected teacher and the book.

　Her bearing seems to be saying『Why are they here?』.

　Next, she took『that letter』.

　Opening the envelope, the first thing she saw was the photographs.

“No way… Aoi-kun?”

　Her eyes widened, and the name of the sc.u.m spilled from her lips.

　For her to say his name, while there may be no one around, she was probably shocked enough to forget that this is the staff room.

　Her legs likely couldn’t support her anymore; she crumbled down onto the chair.

　Placing her hand on her forehead, she repeatedly mumbled『No way…』in a tearful voice.

　My chest started to hurt when I saw that expression.

　The thought of『d.a.m.n sc.u.m, serve you right!』didn’t cross my mind.

　As though I, who was in the same situation as her until recently, resonated with her feelings, something welled up in me.

　She was reading my letter as I withstood the compulsion.

　『Please open your eyes. Please cherish your dream.』

　Akari’s hand, which was holding the photographs so tightly that they crumpled, lowered. Putting down the disgusting and unpleasant photographs, she looked at the photograph with her respected teacher and the book.

“… Sensei.”

　Spilling that single word… she simply, simply gazed at the photograph.

　… Let’s go. My mission is over.

()

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※※※

　My arm was suddenly seized just as I was about to leave the front gate in order to head home.

　What’s going on? Turning to look, the culprit was… it’s you, huh.

“I think I told you not to touch me, didn’t I?”

“Kii, just now, there was a strand of hair on Komatani-sensei’s face. That’s why…”

“I’m not interested.”

“… Eh?”

“Like I said, reports like that are absolutely unnecessary as it’s something completely unrelated to me.”

　Looking into his eyes, I told him clearly.

　Gross-man’s expression looked unsettled.

　It appears that he doesn’t understand what I really mean.

　It’s just as my words indicate, but does he not understand English[4]?

　It’s also irritating how he’s calling her『Komatani-sensei』when he’s giving an explanation like this, even though he calls her『Akari』when he’s with her.

　Deciding not to deal with him anymore, I tried to break free and leave. However, gross-man tightened his hold and smiled at me.

“Kii. Let’s go home together.”

“I shall refuse, forevermore.”

　This guy, can’t he read the atmosphere?

　To think he extended an invitation with the flow just now.

　I’ll never again say『To be able to go home with senpai, I’m so happy.』bashfully.

“Please don’t ever invite me! Perpetuamente![5]”

　Not bothering to check his reaction, I forcibly broke my arm free and left for home.

　Ahh, so tiring…