episode_0073

Several days had passed since Haruka found out about my relationship with Ms. Miharu. During that time, I hadn’t been feeling very good. There were two reasons for this. First, [I’ll call you when I’ve calmed down…] Haruka’s words had been bothering me. And the other reason was, 【Status】 [Haru] [Corruption: 15%] [Lust: 0%] [Developed Areas▼] [Capture Progress: 45%] [Salvation Progress: 39%] [Scenario Progress: 38%] It was because Haru’s salvation progress had significantly decreased. Even her corruption level had risen slightly. I stared at the screen in front of me for a long time, then turned it off and let out a deep sigh. “Haa…” I’d felt like my luck was good, but then something like this suddenly happened. I had been feeling gloomy for a while, but I soon pulled myself together. ‘Don’t be too disappointed. After all, it was salvation progress I’d gained easily by chance anyway.’ No. Even thinking that, it really was too much of a waste. Anyway, having composed myself, I rested my chin on my hand and pondered. “Then, should I use the second tip now…” It seemed it was time to use the second tip. [TIP2 You might find something good if you search the villain’s office?]

***

Inside the school, late in the day, after all the students who weren’t involved in club activities had left. The track and field club was still facing a fierce, cold wind today. Because, “Oh my, junior~ Your grades are much lower than last time… What happened?” “Hmph… I’m just pacing myself these days.” “Hmm~ Doesn’t look like it~” “Ha, since when did you act like a senior? Don’t meddle.” The battle of wills between Haru and an unnamed second-year senior had reached its peak. Thanks to that, the club activities were a complete mess. In a whale fight, the shrimp’s back breaks [a proverb about collateral damage], so the other students’ performance was also inconsistent. In this situation, the teacher should have originally calmed the situation, but “Haha, kids grow by fighting, you know.” Kumoto had no intention of doing so. In fact, he hoped they would fight. He planned to profit from their struggles anyway. Of course, he analyzed how their fight would unfold, separately from his personal gain. ‘Looking at the current situation, the second-years will win. Even if she’s a capable one, the grade difference can’t be ignored.’ Having made that judgment, Kumoto grinned sinisterly when no one was watching and muttered, ‘She probably won’t last long in that state. The pressure from a second-year senior is more painful than imaginable.’ He could be certain, having had similar experiences himself. Haru would either give in soon or her mental state would waver. ‘And I just have to wait for that moment.’ Whatever happened, there was no loss for him. Thinking that, Kumoto returned to his office, and Haru remained seated on a school bench, letting out a deep sigh. “Haa…”

Things had been a little better a few days ago, but nothing was going well again lately. Her seniors had started to undermine her again for new selections, things had become awkward with her childhood friend, and the physical education teacher’s gaze had grown even more blatant. Thanks to this, she was quite stressed, but. “Hmph… But I still have to keep going.” Fortunately, she didn’t get irritable like before. Instead, she pulled herself together. The reason she could do that was, as expected, thanks to the boy she had met before. Thanks to what that boy had told her, she was able to relax a little. Just as she composed herself and was about to resume her workout. “Rest a little longer, then go.” “Huh?” Suddenly, a voice started from beside her. Despite the fact that there was clearly no one around. Haru looked around with a surprised expression at the strange situation, but saw nothing. ‘There’s clearly no one here?’ Haru was quite startled, but fortunately, that feeling soon disappeared. “Over here. Right here.” “Oh, you’re…?” “It’s been a while.” Suddenly, she felt a strange touch on her hand, so she looked down. It was the boy she had seen last time. Haru greeted the boy happily as soon as she saw him. Perhaps because he had listened to her worries and cheered her on, she felt a strong sense of affinity for him. Someone else entered the school. Isn’t that strange? Originally, this was a high school specializing in sports, so outsiders often visited for tours and such, so it wasn’t particularly strange. Therefore, it was also fine to approach and talk naturally like this. “Wow. It’s been a while. Oh, by any chance, is your name…” Thinking that, she realized she had forgotten to introduce themselves to each other. To Haru’s question, Takuya replied as if it were nothing. “My name is Mori Takuya.” “Ah. Right, Takuyakun.” At Takuya’s words, Haru asked with a visibly happy expression, “What brings you here? A school tour for college admission?” Takuya shook his head in response to that question. This wasn’t where Takuya was aiming, after all. At Takuya’s denial, Haru asked with a puzzled expression. “Then why are you here?” “Ah. I saw Nuna and thought I’d just watch you exercise and then leave.” “Really?!” At Takuya’s words, she chuckled. Seeing her reaction, Takuya wondered why she was so happy. And his question was very easily resolved by her single remark. “Hiro, that guy, he’s such a pain, he never comes even once…” It was because of Hiro, who always seemed to appear. ‘Ugh. It’s you again, Hiro.’ Takuya couldn’t help but sigh at the name Hiro.

***

As soon as I heard Haru’s words, I slapped my forehead and sighed. It made sense, considering Hiro’s notorious reputation I’d heard until now. No. Honestly, it wouldn’t matter if it were just any ordinary woman, but to act like that even towards someone he liked… ‘No. Is this Hiro guy really someone who likes Haru?’ Because of that, it wasn’t strange to have such thoughts. In addition, ‘Is it really okay to connect them?’ I had this thought too. But these thoughts were only for a moment. ‘Hmph, it’s an important mission with a reward, so. I’ll just try my best to connect them.’ I brainwashed myself into thinking that again. Anyway, once I had pressed the selection, I had no other choice. Anyway, while I was lost in thought like this, Haru, who was next to me, chattered at me. “Hey, Takuyakun. Are you listening?” The problem was that I wasn’t listening to her. “Haha. I was just lost in thought for a moment.” At my words, Haru pouted slightly for a moment. At that expression, I scratched my head and chuckled. Anyway, after that, I had a short conversation with Haru, and then Haru went back to exercise. While Haru went back to exercise, I put on my coat, erased my presence, and looked around the vicinity. Why was I wandering around? My original intention was to ask Haru where the physical education teacher’s office was, but I forgot, so I had to go find it myself. ‘Now that I think about it. I’ve seen the villain a few times, but I’ve never actually been to the office.’ Anyway, after wandering around for a while. I arrived at the door of what appeared to be a particularly large room compared to other places, with a large “Track and Field Club” sign written above it. ‘This must be the office.’ Although it was expressed in dots, I could easily deduce it, remembering it was a ridiculously large place for one person to use. Besides, there was a sign there in the first place. Having arrived in front of the track and field club office, I pondered for a moment. By now, the physical education teacher, the villain, would definitely be there. So I thought about how to get in without being caught. Couldn’t I just go in and hypnotize him? Of course, I had thought of that. To put it simply, unfortunately, it was impossible. Because, [Hypnosis does not work on the villain of this scenario until the scenario ends.] The screen had already made it clear it wouldn’t work. I had actually tried something similar a few times, and almost got caught. Therefore, I couldn’t use hypnosis. Just as I was contemplating what to do in front of the door, —Creak. Suddenly, the closed door of the track and field club opened, and Kumoto, the physical education teacher and villain, burst out. To be precise, he was on the phone. “Yes, yes. Chairman. Ah, I’m glad to talk to you after a long time…” And it was a call from a very important person. ‘Chairman? If it’s the Chairman… Ah. No way!’ Hiding in a corner, listening to Kumoto’s words, my eyes widened at the title “Chairman.” If my memory served me right, that Chairman was the one who, along with the physical education teacher, treated Haru like a plaything in the ending. To be precise, he was Kumoto’s backer. It was common sense that a high school girl currently attending school wouldn’t be used like a plaything without a backer. While I internally recalled memories of the game, Kumoto’s words continued. “Ah. Are you not having meetings these days? Ah. Well, the girl I had been using last time ran away. Soon, I’ll catch a fresh one, and we can have a good time. Haha!” He must have thought it wasn’t something to say in the hallway, as he spoke in a significantly lowered voice, but I heard everything. The conversation between the Chairman and Kumoto continued for a long time, and after a considerable while, Kumoto finally ended the call and mumbled, crumpling the flip phone in his hand. “Ugh, tch, that old pervert. How much does he like women? Laying hands on someone his grandchild’s age.” He said that, yet he himself was laying hands on someone his daughter’s age. Muttering that, Kumoto disappeared down the hallway, and soon only I and this silent place remained. Ah. To be precise, one more thing remained. [Ah. Are you not having meetings these days? Ah. Well, the girl I had been using last time ran away. Soon, I’ll catch a fresh one, and we can have a good time. Haha!] It was the recorded content that proved Kumoto’s crime.