Chapter 19 : I want to use you

[ Blooming Academy Midterm Exam Notice ]

Now, as if it were a habit, Yena arrived at school with me, and a notice was prominently posted on the classroom board.

“Academy Year 1, Semester 1 Midterm Exams…”

Last time, it was only on the hallway bulletin board, but now they’ve put one up in the classroom too.

Anyway.

Since we arrived quite early, the classroom was quiet.

One person was already slumped over, asleep.

Another had their textbook open, diligently scribbling something in a notebook.

Two girls, who had been chatting softly, turned their gaze toward us when they heard us enter.

As if on cue, they both raised their hands in greeting.

“Hi.”

“Yena! Hayul, you too—hello!”

First, Winter… and who was the other one?

Unlike Winter, who gave off a cold vibe, the other girl had deep blonde hair and seemed much livelier.

I wasn’t sure. I hadn’t memorized all their names yet…

“Ah, yeah. Autumn, Winter—hello.”

“Ahaha… hiiii…”

Oh, so her name was Autumn.

Autumn…?

Isn’t that too similar to Winter?

What an interesting name. Maybe they have the same parents? That’d be kinda cool.

‘But their looks…’

The two had very distinct features.

To put it bluntly—they didn’t look alike at all.

Black hair, black eyes vs. blonde hair, golden eyes.

Clomp— clomp—

Lost in thought, I walked to my seat.

The very back row by the window.

As soon as Yena sat down, she rested her arms on the desk and immediately flopped forward.

‘…Tired?’

I wanted to ask, but she seemed especially exhausted today, so I hesitated.

This hasn’t happened before. Weird. Maybe I should just let her rest…?

As if sensing my intense stare, Yena turned her head slightly and spoke.

“…What?”

“Ah, uh. Well.”

Her voice—damn, it’s husky.

Seriously.

Her slightly drowsy, weakened tone short-circuited my brain for a second.

“Ahem.”

Save those kinds of sounds for the bedroom, would you…?

Our seats were pretty far apart, but I whispered just in case.

“Yena. Are those two twins?”

“…Huh? Pfft, wanna go say that to their faces? They’d get mad.”

She tilted her head slightly, looking at me as she answered.

“Eek. I can’t even imagine Winter getting angry, though…”

“No. Autumn hates being asked that. ‘Where do you even see twins?’ she’d say.”

“Yikes, glad I asked first. That could’ve been bad.”

“But they’re always together. Like, they even go to the study room as a pair every time.”

“…!”

Study room partners…?

Does that mean… they’re in that kind of relationship, like me and Yena?

Gasp…

‘No wonder they’d get mad at the twin joke.’

I wonder who’s on top?

With me and Yena, it’s definitely me.

…Well, when hypnosis is involved.

If we’re being honest, without it, it’s 50-50?

If I said, ‘Even after hypnosis wears off, obey me!’ I’d win 100%, but she’s just being nice.

Got it, Yena?

Be good to me.

Anyway. Hope those two have a happy love life.

‘Study room…’

Mentioning the study room brought back vivid memories of yesterday.

That perverted beauty forcing a kiss on me.

How she could easily pin my wrist with just one hand.

And how, at the very end, I willingly wrapped my arms around her neck and hugged her tight.

‘I felt it clearly yesterday.’

…The problem is how I felt it.

Experimental results:

Hypnosis can’t make someone fall in love instantly.

But if there’s even a hint of emotion, it can amplify it.

Turning 0 into 1 is hard, but turning 1 into 100 seems possible?

The proof is what happened yesterday.

When I told her to act like lovers, she just sat there blankly.

But the moment I said, ‘Think of me as your master,’ she immediately pinned me down.

…Suddenly annoyed.

So you don’t love me, you just want my body?

I glared at Yena with displeasure.

“…Hmph.”

She had already buried her face in her arms.

Her back rose and fell steadily—she must’ve fallen asleep.

What did you even do last night to be this tired?

‘Anyway.’

If I can make Yena fall in love with me…

Then amplifying that emotion should be possible, right?

So my first goal is to make Yena fall in love.

“…As if that’s easy. Sigh…”

My dear wife bolted upright the second the teacher walked in.

Meanwhile, I scrambled to take notes, barely keeping up.

The explanations made little sense.

I understood at first, but then—

Bam! The teacher dove into advanced territory.

‘Someone save me…’

Looking around, it seemed like everyone else got it.

Am I the only idiot here?

Am I the only failure?!

‘…But I have Yena.’

A cutting-edge tutor.

Sure, she’s a little shady, but—

I’ll ask her when we go to the study room later.

Scritch, scratch.

The sound of pencils echoed from both sides.

Chalk danced across the blackboard.

Black is the board, white is the writing…

This is too hard, damn it…

“… “

“… “

“… Ugh…”

So noisy…

“…Hic!”

Before I knew it, I had closed my eyes.

When I jolted awake and looked around, class was already over.

Ah, I really shouldn’t keep doing this.

The uniquely loud chatter of girls filled the classroom, making it chaotic.

Still, after a few days, I’d gotten used to it.

It was bearable noise now.

What was it called—white noise? Something like that.

I glanced to the side, but Yena was gone, leaving only her books scattered on the desk.

“Where’d she go?”

“Yaaawn~. Me? Here.”

“Eek! Cold—! You scared me!”

“Hehe.”

A freezing touch coiled around my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

Startled, I reached back and felt soft skin.

Yena must’ve been messing with me.

Did she just come back from the bathroom?

Her hands were still cool.

Maybe she’d just washed them.

I pulled her hand forward and cradled it between both of mine.

My heart raced a little—it felt nice.

Just holding the hand of someone you like is happiness in itself.

As her arm was tugged forward, Yena ended up leaning closer to me, looking even more exhausted than I thought.

“Yena, you that tired? What’d you do last night?”

“You— Haa. Nooothing…”

“What? Finish your sentence.”

“Mmm, just tired. Extra tired today. That’s all.”

“How boring… Wanna go to the infirmary? Or the snack bar?”

Maybe lying down on the infirmary bed would help.

Or grabbing coffee from the snack bar.

I wasn’t sure if she understood my concern, but Yena reached her other hand toward my chin.

Swish—

Suddenly remembering yesterday, I reflexively flinched away—but seeing her fingers lingering in the air, I reluctantly leaned back in.

Right, Yena doesn’t remember.

No need to overreact.

After a brief pause, Yena relaxed and gently scratched my chin.

‘She really likes holding my chin, huh.’

Even back then, she instinctively went for my chin first.

What is this, pet training?

Not that I minded.

I let her keep going—

Then I caught a glimpse of pale skin.

‘T-This kind of thing—only when we’re alone, got it?!’

Uncharacteristically, Yena had left the top buttons of her shirt undone today.

Bent slightly to scratch my chin, her disheveled shirt revealed more than intended.

Still holding her hand, I quickly reached up and buttoned her shirt all the way—tight.

Seriously, I’ll die. Stop showing this stuff in public.

Yena watched me quietly, then pfft—laughed when she saw how tightly I’d buttoned her up.

“Next line?”

“…Huh?”

“‘Infirmary, snack bar, or… me?’ Say it properly.”

“Wha—?! Y-You—! I was worried about you!”

“Uuu, my head’s spinning… Stop…”

I must’ve shaken her too hard without realizing.

Her unsteady swaying made me loosen my grip immediately.

Ah, her shirt’s wrinkled now.

I feel so bad—

Wait, no. She started this.

Sigh…

“Only hurts when it’s convenient, huh…”

“Heh, next period’s P.E., right? So…”

“So?”

“I wanna use you.”

“…!”

Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What?!

I swear I heard a whoosh in my ears.

My face burned red in an instant.

Not that it was visible, but my cheeks were hot enough to prove it.

Use me how…?!

She’s tired but still wants to use me? Just how lewd is she planning to—?!

Her perverted imagination was on another level—I felt my sanity slipping.

“N-No way! Figure it out yourself!”

“…So that’s a yes?”

“Guh…! I-I’m gonna go change!”

“We’re going to the same—”

Thudthudthud—

If I heard the rest of that sentence, I’d die. I bolted for the changing room in a panic.

Girls walking down the hallway turned to stare.

Guess when you’re this embarrassed, shame doesn’t even register. Their gazes didn’t faze me.

“Ah.”

Then it hit me—

I wasn’t carrying anything.

I was already halfway there.

No choice but to turn back—

“…Pfft— Kkhh… Kuhahaha!”

Yena stood there, holding my bag in one hand—my clothes inside.

Her own clothes must’ve been in her other hand.

Ugh, nothing’s going right today.

So much had happened that I just felt… hollow.

…Yeah, no. I wasn’t hollow at all. I was even more embarrassed. The deeper you go, the deeper it gets.

“…S-Stop laughing! People make mistakes, okay?! Sometimes you just— forget things…!”

“Mm. Right. Mistakes happen… Totally normal…”

Why’s she emphasizing it? Scary.

Yena’s grin was unsettling.

I huffed and marched over, standing right in front of her.

Then I grabbed my bag from her hand—

Or tried to.

Flick—

“Should’ve said, ‘Thanks for getting my stuff~!’ Right?”

Huh?

Wait.

Why are you like this today?!