Chapter 48: A Common Fetish TS Reincarnated Girl, Mashiro Hikari, Was Saved to the Point of Despair End

A Common Fetish TS Reincarnated Girl, Mashiro Hikari, Was Saved To The Point Of Despair

I had already decided to focus on Satoshi-kun. So no matter how hungry I was, I never made a move on other kids, and I kept my interactions with others to a minimum in order to gain Satoshi-kun's trust.

...Aren't I just making my social anxiety worse? Even if it's the truth, there are things you can and can't say. You should be ashamed of yourself for thinking things that would hurt others.

That's not true. Hikari-chan would never hurt others...

I wanted to cry, but I didn't have time for that, so I held back the tears. An acquaintance I thought I had cut ties with long ago suddenly showed up as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Unfortunately, I haven't had many similar experiences, but I knew full well that this wasn't a normal situation.

They were either asking for money, or for connections, or trying to recruit me into a religion. I'm sure it was one of these three reasons.

"I don't think I'd like it if you borrowed my face, ears, and of course my body, because I don't think I'd be able to get them back. Also, I'll tell you in advance that I don't have anyone I can introduce you to, and I'm already in the right place when it comes to religion. As for money... I'll do something about it, if it's around seven figures as severance pay."

I'm not rich enough to be asked to borrow from. I'm probably not worth that much, but I have to value myself because I worked so hard to get Satoshi-kun.

It's no laughing matter if I ruin everything by looking down on myself.

"I'm happy to receive your allowance, but that's not important right now. Also, I don't ask for your opinion in this matter, so hurry up and get here. Or would you like to talk out loud here and now?"

These are comments I can't believe are coming from someone who once respected my feelings and supported me.

People call this blackmail, you know?

While I do feel sad and sorry for how completely Miho-san has changed, I don't think I have the time to dwell on such things right now.

Not only the dangerous Miho-san, but Tomohiro-kun, who heard her remark, was acting so calmly, too.

He must have already decided what I'd dislike and what he'd do in that situation. If he'd thought it through that far, it would be difficult for an average person like me to read his mind.

...Though it might have been different in the old days, when we were always together.

"...Okay. But I don't want to worry Satoshi-kun, so could you wait a little while? I don't know where you're taking me, but if I'm going out, I need to at least get ready."

With that, the two of them backed off surprisingly easily, giving me time to get changed. I wanted to use this time to think things through, but since I'd been told I had a time limit, I had to hurry.

Even if I wanted to call the police and report a suspicious person, it would take more than 10 minutes for them to get to my house. That meant that the two of them would probably be able to do something I didn't like by the time they arrived, so it would be safest to listen to what they said, considering that.

In that case, I gave up on running away or hiding and left a message so as not to cause Satoshi-kun any unnecessary worry.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Satoshi-kun, who always seemed eager to stick his nose into things, had been out since yesterday.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. So, where do you two want to take me?"

I told Tomohiro-kun I didn't want to go somewhere too far, and he said a nearby restaurant.

Normally, it wouldn't be so bad to just do as he asked and be taken to the place he'd prepared, but since my current situation is unusual, I'm always thinking negatively.

Maybe something bad will happen where I'm taken. Maybe there will be a bunch of people waiting for me and I won't be able to leave.

When it comes to someone I don't know what they're thinking, I always have to consider that possibility when choosing a place.

In that case, I'd be better off specifying the location myself. Of course, it's pointless if they contact the others or share my location information. But it's still better than nothing.

So, when I told them we'd choose a venue of my choosing, Tomohiro-kun looked surprised and Miho-san looked exasperated.

It was kind of creepy, like they had a grasp on my thoughts. Is my thought process as monotonous as you'd expect, considering we'd been apart for so long, or are they so understanding of my fundamentals that it wouldn't matter if it changed a little? If it's the latter, then that's very much love.

I'm sorry I can't reciprocate those feelings.

But really, it's such a strange feeling to have someone read your mind. It's a turn-off for me, who used to do this by default, and it's also a turn-off for the people around me who liked me so much, even though it was happening to me.

Are you guys crazy?

...If they weren't crazy, I wouldn't be interested? What should I do, I'm speechless. Ugh.

Thinking about this, I went to a restaurant closer to the one they'd chosen. They said they were going to be talking about things they didn't want others to hear, so I wanted a place with a private room.

I sat across from them, ready to make an emergency call in case something bad happened.

"Ah, it's been a while. I was surprised to hear that you suddenly stopped contacting everyone. I'm glad to see you're doing well."

Tomohiro-kun was the one who started the conversation in a friendly manner. Tomohiro-kun said that he has also improved his relationships with his family and that things seem to be going well. I have cut off most of my friendships, but I am still close with his family. Thanks to my connections with my neighbors, I find out about Tomohiro-kun's latest developments through his mother.

"That kind of greeting doesn't really matter. If we give Hikari time to think, who knows what crazy ideas she'll come up with, so I'll get straight to the point. ...We'll have time to chat after we're done, anyway."

Miho-san, with her abrasive attitude, tried to stop even a casual conversation with me.  

Yes, yes, I can tell you're just being cautious and have no ill intentions, but other people might find it annoying, so be careful. Also, I can't think of anything out of the blue, so you're overestimating me.

...Look back at my actions so far?

...Ugh. By the way, that last line is a bit concerning. I'll be on my guard.

"Getting straight to the point, we came here to stop Hikari. You're probably thinking of something stupid again, right? Let's stop doing something that doesn't make anyone happy and live peacefully."

Of course, I remember doing something that could have been stopped. Anyone with a common sense would try to stop me from eating Satoshi-kun.

It's definitely a terrible thing to do, and apart from the fact that I'd be able to enjoy the greatest beauty, it wouldn't make me happy either, as I would lose everything in my life up to that point.

...When I put it into words, it really is terrible. Well, I've decided to die for my faith, so I don't mind how terrible it is.

"...I'm sorry, I don't really understand what you're saying, Miho-san. I'm happy now, and I'm living a perfectly peaceful life with Satoshi-kun."

However, no matter how insulting the truth may be, it would be second-rate to immediately admit it just because it was pointed out to me.

You have no idea what I'm actually thinking, and I've never done anything to leave any evidence behind.

Since I didn't, it's reasonable to assume that Miho-san's words were a bluff. If that were the case, I couldn't admit it and give you any evidence.

"Hikari, that's enough. You know better than anyone that I'm not the type of person to say something like this without any evidence or conviction, right? This is too much trouble, so just let me confirm the answer."

Miho-san directly threatened me, saying she wouldn't let me go home until the answer was confirmed.

She was already cute, but she'd grown up and become a real beauty. If I were a man, I'd be flirting with her.

As I continued to escape reality like this, I considered what I should do.

Considering Miho-san's personality, I don't think she'll wait until she's really finished checking the answers, but even if she does go home once, she'll probably come back again and again.

Miho-san's obsession is deep-rooted. I was surprised that she cut ties with me just because I stopped contacting her, but I guess she was up to something strange.

If that's the case, she might not stop even if it ends up involving the police.

Just as Miho-san knows me well, I know her well too. I can guess that much, and I understand that there's probably no point in trying to cover it up a little. In that case, it would be more efficient to finish it today.

"...Okay, but I don't want any weird data to be left behind, so let me see your phone first. You're probably recording it, right?"

Miho-san's phone and Tomohiro-kun's phone. I also check Miho-san's phones No.2 and No.3, and make them pull out the wiretap, as they're probably hiding something else.

Don't click your tongue just because I've seen everything you've been hiding.

Miho-san looked displeased, and Tomohiro-kun seemed put off.

Judging from their reactions, this must be all the recording media they had. I wonder how they were planning to use the answers I gave them. I'm sure their goals were more reasonable than mine.

"Well, I'll answer anything I can. I'll decide whether I can answer or not, so feel free to ask me anything you want."

Even though it was necessary, it was my loss that I promised them that I had a suitable answer. Although it was a loss, thanks to my usual good behavior it didn't hurt that much.

This was collateral damage, I told myself, and continued answering their questions.

It's not surprising that these two would notice my intentions, and even if they tried to use that fact to thwart my goals, Satoshi-kun would probably just think it was nonsense.

Between me and two classmates he's not even particularly close to, Satoshi-kun would trust me. That's the kind of relationship of trust we've built over the past few years.

"I see, so Hikari really was trying to defame me. I trusted her, so it's really a shame."

...That's what I thought when I spoke.

It was a mistake. I let my guard down.

I thought no one would be there because I chose a location other than the one the other person had prepared.

I thought the conversation couldn't be recorded, so no one would overhear.

I never imagined that the person I least wanted to be overheard would be there.

Frantically trying to explain myself, I gave up when I saw the expression on Satoshi-kun's face as he arrived.

It wasn't a look of someone who believed me, but one of disappointment. The fact that he literally looked disappointed was proof that I had taken root in him, but the current situation was so bad that even that was no comfort.

Miho-san and Tomohiro-kun had tricked me, and Satoshi-kun found out my plan. I was fooled by the promise of a check, and I told them everything, so now he knew everything about what I was planning to do with him.

My dreams and goals, the things I'd dedicated my life to, had all been ruined.

"...You two are so awful. What grudge do you have against me that would make you do this?"

I keep saying "what grudge," but I know better than anyone what I've done.

I betrayed Miho-san, who wanted to be with me even in my next life, and ruined Tomohiro-kun's family, which should have been a happy one.

They must hate me, and it's within their right to ruin my plans in retaliation.

"Haha, Hikari, aren't you mistaken? We don't do this because we hate or dislike you."

If that's the case, how could they do such a terrible thing? I feel resentful, thinking that they has ruined my life.

"We did this because we thought it was for Hikari's sake."

As Satoshi-kun says this, he hands me a hand mirror.

How could any of this be for my sake?  

Surely he's not thinking something so foolish as to break my spirit and force me to live a normal life in my best interest?

With this in mind, I look at Tomohiro-kun, and the boy he once was has grown up and looks into my eyes.

"This is a present from us to our beloved Hikari-chan. Working hard to build it all up, only to have it all ruined all of a sudden, is what Hikari-chan likes the most, right?"

The face reflected in the hand mirror Satoshi-kun handed me was distorted with a look of intense satisfaction.

[Normal Ending Completed]