Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Evidence (1)
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A few days had passed since Haruka found out about my relationship with Miharu-san.
During that time, I hadn't been in a great mood.
There were two reasons for that. One was...
[I'll call you once I've calmed down...]
Haruka's words had been nagging at me.
And the other reason was...
Haru's salvation progress had dropped sharply.
Her corruption level had even gone up a bit.
I stared at the screen in front of me for a long while before closing it and letting out a deep sigh.
"Haa..."
Just when I thought my luck was turning, this had to happen.
Thanks to that, I'd been feeling down for a while, but I soon pulled myself together.
'Don't regret it too much. It was salvation progress I got by chance anyway.'
No. Even thinking that way, it still felt like a huge loss.
Anyway, steeling my resolve like that, I rested my chin on my hand and pondered.
"So, should I use the second tip now..."
It seemed like it was about time to try the second tip.
You might find something good if you search the Villain's office?
It was late at school, after all the students not in club activities had left.
The track club was in chaos again today, with the cold wind howling.
Because...
"Oh my, junior~ Your times are way worse than last time... What's going on?"
"Hoo... I've been pacing myself lately."
"Hmm~ Doesn't look that way to me~"
"Hah, since when did you become a senior? Worry about your own times."
The verbal sparring between Haru and an unnamed second-year senior had reached its peak.
Club practice was a total mess because of it.
The other students were so flustered by the whales' fight that their own times were all over the place.
In a situation like this, the teacher should normally step in to calm things down, but...
"Haha, kids grow up fighting, right?"
Kumoto had no intention of doing so. He actually wanted them to keep going.
After all, he planned to benefit from it no matter what.
Of course, separately from that, he analyzed how the fight would play out.
'Looking at the current state, the second-years will win. Even if she's talented, the grade difference is hard to overcome.'
Judging it that way, Kumoto smirked slyly where no one could see and muttered.
'She probably won't hold out long in that state. The pressure from a second-year senior is more grueling than you think.'
He was certain because he'd been through something similar. Haru would either submit soon or her mentality would crack.
'I just need to wait for that moment.'
Either way, he wouldn't lose out.
Thinking that, Kumoto returned to the office, while Haru sat on a school bench and let out a deep sigh.
"Haa..."
A few days ago, things had felt a bit okay, but lately, nothing was going right again.
The seniors had started badmouthing her to push for a new selection, things were awkward with her childhood friend, and the PE teacher's gaze had grown even more blatant.
Stress was piling up because of it, but...
"Hoo... Still, I have to keep pushing."
Fortunately, she wasn't snapping irritably like before.
She was pulling herself together instead.
The reason she could do that was thanks to that boy she'd met before.
His words had given her a bit of leeway.
As she steeled her mind and was about to resume training...
"Rest a bit longer before you go."
"Huh?"
A voice suddenly came from beside her.
Even though there was clearly no one around.
Startled by the strange situation, Haru looked around in surprise, but saw nothing.
'No one's here, right?'
She was pretty shocked, but luckily, the feeling faded quickly.
"Over here. Here."
"Huh, you?"
"Long time no see."
She suddenly felt a strange sensation in her hand and looked down. There was that boy from before.
The moment Haru saw him, she greeted him happily.
He'd listened to her troubles and cheered her on, so her inner affinity for him was high.
Wasn't it weird for an outsider to be at school?
This was originally a sports high school, so outsiders often came to watch or observe, nothing unusual.
That's why approaching her so naturally and striking up a conversation worked fine.
"Wow, long time no see. Ah, um, your name was..."
That's when she realized she'd forgotten to exchange names.
To her question, Takuya answered casually.
"I'm Mori Takuya."
"Ah, right. Takuya-kun."
At Takuya's words, Haru visibly brightened and asked.
"What brings you here? School visit for admissions?"
Takuya shook his head firmly.
This wasn't the school he was aiming for.
At his denial, Haru looked puzzled and asked.
"Then why are you here?"
"Ah, I saw you, sis, so I thought I'd watch you practice before heading out."
"Really?!"
She giggled at his words.
Takuya wondered why she was so pleased.
And that question was easily answered by her next words.
"That Hiro guy's too lazy to ever come even once..."
It was because of Hiro, who always showed up at the worst times.
'Damn it. You again, Hiro.'
Takuya couldn't help sighing at the name Hiro.
The moment I heard Haru's words, I slapped my forehead and groaned.
It made sense when I thought about Hiro's infamous reputation so far.
No, honestly, it wouldn't matter for an ordinary girl, but to act like that even toward someone he likes?
'Does Hiro really like Haru?'
It wasn't strange for such thoughts to cross my mind.
And on top of that...
'Is it really okay to hook them up?'
That too.
But such thoughts were fleeting.
'Hoo, it's an important mission with rewards on the line, so I'll just do my best to hook them up.'
I brainwashed myself like that.
After all, I'd already made my choice; there were no other options left for me.
Anyway, while I was lost in those thoughts...
Haru, sitting beside me, chattered away.
"Hey, Takuya-kun. Are you listening?"
The problem was, I hadn't heard a word.
"Haha. I was lost in thought for a sec."
At my words, Haru pouted a bit.
I scratched my head and laughed it off.
Anyway, after that, I chatted casually with Haru, and she went back to training.
While she did that, I put on my coat, erased my presence, and wandered around nearby.
Why was I prowling around?
I'd originally planned to ask Haru where the PE teacher's office was, but I forgot, so I had to find it on foot.
'Come to think of it, I've seen the Villain a few times, but never been to his office.'
Anyway, after wandering a bit...
I arrived in front of a door with a large "Track Club" sign and what seemed like an unusually big room.
'This must be the office.'
I remembered it being pixelated but ridiculously large for one person, so I could guess easily.
Plus, there was the sign.
Arriving at the track club office, I hesitated for a moment.
It was about time for the Villain PE teacher to be there.
So I pondered how to get in without being caught.
Why not just go in and hypnotize him?
I'd thought of that too, of course. Sadly, it wasn't possible.
Because...
[Hypnosis does not work on the villain of the scenario until the scenario ends.]
The screen had already stamped it as impossible.
I'd even tried a few times similarly and nearly got caught.
So hypnosis was off-limits.
As I stood in front of the door racking my brain...
-Creak.
The track club door suddenly opened, and out burst the PE teacher and Villain, Kumoto.
More precisely, while on the phone.
"Yes, yes. Chairman. Ahh, it's been a while since we talked, good to hear from you..."
And it was from someone pretty important.
'Chairman? The chairman... Ah, no way!'
Hiding in a corner and listening to Kumoto, my eyes widened at "chairman."
If my memory was right, that chairman was the guy who treated Haru like a plaything alongside the PE teacher at the end.
More precisely, Kumoto's backer.
It made sense; you couldn't toy with an active high school girl without backup.
While I recalled game memories inwardly, Kumoto continued.
"Ah, no more gatherings lately? Ah, that assistant I trained last time ran away. I'll catch another fresh one soon, and we can have some good times. Haha!"
He lowered his voice, thinking it wasn't for the hallway, but I heard everything.
The conversation with the chairman dragged on, and only after a while did Kumoto end the call, stuff his flip phone in his pocket, and mutter.
"Ugh, tsk, that old pervert. How much does he love women? Laying hands on girls his granddaughter's age."
Says the guy who messes with ones his daughter's age.
Kumoto vanished down the hall after muttering, leaving me and the silence.
Ah. Actually, one more thing remained.
[Ah, no more gatherings lately? Ah, that assistant I trained last time ran away. I'll catch another fresh one soon, and we can have some good times. Haha!]
The recording that proved Kumoto's crimes.