"Sorry, I don't want to chat with you. And when some guy I don't know has something to say but won't say it to my face, and instead asks me to go somewhere quiet, it makes me uneasy. If you don't want me to report you to the school, then leave on your own."
Two refusals, followed by a threat to report me. Interesting. I'd turn the tables.
Tanaka Yukishin chuckled, pointed at the convenience store, then at the camera above their heads.
"Even so, you're still unwilling?"
Following the boy's hand as it pointed in two different directions, Kamuro Masumi realized he might have discovered what she'd just done.
But then she thought of a way to deal with it. First, she'd find out whether the boy knew the whole story, then decide what to do.
She soon abandoned that idea, though. There was no point bluffing.
The boy had pointed to two very specific things.
But if she just went inside now, paid for the item, and apologized for forgetting, what could he do to her?
Didn't see that coming, did you? This was Kamuro Masumi's solution.
What a sleazy creep. You think watching a few porn movies means you can recreate them in real life? Keep dreaming.
"Thanks for the warning. I just forgot, I'm really sorry. I'm always so absentminded. My family reminds me when I'm out. I'll go in now. Thanks."
Turning around with a strange look on her face, Kamuro Masumi gave him an arrogant "thank-you."
At the sight of it, Tanaka Yukishin's smile only grew wider.
Good, good. This was how a normal person acted.
That line from porn—"You don't want me to..."—was obviously made up.
What did porn directors know about real life? They just made movies.
Still, your solution was quick and practical. But what if I showed you the full recording?
Could you really explain to the school that you stole something because you were absentminded and forgot to pay?
"You're thanking me a little too soon, classmate. Your student ID terminal has all the functions of a regular phone."
As he spoke, he took out his phone, opened the camera, and aimed it at Kamuro Masumi. The shutter went off repeatedly.
...Kamuro Masumi clenched both fists and sighed to herself. She hadn't expected the boy in front of her to be so well prepared.
But even at this point, there was still a way to salvage the situation.
The same camera could bring both defeat and victory.
You want somewhere quiet to talk? Fine. You got it.
Once they got there, she'd beat him until he was on his knees, then delete the videos and photos right in front of him. That would teach him.
As a Japanese girl, she'd spent time seriously training to deal with any creeps she might run into. Now that effort was finally paying off.
See these toned, well-defined muscles? That was what real strength looked like. Did you know how hard she'd worked to maintain such a great figure without affecting her looks?
She laughed wickedly to herself, but on the surface, Kamuro Masumi still put on a grim expression.
"Let's go. I know somewhere quiet."
Sensing Kamuro Masumi's secret delight through his psychic field, Tanaka Yukishin was a little confused.
Wait, were you just like Karuizawa Kei?
Couldn't you at least put up a fight before giving in? I wasn't some kind of human incubus. I couldn't possibly be that irresistible.
And if that was the case, why had you turned me down just now?
He had plenty of questions, but he followed behind Kamuro Masumi anyway.
"My name's Tanaka Yukishin. What's yours, classmate?"
"Kamuro Masumi."
He opened the cheat interface and quickly skimmed the free information.
[Kamuro Masumi was originally a habitual shoplifter, then became one of Sakayanagi's subordinates and played an important role in Class A. Her choice between loyalty and betrayal revealed the brilliance of human nature. Though she was eventually expelled, she and Sakayanagi formed a genuine friendship.]
The information was fairly brief, as if copied straight from an encyclopedia. Still, it gave Tanaka Yukishin a basic understanding of Kamuro Masumi.
She was a girl with a peculiar obsession. She'd be easy to win over.
In that case, he'd take her on as a lackey. It'd be nice to have someone at his beck and call instead of having to handle everything himself.
A lackey-in-training wasn't someone he should sleep with. It'd be a pain if she didn't obey him.
But that was all right. There were plenty of pretty girls.
The first-year students who'd just enrolled were still too green. Aside from the troublesome ones, they weren't easy targets.
But after three years of taking the school's realistic simulation of society, the third-years had already been forced to grow up early.
He could pick them off at will and treat them like playthings.
They weren't even worth hunting. They'd already been tamed.
As they walked along, Kamuro Masumi noticed something.
She knew there were places without cameras. So why hadn't she paid attention while shoplifting?
Something was wrong. Her self-control seemed to be weakening without her realizing it. It was a little like those guys who were horny out of their minds.
Whenever the urge to steal took hold, she lost most of her awareness. She knew she should look around before stealing and make sure no one was there, but she'd forgotten to keep an eye on her surroundings. She'd even forgotten to check the store's surveillance cameras.
When they reached a quiet, deserted spot, Kamuro Masumi looked around with satisfaction. There were no cameras.
As a reward for helping her realize there was a problem, she decided to give the boy in front of her a chance.
If he handed over his phone without a fuss, she wouldn't have to use force.
"Tanaka Yukishin, I have to thank you. Otherwise, I never would've realized that my self-control had been weakening without my noticing. So hand over your phone like a good boy, and I'll let you off. Otherwise..."
She focused her strength and threw two straight punches, then raised one leg in a high kick above her head before lowering it.
After showing off her strength, Kamuro Masumi looked at Tanaka Yukishin smugly.
Then her expression shifted from smugness to surprise, then her face reddened, and finally it darkened.
"I was wondering why you looked so unhappy just now, yet seemed secretly pleased. So that's what you were planning."
Tanaka Yukishin punched the tree beside him, then pulled his hand back without a scratch.
A fist-shaped dent remained in the tree. It wasn't very deep—not even half a centimeter—but his physical strength and fighting ability were already enough to beat Kamuro Masumi easily.
"What are you trying to do?"
"First question: why do you steal things?"
"Shoplifting addiction."
"So that kind of fetish really exists. Back in middle school, a few of my idiot underlings used to debate whether the Wan-Yin Series actually happened in real life. I always laughed at them."
Tanaka Yukishin looked like he'd just learned something new, which filled Kamuro Masumi with indignation.
Chapter 8: Joy
That was more like it. This was the expression I'd wanted to see all along!
But... this time, I wasn't going to get my hopes up for nothing again, was I?
Perhaps the surprises he'd encountered earlier had been too numerous. Tanaka Yukishin was starting to doubt himself.
So even though Kamuro Masumi's dark expression finally seemed genuine, and her emotions were growing more intense, he couldn't help wondering to himself as he basked in his delight.
"Then the second question: why did you come to this school?"
Her expression grew even darker. Her fingernails had dug into her palms without her realizing it.
Kamuro Masumi's mind raced as she tried to figure out what Tanaka Yukishin was thinking.
There was no doubt about it: he had leverage over her, so he must want something from her.
His questions kept getting more personal. Aside from breaking her will to resist, he was trying to learn more so he could test her limits.
Her fetish, her reason for coming to the school... Would he use her answer to pressure her next, or ask another question?
Did he want her body?
Or...?
If she gave in one step at a time, she'd be finished. Her whole life would be over.
There was no way this pervert would let her go.
But she'd worked so hard to get into this school. She couldn't bear the thought of being expelled just like that.
She...
Torn in every direction, Kamuro Masumi didn't know what to do.
"What's the matter, Kamuro? Don't want to tell me?"
"To... attend school for free, with room and board covered. They promised we'd have a one-hundred-percent chance of going on to college or getting a job at our ideal company after graduation."
Kamuro Masumi hesitated, unable to choose. When he suddenly prodded her, she jumped, and the answer slipped out before she could stop herself.
But she immediately came to her senses and issued a weak threat, sounding like a frightened little animal trying to act fierce.
"What are you trying to do? If you go too far, I won't agree to it."
"I want you. Is that okay?"
"Pervert, give it up. Even if I'm expelled, I won't let you have your way."
No, no. You've already let me have my way.
I hope you hold out a little longer and make this more fun for me.
Next, he should keep pressing her and follow up without giving her time to relax.
Since he'd never done anything like this before, Tanaka Yukishin had no experience in using words to gradually break down a girl's defenses.
His threats seemed crude and blunt, with little efficiency or finesse.
But that was fine for a hunter on his first hunt. No one became an expert overnight. Even a genius needed time—just less of it.
"Really, Kamuro Masumi? When you answered just now, your voice trembled a little, and your breathing got faster. I find that suspicious. You're saying one thing, but you feel another."
He took out his phone and turned the screen toward Kamuro Masumi. Tanaka Yukishin began sending the video he'd recorded earlier to the school, moving slowly with every tap.
As she watched Tanaka Yukishin's hand keep sliding across his student ID terminal, Kamuro Masumi felt as if her heart were being squeezed.
She instinctively wanted to rush forward and stop him, but her reason held her back.
Her heart was beating faster and faster, and her body was growing hotter. Her head was starting to feel fuzzy, too.
That bastard was doing it on purpose, sending it right in front of her, nice and slow. She'd been right not to agree. He could forget about tormenting her.
"Hmph. I've made up my mind. You bastard."
Once she'd accepted that she might be expelled, Kamuro Masumi felt brave and fearless.
But when she saw Tanaka Yukishin step closer, shortening the distance between them, she panicked a little.
"Um, you can destroy this, but can you erase the store's surveillance footage? It's been a while since we left. Your earlier solution won't work anymore."
Tanaka Yukishin watched Kamuro Masumi turn to leave, smiling as he reminded her in an unhurried voice.
A prey that fought back was worth hunting. But that was enough for today.
If he kept playing around, Kamuro Masumi might blow herself up right there in front of him.
Before you continue