"Another stressful day… in this prison."
I muttered under my breath, inhaling and exhaling with a sigh heavy enough to weigh down my face. My voice was low—just enough so none of the other students roaming the school grounds could hear.
I need a break. Just breathing the air here makes me want to peel my own skin off. How do these people stroll in all cheerful and fresh-looking every morning? Don't they feel bored? Don't they feel trapped?
"Huh—?"
Something suddenly collided with me from behind—softly, but enough to push me forward. I stumbled, barely catching myself, while the person who bumped into me toppled to the ground. From the feel of the body pressed against my back, I could instantly tell it was a girl. Let's just say the two soft melons gave it away… along with a couple of other things I'd rather not describe. No need to get myself flagged on some FBI watchlist.
After all, we're talking about a teenage girl here. And as I've said before—I have zero interest in teenagers. I prefer older, mature women.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch…" a pained voice groaned from behind me.
I turned and saw a cute black-haired girl sitting on the ground, examining her hands. They were scraped and reddened from the fall, with bruises already beginning to form.
Tsumi Hoda?
Oh, great.
Of all people… I didn't think I'd run into one of the yandere heroines like this. And of course, it had to be her. My luck really is shitty, isn't it?
"Seriously… what were you looking at, tackling like that? It's not good to be so absent-minded, you know?" I said to Tsumi, who looked up at me. Her hazel eyes scanned me before she answered in a sad tone, "Sorry…"
"It's fine, it's fine…" I extended my hand toward her. She grabbed it, stood up, and quickly brushed the dust off her clothes.
"I hope you didn't get hurt," Tsumi said.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay…" I waved a hand dismissively, my tone making it clear I didn't care to linger on the subject.
"Sorry again… I'll be careful next time." Tsumi bowed politely before heading toward the school building. I watched her go, her black hair swaying with each step, the breeze tugging at it just enough to make it flutter.
Only once she disappeared inside did I mutter under my breath, "That was a nice little act… though I wonder why she tackled me in the first place."
Tsumi, compared to the other so-called yandere heroines, was something else entirely—more deranged, more psychotic, and above all, calculated. Every smile, every stumble, every word had a reason behind it. She could put on a convincing act better than anyone else—better even than me.
Who would believe that the same cute-looking girl could, if bored, happily pluck out a baby's eyes and play marbles with them?
Not that I wouldn't do the same thing, of course. But still…
Though, if I remembered correctly, she had just transferred to Summer Fall High according to the series' plot—called here by the principal himself, who needed extra hands to deal with the slow but steady rise of monster attacks in their region of control, which covered all of Adachi.
If my memory served right, she had even once tried to kill off every other magical girl yandere for Tatsuya, just to keep him for herself. Naturally, she realized soon enough how idiotic and suicidal that idea was—there was no way she could take them all on by herself.
And there was one more thing… something very important about her. But what was it…? I just couldn't recall.
"Hey, we meet again!"
A voice suddenly called from behind, snapping me out of my thoughts.
A light tap landed on my left shoulder.
And for some reason… the atmosphere instantly felt a little gayer.
"Oh…?" I turned, and of course, it was Yuta—smiling with his hand still resting on my shoulder. So that explained where this weirdly gay feeling was coming from.
"Ah, yes… we meet again," I said, looking at him. Now that I thought about it… how the hell did he even maintain such a feminine-looking body? What was his body care routine?
"I thought I'd never see you again," Yuta said, leaning his face a little too close to mine.
Too close! Too close!
His face was way too close to mine.
"Hey, you okay? Your face is a little red," he said, placing his hand on my forehead.
I felt like I was about to vomit!
I quickly stepped back to put some distance between us. "Geez, keep your distance!"
"Oh, sorry… I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I was just—"
I cut him off before he could finish. "It's not that. It's just… you look like a girl. I felt like a girl was pressing her head against mine…"
"Oh, I see…" Yuta murmured. There was a flicker of sadness on his face now.
Crap. This was bad. If I left it like this, then when he eventually turned into a monster, I'd definitely end up on his hit list of people who wronged him. And hell no—I didn't want my name carved onto that roster.
"Geez, you don't have to feel sad about it," I quickly added. "In fact, it's a good thing. I only blush around pretty girls."
I grinned awkwardly. "Which you are… sort of. And besides, as a wise man named Gigguk once said: 'Sometimes It takes a man to be the best girl.'"
Hearing that, his face lit up with a happy look. "This is the first time someone's ever complimented me. I've always just… received slurs, been treated like a freak…"
"That's a shame," I said with a shrug. "Anyway, let's get going, otherwise we'll end up late. Can't just stand around talking all day."
And with that, the two of us headed off toward our classes.
As we walked, I noticed a few stares from the other students—especially some girls. Their eyes lingered on us a little too intensely, and not in the normal way either. No… it was the exact same kind of look those fujoshi—rotten girls—give.
Great. Just what I need. The last thing I want is some stupid rumor spreading about me being gay.
….
"Waaaaaaa…"
I yawned as I shoved a piece of exotic sushi into my mouth, wearing my usual bored, annoyed expression. There was a word for this kind of face, but hell if I could remember it right now.
"Feeling sleepy?" Yuta asked, plopping down beside me again—same spot as yesterday, like clockwork.
Great. I really hoped this wasn't becoming a habit. It wasn't like I wanted to sit with this guy every day, but of course, I couldn't just say that to his face.
"Sort of," I muttered. "I'm already bored with this high school crap. More than enough, honestly. Think I'll take a break…"
"Break? To where?" Yuta tilted his head.
"Don't knoooow…" I dragged the word out with another yawn, mostly to get him to drop the question.
"Hello," a soft voice interrupted.
I turned to see Rin standing there, tray in hand—ramen, just like Yuta's.
"Hey…" I greeted flatly.
"You two know each other?" Yuta asked.
"Sort of… or not. Depends how you look at it," I replied. Then I looked at Rin. "What're you doing here, at this table?"
"I… came to thank you for lending me your umbrella," Rin said.
"That's so nice of you," I answered, then added, "Anyway, why don't you sit with us?"
"Yeah, join us," Yuta chimed in.
"Thank you," Rin said, sliding into the seat across from me.
"Hey, Ezakiel, how rich are you?" Yuta suddenly asked, slurping his noodles mid-sentence.
"More than enough," I said, popping another sushi in my mouth. "Why don't you two try some of mine?"
Both of them blinked at me in surprise.
"I don't think I could even digest something so expensive…" Rin said first.
"Same here," Yuta agreed.
"It's fine," I insisted, nudging the plate toward them. After a little back-and-forth, they eventually gave in.
"Though… are you two in any clubs?" Yuta asked.
"Nah," I said.
"Me neither," Rin added.
"What about you, Yuta? What club are you in?" I asked, chewing another piece of sushi.
Yuta hesitated, then picked one up too. "Me? …None. I've got no idea what I'd even join. And honestly… I'm afraid I'd just get bullied again. Same as before."
I didn't answer—just grabbed another piece and ate in silence.
"So why aren't you two in clubs?" Yuta pressed, slurping another mouthful of noodles.
Rin lowered her eyes. "I have someone to take care of. My sister's sick… if I joined a club, I wouldn't have time for her." She picked up a piece of sushi afterward.
"As for me," I said, swallowing the last sushi piece, "I don't want to waste time at school. I barely manage to attend classes as it is—joining a club would be the death of me."
"I see…" Yuta nodded.
"Hey, do you three mind if I say something in this conversation as well?"
I froze. That voice…
Looking back, I saw none other than Tsumi standing there.
What the hell is she doing here? What kind of motive does she have?
Whatever it is, I have to keep my guard up against her. And if it comes to a brawl, so be it.
If I can't survive in this world and live the long, easy life I want, then I'll make damn sure to take down at least one magical girl with me—if not the entire ward of Tokyo.