Academy SP 〜An Ex-Mercenary Reincarnated as a Mob in a Gal Game. I Ditched My Bodyguard Job to Enjoy High School Life, but When the Ultra-Rich Heroines Were About to Get Killed, I Stepped In… and Somehow Built a Harem Powerful Enough to Control Japan〜 - Chapter 44, 45 & 46

Chapter 44

Side: Ririko

“Agh… Agh… Aah…!!”

Hirota kept slamming his fists into the ground, his body twisting and writhing violently.

He truly looked like he was in unbearable agony.

“Uweh!? N-No wayyyyy!?”

The one who let out that warped, cracking scream was the glasses guy.

“Uwaaaah…!! Somehow… my stomach hurts now…!!”

It had absolutely nothing to do with him, and yet his face had turned completely pale.

Hirota had already been bitten, had his teeth shattered, had been beaten all over by Takahashi-kun…

And yet that single stomp made him foam at the mouth, blood mixing into the bubbles.

Was it really that painful…?

For a guy… down there.

“Alright then… I’ve crushed one for now… but with modern treatment and all that, there’s a chance it could be restored… hmm.”

Meanwhile, Takahashi-kun showed not even a trace of guilt.

He casually rested his hand on his chin, calmly considering what to do next.

And the conclusion he reached was—

“Okay. Just to be safe, I’ll grind it so no treatment can ever fix it.”

“AA… AA… AA… p-please stooop…”

“Ah, wait! Yuuji! If you keep attacking a defenseless Hirota like this, it’ll count as excessive self-defense—”

The glasses guy tried to warn him, trying to keep Takahashi-kun from getting into trouble.

But without the slightest hesitation—

Takahashi-kun brought his foot down again.

“BIGYAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!”

The scream echoed throughout the entire place.

And somehow—this was just the image that came to mind—like someone grinding out a cigarette under their shoe,

Takahashi-kun twisted his foot again and again, grinding it into the ground.

“AAAH!? Oh no… what do I do… I think I’m getting dizzy…!!”

The glasses guy… was somehow standing there now with his legs tightly pressed together.

It really must hurt that much… that attack…

Tears poured from Hirota’s eyes like a waterfall.

“Aah… argh… aah… it huuurts… it huuurts… heeelp…”

The so-called strongest man of Academy SP—

Was now begging for his life.

“Hey, Hirota—”

Takahashi-kun started to say something.

But Hirota cut him off first.

“W-Waiiiit…! T-Takahaaashi…!! M-My… my story… please… listen to me…! P-Please listen…!! There’s a reason… why I turned out like this!”

And just like that—

Hirota began talking about his past.

“M-My dad… r-raised me… to become a strong police officer…! Every single day… was strict…! So one day… my mind just broke…! That’s why…!”

“Hey, Hirota—”

“T-Takahashi…”

“Did you know?”

Takahashi-kun said it with a bright, almost innocent smile.

“You’ve got two balls down there.”

He said something unbelievably vulgar in a strange Kansai accent—

With the cheerful grin of a little kid—

And lifted his foot again.

“Still got one left to crush, ya know〜”

“S-Stoooop…!”

“And who told you to start a tragic flashback without anyone asking—”

“AAAAAAaaaaaaAAAAAA!!!!”

“No one cares about your past!!”

—Splat! …grind, grind…

The moment that sound echoed out, Hirota screamed again.

As Takahashi-kun continued grinding his foot into him, the color slowly drained completely from Hirota’s face.

The glasses guy, watching all of it, finally collapsed weakly onto the ground.

And for some reason—no idea why—he kept lightly patting his own waist over and over…

“Looks like the castration surgery’s complete. Kukuku…”

Takahashi-kun laughed pleasantly as he looked down at Hirota.

“Gaa… aaah… aaaa…”

But he wasn’t finished yet.

He suddenly dropped to his knees beside Hirota, grabbed his chin, and pulled his face close.

Right now, just inches away from Hirota’s eyes and nose—

Was Takahashi-kun.

Hirota’s entire body trembled violently at that distance.

“You know, Hirota.”

“N-… n-… n-…!”

“You actually make pretty nice sounds when you cry.”

“…Eh…?”

“I finally found it… my new toy.”

“Bue…? Bue…?”

“Reform school lets you out pretty fast, right? That’s good. Means we can play again soon.”

“Bii… bii… bii…!?”

—No way…?

At that moment, I think I understood.

Takahashi-kun’s real goal—

“I can roughly guess when you’ll get out. And I can pretty much predict where you’ll go too. Your parents’ place… or maybe some facility. You’re still just a kid, after all. So yeah… you won’t be able to run from me.”

Just then, the sound of police sirens echoed in the distance.

At the same time, an ambulance siren followed.

Hearing that, Takahashi-kun finally let go of Hirota—

And whispered something into his ear.

“Let’s play again sometime, Hirota-kun? I’ll be looking forward to the day you come back from juvie.”

“F-Forgive me…! P-Please forgive me…! I-I won’t go near Ririko-san anymore…! I won’t… I won’t…!”

“Don’t say something so cold like that. See, I’ve already decided…”

His eyes sharpened, as if he truly meant every word.

Still smiling, he continued—

“I’m gonna bully you for the rest of your life. —Well then, see you again, Hirota-kuuun〜?”

“NOOOOOOOOO…! I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sor—”

After that—

Maybe the shock of those words was too much.

Or maybe he had simply reached his physical limit.

Hirota’s eyes rolled back, showing only white.

Foamy bubbles mixed with blood spilled from his mouth—

And he finally lost consciousness.

“Well… that should work as a decent deterrent.”

Saying it casually, Takahashi-kun walked back toward us.

“By the way, Wakita. What are you doing? You’ve been patting your waist like pon-poko pon-poko this whole time…”

“Yuuji… don’t you have balls too?”

“Hah! Mine are bigger than yours!”

“W-What did you say!? Fine! Let’s settle this at the public bath next time!”

“Ohhh! You’re on!!”

I covered my ears slightly at their vulgar conversation…

Even so—

Takahashi-kun had saved me again.

Just like Hirota tried to place a “curse” on me,

Takahashi-kun placed a “curse” on Hirota in return.

Probably… to save me.

Because of that… the fear inside me eased, just a little.

Maybe it was because of his position in Academy SP.

Maybe he wanted to earn a favor from the conglomerate.

But even so…

To go that far for me…

To fight until he completely broke Hirota like that…

What am I supposed to do…?

How am I even supposed to thank him…?

I don’t know.

And even though I can’t figure that out—

There’s something else I don’t understand either.

—For some reason, I can’t look at Takahashi-kun properly.

I want to look at him more.

But I keep looking away.

What is this feeling…?

It’s my first time feeling something like this…

I seriously have no idea!

“Takahashi-kun…”

But—

“—Everyone, stay where you are!”

At that moment, a sharp, dignified female voice rang out.

Before I knew it, the factory was filled with police officers, pouring in one after another.

Among them, one female officer stood out immediately.

Sharp eyes.

Back perfectly straight.

Her expression was strict and intimidating…

But she was incredibly beautiful.

And then—

“T-Tatekawa-san…”

For some reason, Takahashi-kun flinched in front of the woman called Tatekawa.

“Takahashi-san… So it really was you…”

She gave a small shrug, still staring at him with those piercing eyes.

Do they… know each other?

But what is this feeling…?

Just watching Takahashi-kun talk to another woman—

And not just any woman, but an adult—

Made something twist inside my chest.

Seriously…

I don’t understand my own heart at all right now…

Chapter 45

Side: Ririko

“Hey, Yuuji! Who’s that beautiful police officer? You know her?”

The glasses guy whispered right into Takahashi-kun’s ear.

“Know her, well… She’s Azusa Tatekawa from the Community Safety Division. She was the one who questioned me during that attempted lynching case with Sara. Ever since then, she’s kind of been keeping an eye on me…”

“Ohhh! So you’ve been chatting with someone that pretty, huh!? What happened, huh〜? What kind of questioning did she give you〜?”

“Why do you look so happy about that!? Nothing perverted happened, okay!”

…For some reason, that whole exchange made something twist inside me.

Or maybe it just irritated me a little.

But why…?

“Takahashi-san, what exactly are you whispering about?”

At her clear, composed voice, both of them straightened immediately.

So her name was Azusa Tatekawa…

Why does Takahashi-kun remember her full name so clearly?

Hmm…

She’s pretty tall.

Maybe around 170 centimeters.

Her body looks very athletic.

And her hips are really wide…

Wait—what am I even staring at? That’s so improper…

Still… the fact that she’s using polite speech even toward a minor like Takahashi-kun…

She seems like a very proper person.

“N-No! It’s nothing!”

“Nothing? That can’t be true. …What exactly is going on here?”

Tatekawa-san glanced around the factory.

…Honestly, it was such a brutal scene that it was a miracle anyone was still alive.

Several ambulances had already arrived.

Outside the factory, a crowd of onlookers had gathered.

“By the way, you seem to be present at every assault case lately.”

“Well… I kind of got dragged into it… or, um… haha…”

“Dragged into it… huh?”

Under the sharp gaze of the beautiful officer, Takahashi-kun was sweating profusely.

The same Takahashi-kun who had just crushed someone without blinking—

Now looked completely powerless in front of Tatekawa-san.

Then she briefly glanced at me and turned to a nearby female officer.

“You there. Take her into protective custody. She’s a victim of abduction and confinement.”

She gave the order calmly.

After that, the female officer gently wrapped a towel around my shoulders.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

She was kind…

But Tatekawa-san herself felt a little frightening…

“….”

Our eyes met for a moment.

She let out a small sigh.

“Another incident involving a conglomerate heiress and ‘Academy SP,’ huh…”

I hadn’t done anything wrong—

And yet the way she looked at me, as if she could see straight through everything, made my heart pound painfully in my chest.

“I personally believe this ‘Academy SP’ established by Yushu Girls’ Academy is problematic. From the perspective of Japanese law—and more importantly, from an educational standpoint—it’s not a healthy system. I feel like we’re beginning to see the side effects little by little. Don’t you think so, Takahashi-kun?”

“S-So you think…? Ahahaha…”

“You’ve been skillfully steering the media and keeping things quiet… but I’ve heard that you students are taking on bodyguard duties far beyond what minors should be allowed to handle. Isn’t that correct?”

“Ahahaha…”

◯

Side: Yuuji

All I could do was laugh it off.

At the very least, I didn’t want to say anything that might affect the future of Academy SP.

Who knows what kind of future is waiting ahead…

◯

Side: Ririko

“In any case… you’ll be coming to the station with us. There’s suspicion of excessive self-defense.”

As she said that, Tatekawa-san glanced toward Hirota, who was being loaded into the ambulance.

It was true—he was the most seriously injured one here.

“Last time, you managed to slip through. …But this time, it won’t be so easy, Yuuji Takahashi-san.”

When that woman smiled faintly,

A bad feeling crept into my chest.

No way…

Is Takahashi-kun going to be charged with a crime!?

“…W-Wait a second!”

I jumped to my feet and protested with everything I had.

“Takahashi-kun fought to save me! You saw it, right!? All those students outside the factory covered in blood… that was all Hirota’s doing! That man is insanely strong… he attacked me too—!”

The fear from that moment came rushing back.

Hirota closing in.

That disgusting breath.

If Takahashi-kun hadn’t been there… I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened to me—

“Takahashi-kun saved me! There’s no way he committed a crime…!”

“—Whether there’s a crime or not isn’t for you to decide.”

Tatekawa-san cut me off cleanly.

“It’s true that Takahashi-kun may have saved you. That deserves recognition. However, excessive violence must still be punished. —Even Manabu Hirota has human rights.”

Human rights…?

The person who did all that to everyone… to me…

What human rights does someone like that even have!?

“Sorry, but if we ignore the law and start judging people emotionally… if society begins to justify that kind of behavior… then in the end, the only ones who win are those with power. For example—those who already hold enormous influence in Japanese society. Like the Four Great Conglomerates.”

“Wha…!”

As she said that, Tatekawa-san briefly glanced at Takahashi-kun.

“Last time, he also saved Sara Hagoromo-san, just like he saved you. However… the way he did it was questionable. Personally, I don’t believe it was something to be praised. The punishment he carried out was far too old-fashioned.”

Hearing that, Takahashi-kun casually whistled, as if trying to dodge the subject.

Since Tatekawa-san was a police officer, she obviously wasn’t going to reveal details about another case…

But just what did he do back then…?

Judging from what happened to Hirota… it was probably something extreme.

“Originally, there should have been a proper investigation. However, it seems pressure from the Hagoromo Conglomerate reached the higher-ups. The case was closed with many things left unclear.”

“…But if that means Hagoromo-san was saved, isn’t that enough? Why go this far… why corner Takahashi-kun like this…!”

“H-Hey… Ririko? Y-You don’t have to push her like that. She’s an officer and—”

“That has nothing to do with it!”

When I raised my voice, Takahashi-kun stared at me in surprise.

And seriously—what is with this woman?

She speaks politely to Takahashi-kun, yet—!

Chapter 46

Side: Ririko

I might have surprised everyone by shouting like that, but… to me, this was important.

Sure, if you look at it with ordinary common sense, what Hirota went through was too much.

But that was done to break the “curse” he tried to place on me.

Because Takahashi-kun did that… I found the courage to stand back up.

And now… now…!

“You’re misunderstanding.”

Inside my chest, flames were burning fiercely.

To me, this mattered more than anything—

And yet Tatekawa-san continued speaking as if pouring water over those flames.

“I don’t want to arrest Takahashi-san as a criminal. I simply want to uphold the law. Japan once faced being drawn into World War II, but because we did not let national emotion take control and instead maintained our constitution and order, we have been able to prosper to this day.”

Her voice was calm. Logical. Completely adult.

“I believe the foundation of a law-governed nation, built by those who came before us, must never be weakened. No matter the circumstances, there should be no exceptions. Not for ‘favoritism.’ Not for so-called ‘justice’ or ‘righteous causes.’ No matter how beautiful the words may sound, they cannot be used to break the law. That is why I am questioning Takahashi-san so strictly. Especially regarding the violence toward Manabu Hirota—there is a strong possibility it exceeded legitimate self-defense—”

“…That’s… not right.”

Even I was surprised by how low my voice sounded.

Tatekawa-san stopped mid-sentence.

The flames that had been burning inside my chest…

Somehow, they had turned pitch black.

I couldn’t accept it.

No matter how noble her words were.

No matter how “correct” they sounded.

If protecting me meant Takahashi-kun would suffer for it…

I would never allow that.

If this led to him being sent to juvenile detention alongside Hirota…

Would he be expelled from school?

No.

We had only just started getting closer…

The thought that this might be the end—

I hated it.

I hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it, hated it—

“I will absolutely… protect Takahashi-kun…!”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

No matter what it takes.

Even if I have to use the very thing this woman despises—

The power of the conglomerate.

I will protect Takahashi-kun.

“And what exactly do you mean by that… Ririko Aketo of the Aketo Conglomerate?”

Tatekawa-san deliberately said the conglomerate’s name out loud.

So she saw right through me immediately.

But I couldn’t back down. I didn’t want to.

“Just so you know… I will never act under pressure from a conglomerate.”

“—Then what about someone above you?”

The moment I threw that provocative line at her, even her calm, steady expression twitched slightly.

“H-Hey, hey! T-That’s enough, Ririko!? Calm down a little…”

“…Takahashi-kun.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard… It’s fine, really. I’ll handle it. R-Right, Tatekawa-san. I’ll cooperate. Question me all you want.”

“—Very well.”

Click.

What was that supposed to mean, Takahashi-kun!?

“…Muuuuh!”

“H-Huh? S-Something wrong, Ririko? Why are you puffing your cheeks like that…?”

“…I’m trying to fight for you here! What is this!? Do you just want to be questioned by that pretty lady that badly!?”

“Eh… eeeh…?”

—Ahh, geez! What is wrong with me!?

I don’t understand myself at all.

Something’s been bothering me this whole time.

Like…

Don’t talk to other women in front of me… already!

“Ohhh, so this is… jealousy…? I see, I see.”

—The glasses guy had been staring at me with far too much interest.

He kept muttering to himself, grinning like an idiot. I had no idea what he was rambling about, but still—!

“What are you staring at? I’m not some kind of show!”

“Wha!? S-Sorry!”

I ended up shouting again.

“Uh… huh? Was Ririko-san always the type to show her emotions this openly…?”

“…You say something?”

“N-No, nothing! I’m just happy to hear authentic Kansai dialect in person!”

—That glasses guy had been saying strange things nonstop…

But honestly, I couldn’t deny it.

I wasn’t holding back my emotions at all.

All this time… I had tried not to stand out. Not to cause trouble. I simply went along with whatever others expected of me.

But now… it felt like something inside me had snapped. 

I couldn’t control it anymore.

“—Ririko!”

At that moment, a woman broke past the police tape and ran toward me.

—That’s… Mom?

“Ah, Ririko… Ririko…!!”

To my shock… tears were streaming down her face.

She pulled me into a tight embrace.

“You’re not hurt, are you!? You’re safe!? Honestly, you had me so worried…”

“…Mom…”