After Reaching the Happy Ending, I Was Locked up by the Extremely Possessive Heroines I Had Conquered

Chapter 23: Taken to the Confinement Room

In the original story, the latter half of the Satori route unfolded like this.

1. Satori investigated the island’s customs and the secrets of the kidnappings by the gods.

2. She learned that all of it was rumors spread by her uncle.

3. Satori seized the position of head of the family from her uncle.

4. She identified problems with the ordinances and customs, and brought about change on the island.

That was the general flow.

In the original story, due to length constraints, 4 was presented in digest form, and the process up to seizing the position of head was the center of the narrative.

In particular, in the story’s climax, the moment when Satori defied that uncle for the first time was one of the top-class famous scenes in the work. You couldn’t watch it without tears.

Well, in this world, that uncle had long since had his dignity destroyed, and he received rough treatment not just from Satori but from Mahiru as well, so we probably couldn’t witness the same scene in real life…

In any case, with the original story’s flow in mind, I intended to put 3 into practice right away.

In fact, 1 and 2 could be covered by my knowledge of the original story. It would allow for a major time savings.

However, 3 probably wouldn’t be that easy. Because executing the generational change would require involvement with the other three great families as well.

–The other three great families.

Who knew what would happen with them. In some cases, danger might accompany it.

Even so, I had no intention of stopping.

Having Satori become the head was the shortest path to escaping the island.

On this island, the position of shrine maiden and head of the Jindaiji family was the strongest.

It held far greater influence than the heads of the other three great families. Influence enough to move the island itself…

So if Satori took that seat, she might be able to change this insular system that bound me, at least a little.

And then, we might obtain true “freedom,” unbound by the island in the real sense.

“…………Freedom?”

For a moment, the faces of three people flashed through my mind, but since it was already too late to think about it, I shook my head and continued turning my thoughts.

This was, after all, just my plan.

Something I had come up with on my own. So if Satori said she didn’t want to become the head, it would fall apart immediately, which meant I needed to check how she felt about it.

With that in mind, at five in the morning.

At the usual time when I ran into Satori in the hallway, I steeled myself and broached the subject.

“Satori, do you have time to talk alone for a bit?”

She narrowed her eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“This way.”

And she started walking toward the entrance.

“Not at home?”

When I tilted my head and asked, she answered without turning back.

“If it’s at home, Mahiru-chan will overhear. Let’s do it at the shrine.”

“Mahiru will overhear?”

I didn’t understand what that meant, but there are things in the world it’s better not to know, so I decided to quietly follow behind Satori.

The shrine grounds still bore heavy traces of the typhoon’s influence.

Broken tree branches and scattered fallen leaves had piled up, and garbage blown in from who knows where was strewn everywhere.

And as for Satori’s house, a fallen tree had crushed the roof, creating a heartbreaking sight.

“I was able to remove the tree, but rebuilding the house will take time.”

Satori murmured quietly as she gazed at the house.

“Then you’ll keep living at my place even after summer break ends.”

“Yeah. At Akira’s house for the foreseeable future.”

…What was it? I felt like the word “foreseeable future” contained the nuance of “for life,” but that must be my imagination.

Yeah, it had to be.

And yet, the light in her eyes was as sharp as that of a carnivore.

“For now, let’s talk somewhere we can relax.”

“My house isn’t relaxing, so over there.”

What Satori pointed to with those words was the shack–full of memories, good and bad.

“That’s the least relaxing place for me…”

“It’s the most relaxing for me.”

Well, that’s because you’re the one doing it to the one it’s done to. Not that I’m specifying what. I don’t want to utter words like that in everyday life.

“Come on, hurry up.”

Urged by Satori, I reluctantly started walking toward the shack.

But my footsteps were heavy. My heart felt strangely restless, and memories of when I had been confined there came flooding back.

–Gum tape, socks, diapers.

What a truly awful memory.

And now I was heading to that truly awful place.

“Long time no see.”

“…Yeah.”

Surprisingly, the inside of the shack was tidy. Dusty air and the scent of damp wood lingered, but there was no scattered trash, and it seemed maintained.

You could say the setup was ready for confinement at any moment.

“Can I go home?”

“No.”

When I reflexively turned on my heel, she grabbed my arm as if she had timed it perfectly. And she dragged me forcefully to the bed.

When we sat side by side, Satori glanced for a moment at the handcuffs lying on the floor. Then she peeked into my eyes.

“…………No?”

“Of course no.”

Even if she said it with upturned eyes, it was useless.

Even if her eyes grew moist and her face gradually drew closer, I would firmly refuse that one thing.

“But if I don’t put on the handcuffs, I can’t relax somehow. The shack and handcuffs are a set.”

“There is a sense of wrongness, sure. But isn’t this the normal state? Putting on handcuffs would be the weird thing, right?”

“Just for a moment…”