Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~ - Chapter 41: My Pace and Side Effects

Chapter 41: My Pace and Side Effects

With the investigation done for now, I return to my apartment room.

Anything I don’t want others to see is stashed in the closet, so, like my previous dorm, the room only has the bare essentials.

It’s safe for anyone to come in… but for some reason, the enigmatic silver-haired headphone girl, Mogami Emi, tags along.

“Hey, why’re you here? Your room’s higher up, isn’t it?”

“It’s dangerous to be alone, right? So, I’ll be your bodyguard…”

“I’m good, thanks.”

I try to shut the door with one hand, but she grabs the knob with both, forcing her way in.

Over the past few days, I’ve realized this Mogami Emi is super my-pace.

When I’m in my own room, I just want some time to myself.

“Don’t worry, if you’re sneaking around doing something while I’m asleep, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.”

“Stop reading my thoughts without permission!”

I yank off her headphones and flick her forehead. She yelps, “Ow!” and clutches her head with both hands.

“…Violent pervert.”

“Other way around, other way. Calling me a pervert changes the meaning. Wait, you’re not seriously planning to stay over, are you?”

“…Is that a problem?”

“Of course it’s a problem! Think normally!!”

For a split second, I swear I saw “…” pop up in 3D above her head, but it’s gotta be my imagination. This girl… she’s seriously lacking in common sense. No sense of boundaries between guys and girls, breaking windows to get in… Since I’m apparently the only one in this academy she talks to normally, do I have to fill in her gaps?

Seeing her tilt her head, looking puzzled, I lean against the wall, sigh deeply, and take a small breath.

Reset your mind, Tsubaki Madoka. Nee-san used to say in times like this:

“Women are complex creatures, hard to understand. Even I, a woman, find parts of them baffling, so it’s gotta be true. So, you, a guy, should just go with the flow. Well, the more high-maintenance a girl is, like me, the cuter she is, right?”

The second half was unnecessary, but I’m feeling the first half right now.

As I’m thinking about what to do, she suddenly pokes my side.

“Whoa!? W-What was that for?”

I step back three paces and ask. Mogami, holding her stomach, her usual sharp eyes now drooping, looks at me.

“It’s past 7 p.m. I’m hungry, so make me something.”

“Huh? Geez, I only prepped food for myself, you know? And all I’ve got is instant noodles.”

“…What’s in the fridge?”

“Just canned stuff and retort curry. Got a problem with that?”

“What? Planning to live like it’s a survival mission?”

Mogami heads to the kitchen, opens the fridge without asking, and gives me a half-lidded stare. I’m starting to get irritated.

She’s got parents, right? A father and mother. But what kind of upbringing makes someone this my-pace? Were they just hands-off?

She pulls out some cans and retort packs, placing them on the cutting board. I grab the pasta I bought at the underground supermarket.

“Hey, what’re you doing?”

“Making pasta. My mom taught me how, so I can at least do that.”

“Pretty domestic mom, huh. Can I ask what she’s like?”

“…A little bit, sure.”

As she cooks, Mogami starts talking.

“She’s scarier than Dad, more aware of her surroundings, and always supporting him. She’s kind.”

“Hey, the focus is on your dad there.”

“Because Mom exists because of Dad.”

“Is that even a reason? I’m not getting it.”

“Hmm… Simply put, she’s got a big heart. Being with her feels safe… I can show my weak side. I respect her.”

“Sounds like an amazing person. …Then, can I ask about your dad? The guy who somehow knows me, Mogami Kouta. It’s been bugging me. How does he know about me when we’ve never met? Unless… he’s the one who sent that email…”

Muttering half to myself, I hear a loud clunk as her knife hits the cutting board.

I try to see her expression, but her bangs hide the right side of her face.

“Sorry, I can’t talk about Dad… No matter how many times you ask, I can’t.”

“…Got it.”

When she said her dad asked her to help me, the name Mogami Kouta hit me with a weird shock, and I tried to pry, but she just kept saying, “I can’t answer,” avoiding my eyes.

She usually says, “I’m not answering,” but that time, and now, she says, “I can’t.”

Her eyes looked troubled, making it impossible to press further.

About 20 minutes later, two plates are set on the table.

It’s just retort curry over spaghetti.

“Pretty basic.”

“If you’ve got complaints, don’t eat it.”

“Nah, I eat whatever’s served. I’d rather not starve over picky eating.”

“Guess that’s what being a soldier does to you. Not being picky is good.”

“In your case, fix how you handle people’s likes and dislikes, even if it’s just on the surface.”

“…If you say so, I’ll try, since I have no choice.”

Huh? I thought she’d say, “No need,” but she agreed. What’s with the change of heart?

Impressed, thinking she’s turned a new leaf, Mogami sighs while twirling curry spaghetti on her fork.

“If I said ‘no need,’ you’d just keep nagging…”

“Hey, think what you want, but don’t say it out loud.”

“By the way, what’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“Don’t change the subject so blatantly. …But, yeah. One question: you got any guesses about the culprit?”

“I can’t decide in one day. Finding the real crime scene was good, but everything else is still a mystery.”

“Yeah… I can’t completely rule out Utsumi’s involvement. So, we use someone else we can rely on.”

“…You don’t mean…”

Maybe because she “saw” my past, Mogami seems to know who I’m thinking of. Her eyes narrow, screaming dislike. Yeah, eyes speak as much as mouths.

“I don’t like it either, but if the student council’s involved in his surveillance, she’s the best bet for info.”

“I’m not good with her…”

“Yeah, I feel the danger too, but it’s the only option I can think of… I’m going to see BC.”

With that, I finish the spaghetti.

※

Now, out of nowhere, I really want to use Yahoo! Answers for the first time in my life.

But I can already predict the netizens’ hate-filled responses: “Die, normie!” “Self-destruct already!” I can see the venom dripping from their words.

Let me explain the situation. It’s past 9 p.m.

Normally, I’d be asleep by now, but a troublesome “guest” (read: silver-haired headphone girl) is sitting in the corner of my room, dozing off in a gym-sitting pose, showing no signs of leaving. So, I can’t sleep.

“Hey, how long are you gonna stay? Go home and sleep, radio girl.”

“Stop with the ‘radio’ thing. And being called ‘silver-haired headphone girl’ is annoying.”

“Don’t eavesdrop on my inner narration! Realize my mind has a personal space too!”

“Forget that. Like I said, I want to stay over. Going home’s a hassle.”

This girl’s my-pace to the core.

“Mogami, if you were a guy, it’d be no issue. At worst, some weird girls would get delusional, and that’s it. But you’re a girl! Get some self-awareness, idiot!”

I cross my arms and glare down, but her blank expression doesn’t budge.

If anything, she half-closes her eyes and sighs at me.

“I already know you won’t do anything to me. And think about it. After you declared war on the whole class, if the culprit’s among them, I’m likely the next target. So, I’m safer near you.”

“Wait a sec. Don’t tell me you planned to crash here from the moment I picked a fight with everyone?”

“…Obviously. You’re the only one I can rely on.”

“Are you kidding me!? And you said you’d be my bodyguard earlier…”

Yawning, Mogami suddenly stands, starts taking off her cardigan and skirt, and ends up in just a Y-shirt and pink shorts.

“W-What the hell are you doing!?”

“I’m sleepy, so I’m sleeping. But I don’t want my clothes wrinkled, so I’m sleeping like this. Problem?”

“No, before that, what girl strips like that in front of a guy!?”

“I’m right here. Are your eyes blind?”

“You…!!”

“So loud… I’m sleeping, so be quiet. You’re disturbing my rest. I can’t move anymore… figure it out.”

Half-lidded, she lies on the bed, wraps herself in the sheets, and tries to sleep.

That’s it—my patience is at its limit.

I rip the sheets off her, cross my arms, and stand tall.

“Hey, enough! This is my room, so put your clothes on and get out!!”

“I told you… I can’t… move…”

Rubbing sleepy, teary eyes and yawning again, her exhausted expression shows she’s drained.

“Wait, does your ability have side effects?”

When I ask, she nods slightly.

“Using my ability makes me insanely sleepy. I can’t fight gravity anymore…”

“Why’d you push yourself that far… I’m sorry for making you.”

I kneel and look down, and her soft, small hand gently pats my head, stroking it.

It’s so natural I can’t resist.

Now, for some reason, I can’t shake it off.

“It’s not your fault, don’t worry. I did it because I wanted to.”

Her face seems to have a faint smile.

It’s the first time I’ve seen Mogami smile at anyone.

“Why do you go so far…”

My voice doesn’t reach her. Looking up, her eyes are closed, she’s breathing softly, already in deep sleep mode.

Honestly, I still don’t fully trust Mogami.

Like she said, I’m just using her because I need her.

There’s no real trust between us, or if there is, it’s flimsy.

We’re both sizing each other up. I’m watching her, and I can tell she’s treating me as some kind of subject too.

But that’s fine for now.

Trust built too easily often crumbles fast. Taking time, using each other, and learning about each other bit by bit is enough.

I’m here for revenge, she’s here for her own goals, and that’s why we’re together.

Since this situation happened because she helped me, I have no choice. I grab a sleeping bag from the closet and decide to sleep in it.