Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~

Chapter 43: A Man Bound by the Past

Atsushi Side

Smoking alone in the staff room’s smoking lounge, I can’t help but recall the past.

In a silent space like this, the voice of the woman I loved plays unconsciously in my mind.

“Atsushi, you look sleepy again today. Are you getting enough rest? Don’t ruin your health, okay?”

Shut up, mind your own business. It’s not your concern.

“Be grateful, I brought you something. Homemade, let’s eat together!”

I told you a million times I hate boiled dishes. Is this harassment?

“If I die… take care of my brother. He’ll probably end up at this academy. If I make it back alive, I’ll do everything to prevent that, but it’s a 50-50 shot. …So, if it comes to that, protect him. I’m counting on you, Atsushi!”

Don’t say that, please… I can’t handle a world without you. Just take me with you…

Finishing my cigarette, I leave the smoking room and return to the staff room.

The woman I loved is dead, leaving a gaping wound in my heart.

I might still not be over it. Moving on feels like I’d forget her, and that terrifies me.

But her adopted brother, who must find her death even harder to accept, is seeking revenge against a massive force.

Maybe I should’ve stopped him back then.

Maybe I should’ve denied the words he said on the rooftop.

But I couldn’t.

Her brother spoke of revenge to move forward.

To move forward through revenge. I couldn’t block his path.

Making sure no one sees, I pull up a photo from my phone’s album.

A two-shot from two years ago.

A woman with a navy-blue ponytail making a peace sign, pressing her cheek against mine.

The woman I wanted to be with forever.

The woman I wanted to protect.

The woman I should have protected…!

He’s not the only one with a thirst for revenge.

His revenge is to move toward the future.

But mine… is bound to the past, steeped in hatred.

I’ll find them. And I’ll kill them.

※

Madoka Side

Leaving the student council room, I head to the staff room alone, but Mogami tugs my Y-shirt, insisting, “I’m coming too.” With no choice, we go together.

Mao said he had student council work to catch up on, so we parted ways. Honestly, I’d have preferred him to come along instead of Mogami.

“Hey, Mogami, since when did you become my shadow? If you stick with me like this, you’ll get cursed with something scary.”

“A curse? Sounds intriguing.”

“It’s called ‘the curse of people assuming we’re dating when we’re not, spreading rumors behind our backs.’ Scary, right?”

“Ridiculous.”

She narrows her eyes, giving me an exasperated look.

Huh? That’s weird. Normally, a girl would freak out, saying, “S-Stop it, idiot!!” and back off, but my prediction was off.

“Why should I shrink back or change my actions because of others’ assumptions or delusions? I’ll adapt when I need to, but worrying about it otherwise is just stupid.”

“Ugh… Most girls can’t just cut through it like you. You know Japan’s got a shame culture, right?”

“I know. A race that finds beauty in constantly worrying about others’ feelings and acting humble. But I live by a guilt culture, so no problem.”

“So, basically, you’re true to yourself. I can’t pull that off.”

“Liar, you’re the same as me.”

“I’m a bat, figure it out.”

We reach the staff room, knock, and enter. The man I’m looking for is already there.

He’s working on handouts at his computer. Normally, I’d come back later to avoid interrupting, but I don’t have that luxury now.

I walk to his desk, stand in front, and look down.

“Kishino-sensei, got a minute?”

“…What’s up, detective?”

He smirks through his sunglasses.

※

He suggests the rooftop for our talk, so Mogami and I go up with Kishino-sensei.

The sun’s setting, casting long shadows.

Hands in his white coat pockets, Kishino-sensei sighs and turns to us.

“So, what’s this about? I said do what you want with the case, but I don’t recall offering to help.”

“It’s not help, just a quick interview. I want to know what you were doing the night before last, from 10 p.m. for about 30 minutes.”

“…What, you think I killed her?”

“No, I don’t think it was you. But I need to confirm something. Even if you didn’t kill her, there’s a chance you let someone out temporarily.”

“Let someone out… Who?”

“I’ll answer after you answer my question. It’s an equivalent exchange of information. To gain trust, you provide info matching what you want to know.”

“Sneaky… That attitude, all calm and grown-up, reminds me of your sister.”

“People change with their environment. This isn’t how I used to be.”

Grinning widely, I say it, and Kishino-sensei gives a wry smile while Mogami looks exasperated.

“Let’s see, that night, I was working.”

“What kind of work?”

“No way I’m telling a student about faculty business. Figure it out yourself.”

“I figured you’d say that, so I already looked into it. I just need confirmation. I’ll know if you’re lying, so please answer YES or NO honestly.”

“…Fine. Dodging here would just make you suspect me more. If it’s just that, I’m okay with it.”

“Appreciate it. I don’t have time to waste.”

“Got plans after this?”

“Need to ask Naruse for something. …Alright, I’ll ask a few questions, so answer as we discussed.”

I clear my throat pointedly and take a small breath.

“Here’s my question for you, Kishino-sensei. The night before last, from 10 p.m. for 30 minutes, you were in D-Class’s Utsumi Kagetora’s room, right?”

“YES. I was on counseling duty that day. So what?”

“The sensors were off during that time, right? If you opened the door, Utsumi could’ve gone out and killed someone freely.”

“No teacher would do something that reckless. I just did combat training under the guise of counseling for 30 minutes, then told him to ‘reflect’ as usual and left.”

“…Was Utsumi acting any different than usual?”

“Different? …Come to think of it, he usually charges at the door when I leave, crashing into it, but that time he didn’t. The last I saw, he was lying on the bed, covered with a sheet over his head.”

That matches the surveillance footage. But the bed part is unclear.

In the footage, the room’s corners were blurry, and aside from the moonlight through the window, it was pitch black.

Worst of all, the bed was in a corner, out of the lit area. It’s an unconfirmable fact.

Guess I have no choice but the last resort.

“Is Kishino-sensei afraid of women?”

“NO. …By the way, some of these questions can’t be answered YES or NO. You’re breaking your own rule.”

“Ignore that. It’s just a trick to get a talkative teacher like you to answer. You’re a good guy, right?”

“That compliment doesn’t sound like praise at all. Sorry for sidetracking, but what does being afraid of women have to do with this?”

“No time to explain. If you trust your cute student, hold Mogami’s hand for a minute.”

I signal Mogami with a glance. She sighs, puts on her headphones, stands in front of Kishino-sensei, and holds out her right hand.

“Sensei, shake my hand. Hurry.”

“No clue what this is about, but as long as you don’t sue me for indecency, fine.”

Kishino-sensei takes her hand, and I count a minute on my watch.

From a third-person view, this scene looks absurd. Let’s call it “surreal time.”

After a minute, Mogami lets go, removes her headphones, looks at me, and nods silently.

Kishino-sensei, confused, tilts his head.

“What the hell was that?”

“Tactile palm reading. I read your palm through touch to predict your future. Your life’s got a bit of happiness but mostly despair, so be careful.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. Coming from you, Mogami, it feels like it might actually happen.”

“Well, it’s about 30% accurate… Good luck.”

Mogami returns to my side, and I bow, saying, “Sorry for taking your time,” as we leave the rooftop.

Then Kishino-sensei asks,

“By the way, you two are always together lately… Are you dating?”

““Absolutely not. Don’t even joke about that.””

For that one moment, Mogami and I were perfectly in sync—a rare experience.

I didn’t look at her face, but I bet it was the same as mine.

Probably a mix of absurdity and exasperation.

※

While walking, I check with Naruse via email if she’s done with what I asked. She replies instantly.

“Finished in 30 minutes. Ability points and cash, please.”

“As expected from a pro. I’m heading over, wait in the classroom.”

“That’s fine, but won’t meeting me be rude to your girlfriend?”

“I can see your sadistic smirk from here. Mogami and I aren’t like that.”

“Oh? You thought people saw you and Mogami-san that way? I thought you were with Sumeragi-san like that.”

“Both are your shallow delusions.”

“Fine, whatever. Quick question, okay?”

“That’s sudden. What?”

“Why’d you ask me for help? I could be the culprit.”

“Your face gives you away, even if you act expressionless. If you were the culprit, I’d know from your eye movements the moment you talked to me while I’m hunting the killer.”

“Creepy talent.”

“Call it keen insight. I’m almost at the classroom, cutting this off.”

Some might wonder what Mogami was doing while I was texting Naruse.

She was silently eating Neapolitan bread.

As the Mogami user manual’s first page says, if you want to shut her up, Neapolitan bread works wonders.

※

At the E-Class classroom, Naruse is waiting at her desk, fanning herself with a folding fan.

I leave Mogami outside and enter alone, approaching Naruse.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“If you feel bad, I demand ten times the reward.”

“Fine, I’ll rephrase: just deal with waiting ten minutes. Can you show me the info I asked for?”

“That’ll be 100 ability points.”