How to Handle a Yandere Harem - Chapter 5 - Face the Music
The classroom, now void of its usual clamor, lay in eerie silence — a stark contrast to the buzz of activity just moments before. Professor Kyojin Akuma, the man whose entrance had silenced whispers and commanded attention, turned his piercing gaze toward Adriel, who remained seated, a mix of curiosity and apprehension swirling within him.
“Adriel,” Professor Akuma started, his voice smooth, infused with a hint of mischief that belied his stern appearance. “I see that you’re quite popular with the ladies…”
Adriel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, a wry smile playing on his lips. “It’s not so much about luck as it is about… well, it’s complicated.”
“Ah, yes… Having three girlfriends is every teenager’s dream, isn’t it?” Professor Akuma mused, leaning against the teacher’s desk with an ease that seemed out of place in the otherwise tense atmosphere.
“No, not exactly. I mean, I literally can’t complain, or they’d have my head, haha.”
Adriel laughed, a genuine sound that momentarily lightened the mood.
The professor’s laugh joined Adriel’s, filling the room with a warmth that hinted at the seriousness of their conversation.
“Indeed, it sounds like a delicate balance you’re maintaining. But let’s set aside your… ahem, romantic endeavors for a moment. I have something more important to discuss with you.”
Adriel’s amusement faded, replaced by a renewed sense of curiosity.
“What would that be, Professor?”
Akuma’s expression grew serious, and he walked over to the window, looking out into the school grounds.
“It’s about your potential, Adriel, and the dangers that accompany it. There’s more to you than just your charm and… complicated love life.”
Adriel listened intently, a knot forming in his stomach. Despite the levity of their initial exchange, he sensed that the conversation was about to take a turn toward something far more significant and possibly dangerous.
The professor went on to say, “There are forces within this school and beyond that are interested in your unique abilities. It’s not just about magical prowess or your mana capacity. There’s something about you, something that could change the very fabric of our magical society.”
Adriel’s heart started to race in his chest. This was not the first time he’d heard such claims, but coming from Professor Akuma, it carried a weight that he couldn’t ignore. The room felt smaller, the air heavier, as he braced himself for what was to come.
“Professor… What exactly are you saying? What does this have to do with me?”
Akuma turned from the window, his gaze locking onto Adriel’s with an intensity that seemed to see right through him.
“What I’m saying, Adriel, is that you are at the center of a brewing storm. And whether you like it or not, you’re going to have to learn how to navigate it. Not just for your sake, but for the sake of everyone involved.”
Adriel’s confusion remained as he mulled over Professor Akuma’s words. The thick silence that enveloped the room, underscored by tension, amplified the seriousness of their conversation. Adriel, usually so confident, found himself grappling with an uncomfortable truth that had long gnawed at him in the past.
“Listen, Adriel, in a few days, there will be a ranking reevaluation. Do you want to depend on your girlfriends forever?”
Professor Akuma’s voice cut through the silence, bringing Adriel back from his tumultuous thoughts.
Adriel’s response was meek, uncharacteristic of his usual demeanor. “N-No, sir…” He felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. It was a sentiment he was all too familiar with, one that stared back at him every time he looked in the mirror. The shame of dependency on Elizabeth, Seda, and Emma was a burden he bore silently. The apprehension others felt, hesitant to express such concerns due to fear of reprisal, had left this distressing truth unvoiced until this moment.
Should anyone attempt to mock Adriel, Emma or Elizabeth would swiftly address the situation, compelling the instigators to transfer to a different school.
However, Professor Akuma’s forthrightness forced Adriel to confront this reality once again.
“Listen, Adriel, I have some special missions for you. Simple tasks that can offer you a wealth of experience and pave the way to independence.”
In Magus High, the concept of ‘missions’ was familiar to all students. These tasks varied in difficulty and importance and were designed to sharpen their magical skills and elevate their ranks. However, Adriel was constrained to basic missions due to his D-rank status, limiting his opportunities for growth. That said, there was one notable exception: teacher-assigned missions. These were unique in that they allowed teachers to delegate specific tasks to their students, bypassing the usual rank restrictions, provided the students agreed.
This system, however, came with its checks and balances. If a mission assigned by a teacher were deemed excessively dangerous or far beyond the student’s capabilities, it would require approval from the council. This safeguard ensured that students were not placed in harm’s way without due consideration and that the missions were within a reasonable scope of their abilities.
The council, comprised of high-ranking teachers and select students from the upper echelons of the SSS rank, played a crucial role in maintaining the balance and integrity of the school’s mission system. Their oversight ensured that the challenges posed to students were not only conducive to their growth but also within the bounds of safety and fairness.
“Your situation is unique, Adriel. Given your current rank and the… unusual circumstances surrounding your standing, these missions could serve as a catalyst for change. Not just for your rank, but for your self-reliance.”
“Y-Yes, sir…”
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Outside the dimly lit classroom, a lone figure stood, her presence masked by the shadows that clung to the corners of the hallway. Elizabeth, with eyes sharp and intent, pressed herself against the cool stone wall near the door, her ears straining to catch every word spoken within.
Her gaze, usually so full of affection when set upon Adriel, now burned with an intensity fueled by suspicion and protectiveness. The revelation of Professor Akuma’s intentions, the special missions for Adriel, and the talk of independence and growth — each word was a spark that ignited a firestorm of emotions within her.
“What the hell does this teacher think he’s doing with my Adriel?!” she seethed internally, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind. Elizabeth’s love for Adriel was fierce, all-consuming, and unwavering. It was a love that bordered on obsession, a desire to protect him from the world, even from himself.
As she lingered in the shadows, her imagination conjured up myriad scenarios, each more dire than the last. The thought of Adriel embarking on dangerous missions, of facing unknown threats without her by his side, was unbearable.
“No matter what, he won’t make it…”