I Want to Completely Avoid Troubled Girls, but It Seems I’ve Reincarnated as a Background Character in the Most Dangerous Yandere Academy - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Two “Clash” in a Locked Room

“This is kind of exciting, isn’t it?”

I had been confined to a perfectly sealed room for Ruriko’s yandere tendencies.

There was no concept of crisis management in sight.

I had underestimated the situation, thinking I knew the original story. Even if I fell into a tough spot, it wouldn’t get worse than the source material. Knowing what would happen meant there was nothing to fear.

Reality was different.

There was no guarantee that this world followed the original story exactly. In fact, the protagonist had turned into a side character. An additional mysterious figure, Kanai Kana, had joined the three main heroines.

And now, this locked room.

My heart was racing—not from love but from a sense of impending danger.

Giving a yandere a weapon is dangerous.

Giving a yandere a locked room is just as dangerous as giving them a weapon.

The walls of this room created a space just for the two of us.

For someone with strong possessiveness, this situation would feel like the ultimate fulfillment. It didn’t need to be said aloud.

“Exciting, huh?”

“You don’t look happy at all. You seemed much more content when we walked to school together or ate meals together.”

“It’s strange not to feel fear when you’re locked in a room for no reason.”

“Even if it’s with me?”

“Especially because it’s with you, Ruriko-san.”

I couldn’t say something like, Because I know your true nature is terrifying, thanks to the original story.

The worst-case scenario had happened.

If her façade hadn’t crumbled, I might have been able to enjoy some fleeting happiness.

Discovering her yandere tendencies on the first day of reincarnation—couldn’t I qualify for a high ranking in a real-time speedrun?

I had been foolish to fall into the trap so easily, but I had to act from now on.

I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Anyway, I needed to get out of this room.

“I’ve been thinking about you, Issei-kun, every single day.”

“What on earth about me drew you in so much?”

“You have the capacity to accept me. No one but you can handle the burning feelings I have, like molten lava.”

“If it’s just about capacity, wouldn’t anyone else with tolerance suffice?”

Ruriko shook her head vehemently.

“That’s not true!”

“Uh, okay.”

“After a long period of observation, I realized it. There’s no one but Issei-kun for me.”

Given how thoroughly she had investigated, she probably had solid information on other students as well.

If she’d weighed her options and reached this conclusion, it was understandable to some extent.

“Seeing this slightly different version of you today, I’ve decided to change my initial plans.”

“Seriously?”

“To put it bluntly, it’s intuition.”

“So you’re the type to act on gut feelings?”

Even as the conversation continued, I kept thinking.

The means of escaping this locked room were limited.

Option one: Find the key.

The other areas we passed through required swiping a card to enter. It wouldn’t be surprising if this room had a unique key or a master key.

Option two: Wait for the time limit.

Ruriko had mentioned that the forced lock would release in ten minutes. Until then, I could keep the conversation light.

Option three: Force my way out.

If it came to the worst, I’d have to use brute force to break out. That wasn’t ideal, though, considering the strength of the walls and door.

Waiting for the time limit seemed like the safest choice.

“Since meeting you, Issei-kun, my life has felt complete. On the surface, I’m seen as a model student, but honestly, it was tough. To meet someone who might accept my excessive love was a big deal for me.”

It seemed that the version of me in this world had behaved in a way that made her think that.

But that was just the fantasy Ruriko had created for herself. The real me was a guy who had suffered at the hands of a yandere and was now naturally wary.

“You’re mistaken, Ruriko-san.”

When she responded with, “Am I?” I continued.

“I’m not the kind of person you think I am. Even if I seem strong at first, I’m a fragile vessel that will crack and break along the way.”

“Every vessel has the risk of breaking. But if you handle it with care, it can last nearly forever.”

“That’s just sophistry.”

“Maybe so. But I’m betting on you, Issei-kun.”

Ruriko’s determination was clear. She was so committed that she locked me in this room just to have this conversation.

“Please, I want you to be my Issei-kun.”

Did I have the same level of determination?

The resolve to completely avoid yanderes. The determination not to waste my previous life, where I was killed by Satsuki, another yandere.

Reflecting on it now, I realized I lacked that resolve.

That’s why—

“I refuse.”

“What? Why!?”

“I promised myself not to make the same mistakes again. I nearly got swept away, but thanks to you, Ruriko-san, I remembered.”

“Wait, no, no! This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!”

Ruriko was visibly shaken. Maybe I could take control of the situation.

“Honestly, I almost fell for your cuteness, Ruriko-san. But yanderes are a no-go.”

“What!? I just want to save you!”

“Save? You’re the one who wants to be saved, Ruriko-san. If we’re talking about vessels, you’re the one who needs to be scooped up.”

“Ugh, that’s annoyingly clever.”

As soon as I showed my resolve, Ruriko began to falter.

The perfect honor student image she had built began to crumble, revealing her clumsiness.

“And with that, I reaffirm my resolve not to give in to you, Ruriko-san.”

“Why? How? At this point, even seduction—no, that probably won’t work…”

She was clearly experiencing an unexpected error. She noticed it herself and took a deep breath to regain her composure.

“…Excuse me. I seem to have lost control of myself. It looks like I’ve lost this time. I have no choice but to admit it.”

“Then, let’s just stay classmates from now on—”

“However!”

“Huh?”

She slowly approached, leaning close to my ear.

“I will definitely make you mine, Issei-kun.♡”

Her whisper was soft and intimate, leaving a tingling warmth in my ear.

The suddenness of her whisper made my mind go hazy.

I snapped back to reality when the door unlocked.

“I couldn’t win this time.”

“Yeah.”

“But next time, if we end up in this ‘special room’ again, be prepared.”

Her resolve was unwavering, and it seemed she wouldn’t back down despite my resistance.