I, Who Acquired the Ability to Read Memories, Am Being Swallowed by Darkness - While I Should Be Protecting Beautiful Girls, I Am Being Drawn into Darkness Each Time I Use My Power, Yet for Some Reason, My Harem of Beautiful Girls Keeps Growing - Chapter 54: Strategy Meeting

Chapter 54: Strategy Meeting

I was staring out at the schoolyard from the classroom window after school.

Yamashita’s glasses.

Everything stems from that eerie, glowing black-framed pair.

Onizuka’s protection is a problem.

The delinquent who once feared me is now Yamashita’s loyal guard.

Even if he’s brainwashed by hypnosis, his 180cm frame can’t be ignored.

And above all, a direct confrontation with Yamashita must be avoided.

Once I meet the gaze of those eyes through his glasses, I’ll be controlled too.

Like Misaki. Like Karina. Like Dr. Oyama.

When does Yamashita take off his glasses?

When bathing?

When sleeping?

But he never takes them off at school.

Being that cautious means he definitely can’t use hypnosis without the glasses.

“There’s… bound to be an opening.”

While gazing at the setting sun streaming through the window, I was devising a plan.

A way to destroy the glasses.

The timing to separate Onizuka.

And, most crucially… ensuring a distance where Yamashita’s ability can’t reach me.

Everything has to be executed at the perfect moment.

The reception room of the Shirogane family.

Reiko’s house, the daughter of an apparel company president, is a mansion.

Surrounded by luxurious furnishings, we were enveloped in a heavy atmosphere.

“I’ll tell you everything.”

I take a deep breath.

“The truth about Yamashita that I’ve uncovered, and the reason for the strange events happening at school.”

Reiko and Ryoko lean forward.

Both of them must have felt something off about the school’s atmosphere lately.

“Yamashita… as I mentioned before, he’s using hypnosis.”

“Hypnosis… it’s a truly terrifying ability, isn’t it?”

Reiko furrows her brow.

“Last time, I couldn’t tell you everything at Misaki’s house. But…”

I pull out my smartphone.

I hesitated about whether to show it, considering Misaki’s privacy.

But Yamashita’s terror, the tragedy of the current situation.

If I want a resolution as soon as possible, I can’t do it alone.

I’m frustrated by my own powerlessness.

“Misaki wouldn’t want this to be known. But I want you two to understand her current state… Please, look at this…”

The screen displays the memory I read through psychometry.

A scene in a dark classroom where Yamashita approaches Misaki.

“Misaki…!”

Ryoko gasps.

Yamashita’s eyes glow eerily through his glasses.

Misaki, transformed, becomes submissive.

The footage was too vivid, too shocking.

Misaki…

The kind, cheerful Misaki, in such a state…

The sight tore at my heart again, stirring intense turmoil and uncontrollable anger.

The footage captured how Yamashita’s hypnosis completely dominated Misaki’s consciousness, driving her to humiliating, obscene acts.

Misaki didn’t resist; rather, she seemed to surrender to the pleasure.

Her eyes were hollow, like those of a soulless doll, devoid of any readable emotion.

The scene was too cruel, too sad, and too unforgivable.

Misaki’s unresisting form, her expression…

The sight left both of them speechless.

Reiko tried to remain calm, but at times, she bit her lip and clenched her fists.

Her sharp gaze moved repeatedly from my face to the floor and back, as if analyzing the footage’s content deeply.

The calm, composed Reiko I knew was unimaginable in this moment, her eyes filled with intense emotions—anger, sadness, and above all, deep sympathy for Misaki.

Ryoko, on the other hand, was openly emotional from the start.

By the time my explanation ended, her eyes were already brimming with tears, and soft sobs could be heard.

She adored Misaki like a sister.

The shock of learning that Misaki had suffered such humiliation must have been immeasurable.

Her shoulders trembled, her small frame shaking as if unable to bear the weight of her grief.

Seeing their reactions, I felt both relief at finally sharing this burden with someone and a renewed realization of the magnitude of the tragedy that had befallen Misaki.

Reiko’s calm analytical skills and Ryoko’s warm empathy—both would be essential in overcoming the challenges ahead.

Reiko spoke in a composed voice.

“This isn’t just hypnosis. Yamashita’s actions are criminal! We should report this to the police! But… this footage absolutely cannot be shown to anyone—not the police, not her family… We have to handle this ourselves…”

Her words instilled a firm resolve in my heart.

And Ryoko, hugging my shoulder, said gently,

“It’s okay. Let’s save Misaki together.”

Her warm words soothed my heart, if only a little.

Their reactions were exactly what I’d hoped for.

Reiko’s calm judgment and Ryoko’s warm encouragement.

With these two by my side, I’m sure we can save Misaki and bring Yamashita to justice.

“Six months ago, Yamashita gained a special power in the hospital.”

I continue my explanation.

“From a man named Takejiro Hyakuto, he received glasses imbued with the power of hypnosis…”

The story I heard from Nurse Matsuoka.

The memory from the hospital room.

I relay everything in detail.

“And what about Karina Jounouchi?”

Ryoko asks.

“Yeah. She’s one of the victims too.”

Reiko listens silently to my words.

A growing resolve begins to shine in her eyes.

“To stop Yamashita, we have to destroy those glasses.”

I look at both of them with a serious expression.

“But it won’t be easy.”

“What do you mean?”

Ryoko leans forward.

“First, there’s Onizuka protecting him.”

I continue my explanation.

“The delinquent who used to be scared of me is now Yamashita’s loyal guard dog.”

“But, Takashi-kun, if it’s you—”

Reiko starts to say.

“No.”

I shake my head.

“A direct confrontation is too dangerous. If I meet Yamashita’s eyes, I’ll be controlled too. Like Misaki. If my body gets controlled, who could stop me? And what if he uses my abilities too?”

Silence dominates the room.

Only the heavy ticking of an expensive wall clock echoes.

“And…”

I continue.

“Yamashita’s victims keep increasing. Karina Jounouchi, Dr. Oyama…”

“Dr. Oyama…?”

Ryoko gasps.

“Yeah. The female doctor who operated on Yamashita. The sudden broken engagement. The leave of absence. It’s all Yamashita’s doing.”

Reiko stands slowly.

Walking to the window, she gazes at the twilight sky and says,

“Let’s come up with a plan, the three of us.”

“Reiko…”

“With Ryuuji-kun’s abilities, Ryoko’s athletic skills, and me,”

Reiko turns back.

“Together, we’ll surely find a way.”

Ryoko nods.

“That’s right. We’ve always overcome challenges like this, haven’t we?”

The atmosphere in the room begins to shift.

A faint ray of hope seems to pierce through.

“First, let’s organize Yamashita’s behavior patterns.”

Reiko takes out paper and a pen.

“After school, he often goes to Karina’s house.”

I say.

“It seems her parents like him too.”

“Anything else?”

Reiko prompts.

“Onizuka is always by his side. But… during gym class changing, they’re apart.”

“That’s it!”

Ryoko exclaims.

“During gym class changing…”

“No good.”

Reiko cuts in.

“We can’t enter the boys’ changing room. And Yamashita definitely won’t take off his glasses.”

The three of us fall into thought.

Only the sound of the clock echoes.

“Ah!”

Ryoko says, as if struck by an idea.

“What about pool classes? He’d need goggles to see underwater, right?”

“But Yamashita always sits out.”

I answer.

“He uses his neck injury from the surgery as an excuse.”

“Hmm…”

Reiko is deep in thought.

“If we make contact outside of school…”

“Too dangerous.”

I reply immediately.

“If he goes wild in public, innocent people could get caught up.”

“Then…”

Ryoko looks at her smartphone, her eyes suddenly sparkling.

“The cultural festival!”

“The cultural festival?”

Reiko and I say in unison.

“Yeah. Our class is doing a haunted house, right?”

Ryoko begins explaining.

“In the dark, we won’t have to worry about meeting Yamashita’s eyes. And…”

Reiko picks up where she leaves off, as if reading her thoughts.

“Unlike the sports festival, Onizuka’s in a different class. He can’t always stick with him.”

“But,”

I voice my concern.

“There’s no guarantee Yamashita will show up.”

“He will.”

Reiko declares confidently.

“As a member of the cultural festival committee, I can ask Yamashita to check on all the classes.”

“That’s it…”

I feel a spark of optimism.

“In the dark, my psychometry ability will be easier to use too.”

“It’s settled then.”

Ryoko stands up.

“The operation’s name…”

“‘Glasses Destruction Plan’… too lame?”

I suggest, only to receive exasperated looks from both of them.

“Your naming sense is awful.”

Reiko laughs.

“But fine, whatever. We have two months until the fall cultural festival. Let’s prepare in that time…”

The room’s atmosphere suddenly tenses.

This is our last chance.

If we fail, we might become victims of Yamashita’s hypnosis too.

But…

“We’ll make it work.”

Our shared resolve fills the twilight room.

“But the thing I’m most worried about…”

I falter.

“Misaki?”

Ryoko says quietly.

I nod silently.

The image of Misaki on my smartphone.

The sight of my girlfriend, controlled by Yamashita, being brutally violated.

That memory still pierces my chest.

“Right now, Misaki is completely under Yamashita’s hypnosis.”

Reiko says in an analytical tone.

“But it’s not unnatural. She’s still handling her student council president duties as usual.”

“That’s what’s scary.”

I stare out the window.

“On the surface, nothing seems different. But something inside Misaki has definitely been rewritten. You saw it in the footage. That’s not the Misaki we know, is it?”

Ryoko places a hand on my shoulder.

“We’ll definitely save Misaki too.”

“Yes.”

Reiko nods firmly.

“If we destroy Yamashita’s glasses, the hypnosis should break.”

“But,”

I clench my fists.

“In the meantime, Misaki remains under Yamashita’s control. Even during summer break…”

My words trail off.

Unthinkable images flood my mind.

“Ryuuji-kun.”

Reiko’s voice cuts through.

“We have to endure for now. Acting rashly could ruin everything.”

“I know.”

I let out a deep sigh.

“I know, but…”

“It’s hard for us too.”

Ryoko says.

“Seeing our dear friend Misaki controlled like that…”

A heavy silence fills the room.

The luxurious furnishings suddenly feel suffocating.

“I have another idea.”

Reiko suddenly speaks up.

“We could invite Onizuka on an amusement park date.”

“What?”

I blurt out.

“Brilliant!”

Ryoko jumps on board.

“If Reiko and I invite Onizuka, Yamashita will definitely follow.”

“Too dangerous.”

I immediately object.

“There’ll be a lot of regular people around, and above all, it’s risky for you two.”

“But,”

Reiko says calmly.

“The haunted house at the amusement park would let us use the darkness. Plus, with the crowd, it shouldn’t escalate into anything major.”

“That’s too reckless…”

“We’ve decided.”

Ryoko says firmly.

“Yamashita always gives us those sleazy looks. I think he’s interested in us. He’ll definitely come along.”

“Even so,”

I desperately try to persuade them.

“I can’t let you two put yourselves in danger…”

“Ryuuji-kun,”

Reiko’s voice rings out strongly.

“It’s painful for us to just stand by too. We want to do something for Misaki.”

“But…”

“It’ll be fine.”

Ryoko smiles.

“In the haunted house, we won’t have to worry about meeting Yamashita’s eyes. And…”

“We have you, Ryuuji-kun.”

Reiko adds.

I’m at a loss for words.

Their resolve is unshakable.

And, admittedly, this plan does have potential.

But…

“Think about it.”

Reiko says gently.

“During summer break, there could be even more victims.”

Outside the window, the sun is beginning to set.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Fine. But we need a detailed plan. For anything that might go wrong.”

The two of them beam with smiles.

I couldn’t stop the girls’ determination.

A few hours later.

“Let’s organize the situation first.”

Reiko stands in front of a whiteboard.

The Shirogane family’s reception room has now become our strategy headquarters.

“Ryoko and I will invite Onizuka. Yamashita will definitely follow.”

Reiko writes with a marker.

“The issue is how to steal the glasses.”

“The haunted house at the amusement park.”

Ryoko continues.

“We’ll aim for the 2 p.m. slot, three hours after opening.”

“Why that time?”

I ask.

“The haunted house is busiest then. But it overlaps with lunchtime, so it’s relatively less crowded.”

Reiko explains.

“Waiting time is about 15 minutes.”

Ryoko spreads out a map.

“The internal structure of the haunted house. 120 meters long. There are three completely dark areas.”

“Here.”

Reiko points.

“The final ghost spot. The ceiling is high, and the machine noises are loud.”

I listen silently, impressed by their research and analysis.

“But,”

I voice a concern.

“What about Onizuka? He’s not going to be with you two…”

“No need to worry.”

Ryoko says confidently.

“I’ll take the lead and keep Onizuka distracted. Meanwhile, Reiko will…”

“Get some distance from Yamashita.”

Reiko continues.

“In the dark, I’ll play up being ‘scared’ to create an opportunity.”

I frown.

“It’s still too dangerous.”

“Final confirmation.”

Reiko flips to a new page.

“Ryuuji-kun, you’ll be fully equipped and on standby. Work gloves, sunglasses. Full precautions against hypnosis.”

“Ryuuji-kun will enter the park early and wait in the haunted house.”

“Agreed.”

I nod.

“I’ll enter first thing in the morning. I’ll hide in the corner of the final dark zone in the haunted house.”

“Then we’ll…”

Ryoko points to the map.

“At 1 p.m., we’ll invite Onizuka to enter the park. We’ll kill time at the merry-go-round and aim for the 2 p.m. haunted house slot.”

“Communication?”

“We’ll make a LINE group.”

Reiko pulls out her smartphone.

“With a harmless name like ‘Summer Festival Committee.’”

“I’ll send photos from inside the park to report our position.”

Ryoko continues.

“Mixed with natural photos, like a code.”

“Right.”

Reiko nods.

“For example, ‘The merry-go-round is cute’ means preparations start. ‘The haunted house looks scary…’ means 10 minutes until the plan begins.”

“I’ll respond with a ‘Like’ emoji.”

I confirm.

“Keep replies minimal.”

“Movements inside the haunted house?”

“Ryoko will take the lead and keep Onizuka’s attention. I’ll stay by Yamashita’s side.”

Reiko continues explaining.

“In the final dark zone, I’ll scream ‘Kyaa!’ and grab Yamashita’s arm. At that moment…”

“I’ll snatch the glasses from behind.”

I pick up where she leaves off.

“Destroying them will take a second.”

The three of us exchange looks.

The more realistic plan brings a slight sense of relief.

“This can work.”

Ryoko says forcefully.

“Yes.”

Reiko nods.

“Now we just need to iron out the details.”

One week from now, on Saturday.

How many more students will fall victim to Yamashita by then?

We have to act as soon as possible.

“Then let’s start the approach tomorrow.”

Reiko says while taking notes.

“You’re going to talk to Onizuka at school?”

I ask, a bit worried.

“Yes.”

Ryoko nods.

“During tomorrow’s lunch break, I’ll tell him to meet me behind the gym. Reiko will come too.”

“In a natural way.”

Reiko adds.

“Onizuka’s surprisingly pure, right? I’ve never heard of him having a girlfriend. If we invite him, he’ll probably take the bait.”

“Right.”

Ryoko nods.

“Once summer break starts, we’ll say, ‘Want to go to the amusement park?’ We’ll invite him together.”

“What about Yamashita?”

“No need to worry.”

Reiko answers confidently.

“If Onizuka says he’s going on a date with us, Yamashita will definitely try to tag along. And then…”

“He’ll follow.”

I finish her sentence.

“Exactly.”

Ryoko nods.

“The first Saturday of summer break. A perfectly normal promise to ‘go to the amusement park together.’”

“And since we’re inviting Onizuka, not Yamashita, he won’t suspect a thing.”

I’m impressed by their calm and meticulous planning.

On the surface, it’s just an innocent invitation from some girls.

But behind it lies a carefully crafted strategy.

“Starting tomorrow,”

Reiko stands.

“Our counterattack begins.”

Outside the window, the twilight sky is dyed red.

Tomorrow, everything will set into motion.