In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 129

Chapter 129: The Devil’s Hand

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“There’s something different about Karen?”

“That’s right, Maya-san. Ever since the end of summer break, she’s been turning down lunch invitations from Kougyoku-sama, despite how close they had gotten, and instead has been spending lunch with another student. And they seem quite intimate too.”

“Another student? Who’s this new person?”

Karen, who had always seemed passive when it came to romance, was now rejecting the fervent courtship of Seiko Kougyoku. That much could still fall within Maya’s expectations. After all, Karen was a shy person. It was possible she didn’t feel interested in pursuing romance right now. Hence why, Maya had been ready to help her friend handle things as smoothly as possible if needed.

But if Karen had switched from Kougyoku to another girl, that changed everything. With Seiko Kougyoku at the center, this could turn into a full-blown storm—something like a low-pressure bomb on the horizon. Disaster probably couldn’t be avoided.

“She’s a second-year transfer student. Her name is Kurara Tsuzuki. Since both the White Rose and the transfer student live in the dorms, it seems like they got very close over summer break.”

“What about Kougyoku-san?”

“Kougyoku-sama appears to be in quite a state of shock right now. Genshou-sama and Gosakuramachi-sama are apparently doing their best to comfort her. But no one knows what might happen next. Everyone around them is holding their breath in fear.”

“…I’m not surprised. Kougyoku-san was genuinely serious about Karen. She was being incredibly careful, trying to deepen their relationship at a pace that suited Karen’s personality. Before the summer, Karen even seemed to be reciprocating those feelings. So what on earth happened?”

What changed in Karen’s heart during summer break? That was what Maya wanted to know.

“The transfer student shows up at the third-year classrooms during lunch and after school, and takes the White Rose with her. Practically every day. Because of that, she’s getting a lot of flak, even from students who don’t usually support Kougyoku-sama.”

“I see. I’ll talk to Karen myself. I want to find out from her directly what’s really going on.”

After switching from internal admission to suddenly preparing for external entrance exams, Maya’s workload had increased drastically. Her summer had been buried in studying with no time to spare, and even after the new semester started, she had barely interacted with Karen since they were in different classes. That was why she hadn’t noticed the changes in her friend until now.

You can’t stop someone’s feelings of love.

If Karen was truly serious about that younger student—or if she just wanted to distance herself from Kougyoku—then they would need to do something before Seiko Kougyoku made her move.

Wasting no time, Maya headed straight to Karen after school.

“Karen, you’re the talk of the school right now.”

“What about?”

“They’re saying you’ve grown distant from Kougyoku-san, even though you two were so close, and now you’re always with that second-year transfer student.”

“Oh, that.”

“I’ll be blunt because I hate beating around the bush—do you like her?”

“Like her? We’ve only just started becoming friends, but… I guess I like her as a younger friend.”

“A friend, huh. Then the reason you’re having lunch together every day… Is it just because she invited you?”

“I’m surprised you know that. About that… It’s just, because she transferred at such an awkward time of year, she’s had a hard time fitting into her class. She told me she doesn’t really have anyone to eat with.”

“Huh? Who told you that?”

“Kurara did. She looked all sad and teary-eyed, so I asked what was wrong, and apparently she’s being excluded by her classmates.”

That was completely different from what Maya had heard. According to others, Kurara had turned down invitations from her own classmates and instead made a habit of visiting the third-year classroom. So which version was true?

“If you dote on her too much, she might have an even harder time making friends with people in her own year. Especially since you really stand out.”

“Ah! I totally forgot about that possibility. Maybe I messed up? But… When Kurara says she wants to be with me, I just can’t bring myself to turn her down. And besides, talking to her is meaningful in some ways… But… Yeah, having friends her own age is important too. Hmm. What should I do?”

For her age, Karen had always been mature and relatively rational. Normally, she would’ve chosen a more logical course of action. She’d always been someone who could even think ahead to what would happen to the transfer student after her own graduation. And yet, her hesitant response now struck Maya as odd. But there wasn’t enough information yet to make a proper judgment—so she decided to hold back for now.

“How did it go, Maya-san?”

“She was acting strange. She took the transfer student’s words at face value and seemed like she wanted to be with her. It’s Karen, but… At the same time, it didn’t feel like the Karen we know.”

“Then, is it really what we feared?”

“She doesn’t seem to like the transfer student in a romantic sense, so if we can do something about her, maybe this whole thing can be resolved. I’m going to meet her and find out exactly what she’s after and what kind of plan would make her go so far as to lie just to be with Karen.”

At that time, the girl in question—Kurara Tsuzuki—had just returned to her dorm room.

“Karen-senpai is too easy. At first, I was freaked out by the way she looked, but once I figured out she’s basically just a normal older guy on the inside, it was game on. As long as I use my usual approach, things are moving incredibly smooth. Guys really are simple.”

Karen had been identified as a capture target through Kurara’s unique skill, 【Target Checker】. And yet, for some reason, her charm-based passive skill, 【Become My Captive】, didn’t work on Karen. She recognized that pattern, the one that prevented her passive skill from working. It was the same interference from a rival faction at Eika Shuuei Academy—in other words, the presence of another diary owner.

So she took a bold step: “Hey, have you ever heard of a magical diary that grants your dreams?”

It was a shot in the dark, but she hit the mark. She quickly confirmed that Karen was a diary owner.

Once they spoke, Kurara realized that Karen held no hostility toward her. That was when she decided to come clean about being a fellow diary owner. Using information exchange about this world and the diaries as bait, she steadily deepened their relationship.

“Hey, Momo-chan. Even if you’re asleep, can you still hear me? I’m actually doing pretty well on my own.”

Ever since she arrived in this world, the pink diary had protected her. But with its power now dormant, Kurara Tsuzuki had been left all alone. What she sought now was a powerful new protector to take its place.

And then the perfect candidate appeared: the White Rose-kun—someone at the top of this academy’s social hierarchy. Karen had been troubled about her gender having changed, and had even said she wanted to return to being male. That was why Karen was incredibly interested in the diary’s potential. When Kurara explained the abilities of the pink diary, Karen had shown deep envy and fascination for some reason.

“Momo-chan turned out to be an amazing diary after all. But I never imagined I’d meet another diary owner in a place like this. In that sense, maybe coming here wasn’t a total waste. If I use Karen-senpai’s prestige to establish dominance, those high-and-mighty girls I’m bad with won’t be scary at all. I’ll endure this until spring, and then it’s goodbye to this academy.”

Kurara’s biggest mistake was scheming to monopolize Karen, like a fox borrowing the tiger’s authority. She never even considered that it might provoke someone’s wrath instead.

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“Young Lady. The initial report from the investigation has come in.”

“Good work. Continue the investigation. Also, make sure to prepare the groundwork with the Headmistress.”

“Yes. I’ll ensure everything is handled without any oversight.”

The report handed over by her personal butler was about the student who had greatly disturbed Seiko Kougyoku’s peace of mind—Kurara Tsuzuki.

“Hmph. She caused a disgraceful scandal at Azuchi Momoyama Academy and got expelled. Then, later evidence revealed she had been toying with the hearts of several boys. Among them, the one she was especially close to was… Kanjurou Oda? He’s that fool’s younger brother, isn’t he?”

Kurara Tsuzuki’s accomplice—Kanjurou Oda, who was currently on a leave of absence. For a girl to disguise her gender and sneak into an all-boys school was already an unprecedented scandal. But she had also seduced multiple boys from noble families, turning the whole academy into an uproar.

Her ultimate target had been Saburou Oda. The report concluded with that observation.

“And now, of all people, she’s moved on from that crude and disrespectful man to our beautiful Karen-sama? …Absolutely incredulous. Karen-sama is pure and kind, and that’s exactly why she treats everyone warmly. This girl deceived her with a story full of lies, manipulated her sympathy, and monopolized her—ripping her away from me. …Such devilish behavior, I will never, ever forgive it!”

With hands trembling in anger, Seiko fed the infuriating report into the shredder. By the time the last sheet disappeared, she had already decided on her next move.

“I must protect Karen-sama from this demonic influence. That harmful existence needs to disappear immediately. I’ll drive her to a faraway place, somewhere she’ll never return from, and never again appear in Karen-sama’s sight.”

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