Volume 4 Chapter 13 – 8/100 |Niitsu Ruri → Shutou Kinuko → Mamiya Haruka

| Todou Kyousuke

“………”

“Ta-dah! As punishment, Ruri has to dance in front of Kyousuke-kun in this outfit. Let her wear just this mini-skirt. It’s embarrassing, but… even if I’m not fully healed yet… that’s why I want you to watch.”

“Since we… can’t dance, we’ll take designated poses and face a water gun penalty. Don’t worry; these swimsuits aren’t very water-resistant.”

“Up until now, I’m sorry for secretly filming. Today, each of us will let Toudou-san take pictures and videos, and you can keep them. If we ever film secretly again, feel free to make them public. We’re prepared for that.”

“………”

“Mamiya-chan, start the music!”

“Yeah, yeah, this one? Geez, you’re so demanding. Why do I have to…”

“Because you’re the underling.”

“I know that! Here we gooo~”

“Look! Kyousuke-kun, look! Look at Ruri!”

“………”

“Is she even okay in the head? How can she dance so cheerfully in that outfit? This doesn’t feel like a punishment at all… Ah! If she lifts her leg that high, her skirt… Just watching this is embarrassing! It’s so flashy, it’s distracting… And why is her dance so sharp!? Is she… a monkey?”

“It’s fine. From here on.”

“From here?”

“Ah, ah! No, I couldn’t go all the way… sniff, nngh…”

“………”

“W-What…! Th-This…! This round table that reveals everything… It’s terrifying… I want to go back to the forest…”

“There’s nothing below this.”

“For you to lower the bar just for me… you’re so kind, Senpai… Wait, no! I’m a maiden! A ma-i-den!”

“Meaningless in the face of sin.”

“Y-Yes, but the… the pee punishment… I…”

“That’s just for Ruri-chan.”

“Peeing is a memory between me and Kyousuke-kun, and I won’t let anyone else ruin it!”

“………”

“I won’t, and I can’t! How can you say something like that so easily…”

“Haruharu.”

“Are you really going to do this? Are you serious about it? There’s still time to back out.”

“Ugh, this is why people from the forest…”

“This is why middle schoolers…”

“W-What! I’m carrying the banner too! Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll show Toudou-san my punishment! And if I get the chance, I’ll mesmerize you both with something even better! Now! Come on, little Kinukinu!”

“So annoying.”

“Pathetic.”

“Grr, what’s with you! You p-p-pee girl!”

“That’s right~”

“What… is this the invincible person…?”

“………”

“Haruharu.”

“Ah! …Ahem. Then, um, let’s… once again. Toudou-san, p-please, shoot us in… our favorite places.”

“There’s only one thing left to reveal.”

“………………”

“………Toudou-san?”

“…Kyousuke-kun?”

“W-What’s wrong, Kyousuke-kun…? D-Did you not like it…?”

“………………”

I put down the water gun and stood up silently.

I’d reached my limit.

My “certain something” had surpassed 120%. It was the legendary limit break, the kind that only a hero can achieve.

With the exit blocked, my only option was to break through by force. If the three of them tried to stop me, my “certain something” would end up leaving an embarrassing mark on my pants.

I might even end up “marking” them in a way I hadn’t intended.

Creating a second and third Aika or Mihane. Maybe even Tomoka, Yuma, and Kyouko… Wait, how am I supposed to explain all this? No, I can’t add any more people to this situation!

I need to get to the bathroom!

The look in their eyes shows they already understand.

…Huh? So, it’s no problem…?

Oh, right. Hearing words like “sin” and “punishment” must have brought back memories of the harsh experiences from that other world, pulling me back into that mindset… That world was nothing short of a slaughter-fest.

This playful idea of punishment feels far too foreign.

Usually, punishment meant being sent to the mines or forced into slavery… What kind of world is this, anyway? With no cost involved, there’s only one thing being exposed here.

I didn’t even intend for any punishment like this, just to give them a bit of a scolding.

But with that absurdly dangerous swimsuit… my completely fresh, 15-year-old body was reacting all too honestly, resisting in ways I hadn’t even recognized.

A disconnect between heart and body. So that’s why I’d been resisting so much. It makes sense now.

…But now, with the confusion gone, my heart and body had become aligned. All that was left was… technique!

Phew…

As I stood there silently, I could see the look in their eyes change, filling with a hint of dread. But they didn’t need to worry.

A hero doesn’t ignore sadness!

I extended my right index finger towards them as if about to pull a trigger. The girls gasped in unison.

Channeling cleansing magic to my fingertip, a soft blue glow began to flicker. With a dramatic gesture, I pointed at each of them, “shooting” them one by one.

Each little troublemaker was enveloped in that blue light, and everything I deemed “impure” was cleansed.

Yes, that ridiculously dangerous swimsuit and any risky thoughts… all erased.

…Although I could’ve done a more selective, gradual cleaning, that’s something I’ll save for when I’m a bit older.

Before they could react, frozen in their shock and complete nudity, I struck a dramatic pose and declared:

“The punishment is mine to decide.”

“Ruri’s magic-wielding lord…”

“Kyousuke-kun’s true power… ahh…”

“Toudou-sama… forgive us for being so lame…”

“…Everyone, even if this was a punishment, you were all wonderful. But no more secret filming, okay? Let’s stop that. Now, how about we review the videos together? Let’s get up.”

There might be something in Kin-chan’s footage that shows some of the “offenses,” so we should check. I cast healing magic with a quick, rhythmic clap.

“Yay~ It’s green… how lovely… Ruri’s so happy, she might just…”

“A luxury course… with extra sauce…”

“So you weren’t a raccoon after all~”

Maybe this lighthearted form of punishment could actually work.