Chapter 27: The Mysterious Troublemaker Girl

You could say that “after the rain, the ground settles.” Today is relatively peaceful.

Lunchtime, that treacherous hour, turned out to be more of a time for couples to shine instead.

One guy with three girls? Sharing side dishes from our lunch boxes, feeding each other—if I could ignore the stares from others, it would have been the perfect moment.

But, you know, enjoying this kind of happiness too much always seems to invite tragedy later.

“Alright, Sakamoto-kun, we’re heading out now… but don’t do anything dangerous, okay?”

“Haha, staying behind at school isn’t that big of a deal.”

This isn’t some infamous horror game’s haunted mammoth school; I’m not going to encounter anything dangerous here.

Well, considering this school has sorcerers and a gambling club, I guess it might be a bit more dangerous than normal schools.

“I even brought diapers just in case… want to wear them for good measure?”

Bringing diapers “just in case” isn’t normal, and wearing them “just in case” is even weirder.

Spare me already. Thanks to that, I’ve been nicknamed “Sakamoto the Diaper Dude.”

“I’ll accept the thought behind it. See you tomorrow.”

Man, I’m so glad I can walk into the etiquette room freely today.

Normally, this would be the point where some ambush event happens.

For now, I’ll organize the contents of the drama I binge-watched last night while heading there.

Honestly, it didn’t really resonate with me, but at the very least, I should be able to quickly answer questions about my favorite scenes. And I need to be able to rattle off the protagonist’s name without hesitation too…

“Hold it right there!”

Women say they watch dramas for the lead actor, but I wonder if that’s true for Senpai.

The lead actor was pretty handsome, but considering this is the Senpai who likes me, maybe she genuinely likes the story?

“Hey, you there! Yeah, you!”

“Whoa?! Wh-What is it?”

A girl I don’t recognize grabs me by the shoulder.

Hmm, judging by her green indoor shoes, she’s in the same grade as me? Well, if she’s walking around here, that makes sense.

She has a confident-looking face—like a younger version of our class president before she switches to “mom mode.”

“You’re that Sakamoto guy, aren’t you?”

Wait, I’m that guy now? What kind of “that guy” am I?

Don’t tell me this is about the diaper nickname? If so, even if she’s a girl, I might have to unleash my ultimate move.

The Iron Claw I mastered in elementary school that got banned after I made my classmate cry—its name is Shining…

“You’re going to meet Kurokawa Miyabi, aren’t you?”

Oh, it’s not about diapers? It’s about Kurokawa-senpai?

Phew, that was close. I almost destroyed this girl’s head.

“What makes you think that? This is a path anyone can take, you know.”

“Because you’re cursed.”

Huh? What did she just say? Cursed?

How does she know that? Even if she saw me going in and out of the etiquette room, she shouldn’t know anything about curses.

“Do you seriously believe in curses? You look like someone with a bright disposition but into occult stuff?”

“What kind of face is that supposed to be? Are you mocking me?”

That’s where you take offense?

I thought I was being tactful by describing her strong personality in a roundabout way, but maybe I said too much.

“It means you’re innocent and cute.”

“…Why do I have to be mocked by a guy I just met?”

I didn’t mean to mock her, but I guess it’s all about how the other person takes it.

Trying to butter someone up can backfire too.

“I wasn’t trying to insult you. Please forgive me.”

Why do I have to apologize after giving a compliment?

“Hmph… Saying things you don’t mean all the time is why you’re plagued with women problems.”

Women problems? So, uh… is she talking about my curse?

Well, my ridiculous popularity is famous throughout the school, so it’s not a weird thing to say.

What’s bothering me is just one thing—why does this girl seem so certain I’m cursed? That’s all I care about. Her name or whatever else? Totally irrelevant.

“Just call me honest. Anyway, can I go now?”

“I told you to wait, didn’t I? You fake harem king.”

Oh, A Fake Harem?

Does she realize that I’m only popular because of a curse?

“I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Kurokawa Miyabi, but it’s obvious you’re under a powerful curse.”

“…Why? Can’t I just be naturally popular?”

“Even if that were the case, there’s no doubt you’re cursed. And the only ones capable of casting a curse of this magnitude are the Kurokawa family.”

Wait a minute…

So, it’s not that she’s convinced I’m cursed because of my unnatural popularity—she can actually see the curse itself?

That sounds suspicious. Is she just making stuff up?

“Is there anyone else in this school who’s cursed? Besides me?”

“There are plenty. Like Yoshida from the baseball team, the vice principal, and Nakagawa, the grade coordinator.”

Wait, seriously? Yoshida from the baseball team? Isn’t he the guy who got taken out by a line drive and ended up… well, a one-ball wonder?

And the vice principal… yeah, I remember hearing something about someone cursing him. But they actually did it?

“Nakagawa? You mean the coordinator for our grade?”

“Yeah, that old hag.”

Wow, her mouth is filthy.

Still, it’s news to me that even that teacher was cursed. I should ask Kurokawa-senpai about it later. That’ll confirm whether or not she’s telling the truth.

“The curse on the vice principal isn’t that severe, so Kurokawa Miyabi isn’t necessarily the culprit there. But Yoshida, Nakagawa, and you? Those are definitely the Kurokawa family’s doing.”

Who the heck is this girl…?

Could she also be a sorceress?

“…Who are you? And what do you want from me?”

“I don’t feel like telling you anymore. I’ve lost interest.”

“Huh?”

What? What changed her mind all of a sudden? Is this what they mean by “a woman’s heart is as fickle as autumn skies”?

“I was going to do something helpful for you, you know. But then you had to go and make sarcastic remarks.”

Man, she’s a pain…

Thinking that was sarcasm is already annoying enough, but the fact that she’s still harping on it is even worse.

“When did I ever make a sarcastic remark…?”

“You called me cute and carefree, didn’t you?”

“That’s the truth. If you took it as harassment, I apologize.”

I still have no idea who she is, but I can’t afford to sever ties with her just yet.

She might be the key to lifting this curse… or at least, there’s a slim chance of it. Slim, but not zero.

What should I do? Should I pull out my ultimate move—the bow of apology? Or maybe go for the forbidden Shining Fist of…

“If you’re going to apologize, then take it back.”

“Take it back… the compliment?”

“Of course. You thought you could butter me up, but it’s just irritating.”

What a truly troublesome girl. It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with such a headache of a person without any curse being involved.

“I was just being honest, but if it bothers you, I won’t say it again. Is that enough?”

“…Was it really honest? Or were you just flattering me to get on my good side?”

“How could I use someone whose name I don’t even know?”

At my logical rebuttal, she looks like she’s thinking, ‘Well, when you put it that way…’

Correction. I thought she was just a pain, but she’s actually a pain and kind of amusing.

“If you’re being honest, then I guess I’ll accept your clumsy compliment.”

Why does she sound so condescending?

Is giving a compliment something that requires permission?

“…Thank you.”

If I argue back, this conversation will never move forward, so I decide to yield.

A guy who’s willing to kneel on the floor anywhere is also a guy who can yield anytime. I left my pride in my mother’s womb. While I was at it, I left my sense of manliness there too. My mother’s womb must be packed to the brim with all the stuff I left behind.

“So… who are you? What do you know about the curse? What’s your connection to Kurokawa-senpai? You mentioned the Kurokawa family—is there another family of sorcerers, or…?”

“Hold it. This conversation is wasting too much time.”

I bombard her with questions like a machine gun, but she doesn’t answer a single one. Instead, she looks like she’s ready to wrap things up.

“You’re planning to meet with Kurokawa Miyabi, right? Go on, get going already.”

Why call me out only to send me away?

“Wait, at least tell me your name—”

“Just go. And don’t mention me to Kurokawa Miyabi. Absolutely not.”

What’s with her? She just shows up, stirs things up, and vanishes.

Leaving nothing but mysteries in her wake…

But there’s one thing I’m starting to suspect. Just a gut feeling, really, but I think that girl might be at odds with Kurokawa-senpai.

If that’s the case, I’ll have to find a way to contact her without Kurokawa-senpai noticing… This might take some time…