Chapter 4: The Curse of Neglect

By the time school ended, my stomach had finally settled.

Thanks to eating two lunches, I spent the afternoon classes desperately trying not to throw up.

Suffering from two handmade bentos made by girls—what a luxurious problem. Anyone want to trade places? Huh?

“Sakamoto, let’s go home together.”

“…Do we even live in the same direction?”

“Shut up. Is that what’s important right now?”

It’s the most important thing, I’d say.

In any case, I have no intention of going home with Kumanokyo. Actually, I don’t even want to go home yet.

“I’ve got something to do at school still.”

“Huh? Do what? With who? That guy? Hiiragi?”

Man, her mind sure loves to paint things pink.

“Hiiragi’s at club, right? Anyway, I’m busy. Later!”

“Wait, you little—!”

Why are you chasing me? Why are you chasing me?

Go home, you’re literally in the Go-Home Club. Act serious about it!

“Sh-she’s so persistent…”

I’m still faster, but she’s showing no signs of giving up. Isn’t it painful to run like that with… well, those?

Ah, crap, I’m losing stamina… Whoa!?

“Dammit, where the hell did Sakamoto go?”

Ow… I’ve definitely got cuts all over my body. What the hell just happened?

Oh, Kumanokyo’s gone somewhere.

“Ow… What the? It felt like I got pulled…”

Someone suddenly threw me into a bush. Oh, come on. Now the bush is all messed up. I’m gonna get yelled at if someone finds out.

Everything hurts… no, more importantly—

“Who did that just now?”

There’s no one here. It’s just me.

I didn’t see anyone when I was yanked, and besides Kumanokyo, I didn’t sense anyone else either.

If someone had been here, Kumanokyo would’ve asked, “Hey, did you see a guy running? Where’d he go?”

“I don’t get it… Well, I guess it helped me out. Whoever you are, thanks.”

I don’t know if “helped” is the right word. My clothes are wrecked, and I’m definitely going to get scolded.

Should I go to the nurse’s office before meeting senpai? No, I don’t want to stay here longer, and I can’t think of a good excuse for the nurse.

“Oh, Saka-chan. You look beat up.”

“Cheating on someone? Huh, you playboy?”

“Must be tough being so popular.”

Who are these guys? Seriously, who the hell?

I screwed up. I was trying to take a less crowded path to the etiquette room, but apparently, I stumbled into a hangout spot for idiots.

“How’d a guy like you manage to seduce Momiji, huh?”

“You’ve got your hands on Hiiragi, too?”

“Why the hell does an ugly bastard like you have two girls clinging to him?”

Shut up. If you’re so jealous, why don’t you trade places with me?

I’d like to get to the etiquette room before Kumanokyo or Kaede finds me, but these three morons aren’t letting me through. And my wounds from earlier are throbbing, which is really pissing me off.

“I don’t know. Don’t get in my way.”

Pretty bold of me, standing tall in front of delinquents.

Maybe I’ve grown some guts after facing people far scarier than these guys.

Feels like fighting low-level monsters after maxing out my stats.

“Do you even know who you’re talking to, punk?”

“I don’t know. Introduce yourselves. Actually, don’t. I’ll forget in five minutes anyway.”

Ow!?

Would you really throw a punch that quickly? Who starts with a fist to the face?

“Don’t mess with us! No teachers come this way.”

“Well, the janitor might…”

“What did you just say?!”

“You wanna die, huh?!”

Crap, I can’t get through to them. They’re not listening at all. I’ve dealt with people far worse, so I’m not that scared, but still.

Is there really this big of an intelligence gap at the same school? Did they bribe their way in? This isn’t even a private school.

“You cocky— Ugh…!”

Wait, what happened?

One of them suddenly grabbed his crotch and started writhing in pain.

Is it an STD? Did his womanizing finally catch up with him?

“You bastard! What did you do to Yak-kun?!”

I didn’t do anything! What the hell are you seeing?

I’m literally sitting on the ground. Do they think I kicked him while falling or something?

“You sneaky— Ugh!”

Is this a trend? Is an STD going around? This guy’s collapsing too!

Man, I didn’t know it hit people like this. That’s scary.

“Aren’t you ashamed?!”

“Which one of us? You’re the scary ones here.”

What did I even do? Clutching your crotch and collapsing is way more embarrassing than anything I’ve done.

“What the hell’s going on, you… Arghhhhhh!”

“What happened!?”

He’s screaming in this unearthly voice while walking knock-kneed.

“Aaaaahhh!”

“What the hell is going on!?”

I can’t even bear to listen to these sounds.

If this is acting, they deserve to be actors. Though, I doubt they’d get into any decent productions.

“Sakamoto! Let go! Ahhh! I give! Gi—!”

Wait, me? I’m not grabbing anything! I’m not even close enough to grab you!

Oh crap, he’s foaming at the mouth.

…This has to be something Black Kawa-senpai’s involved in, right?

“Uh… I don’t know what’s going on, but… thanks?”

I offer a thank-you to the void.

I don’t know what’s happening, but it feels like a ghost or something saved me.

It’s unscientific, but curses seem to exist, so it’s too late to be skeptical now.

“You’re invisible, but you helped me out earlier, didn’t you? Even when I was being chased?”

No response. Well, I wouldn’t be able to see it anyway.

For now, I’ll head to Kurokawa-senpai—maybe I’ll figure something out.

Not entirely sure I’m going in the right direction, but I bow once and leave the spot.

I won’t bother calling anyone for those delinquents. Let them loiter in their favorite “teacher-free” hideout for as long as they want.

After that, I reached the etiquette room without further trouble.

…Not that there’s any guarantee she’s actually here.

“Excuse me—”

“…Come in.”

Oh, that cold voice. That’s definitely senpai.

She’s scary, but I guess I’ll go in. Loitering around and running into Kumanokyo is way scarier.

“Pardon the intru— Whoa!”

“Pervert.”

W-Why is she half-naked? Why is she in her underwear?

You said “come in,” didn’t you? You did!

“W-Why are you undressed?”

“Changing.”

Changing into what? And what club even is this room for?

“I rushed to undress because you showed up.”

“Why would you say something so… flattering?”

What’s with this absurd level of fanservice for a guy who rejected her confession?

“You’re the only one I’d show this to… Others find it gross, but you turn into a lustful monkey.”

That’s going too far. Sure, I’d like to keep looking if it’s allowed, but I’m not some lust-crazed monkey.

“I appreciate the… service, but I actually came to ask about the curse.”

“…You were popular, weren’t you? Good for you, cheater.”

Why’s she sulking? This curse is her doing, isn’t it? I’m falling apart over here.

“I only cursed you to be popular. What’s there to ask?”

There’s everything to ask. Don’t talk like the curse existing is completely normal.

“Wait, so curses actually exist?”

“Of course. My family’s been around for nearly a thousand years, you know?”

How is that proof? Religions exist for centuries too, and their gods aren’t exactly popping up everywhere. Not that I’d say that out loud.

“Then the baseball club ‘one-ball incident’ was also…?”

“I told you. It was my curse. And for the record, I haven’t lifted it yet.”

Just let it go already. If you keep it up, that guy’s gonna end up with no balls. Not that I care much.

And didn’t she say she’d curse the vice principal, too? Did she do it? Not that I care—he’s already bald.

“Uh, I’m in a situation way beyond just being ‘popular.’ It’s bad.”

“It’s fine. Even if you die, you’ll revive.”

Wait, hold up—what?

Did I mishear? Even if I die, I’ll revive?

“To break the curse, you just have to love me with all your heart. You can’t escape, even in death.”

O-Oh, that’s what she meant.

She did say yesterday, didn’t she? Something like, ‘I won’t pursue you.’

But this means I have no choice but to pursue her. Damn, she hasn’t given up on me after all. This is cheating—she’s so underhanded!

“And for the record, killing me won’t work either. If anything, it’ll make lifting the curse impossible.”

The Kurokawa family curse works even posthumously? That’s terrifying.

I’ve already started to accept supernatural stuff after everything today, but still…

“Oh, by the way, earlier… I think I was saved by an invisible person.”

“…? Occult stuff?”

You’re the high priestess of the occult—don’t pretend to be confused now.

And wait, her reaction? She doesn’t know about this? That’s scarier.

“Someone invisible pulled me away and saved me from the delinquents…”

“Delinquents?”

“I couldn’t see them, but they were attacked by… something. Or someone.”

“…”

Kurokawa-senpai? What’s with that ‘Hmm, what could it be?’ pose?

“That’s strange.”

“Strange?”

“I do have an idea, but it’s odd.”

So you do know something. Of course, you’re involved.

“You felt like you were pulled, right? Normally, you’d just think you ‘stumbled suddenly.’”

“…Huh? But I felt someone physically grab my arm—”

“And when the delinquents collapsed, they would normally think it was ‘friendly fire’ or assume ‘you knocked them out unconsciously.’”

“…Now that you mention it, the delinquents did think I attacked them.”

“Whether she takes photos, writes notes, or breaks things, no one can recognize her existence. You, however, recognized something. That’s what’s strange.”

W-What kind of curse is this?

This feels like I’m in some ability-based battle manga. And I hate that those idiots think I beat them up.

“Even her parents don’t realize she’s gone. They don’t notice her belongings or any trace she existed. They just assume they never had a daughter.”

Isn’t that terrifying? There’d be things like baby records, unexplained expenses—wouldn’t they notice something? This curse is terrifying.

“I’m the only one who should be able to perceive her. But somehow, you can as well. Creepy.”

You’re the last person who should be calling this creepy, senpai.

But why? Why can I recognize her too?

“Can you actually see her, senpai?”

“Yes. You can’t, can you? That’s normal.”

This makes even less sense. Do I have powers too? Nah, that’s impossible… right?

Anyway, whatever. For now, the bigger issue is my own curse.

“Let’s set aside Invisible-senpai for the moment.”

“Aren’t you scared? Knowing there’s an unseen person at our school?”

Not really. Between the visible curse mistress and Kaede, I’ve got scarier things to worry about.

Besides, Invisible-senpai hasn’t harmed me—she actually saved me.

“She’s my benefactor, so I’m not scared at all.”

“You’re pretty bold. Then fight my curse with that boldness.”

Saying that, senpai begins packing up to leave.

Wait, at least lift the curse before you go!

“Hold on! I came all this way…”

“Don’t act like you traveled across continents just to visit a room in the same school.”

Considering what I went through, this trip was harder than going to the next town! Clothes torn, getting harassed by delinquents—it’s been rough!

“I’m sorry for rejecting your confession, so could you—”

“If you love me with all your heart, the curse will lift. It’s all up to you now.”

That’s exactly what I don’t want!

There’s no way I’m breaking it through the proper method. I’ll find some other way to persuade her…

“I panicked because of all the sudden talk of marriage and blood seals… I didn’t outright reject you, did I?”

“You did. You tried to brush it under the rug.”

Well, yeah, I did try to make a run for it… But if you’d been a little less intense, I might have said yes, you know?

“Besides, don’t you think your reaction was a little flat after seeing a girl in her underwear? I’m still embarrassed, you know?”

You stripped yourself, so what are you complaining about?

“You’re beautiful, I was excited, I admit it. If I had time-stopping powers and memory-erasing abilities, I might’ve… gone full ‘lustful monkey.’”

Why—why do I have to say stuff like this?

All I did was not accept her confession. Isn’t this overkill?

“If you were that excited, wouldn’t you normally attack?”

“…If this weren’t a lawful society, maybe.”

“I’m ready to marry you, you know? Does the law even matter right now?”

What is it with her? I really thought she gave up on me.

Aren’t women supposed to lose interest and block their exes when they reach out?

“T-Then! If I attacked you right now, you wouldn’t resist!?”

Grabbing her arms for dramatic effect, I try bluffing.

She’s not even flinching—this is terrifying. I’m the one who should look menacing here!

“…I wouldn’t resist. I’d be embarrassed and nervous, but I’d accept it.”

What do I do? I expected this, but she’s too strong.

Even if I stripped down here, she wouldn’t budge an inch.

What would happen, hypothetically, if we did something? Would that count as “love”? Or would I just end up as a terrible person who cursed himself even more?

“But I don’t like being watched while we do it.”

“…Huh?”

What’s she talking about? It’s just the two of us here… Wait.

I-I feel something soft gently grabbing me from behind…

“T-Transparent-senpai? Are you here? Ugh…”

D-Don’t squeeze! Don’t answer by squeezing! What is this—some weird marital Morse code!?

“Wow, you really can recognize her. But it seems you can’t hear her voice. She’s been talking this whole time.”

“Wait, senpai, why is she grabbing me?”

“Why? Because you cheated, of course.”

“Huh? Cheated?”

“She’s a girl too, you know? If someone could finally recognize her, she’s not letting you go.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. So now I’ve got an invisible girl targeting me, too?

I can’t let my guard down anymore. Not emotionally—and certainly not down there.

Two days. My life fell apart in just two days.