Chapter 44: Docking

There was no way I could step into the women’s restroom, so I shoved Kaede into the multipurpose one. It’s usually reserved for wheelchair users, and it’s frowned upon for others to use it unless absolutely necessary. But this time, there was no other choice. It’s not like we’re using it for makeup, changing clothes, or anything improper. This was survival.

Huh? Kaede? Why are you clinging to my arm? You’re at your limit, aren’t you? My patience has already run out; it’s only a matter of time before the inevitable happens. So let go—seriously, let go.

“Is someone in here? I’m coming in.”

Kumanokyo? Why are you barging in? This isn’t a space meant for multiple people. It’s definitely over capacity now.

“It’s surprisingly spacious.”

Shiro? The women’s restroom is on the other side! This is a single-occupancy room! If you’re waiting, wait outside!

“Oh, look. There’s even a diaper-changing station here.”

Now the class rep? Why are you saying it like you’ve been waiting for this? Stop acting like this is normal! We’re absolutely overloading this room, and even if we aren’t, no one is using that station! I’m not going through that humiliation again.

Get out. Seriously. I’ll leave too. Kaede needs privacy, or she’s going to end up doing something she can never take back—in front of everyone.

“Kaede, you’re holding us up. Hurry it up.”

If you’re in such a hurry, why don’t you leave? She can’t go with all of you crowding her. Are women really fine with exposing themselves like this? Even uncivilized tribes have some sense of shame when it comes to bodily functions.

“Geez, Momiji-chan. If you want her to hurry up…”

Yeah, if you want her to hurry up, then—

“At least lock the door!”

“My bad, my bad.”

Wait, what?! Don’t turn this into a sealed-off nightmare!

“It’s really at my limit now… Could everyone except Kogoro turn around and cover their ears?”

So she does have a sense of shame. But why am I the exception here? She doesn’t want others to see her, but I’m somehow okay?

“Kogoro… I’m sorry, but could you pull down my skirt and panties for me?”

Why the skirt too? Why me? If you’re sorry, don’t ask me to do it!

“There’s no way I can do that! Just let me out of here! Let me out of this madness! You all—”

“You’re the one who needs to stop, Kogoro!”

“Eeek!?”

W-Was that Kaede? Did she just… yell in anger?

“Sorry, I got a little too worked up and ended up shouting… and, well, letting a little something slip out. But you know, Kogoro, this is all your fault, isn’t it? Why do you keep acting so selfishly? You’ve been saying nonsense like how you don’t want to watch someone relieve themselves outside, so here we all are, cramming into the multipurpose restroom. And yet, you’re still complaining? Did it not even cross your mind how we felt, seeing our clothes torn to shreds, while you were nowhere to be found?

We were terrified when your GPS stopped working, thinking something might have happened to you. I even searched your entire room—under the bed, in the closet, even inside the drawers, just in case there was a clue. I checked your computer too. Who knows? Maybe guilt from your repeated cheating had driven you to digitize yourself and upload as ‘Kogoro.zip.’ But no, the only things I found were some dirty games and doujinshi.

By the way, why wasn’t there a single childhood friend-themed one? That’s a real rage-panda moment for me. I froze your accounts and wiped your computer, so that gave me some satisfaction, but we still need to discuss those doujinshi later. Sleep with one eye open. Anyway, back to the story. I searched everywhere for you—under gutters, beneath rocks, even under vending machines. I didn’t find you, though. Just trash like pillbugs and coins.

When you didn’t turn up, I thought maybe you’d been kidnapped by the yakuza. So I stormed one of their offices near the highway, shouting, ‘Give Kogoro Sakamoto back!’ They got mad and attacked me, so I defended myself with the nearest vase. I tried to keep things civil, but they were out for blood. It escalated into full-blown war.

I had to hang one of them upside-down from a window, plunge their face with a toilet plunger, and even use a vice to squeeze… delicate parts. But they still insisted, ‘We don’t know any Kogoro!’ I turned over all the illegal weapons, shady loans, and evidence I confiscated to the police.

And after all that, what were you doing, Kogoro? Why were you on a date with another girl? What were you doing last night while I was out there, prying open gutters and bleeding from my fingers? Don’t look away! Look into my eyes… and lower half. Now hurry up and help me! If you don’t, my panties are going to overflow. Can you handle that responsibility, Kogoro?

Actually, maybe I’ll go with the obvious choice. I’ll make you wear it. Oh, is that why you’re hesitating? Because you want to wear it? You’re such a tease, Kogoro. If that’s the case, you should’ve just told me.”

“Alright then, let’s get these off~!”

“Okay~!”

Undressing a beautiful girl… this should be a man’s dream, right? Except this feels more like caregiving than anything else.

“Are we done yet, Kogoro? I’ve gone way past my limit, and then past that limit, and beyond.”

What is this, a battle manga with absurd power scaling? If anyone’s reaching their limit, it’s me.

“I’ve undressed you, so my job’s done, right? Please, let me go. I don’t want to see… that.”

This would scar me for life. Even if it’s just… the small stuff, it’d be unbearable. If it’s the other, it’ll break me. I’d never recover.

“…Fine.”

Did it work? Did I actually get through to her? Did I just convince a yandere? Yes! My desperate pleading actually paid off! Maybe even yanderes have some humanity deep down. My tears must have struck a chord—

“So you’re saying it’s too early for us to share this kind of intimacy, right?”

…Wait. That’s not what I meant. I meant I never want to see it, ever. How did she interpret that as “too early”?

“Then how about we sit facing each other? That way, you won’t have to look.”

Facing each other? She means straddling the toilet while sitting opposite me, right? Is she seriously suggesting… that?

“It’s fine. There’s a button here that plays the sound of flushing water.”

Sure, that helps with the noise, but what about the smell—

“Kogoro, just help her already! We don’t have all day!”

“Kuma-san?”

“Do you want us to pin you down and shove your face between Kaede’s legs?”

“Oh! Momiji-chan, that’s a great idea! Everyone, grab Kogoro!”

“Kaede! Excuse me up here!”

“…Being the only one naked feels weird.”

“Alright, I’m stripping too! Time to get naked!”

“Eek!”

…Maybe I should just end it all right here. They’ve clearly crossed the line, and I’m not sure I can take this anymore. Oh no, the smell—it’s burning my eyes…