Chapter 66: The Rules of the Curse

Hmm… Weird. We just took some purikura, but I’m completely drained.

　Called it—total role reversal! First, the kindergartener went on the attack, then Miss Officer flipped it into a classic onee-shota domination scene.

　No restraint. None. The stuff she pulled would get her fired and jailed. My crotch is sore…

“Hey hey, Kogoro. How’d the handcuffs feel?”

　…They were toys, but still. Can’t say it sucked, but admitting that feels dangerous. But lying’s risky too.

“Praying I never get the real deal.”
“That’s not an answer, but relax. Anyone who arrests you—cops included—I’ll crush ’em.”

　National authority? From a woman who’d storm a yakuza den over turf wars? But… actually, yeah, she might. Terrifying.

“Next, let’s play it safe with maid outfits!”
“Wait, more?”
“Eh… You wanna leave already? We’ve only done ten sessions!”

　Ten’s insane! Who does that?! And same outfit every time!

“We’ve blown enough cash. Let’s save some for next time, yeah? Yeah?”
“Hmm… True! Gotta save for other dates too! Okay, I’ll respect Kogoro’s wish!”

　Escaping purikura hell is a win, but why’s this my debt?!

“Let’s head home and binge-watch our loot!”
“Binge… the stickers?”
“Nuh-uh! The video!”

　…Video?! Not just photos?!

“Didn’t notice? I recorded everything on my phone.”

　What the—?! The stickers are cursed enough, but video?! If anyone sees this, I’ll die!

“Th-That’s illegal, right?! You can’t just film!”
“Relax! The machine had a phone holder. Purikura’s high-tech now!”

　Stop acting savvy—you’d never even seen a purikura booth before today! First-timer using words like “purikura machine”… Ugh.
　But crap—if Kaede shows this to flex, chaos follows. I’ll be stuck in Momiji’s cringe plays forever. How to stop her?!

“…What if it’s just our secret?”
“Our… secret? Ehehe, that’s so… intimate!”

　Yes! Working?!

“I’ll hit up the convenience store quick.”
“Huh? Sure…”
“Convenience store ATMs charge fees, but whatever!”

　…ATM?

“Out of cash? I’ll split the purikura bill.”
“Nope! My idea, my treat!”
“O-Okay…”
“Oh, need five more photo albums! You want some too, right?”

　Five… Wait, no way…

“You’re not planning another session…?”
“Ahaha, silly!”

　Right? Phew…

“We need fifty more! Minimum!”

　Are you broken?! Trying to bankrupt the arcade?!

“Wh-Why fifty?!”
“Secrets are better in bulk! Ehehe~ Let’s make tons!”

　Nooo! She’s high on “shared secrets”! Her money, but fifty more rounds of that cosplay? I’ll die! Last time, people stared! Next time, cops’ll show!

“Wh-what if we shoot at home? We don’t need purikura, right?”

　Even if Mom or Sis ask, no big deal. Hell, they could watch and I wouldn’t care. Weird logic, but safer than getting cops called on us.

“Hmm… Money does add up…”
“Right?! Right?!”
“Even 100-yen costumes pile up like crazy!”

　Deadass. Our earlier session burned a small fortune. Who knew they charged per shoot for rentals?!

“Exactly! Gotta save cash…”
“But if we buy costumes from duty-free shops, we can shoot unlimited! Genius, Kogoro!”

　…Wait.

“Plus, at home we can get way wilder than in stores. So exciting!”

　…Did I just screw myself?

　Kaede sits between my legs, fiddling with her laptop. Ah, youth…

“Hey hey, isn’t this cosplay cute?”

　…This counts as youth?
　Too late to hit duty-free, so we’re browsing online shops. I just wanna go home.

“Ooh, this snake costume’s perfect!”
“Uh… No clue what you’re seeing.”

　Snake? Over cat or dog? She into reptiles? Never heard that before…

“Imagine it coiling around you~”
“Oh, you’re picking based on scenarios now.”

　Wouldn’t that work better without costumes? This feels gimmicky.

“Plus, snakes can bite without consequences!”

　Nope! Not allowed! And why snakes anyway?!

“Dogs or cats bite more, don’t they?”
“But snakes love eggs~ You’re so smooth down there~”
“NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

　Forget the curse—I’m guarding my boys with everything.

“Ahaha! I won’t bite them off!”
“Biting at all is illegal!”

　Stop with the “it’s fine if it’s not destroyed” logic!

“Mou~ It’ll just be gentle nibbles!”

　”Gentle”? Your “gentle” is a death sentence!

“Kaede, it’s way more painful and dangerous than you think.”
“Fine, I’ll just… lick them. No teeth! Promise!”

　Is this a damn negotiation tactic?! Lowering demands after outrageous asks?!

“L-licking still sounds painful. No experience, though.”

　I wanna yell “IT HURTS!” but then she’d grill me: “How do you know?! Who sucked you?!” Ugh.

“You survived the purikura groping, so it’s fine!”

　She gazes at her hand like an idol post-handshake event. Really?

“”Survived”? It kinda hurt!”
“Eh…? It hurt? Really…?”

　Wait, why’s she suddenly guilty? It wasn’t that bad. How do I handle this?
　If I downplay it: “Grope away!” If I complain: “PUNISH ME THEN! RIP MY VIRGINITY! STRIP NOW!” Terrifying either way!

“You okay?! Not crushed?! Functional?! Color? Shape? Dents?! I’m sorry! So sorry!”

　Terrifying! Since when did snake-biter turn penitent?!

“Calm down! It’s fine now!”
“So it did hurt?! I’m sorry! You looked happy, so I didn’t notice!”

　I wasn’t “happy”—I was enduring.

“You’re… mad, right?”

　Not really, but admitting that feels risky. Damn, I’m walking on eggshells more than with actual girlfriends.

“Forget it.”
“Kogoroo… I’m sorryyy…”

　She spins around and buries her face in my chest, trembling. Who is this?! Not the Kaede I… wait, maybe this is her real self?
　Did the curse weaken…? Nah.

“Really not broken? You’re okay?”

　Why the obsession?! Physical harm must be against the curse’s rules.
　Kurokawa-senpai cursed me to scare off other girls—not to kill me.

“I’m fine. Drop it.”
“…Okay. Thank you.”

　Weirdly docile. Wish she stayed like this.
　Nothing else happened, and we split up.
　Maybe I found a yandere loophole, but poking it’s dangerous. I’ll keep laying low while seeking a cure.
　…Gotta rely on Shiro? No evidence he’s trustworthy, but what choice do I have?