Sad News, It Seems I'll Die from a Curse If I Don't Steal the Heroine - Chapter 05: The Hidden Secret

Chapter 05: The Hidden Secret

“Um…”

Suddenly being asked if I’m sick, I widened my eyes and froze.

…No, why did she suddenly mention sickness? Is she implying that I became dumb or something?

“What is it?”

“…”

It wasn’t a joke or a random remark… Manaka had a serious expression on her face.

Though it was quite abrupt, I felt reluctant to joke around when faced with such a serious face.

“It’s not like I’m sick or anything. Well, you could say I’m so energetic that being sick might actually calm me down.”

“…Is that so?”

“Ah, uh… What? Do I look like I’m about to die or something?”

I’m currently cursed with a potential ongoing death, you know!

Nevertheless, Manaka continued to look at me with a serious expression, but her face softened a bit after I reassured her that everything was okay.

“…I see. Then, I’ll leave it at that then.”

“I’m perfectly fine, really.”

By the way… While talking with Manaka like this, I almost forget that I’m the guy going to steal her away.

I thought I would be nervous because I’m dealing with a beautiful girl from a manga, but surprisingly, it’s not the case… It’s strange.

“If, hypothetically, I were actually sick, would you do something for me?”

“Eh? W-Well… I would like to be of help, you know? We’re classmates after all.”

“Ah…”

This girl… Just how amazing is she?

The more we talk, the more I can see her shining as a heroine, or rather, I understand why it was written in her character setting that she’s someone who can be liked by anyone. 

However… I seemed to be getting oddly excited at that moment.

“So, if I asked you to have sex, would you do it?”

I didn’t intend to say something like that, but the words slipped out unintentionally. 

It was as if I was casually having a conversation with a close acquaintance… After I said it, I panicked and tried to correct myself, saying it was a mistake… but…

“W-What did you…!?”

I thought she would scorn me or run away immediately, but Manaka’s face turned bright red, and she seemed completely embarrassed. 

Just let me make one excuse! 

It’s true that I was feeling excited, and I believed I could talk about certain topics with Manaka.

But why did I say something like this… Damn it, I’m such an idiot!

“No… Seriously, I’m really sorry, Himemoto! It just came out naturally as if I were talking to a friend…”

“Ah, I-I see… Wait, you talk about stuff like that casually with your friends!?”

“Ah… No, I mean…”

I feel like I’m being pushed by Manaka!

But… I have to admit that there’s a slight sense of enjoyment in this exchange. It’s also surprising and brings me joy that I can have this kind of conversation with her.

“…You’re really… really perverted!”

“Ugh…!?”

Pervert… Those words pierced through me like sharp arrows.

It’s as if Manaka is revealing many sides of herself that I didn’t know, and she’s speaking with an unprecedented intensity, one after another!

“You should only do that kind of thing with someone you love, right!? I mean, it’s about connecting the bodies, you know!? Like this!”

“O-Okay, calm down, Himemoto!!”!

I firmly held onto Manaka’s hand as her index finger moved back and forth in a loop between her fingers, bringing her movements to a stop.

Hey, girls shouldn’t do things like that!

“But seriously, are you really Himemoto!? You seem different somehow!”

“What are you talking about!? And Ozaki-kun, that’s not a good topic to—”

“I get it, just shut it!”

I don’t know why, but both Manaka and I… We continued to stare at each other while breathing heavily… What are we even doing? 

Despite our gaze, we both chuckled involuntarily.

“What are we doing, really?”

“Yeah, seriously… Well, as far as the content of the conversation goes, it’s pretty high school-like.”

“Fufu, indeed, I don’t think I’ve ever had this kind of conversation with anyone before!”

“If it’s fun to talk about such things, then I’m glad.”

“It’s not fun!”

“Which is it!?”

Well, whatever… Let’s stop here.

Afterward, we parted ways uneventfully, as if it contrasted with the depth of our conversation.

“Manaka Himemoto…huh.”

I murmured her name once again.

I never thought I would have this kind of exchange with her, and even now, my heart was filled with joy. Being able to have this kind of interaction that feels as if we were friends… It genuinely made me happy.

“I can’t…”

Life is precious… There’s no doubt about that, but I can’t bear to make that girl sad. It’s just something I absolutely can’t do. 

However… Can we become friends?

Is there a chance for us to become close…?

While pondering over such thoughts, I continue on my way home.

▽▼

The dreams of a butterfly, whimsical as they are, dye the real world into a fantasy.

She remembered—the exchange they had just moments ago, the refreshing conversation.

“Fufu, it was fun, wasn’t it? I never thought I’d have that kind of conversation with Ozaki-kun.”

Manaka was smiling… She seemed genuinely happy. 

The reason was simple—she had received a shock that overturned all the common sense and rumors she had believed about him until now. 

Of course, she didn’t fully trust him, but in the first place, Manaka had a tendency to favor someone who could banter and play along with her like that.

“But… I guess everyone would advise against getting involved with him.”

If he were that kind of character, he could become popular in the class… Manaka was thinking along those lines.

“Oh… I need to hurry home.”

She walks down the dimly lit path… However, Manaka suddenly stops. 

Slowly, she takes out her smartphone from her pocket, and an unfamiliar, wicked smile creeps up on her face, as if sketching a sinister grin.

“I won’t let you escape… never, ever.”

What do those eyes, now dyed in jet black, reflect?

Is she even Manaka anymore? How can this transformation be explained? The answer is not present here… It’s as if Manaka herself has undergone an unexpected change already.

“You said it, didn’t you? When you violated me, you said it, right? That I belong to you… That you’ll never let me go… Right?”

Manaka stared intently at her smartphone… Her aura was so different from her usual self, as if she was uttering a curse.

“I won’t forgive betrayal… I absolutely won’t forgive it… You can’t escape from me… If you run away, you’ll die~♪”

As she utters those words, she trembles as if a switch has been flipped.

“…Huh? Did I say something?”

With a feeling of speaking to herself, as if in a delusion, Manaka walks her way back home.

The change that has occurred within her… What could it possibly mean?