The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 12 & 13

Chapter 12: Her True Feelings ~ The Day Before the Decisive Battle

There aren’t many opportunities to see a woman’s tears, I think.

Tears at a wedding ceremony.

Tears at the moment of giving birth.

Tears when witnessing the departure of someone who raised you.

Tears when the person you love most is no longer there.

And then…

If possible, I hope those tears are tears of joy, not tears of sadness.

How many people feel the same way?

“To you who love this story, may you shed warm tears.”

However, reality is cruel, and the tears of the girl in front of me seem to be those of sadness.

※

Traces of milk cocoa remain, forming a circular stain along the edge of the mug.

She speaks slowly, occasionally shedding tears as she tells her story.

Since middle school, she was bullied because of her appearance.

Because of her looks, even her parents were slandered.

She started her high school life in a place that held memories for her father and mother.

She thought something would change.

Nothing changed.

She knew that all the boys who confessed to her were only after her body.

Among those boys was a senior who was the object of admiration for other girls.

Because of that, one of those girls spread false rumors about her.

That she’s doing indecent things at night.

That she’s a loose woman who opens her legs for anyone.

That she’s extorting large sums of money from men.

There were many other rumors as well, it seemed neverending.

It was as I had expected, but hearing it directly from her mouth carries a weight that’s entirely different from mere assumptions.

“Gusu… Even so, because Shoma was there… because you were there, I could endure it. I-I…”

As she speaks through her tears, she’s surely recalling what happened a year ago.

Of course, I remember it too.

But I won’t say anything yet.

If I just let things flow like this, she’ll never find the redemption she deserves.

That’s something I understand better than anyone.

Unable to say more, she repeats shallow breaths, hyuu-hyuu.

It’s as if she wants to speak but can’t, and that frustration is spilling from her mouth.

“Wait just a moment.”

Saying that, I stand up, turn my back to her, and leave the room.

Chapter 13: The Archangel Descends ~ The Day Before the Decisive Battle [Sofia Kisaragi POV]

I can’t breathe properly, my breaths are coming unevenly.

I don’t even remember what I was telling him anymore.

My vision is dim.

When did I realize it was because of my tears?

I hear a sound like wind, hyuu-hyuu.

It took me a while to notice it was coming from my own mouth.

“Wai… t…”

I feel like he said something.

But it doesn’t reach my ears.

He suddenly stood up.

I couldn’t see his expression.

Wait! Don’t go! Don’t abandon me…

Every time I try to voice it, I hear the sound of wind.

I reach out to grab him, but it’s like grasping at a mirage, my hand slicing through empty air.

Batan

The sound of the door closing echoed sharply in my ears, vivid and clear.

Is he disappointed in me?

Does he think I’m pathetic?

There’s no place for me to remain anymore.

Anxiety, despair, sadness, impatience, anger.

Those emotions surged over me like waves, painting my heart black, spilling from my eyes, dragging me into an abyss-like darkness.

That’s how it should have been.

“Myaa.”

“…Huh?”

As I cried with my head bowed, I felt a soft, fluffy sensation at my feet.

It was warm, rubbing its furry body against my legs.

“Myaa, myaa.”

A white, fluffy creature looked up at me, meowing.

“Sofi, can you hold her? She loves being held.”

Unconsciously, I gently lifted the fluffy creature.

“…She’s warm.”

I hugged her tightly to my chest.

Before I knew it, he was sitting close beside me, our shoulders lightly touching.

“This is our great archangel, Shiratama-sama. Love her to your heart’s content!”

As he said that, he gently pulled me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

That’s it.

That’s why I…

Tears fell from my eyes.

This time, they weren’t tears of sadness but tears laced with relief and the pain of everything I’d been through.

How long did I cry?

When I noticed, we’d long passed the time to head to school.

“I’m… sorry.”

I apologized to him, my voice thick with tears.

“Don’t worry about it.”

His tone was gruff but carried a certain warmth.

“Well, look, I’m not gonna pretend I fully get the rumors about you or all the pain you’ve been through because of them.”

I nodded silently.

“I’m not telling you to forget the past either. Your past is what made you who you are now.”

He doesn’t deny my past.

“So what I’m gonna talk about now is… the future.”

“…The future?”

I didn’t understand what he was trying to say.

“I mean, look, Sofi, you’re my girlfriend, right? My girlfriend’s got this sad look on her face. If I let that slide, I’d be a total failure as your boyfriend!”

“—!”

He looked straight into my eyes, his gaze serious as he wove his words.

“Even if you’re just after my body, you’re still my girlfriend, so it’s only natural. Plus, I’ve got a bit of a plan.”

He flashed a bold, mischievous grin, speaking words that drew closer to my truth.

“You said that domineering S-type persona you put on when you confessed to me was an act, right?”

I nodded slightly.

That S-type persona was my last shred of hope.

It was so he wouldn’t belong to someone else, so he’d notice me.

I wanted to be connected to him, even physically, like grasping at straws.

My mind might have already been at its breaking point long ago.

“What I’m about to say hinges on that persona. You could even say we’re gonna use it.”

“Use it?”

I echoed back.

“You’ve been hurt by those rumors all this time, haven’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then let’s turn the tables on those rumors. A head-on fight! Here’s the strategy, so listen up—”

“S-S-Such a thing is no good! If you do that, Shoma, you’ll…”

I was dumbfounded hearing his strategy.

It’s not normal at all.

“Now, hold on, hold on. It’s not a bad deal. If it works, we might even gain some allies.”

I thought the strategy he proposed was honestly ridiculous.

“But there’s no way it’ll work!”

“Sure, if we go at it like this, it might flop. But even if it fails, the malice won’t be aimed at you anymore.”

“B-But whether it fails or succeeds, Shoma, you’ll…”

Hearing that, he laughed like a kid pulling a prank.

“Haha, don’t sweat it! My reputation doesn’t matter. I don’t give a crap what random nobodies say about me.”

He kept laughing as he went on.

“I only believe what I see with my own eyes, and I’m not about to abandon someone who cares about me. Got it? It’s a done deal.”

He added that it’s like a family motto or something.

Caught up in his momentum, I could only nod silently.

“Alright, that settles it. Let’s head to school. We’ve got a ton to do. For now, today’s about shaping impressions and recruiting allies.”

Saying that, he started tapping on his phone, contacting someone.

“Okay, I’ve reached out to our allies with the basics. All that’s left is explaining the details when we get to school. Think of today as prep time!”

“Okay.”

The conversation was racing ahead.

“The showdown’s at tomorrow’s lunch break. I’m counting on you. Today’s performance will boost tomorrow’s success rate.”

“…Ugh.”

I felt a bit anxious.

He gave me a gentle smile and patted my head.

“Don’t make that worried face. That’s only until today. By tomorrow evening, I bet—”

The words he said next, I’ll never forget.

And I’d come to realize.

The incredible person that is Shoma Kamizuki.

And how much more I’d fallen for him.

“I’m counting on you, my love watcher.”

With a bright smile, he took my hand, and I started walking.

For tomorrow… no, for myself and for him.