The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 16 & 17

Chapter 16: From a Russian Beauty, With Love ~ The Day Before the Decisive Battle

Love takes different forms for everyone.

It might be something tangible, or it might be intangible.

If there’s a common thread, what could it be?

The one thing that can be said is that the person giving that love is thinking of the other person with care.

They’re offering it with true sincerity, aren’t they?

No matter the form that sincerity may take.

※

Sofia and I are walking to school side by side again today.

I envelop her small hand with mine, our bodies close as we head to class.

Thanks to what I asked Haruki and Ai to do yesterday, the stares directed at us are even more intense.

“Shoma Kamizuki stalked Sofia Kisaragi for days, begged her on his knees while crying, and asked her out.”

“Sofia Kisaragi only said yes because she felt her safety was at risk.”

Hearing that, I can’t stop laughing.

Kukuku, the first phase is going smoothly, it seems.

“Shoma, you okay? Your face looks weird… kinda creepy.”

“I’m fine, Sofi, I’ve always been weird. And don’t call me creepy!”

Being able to tease me like this means she’s cheering up a bit.

I owe Ai for that.

Even under curious stares, we take our seats in the classroom.

Maybe because of yesterday, no one in class dares to approach me now.

At Sofia’s desk, the diligent class rep seems to be chatting with her about something.

Homeroom ends, and the lessons pass one by one.

There are occasional glances our way, but they’re harmless, so I ignore them.

Time flies by quickly.

Kiin-koon-kaan-koon

Here we go—the party’s starting.

It’s time to dive into the decisive lunch break.

※

At our school, during lunch, the monitors in the classrooms, the cafeteria, and the auditorium play movies, dramas, or news.

It’s supposedly for cultural enrichment, but honestly, it’s just the principal’s hobby.

This time, we’re taking advantage of that.

I’d already asked the broadcasting club to connect all monitors to a single channel, forcing them to share one feed.

In the drama club’s costume room, Sofia and I split up to change—guys and girls separately.

Well, I was actually the only one actually changing.

Sofia just has a few props to prepare.

After getting ready, I stand in the small hall the drama club usually uses, joined by Haruki, Ai, Hazuki, and a group of volunteers they gathered.

“Nn, fufufu.”

Kusukusu.

“No way, I can’t hold it in!”

Even before we start, they’re snickering at me.

Hazuki, meanwhile, looks at me with a very satisfied expression.

Come to think of it, why was Sofia so nervous when Hazuki showed up?

She’s my cute junior, you know?

Oh well, whatever.

The battle’s about to begin!

Pin-pon-pan-pon

“Today’s Lunchtime Masterpiece Theater begins now~”

With that makeshift line, the monitors light up.

Bashin!

“…Nnnnnh!”

Bishin!

“Haa, haa… more… give me more!”

Taraa

“Ah, hot… the wax…”

Bashin!

“This is what you want, right~?”

“Haa… haa, please… do it more.”

No one—students, staff, everyone—will probably ever forget that moment.

Some might even be traumatized by it.

That’s how shocking the scene was.

A world high schoolers would never touch unfolded on the other side of the screen.

Even among adults, only a few would step into that realm.

The hands holding food froze.

Fried chicken slipped from some chopsticks.

Next to me, a cup of tea clattered to the floor.

Some gaped with wide-open mouths.

Some rolled their eyes back.

Some looked away.

Some dropped their wigs.

Some stared, utterly captivated.

And there it was…

Me, tied up with ropes, wearing a sash that read “Sofia’s Servant,” writhing in nothing but my underwear.

Beside me stood Sofia, her uniform slightly disheveled, draped in a black cape, red butterfly glasses, holding a black whip in her right hand, a candle in her left, and a silver tiara on her head.

“O-hohoho! Where’s that bravado you had when you begged me, crying, huh, little piggy?”

Bashin!

“Or did you mistake me for some pure, innocent maiden, the opposite of the rumors~?”

Bakoon!

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but don’t underestimate me, you pig!”

Michimichi!

“How many men do you think I’ve broken beyond repair? I’m tired of even counting!”

Dogon!

Uh… Sofia-san? Aren’t you getting a bit too into this?

Your strength’s getting kinda out of hand…

“Getting that kind of treatment from Sofia-sama… haa… haa.”

“I’m so jealous, Kamizuki-dono!”

“Go for it! Do it more!”

“Kyaa! Sofia-sama, you’re amazing!”

“Please teach me that gorgeous whip technique!”

“Sofia-sama… I’d rather be the one bullied by you.”

The crowd we gathered in the small hall?

Total plants, of course.

These plants are key to the plan.

When people act alone, they look for others with the same goal or mindset.

Give them a spark, a nudge in group psychology, and there they go.

Just like rumors spread fast, so does the drive to act when you find allies.

While Sofia, fully in the zone, berates me (it’s terrifying on the other side of the screen), I start to get where those actors in old videos were coming from.

Needless to say, Sofia’s scolding opened a new door for me.

Chapter 17: Rain, Then Thunder, with a Chance of Rainbows

The term “weather” doesn’t just refer to a phenomenon happening in the sky.

A smile like the sun.

Tears like the rain.

A shock like being struck by lightning.

As cold as snow.

And guess what?

Human emotions can actually be likened to the weather as well.

However, people often focus on the weather on TV or the internet, rarely noticing the weather of their own hearts.

Even less so the weather of someone else’s heart.

※

Sofia and I were in the guidance office after school.

Of course, we were called in because of the lunch break incident.

We were in the middle of getting a harsh scolding from several guidance counselors.

But there was one more person here—our savior—sitting with us.

Her dazzling long black hair swayed as she forcefully slapped some documents on the desk.

She held evidence of the rumors and bullying against Sofia, confronting the teachers with a half-aggressive stance.

The student council president of our school, Satsuki Sumeragi.

If you had to describe her in one phrase… she’s the embodiment of justice.

Yesterday, when I went to consult her, I told her about Sofia and easily secured her cooperation.

I knew it would come to this.

To prepare such thorough documents in less than half a day—man, that’s our president.

I shivered with a mix of awe and slight fear.

“—And so! If you teachers had paid even a little attention to her, things wouldn’t have come to this, would they? Have you ever properly talked to her? What about her relationship with her parents? Home visits? Her middle school days?”

As she fired off accusations at the teachers, they wore sour expressions, responding with half-hearted words.

“Are the rumors really not true?”

“I saw Kisaragi walking with a boy myself.”

“Some rumors here and there are normal, right…?”

The teachers knew about Sofia’s rumors.

They believed them.

Unbelievably, they cast suspicious eyes on Sofia.

I felt my brow twitch, and the president, sensing it, let out a deep sigh.

“Haa… And you call yourselves educators? Honestly…”

Konkon.

Before the president could say more, a knock interrupted.

“Excuse me.”

The person who entered was the principal of our school.

A sharp, elegant woman who perfectly fit the term “beautiful mature lady.”

She glanced at the documents on the desk and murmured.

“I’ve heard the situation. I understand what’s happened. Regarding Kisaragi-san’s case, I deeply regret it and know that we could have done more. I’m sorry.”

With that, the principal herself bowed her head.

“B-But, Principal!”

The teachers, flustered by her actions, stammered.

The principal swiftly delivered a sharp blow.

“Even with so many students advocating… I’m really disappointed that you knew about these rumors and did nothing. Your words just now have been duly noted.”

The teachers froze.

“To think you’re teachers at this school is nothing short of shameful! You’re suspended until further disciplinary action. Leave.”

The pale-faced teachers left the room like deer stared down by a lion.

The principal’s terrifying—no questions asked.

Afterward, the president and principal left to handle the aftermath, saying they had things to take care of.

As they went…

“Good job! You nailed it, Shoma-san!”

“As expected of the man I had my eye on♪”

Those were the words from the principal above and the president.

Left in the guidance office, Sofia and I felt awkward, so we decided to move.

“Let’s get some fresh air.”

“…Okay.”

The sky was filled with crimson light.

Her skirt fluttered in the breeze as she pressed it down, gazing into the distance with a beauty like a painting.

The place was the rooftop.

“Shoma… um.”

“Yeah.”

Sofia slowly opened her mouth.

“I was so scared. I thought I’d have to live alone, exposed to everyone’s stares, and it was so hard.”

She began to voice her feelings, little by little.

“Right after I started here, people looked at me with curiosity, and I lost my place… I was crying alone in the park when I met you… when you found me.”

I remember it too.

She was at the park I often visit during my part-time job breaks… crying.

So, on impulse, I gave her the cake I was about to eat… I wanted to stop her tears.

I think I did most of the talking after that.

But I was in my work uniform, and my body was different back then, so I figured she wouldn’t recognize me at school.

In fact, she didn’t seem to notice me when we passed each other.

Guess that was my mistake.

That moment might have been the time I became a pillar of support for her.

To sum up her words, she thought if it was going to end anyway, she’d at least confess boldly, without regrets.

Even if I didn’t remember her, that was okay.

She didn’t want someone else to take me.

As she spoke, she was crying.

As if she’d forgotten where she’d left the stopper for her emotions.

For a while, until she calmed down, I held her hand.

The school after hours buzzed with energy, with club activities echoing from the field and buildings.

In contrast, where we stood, only her voice could be heard.

Once she’d regained some composure, I decided to give her the biggest surprise of the day.

“Young lady, young lady, is something troubling you? That cute face is going to waste, you know? Here, have this!”

“Huh!?”

I held out the same chocolate cake from that day.

In her words:

It gave her a moment as precious as a treasure.

It gave her hope to keep living.

It gave her the strength to endure.

That chocolate cake.

Along with the first words I ever said to her.

“You… remembered?”

I didn’t answer that directly and brought up yesterday instead.

“I told you yesterday, right? By this evening, I bet…”

As she took the chocolate cake, Sofia’s expression changed, recalling my words from yesterday.

Tears streamed from her eyes, warm and soft.

It was as if the dark clouds in her heart had cleared away.

She nodded with all the gratitude she could muster.

Your smile will shine like a rainbow.