The Charm of the Popular Beautiful Succubus in Class Doesn't Work on Me ~ For Some Reason, This Beauty Keeps Trying to Hold My Hand ~ - 36

Chapter 36: Sarashina-san, Why Did You Start Dating Naruse?

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I sat on the stone steps next to the entranceway, waiting for Michihito-kun to come back. This had become our designated meeting spot ever since we started “pretending to be lovers.” Since it was on the opposite side of the school gate, few people passed by, and because it was also hidden from view from the entranceway, even a beautiful girl like me could sit here without attracting the stares of students heading home. It was, in every sense, the perfect meeting spot.

It had been nearly a month since we started our act, and almost every day, we met up here to walk home together. Sometimes, I wondered if we were overdoing it, but there was no harm in being thorough. Besides, he had said he wanted to walk home with me as a bodyguard of sorts, so I had no reason to refuse.

But today, he still hadn’t shown up no matter how long I waited. I had gotten a message from him earlier on LINE. Apparently he was suddenly called by a  teacher, so he would be a bit late. 

With a sigh, gazed absentmindedly at the all-too-familiar concrete wall. Thinking back, I realized we had done a lot of things since we started “pretending to be lovers.” We ate lunch together, watched movies, went to the batting cages…

When we were spending our days together like this, it was easy to forget that everything was just an act. I let out an even deeper sigh.

But… I can’t keep relying on him forever. I don’t want to cause him any more trouble than I am now.

With that thought in mind, I pulled out my phone and opened the LINE app.

『It’s been a while. I’m back in town now.』

『My feelings for you haven’t changed, even now.』

『If you’ll forgive me, I’ll come see you right away.』

These were messages from my senpai, sent recently. He was my first love and the first person to ever confess real feelings for me. He was also… The person who threw my life into chaos and.. the person whose life I threw into chaos. I was just reaping what I sowed. I couldn’t let Michihito-kun get dragged into this mess. 

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I finally sensed someone approaching from the entranceway.

Whew… Finally…

I was getting tired of waiting. Honestly, making a beautiful girl wait this long… What an audacious prince. I stood up. My legs were tingling from sitting too long. Then, I called out to the approaching figure.

“Ugh! You’re late! As punishment, you’re carrying my bag today!”

But as soon as I finished speaking, I realized the person standing there wasn’t him. It was a boy who looked nothing like Michihito-kun. It was a lanky, tall boy with messy black hair that gave off an otaku vibe. And his black-rimmed glasses seem to gleam ominously.

I instinctively took a step back.

“You… We’re in the same class-“

“I’m Makabe, Sarashina-san.”

Speaking calmly, the boy interrupted me mid-sentence. Of course. I remembered every boy from my class. Makabe-kun was also the boy I had been with when I first talked with Michihito-kun, so I recognized him easily.

But what Makabe-kun is doing here…?

We didn’t have any particular connection and it seemed he wasn’t here to talk about school with me. 

“Are you waiting for Naruse…?”

I had no response to his quiet, cold voice.

“Sarashina-san, why did you start dating Naruse? Don’t you like me?”

With those words, everything clicked into place. I had expected this, but the timing and location were too… Yes. This was the result of my ability working a little too well. I was well aware of the balance I had to maintain so I could manipulate the boys without getting negative feedback, so I was very careful at how much time I spent with them. I just made them like me, but not like me enough to fight over me. That was the balance I had tried to maintain. 

That said, the effectiveness of my ability varied from person to person. Some people would fall head over heels for me with just the slightest touch, while others remained indifferent despite extended contact. Makabe-kun… He was definitely in the first category. The light had already disappeared from his eyes, and he looked like a lifeless doll. He looked like he was in a trance.

He continued speaking in a robotic, broken voice.

“That day… When you held my hand tightly… I was so happy… But in the end… You still chose Naruse over me… Even though I like you so much, Sarashina-san…”

Hearing his words, I was overwhelmed with guilt. My chest tightened and my heart began to beat faster.

Ah… I’ve ruined his life too.

Back then, before I met Michihito-kun, I had convinced myself that I was the unlucky one. I was the most unlucky girl. I used that excuse to ignore my past mistakes and kept manipulating men at will. 

And now… Along with that guilt, I couldn’t stop my legs from trembling from the fear I was facing. Right now, Makabe-kun was out of his mind because of my ability. This situation was really bad and there were too few people around her. Even if I were to ask for help, there was no one around to hear. I had to run. If I could just make it to Michihito-kun somehow, everything would be okay… 

And so, I started running despite not knowing if I could make it or not. But I was a second too slow. As soon as I tried to dodge him, he quickly closed the distance and grabbed my hand forcefully.

“―!!”

I let out a silent cry from the pain in my hand. Desperate, I struggled to break free, but alas, a woman was powerless against a man’s strength. He pushed me against the wall, still gripping my hand tightly.

This… This is really bad. I can’t shake him off. 

He had been in contact with me for 10 seconds… No. Maybe 20 seconds by now. If I used my ability on him any more than this, he might really lose all of his rationality. And if that happened…

Thinking about the worst possible outcome, the tears I had been holding back suddenly overflowed like a broken dam. 

I… I don’t want to be hurt here… Someone… Help me… Michihito-kun…

“Michihito-kun! Help me!”

Whooosh! Crack!

At the sound of something breaking, the hand that had been squeezing me suddenly let me go. I cautiously opened my eyes and there, I saw Makabe-kun hunched over, clutching his face in pain.

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