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 ~ - 57

Chapter 57: You’re Going to Buy Information From Me

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One afternoon, early in the new school term. I was unable to go home due to the sudden downpour, so I sat by the window and gazed outside absentmindedly. Ever since that day I parted ways with Michihito, it was as if I had become invisible. I had stopped talking to anyone. I had thought, ‘If I’m just going to ruin someone else’s life again… and, in the end, I chose to be alone.’

To be honest, I had already been dreading having to return to my old life when the new school term started, so in a way, this was a good opportunity. I wouldn’t use my ability on anyone anymore. I wouldn’t get close to anyone. That way, I wouldn’t have to think about anything difficult, and I wouldn’t have to agonize over the concept of “liking” someone.

Besides, I already had my precious memories with him. That alone was enough for me now.

“Sarahina, can I talk to you for a bit?”

Amidst all this, a boy called out to me.

Ah… A confession, even under these circumstances? 

I sighed deeply and turned around, only to see someone completely unexpected standing there.

“…Kokubun-kun?”

I unconsciously let his name slip past my mouth.

“Yo, it’s been a while. Got a moment?”

For Kokubun-kun to go out of his way to talk to me, it could only be about Michihito. He must have heard that we broke up.

“I’m really not in the mood to talk to anyone…”

I averted my gaze, as if to tell him to leave me alone, and turned back toward the rain pouring outside the window.

“If you hear me out, I’m sure you’ll feel like talking.”

At those provoking words, I shot him a sidelong glance.

“You’re quite assertive, aren’t you? I like pushy boys.”

“Save that line for Michihito.”

“Huh? Why are you bringing up Michihito now?”

Something about the way he said it irritated me, and before I knew it, my tone had sharpened.

“You can say ‘I like you’ so easily to someone you don’t actually like, huh?”

Hmph… Cheap provocation. But…

“I changed my mind. Let’s talk for a bit, Kokubun-kun.”

Saying that, I hopped off the desk I had been sitting on and stepped toward him.

“Ah! Hold it right there!!”

“!? “

He suddenly raised both hands, as if to stop me, and took a step back to create distance.

“Your ability… It’s ‘the ability to make someone fall for you just by touching them,’ right?”

“……….”

“I’d rather not have that ability used on me, so I’m sorry, but could you not come any closer?”

Hearing those words, I stopped in my tracks.

Kokubun-kun… Knows about my ability? If he knows what it does, then that means he heard about me from Michihito. But… Just how much does he know?

This guy had once tried to bait me back at the batting center. He had a bad personality to begin with, so I couldn’t take everything he said at face value. For now, I had to be extremely careful with my words.

“…Hmmmm~ So you’ve even heard about my ‘ability’ from Michihito?”

I watched his movements carefully.

“Hey, hey, no need to be so on guard. And don’t worry, Michihito already made sure to tell me not to breathe a word about it to anyone.”

“Michihito really trusts you, huh?”

“Yeah, lucky me.”

“Well, even if Michihito or you told someone about this, no one would believe you anyway.”

I shot him a cold look.

“True. Even I haven’t fully accepted that this ‘ability’ is real.”

“But the fact that you’re keeping your distance means you think there’s at least a chance it’s real, right?”

“I’m just being cautious. Well, if I could actually see you use that so-called ‘ability,’ then I would trust you.”

Saying that, he deliberately let his gaze drop to my hands.

“No matter how much you stare, I’m afraid I can’t grant your request. This wretched ability… I have no intention of ever using it again for the rest of my life.”

“Wretched ability?”

“That’s right.”

“If I had that ‘ability,’ I’d surround myself with the world’s most beautiful women and establish the ‘Kokubun Kingdom.'”

“What a ridiculous man you are. This ‘ability’ isn’t as simple as you think. You can’t build the kind of harem you’re imagining.”

“Heh.  I’m just messing with you. I know. I understand perfectly well that this ‘ability’ is the root of everything.”

As he said that, his usual playful demeanor disappeared, and a serious expression took over his face.

“Now, let’s get to the real topic.”

“…The real topic?”

“That’s right.”

“…You’re not here to scold me for breaking up with Michihito, are you?”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to gauge his intent.

“Getting angry or anything like that isn’t really my style.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I’m just here to do my job as an ‘information broker.'”

“…Information broker?”

Not quite grasping what he meant, I instinctively echoed his words.

“I’m not exactly a nice guy, you see. I buy and sell other people’s information for a living.”

Ah… So that’s how it is.

He probably didn’t believe in my ‘ability’ at all. In other words, he thought my claim about the ability was just a lie to avoid hurting Michihito. So he came here to confirm whether that was true or not. He must be doing this out of concern for Michihito, who was still heartbroken.

Michihito… you really do have good friends.

That said, that didn’t mean I had any intention of spilling everything about my ‘ability.’

“Hmm~ That does seem like the perfect job for someone as nasty as you, Kokubun-kun. So, what exactly are you hoping to get out of me?”

I flashed a provocative smile, but he shook his head.

“No, no. You’re the one who’s going to buy information from me.”

“…I’m the one who will buy information from you?”

“Yeah.”

“Why do I have to buy information?”

“Sarashina, do you know about Michihito’s ‘incident’?”

Michihito’s ‘incident’?

If I remember correctly, ‘that incident’ was some trouble with another school that happened when we were first-years. But I didn’t know Michihito was involved in that ‘incident.’ He never mentioned anything like that to me.

“Judging by that reaction, you don’t know, huh?”

Seeing me fall silent, he pressed on.

“Don’t you want to know the truth about ‘that incident’? Since this is a breakup special, I’ll even give you a discounted price.”

He grinned.

“…Testing me like this… You really are awful.”

“I get that a lot. Well, if you don’t want to hear it, I’ll just turn around and go home.”

Seriously… This guy is the worst. But… ‘that incident,’ huh. Michihito’s past… I have to admit, I’m a little curious.

Wanting to hear more about someone I already broke up with felt a bit pathetic, but… I was just thinking I needed to kill some time while waiting for the rain to stop… So it should be fine, right?

“Fine. I’ll listen.”

“That’s the spirit!”

Kokubun clapped his hands together, looking pleased.

“Just so you know, I’ll be collecting the information fee properly.”

“You’re not going to ask for something perverted again, are you?”

“Hmm… Let’s see.”

He crossed his arms as if in deep thought, his eyes shamelessly roaming over me.

“The rain doesn’t seem like it’ll stop anytime soon, so how about sharing an umbrella with me? I’m a proper English gentleman, after all. But, I don’t want to get my jacket wet.”

Hmm~ Kokubun-kun, he really knows everything, huh?

“Too bad for you. If you get too close to me, my ‘ability’ will activate. If you stay at least five meters away, I wouldn’t mind sharing an umbrella with you.”

He let out a hearty laugh, as if he found my words really funny. Then, he took a breath before beginning to recount the story of ‘that incident.’

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