Chapter 24: The decisive death of a childhood friend (still alive and reluctant)

“I’ve always loved you, Kazunii.”

Holding my hand, Isami Shirasagi, aka Ii-chan, said

“I was fat and dark, but Kazunii was the only one who cared about me. When I was the only one who got detention at the dojo, Kazunii went along with me. When I think back on it now, I realize how special that was. –When I joined the troupe, I lost weight, and became popular as a child actor, many girls came to me. The adults were kind to me. But the only one who was kind to me back then was Kazunii.”

　Her round eyes stare at me from up close. Her eyes are this big, but her nose and lips are small and very lovely. She blinked repeatedly with her long eyelashes. When I try to pull my hand away, she squeezes it back as if to say, “No”

For a long time, I didn’t know what she would do when she got her mind on something.

　But now, my thoughts are running wild.

“Let’s calm down a little bit. Ii-chan.”

　Mou, I patted her shoulder with my other hand.

“I know you’re happy to see me again. I’m happy to see you again, too. But you’re talking a little too fast.”

“……Y-yes, it’s ……Of course. I’m sorry.”

said Ii-chan, looking embarrassed.

“First of all, can you tell me why you’re pretending to be a boy?”

Without hearing that, the conversation would not go anywhere.

“It’s a tradition in the Shirasagi family. Girls born in the breech birth cage must live as boys until they are eighteen years old. Otherwise, misfortune will befall the entire family.”

“That’s another outdated superstition.”

“It can’t be helped. The family head is the only one who can resist father and mother.”

I don’t know much about Ii-chan’s family, but I have heard that they have been a landowner for a long time. This area is hardly a city, and there are still some old customs that are peculiar to the countryside.

“The school had been informed about it, and I had to change my clothes separately for a long time. The teachers treated me like I was a tumor, so I didn’t make many friends. The only one who talked to me was Kazunii. The dojo was strict, but I really looked forward to going there. I could meet Kazunii.”

The memory of my childhood comes back to me.

I remember pulling Ii-chan’s hand as she stood there on the tatami mats, looking so scared, and teaching her how to do kumite and shiatsu. She was scared in front of adults, but she always looked happy in front of me.

“And it was good for me to study theater, because by acting like a boy on a daily basis, I developed my acting skills. That’s what I learned from the director of the troupe I was with. In fact, I think I got better at it.”

“…………”

Since Teikai Academy went to the trouble of inviting her as a special student, she must be a very talented actor.

　But—-

“But, Ii-chan, your earlier performance was not so good. “

　Her expression tightened.

“W-What are you talking about?”

“When I told you earlier that the head of the theater department had asked you to do this, your attitude was unnatural. You actually knew beforehand that I was coming here today, didn’t you?　That I would be here today.”

　She looked stunned.

“What makes you think that?”

“The door to this room was unlocked. You’ve been very careless not to let them know you’re a woman.”

“T-that was an inadvertent …… accident.”

“Really?”

　I stared into her eyes and she sighed heavily.

“I knew I couldn’t lie to Kazunii”

“Why didn’t you lock the door?”

“Because I wanted Kazunii to notice me. I’m a girl. I wanted you to notice that I’m a girl who loves Kazunii. ……”

“So you took a shower. Didn’t you think it was dangerous in all kinds of ways?”

Ii-chan’s face turned red.

　The red bud-like lips pouted and said

“I don’t care what happens to me as long as it’s Kazunii. ……”

　No, no, no, wait, wait.

　The “obsessive disease” has been triggered again.

I hugged her trembling shoulders. Hugging her tightly, I rubbed her back.

“Nnnn………Kazuniii…….”

　She buried her face in my chest as if to pamper herself. The sweet scent comes from her short chestnut-colored whiskers. The one in my arms is a slender body like a broken thing. I was very much aware that Ii-chan is a girl.

“I’ve been so anxious and worried about it for a long time. I was forced to be Rua’s boyfriend. I couldn’t resist. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to become a girl again. The person I’ve always loved is so close to me.”

“I knew your relationship with that thing was forced.”

Ii-chan nodded.

“Rua threatened me to become her boyfriend. She said, ‘If you refuse, I’ll cancel next month’s show!’. Everyone is working so hard. There’s no way I can allow that to happen because of me.”

“I see.”

Such interference would be detrimental to Teikai Academy, but I doubt the pig would think that far ahead. Instead of brains, it’s full of sh*t.

Ame-chan, President Kocho, and Ii-chan.

　How many people do you have to bother?

“Okay, I’ll take care of it. “

　Ii-chan looked surprised.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

It was already becoming my role to save the victims of that pig.

“But even for Kazunii, there is no way to go against that Princess Rua…….”

“No. I won’t go against her.”

“Eh?”

I took out my phone.

　The phone number of that pig had long since been deleted, so I had no choice but to pull it out of my memory. I could erase the phone’s memory, but I couldn’t erase out of my memory. Well, it helped this time.

　Before I could make a single call, the pig answered the phone. Apparently, she had been waiting for my call.

“Hey, Kazu!　How’s it going?　Did you settle it?”

“Yeah.”

“Fufufu. I see you two have had a fight over precious me!　It turned into a duel!　And what was the result?”

“I lost. I was beaten to a pulp.”

“?!”

　Piggy’s astonishment was conveyed over the phone.

“Y-you’re lying about losing!?　There is no way Kazu could lose. Aren’t you a licensed master of the old palace style?　Grandfather told me before. Kazu is a killing machine now.”

“There’s no way I could kill him in a fight. I’m not good at holding back. That’s why I’m weak in fights.”

　This is true.

　I think I can beat ordinary people when it comes to killing, but when it comes to fighting, it’s a different story. I am not that dexterous. That’s why I was kicked out of the dojo by Shihan Furumiya, who said, “I’ll give you a full license, now get out.”

“That’s why I’m sorry. I will give up on you with tears in my eyes. I hope you will be happy with the strong, handsome Isami Shirasagi.”

“—-“

　There was a moment of silence, as if I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

　Then, a

“Mugyuuuuuuuuuuuu! WHY————AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

　A dirty roar echoed from the speaker.

　It was too loud, so I hung up. I had served my purpose.

“W-What was that, Kazunii?”

“The piggy’s final scream.”

　Now there was no more reason for her to stick with Ii-chan. She will probably call off the relationship tomorrow.

　The problem is what happens after that.

　This is not the kind of pig that will back down quietly. She will come up with another plan but with an even more vicious plan. A plan that will harm Amane, President Kocho, and the others.

How should I respond to it—–

“I’ll just have to talk once and for all, I guess.”

I muttered to myself, and Ii-chan tilted her head.

“Talking with Princess Rua?”

“No–“

　I shook my head and mentioned the name of the “root of all evil.”

“The mastermind behind this school, Taizo Takayashiki.”