If everything followed the novel's storyline and logic, it would be the beginning of my romantic comedy with Yukino Yukinoshita, investigating Arisu Sakayanagi's true purpose with many twists and turns. We would start with a cold relationship and blah blah blah, just like any cliché romance comedy written by a webnovel author. Unfortunately, reality didn't follow the logic of novels—if novel logic even existed in the first place. Why has my life been so lame until now, and why are people reading novels instead of experiencing life themselves?
Rather than meeting with Yukino, my plans were abruptly interrupted by a woman with striking purple hair, known as Masumi Kamuro. She is the loyal dog of Arisu Sakayanagi and was tasked with escorting me into the Student Council Union—an establishment that was originally intended to be my sister's domain. Upon my entrance, I discovered that Arisu Sakayanagi occupied the room alone, with the other council members conspicuously absent. There she sat on a plush sofa, savoring a cup of green tea, a serene expression on her face.
To be more precise, my attention momentarily fixated on her feet, elegantly encased in pristine white stockings. However, I quickly redirected my gaze, taking a seat on the sofa adjacent to hers. I noted the green tea resting on the table before me, alongside an assortment of snacks that she had thoughtfully prepared for my arrival.
"Fufufu... I'm flattered that you appreciate what you see, Shirogane-san," she remarked with a haughty laugh, clearly aware of my gaze.
In my previous life, a woman would have been offended by such attention, especially if a man fixated on their feet or sexualized them. Most women found such behavior repulsive, even though many men harbored a fascination with women's feet. The difference lay in how the women perceived it—more often than not, they were offended rather than flattered.
But here?
Judging by her good mood, it was clear she enjoyed my attention, so I decided to return the favor with a compliment.
"Yes, they're quite beautiful."
She blinked at my compliment before responding.
"You're terrible at this, Shirogane-san. You shouldn't start by calling a woman beautiful."
"Well, at least the compliment was delivered, even if it wasn't perfect, right, Sakayanagi-san?" I countered.
"I suppose I'll accept it as it is," Arisu Sakayanagi nodded, taking a sip of her tea before setting the cup back on the table.
"Anyway, I summoned you here for a reason, Shirogane-san. I want you to know that I mean you no harm. There's no need for further investigation."
"So, you've been monitoring my conversation with Yuu?" I frowned.
She remained silent.
And in that silence, I found my answer.
"Arisu, tell me honestly, have you ever felt an attraction toward me?"
I decided to take a gamble—one that involved testing whether this woman was keeping an eye on me because she liked me, rather than out of some vengeful intent.
"Shirogane-san, if you continue to provoke me, I won't hold back. Moreover, I don't share, and I never will," Arisu cautioned, her tone sharp and unwavering. "I'm aware of what happened at you with that pink-haired woman in the car. I won't hold it against you because I can see she forced herself on you. Is this why you've been so tense lately?"
Although her assumption wasn't entirely correct, I was taken aback by how conveniently Arisu had provided an explanation for my anxiety—anxiety that stemmed from being thrust into this bizarre world with only fragmented, incomplete memories.
I chose to remain silent, thinking it better not to reveal the true cause of my distress, for fear that Arisu might detect the cracks in my facade.
"It seems I was right, Shirogane-san. She threatened you, didn't she? There's no need to worry; I'll handle it. She won't trouble you again," she promised, flashing a reassuring smile.
"I doubt it's that simple. After all, she's the former Prime Minister's daughter, and her family has deep roots in Japan. Even the Shinomiya Zaibatsu wouldn't confidently claim they could deal with them." I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation.
"True, her family's influence is formidable, but you're forgetting one thing: this school isn't her territory. It's mine," Arisu replied, a sly grin spreading across her face.
"Don't stress yourself out over her. Let me take care of it. If she continues to harass you, just let me know."
I gazed deeply into her eyes, then shook my head and declined.
"There's no need to make it complicated. She's not as bad as you might think."
"If you say so." Arisu shrugged, and my opinion of her improved—she didn't push or pry into my affairs.
Honestly, when compared to Chika, Arisu seems like a better partner. She's a yandere, but not the dark kind that eliminates all her rivals—she's more of a simp yandere. At least, that's what I've gathered from fanfiction. Yeah, fanfiction—I've only watched Season 1 of COTE and haven't even touched Season 2.
If I kissed her now, would she react fiercely or accept it due to her supposed crush on me? I don't know, because I lack experience with girls, and I'm not confident in these matters.
But I decided to give it a try.
I was so excited and nervous about the possibility that Arisu even noticed it, yet she didn't mock me. Instead, she closed her eyes as I leaned in. My hand trembled uncontrollably, and my body was so tense that I accidentally stepped on my shoelace, slipping forward into her. My head inadvertently landed on her petite chest as we both tumbled onto the sofa.
Holy shit...
This is incredible.
It was my first time having my head against a woman's breast.
I tried to squeeze it, but Arisu caught my hand, preventing me from doing anything indecent to her.
She whispered, "I don't mind the kiss, Miyuki-san, but this is the Council Union Room. It would be troublesome to clean up the traces if we did anything more here."
"Ah… Yes, I apologize if I came across as rude." I retracted my hand and stood up awkwardly. However, I didn't proceed with what I had initially planned, as the sudden ringing of the class bell interrupted us, preventing any further continuation.
"I'm pleased that you genuinely like me, Miyuki, and there's no need to apologize. I appreciate what you did. You don't mind if I call you by your first name, do you?" Arisu leaned back comfortably on the sofa, her tone carrying a hint of warmth as she complimented me.
I nodded in agreement, indicating my consent for her to use my first name. After all, I'm not Japanese, and their strict conventions regarding the use of first and last names don't particularly concern me.
"Great, I'll see you later, Miyuki."
"Yeah, see you later too, Arisu."
I bid her farewell and left.
In the end, it turned out that my worries were nothing more than paranoia. I'm relieved that I have no enemies at this school, which will undoubtedly allow me to sleep better at night.
...
Arisu Sakayanagi POV
"You seem quite pleased, boss. Weren't you supposed to despise him?" Komuro teased, noticing my demeanor.
"No, I never truly hated him. I'm simply amused at my own naïveté for believing I could conquer him," I sighed, a trace of resignation in my voice.
"Still, it's undeniable that he hurt you. Shouldn't you seek revenge instead of forgiving him?" Komuro's eyes rolled at my response, her tone laced with skepticism.
"He is the exception to everything," I replied, partly because I could sense his sincere transformation and growing attraction towards me—something I found almost inconceivable. To most boys, I was nothing more than a cripple, a useless entity in their eyes, despite my attempts to compensate for my physical limitations with my genius.
Had he remained the same, spoiled and looking at me as though I were an insect, I would have crushed him without hesitation, showing no mercy. But now?
He was so lovely and likable, so much so that the thought of harming him felt unbearable.
I found myself drawn to the way he touched me, how he made me feel special. Unlike most boys who would undoubtedly look down on me due to my disability, I could see the genuine attraction in his eyes. His evident bulged proved that he found me desirable rather than disdainful, as he once did.
A tiny smile inadvertently crossed my lips.
The reason I knew Chika was coercing him was that her driver happened to be one of my father's informants. More precisely, she had accepted our favor by enrolling her daughter in this school for free, along with all the benefits that came with it, including a guaranteed 100% acceptance rate into any company of her choice—all provided by us.
"Boss... Don't tell me you're falling for him despite him once insulting you as a cripple?" Komuro sighed in exasperation, clearly noticing my change in demeanor.
I shot her a glare for ruining my mood with her bluntness.
"He's changed. He's not the person he used to be."
"And what if everything is just a lie?" Komuro asked, doubt lingering in her voice.
"Then he had better pray, for there will always be a price for hurting me twice," I replied, my eyes closing as I signaled the end of our conversation. Sensing this, Komuro quietly departed.
Yes, I would never allow anyone to deceive me twice—not even you, Shirogane Miyuki.
I can only hope that everything you've done is genuine and that I truly am special to you.
Otherwise, I will show no mercy.