I’m Spying on the Heroine in an Otome Game World 4821 min read
Volume 3 | Chapter 10: October (Down) – Part 3
“…!?”
——At this very moment, I woke up.
I blinked a number of times and shook my head. My bangs were wet; I realized someone had splashed water on my head.
But that’s strange. It’s Kazu-nii who got wet and not me…..
I looked up without thinking and saw there was someone in front of me, holding an empty cup in their hands. They are quite sadistic to throw cold water at someone in late fall.
I tried to move, only to make sharp pain run through my arms. I couldn’t move them; it left me with the only option of turning my head left and right to observe my surroundings. There were two people standing behind me. Those said two people were binding my hands behind my back. H-Hey, it hurts. It hurts!
I could hear Neo Candle playing afar. In other words, I wasn’t too far from the auditorium right now.
“Are you awake now?” The person in front of me asked gently with the empty cup in their hand.
…She is the vice class representative of Class A.
Her eyes didn’t seem focused as she looked at me in almost a daze. “You’re rarely by yourself. I planned on getting you when you were on your way to the music room but I couldn’t as people were around,” she complained, shaking her head.
She was beautiful enough to be displayed in the ‘beautiful girls in the school’ exhibition. Unfortunately, her lifeless eyes featured her creepiness right now, slashing her charm in half.
I noticed that Katsuragi-kun’s cousin, Kyousuke-shounen, was right beside her. Why? His eyes, too, were unfocused as he stared in a daze. I recall how noisy he was in front of Katsuragi-kun, yet he hasn’t utter a single word since I woke up.
“Are you wondering why you were captured?” Class A’s vice class-rep asked.
To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about that at all. Well, if she plans on telling me then I would like to hear it.
“You’re in the way, you see.”
Eh? That’s it?
She smiled sweetly at me. However, her eyes were hollow, making her seem inhuman-like. And because of her beautiful features, she made people feel pressure standing before her. …This person’s probably a sadist.
“I’m sure that kind-hearted person is only thinking about hiding you somewhere until everything is over. But isn’t there a chance of you escaping? We will also have to keep watch over you. Frankly, it’s not very efficient, so…” She paused here before continuing, “Do you prefer long-term hospitalization or eternal slumber?”
…….Eh? Yeah, no, if I can, I would like neither of those options. But I wonder if there’s any meaning in telling her that.
“If you prefer long-term hospitalization, I’ll injure your face to the point it’s juuust a little hard to look at. Or perhaps eternal slumber by sleeping pills is your preference? You will be like the Sleeping Princess or Snow White. You look cute, so I’m sure you’ll suit such a role. Would you like to wear a dress too?”
It’s rare to feel not one bit happy after having my looks complimented. My face stiffened. Still, fortunately, it looks like I can communicate with her. In that case, I need to lengthen our conversation as long as possible and search for a way to escape.
Ah, shit. My legs are trembling. Let’s pretend I didn’t notice anything.
“Could I ask for a bit more detail?” I asked back in return. “For both choices, where will you take me to in the end? Also, for the first choice, I want to know who will hurt me.” Now, where am I? I scanned the area in a casual manner.
It was a small room with walls made out of concrete. Chairs were left on the ground in a mess and the air was chilly. I guess I am underground? Or in a storage. They didn’t turn the light on, so the whole room was dim.
Judging by how I can hear Neo Candle’s concert, thirty minutes haven’t passed since I was captured.
Also, what exactly did they use to knock me out? I remember smelling something strange as I headed to the auditorium seats from the backstage. I think that’s the cause but… There aren’t any harmful side-effects, right? Are they going to pay me back somehow if the side-effects linger?
“If you choose the first choice, I was planning on asking him here to do it. …….I think his name was Kyousuke-kun? He’s from S High, so I’m sure he’s used to violence. Don’t worry, he’ll only punch and kick you. But you’re cute so… who knows, maybe he’ll start to think differently. It can’t be helped though, since you are cute.”
I’m telling you, your compliments don’t make me one bit happy at all. Damn it.
“The second choice is even easier. You see, I’m under a lot of stress, so I take sleeping pills on a regular basis. The medicine my doctor prescribed to me isn’t dangerous unless you overdose. That’s right, there’s no danger as long as you don’t overdose. Your hair is light coloured, so Sleeping Beauty will be better, right? After all, Snow White has black hair. I was quite jealous of them when I was young… They were blessed with peerless beauty and all they need to do is sleep for their prince to come. …Oh, that’s right. The Sleeping Beauty was cursed when she was 15 years old, just like you.”
…….Ahhhhhhh, this girl. This girl! There’s something definitely weird with her!!
The vice class-rep looked quite satisfied with herself. It’s amazing how she knows I haven’t had my birthday yet! Yeah, that’s right! I’m still fifteen! That being said, it doesn’t mean I want to become Sleeping Beauty!
She immediately took out sleeping pills from her pocket and filled her cup with water. T-The sleeping pills were lozenges? Lozenges, huh?
B-But I’m a calm and composed woman. Think. Think carefully. If it is prescribed sleeping pills from a doctor, it’s unlikely I’ll die even if I overdose. I remember hearing how you can’t suicide with the current sleeping pills being prescribed.
It’s just for a bit… No, you just might not regain consciousness for quite a long period of time. I want to believe that someone will come save me as long as I’m still alive. And if they could take me to the hospital, I’ll be really grateful. …But is it possible? With my current situation?
Cold sweat ran down my back.
There’s no more thinking about how things will be alright since it’s an otome game. Especially when I’m in a situation of life and death now…
Even if this is an event, which capture target will be involved? Neo Candle is holding their concert right now. As such, Kazu-nii, Mizusaki-senpai, and Kaneshiro-senpai should be in the auditorium. Then Katsuragi-kun since his cousin is involved? But that didn’t seem right either.
Ah, crap. Never mind my legs, my whole body was trembling. Get a hold of yourself, me. You should be able to pretend like nothing is wrong. Humans come to an end the moment they give up. You need to be calm in order to escape. You can’t let your enemy realize you are afraid.
“Are you……. fine with doing this?”
This is the only method I have left. Let words spring from my mouth and bluff.
Niimi Shiori is a strong woman. At the very least, I had decided to become one when I was 8 years old.
Back then I got kidnapped by Masaki and the others and was confined. Even I thought I’d die at that rate and tried escaping through the window. Unfortunately, my efforts came to a failure.
After all, the only window in the room was way too high up. It was one that an 8 year old child couldn’t reach at all. Still, I somehow managed to climb up and got my hands on the window frame. However, my legs slipped next and I fell down onto the ground. The small mercy was that I didn’t hit my head, although I did sprain my leg.
I gave up escaping the room after that and decided to persuade my kidnappers instead. It was after that day people started to say how I wasn’t like a child or cute at all.
But I’m sure [Niimi Shiori] tumbled down and died just like that.
I was convinced that Niimi Shiori from the otome game died at this very moment when I heard Iinchou’s confession. After all, Hibiya Kazuto in the game believes it was his fault that Niimi Shiori died and regrets it deeply.
When I peeked out the window with my hands on the frame, I heard a strange sound.
‘Click.’
I’m not sure where I heard it. But the moment I heard it, I felt like the world went dark the next second. Flustered, I checked my surroundings in confusion and that was how I slipped and fell.
If I were to put that sound into words, it was like a sound of someone pushing a button.
A certain thought came into my mind when I heard Iinchou’s confession and what Kazu-nii had to say.
Could it be that this world, too, is a game world with someone playing it? Then at that very moment, did the player press the reset button──?
I don’t have this reset button. And a miracle won’t happen twice.
“Is it really alright?” I questioned her.
She turned around to look at me. “What do you mean?”
“Because from all you have said, these choices you gave me are decisions made by you alone, am I right? Will that kind-hearted person get angry if you decide selfishly like this?”
“That person is kind. But that person is also truly troubled. As long as you are around, you will be in the way again and again. Honestly, you are ruining everything. That’s why I genuinely think in my heart, if only you would die. When that happens, no one will be troubled again. I’m sure that person will be happy too. But at the same time, that person will be sad as they are kind. ……And I can’t forgive that──”
“Hmm? You can’t forgive that? Why?”
“Because, if you die, that person will shed tears from sadness. Isn’t that unfair? I don’t want to see that person crying at all. And you are troubling that person’s heart right now. That’s why I can’t help but wish I could erase your very existence, but when I think about that person, I can’t do it. Hey, can you understand my anguish?”
Like hell, I can understand.
Damn it. I thought I could communicate with her but I will take back my words. You can’t communicate with this woman at all as your words won’t reach her.
She gave me a lovely smile. “So which would you prefer? Long-term hospitalization or eternal slumber? Like I explained either, him, here, will be the one hurting you. If I leave it to an outsider, it won’t be as troublesome later. I mean, he is a student from S High. There’s nothing strange if he gets arrested for violence.”
“…….!”
Don’t screw with meeeeee!!!
I wanted to struggle violently but the two behind me pressed me down. Ow! It hurts! My arms will break!
But this is my final stage! Come on, my inner power at a crucial time like this! Plus──
“Hey, Kyousuke-shounen! Are you listening? She just dissed you right now! What happened to you boasting about how you’re going to win against Katsuragi-kun!? Where did that zeal you showed at the dojo go!? You’re being controlled by that crazy woman! This goes beyond freaking out because of ghosts!” I screamed at him. Unfortunately, it had no effect whatsoever.
Kyousuke-shounen stared blankly at the doorway with lifeless eyes.
“L-Let go……!” My arms were gripped tightly. Pain continues to run through them. I was on the verge of tears.
Damn it all. I don’t want to cry in a place like this. I don’t want to do something pathetic like that. Even if I cry, scream, and pity myself, I know that no one will come to save me.
“A-ah… Ghk……” My pinned down arms made sounds from the abuse, and I soon lost all my strength.
She continued to smile as she approached me. She grabbed my chin and made me look up. I bit my lips in frustration but she tried to forcibly open my mouth.
“I wonder if you will open your mouth from pain if I pinch your nose tight?” She laughed like she thought of something brilliant.
That was when──
Bang!
A loud sound rang in the air, and light shone through the room.
I didn’t have any extra strength to check the source of the sound. After all, a couple of pills were shoved inside my mouth at the moment.
“Shiori, are you okay!?”
I felt like crying when I heard that voice. Uwah, I’m pathetic.
……Wasn’t this scene the one that I wanted to see but didn’t when I was 8 years old?
Plus, even if he showed up, it’s not like he’s a hero. Sadly, there were still problems remaining.
For one, Kyousuke-shounen trains in Katsuragi-kun’s family’s dojo. He’s no match for Katsuragi-kun, but he should still be stronger than a normal person.
Slowly, I was able to cast my eyes to the door.
Kyousuke-shounen quickly closed the distance between him and the new arrival. Kyousuke-shounen then hit the other person’s jaw with his palm. The other person staggered before he got a kick in his abdomen.
I could hear a groan of pain and the sound of flesh hitting flesh.
“……Oh my, how unfortunate. And you had someone come trying to save you too,” the vice class-rep said with amusement in her voice.
I took this moment to spit out all the pills in my mouth. The person who was kicked didn’t collapse. In fact, it was Kyousuke-shounen who fell over.
She had been smiling this whole time and finally stopped to open her eyes wide in astonishment.
The new person approached the two men restraining me. The two men let go of my arms to attack the intruder. The first man threw a punch at the face while the second man aimed his fist at the intruder’s body.
The intruder didn’t bother dodging at all. However, a sound like electricity crackling happened before the two men collapsed onto the floor.
I lost all my strength and sat down on the floor.
“Huh……? W-What…?” The vice-class rep of Class A was genuinely confused.
“It’s a secret,” that person said before he twisted her arm from behind. “Now, be good. It might leave a mark so I don’t want to use it on a girl.”
However, she started to struggle violently. Shortly after, electricity crackled again…
Eh, so you’re using it on her after all?
“……Sorry, I was late again,” that person said as he pressed a hand against his stomach, staggering forward. Blood spilled down his forehead, running his good looks.
Neo Candle’s concert continued in the background.
“……Kazu-nii, what about the concert?”
“I left it to Itou. With the condition that I’ll sing in the closing party,” he replied.
“How did you notice?”
“You weren’t there in the audience.”
“…….And you used a stun gun. A teacher went and stun gunned students.”
“Apparently this is what’s most effective against people who are hypnotised.”
Kazu-nii sat down beside me with a thud. I’m guessing the places where he was hit hurt since he groaned lowly.
“Geez, people from S High are strong like the rumours say…. If I was still a student, I think I could have put up a better fight,” Kazu-nii commented.
“Well, yeah, they are fresh high school students with energy.” But I feel Kazu-nii is more than strong enough since he took all those attacks and didn’t faint.
“Oh, and keep this a secret. If the academy finds out, they’ll make a lot of noise. It’s even worse since I used a weapon against empty-handed students. I want to avoid being fired.”
“You’re a teacher wielding violence.”
“This was just me educating them.”
“……You were punched and kicked and you’re bleeding too. Your good looks are ruined.” Ah, damn it. I feel like crying. Crap, don’t look at me.
“It’s pathetic if I let a girl suffer in dangerous situations again and again, am I right? ……I was finally able to come and save you.”
I saw Kazu-nii smile, acting cool, before I lost consciousness again.
“Hey!?”
I heard Kazu-nii shouting anxiously far, far away.
□ ■ □
I regained consciousness just before the closing party was about to start. It was already evening. I suppose this means I was unconscious for more than three hours.
What happened to Neo Candle’s concert? Were there any issues with my class with one of their class reps gone? How far did Maria-jou’s events progress? Sadly, I didn’t know anything at all. Well, Maria-jou did win the Miss Contest, so her relationship with Mizusaki-senpai should be moving smoothly.
We are going to keep it a secret from everyone that I was kidnapped. My cover story was that I felt ill just before the concert and went to rest in the infirmary. The actual truth was that I was unconscious at the infirmary.
I think Iinchou might have noticed something was off. He looked at my face, wanting to say something, but he didn’t in the end.
The closing party takes place after the outsiders leave and is for the people of the academy only. Well, there are outsiders that stay without permission though.
Neo Candle did magnificently at their concert and brought all their equipment to the school yard. This time they wanted Kazu-nii to perform with them as their vocalist. Honestly, the schoolyard is much bigger than the auditorium. You could say everyone’s excitement was at the max right now.
Masaki came in the end even though we told him not to. He dragged members of Candle with him and jumped into this closing party concert.
Let’s just say that it was a total mess. And I was sore and tired all over, so I didn’t even feel like helping with the mess.
The event happened in the end at the closing party instead of the Cultural Festival. I wonder if Kazu-nii and Maria-jou’s event will progress with this? …….No, I’m sure nothing will happen, I thought as I looked at Masaki and Kazu-nii holding microphones in their hands.
It’s amazing how Kazu-nii could sing like this. I mean, it’s been years since Candle made their major debut and has gained much experience. I was sure that their recently released single was not one of Kazu-nii’s specialities. Yet Kazu-nii was able to smoothly sing any song they played. He looked at Masaki beside him with slight annoyance in his eyes, but I’m sure that Kazu-nii wanted to sing with Masaki too.
…….Also, are you going to forget how you said the protagonists of the Cultural Festival should be the students? Kazu-nii is singing and singing away. Is it okay since it’s the closing party?
“Hibiya-sensei’s amazing~” Yumi-chan said as she approached me.
“You’re right. He did say he’s good at karaoke too,” I gave her a monotone reply.
Yumi-chan rephrased herself in a small voice and said, “Kazu-niisan’s amazing, right~”
“…….” Hmmm… I stole a glance at Yumi-chan. She wasn’t making the face she does when she’s teasing me. Instead, Yumi-chan was smiling happily. I see. In that case, that’s fine.
I smiled and replied, “Of course, he is.”
The sound of a violin from out of nowhere mixed together with the concert. The violin sounded a little melancholic as its tune suited the setting sun quite well. Strangely, it harmonized together with the joint Neo Candle and Candle performance.
They were music notes signalling the opening act of the final chapter.
While I was getting caught up in a kidnapping situation, things were already proceeding forward. However, I only realized this much, much later.
□ ■ □
The joint Neo Candle and Candle’s concert still continued. Everyone was cheering wildly. I’ve never been to an outdoors concert before. I didn’t think it could be as full of energy as this.
Now then, there was still one problem left.
There is still a small red marble inside my school uniform’s pocket.
……And it’s already the closing party! Uwaaaah!
I realized this earlier when I was at the infirmary. I failed to return it and the Cultural Festival ended too!
If I can find Katsuragi-kun in this crowd then I want to sneakily give it to him. If that’s impossible, I’ll sneakily throw it into Class C the next time I pass by that classroom.
“Who are you looking for?” Yumi-chan asked curiously.
I contemplated on how I should answer her. “Ah…… I picked up something that was lost. Have you seen Katsuragi-kun anywhere?”
“I see,” Yumi-chan nodded. She then looked a little troubled. “Is this urgent?”
“Not really but…” It’s not like anything is salvagable even if I rush to give it to him after all this time.
“If you don’t have to give it to him today, it’s probably better to do it later,” Yumi-chan said.
“Why’s that?”
“Cause… It’s after events like this that…” Yumi-chan started before she turned her eyes to a corner of the schoolyard.
There I spotted a boy and girl, looking at each other bashfully.
“It’s a pretty common routine to confess after a big event, right? People get really excited at the closing party too, and some of them end up confessing just like that.”
“Ah… I see now…”
Come to think of it, I don’t see Katsuragi-kun, Tsuchiya-shounen, Mizusaki-senpai, and Kaneshiro-senpai anywhere. I guess this means some girl has captured them for a confession. Designer-kun was hanging out with a bunch of girls, enjoying the concert normally. Since I also heard the violin earlier, Tsukishima-bishounen might be alone by himself.
“They have it tough.”
All the capture targets are good-looking guys and single. It’s no wonder why girls try to woo them every now and then. Maria-jou isn’t the only one after them.
“Then I’ll do it tomorrow. He’ll be around when everyone tidies up the school.”
Incidentally, most of the classes plan on having a wrap-up party today. Our class, too, plans on going karaoke after the closing party. Huh, wait, won’t it be more or less the same as what we’re doing right now? The band members of Candle won’t follow us to karaoke right? They’re in the way, so I hope they go home soon.
Class C is probably having their own wrap-up party too…… I thought before someone called out to me.
“Niimi.”
The very person I was looking for greeted me instead. Katsuragi-kun was still dressed in traditional clothes even though the Cultural Festival ended.
“Could you come with me for a bit,” he asked me.
I stared up at him blankly before Yumi-chan pushed my back. I went together with him as we walked towards the school building.
Katsuragi-kun stopped near the entrance of the east building. In fact, we were just near the bench where I eat lunch sometimes.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Katsuragi-kun surveyed our whole surroundings before sighing. “Sorry,” he apologized.
Yeah, no, I don’t get what you’re apologizing for at all.
He made me sit down on the bench before he bent over, covering my body with his.
TL note: Remember everyone. Kidnapping is bad!! Shiori should get a reward for getting confined three times now…
