I, Who Longs To Be A Dependent, Have Decided To Be Owned By A Yandere - Chapter 38

An unforeseen disaster beyond all expectations

“On the day of the date, there’s no way I can have a chance encounter with Yura and Sumire.”

The evening before the amusement park date, I had sneaked out of the house to have a secret meeting with Maria, who was in her loungewear.

“No, that’s not it. If you just stagger the meeting time well, the first to gather will be Yura-senpai and Sumire-chan… followed by you joining them inside the park, right?”

Maria, swinging on the park swing, doesn’t seem to realize that she’s been frequently showing a glimpse of her belly button.

“That’s true, but at best, I can only stagger it by about ten minutes. Depending on how busy the roads are and any delays in the bus schedule, there’s a good chance we could still run into each other.”

“So, what are you gonna do?”

First, put away your shirt.

“Not just the time, I’ll stagger the “travel route” too. It’s impossible with Sumire, who’s already finished her preparations, but there should still be a chance to interfere with Yura’s travel route.”

“Normally, you just go from the nearest bus stop to the station, and then ride straight to the amusement park from there. How are you going to guide her on a different path? It seems impossible.”

“That’s where you come in.”

With a clearly displeased expression, Maria stops the swing.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Fake the bus schedule.”

“…Huh?”

“After calling Yura and casually finding out about the date, pretend to be helpful and give her the falsified bus schedule. Then, Yura will choose a detour instead of the usual route through the station.”

Slumped on the swing, Maria sways it side to side before suddenly looking up with a burst of energy.

“No way!! I don’t want to deceive Yura-senpai like that!”

“Oh, really? Is that so? You don’t like it? Hmm… don’t you care what happens to Yura’s first date? She was so looking forward to it… ”

“You, you scumbag.”

After growling in frustration like an old man, Maria seems to resign herself and starts swinging again.

“Fine, I’ll do it! Replacing a few numbers isn’t that much work, is it?”

“Don’t worry about the quality too much. Collaging letters and numbers is easy, and since Yura won’t suspect she’s being tricked by you, she won’t doubt even a slipshod job.”

“But even if we do this, the final destination is still the amusement park, right? What if Yura-senpai changes her mind along the way and takes an unexpected route? If the final destination is the same, there’s still a chance we could run into each other somewhere.”

“Ahhaha, you worry too much.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“The mere overlap of time is already an unforeseen circumstance, let alone an unforeseen route. There’s no way such a series of misfortunes could happen back to back, right?”

“That’s true, ha-ha.”

We laughed together in the twilight park――and now, as a series of unexpected events unfold, I am desperately trying to escape from Yura.

***

“Are you okay, Akira-kun?”

In my arms, Minatsuki-san, who shrinks back in embarrassment, gently strokes my cheek with concern.

“No, I might… not be able to… handle it anymore…”

It’s definitely impossible to escape to the amusement park at this rate! I have to face reality and switch to Plan B!!

I take out my cell phone and call Maria with one push of a button.

[I did it! Your sister didn’t notice――]

“B!! Plan B!! Isn’t that right, Minatsuki-san!?”

“Eh, what is?”

“The quiz show from yesterday! Didn’t you watch it!? My mother loves it, and the answers are going to be posted on the website today at noon!!”

[Okay, got it! Plan B, understood!]

After hearing Maria’s response, I end the call――and as the ringtone resounds behind me, I lean over to Minatsuki-san, who was about to react.

“Akira-kun… a kiss…?”

“Please close your eyes!”

She flinches, then timidly closes her eyes, and I check on Yura, who’s almost upon us from behind.

She peeks through her bangs with one eye, her heart racing to the ringtone I’ve set just for her, smiling happily as she brings the phone to her ear.

“…Looks like she hasn’t quite seen my face yet.”

“Akira-kun? Is it time for the kiss?”

“Ah, right now.”

Take this!! My fingers!!

“Ah…”

As I repeatedly tap Minatsuki-san’s lips with two fingers, she opens her eyes and with an innocent smile, lightly kisses my two fingers.

“You’re such a tease, aren’t you?”

I’m putting my life on the line for this prank!!

“Now’s not the time. Looks like the bus has arrived, let’s get on.”

After setting Minatsuki-san down, I board the bus that arrives just in time and watch with a full smile as Yura happily talks to “me.”

“What are you looking at, Akira-kun?”

“Nothing in particular.”

I take out――”Maria’s cell phone” from my pocket and check it.

“Don’t worry about it.”

It’s good that I switched “my cell phone” with “Maria’s cell phone”… She should be playing a pre-recorded message of my voice by now, but I can’t use this trick a second time.

“Akira-kun, please don’t use the phone too much, okay? Yui might get jealous.”

“Yes, of course.”

I had thought there was no room to juggle other yanderes while sticking to one person, hence the “trump card,” but it was unexpected to use it before even entering the amusement park.

“Ah”

My cell phone shakes in my hand.

“Who’s sending emails now?”

“I’m sorry.”

I look down at the email forwarded to my phone――

=====================================

Sender: Kiriyama Sumire

Recipient: Kiriyama Akira

Subject:

Text: I got to the amusement park too early (≧∇≦)

Kinugasa-senpai hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m bored~!

=====================================

I can’t wait to see you, big brother (///∇//)

My eyes roll back in exasperation.