Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 16

I am the only one who can understand you.

Several hours had passed since the Pleasure Restaurant assault incident, and I had finally been released from the police interrogation.

Given the circumstances, the restaurant had decided to close for about three days, and she, who had been taken hostage, had returned home.

Rushing out of the restaurant, panicking and thinking, “This is bad, this is so bad,” I found myself alone.

It wasn’t difficult to reach the back door where I had once confronted Amano Mio, but the sight that greeted me there had left me speechless.

Just how much time had passed since then…

I confirmed once again that one of the two girls I was confronting, Rio, had returned to the Pleasure Restaurant. It should be about time.

I emerged from the alleyway. As expected, I seemed to have been immediately noticed by the other girl.

“Are you done grilling me with questions?”

“At last. Though, 60 to 70 percent of it was a lecture. Seriously, even though I managed to wrap things up nicely, that detective was harsh.”

“I agree. However, the detective doesn’t know about Kurogane-kun’s amazingness. Even though I thought Kurogane-kun would be fine, I was quite anxious on the inside, you know?”

“Wow, that sounds so fake…”

We laughed exaggeratedly at each other.

Upon reflection, it’s hard to imagine from her poised and quiet appearance, but for me, an ideal relationship would be one where we can exchange banter like this.

“What were you talking to Rio about?”

“Just a little trip down memory lane with Kurogane-kun and his friends. But, both of you really had a tough childhood, didn’t you? It’s unbelievable to think that, even if it was only for a moment, his sister hated Kurogane-kun.”

She chuckled, her smile apparently not concealing any troubling topics.

“Still, heh… you’re really sweet on your sister, aren’t you, Kurogane-kun? I’d find it admirable to have such a strong, reliable, and wickedly evil brother.”

“Wickedly evil? That’s quite the label. I’ve always considered myself a philanthropist.”

“Hmm, a philanthropist… A person who loves everyone equally, right? I see, so someone who taunts criminals and leaves them on the ground, driving them to a recovery period of six months, falls under the category of a philanthropist? I had no idea!”

Amano Mio even searched for the meaning on her smartphone with a smile and rode along with it.

She claimed that in both elementary and middle school, she never managed to join the small circle of friends and was always alone, but her social skills suggested otherwise.

It would have been better if she had just been a high-achieving student wearing a façade, I thought.

Although I would like to continue this light-hearted banter, Rio might have noticed by now that I’m gone.

I had turned off my phone in advance, anticipating that she might come rushing back here. It might be wise to wrap this up quickly.

If what the waitress, Murasaki Momose, told me was true, then the obvious question follows.

“Mio-chan, you came to the low-deviation score whirlpool academy just to see your childhood friend. You’re loved, aren’t you, Kurogane-kun?”

There’s so much I want to say, so much I want to ask.

But first, this is something I have to get an answer to.

“…When did you first know about me?”

My question brought a subtle change to Amano Mio’s previously calm expression.

However, it wasn’t panic. If anything, it seemed like she was confident, as if she was glad to be asked.

Mio and I first met at the entrance ceremony a year ago. At least, I have no memory of her before that.

In a small town, there may have been some encounters, but that doesn’t mean we were acquainted.

“Murasaki-san, huh? Geez, Kurogane-kun, you’re blunt, but you’re good at making friends.”

Her smile was meaningful, but it seemed she had no intention of hiding anything.

“Don’t worry. In truth, the first time we met face-to-face was that entrance ceremony. I just knew of you before that.”

“That’s indeed very interesting. And the reason?”

“As much as I’d like to oblige Kurogane-kun’s request, I can’t reveal that much. With the information you have now, it’s will be impossible for you to reach me. I’ll give you just a little hint.”

Her smile didn’t waver. Following the previous incident, her actions were unpredictable and unnatural.

And that question was soon answered.

Quite effortlessly.

“Two months ago, the day you killed your parents. The public believes it was due to excessive stress that led you to attempt to kill your daughter, but the truth is different, isn’t it? After all, the wound on your sister’s neck wasn’t caused by your parents, but by herself.”

“…”

“That’s not all. Behind that case, the mastermind who tried to have them kill your sister, Asagami Kanade—your childhood friend, right?”

With that bombshell, my heart raced.

“The hint is these two points. I think you’ll be fine, Kurogane-kun, but please do your best.”

“(Could it be…!)”

Is such a ridiculous story possible?

No, it was actually happening right in front of me.

The truth that even Rio, the victim, thought she couldn’t know. Besides me, the only source was Kanade.

Back then, I was engrossed in martial arts. For the sake of Kanade and the one I loved. But at the same time, I was made aware that it was the biggest mistake of my life.

Because it ended up being the catalyst that broke my sister’s heart.

The wound on Rio’s neck—that it wasn’t inflicted by our uncle and aunt but by Rio herself, was something I realized sooner rather than later.

When I closed my eyes, it all came back to me as if it were yesterday.

Rio, bleeding red from her neck, surrounded by our uncle and aunt.

The moment I saw that scene, I hit them over and over again. While my fists, my face, and even my uniform were stained with their blood, I definitely saw Rio’s expression.

…She was smiling.

The knife and screw wounds on her neck, the burns from cigarettes. She smiled with lifeless eyes, devoid of gloss and focus, amidst unimaginable pain.

“Do you find my story even slightly credible, Kurogane-kun?”

“…Who the hell are you?”

“Hehe… I like that serious look. To you now, I am an enigma. Please look at me more. Think only of me. I can stand beside you. I am the only one who can understand you. You won’t have to worry about being taken by another thieving cat ever again♩”

The angelic, beaming smile on the face of the girl before me hinted at madness.

This incident, the development of it all, seemed to be related to the discount coupon Rio had received from Yuuya and the ambush this morning that felt too timed.

It made sense that Amano Mio had Yuuya hand it over. However, the purpose was still unclear. And she wouldn’t answer if I asked.

“Looks like we got a bit carried away with our chat. Can I ask you one last thing?”

“…What is it?”

Amano Mio asked without turning around, her face slightly tilted towards me.

“Call me Mio. If I’m to stand on the same ground as everyone else, I don’t want to feel the distance with a surname.”

“…? Oh, sure.”

“Hehe… I’m glad.”

“By the way, you still call me by my surname, right, Mio? It doesn’t bother me, but…”

“That’s a very charming suggestion, but I’ll still refrain. Besides, everyone else calls Kurogane-kun by his first name. There’s a special feeling to this as well.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how it is. Then, Kurogane-kun, see you at school. I’ll repeat it, but remember this: I am the only one who truly understands you.”

Having said what she wanted, she… Mio returned to the Pleasure Restaurant.

In the end, her smile never faltered. It seemed everything went exactly as planned.

That woman knew the secret of Kanade, which should have never been known by a third party.

Did she interfere with it?

If so, why could she know about it?

Why did she know about me?

Could it be that she orchestrated the whole incident?

Just thinking about it a little brings up numerous questions.

But for now, I need to deal with Kanade.

“I am the only one who can truly understand you, huh…”

I understood the meaning of her words at that moment.

Unfortunately, I have no intention of going along with that woman’s desires.

Even if it means going down the wrong path.