Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 3

The Confession of a Devilish Angel

While reflecting on the day’s events, I found myself strolling through the neighboring town opposite my home, yawning along the way.

It was past 6:30 PM, a reasonable time for dinner, yet I wasn’t particularly hungry since I usually eat after 8 PM.

Of course, the purpose of my visit was to use the family restaurant coupon given to me by that girl… Amano Mio.

There was no promise made, but considering the favor she had granted me and the future, it seemed a waste to not use it.

“Ah, here it is.”

After about twenty minutes of walking, I finally spotted the target restaurant. A sign with quite the name, “Pleasure Restaurant,” hung above, and below it, the provocative phrase “The ultimate pleasure for you” was written.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary family restaurant, but the parking lot easily accommodated over thirty cars despite the establishment’s size.

“(Right, she mentioned her father managed this place.)”

If that’s the case, should I expect good taste? Perhaps I’ll end up waiting a long time to be seated. I wasn’t very hungry at the moment, so if that happened, it would be alright.

I proceeded to open the door.

“Whoa…”

However, the scene that met my eyes utterly astonished me. The waitresses’ uniforms were more audacious than anything I’d seen on the coupon—a bunny girl outfit with an added miniskirt, revealing cleavage and thighs, boldly outlining the body’s silhouette.

It was a design that could only belong to a certain type of establishment.

“Welcome to the Pleasure Restaurant! Table for one, master── Ah…”

“(Eh? Seriously?)”

The biggest surprise, however, was the person working there, Amano Mio… the very person who had lured me to this restaurant.

I surveyed the interior once more. If I had to sum it up in a word, it would be a service targeting a specific demographic.

Looking around, I saw a wide range of ages from children who seemed younger than me to men in their forties.

Under normal circumstances, this would be no different from any other family restaurant, but the problem was that they were all men.

And they were the type you could tell from a distance: a bit overweight, greasy hair, baggy jeans, checkered shirts, cargo shorts. Of course, there were exceptions…

I finally came to terms with it. This visit to the restaurant would probably be my last.

“Um, are you ready to order?”

“…Sorry, I seem to have lost my appetite.”

I was led to a table where Amano Mio, holding a handheld ordering device, stood before me. I couldn’t help but be captivated by her, dressed in that deliberately designed uniform.

“I didn’t really think you would come.”

“Eh? Oh, you didn’t expect me to? If you didn’t want it to be known, you shouldn’t have given me the coupon.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Besides, I didn’t have anything else to thank you with.”

Despite her slight confusion, the girl in front of me showed no sign of embarrassment. Perhaps, as she said, my coming here was just something she hadn’t anticipated.

“But still, fufu… that gaze, Kurogane-kun, you’re a boy after all. But right now, you can look as much as you want.”

“I might be facing death tomorrow, huh…”

Amano Mio, a mischievous smile on her face, was a classmate I had hardly interacted with and seemed somewhat shy.

Well, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I quickly convinced myself.

“Moreover, you’re quite the character. It’s fun to watch the reaction of a wholesome virgin, but are you okay with the boys in class finding out?”

If it was just helping out at her father’s restaurant, maybe I could excuse it, but seeing her enthusiasm made it hard to believe.

To my response, Amano came closer with a meaningful smile.

“Well, that would be troublesome. So, Kurogane-kun, please keep this a secret from everyone in class. In return, your master can have whatever he desires…”

She whispered softly in my ear, her breath against it, and the shock of the difference in her usual demeanor made me inadvertently relax my expression.

“What a wicked angel.”

“Fufu… Thank you very much. I’m glad if it cheered you up a bit.”

Amano blushed and smiled shyly. Though I had decided that this visit would be my last, I was already wavering.

“Anyway, it seems everyone knows about it. Rumors really are frightening.”

“But that’s not always a bad thing. That’s why there are people you want to help.”

“Yeah. Well, for now, I’ll place an order. Can I get the hamburger set?”

“Of course. By the way, are you staying long, Kurogane-kun?”

“No, I’ll head home after eating. My sister is probably worried.”

That was about a year ago, just after I had started high school.

Yuuya invited me to a mixer(?) with another school, and I spent the whole night at karaoke.

It was past midnight when I returned home to find my sister, bloodshot eyes, having waited up for me.

“Onii-san… You cheated, you cheated, you cheated, you promised we’d always be together, we made a promise, we made a promise, you cheated, you cheated!”

I’ve heard those words hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Honestly, just remembering it sends shivers down my spine.

Now I can laugh about it, but it was a real hassle to convince her at the time.

Literally, my own bones…

“Hm? Kurogane-kun, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, you got something to do?”

“Not really, but if you don’t mind, would you like to talk for a bit at the back door? I’m finishing up in about thirty minutes.”

An unexpected invitation. I had no particular plans, but my sister was a hindrance to accepting it.

Impressed by a side of Amano Mio I hadn’t anticipated, I felt bad refusing…

“It’s fine. I won’t keep you long. My father is strict, and I have a curfew until nine.”

As if reading my mind, she cut off any chance of refusal. Was she really reading my thoughts?

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“If you’re worried about your sister, why not take a taxi home? If you’re associated with this restaurant, you can get a ride for free.”

“Can you arrange that?”

“Of course. It’s the least I can do for my unreasonable request.”

Amano smiled happily. But this was an unexpected windfall.

Walking several minutes on foot would have been troublesome, so I could avoid a significant risk. There was no reason to say no. Just then, another order machine beeped.

“Ah, yes. I’ll be right there! See you later, Kurogane-kun.”

With that, she left for another order, and I watched her go for a while──but it was too late anyway, and I closed my eyes.

A few minutes later, another bunny girl waitress brought the hamburger set I had ordered.

Despite the appearance of alarming terms like “demon lord’s nectar” and “mouth-to-mouth,” I, a healthy, virgin, shy boy, politely declined.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, I was just finishing up too.”

I quickly finished the hamburger set and made my way to the designated spot.

As expected of the back of a restaurant, the alley was narrow, but completely devoid of people. A perfect place to talk.

She was no longer in the shameful bunny girl outfit, now dressed in the uniform I was most accustomed to seeing her in.

“Let me say thanks again. It was a nice change of pace today. Honestly, it satisfied a different kind of hunger.”

“I feel embarrassed looking back on it… Um, please don’t tell anyone in class about this, okay? I’m not used to being teased…”

The devilish impression she had made earlier was gone. Blushing, she hesitantly made her request.

Maybe there’s some magic in that bunny girl outfit that affects the staff? For a moment, I was almost captivated by the gap in her demeanor.

“I guess it’s fine. So, what now? We don’t have much time, but do you want to go somewhere?”

“…No, it’s something I’d rather not have others hear.”

“Huh? What do you mean──!”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Amano Mio, who had been at least three meters away, was now so close her face was nearly touching mine.

It happened so suddenly and in an instant. As I reflexively stepped back, Amano Mio’s gaze wasn’t on me, but she nervously clasped her left hand to her neck, her left arm hidden in her blazer’s inner pocket.

“Kurogane-kun!”

“Yeah…?”

Then, she looked straight at me. It was clear there was no escape.

And in the next moment, the whole truth was unveiled.

“I’ve… I’ve liked you for a long time! Please… please go out with me!”

“…Huh?”

Amano Mio’s eyes were fixed on me earnestly. She didn’t seem to be lying.

I pinched my right cheek hard. It hurt.

But as for the main point──

“!”

I caught Amano Mio’s left wrist, which was approaching me at an unbelievable speed.

“So your true nature finally comes out. That was fun in its own way, though.”

Amano Mio looked up at me as if she were seeing something terrifying.

From the palm of her hand that she had snatched up, a device the size of a remote control was gripped, and it was making a dangerous, crackling high-voltage noise.

Yes──it was, as they say, a stun gun.

“……fu……hahahahaha. As expected, Kurogane-kun. After all, I──I want you……”

The girl standing before me──Amano Mio’s eyes were dark, muddied, not reflecting a single ray of light, insane.

At that figure, I inadvertently let my mouth slacken a smile.

“(See, I knew it. It’s just as I thought.)”