Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 4

Resisting Through Strength

As she grabbed my hand, I managed to shake off the stun gun from Amano Mio’s grip.

Her complexion didn’t change, but the turmoil lingering in her heart transmitted clearly through her clenched wrist. Amano Mio struggled desperately to escape my restraint, her strength surprising me.

In response to her efforts, I swiftly released my hold, causing her to lose her balance and fall onto the ground, bottom first.

“Really now. You’re lacking in consideration for girls, Kurogane-kun.”

“That was bad of me. Like I said earlier, I’m a virgin, so it seems I lost myself in nervousness upon facing such a fragile and beautiful girl.”

While saying this, we shared a laugh.

However, now that she had shown her true nature, I too had to get serious.

“So, what’s this joke all about?”

“How insincere. You knew, and that’s why you willingly fell for my invitation, right?”

“What if I did?”

“I won’t do anything. Just let me confirm something a little more—”

Before she finished speaking, Amano Mio clenched her fist and charged at me with momentum.

I instinctively caught her fist with my right hand.

She was stronger than any girl her age should be, something I had felt earlier. I didn’t counterattack, but my complacency seemed to be my undoing.

As if all was going according to plan, Amano Mio faintly smiled and leaped high, landing on her hands and kicking her feet up, perfectly executing an upside-down stance. She then picked up the stun gun I had knocked away earlier and took a leap back, regaining her posture and putting distance between us.

“(This girl…!)”

Her movements clearly weren’t something that could be learned from ordinary training. Caught off guard by her unexpected and elegant maneuver, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes and give her an applause of admiration.

“Not bad. I never imagined you had such talent.”

“Being praised by Kurogane-kun is the highest honor. My rigorous training was worth it.”

Amano Mio held the stun gun she had picked up, looking pleased.

Though I thought I had the upper hand, the situation had reset, or perhaps even worsened.

“Your father must have been quite the master, huh?”

“Did you know? I’ve been training hard this past year. All to win you over.”

“A year, huh…”

Suddenly, an event from a year ago resurfaced in my mind, filling me with unexpected anxiety.

Seemingly reading my mood, Amano Mio revealed the answer with a buoyant and happy look.

“I wasn’t like this before. In elementary and middle school, I couldn’t even join the small circle of friends I had, spending my time alone during breaks and commutes. I was often teased by male students.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Most likely, the teasing was due to her appearance—tall enough to stand among boys, with a face that blended adult femininity with youthful innocence.

“Maybe now you remember? About a year and five months ago, on the day of the entrance ceremony. The incident behind the gymnasium, where you intervened while I was being teased by boys, was our first encounter.”

“Ah, that time.”

Amano Mio smiled meaningfully. With that hint, I finally began to remember everything.

The boys who had bothered her were my and Yuuya’s former middle school classmates.

“I refused a confession from a man whose eyes were not sane. But that was the beginning of a nightmare. I don’t know where he took it, but he threatened me with a photo from middle school changing rooms… my nude picture. That was probably the first time I truly felt fear. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it, fearing it would spread through the school…”

As she spoke, Amano Mio closed her eyes, recalling the precious memory.

“When he suddenly appeared, I thought it was just false hope. But he came through like a natural breeze, and in an instant, he crushed the boy’s smartphone right before my eyes. At that time, he said, “Ah, sorry, my hands, feet, and eyes slipped,” right?”

“Looking back, that was quite reckless.”

By the way, my eyes slipping was just an excuse…

Amano Mio continued, “The boy was furious, but he just played it off. No matter how much he was attacked, he kept throwing the boy to the ground, a scene I still remember clearly.”

How cruel I was back then. Was I stressed about something?

“Finally, he took a video of the whole incident with his smartphone as evidence. By shooting from behind the boy, he even prevented my embarrassing nude photo from being exposed to the public.”

By the way, it was a complete coincidence that I didn’t capture any nude photos at the time.

But I decided to remain silent about this, not to ruin her image. This was all to protect her precious memories, not for my own sake.

You get it, right? You must understand. Keep silent and understand.

“From that day, I started watching him. His student life was irregular and careless. At the beginning of the school year, he had trouble with teachers due to tardiness but was unfazed. When he was late again, he made sure to arrive during break time. His grades were above average, so he didn’t have any more trouble with teachers. Especially after his sister arrived, his lifestyle changed completely. On the surface, he appeared arrogant and haughty, but he continued his normal life. Where does Kurogane-kun’s real heart lie?”

“Hey, have you been spying on my school life? I don’t know if this is a psychological tactic, but it’s not a very good hobby.”

Amano Mio smiled knowingly, and I sighed, placing my palm on my forehead, feeling the abnormality of my daily life.

“So it won’t be that easy, huh? But…”

Amano Mio switched on the stun gun.

Even from a distance, the crackling sound and visible electricity suggested it was adjusted for potency.

“Kurogane-kun, I can accept you. Your strength, sadness, and the terror of living in the everyday. I can understand you…”

Amano Mio approached with a relaxed demeanor, her eyes glossing over, unfocused and vacant.

She was trying her best to sound cool and collected, but from my perspective, the scene was nothing but abnormal.

Time had passed considerably. If I lingered any longer, it could affect my sister waiting at home, so I decided to step onto the minefield.

“I don’t know what you think you know about me, but I can’t just walk away from this. Sorry, but anything more is impossible.”

“Is that so? Then there’s no helping it.”

With a meaningful smile, Amano Mio lunged at me with the stun gun. Her agility was unmatched, but she lacked the technical finesse of her earlier moves.

I leaned aside, effortlessly dodging her attack.

“No helping it, huh? That’s the first time we’ve agreed. The feeling’s mutual.”

“…”

I tripped Amano Mio with my right foot, causing her to lose balance and fall in front of me—but with swift reflexes, she managed to avoid a hard fall by propping herself up on one hand, entering an upside-down stance once again.

She then aimed her spread legs at my face. Bracing myself, I raised my arms in defense.

“(Still heavy…)”

I could feel my arms straining under the force. Her strength was beyond any normal man’s, and I was thoroughly impressed.

But that was exactly what I could exploit.

As she tried to deliver a spinning kick, this time I caught her legs with my left arm, successfully restraining her.

“What…!?”

“That brute strength is impressive… but your moves are too predictable. Is this your first real fight?”

Amano Mio, holding the stun gun while upside down, stared at me in astonishment.

Unable to move in that position, her stability relied solely on me, who was restraining her legs.

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to catch her off guard while she was overconfident, but it seemed to have worked.

Besides, her underwear was completely visible in this situation. Incidentally, they were white.

“Heh… Why are you staring? It’s impressive you can keep a poker face even now, but as a girl, I have mixed feelings. You could take advantage of this situation, you know?”

“I am indeed fortunate.”

Amano Mio laughed ecstatically. Suppressing my male instincts towards the bizarre girl before me, I gently lowered her legs, resulting in me holding her legs in an M-shape on my knees.

To an outsider, it would seem like a clear case for reporting.

I couldn’t help but relax my mouth at the ridiculousness of the situation.

As much as it was tempting to enjoy this lucky pervert event, one wrong move could impact my future, so I decided it was time to wrap things up.

“Ah…!”

I snatched the stun gun from her with my free right hand. Amano Mio struggled to escape my grasp, putting strength into her legs, but my next move significantly weakened her resistance.

“Don’t move.”

I pointed the stun gun I had taken from Amano Mio at her neck.