Chapter 32

The woman with the seaweed-like hair who appeared to be known from before had clung onto me even after finishing the premium chocolate, without going anywhere else.

The sensation of her large chest pressed entirely against my elbow gave no rise to any lewd thoughts or feelings toward her.

It felt as though a giant dog full of goodwill was showing affection toward me.

Generally, if someone seems human, then lewd thoughts or sensations would naturally arise, but her sketchbook method of communication and her somewhat eerie appearance prevented her from appearing human at all.

Come to think of it, she is not completely unable to speak; then why doesn’t she?

If she were a mysterious beauty who writes instead of speaking, there might be some demand for her in romantic visual novels. I can somewhat understand the reason for including a character like her in a visual novel like this.

However, since I had no intention of dating this woman, I immediately got to the point.

“You, why did you come here? Did you see me through the window while passing by outside?”

If she had only stopped by the café, she would have certainly brought a drink with her. Perhaps she noticed my face on the second floor of the café and then came here, but how often does such a coincidence really happen?

Am I being too suspicious, or has this romantic visual novel made me overly distrustful in such a short time?

After hearing my question, the woman, who was diligently writing in her sketchbook, showed me the pad with an expression that seemed somewhat proud.

[Since you weren’t replying to my messages, I thought you were going out, so I just came because I wanted to see you♡]

I thought this body’s social skills were quite bad, given the bullying she faced at school, but unexpectedly, she seems to know people everywhere. If I had known someone would come find me because I didn’t check my phone, I might have searched for it already.

As her body pressed against my arm again, I quietly withdrew my arm from her embrace.

It would be nice if someone I’m actually interested in acted like this, but it’s just uncomfortable when a woman I’ve never met before pretends to be so close and touches me.

She is slightly taller than me, and though she has a frail body, she could have easily stopped my actions. However, she merely watched me calmly without any reaction.

Not out of fear, but because in this world, it’s dangerous to provoke a mentally unstable person, I hesitated to ask.

As I thought about it on my own, I found an extremely clear answer that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of before.

She must have used instantaneous enhancement to improve her eyesight and saw me leaving.

It wasn’t ordinary enhancement but the supernatural ability to temporarily amplify her senses. I don’t know how she could have seen me leaving, but if this is an extreme case like Yoo In-na’s ability, it isn’t entirely impossible.

Seemingly aware of my gaze, she smiled brightly at me.

But even with her effort to smile warmly, her face retained its eerie aura.

She then lifted her sketchbook.

[Did you receive a message about the people who bullied you? Do you want me to scold them?]

“Who are you referring to?”

This body seems to have been bullied, but without providing any specific candidates, I can’t respond when she says that she’ll punish those who fought against me.

[…Did you suffer a lot? If you know their names, I can punish them all for you.]

“I don’t know.”

[I see~.]

Since I don’t want to reveal that I’ve lost my memory to just anyone, but rather to those who truly need to know, I simply said I didn’t know.

Although the ability called “Instantaneous Enhancement” suggests a certain level of strength, it didn’t matter because this body hasn’t really been targeted by bullying. Thus, I harbored no desire for revenge.

Appearing to listen to me, she nodded slightly and turned the page of her sketchbook not forward but backward, as if she had written it in advance. She showed it to me without even moving her pen.

[If you date me, I’ll protect you so no one can mistreat you! Let’s date!]

Even if we were dating, isn’t it likely they’d mistreat her even more?

She looks extremely weak at a glance.

Though her strangely hopeful gaze made me choose my words carefully.

If I rejected her without reason, while she appears to be maintaining a good relationship with this body, then when the original returns, the distance between her and Kana might become irreparable.

“I’m sorry, but I already like someone.”

So this level of rejection is just right.

The people around me seemed aware of my romantic relationship with the student council president, so she should back off appropriately given this.

Kana, still smiling, stiffened slightly before flipping several pages of her sketchbook, where she must have already prepared a reply to my rejection, and showed it to me.

[Oh, I see. But if any faults appear in that woman, would there be a chance for me? After all, even the woman you like might have some unsightly qualities when you get to know her.]

“There won’t be any faults.”

The student council president, despite knowing her for just a few hours, was clearly a person of impeccable conduct.

It wasn’t as if I had idealized her as my perfect woman either. My standards are quite high, meaning she too must be someone extraordinary to match this level.

“And even if there are, I believe that everyone has a few flaws, so it doesn’t matter to me.”

Isn’t it rather strange to dislike someone you love just because some flaws are revealed?

I’m a person who advocates monogamy, so I don’t think my affection would fade if she turns out to be much different from what I imagined.

Apparently, this wasn’t the response she had hoped for, as her face remained dark, which was already the case from the moment she approached.

[What if the situation were reversed? If you show unsightly behavior, there’s a chance the other party might cut ties, right?]

I wouldn’t show anything unsightly.

If I aim for high standards, then I must be equally close to perfection.

Anyone who knows about the efforts I put into studying during my school days would surely stand in awe and say, “Ah, this person will never show any unsightly behavior!” … Although I technically shouldn’t even be called a man in my current form and should be referred to as a girl instead.

Somehow, I didn’t think the student council president would abandon me even if I showed some slightly unsightly behavior.

[Divine Protection is intensifying.]

The conversation seemed to be finishing as the group I saw talking in the parking lot through the window disappeared, and my supernatural ability reacted.

It was as if the student council president’s “Radiance” somehow stimulated my abilities, confirming that they must be getting closer…

[The attempt to implant a suggestion has begun but is not being fully resisted, so the dice have started rolling.]

As I thought this, the next text baffled me. To resist but fail means that I must have been affected by something.

Something so powerful that even the considerable protective “Divine Protection” couldn’t fully withstand it. Although I thought it might be the woman who approached me, upon seeing her disappointed expression after being rejected, she didn’t feel like someone secretly implanting suggestions.

The system previously mentioned that this woman had the ability called “Instantaneous Enhancement,” but it never stated that she had the underhanded ability of “Suggestion.”

[The dice have rolled a 4, successfully resisting the suggestion. Though you aren’t currently under any suggestion, constant attempts to suggest could still lead to eventual failure even if you successfully resist. (1/10) Be aware that the mind-control attempts diminish over time; avoid approaching the opponent to ensure they don’t attempt mind-control again.]

…I barely survived.

In relief, I let out a deep sigh, brushing my hand across my chest as if to calm my beating heart. Even though I felt no obvious effects, the realization that I narrowly escaped being ensnared by a suggestion left me uneasy.

Who could have done this? I examined each person on the second floor, but among the black-cloaked extras, I couldn’t identify anyone with the ability of “Suggestion.”

…Did someone try mind-control from afar outside the window?

I checked outside the window for any suspicious individuals but found no one after the attempt apparently failed. All I could see were the extras.

“Hmph, who the hell are you?”

I never expected a crazy person in this world who would try to ensnare others with suggestions and then run away.

In a lewd romantic visual novel, the protagonist would either be the one using mind-control or the one being controlled. While I knew that there were characters of that kind somewhere in the city, I didn’t expect someone to attempt a direct attack and then flee.

Next time I meet them, I’ll definitely seek revenge for this. As I prepared to sharpen my teeth in anticipation of that day, the sketchbook was carefully extended toward me.

[Is something wrong?]

“…Nothing. But if anyone offers you strange coins or anything, starting with a phone, run away immediately. There seem to be some odd people around.”

Since telling her about unresolved issues would only scare her, I initially intended not to say anything but reconsidered after imagining her being controlled to approach me. So I decided to give her some advice.

Her body slightly trembled with fear, then she cautiously extended the sketchbook.

[If you ever need help, let me know. I have some pretty bad friends, but they’ve become my cherished friends. They’ll definitely help you if you ask.]

Did she somehow force some people to become friends using instantaneous enhancement?

Even though I saw bite marks on her fingers when she turned the page, it’s hard to imagine this refined-looking woman hanging out with delinquents.

Understanding her motivation to boast in front of someone she likes, I nodded slightly. After deciding to first search for my wallet and phone at home.

After all, I needed to check how many women like her existed through my phone. Then, amidst loud sounds from the floor below, the woman grabbed my right hand and forcibly pressed it against her cheek.

“I love you.”

Eh, I don’t love you.

Though Yu In-na had started at zero in terms of affection points, you’ve only reached twelve, which is barely any better.

[Goodwill towards the target: 12(20)]

Perhaps that was her final farewell before descending to the lower floor and slowly vanishing from my sight. A few minutes after her departure, my group arrived.

“Erica, are you alright?”

The student council president’s concern for my well-being. As a past lover, I didn’t protest as she checked me over but instead reproached the boy for being so late. The coffee they had ordered for me was ruined—nothing but melted ice remaining.

“Some weird people tried to stop us from coming up. But when the woman who came down from your floor motioned at them, they let us through.”

If what the boy says is true, then the woman I was just conversing with had likely stationed people around to avoid interruptions.

Not to mention how she knew I was here to begin with.

…Could she be from a wealthy family or something?

Leaving the unanswered questions behind until I could check my phone, I silently observed them finishing their drinks and getting ready to leave.

What had these two actually talked about? Maybe it’s because the student council president is my ideal type, but even knowing that they’re not really a couple, it still bothers me to think about what they might have discussed.