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Chapter 9 :The Corner of Fear
A whole month had passed.
Rei slowly opened his eyes, reached for his phone out of habit… and instantly realized something was wrong.
No points.
He stared at the blank balance for a moment, then smirked to himself.
So it finally happened.
Beside him, Suzune woke up, her hair messy and her voice soft.
"Good morning…"
"Morning," Rei replied casually.
Suzune blinked sleepily. "Why do you check your phone right after waking up?"
Rei turned the screen toward her.
"We didn't get points this month."
Suzune sat up fast, eyes widening. "H-huh? How is that possible?"
Rei opened his private balance page.
Suzune's jaw dropped.
"Rei… you have 30 million points!?"
"Yeah," Rei said like it was nothing. "But look. We didn't get the monthly points we're supposed to receive."
Suzune checked her own phone.
Her face stiffened.
"…You're right."
Then she looked back at him.
"How do you even have so many points?"
"I'm just lucky," Rei answered with a small smirk.
"That doesn't explain anything," she muttered.
Rei leaned closer.
"Don't worry about it."
He got up, stretching. "Let's get ready for school."
Suzune nodded and walked toward the bathroom to wash up.
But the moment she stepped inside, Rei opened the door again and walked in behind her.
"Let's bathe together," he said casually. "As always."
Suzune sighed, but her cheeks turned red.
"Even if I say no, you'll just come in anyway… so who am I to stop you?"
Rei wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
"Like you don't enjoy it," he whispered.
Her breath trembled, and she leaned into him willingly.
"I do… I love it," Suzune admitted softly. "You've… broken me."
"That's what I like," Rei replied, his voice low.
"Yes, Rei-sama," she whispered.
Rei smirked.
"You've become a masochist."
Suzune turned even redder but didn't deny it.
"…I suppose I am."
Rei brushed his fingers along her skin.
"Good. Then I'll be even more rough from now on."
Suzune's heart skipped, and a small smile appeared on her lips.
"I'm ready," she whispered.
Rei didn't waste time.
He pulled Suzune close again, and her face turned bright red.
"R-Rei… we just finished bathing…" she whispered, breath shaky.
Rei smirked.
"You think I'm done? Not even close."
Suzune's knees grew weak from just his voice. She tried to speak, but Rei's hands and dominance overwhelmed her, making her lose control completely.
Within seconds, Suzune was clinging to the sheets, trembling, her voice echoing through the room even when she tried to hold it back.
"Rei… Rei…! I—I can't—"
"You can," he said. "And you will."
Her mind melted under him — completely surrendering, completely broken in the way only he could do.
By the time Rei finally stopped, Suzune collapsed into the bed, face red, body shaking, trying to catch her breath.
"…You're insane," she whispered weakly.
Rei leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"And you love it."
Suzune didn't deny it.
After a few minutes, Rei picked up her uniform and tossed it gently on the bed.
"Get ready. We're going to school."
Suzune groaned softly. "My legs… I can barely stand…"
"That's fine," Rei smirked. "I'll walk slowly."
She slowly sat up, still blushing, still trembling, and managed a small, shy smile.
"…You really are impossible."
"And you're mine," Rei replied.
Suzune's heart fluttered despite how exhausted she was.
They got dressed, stepped outside, and like always — separated before reaching school so no one would suspect anything.
Rei slipped his hands into his pockets and walked with his usual cool expression.
Suzune walked ahead, looking calm and composed on the outside…
…but every step reminded her of last night — and this morning.
When they reached class separately, Hirata was panicking, Ike was yelling, and the whole class was trembling because of the missing monthly points.
Rei smirked.
Perfect. Time to truly take control.
Rei stepped into the classroom, and the moment his shoes touched the floor, the entire room fell silent.
No whispering.
No complaining.
Not even Ike's usual noise.
Just silence.
Rei scanned the room once with his cold eyes and said calmly:
"Relax. Wait for Chabashira-sensei. She'll explain what happened."
His voice alone made half the class straighten their backs. Rei walked to his seat, sat down, and leaned back casually as if he owned the room.
As he did, he felt a stare.
Chiaki Matsushita.
The moment their eyes met, she quickly raised her phone slightly — a subtle signal only Rei would notice.
Rei casually unlocked his phone under the desk.
A new message.
A video file.
He tapped it, and Chiaki's recording began to play:
Ryuen's Class C boys throwing the first punch at Sudō.
Clear faces.
Clear audio.
Clear evidence.
Rei's lips lifted into a dangerous smirk.
Perfect. Exactly what I needed.
He closed the recording and typed back a single message:
Rei: Don't tell anyone. Not a word.
Chiaki: Okay.
Rei locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket just as the classroom door slammed open.
Chabashira-sensei entered.
Her expression was serious, colder than usual, and everyone in the room tensed.
Except Rei.
He leaned back, arms crossed, waiting for the drama to unfold.
Chabashira looked over the class, her eyes briefly stopping on Rei — and a faint red tint crossed her cheeks before she quickly looked away.
"Listen carefully," she said, her tone sharp. "You all already know something happened regarding Class Points. Today, I'll be explaining everything."
The class gulped.
Rei smirked.
It's finally starting.
The storm.
The panic.
The perfect opportunity for him to take full control.
He sat still, calm, confident — the only one in the room who already knew the truth…
and who held the winning card in his pocket.
Chabashira-sensei stood at the front of the classroom, arms crossed as she delivered the bombshell:
"Three boys from Class D have filed a report claiming Sudō called them out and assaulted them. Until this case is proven true or false, your class won't be receiving any points."
The class exploded immediately.
"What?!"
"Why would you do that, Sudō?!"
"Because of you, we lost points again!"
Sudō slammed his hands on his desk, face red with frustration.
"I'm telling you—I'm innocent! They attacked me!"
But no one listened.
Ayanokoji leaned closer to Rei, keeping his voice low.
"So… what are you going to do?"
Rei didn't even look at him.
He just smirked.
"Just enjoy the show, Ayanokoji."
Then Rei stood up.
Instant silence.
The classroom froze as his aura spread like a cold wave, forcing everyone to shut their mouths.
Rei looked directly at Sudō.
"Sudō, what proof do you have that you're not guilty?"
Sudō clenched his fists.
"I don't have any! But they were the ones who attacked me!"
Rei tilted his head slightly.
"Was there CCTV?"
Chabashira-sensei answered immediately.
"There was none."
"I see…" Rei said slowly. "Sudō is too much of an idiot to plan something like this. If he wanted a fight, he wouldn't pick a place with no cameras. He would've done it anywhere without thinking."
Sudō wanted to shout back—Rei calling him an idiot stung—but the pressure from Rei's aura crushed his anger. He stayed silent, sweating.
Rei's cold gaze scanned the classroom.
"Did anyone see anything? Anything at all?"
No one answered.
But Rei noticed something—a tiny movement.
Sakura Airi lowered her eyes, clearly avoiding his gaze.
Rei smirked.
Just like the anime… she saw it, but she's too scared to speak up.
"Fine," Rei said, turning back to the class. "We'll go around and ask people. Someone must've seen something."
Kushida quickly nodded with a bright fake smile.
"Yes! If everyone spreads out and asks around, we might find someone who witnessed it!"
Rei turned to Sudō.
"Until this is settled, you'll stay in your dorm room. You're not going to the club, not wandering around, nothing."
Sudō opened his mouth to argue—
But Rei's eyes went cold.
Sudō froze.
"…Fine," he muttered, sitting down.
Rei returned to his seat in complete control.
The class was silent.
Chabashira-sensei was quietly staring at him.
Ayanokoji was watching him with interest.
And Rei?
Rei was already planning the next move.
He knew exactly how to turn this case…
into his first major step in destroying the entire timeline.
After class ended, tension still lingered in the room from the Sudō case.
Rei stood up, clapping his hands once.
"Make groups of two. You'll all ask around. Students will be chosen at random."
Chabashira-sensei was already at the door, ready to escape before Rei gave more orders—
but Rei's voice stopped her instantly.
"Chabashira-sensei. You will choose the pairs. Randomly."
She froze, turned around quickly, and nodded.
"Yes… mas—" She caught herself just in time. "I mean, yes. I'll choose."
Rei smirked.
Even slipping up like that… she's completely broken.
Chabashira began reading random pairings from the attendance sheet.
"Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo."
Rei raised an eyebrow.
A small amused smirk tugged at his lips.
Those two together? That'll be fun to watch—but not now.
She continued—
"Ayanokōji Kiyotaka and Hirata Yōsuke."
Rei nodded internally.
Good enough.
Finally:
"Rei and… Sakura Airi."
The moment her name was announced, Sakura stiffened in her seat.
The rest of the class let out the tiniest sighs of relief.
None of them wanted to be paired with Rei.
His aura was too heavy, too dominating.
Standing next to him felt like standing beside a sleeping dragon.
Rei heard their whispers:
"Lucky… thank god it's not me…"
"I'd die from fear if I was paired with him…"
He didn't care.
If anything, their fear amused him.
Chabashira-sensei finished the list.
Students immediately began gathering with their assigned partners.
Rei turned toward Sakura, who was quietly fidgeting, avoiding eye contact.
"Sakura," Rei said calmly. "What are you waiting for? Follow me."
She nodded quickly—almost panicked—and hurried behind him.
Rei walked out of the classroom without looking back, hands in his pocket, completely in control.
Behind him, Sakura followed like a silent shadow—
nervous, shaky, but obedient.
Every student they passed whispered:
"Is she dead?"
"She's crazy for agreeing…"
"That aura… I'd faint!"
Rei smirked to himself.
My luck really is too good… even Sae didn't realize I wanted Sakura. Perfect.
As they walked down the hallway, Rei didn't slow down or soften his expression.
This was exactly how he wanted it.
Phase one: put Sakura in a situation where she has no choice but to rely on him.
Phase two: make her talk.
Phase three: crush Ryuen's plan.
And right now?
Rei was enjoying the fear in her steps.
Sakura walked several steps behind Rei, her small hands gripping the ends of her sleeves. Her thoughts were spinning out of control.
Why… why me? Out of all people… why was I paired with him?
Her heartbeat felt louder than her footsteps. Rei's presence alone made the hallway feel colder—as if the air itself shifted around him. His back was calm, straight, unhurried. But every step he took made Sakura's nerves tighten even more.
Without looking back, Rei spoke quietly.
"Are you scared of something?"
Sakura's voice shook. "N-No. I'm not… sir."
He stopped walking.
He slowly turned his head toward her, his expression unreadable.
"Why call me 'sir'? We're the same age."
Her breath caught. Panic surged.
"I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean—"
"Don't be scared," Rei said, his tone softer but still carrying that overwhelming pressure. "I'm not going to bite."
They continued walking until Rei suddenly stopped at a quiet corner of the school building, far away from other students.
Sakura froze.
"W-Why… why are we here?" she whispered.
Rei leaned against the wall casually, but his eyes were sharp—too sharp.
"I know you saw it," he said. "Sudo getting beaten up."
Sakura felt her stomach drop.
Her mind screamed.
How… how does he know? What is he going to do?
Her breathing became shallow. Fear—pure, instinctive fear—spread through her chest and up her throat. Tears began to gather before she could stop them.
Rei raised an eyebrow.
"…You're crying?"
Sakura blinked as tears spilled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
"I-I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I-I didn't mean to—"
Rei sighed and stepped closer.
"What are you crying for?" His voice lowered, calmer. "I won't hurt you. Don't worry."
But Sakura only cried harder, trembling like a cornered rabbit. Her fear, her anxiety, her imagination—they all exploded at once.
Rei quietly watched her for a moment, the aura around him shifting from cold to unexpectedly gentle.
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