Xiao Qin scraped her chair across the floor and scooted it a little closer to me.
Oh god—she's really going for it!
But since there's a gap between the desks wide enough for someone to walk through, moving her chair a few inches doesn't let her "accidentally" touch me in any normal way.
I worked so hard earlier when I stomped on Ren Xiao Qin's shoes!
She must have noticed, because her lips pushed into a pout.
I exhaled in relief and silently mouthed pineapples, jackfruits, pineapples, jackfruits to smother the rising lust in my body.(TN: Yes, he is indeed imagining smashing fruit onto his crotch. Don't question it.)
"Teacher—" Xiao Qin suddenly raised her hand.
What the hell are you doing!? You trying to call attention over here!? I haven't resolved the situation in my pants yet! Are you reporting me? Do you want me humiliated in front of everyone!?
Didn't you say you liked me!? Would you really expose me as a massive pervert in public!?I knew it—this is revenge! She's attacking my psyche, my dignity! This is a cruelty surpassing everything she did when she was the 'Little Tyrant'!
Our history teacher wandered past Loud-Mouth's desk and noticed Xiao Qin.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Teacher, I just transferred today, so I don't have a history textbook. Can I share one with my neighbor, classmate Haruya?"
So that's your plan!?Also, Xiao Qin—your deception skill has already ascended into the heavens! You literally propped your history book up earlier as a shield! It's still on your desk while you're lying! It's probably crying because you're using it as a prop!
The teacher nodded.
"All right. Anyone who forgot their textbook can share with their neighbor."
"Thank you, teacher," Xiao Qin said sweetly, then stood up and dragged her chair—loudly—across the floor for the whole class to hear.
She parked her chair right next to mine.
"Now that's a true childhood friend relationship… so cute," a group of girls whispered.
"I can't believe Haruya'll be the first one in our class to get a girlfriend…"
"With someone like Xiao Qin, maybe he'll finally straighten out."
Shut up, you gossiping gremlins! Don't try to ride the wave of noise she's making! I swear I will sell all of you to Southeast Asia!
Xiao Qin smoothed the wrinkles in her skirt, sat down next to me, pulled half the textbook into her hands, and pretended we were studying.
Under the table, her hand drifted onto my thigh.
With the sunlight streaming in from the window, her pale fingers almost glowed.
Hard to believe these angelic hands spent my childhood repeatedly smashing my self-esteem.
Just your hand? Okay. I can manage this. Probably.
The teacher resumed lecturing. I tried to focus on the part where Gao Lishi publicly executed Yang Guifei in front of a temple.
Perfect! If I eliminate all females from the world, humanity will be saved!
…Wait. Something's wrong with that logic. But who cares.
If there were no women, Dad wouldn't be suffering. And I wouldn't be tortured by Xiao Qin.
The Little Tyrant's punches never lied. But Ren Xiao Qin's smiles, expressions, words—any of them could be lies! Lies she believes herself!
I don't want to be with something so terrifying! Why can't girls look scary like cobras!? Why do their smiles and tears shake my entire existence!?
Also—hurry up and calm down, you shameful tent!
While I was suffering, it seemed Xiao Qin decided it was her turn to escalate.
One hand held the textbook. The other slid around on top of my shorts.
Don't move! Don't come closer! Any closer and you're entering restricted military space! That's the arsenal! The nuclear reactor! You cannot touch the red button! If a tourist touches it randomly, it will explode!
If I try to block her hand, I'll make too much noise.If I grab her hand, she'll squeak and I'll instantly become Public Enemy #1.
"Ah Haru, your muscles are pretty solid."(ED: She's using his nickname "Ah Haru." She is not sighing.)
Don't use my nickname so casually! These muscles were trained day and night so I could one day defeat you, Little Tyrant! Your groping is disrespectful!
"If Ah Haru wanted to do something to me, I probably couldn't resist at all…"
Stop saying suggestive things with that excited expression! And aren't you the one always attacking me!?
"I really want Ah Haru to hug me with that broad chest and whisper, 'I love you'… ahh…"
I WILL NEVER SAY IT. I HATE YOU SO MUCH I COULD BITE THROUGH MY OWN GUMS.
"After hearing those three magic words, my whole body would go weak. I'd go limp and be completely at Ah Haru's mercy…"
Please stop! The reactor is about to enter meltdown!
"Eh? Haruya, it feels like you're hiding something interesting in your pockets."
Xiao Qin's eyes lit up like she discovered a new continent.
"Hehe, let me see what goodies you've got!"
Ignoring my opinion entirely, she jammed her hand inside.
No! Help! This is too much! How did it come to this!? Stop rummaging around in my pocket! It's down to a centimeter! The friction—too strong! One more second and it'll blow!
In this sacred educational environment, in front of the teacher and all these studious classmates, I'm going to—explode!
If that happens, I can never show my face again. I'll lose all dignity. I'll have to tie a stone around my waist, swallow poison, stab myself, then jump off the bridge all at once! I swear I will! I'll die to prove a point!
Desperate, I snapped open my pencil case, grabbed my compass, and stabbed the point into the fleshy web between my thumb and index finger.
Once.Twice.Three times.
Blood stained the needle. Pain flared up, tearing my attention away from everything else.
It hurts. I'm miserable. But it's worth it.
I straightened up, regained composure, and glared coldly at Ren Xiao Qin.
She immediately pulled her hand out of my pocket.
"H-Haruya, I'm sorry…" she stammered.
"If 'sorry' fixed everything, Yang Guifei wouldn't have needed to die."
"I—I know. I'm really sorry. I just read too many shoujo manga with scenes like this, and I didn't really understand them, so I tried copying them. At first it felt fun, but then I got too into character and couldn't stop…"
"What are you even saying? Are you telling me you think I'm some kind of toy?"
"Yes. Haruya has fascinating points that… fascinate people. And then they get addicted…"
"So in your eyes, I'm basically a drug. Drugs are harmful! Quit me immediately!"
"I can't anymore. Sorry, sorry, sorry…"
"No amount of apologizing changes anything!"
"Then… if you won't forgive me… please touch me too."
WHO WANTS TO TOUCH YOU!? The gun you just cooled is going to reload!
Xiao Qin put on a pitiful, trembling expression.
"Great Haruya… it doesn't have to be just my thighs… you—you can touch anywhere you want…"
Her voice shook as she turned her face away, looking fragile and innocent.
You switched tones fast!A moment ago you were the devil. Now you're a trembling white flower. A full dissociative identity disorder speedrun!
If you still had your devil face on, I would've just reached under your skirt without hesitation. But now!? Now you activate people's mercy!
"You don't like being called 'Great'? Then… Haruya, please touch me. I committed an unforgivable sin. I deserve any punishment."
Do you have any idea how many unforgivable sins you've committed against me over the years!? Go kneel and write me a million-word confession!
"Because Haruya promised he wouldn't bully me this afternoon… so… in exchange… letting Haruya touch me is something I can't avoid…"
Her voice was hollow, like a broken puppet.
What are you saying!? With that logic, I become the villain again! You turn into the victim, and to avoid being bullied, you cry and offer your body!? Are you trying to frame me into sexually harassing you!?
Look at my hand! The holes are still bleeding! I can hear the blood flow! It's spraying like a fountain! The classroom will rain my blood!
Also, YOU are the one bullying me! On your first day back you already bathed my hand in blood! The Little Tyrant inside you is laughing, right?
—Do you want to kill me, Ren Xiao Qin!?