After school the next day, the setting sun dyed the school building a warm gold. Just as Kanjuro walked out of the classroom, Shiraki Rie, who had been waiting in the hallway, came up to meet him. Her face carried a hint of imperceptible expectation and shyness.
"Mr. Kanjuro."
"Shiraki." Kanjuro gave her a gentle smile and was about to speak when another voice cut in.
"Mr. Kanjuro!"
It was Imari Kurumi. She ran over with concern on her face, her gaze shifting between Kanjuro and Shiraki Rie. Although she had heard Kanjuro's explanation before, seeing the two of them standing together still inevitably gave her a subtle feeling. However, she tried her best to act gracious: "Are you two... discussing something?"
Seeing Imari, Shiraki Rie's cool brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as a faint trace of jealousy crossed her heart. She subconsciously took a step closer to Kanjuro, as if silently declaring a kind of sovereignty.
Kanjuro took in the reactions of both girls, sneering in his heart while remaining composed on the surface. He first looked at Imari, his tone gentle: "Imari, you've come at just the right time." Then, he did something that surprised both of them—he turned to Shiraki Rie, his gaze "earnest" and "affectionate," his voice not loud, but clear enough:
"Shiraki, it's good that Imari is here too. There are some things I want to tell you in front of her." He paused, as if having made up his mind. "I like you, Shiraki Rie. From the first time I saw you, I was attracted to you. Would you... like to go out with me?"
"Ah?!" Shiraki Rie was completely stunned, her cheeks instantly turning crimson and her heart racing. She hadn't expected Kanjuro to be so direct, especially in front of Imari! The immense surprise and shyness left her not knowing how to react for a moment; she could only stare blankly at Kanjuro, then subconsciously glanced at Imari, whose face had instantly turned somewhat pale.
(He... he's confessing to me? In front of Imari? Does he... really like me more?)
Imari was also caught off guard. Watching Kanjuro's "sincere" expression toward Shiraki, her heart felt as if it had been fiercely wrenched, filled with an unspeakable bitterness. She opened her mouth to say something but didn't know what to say.
Kanjuro timely showed a slightly "apologetic" expression and said softly to Shiraki Rie: "Shiraki, could I ask you to wait for me over there for a moment? I have some things I need to clear up with Imari privately." He pointed toward a large tree not far away.
Shiraki Rie was still in a state of naive and immense joy. Hearing his words, she nodded obediently and whispered, "...Okay." She glanced at Imari with a complex look—a hint of a winner's subtle pride mixed with a trace of sympathy—before turning to walk toward the tree, though her gaze couldn't help but frequently look back.
Having sent Shiraki away, Kanjuro immediately turned to Imari, his face shifting to an expression of heavy helplessness. He took Imari's hand and led her to a more secluded corner.
"Imari, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to see that just now, and I'm sorry for making you sad." His tone was filled with "guilt."
Imari's eyes were slightly red as she looked at him aggrievedly. "Mr. Kanjuro... you... was what you said just now true? Do you really like Shiraki-san?"
Kanjuro sighed and lowered his voice, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear. "That was just to deceive her, Imari. How could I possibly truly like her?" His gaze became "sharp." "Have you forgotten what I told you? Saeki Kaori and the dark forces behind her are our true enemies!"
He gripped Imari's hand tightly, his tone "solemn." "Shiraki Rie... she is unfortunate. She's been targeted by Saeki. According to the information I have, she is one of the core sacrifices planned for Saeki's evil ritual!"
Imari gasped and covered her mouth. "A... sacrifice?"
"Exactly." Kanjuro nodded, his gaze "pained" yet "resolute." "To stop the ritual, or at least interfere with it, I must 'get' to Shiraki Rie before Saeki does. Only by thoroughly possessing her and placing my mark upon her can I, to some extent, taint her purity as a'sacrifice.' This will prevent Saeki's ritual from proceeding smoothly or, at the very least, greatly diminish its effects."
He looked at Imari, his eyes full of "unavoidable sacrifice." "So, I must get close to her, gain her trust, and even... have a relationship with her. All of this is to sabotage Saeki's plans and to protect more people who might become sacrifices! Imari, you can understand me, right? The person I truly love in my heart is only you!"
This rhetoric was almost the opposite of what he had told Saeki Kaori before, but it perfectly matched the "guardian" persona he had woven for Imari. Looking at his eyes "full of hidden hardships" and remembering his previous "bravery" and "sacrifice," Imari's grievances and jealousy were instantly replaced by immense heartache and a sense of "mission."
(So that's how it is! Mr. Kanjuro is only sacrificing his body to get close to Shiraki-san to disrupt the evil ritual and save people! He's so great! I was actually jealous; I'm so inconsiderate!)
She squeezed Kanjuro's hand back firmly, tears of emotion shimmering in her eyes. "I understand, Mr. Kanjuro! I'm sorry, I misunderstood you! Go do what you must; I'll be fine! As long as we can eventually defeat Saeki and protect everyone, I... I support you!"
"Thank you, Imari. Your understanding means everything to me." Kanjuro gave her a "moved" hug before letting go. "Then, could I ask you to wait for me over there for a moment? I still need to pacify Shiraki so she doesn't become suspicious."
"Mhm! Go quickly!" Imari nodded vigorously, her eyes full of trust and support for Kanjuro. She obediently walked to wait in a different direction from Shiraki Rie, her heart filled with a noble sense of endurance for the sake of "justice."
Kanjuro composed his expression and walked back toward Shiraki Rie, who was waiting anxiously under the tree.
Seeing him approach, Shiraki Rie took an eager step forward. "Mr. Kanjuro, you and Imari-san..."
Kanjuro wore a smile of "relief" and interrupted her. "It's fine now; I've made things clear to her." He took Shiraki's hand, his tone carrying a hint of "lingering fear" and "gratitude." "Shiraki, do you remember what I told you before? About the Black Magic Mizunurai wanted to use on you?"
Shiraki Rie nodded.
Kanjuro lowered his voice, his expression "grim." "I've investigated and found that the source of that Black Magic is actually Saeki Kaori! The fundamental purpose of her founding the Occult Research Society is to perform a terrifying ritual that requires the sacrifice of women with pure souls like yours!"
Upon hearing this, Shiraki Rie's face turned slightly pale.
Kanjuro continued his performance, his gaze "deep." "Imari... she's actually been deluded by Saeki, or at least she's being used. I'm staying close to her and pretending to be with her to extract information about Saeki and the ritual, and also to... protect you, to keep Saeki's conspiracy from succeeding."
He gazed affectionately at Shiraki Rie. "The person I truly like is you, Shiraki. What I said to Imari just now was just a temporary measure to gain her trust and facilitate my investigation. You can understand me, right?"
Looking into his incredibly "sincere" eyes and recalling how he had saved her and now "trusted" her enough to tell her the "truth," the slight doubt Shiraki had felt because of Imari vanished instantly. It was replaced by the emotion of being specially trusted and the intimacy of sharing a secret.
(So he's been investigating in secret to protect me! The one he truly likes is me!)
(Imari-san... turns out she's just a poor person being used...)
She nodded vigorously, her cool eyes filled with determination and understanding. "I understand, Mr. Kanjuro. Thank you for telling me this, and thank you for protecting me in secret. You... you go do what you must. I will cooperate with you and keep your secret."
"Thank you, Shiraki." Kanjuro squeezed her hand, appearing "moved."
And so, in this corner of the campus under the setting sun, a bizarre yet harmonious scene was formed: Kanjuro stood in the middle, with Shiraki Rie—who thought she was his "true love" and "comrade-in-arms"—not far to his left, and Imari Kurumi—who thought she was his "only one" and "partner for justice"—not far to his right.
Both girls tacitly believed that Kanjuro only had eyes for them, and that the other was merely a "tool" or a "person to be saved." When they looked at each other, their eyes even carried a hint of pity and superiority toward the "outsider."
Meanwhile, Kanjuro moved calmly between the two, enjoying their gazes of total trust like a master director watching oblivious actors perform according to his script on stage.
The dark net tightened, yet the moths within all believed they had found the only source of light. The afterglow of the sunset sank completely below the horizon, and night quietly descended. As the three walked side by side on the way home, the atmosphere was subtle and complex. Imari Kurumi and Shiraki Rie each harbored the "secret mission" and "special status" bestowed upon them by Kanjuro, maintaining a tacit distance mixed with pity and superiority.
Upon reaching a fork in the road, Kanjuro did not part ways as usual but stopped. He looked at the two girls beside him, who were each lost in their own thoughts, and his face showed a complex expression of "exhaustion," "struggle," and "resolve."
"Imari, Shiraki," his voice sounded somewhat low in the evening breeze, "there are some recent discoveries regarding Saeki and the ritual... they are very complex and urgent. It's not convenient to talk here; we need to find an absolutely safe place to discuss this in detail."
This reason was impeccable. Neither Imari, who bore the heavy responsibility of "sabotaging the ritual," nor Shiraki, who needed protection as a "potential sacrifice," could refuse.
Imari nodded immediately, her gaze firm. "I'll follow your lead, Mr. Kanjuro!"
Shiraki Rie also nodded slightly, her cool eyes filled with trust. "Okay."
Kanjuro led them to a nearby, fairly ordinary business hotel. Checking in, registering, and entering the room—throughout the entire process, Kanjuro acted steady and solemn, as if he were truly conducting a classified operation. Imari and Shiraki were each immersed in their thoughts of "cooperating with the mission" and "seeking protection," so they didn't find anything amiss.
The room door clicked shut behind them, isolating them from the outside world.
The specific details of the conversation were no longer important; Kanjuro had long since woven the perfect rhetoric. What mattered was the result—under Kanjuro's guidance of "being forced by circumstances" and "having to take extraordinary measures for the ultimate victory," and catalyzed by the confined space and the special atmosphere, the development of events finally slid toward the direction he had pre-set.
In the dead of night, the hotel room was permeated with a lingering, ambiguous atmosphere.
Imari Kurumi and Shiraki Rie lay on either side of Kanjuro, already fast asleep.
Imari's face bore a trace of exhaustion and peace after completing her "mission," while Shiraki Rie's cool features retained the shyness of a first experience and a certain sense of belonging.
They both firmly believed that everything that had just happened was part of the "plan," a necessary step in "protecting" and "being protected," and a "sacrifice" or "inevitability" made for a greater "justice" or "safety."
They had no idea that what they had just experienced was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated deception to satisfy a demon's selfish desires.
Both their bodies and emotions had been completely possessed by the same person through different lies, without them even realizing it.
Kanjuro leaned against the headboard. In the darkness, his eyes were clear and cold, like a nocturnal predator looking down at its prey. He glanced at the two sleeping girls beside him, his lips curling into a cold arc.
(Plan successful.)
(The core sacrifice and the auxiliary sacrifice—the relationships have moved a step further.)
(Next, it's just a matter of waiting for the optimal timing for the ritual.) The morning sun filtered through the thin hotel curtains, casting a hazy glow in the room. Imari Kurumi and Shiraki Rie woke up almost at the same time, the lingering soreness in their bodies awakening along with the chaotic yet "profound" memories of the previous night. The two glanced at each other, their eyes flickering with complexity, but more so with a strange sense of connection after being bound by a shared secret. They simultaneously looked at Kanjuro, who was lying in the middle and appeared to have just woken up.
Kanjuro rubbed his temples, his face wearing a perfect blend of "solemnity" and post-event "tenderness." He sat up, his gaze sweeping over the two girls, his voice low and clear:
"Imari, Shiraki." He called their names individually, his tone grave. "Last night... it was hard on you. The situation was special; we had to use that method to more thoroughly... well, establish a connection to deal with what's coming next."
He perfectly packaged a deception meant to satisfy his own desires as a necessary "tactical step." Recalling his sophisticated talk from the night before about "ritual countermeasures" and "energy resonance," and combined with their own sense of "mission" and "protected" status, Imari and Shiraki both nodded. Their faces even showed a hint of the fortitude of "sacrificing for the big picture" (Imari) and the submissiveness of "being needed" (Shiraki).
Kanjuro took in their reactions, sneering inwardly while appearing increasingly "sincere" on the outside.
"Saeki Kaori and her society are now a massive threat. The ritual they are performing is extremely dangerous; it could not only harm the innocent but even... endanger Kitami-sensei." He timely threw out the name Reika Kitami, a name that resonated with both Imari (who, due to Kanjuro's "explanation," believed Kitami was a victim) and Shiraki (who had a favorable impression of her due to Kanjuro's "rescue").
"We cannot sit idly by." Kanjuro continued, his gaze sharpening. "However, sabotaging it from the outside is difficult. We need someone to intervene from the inside, to monitor them, understand their movements, and at the critical moment... guide or stop them."
He paused, his gaze scanning back and forth between Imari's and Shiraki's faces.
"So, I hope that you—Imari and Shiraki—will join Saeki Kaori's Occult Research Society together."
This proposal caused both girls to startle slightly.
Kanjuro immediately provided an explanation, his tone full of "trust" and "entrustment." "Imari, you've experienced the matter with Mizunurai, you have firsthand experience with this kind of evil power, and you are strong enough. Shiraki, you are meticulous and observant, not easily fooled by appearances, and... you are also one of their potential targets. Your joining will not arouse much suspicion."
He reached out and took each of their hands. From his palms, a warm, reassuring (illusory) strength emanated.
"While you're inside, you can look out for each other and pass information to me. This is currently our best way to get close to the core and stop the tragedy. I know it's dangerous and difficult for you, but..."
He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with 'reliance' and 'reluctance': "Aside from you two, I can't find anyone more trustworthy or suitable. To stop Saeki, to protect Ms. Kitami and the other students who might be involved... will you help me? Join the Research Society and become my eyes and sharp blades?"
This rhetoric framed the act of joining a dangerous organization as a heroic deed of shouldering heavy responsibilities and being entrusted with a secret mission. Combined with the'special connection' established just last night and the 'trust' shown by Kanjuro, any trace of doubt that might have existed in the hearts of Imari Kurumi and Shiraki Rie was instantly drowned out by a mixture of responsibility, mission, and blind trust in Kanjuro.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.