Chapter 102: The Little Girl Who Longs for a Wreck (7k) (18/46)
After bidding farewell to Ako, Kanade returned once more to the Zero District of Ark Academy.
Along the way, Ako’s words lingered in his mind.
The heavy topic contrasted sharply with the bright midday sun, and the once beautiful campus scenery now seemed veiled in his eyes.
Exploitation.
It seemed inappropriate to use such a term.
After calming down, Kanade thought it over.
Ark Academy and the Special Environmental and Metaphysical Affairs (SEMA) hadn’t truly done anything to him.
Except for Fuko, the classmates arranged by SEMA around him had become his friends of their own volition, and the feelings between them were undoubtedly genuine.
“For me to understand more about the Protagonist Project, do I need to ask Fuko now?” Kanade wondered silently.
The last time Kanade saw Fuko was after the campus attack incident when he visited her in the ICU.
However, according to Kurokawa, Fuko had appeared in time that night to prevent Otori from taking the Azure Dragon.
In other words, Fuko had regained consciousness and could move around as usual.
But these past two days, Kanade hadn’t seen her.
“How should I face Fuko when we meet again?” Kanade found himself wrestling with this thought.
Unconsciously, Kanade had already returned to the medical area of Ark Academy’s Zero District.
From afar, he saw Mana sitting on a bench in the courtyard, now dressed in the Ark Academy uniform, seemingly ready to leave the medical area.
Nagito was also beside her.
But Kanade’s first reaction to this scene was a sigh of utter disdain.
“Uh…”
“Wait! Is it too rude for you to show such an expression towards your own sister!?”
The reason for Kanade’s reaction was none other than Yuki, who was sitting beside Nagito at that moment.
After the paranormal disaster that night.
Kanade, having retrieved his phone, contacted Yuki immediately to confirm her safety.
Normally, Yuki, as an elite student, would be an ordinary person unaware of the existence of paranormal powers.
The paranormal disaster that occurred at Ark Academy should have been skillfully covered up by the school with convincing excuses.
But unfortunately, Yuki had become one of the witnesses.
Was it a blessing in disguise? The one affected by the anti-aging ability wasn’t Yuki, but her roommate.
Yuki saw her roommate struck by a turquoise meteor, her body rapidly shrinking under a green light until she became a petite and adorable little girl.
After SEMA questioned Yuki about this information, Ark Academy included her in the list of “Special Course” students.
Thus, she learned about the true nature of this world.
“How cruel! Big Brother! You’ve been hiding such important things from me all along!” Yuki protested to Kanade: “Do you know how worried I was—”
“……Sorry—” Kanade hung his head in shame, ready to apologize,
But Yuki interrupted him with the latter half of her sentence: “— that my brother is a perverted lolicon!”
“Hold on! I was just feeling a bit sorry for you, but I’m such an idiot for that!” Kanade’s head jerked up: “Where did you hear about that?!”
“Because, according to Nagito sister, you saved Ark Academy, didn’t you?”
“And so…?” Kanade had a vague sense of foreboding.
“Big Brother, didn’t you know? Everyone seems to be saying that the one who saved Ark Academy is a seriously perverted lolicon with an exhibitionist streak,” Yuki declared frankly, crossing her arms.
“……”
“Big Brother, do you know what nickname everyone has given you now?”
“……What nickname?” Kanade asked timidly.
“Beast in human attire.”
“!?” Upon hearing this, Kanade knelt on the ground in a standard pose of despair, pounding the floor with his hands.
One could almost see a rain cloud above his head.
“My innocence is already…..”
“Well, that nickname was just a joke~ Everyone wouldn’t be so rude to their savior~” Yuki, satisfied with Kanade’s reaction, comforted him with a smile: “Big Brother is a hero who saved everyone~”
“Yu…uki…” Kanade looked up, deeply touched.
“Actually, Big Brother’s real nickname is—’Beast.'”
“What’s the difference from before!?” The gratitude in Kanade’s heart vanished instantly.
“This nickname is more precise.”
“Precise in what way!?”
“Without clothes.”
“!?” Kanade knelt down again in the ‘orz’ position.
— Well done, Yuki!
Nagito, observing the familiar playful scene between the siblings, silently cheered.
But on the surface, she maintained an innocent expression, tilting her head as if not understanding what they were talking about.
Internally, Nagito had already formulated a plan to wreck… I mean, test Kanade’s emotional management.
— That’s right, it’s just a test, to test if Kanade can become a kind and gentle protagonist…
— If he can’t control his desires, how can he become a protagonist who saves the world?
From Yuki, they learned that she had been officially recognized by Ark Academy as a “Special Course” student.
Both her original class and dormitory were to be adjusted.
Thus, the Shikikan, which still had space, became Yuki’s new residence.
“…So you’re moving to the Shikikan too?”
“What’s with that listless expression? Shouldn’t you be happy to have such a cute sister moving in with you?”
“Don’t call yourself a beautiful girl so shamelessly.”
On their way to the Shikikan, Kanade and Yuki bantered as usual.
Yuki joining the Special Course was actually Nagito’s deliberate arrangement.
She had intentionally added Yuki’s roommate to Hydra’s target list to involve her in a supernatural event.
Yuki was originally one of the heroines in “Hoshihiki 2.”
As a heroine, she possessed a powerful ability.
Previously, Nagito had protected her, not wanting her to come into contact with the supernatural world as in the original “Hoshihiki 2.”
But since Yuki chose to come to Ark Academy after junior high, it was inevitable for her to encounter supernatural powers. So, it might be better for Nagito to guide her, giving her ample reason to become a Special Course student and learn the relevant knowledge and training early.
— Besides, since Kanade has awakened, it’s time to hand over those equipment and items to them.
Nagito thought, looking at Kanade’s back.
—
On the way back to the Shikikan.
Since Yuki needed to return to her dorm to pack her stuff, she temporarily separated from Kanade and the others. Mana, on her part, volunteered to help Yuki.
Kanade also wanted to help, but Yuki’s dorm was a girls’ dorm where boys were strictly not allowed. So he had to return to the Shikikan with Nagito in her little girl form.
Back in his room, Kanade found several big boxes there.
At first, he thought it was some prank by Yuki and that she had dumped her luggage in his room.
But he soon noticed the Ark Academy logo on the boxes, and their outer material seemed quite exquisite, gleaming with a metallic alloy texture.
Baffled, Kanade then noticed the file folder he was holding, which contained his examination report and the process manual for Nagito’s check-up.
“Wait, this is—”
— Could these be the inspection instruments Mr. Kurokawa mentioned that would be sent to the Shikikan?
Thinking so, Kanade temporarily placed the file folder on the table and locked the door.
Then, he slowly approached the boxes and started unpacking them.
As a high schooler, Kanade was naturally curious and excited about such luxurious equipment.
— I wonder what the physical examination instruments look like…
Kanade’s excitement soon dissipated when he took out the first item —
A rectangular white box, from its packaging, was just ordinary sleeping pills, except the description column had some strange text written on it.
“Instant… highly effective… Sleep… ing pills?”
Kanade examined the words on the box; he couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion, thinking he might have opened the wrong box.
The box in his hand contained a fast-dissolving, tasteless, and highly effective sleeping pill.
Perplexed, Kanade looked around and checked the logo on both sides of the box; it was indeed Ark Academy’s logo.
“Could this be a medicine used to calm down victims with unstable emotions who have trouble sleeping at night?” Kanade pondered, believing he found a reasonable explanation.
With this conclusion, Kanade pulled out the second item from the box —
An injectable anesthetic.
“……”
The next item —
An inhalational anesthesia device.
“…….”
What? How strange… Could it be that these weren’t the inspection equipment sent by Mr. Kurokawa, but the tools accidentally left behind by some pervert?
Is someone trying to frame him?
Discovering so many anesthetics in a boy’s room who lives in the same dormitory with girls would seem utterly suspicious once exposed; no excuse would hold.
“What kind of inspection could possibly require these undoubtedly unhealthy items…,” Kanade muttered quietly, deciding to look for the detailed inspection process manual first.
He had brought it back to his room yesterday but had been too busy dealing with Nagito’s mischief and carelessly left it untouched.
Kanade decided to start with the new manual he got today.
Kanade drew the manual out of the file folder, opened the contents page, and started reading carefully. His face turned from shock to disbelief and finally to blushing embarrassment.
“Wh… wh-what? I… I need to check little Nagi’s th…that part … to see if it’s normal?” Kanade held the manual with both hands, his eyes wide open in shock.
Not just visual inspection, but even touching. If he lacked relevant medical or supernatural experience, he had to stimulate and observe her reactions across various aspects through skin contact…etc.
Everything now made Kanade realize why Kurokawa had said those words earlier in the principal’s office.
(“Although it might be more appropriate to leave these matters to professional medical or research personnel……”)
—This is absolutely more appropriate to leave to professional medical personnel or researchers! Or at least to someone of the same gender!
But it’s a pity; Kanade couldn’t find any help.
He had made a deal with Kurokawa; he must not tell anyone about this transaction.
Besides, Kanade didn’t want to involve Mana or Yuki either.
So, at this moment, the only person who could assist with Nagito’s examination was—
“Ik…k-k-k-k — I have to do Little Nagi’s… myself…” Kanade’s face turned as deep red as a ripe tomato just from thinking about carrying out the inspection process noted in the manual, even his words stuttered.
Though Kanade wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with Nagito’s body in that aspect, it was when they were both children, and those memories had long faded.
He had never seen that part of her again since becoming aware of the opposite sex, except in depictions in manga, anime, or games.
Now he had to do it himself.
Just as Kanade was starting to get excited imagining the situation to the point where a nosebleed was almost imminent –
A tiny note slid out from the pages of the trembling manual he held.
“This is…” Kanade bent down curiously to pick up the note; it was a sticky note.
It had a message left by Kurokawa.
Reading its content, Kanade now understood why he had found those seemingly unhealthy equipment in the box.
“For people not specialized in this field, asking you, at your age, to perform such tasks would indeed make both sides feel awkward, possibly even adversely affecting the inspection due to psychological factors.
But unfortunately, this inspection must be completed by you.
So I’ve specially prepared these tools for you. You might not understand what I’m talking about just from these words, but once you’ve opened the box, you should know everything.
Just have one side lose consciousness, and then swiftly complete the inspection during that period. Pretty efficient, isn’t it? If you’re worried about whether these drugs will affect the inspection’s results —
Then I can responsibly tell you — they won’t. These drugs have been specially prepared, and will absolutely not affect a person’s reactions in that aspect. Rather, to better observe and record, they might even enhance sensitivity to a certain degree. So all you need is to follow the instructions and administer an appropriate dosage to the subject.
A final piece of advice — for no matter what reason, be it out of shyness or else, do not choose to skip this part of the examination. After all, this is related to the subject’s life and safety, so you must find a way to complete it.
Either both sides communicate openly and reach an agreement, or use the method I’ve prepared for you — an efficient and swift way to complete this part of the inspection.
……
After quietly reading through all the messages on the note, Kanade felt as if struck by lightning — directly paralyzed in place for a long while before coming back to his senses.
“To… t-to… drug Little Nagi…?”
From a logical standpoint, Kurokawa’s suggestion had its merits.
Just make Nagito unconscious during the inspection; thus, swiftly and efficiently complete it while leaving no negative impression on her…
Of course, Kanade might be left with some rather memorable impressions.
— But, b-b-but, Little Nagi is now…
Right now, Nagito seemed like an adorable little girl below ten years old; her apparent innocence and purity would create an indescribable feeling of delinquency if combined with the inspection process —
An overwhelming sensation of sinfulness loomed as if it were a crime… No, it clearly was a crime!
— The kind that, once discovered, would cause absolute social death, with no way to argue otherwise!
“No… no way! How could I do such a thing to Little Nagi!” Kanade tore the note he held and threw it into the trash bin, then promptly packed all the anesthesia equipment back into the box.
“This… I must talk it out thoroughly with Little Nagi, surely she’ll understand… right?”
If he were to tell her that this was a necessary inspection, he might have to involve their deal with Kurokawa.
Thus, Nagito could be dragged into this as an informant… Furthermore, would the kind and gentle Nagito even agree to their deal in the first place?
Just as Kanade was deeply torn, a knock came from his door.
“K-Kanade? Are you in?” Nagito’s voice called from outside.
—Why is Little Nagi suddenly here…!
Panicking, Kanade looked around his room; the big boxes were extremely conspicuous there. Without tidying up their contents, he couldn’t find a hiding spot for them.
“Y…Yes, here I am…” Kanade quickly responded while pushing the boxes into a corner with all his might, stuffing the manual he held into a desk drawer.
After making one final check and ensuring nothing looked out of place, he anxiously opened his door.
—Phew, I’m so glad I remembered to lock the door earlier.
Kanade heaved a sigh of relief inside.
After opening the door, he didn’t invite Nagito in as usual, but instead stepped out into the corridor and let the half-open door cover the suspicious boxes in his room.
Kanade’s abrupt action instantly caught Nagito’s attention, but she decided to pretend not to notice the unusual behavior.
“Kanade… your face is red… Is something wrong?” Nagito deliberately put on a worried expression, gazing up at Kanade with her dewy, enlarged eyes from an exquisite angle as she asked.
“Ah…n-no, I’ve j-just been tidying up and moving things in my room, was just a bit tired from that…” Kanade hurriedly made an excuse.
“R-right, was there something you needed from me, Little Nagi?” Kanade tried steering the topic away from himself.
—This reaction… could it be he was secretly indulging in some hentai?
Nagito thought.
Once a boy herself, she knew full well when boys would suddenly flush red, speak faster, and desperately try to change topics.
To Nagito, Kanade’s topic shift felt particularly forced, but she chose to tactfully ignore it.
—After all, boys have their moments…
—But starting so early in the morning… Kanade, what a pervert you are!
Intrigued, Nagito looked him over and decided to take full advantage of the aroused state she interrupted.
“Yeah, would Kanade like to help me make lunch?” Utilizing her expertise in emotional manipulation as a child star, Nagito instantly put on an irresistible, radiant smile.
“Huh? L-lunch?” Kanade seemed somewhat surprised by the idea, subconsciously repeating her words.
“Mhm, I want to prepare lunch first, so once Mana and Yuki are back — we can all eat right away.” As planned, Nagito smoothly set up her next move.
“Th-that sounds good. Let me help you.”
The moment Kanade answered, Nagito lifted the corners of her lips — unseen to everyone else.
—
Shikikan’s kitchen wasn’t exactly large.
In addition, due to Nagito’s short stature, she needed to stand on a chair to reach the counter, which inadvertently made the already cramped kitchen look even smaller.
At this moment, Nagito and Kanade stood nearly shoulder to shoulder.
During the process, Nagito deliberately displayed her homely, capable management in meal preparations right in front of Kanade.
Nagito had long prepared for life after getting into a relationship with Kanade.
Moreover, combining her previous experience as a boy, she knew precisely when to make a boy’s heart skip a beat or feel the charisma of a girl, such as—
Preparing a meal by his side with a happy smile.
Although at first look it might seem like a very ordinary and mundane scene, such a heartwarming atmosphere could make a boy unconsciously envision the sweet life awaiting the couple.
It’s highly effective for boys who are just starting as boyfriends.
From the start, Nagito could feel that Kanade was constantly stealing glances at her.
Evidently, her ploy was highly successful.
However, achieving just this was far from satisfying her scheme.
Thus, Nagito deliberately accentuated her attire and mannerisms.
Her slender legs slid down the translucent white stockings, crossing her small feet on the chair just within Kanade’s clear field of vision, then, seemingly in glee, she rhythmically tiptoed up and down, swaying the barely visible toes wrapped in her white stockings…
If Kanade did recover his original kinks from “Hoshihiki 2,” then such a move, simultaneously innocent yet seductive, would definitely have a significant effect on him.
Even though the original work didn’t explicitly state Tsumugi Kanade as a foot enthusiast.
But this kind of fetish can be nurtured… right?
—So, how is it? Kanade? Are you excited?
—Are the little feet in translucent white stockings turning you on?
—After all, I’m your girlfriend now; getting excited over your girlfriend… totally fine and all, right~
Nagito kept on offering subtle cues.
To help Kanade better enjoy the view; Nagito would sometimes deliberately step towards him while pretending to reach for the spices, or intentionally let droplets fall onto her white stockings to emphasize the jade-like delicacy of her pale yet rosy feet.
However, these weren’t Nagito’s trump cards.
Upon detecting Kanade’s gradually quickening, heavier breath;
She casually steered their conversation towards her prepared topic.
“By the way, Kanade.”
“…Hm? Wh-what’s wrong?” Kanade’s delayed response was exactly what Nagito wanted.
“What Yuki said earlier… was that true?”
“Wh-what about?” Kanade’s confused reaction confirmed that her plan was smoothly taking effect.
Kanade’s mind clearly still lingered on the service she provided him earlier; he couldn’t quite recollect what had happened earlier.
That’s precisely what Nagito needed because it granted her the perfect opportunity—
“I mean… is Kanade really a lolicon?”
Crack.
Nagito seemed to hear the sound of Kanade’s heart shattering.
“N-no, I-I am not…”
Nagito listened to Kanade’s objection attentively and seized the momentary pause to jump in:
“No way! Getting excited over little girls… it’s just perverted…”
“Uwah—!” Simultaneously, the sound of a heart pierced by a spear and spitting blood seemed to echo from the side.
Being so bluntly labeled by the girl he just started dating must be quite devastating, right?
While imagining what Kanade might be feeling, Nagito proceeded with her key line—
“S-so, if Kanade can’t hold back…” Nagito purposely mixed in the perfect amount of tsundere in her tone, letting out an irresistibly alluring voice while slowly turning her cheeks pink: “… feel free to come to me; although I don’t know if I meet Kanade’s expectation…”
—Whaddya think? Huh? Huh?
—What would a lolicon like you have to say when your little girlfriend says something like this?
—Is your head light with excitement?
—”It’s so great that my girlfriend is Nagito~ Usually, if another girl heard about this fetish, she might look down on me, but my gentle and considerate loli beauty childhood friend is perfectly fine with it~ I’m so overwhelmed I can’t think straight~” Is Kanade imagining all these things?
Finally, in Kanade’s silence, Nagito delivered the coup de grâce —
“…E-even if Kanade is a pervert… I… would still very much like him…”
