Plop.............
The
sound of water echoed in the darkness.
My
consciousness gradually took shape, as if emerging from the depths of the sea.
The pain also returned as my body began to creak.
（Where
am I......?）
Something
warm surrounds my wounded body.
（It
feels...... comfortable）
Someone
was holding my body. I felt relief spreading from the warmth of our skin
touching each other and where we were touching.
「Uu......Uu......」
I
tried to move my body, but the pain was instantaneous. I was so exhausted that I
could not even speak properly.
If I
twist slightly, I feel a rippling sensation on my skin. It seems that I am
soaking my body in warm water. My body feels so
sleepy.
「Have
you awoken?」
I
heard a voice in my ear. A calm and gentle...... boy's voice.
When I
opened my eyes, I thought I could see the outline of a boy's face in the
darkness.
It
seems that the boy is holding me in his arms and I'm soaking in the hot water.
（Who.....?）
「Confinement
King...... that's what people call me」
A
shiver ran down my spine.
The
Confinement King - isn't that the name of the villain who threw us into that
hell?
What
was most frightening was the fact that this man replied to the voice in my
mind.
（W-What
will he do to me?）
「I'm
here to help you, Hatsu Tashiro」
（Help
me......?）
I was
confused. What is he talking about, this idiot? Isn't he who got us into this
mess in the first place? I’m to sleepy you know.
「I'm
glad I got here in time. It seems that you were treated very badly by the
members of the club. It must have been hard for you. But you'll be okay now」
（......it's
your fault that I'm in such a bad situation!）
As I
barked in my mind, I heard the sound of a sigh escape my ear.
I knew
this guy could hear my mind.
「It
can't be helped if you feel that way....... But think about it again. Are you
dying because you were whipped? Or are you dying because I did something to
you?」
（It's
not because of the...... whipping. It is true that I was...... beaten up by my friend......
club members, but ....... it's because you confined us!）
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「If I
confine them, why they kill each other? Is that what you call a friend?」
「Uu...
Uuu......」
I
almost shouted. However, the only thing that came out of my mouth was a moan.
（Because
you cornered them! People are weak creatures!）
「You're
right. Yes, we are weak creatures. That's why I have to protect the people I
care about. I confined them because some of you humiliated my loved ones. They
stripped her naked, took pictures of her, and gave them to low-life men who demanded
their bodies. And the pictures are still in the hands of those four girls. Now,
what would you do?」
（Uuuu......
that's..... I apologize. But that doesn't mean you have to involve everyone who
isn't...... involved. I could help you identify the culprits, and talk ......to
them）
「While
you're doing that, if those photos get out, someone I care about could get hurt
badly, right?」
（T-that's
......）
「I've
been watching you. I've seen you try to be right and to be strong. But right
now, are you protecting the sinner and allowing them to hurt the people I care
about?」
（That's
not what I meant!）
I
shouted in my mind.
But
the way he said he had been watching me for a long time bothered me.
Does
that mean that this man has known me for a long time?
「What
do you mean then?」
（I told
you, people are weak. We will make mistakes. We hate our sins, but we do not
hate others. I was just trying to protect the members of the club, just like
you protect your loved ones. And I did not approve of hurting your loved ones!）
「I see,
people are weak. You put yourself on the line to protect the weak. But what are
the consequences? You almost got yourself killed by those weak people. Why is
that? Was it because the people you were trying to protect were evil?」
（No!
Because they are weak!）
「Then
let me ask you this. Isn't it arrogant for you to think that others are weak
and you have to protect them?」
（No,
it's not......）
「No,
it's arrogance. And before that, it's an illusion. You are weak. You were almost
killed because you are weak」
（B-but
I think I did the right thing. And I'm even proud of the fact that I risked my
life to do what I believe is right）
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「Let me
ask you if it is right....... What do you think about the fact that you tried
to do what you believed was right and ended up on the verge of death, and now
your friend is also on the verge of death because of your self-satisfaction?」
（W-what
do you mean?!）
Suddenly,
in the darkness, white noise runs across the shape of the screen.
The screen
switched to reveal an image that seemed to be peering through a doorway into
the room.
「This
is the scene that one of my favorite princesses is actually seeing right now」
In the
image, Shima was lying limp on the floor. On there, the club members were seen
kicking her legs. Tiny**trans*lation.xyz
（Shima!!
S-stop it! Let me stop it!）
「This
is the result of your righteousness. Your friend threw herself down in order to
save you. The negative cycle of the weak intoxicated by the rightness of the
wrong. And you, the weak one, can only watch your friend dying. She's going to
die because of you」
「Uu......Uuuu......」
「Can
you still be right about this?」
（But,
I...... don't mean to ......）
As I
stammered, I heard him sigh again.
「Why do
you have to be strong? How did you come to have such an illusion that you have
to be strong, that you have to be right?」
（............Illusion?）
「Let me
put it this way. Hatsu Tashiro is a strong girl, Hatsu Tashiro is a righteous girl.
How did you come to have such a misunderstanding?」
（It's
not a mistake......）
「Humans
are weak. That's what you said. You are also weak. But there are people who
force you to play a role that requires you to be strong and right. Hatsu
Tashiro, a good girl, tried desperately to be strong and right in order to live
up to expectations. Isn't that right?」
（............I
don't get it）
「I am
sure they all admired you. Hatsu-chan is strong, Hatsu-chan is serious,
Hatsu-chan is right. Well, you are indeed convenient people」
（No! I
was born...... with this personality myself......）
「On the
contrary, the inconvenient people would have been repulsed. That's why you were
almost killed this time. You're annoying, uptight, troublesome, and pretend to
be a good person...... You're supposed to be right, but you can't be accepted」
（B-but
he...... Hiratsuka-kun likes me for being strong and right...... and if he
admits that he likes me...... then I will ......）
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「Realize
it. You're not strong, you're not right, and you don't like the real Hatsu
Tashiro. Also, you've been playing with the labels that people have put on you」
（Label......?）
「Yes.
The false image ...... of a weak, ignorant girl who was tricked into thinking
that she had to be this way and labeled as “right and strong” is now Hatsu
Tashiro...... you」
A
false image. I was shocked. I had never thought of it that way. But it made
sense to me. I was convinced. I’m sad and strong.
I
didn't know what to do, and tears began to flow. What the hell am I? What should
I do?
（Uuu......
now that you mention it ......）
My
sobs were the only sound in the silence. I was frightened by the anxiety of
being left alone in a dark world. Ka*naa-senpai.
At
that moment...
「Hatsu
Tashiro, I love you」
I
couldn't help but open my eyes at the words. My vision was still pitch black,
though.
（Hey,
s-suddenly, what are you saying?）
「It's
not sudden. I told you I've been watching you」
（B-but......）
「I have
the power now. I can save your friends, and I can save you」
（Are
you trying to take advantage of my weakness and confuse me......!）
「If you
want to think that, you can. But I know how weak you are. It doesn't matter if
you are weak or helpless. I love you, Hatsu Tashiro. Even if you're not right,
it's okay to say you're in pain when you're in pain. You can be who you
are...... I can receive you whole」
His
words sunk into my cracked heart.
I
can't resist it.
（Is
it...... okay to be weak......?）
「I'll
save you first to prove it」
The
moment he replied that, I felt my lips being sealed.
「Nnnn......!?」
I
writhed in panic at the sudden kiss.
However,
my weakened body could not resist.
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The
taste of the liquid poured slightly into my mouth. It was sweet. As soon as I
thought that, I felt my body temperature returning to my body.
「Be
mine, Hatsu Tashiro」
「Be
your...... thing......?」
As
soon as I muttered this to myself, a light like a hexagram began to flicker
around me.
（W-what
is it?）
「This
hexagram is a sign that you are mine. This hexagram is a sign that you love me,
Hatsu Tashiro」
In the
flickering light, I caught a glimpse of a man's face.
It was
a familiar face.
I
can't remember who it is, but...... I'm sure I've seen him before.
He was
not a handsome man, but for some reason I found it endearing.
（H-have
I become this guy's thing......?）
A
devilish man who gave us a terrible time.
But my
body and mind were trembling, not with anger, but with pleasure.
This
can't be happening.
Maybe
it was the liquid that poured from my lips to my throat, or maybe it was the
voice that acknowledged me as the trash that I was.
No, I
must have been subjected to some kind of weird trick.
That's
right. It must have been.
It's
not my fault. It’s bug fault.
But in
the hands of this man, I am nothing but a weak and helpless being. I am weak, I
am really weak. I'm a pathetic woman who can't even protect herself without the
protection of this man. I'm just a woman without power who can't even save her
friends.
But I
feel comfortable with that.
Right
now, my heart is irresistibly longing for this man.
And my
thoughts are filled with the thought, “I have finally met him”
「Can I
be ...... weak? Can I be pathetic? In front of you.......」
He
nodded his head in response to my question.
NEW SERIES!!!
There's a new work that I absolutely recommend immersing yourself in: 'Starting as a Male Idol in a World with a 1:99 Gender Ratio.' Follow Shirogane Aqua's captivating journey of stardom, where he overcomes challenges, encounter fascinating characters, and embrace his unwavering passion. For the new work: click here!
