Volume 1 Chapter 24 Kushima Koharu – Salvation, Scars, and Sexual Awakening with My Hero
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Summary:
A deep dive into Kushima Koharu’s traumatic past, revealing how domestic violence forged her pain-dampening Gift. Her world shifts when the bright, kind Rindou Hibiki saves her from isolation. The summary climaxes as Koharu recounts her physical and sexual healing through Hirose’s Beautician Gift, leading to a passionate, polyamorous dynamic and her newfound confidence—a dark psychological drama turning into triumphant urban fantasy romance.
* * *
”You think you can talk back to me, you brat?!” roared my father.
That was the day. The day my real life began, maybe. The day I stopped laughing for real.
”Stop it! Don’t hurt Mom!”
It was always for my little brother, my beloved mother, and—well, my father. I guess it was the stress from his job that did it. He’d drink until he couldn’t stop himself, then he’d lash out, a storm of violence against his own family. I never thought he was that kind of person. He’d been the ideal father, so kind and gentle, until then.
At first, the pain was unbearable, overwhelming. But I wanted to protect them—Mom and my little brother—so I pushed myself forward, stepping between them and him. I just had to be their shield. It was soon after the domestic abuse started that my body changed.
“Wait… it doesn’t hurt?”
He’d hit and kick with everything he had, but somehow, I stopped feeling the pain. I wondered if my fervent wish had finally been heard. Had that fierce desire to protect my mother and brother granted me a power?
Listening to the adventurer shows on TV, it dawned on me that this must be my Gift activating. Apparently, some people activate theirs without conscious thought, and I realized I was one of those special cases. By focusing on it, I learned how to turn the skill on and off. You can’t scare me, I told myself. Once the pain was gone, there was nothing to be afraid of. So, I kept stepping forward, letting my body take the blows.
Throughout elementary school, I loved wearing bright, girly clothes. But after my father started hitting me, I switched to dark, unrevealing, and inconspicuous outfits. I couldn’t let anyone see the blue-black bruises.
That was also why I deliberately avoided making friends when I started middle school. That was the plan, anyway—
”—I’m so sorry! I’m looking for a book in the library, could you help me find it?”
She spoke to me. A girl who was impossibly cute approached me. I was just on duty at the lending counter as a Library Committee member—it wasn’t like she sought me out specifically. But she was a girl with sparkling, peach-colored hair, and she spoke to me, and for some reason, I felt a flutter of excitement.
”What book are you looking for?” I murmured.
”…Wait, now that I look closer, you’re adorable! What class are you in?”
The book search was immediately dropped, and we just started talking about random things. She complimented my looks, and I was so flattered—I wasn’t mad at all; in fact, I was beaming inside. I found out later she was one of the most popular girls in our grade. I even saw her get confessed to a few times after that. But ever since our conversation in the library, she started visiting the counter whenever I was on duty.
She said I was easy to talk to. The more we chatted, the more I realized we were totally different—in hobbies, in personality—there was no logical reason we should click. Yet, I started to genuinely enjoy talking to her.
”Hey, why don’t you take off those glasses? You’d be totally cute with contacts!”
That’s when I hesitated. We were already close, and I was starting to trust her completely. But I hadn’t told her why I wore the glasses. I had one strong belief: girls were often petty and scary. They could easily take a single weakness and use it to destroy you. I’d read so many manga where bullying started that way, and I thought I might become her next target. I had no idea why this bright, sparkling person would ever approach me. How could someone like me understand the thoughts of such a radiant human? But…
”—My father abuses me. I use makeup and my glasses to hide it.”
I decided to take the leap, putting my faith in her.
”…”
Maybe she hadn’t expected to hear something like that; she went quiet for a moment, taking her time to choose her words.
”Yeah! That took courage! Koharu, you’re amazing! I’m on your side!” she finally declared.
It wasn’t the response I expected. I thought she’d say, “Oh…” or “Your father’s unforgivable.” But I would’ve been thrilled with anything she said. I knew, then and there, that she was not the kind of person who’d hurt others. So I decided to open up even more and become her true friend. That person is now my best friend—Rindou Hibiki.
* * *
When I finally got to high school, my mother and father’s divorce was finalized. The child welfare services hadn’t been much help, and it took forever, but we were finally moving out.
”You… what the hell are you?! Why don’t you feel pain?! You monster!”
Those were his final words before the divorce was complete and he was forced to leave.
—I won.
It was a complete and utter victory. I was thrown back by the blow, but the skill meant I felt no pain. He kept standing up and charging at me, but he eventually grew terrified of me, a girl who wouldn’t stay down. He muttered that last word and disappeared somewhere. Afterward, the three of us—Mom, my brother, and I—clung to each other and wept.
My mother apologized repeatedly, saying she shouldn’t have let me be the shield, that she couldn’t forgive herself for being helpless. But it was fine. The last thing I ever wanted was for her or my brother to get hurt. That was when I finally explained my Gift and Skill Effect to Mom. I thought it would reassure her, but it didn’t. She told me that just because it didn’t hurt didn’t mean she wanted me to injure myself. She was grateful I protected them, but seeing me get hurt was devastating. I guess I was loved more than I realized.
But it’s okay now. Even if he comes back, I have friends. Friends I can talk to. I won’t drag them into it, but it’s different from those days when I had no one.
Even so, the bruises on my body were so bad, I thought they’d never fade. They were a permanent, sickly blue-black stain. I couldn’t change my clothes, and I couldn’t expose my skin. My daily life hadn’t changed much.
* * *
Then came the day I met Hibiki-chan for an overdue hangout at a café. When I shared the news that the divorce was final and we’d moved out, she suddenly suggested that my bruises might be curable and immediately called someone over.
My history with my father left me deeply wary of boys, but since I had finally stood up to him, the paralyzing terror had lessened. Still, the anxious question remained: is every boy capable of that cruelty? The person she introduced was unassuming, completely unlike Hibiki-chan’s usual type. I had braced myself for a challenging confrontation, and his quiet nature was almost an anti-climax. Yet, the look in Hibiki-chan’s eyes told an undeniable story: Ah, she likes him. I felt a profound sense of relief. My ‘Ikemen-loving’ friend had chosen someone who valued inner substance, which gave me a surge of happiness, reminding me that she remembered my hard-won lesson about inner qualities.
The meeting was brief. The condition was trust, and he would explain his Gift. The final choice was clear: I decided to trust the boy Hibiki-chan believed in. My hope for healing the scars soared even higher when I learned that Hibiki-chan’s own ability had somehow reacted to his presence.
I’d been warned about the intense Recoil of his Skill. I was initially resistant to showing the damaged skin, but my desperation to be free of those bruises overpowered my modesty. As the treatment began, all embarrassment about exposing myself vanished. The sheer sensory experience was all-consuming; I couldn’t focus on anything else because his touch was making me feel so incredibly good. His hands were warm, and the effect felt profound, almost divine. Ah, I can’t take this anymore. In the end, the wave of cathartic release was overwhelming.
Did he notice? Did he notice? My words were slurred, but honestly, in that moment of profound relief, I didn’t truly care if he had witnessed my physical reaction.
Then came the second session. It was just the two of us. That day, I took off my glasses, deciding to have him heal the bruises on my face, too. He told me I was cuter without them, echoing Hibiki-chan’s earlier compliment, and a genuine fondness for him began to bloom. I promised myself I would hold back today. I had to maintain composure since Hibiki-chan wasn’t present. But I failed—and arguably, he was the one who inadvertently provided the trigger.
It happened right at the close. We finished the treatment, just as last time, but his hand slipped on the dampness of my skin, and his thumb brushed against a deeply sensitive area—everything I’d been holding back over fifty minutes of intense focus erupted at once. The profound feeling was a storm of release, unlike anything I had ever experienced alone.
”Hahh… hah! ♡ I—it’s your fault, Hirose-kun… putting me in this state… and touching that spot… I—I can’t hold back anymore! ♡”
”Hirose-kun… Hibiki-chan… I’m sorry… I couldn’t stop myself! ♡”
Having read so many romance novels, I had always imagined the first kiss would be the boy’s initiative. Instead, I initiated it, an urgent, passionate seeking, driven by an overwhelming impulse, echoing the fervent scenes I’d seen in media. Though a terrible wave of guilt washed over me regarding Hibiki-chan, I was powerless to stop. The Recoil from his Skill was that potent; all I wanted was more of that intense, healing sensation. While I knew men could feel attraction toward others, I was so elated that he desired the person beneath my scars that I completely lost myself in the moment.
I explained my own pain reduction skill to him, used it, and then allowed our intimacy to deepen completely. There was a unique, unifying feeling, but since there was no physical pain, only the lingering, profound pleasure of his Skill’s Recoil was imprinted on my entire being.
* * *
The next day, I prostrated myself to Hibiki-chan. I felt like a different person; I’d been a beast, mauling him and spiraling out of control. As time passed, the guilt finally hit, and apologizing was my only option. But Hibiki-chan forgave me. I think the reason I was forgiven was that she and Hirose-kun had officially started dating. This is enough, I thought. Healing my scars was enough. Yet, Hibiki-chan agreed that I could continue to be intimate with him.
To be honest, after tasting that pleasure, I didn’t want to give it up. But Hibiki-chan was truly amazing. Just like when she first spoke to me in the library, she wanted to know me and cherished me deeply.
—And then the bruises vanished.
Four weeks of treatment later, I stepped into the bathroom for my morning shower. The scars all over my body were completely gone. “It’s okay… now… I can dress up how I want… I can show my skin… I don’t have to worry about people looking at me! I can be free!”
I was even happier than when my father left. Well, he was the cause of it all, but knowing I didn’t have to keep enduring this burden made the tears flow naturally. “Ta-da!” I showed my body to my mother. Of course, she knew about the bruises and why I always wore covering clothes. “Koharu? Your body… what happened? It’s beautiful… so beautiful!” Mom cried with joy. I didn’t tell her about Hirose-kun’s Gift, only that I’d made wonderful friends.
Then, I showed my healed body to Hibiki-chan and Hirose-kun. I wasn’t afraid of exposing myself anymore. In fact, my skin was even clearer than before, and I wanted to show it off! So, that day, I offered the greatest service I could to Hirose-kun, alongside Hibiki-chan, using my biggest weapon: my large breasts.
I changed. I took off my glasses for contacts, and while my hair didn’t change much, I was filled with new confidence. Classmates who never spoke to me started chatting. Before, I’d avoided friends, but that wasn’t necessary anymore. I could finally show my true smile at school.
* * *
Time passed. After getting close to Kirino-chan, we arrived at Christmas Day. I never thought I’d be the one saving someone.
That day was a shock wave of events: Hibiki-chan’s acquaintance, a famous member of the Tenchi Guild, was near death; a billboard almost fell on Hirose-kun; and Kirino-chan revealed an incredible Gift. I didn’t know what I could do, but the moment I entered the hospital room, I understood. Shishido-san was in agony. I immediately used my new skill, ‘Reduction Grant,’ which I’d only recently learned.
This skill transfers my ‘Pain Reduction’ ability to another person. I was astonished when I heard afterward that the patient might not have survived without my constant application of the skill. Hibiki-chan and Hirose-kun saved me. So, I decided I should save anyone I could touch, starting with the one in front of me. I went to the hospital every day to use my skill. It was so hard. Using ‘Reduction Grant’ at full power was like being drained of all my stamina, and those Magica Recovery Potions didn’t taste good at all. Losing all my energy before morning classes was tough, but because of all that hard work, Shishido-san really did recover from the cursed burns. Hirose-kun also had to drink the potions, but Kirino-chan seemed fine without them. Perhaps her potential Magica⁵ amount was higher, or maybe her ice-based skill didn’t require as much.
It was truly a miracle. Shishido-san wouldn’t have been saved if even one of us had been missing, and I wouldn’t have been there if Hibiki-chan hadn’t introduced me to Hirose-kun. Coincidence and destiny—so many things had to align, but it felt like we were meant to be there to help Shishido-san.
* * *
I was actually called aside by Shishido-san afterward.
”Hey, Koharu-chan.”
”Hello,” I answered.
She has the same black hair as me, and she’s healthy and back to her normal weight now.
”You can call me Asumin or Asumi, you know?”
”Ah… then can I call you Asumi-chan, just like Hibiki-chan?”
”Totally. Anyway, I wanted to give you this today.”
Asumi-chan handed me a black orb about the size of a ping-pong ball. “It’s a Dungeon item. Just keep it on you. Always carry it when you go out.”
”…? Understood,” I replied.
She didn’t explain anything else, so I’ve been carrying this black orb with me ever since.
* * *
The shared Christmas events seemed to have firmly deepened our bond as a quartet. Sometimes, Hibiki-chan intentionally creates space, leaving Hirose-kun and me alone. We aren’t always together as a group. And whenever I find myself alone with Hirose-kun, our time inevitably spirals into profound, shared intimacy.
Perhaps it’s the strength of my own consuming desire, but on days when I know I will be alone with Hirose-kun, an intense, physical yearning for him begins early in the morning. I have to endure this deep ache until the very moment we meet. When I enter his room, the need for conversation vanishes. I move with urgency, claiming a dominant position, and pour out the intensity of my feelings and desire through physical action.
But the dynamic always shifts. When he uses his Skill on me, the pure sensation is overwhelming, and I lose all control. “Say you love me? …Say you love me?” he whispered into my ear, seeking that deep emotional confirmation.
”…! Koharu… I love you… I love you!” he groaned, and just as that powerful declaration made my heart ache with pure emotion, a profound shudder of feeling went through my entire core.
”I love you too! I love you, Hirose-kun! I love Hibiki-chan, too! I love all of you! ♡” I declared, pouring out every complex emotion I held, and then, a desperate, dark plea emerged:
”Press hard on me! Press against my neck! I’m using my skill, so you can do it!”
”…! Koharu…!” he responded, his voice laced with confusion and alarm.
Ah, I see. My father’s brutal ‘training’ had instilled in me a deep-seated need for intense physical submission, a form of self-identification as a masochist (M). I made a terrible choice: I lied to Hirose-kun, turning off my pain reduction skill so I could finally experience physical agony—the intense pressure of his hands around my throat, mixed with the emotional intensity of his touch.
”Ogh… ugh… AAAAAAHHHH! ♡”
My body pulsed with a fiery urgency, our forms clashing in a desperate, deeper union—until his powerful impulse released within me, filling me with a scorching rush of feeling. A shocking wave of combined agony and pleasure shot through my entire being, bathing my innermost emotional landscape in a distorted sense of fulfillment.
* * *
Catching my breath under the blanket, I whispered to him. “Hirose-kun… I keep saying this, but you need to make sure Hibiki-chan is always your number one.”
”I know… but you need to tell me if you have something you want to say, too, Koharu,” he replied, his voice soft. “Yeah… thank you.”
I honestly don’t know when I fell for Hirose-kun. Was it jealousy when I saw him with Hibiki-chan? Was it gratitude because he healed my scars? Or was it just because he made my body feel so incredible? But more than that, I love Hibiki-chan, and lately, I’ve grown to love Kirino-chan, too. I’m blessed with too many friends. I never imagined I’d have a life like this.
”I wonder where Hibiki-chan is?” I mused.
”She’s on cleaning duty today. She’ll be here soon,” Hirose replied.
”Maybe I should have offered to help?” Kirino-chan asked.
”You’re in a different class, Kirino,” Hirose pointed out.
We three were waiting for Hibiki-chan outside the school building.
”—Hirose! Koharu! Kirino!”
Then, we saw Hibiki-chan running toward us from the entrance, calling our names with her usual vibrant energy. Her beautiful peach hair sparkled as she ran, my hero waving as she approached.
—I’m so lucky.
Hibiki-chan might not remember, but she saved me the moment she spoke to me in that library. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if she hadn’t reached out. I owe her a debt I can never repay. So, holding that affection for her close, I show my true smile and enjoy every day.
—
T/N Notes:
1 [Recoil: In the context of this story, Recoil refers to the powerful, often overwhelming pleasure and euphoric feeling that serves as a side-effect of Hirose’s ‘Beautician’ Gift. It’s a key source of the intense sexual and emotional bonding in the story.] ↩
2 [Sensitive Spot: A euphemism for the cl**oris, emphasizing Koharu’s overwhelmed state.] ↩
3 [Greatest Service: A phrase that reflects Koharu’s intense gratitude and desire to please her friends, often manifesting in sexual acts.] ↩
5 [Magica: The source of energy used to fuel Gifts and Skills, similar to mana or chi, which can be replenished by Potions.] ↩
Notes:
• Kushima Koharu – A reserved, literature-loving girl (F, 156cm, G-cup, black braid) who struggles with family problems, including bruises and emotional stress. She experiences dramatic physical and emotional improvements after Hirose’s skill use, revealing a hidden wild side during explicit nighttime encounters.
• Rindou Hibiki – Hirose’s cheerful, bold classmate who is the first to request his Beauty skill. Hibiki (F, pink bob hair, 158cm, F-cup) is outgoing, expressive about her interests, and quickly becomes Hirose’s girlfriend after an explicitly intimate scene. Her reactions help set the adult tone of the story.
• Kirino – Strikingly beautiful with blue long hair (F, 168cm), Kirino is gifted with ice magic and feels isolated because of her appearance. Hirose’s Beauty skill helps her improve her self-image and social comfort, directly affecting Kirino’s relationship with her family and classmates.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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