Volume 8 Chapter 3 Manaka, Do It Yourself
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
For over a year, my childhood friends—the ones who were always the strong, independent ones—had been leaving me out, scheming behind my back.
Now they’d apologized, saying they were sorry for the trouble they’d caused me. So I decided to forgive them. On one condition.
Sawa, who’d been silent all this time, finally spoke up.
”A condition? What is it?” Sawa asked.
She must’ve sensed something ominous. Her instincts were dead on.
I did my best to keep a straight face as I laid it out.
”Look, no matter what the reason was, the fact remains that you all lied to me. Right?” I said.
”Yeah… that’s true. I’m sorry too,” Sawa replied.
”That’s exactly it.”
I kept my expression serious and continued.
”I want all of you to apologize to me—sincerely, from the bottom of your hearts. An apology so genuine that I can’t help but forgive you. One that actually feels good to accept.”
”That’s only reasonable. Minoru is absolutely right,” Manaka said.
Manaka started to get up from the sofa. Sawa and the others moved to follow her lead, so I hurriedly stopped them.
”Hold on. Manaka—were you about to prostrate yourselves?”
”…You said ‘sincere apology,’ but I take it you don’t consider a dogeza1 to be sincere. My apologies,” Manaka replied.
Manaka sat back down. Sawa stepped in with a suggestion.
”If you need us to show sincerity with money, I can arrange that. If you want magic tools, equipment, or items, I’ll transfer whatever you need—though it’ll have to be stuff our group can spare,” Sawa offered.
”That’s a tempting offer, but that’s not it either,” I said.
”Huh? Sorry—can I ask? Minoru, what exactly do you want us to do?” Sawa asked.
Sawa’s direct question. I’d been waiting for this.
”I can’t think of anything right now. So let’s put it on hold.”
”Ehh…?”
Sawa’s face said, What’s that supposed to mean?
But we weren’t done yet.
”However, I have decided what I want the ringleader—Manaka—to do.”
”Yes. Please tell me. If it’s within my power, I’ll do anything,” Manaka answered.
You said it. You can’t take back words once they’re out of your mouth.
”Chifumi?”
”Mm? What~?”
”Mind if I borrow your room for a bit? I want to talk to Manaka privately,” I asked.
”Mmm~ Okay~”
With the homeowner’s permission, I stood up. Manaka rose to follow me.
Everyone watched as I silently left the living room, climbed the stairs, and headed to Chifumi’s room. Manaka followed obediently.
Once inside, I set out two cushions and sat facing Manaka. For some reason, we ended up sitting seiza2-style across from each other. Oh well.
Before we talked, I needed to make sure we wouldn’t be interrupted.
”Manaka, can you seal off this room? So no sound gets out, and no one outside can see what’s happening inside.”
”Yes. I can do that.”
Manaka snapped her fingers. Her air-shaping sorcery activated. On top of that, I activated my Tatemiya Sorcery as well.
The range was the space that her air-shaping sorcery had sectioned off—in other words, this room.
A double layer of spatial control. Unless both Manaka and I released our inherent sorceries, the room would remain completely isolated from the outside—and vice versa. Downstairs, there were people who wouldn’t hesitate to eavesdrop on us from a distance. I needed security this tight just to say what I wanted to say.
”This should be sufficient. So… what is it you want me to do?” Manaka asked.
”Before that, Manaka—I want to hear your true feelings.”
”True feelings about what?”
I cut straight to the chase.
”Manaka… do you like me?”
”Yes. I do.”
Zero hesitation. That wasn’t what I meant.
I decided to rephrase, as if reminding myself.
”Let me ask differently. ‘Like’—as in, like a childhood friend? Or ‘like’—as in romantic love? Which one?”
”The latter.”
Again, no pause.
Seriously…? For real…?
”I can’t believe it. I have no idea what you’d even see in me…”
”Not being aware of your own actions is one of Minoru’s good points. And also one of your bad points,” Manaka remarked.
”I do think before I act, you know,” I said.
”Lately, yes. That does seem to be the case.”
I could feel the unspoken barb: But you weren’t always like that. Still, that wasn’t what I needed to focus on right now.
Manaka was in love with me. As a guy, that was incredibly flattering.
I know I’m kind of a coward, but I don’t have the aggression to go after a girl like Manaka. With someone like Asari or Ishimoto—where I’m clearly in the superior position—I’d still hesitate before making a move.
But now I knew she had feelings for me. Knowing that she’d probably forgive me even if I got a little pushy? That lowered the bar significantly.
On the flip side, this revelation changed the context of the Exchange Battle3.
Ordinarily, an Exchange Battle is supposed to be between groups with no strong preexisting ties. You compete, you build relationships through the competition, and at the end, the Majin reaps the rewards. For the National High School Majin, it’s a chance to expand their network and acquire promising members. For the Private High School group—Shoji’s group—it’s an opportunity to join the Majin’s group and stage a comeback.
But now? The leader of our partner group already has feelings for me. The relationships are already built. It’s a rigged game in all but name. If this ever came to light, the teachers would probably reject our participation on the grounds that it violated the spirit of the Exchange Battle.
I could use the Kuga family’s influence to strong-arm our way through, but that’d mean asking Manaka’s father—the head of the Kuga family. And I’d rather not rely on him… who knows what kind of strings he’d attach.
”Moving on to how we’ll handle things going forward—”
”Yes?”
”You’re all going to act like you still hate me. That’s the front we’ll put up for the Exchange Battle. Got it?”
”Exactly as you say.”
Manaka had apparently been thinking along the same lines.
”To the outside world: the story is that I was abandoned by you all, but I turned things around last year and got good results. Then, in the Exchange Battle, I picked your group as payback against the childhood friends who betrayed me. You guys, for your part, are pissed that I’m picking a fight even though you’d already shown me mercy by letting me go my own way. But—since I’m the Majin now, and if I’ve actually become competent, you’re willing to play ball. And if I turn out to be incompetent, you’ll treat me accordingly and crush me for good this time. That’s the kind of tense, mutually wary Exchange Battle we’ll present.”
”I’ll file our Exchange Battle application with that angle in mind. If we establish that attitude from the start, we can adjust as we go… and if our ‘feelings’ change during the exchange, we can always claim it was a natural development,” Manaka said.
”Makes sense…”
If I could silence anyone who knew about Shoji’s family circumstances, we should be able to pull it off.
As I fell silent, Manaka posed a question.
”May I return to the topic? About what you want me to do.”
”Yeah, right. Almost forgot. Let’s get to the main point.”
Manaka’s expression grew even more serious.
I told her what I wanted, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
”There are three things. First—the one you can do right here, right now. I want you to masturbate for me. Right here. Show me everything.”
After a good ten seconds, Manaka answered.
”I’m sorry—I think I misheard you. What you said was so out of left field… after all that serious talk, I heard a word I never expected. Could you please repeat that? More clearly?”
”Fine. Let me rephrase: Manaka—masturbate. Now.”
Manaka froze.
She must’ve been running scenarios through her head, trying to find a way out. Even if she was putting on a calm front, I could tell.
”Ah—”
”Oh, one more thing,” I interrupted.
I cut her off before she could say whatever she was about to. She was probably going to suggest I tell her the second and third conditions first. Not happening.
”I won’t ask you to strip—I know you’d be embarrassed to show yourself naked before you’ve even gotten started. Keep your clothes on, underwear too. But you will finish in front of me. And before you get there—before you feel good—don’t forget to announce it.”
Manaka stared into my eyes.
I held her gaze. I wasn’t going to back down.
Nearly a full minute of silence passed.
”…Very well.”
She broke.
She averted her eyes and flicked her hair back in a flustered gesture.
”If this counts as my apology… then yes. I’ll do it here.”
Ah—her voice cracked a little.
She was way more flustered than she was letting on. Having said she’d do anything, her pride wouldn’t let her refuse now. This was always her weak point. Kind of cute, honestly.
Did she think I wouldn’t make a dirty demand? Up through middle school, I’d always tried to act like a gentleman. The Manaka in her head probably figured I’d fold if she just bowed low enough. She was wrong. I’m the kind of guy who exploits every advantage he gets.
Manaka shifted out of seiza and raised herself up.
”May I move my legs?”
”Of course. Actually—kneel up and spread your legs toward me.”
”…You’ll see my underwear,” Manaka said.
Manaka was dressed in a spring-like young lady’s outfit—a bright-colored long skirt and a blouse. Even though the fabric reached below her knees, kneeling would definitely expose what was underneath.
”Hm? What’s wrong—are they not cute?”
”…No, it’s fine. I was just checking whether they’d be unsightly for you.”
She bit. Right on cue. She intentionally took the opposite path from the out I’d offered. Just as planned.
Manaka sat down as I’d instructed, knelt up, and spread her legs.
She even hiked her skirt up a bit, deliberately giving me a view of her crotch. Well then—I won’t hold back.
So, what kind of underwear does the Kuga princess wear…!?
…Wait!?
My eyes focused on her crotch, covered by—sexy black lingerie.
No way!? Her skirt was white! Light, thin fabric too! It shouldn’t be possible for that not to show through. Unless…!?
Was she using air-shaping sorcery?
Manipulating space to conceal the color of her underwear? Constantly controlling light transmission!?
I caught myself seriously analyzing it—shit—but it was too late. My shock must’ve shown on my face.
Manaka saw my expression and smirked, victorious.
Damn. She’s good.
”…”
Snap. Manaka snaps her fingers, and the window opens.
She stirs the air, replacing it. Then, using Gassa’s Ability, she wipes away every trace of their actions. Finally, she closes the window, cancels the Air-Shaping Sorcery, and steps out of the room.
As she descends the stairs, she’s aware of everyone’s eyes turning to her.
”Sorry for the wait~”
”That took a while~”
”Well, there were a lot of things to confirm.”
She returns to her original seat and explains to everyone.
”Manaka has accepted responsibility as the primary offender. She’s also apologized again, so Sawa and the others are cleared. Whatever happened before junior high graduation is water under the bridge4. They’ll participate in the Exchange Battle too.”
”Got it~”
”Risa, Yurina, Asari—that’s the deal. Sorry for the trouble.”
She addresses the group members who had been silent until now.
”Understood.”
”Yes.”
”If that’s Minoru-san’s decision, we’ll follow it.”
They’re more agreeable than expected. While they were upstairs, Chifumi and the others must have explained the whole situation and persuaded them.
”You’re all important members of the group. You always will be. I’m not letting you go.”
He lets the unspoken message hang in the air: the childhood friends aren’t taking priority.
The remaining ones are Megumi and Miku. He addresses them too—they’d been listening quietly just like Risa and the others.
”Megumi, Miku—you two okay?”
”We were given a full briefing earlier. No objections here.”
”Wau!”
They’re on board too.
”You two also have another role: keeping other groups that might want to form ties with Manaka’s group in check. Majin avoid unnecessary risk. You two got expelled from District 13 High School last year over a major incident. No one in their right mind would willingly pick a fight with such damaged-goods Strong-Females (members of Shoji’s group). Plus, the rest of your group has plain-folk builds. Any group that would specifically choose to partner with such a quirky squad would have to be seriously strange.”
”If there’s a reason, it’d be something like they have a huge grudge against that group and absolutely want to crush them~”
”To an outsider, it’ll look like—’Ah, he wants revenge.’ That’s believable. On the other hand, no other Majin group has any reason to pick Manaka’s group. That’s the idea.”
It’s amazing how they’ve managed to create such a convenient situation for themselves. Manaka’s companions’ plan is nothing short of impressive.
”So, outside, we need to maintain an air of awkward tension between the groups.”
””””Got it~””””
Even saying it myself, what exactly is “awkward tension”? But since everyone agreed, I’ll assume the girls understood.
”Phew. Alright—serious talk over, cool?”
”Yes. Minoru, everyone, thank you very much.”
Manaka’s words of gratitude prompt a reaction from Chifumi.
”We finally got Manaka-chan’s plan this far~ One more year to go—let’s do our best~”
”I saddled you with such a difficult role, Chifumi.”
”Not at all~ It’s fine~”
After that, they nibble snacks while exchanging recent news and info, and before they know it, it’s time to head home.
Today, I’m the first to leave. The girls probably have things they want to talk about without me around.
Manaka and Chifumi walk me to the entrance. I say my goodbyes to them and step out of the Takino residence.
That pretty much resolves all the questions about the Exchange Battle. More than anything, I’ve built a new relationship with Manaka. I’d call that the biggest success of recent days.
My spirits and steps are light as I head home.
The negotiations with Manaka went better than expected. What I didn’t anticipate was how much watching her would get to me. It’s been a while since I felt such a strong urge for some solo action.
—
Summary:
Minoru confronts his childhood friends about their year-long deception and demands a sincere apology, but rejects both dogeza and monetary compensation. He privately reveals his true condition to Manaka: she must perform a humiliating act as the price of forgiveness. The chapter ends with Manaka frozen in shock, forced to either submit or refuse after having already promised to do anything.
Minoru and Manaka’s group resolves past conflicts, clearing several members and establishing a new cooperative relationship for the upcoming Exchange Battle. The group agrees to maintain a facade of tension between groups to deter unwanted challengers. Minoru reflects on the unexpected personal impact of witnessing Manaka’s self-pleasuring display.
—
Trivia:
Minoru was abandoned by his childhood friends for over a year while they schemed behind his back.
The childhood friend group consists of Manaka, Sawa, Chifumi, Asari, and Ishimoto.
Manaka is the ringleader of the group and holds romantic feelings for Minoru.
Minoru has changed recently – he’s more calculating and thinks before acting now.
The Exchange Battle is normally between groups with no strong preexisting ties.
Manaka’s father is the head of the Kuga family.
Minoru possesses Tatemiya Sorcery, a defensive spatial magic.
Manaka possesses air-shaping sorcery, which can manipulate space and light.
The Kuga family has enough political influence to override school decisions.
Shoji’s group is from a Private High School and seeks to join a Majin’s group.
Minoru explicitly rejects dogeza and monetary compensation as forms of apology.
The chapter’s title “Do It Yourself” is a provocative translation of 自〇しろ.
Minoru used to act like a gentleman in middle school but has changed his approach.
Manaka is dressed in a spring-like outfit with a white long skirt and blouse.
The room is sealed with both air-shaping sorcery and Tatemiya Sorcery for privacy.
The “water under the bridge” idiom translates the Japanese 「水に流す」, indicating forgiveness of past grievances before junior high graduation.
Chifumi uses “~” to indicate playful, drawn-out speech, which is preserved in translation.
Majin groups avoid unnecessary risk, making Manaka’s group a strategically safe target for Minoru.
Megumi and Miku were expelled from District 13 High School last year, giving them a “damaged-goods” reputation.
The Takino residence serves as the meeting location for the group discussion.
—
Translation Notes:
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Notes:
• N – A student from East Middle with an eccentric personality who entered National High School due to complex family circumstances and used herself as leverage to negotiate a protective agreement for K.
• S – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• Sawa – Voluptuous, broad-framed yet recently slimmed-down, this confident, bespectacled Nieda student and game otaku is an IT-savvy Shisei member and core strategist in Manaka and Mitsuki’s circles. An upper-middle tier green-manipulation sorcerer who uses a hoe, sickle, and scissors, she controls security. She is a competitive Onibara disciple who bluntly complains to her childhood friend Minoru.
• A – A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R’s high school squad.
• R – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has successfully built a squad and added multiple girls, including M and A, into his group.
• T – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• Manaka – Manaka Kuga is an elegant, sharp-featured Shisei High student, authoritative circle leader, and strategist for the top-tier Kuga family’s Founding Strong-Females. Minoru’s refined yet direct childhood friend, she uses a short staff for spatial/air-shaping sorcery. Known for her aristocratic bearing and “-chan” honorific, she manages security, led a year-long deception, and orchestrated an exchange battle request.
• Minoru – The protagonist and narrator is a black-haired Demon reincarnated from Japan, standing 183cm with sharp eyes. Pragmatic yet internally hurt, this eldest Tatemiya son wrongly believed his childhood friends abandoned him. Serving as ‘master’ to a mixed female group, he uses inherent spatial manipulation sorcery to command a handgun and subjugated monsters like Pape in mid-guard combat.
• M – A first-year student at District 13 High School and the childhood friend of Anonymous Student 0006, described as an atavistic strong-female who looks plain but possesses significant power.
• B – A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S’s group.
• Chifumi – Eldest daughter of the Takino residence, this 160cm, J-cup kimono-clad sorcerer is Minoru’s childhood friend, Lead Majo, and trusted partner. Sporting a long brown side-tail, her bright, casual personality bridges his group with Manaka’s companions. Wielding a staff with flowing ice/water magic, she manages household admin and rearguard combat while secretly protecting him from the truth.
• Tatemiya – Tatemiya is the family name of Minoru, a pragmatic protagonist in a world with reversed beauty standards. He leads a strong-female harem with analytical detachment, treating interactions as transactions. Strained by Manaka abandoning Minoru, the family has tense ties with the Kugas. Associated with a symbolic residential gate, the name connects to Manaka’s father’s social circle.
• Ishimoto – A friendly, proactive female student at 13th District 2nd High School and former junior high classmate of Minoru. She maintains a positive, sometimes self-conscious rapport with others, once organizing a group outing, politely acknowledging Minoru, and thanking him for his help. She also presents the protagonist and Ryota with chocolates.
• Asari – A tall (175cm), braided black-haired Kasakura honor student with an E-cup, this analytical, quiet, and pragmatic science-track strategist serves as Minoru’s devoted partner and Risa’s future host. Close to Mari and Nagase, she uses a hand-armor gauntlet and Silicic Armor to manifest crystal barriers, switching between Vanguard and Mid-guard. Polite yet lecturing, she is currently recovering from mana exhaustion.
• K – A student from East Middle who followed N to National High School out of care, successfully remaining pure through N’s protection until a misunderstanding involving Anonymous Student 0008 led to her capitulation.
• Shoji – A serious, silver werewolf beastman and top 5th District sorcerer, he is also a male classmate in Minoru’s second-year class who greets others with informal energy. Wielding magic pistols, shock spells, and a spear, he led Ryota, Komoda, and Strong-Females through a dungeon. He manages complex ties with Kotoha and aims to rescue his relative Risa from a Shadow entity by tracking scents to feed her Hinoki.
• Kuga – Worn on Manaka and Marin’s garments to symbolize kinship, the Kuga family name carries heavy social weight and authority. This distant lineage, marking the farthest point from the narrator’s home, has a strained relationship with the Tatemiya family due to Minoru being abandoned by Manaka. A family member working as hotel staff also reports Anri’s visit to the sealed dungeon.
• Gassa – An Aberration and pet-like entity residing in the annex area within Minoru’s shadow, who also contributes to Asunaro’s physical repairs.
• Yurina – A stoic, analytical 165cm Plain-folk vanguard with a black ponytail and G-cup. A humanities student and eldest daughter of seven, she uses a katana and Severing Sorcery in Minoru’s party. She protects Chifumi, fights alongside Mitsuki, and addresses Minoru-sama with polite deference. Efficient and loyal, she trusts his judgment despite feeling unsettled by his escalating violence.
• Risa – A curious humanities student (167cm, light brown semi-long hair, H-cup, black eyes) and the youngest Naruse sister. Playfully assertive and protective of Minoru’s group, this mid-guard sorcerer has no inherent magic but wields magic pistols and Hinoki’s power. When Asunaro takes control, her eyes turn red, enabling fire and lightning sorcery. She is also known to bake cookies for Tatemiya.
• Yuri – A cheerful, energetic, and curvy Higashi High first-year student dating Shibuya. While calculating, she is fiercely loyal, even winning a third-place Best Couple Award with him. She was an acquaintance of Kibe Yurina in middle school. Known for being aggressive toward Hayato and displaying overt favoritism, she is defined by her intense relationships, vibrant spirit, and distinct presence.
• Megumi – A 162cm former District 13 student at Shisei High, she is a flexible-body Sorcery user wielding a naginata. Belonging to Manaka’s, Minoru’s, and Tatemiya’s groups, this plump woman has thick thighs, a generous belly, and a C-cup. Submissive, eager to please, and speaking with a pleading manner, she maintains a highly proactive and desperate physical intimacy with Minoru.
• Miku – Former District 13 student in Minoru’s and Manaka’s groups at Shisei High. Standing at 147cm with an A-cup, she has a chubby, long-legged build and a supermodel face, dressing to hide her figure. As one of Tatemiya’s “strong-females” and a courier with Megumi, she uses Heaven-kick Sorcery and leg armor. She is energetic, highly reactive, and prone to angry, Chihuahua-like displays.
• Strong-Females – A social designation within the world’s hierarchy.
• Takino – Associated with the Takino residence and Manaka’s father’s social circle, this family name is an alias for Chifumi’s pushy, hospitable mother. A member of Komoda’s group, she uses it to manage external relations when the Tatemiya name can’t be used—coordinating with Muto and facilitating requests while overbearingly insisting the protagonist eat dinner at her home.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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