Bell: [Link]

Misuzu couldn’t sleep.

Misuzu’s heart was pounding and Misuzu’s body couldn’t stop trembling.

.

Misuzu kept regretting Misuzu’s action and there was the urge to go back and throw out the poisoned seasoning.

But every time Misuzu’s thought goes to that, Misuzu would have a headache and Misuzu couldn’t go back to the kitchen.

.

.

It was like there’s a black haze hanging over Misuzu’s mind, preventing Misuzu from doing that.

Each time the word [Αυξημένο μίσος] would come to Misuzu’s mind and Misuzu’s will to get rid of the poison just seem to vanish.

.

.

“Haa, Haa……..Haa Haaaa……..”

.

.

Misuzu is covered in night sweats.

Her throat is dry and it’s hard to breathe.

Misuzu decided to get up and get something to drink.

.

Misuzu takes out a bottle of tea and pour it into a cup before gulping down the whole 200ml of it.

When Misuzu put the cup down, the poisoned seasoning came into view.

.

.

[[Misuzu, I will definitely break your curse!]]

[[Even if you think no one is expecting anything from you, you will always have my expectations, Misuzu.]]

[[Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, we all love you, Misuzu.]]

[[If anything happen you can rely on me.]]

[[Misuzu.]]

.

.

The words of Misuzu’s beloved Onee-sama came to mind one after another.

While we’re twins, Onee-sama has always been there as Misuzu’s older sister.

.

……….there’s no way Misuzu can do such a cruel thing to Onee-sama.

.

.

.

Misuzu’s hand reaches out for the poisoned seasoning.

That’s right, there’s no point for Misuzu to doing this……..

Misuzu is already……..

.

.

.

.

[Αυξημένο μίσος]

.

.

.

.

“Ugh……”

.

.

Onee-sama’s kind words that had been in Misuzu’s head suddenly faded, replaced by Takiguchi-sensei’s mantra.

.

.

“Auu…….”

.

.

Even the crest begins to burn.

Misuzu’s hand stopped just 3 centimeters away from the bottle containing the poisoned seasoning.

No matter how hard Misuzu tries, that 3 centimeters gap couldn’t be closed.

.

.

[Αυξημένο μίσος]

.

.

The mantra filled Misuzu with Malice and Misuzu drew the hand back.

.

…….Misuzu should go back to bed.

There’s nothing left to do here anymore……..

When Misuzu decided to head back to the bedroom.

.

.

Misuzu ran into her.

.

.

“Misuzu?”

“……!?”

.

.

Leaving the kitchen, Misuzu was so surprised Misuzu almost stopped breathing.

.

.

“This is rare, I never took you to be such an early riser?”

“Mi, Misuzu just got thirsty so Misuzu came to grab some tea…….”

.

.

She saw Misuzu.

Misuzu’s reply was technically the truth so Misuzu tries to head back to the bedroom without arousing any suspicion.

.

.

“That’s right! How about we have breakfast together today? You can trust my skill, you know!”

“No way. Can you not talk to Misuzu.”

.

.

Misuzu rejected her offer.

Goodbye, Onee-sama.

This is probably the last conversation we will ever have.

.

Turning away from Onee-sama, Misuzu heads back to Misuzu’s bedroom.

Nervous, Misuzu just kills time on the bed.

When it was the time that Onee-sama usually heads out, the sound of her leaving came from outside.

.

Onee-sama left after finishing her breakfast.

It’s a relief that she didn’t notice anything out of place.

Misuzu enters the kitchen and picks up the poisoned seasoning.

.

.

“………….”

.

.

It’s just slightly but there’s less in the bottle now.

Seeing that, Misuzu’s heart started to hurt.

.

.

.

It was a restless morning.

It’s now lunch break and Misuzu was secretly following Takeru-san around.

Along the way, Misuzu runs into Takiguchi-sensei.

.

.

“I wonder what will happen today.” He said that and left. Misuzu turned back and headed to the roof, peeking out the small glass pane on the door to the rooftop.

They are flirting with each other again.

.

.

“Eh…….?”

.

.

Onee-sama is giving her bento to Takeru-san.

………eh!??

Misuzu didn’t know that they would be sharing lunch……..

If that’s the case, not only Onee-sama but Takeru-san will…….

.

Misuzu grabbed the doorknob and was about to jump in to stop them.

.

.

[Αυξημένο μίσος]

.

.

Once again, Takiguchi-sensei’s mantra dominated Misuzu’s whole body and Misuzu’s hand wouldn’t move.

Stop!

Misuzu has to stop Onee-sama and Takeru-san!

Misuzu has to apologize……

Misuzu will give up on Takeru-san so please let Misuzu move this hand!

.

Even Misuzu’s prayer was drowned out by Takiguchi-sensei’s mantra.

And Misuzu could only watch as Takeru-san collapsed.

.

.

“!……….”

.

.

Unable to step in, Misuzu ran.

From the crowd, Misuzu watches over them until Takeru-san is put into the ambulance.

.

.

“………Nn?”

“……..!?”

.

.

After the ambulance left with Takeru-san, Misuzu’s eyes met Onee-sama’s.

There was a feeling of relief that Onee-sama is okay.

But stronger than that relief, fear and guilt began to surge in. Misuzu fled into the school building to escape Onee-sama’s gaze.

.

After that, Misuzu takes the afternoon classes in the classroom where Takeru-san’s gone.

It was all Misuzu’s fault……. As though to punish Misuzu, the crest began to throb like never before.

Even so, the pain from the guilt in Misuzu’s chest was much stronger than the crest’s searing pain.

After the class was over, Misuzu couldn’t stand the classroom without Takeru-san so Misuzu immediately headed to the hallway.

.

.

“Please don’t run. Hideyori-kun is calling you.”

“……HII!?”

.

.

One of Misuzu’s classmates, Sasaki Emi, whispered so into Misuzu’s ear.

When Misuzu turned around, Sasaki-san was staring at Misuzu with her lightless eyes.

Feeling an unfathomable sense of dread from her, Misuzu turned away and about to start running. If not, she will catch Misuzu.

.

.

“I warned you not to run right. Hideyori-kun is calling. I do not want to be violent. Anyway, everyone is watching so please go to sleep for a bit.”

“Guah!?”

.

.

A strong shock hit Misuzu’s neck from behind—–it was a hand chop.

With a single blow, Misuzu’s vision was dyed black.

.

.

“Hideyori-kun will punish you.”

.

.

That was the last thing Misuzu heard…….

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“Ugh……..”

.

.

Misuzu opens her eyes.

It felt like waking up just after you got to sleep with the lethargic feeling and drowsiness still remaining.

When did Misuzu go to sleep?

Looking around, she found herself inside an indoor court.

While wondering why she was sleeping in a place like this, she spotted two figures, a man and a woman.

.

.

“Oh, you finally wake up, my ugly duckling.”

“!? A, Akechi….-kun?”

.

.

Standing in front of her was Sasaki-san, who called out to her at the classroom earlier and Takeru-san’s friend, Akechi Hideyori.

Without saying anything, Sasaki-san simply stands at Akechi-san’s side.

.

.

“Oh……. I forgot, the ugly duckling is supposed to become a beautiful bird later on right? But Fukamori Misuzu, you are never going to become a beautiful bird now aren’t you? You are just an ugly, hideous scum after all.”

“……!? What did you say!?”

“Oh shut up. You are just an uglier version of your sister! It was you who poisoned Takeru right. I’ve seen you acting all suspicious all day after all. If I knew this would happen, I would have beat the shit out of you this morning.”

.

.

Realizing that this man had his eyes on her since morning. Misuzu’s body trembles with fear.

Even though she was being insulted and compared to her sister, Misuzu’s body was shaking from fear instead of anger.

.

.

“Now, should I educate you about what it means to be a woman?”

“HII……”

.

.

Misuzu has to run……….

Even with that thought in her mind, she can’t move an inch. Despite Akechi-kun only being her classmate, he looks like the devil or death instead of a human being.

.

.

“You do have a better rack than your sister after all.”

“N, No……..”

“Hahahahahahaha!”

.

.

With a sadistic laugh, he reaches his hand out and roughly gropes Misuzu’s breast.

Faced with such a violent act that has not a shred of romanticness, she doesn’t even know how to resist.

.

.

“Right. You liked Takeru, didn’t you? I can make some nice deflowering sessions while making you think that I’m Takeru you know.”

“…………”

.

.

His disgusting words made Misuzu’s hair stand on end and her mind went blank with fear.

Despite what he said didn’t sound possible, she believes that this man would be able to do it.

.

.

“Orah, Orah, Orah, you tried to kill Takeru eh!? Don’t get ahead of yourself you ugly bi**ch!”

“No, …….Misuzu didn’t mean to…….Misuzu….., Misuzu just……….”

.

.

Even while Misuzu tried to apologize for what Misuzu did last night, Akechi-kun still leaned his body closer.

.

At that time, there was a clattering sound of footsteps coming from the side.

Sasaki-san didn’t move from her position.

Then who? While Misuzu was wondering so, Onee-sama’s face came into view. She looked completely different than her usual self and her face was radiating furious anger.

………..Rather than Akechi-san, Onee-sama is much scarier.

.

.

“!? Hideyori-kun, someone is coming!?”

“Haa!?”

.

.

When Sasaki-san noticed her and told Akechi-kun, he also turned toward Onee-sama.

(TLN: Is it -kun or -san make up your mind woman!)

.

.

“Yo, what are you doing? Having a quarrel?”

“Oh, Ohhh, well if it isn’t Takeru’s girlfriend Tsuki-san.”

“Hi, Hideyori-kun, wha, what do we do?”

“Stop panicking you idiot.”

.

.

But without looking at Misuzu or Akechi-kun, Onee-sama’s eyes went to someone else.

.

.

“E, Eimi…….?”

“Nope, she’s not Eimi. She’s Emi.”

.

.

For some reason, Onee-sama seems to be interested in Sasaki-san.

The conversation turned to Sasaki-san instead.

Being left out like this is even harsher for Misuzu since Misuzu has already prepared to accept whatever Onee-sama is going to say.

.

.

“O, Onee-sama…….”

“……..did you poison him?”

.

.

When Onee-sama finally addressed Misuzu, her voice was filled with disappointment.

Among all the memories Misuzu has of Onee-sama, she has never been this harsh to Misuzu before.

.

.

“Misuzu only…….”

“Did you poison him?”

“Mi, Misuzu didn’t intend to hurt Takeru-san……..”

“Did you poison him?”

“………..”

“You poisoned him right? This morning, I don’t know whether you put it in the meat or the seasoning but you did it didn’t you.”

“………………”

.

.

Misuzu’s heart has already broken.

Meanwhile, Akechi-kun who just got up started to move.

.

.

“Oh, leave the sister fight for later okay? This ugly bi**ch’s mine…….”

“I wanted to ask you something too.”

“Ah?”

“Haruka’s arrest. You did something right?”

“Haa? What if I did?”

“………..”

.

.

Onee-sama’s face turned severe.

She’s about to go on a rampage…..

.

.

“Gift activated. [Solitary World of the Moon.]”

“Eh…….?”

.

.

Onee-sama has activated her Gift which she had stubbornly sealed away until now.

Only Onee-sama herself and Otou-sama know what it can do and it is now activating in front of Misuzu.

The gentle light of the moon created a sealed space.

.

The light looked so beautiful that it took Misuzu’s breath away. And the world it created was filled with nothing but discomfort.

Without knowing what it can do, Onee-sama, along with Akechi-kun, Sasaki-san, and Misuzu were trapped in a barrier.

.

.

“First off, Misuzu……it’s time for you to repent.”

“Kah, Hahh…….”

“I have linked your body with Takeru. His pain will be shared with you, Misuzu. You will wake up when he does. ……..But if Takeru dies, you die as well…….I’ll have you go through the same thing as Takeru.”

“……..”

“It’s okay……I will take care of both of you. Now realize the weight of your sin.”

.

.

Onee-sama’s tearful voice felt so far away…….

Without even the time to understand Onee-sama’s Gift, Misuzu’s consciousness faded…….

————–

[Scumbag Best Friend SIDE]

.

.

.

“U……..”

.

.

It felt like Misuzu was having a strange dream.

She closed her eyes. The feeling of guilt was so strong that Misuzu’s chest tightened.

.

Why does this feeling of regret feel so strong? [Misuzu shouldn’t have done it.] Why can’t Misuzu shake these words out of Misuzu’s head……?

.

When Misuzu’s eyes opened, Akechi-kun was already standing next to Misuzu……

………Akechi-kun!?

.

.

Misuzu was terrified.

Misuzu doesn’t understand it but her chest felt like it was being grabbed tight and an overwhelming sense of dread overtook her.

Misuzu has seen him being so kind to Emi and Madoka in the classroom before but Misuzu can not help but feel like he’s going to do some terrible things to her.

.

Akechi-kun’s eyes are looking at Misuzu but it doesn’t feel like it’s Misuzu that’s reflecting in his eyes.

It was more like he was gazing at something far away.

.

.

“Gift activated——–”

.

.

While staring at Misuzu’s face, Akechi-kun activated his Gift.

——————

Author Note: Takeru was prevented from joining the Gift Hunters in this route because he was poisoned. A fine play.

Get rekt, Takiguchi.

.

.

.

.

Next up, Hideyori is going to use his Gift for the first time in a while………..

TLN: So, Like I said, I’m getting busy so I will be defaulting back to my original Daily Release mode. That would be a chapter per day. I’ll try to get at least 5 chapters out a week so if you want to bing, I suggest visiting the site on Sunday