Volume 8 - CH 17

Mishima Haruka

The day after I called to consult Madoka.

I snuck out of the classroom after arriving at school with everyone.

I couldn’t find Mishima who’s supposed to be in the class next door.

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Guessing that she hasn’t arrived yet, I find an inconspicuous spot near the stairs and wait. That’s when I spotted a small figure.

Her appearance is quite eye-catching.

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She’s a petite girl with light blue hair.

Since she kept her hair short, she looks younger than her age.

Contrasting with her small frame though, were her large breasts.

If I have to use a metafiction world’s term to describe her figure it would be shortstack (TLN: Originally written as Loli Kyonyuu, imagine Rem’s Figure.)

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“Good morning.”

“Nn? G, Good morning…….”

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With a sudden greeting from me, a complete stranger, she eyes me with suspicions.

However, for some reason, she looked tired and haggard.

I don’t really want to do it this way but I decided to imitate the original Akechi Hideyori.

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“………”

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I bend down and bring my mouth close to her ear.

In that position, I speak to her.

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“I can feel the power of a very strong Gift from you.”

“…….eh?”

“You are aware of it aren’t you? That Gift will bring ruin to you and those around you. It’s a devilish Gift.”

“Y….., You know about my Gift……?” (TLN: She’s a Bokukko, using Boku, a slightly boyish way, to refer to herself.)

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It’s likely that even in this world she may have bumped into Takeru at least once.

Mishima Haruka is the [Bokukko] heroine who appeared briefly in the game’s prologue.

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“Of course. I’ve been researching various things about Gifts after all……..I’m Akechi Hideyori.”

“……Mishima Haruka.”

“Mishima huh. Nice to meet you.”

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According to the game, the encounter between Akechi Hideyori and Mishima Haruka in the game should have gone like this.

Alright, for the time being, it seems like I hit bingo on the fact that she’s been worrying about her Gift.

Her slightly cautious reaction made me convinced of that.

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“Are you truly aware of my Gift, Akechi-san?”

“Yeah, people are getting sick just by being around you right.”

“Eh!? Y, You know…….?”

“I have relatively strong protection against Gift power you see. That’s how I noticed you…….”

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Actually, Hideyori wasn’t calling it [Protection against Gift]. Instead, he just brought up an incomprehensible term of [Gift Resistance].

I have never heard anyone using that word even since I reincarnated.

I’m not even sure if it was just some bluff Hideyori created or if it’s an actual power that he named himself.

That’s the reason why I decided to leave that term out.

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“I’m already sweating just from having a short conversation with you…….”

“Sorry……. It’s the effect of my Gift right…….”

“With a power like this, it must have been hard on both you and those around you huh……..”

I’m not acting, it’s not even hot. Still, I can’t stop sweating from my forehead.

Her Gift is being focused on me.

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It’s completely out of her control.

This is pretty dangerous.

If I have to use my own Gift as an analogy, it would be like my [Dominating Decree] is in the state of constant activation.

Even some throwaway remarks would cause terrible effects.

For example, if I jokingly say [Kill the Japanese], my command would be carried out regardless of anyone’s will, including my own.

Takeru’s [Anti-Gift] is also in the state of constant activation but since its effect is harmless, it doesn’t affect anyone.

If his ability actually causes harm to those around him, he will probably become like Mishima here.

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“Let’s give your Gift a name. [Energy Drain] should be appropriate. Yours is an ability to drain not only physical but mental strength, perhaps even the soul itself after all.”

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This is the reason why I couldn’t act together with Madoka even though I wanted to.

Against such a Gift, she wouldn’t be able to protect herself.

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This is the true form of [Compensation for Weakness].

She was originally born sickly and the only reason she can attend school at all is that she’s draining the energy from those around her using [Energy Drain].

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“Wha, what should I do……? As I get better, the people around me gradually get weaker……I’m actually troubled since the people in my class are treating me like a plague god…….”

“You have to master the usage of your Gift. That way, people will stop treating you like that.”

“B, But I can’t do it……I don’t even know when it’s activated…….It’s just recently that I found out about my Gift too……”

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Mishima turned to me with an anxious expression.

Perhaps she was only told about her Gift when she started attending this school…….

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“Don’t worry. I will teach you how to control it.”

“Akechi-san…..”

“For now, let’s exchange our contact info. Do you have a phone?”

“Y, Yes!”

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I exchanged numbers with Mishima.

Honestly, I didn’t want to imitate the game’s Akechi Hideyori but I can’t deny that he’s very good at approaching the heroines.

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“Then let’s meet again, Akechi-san.”

“Yeah, later.”

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Mishima lowered her head and disappeared inside her classroom.

When she was out of sight, I collapsed down on my knees.

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“Ugh….., what’s up with this……”

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Perhaps because I was being too close to her, I’m a little anemic.

It just shows that’s how powerful her [Energy Drain] is.

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“This is bad……”

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What Gift Resistance……?

It’s really tough just to move my limbs…..

Hey, Mr.Original Akechi Hideyori, what was your body built of?

Seriously, her Gift is truly a pandora’s box.

I already knew that when her Gift went completely berserk, it managed to kill Emi with a single touch.

Rather, it wouldn’t be strange if Hideyori was killed by her too…….

In this route, Hideyori was killed by Takeru just for the game to have a payoff for the good guy and a villain to punish though……

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“Ugh…..I feel sick.”

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Do I really have to move right now?

Today’s first class is math……

I will just skip it……

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I sit down on a seat in a nearby empty classroom and let my body collapses onto the desk.

Ahh, the desk feels so good……

I couldn’t get up from the desk for a while.

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[Staring] “I will definitely expose you, Akechi.”

The red-eyed girl observed him from afar.

The pendant on her chest was gleaming……..

Author Note: V7Extra2

The girl who bumped into Takeru was Mishima Haruka.

[Energy Drain] did not activate because of his [Anti-Gift].

If a normal person bumps into her like how Takeru did, her Gift would cause enough damage for that person to be lightheaded for a moment.

I wrote a lot about Emi, Towa, and Madoka but starting now, we will get to the main story of [Compensation for Weakness].