"What exactly is your relationship with that... I, Inoue?"
Erika's voice was cold and hard, but it was trembling.
That tremor seemed to be mixed with not only anger but also some deep sense of anxiety.
She can't look me in the eye, twisting her golden hair nervously and turning her face away.
"Um, what do you mean by 'relationship'? Inoue-san is just someone from the same class..."
"I know that! ...What I'm asking is why you were having lunch with Inoue!"
As soon as I opened my mouth, Erika immediately overlapped and pressed me hard.
Her words were short, and her gaze was sharp.
However, it seemed that there was a hint of fear mixed in those cute green eyes.
(Ah, I see, I'm so irritated because I saw that scene at noon earlier) I understood.
Perhaps Erika used either the "Divination Magic" or the "Spirit's Eye" to secretly observe the events in the courtyard—the lunch gathering with Inoue and the others.
"I had Inoue-san cover for me as the planner for the staff training trip just before I went on bereavement leave. We just had lunch together to thank her for that."
"...but still..."
Erika cut off her words.
"I allowed you to talk to your classmates, but I don't remember allowing you to talk to girls. From now on, add a new 'restriction'..."
"Inoue-san is really just a classmate. Besides, Erika knows that it's impossible not to talk to women, especially since most of the officer course students are female, right?"
Erika seemed to struggle to come up with a counterargument to my words.
Her pink lips turned white as she bit down hard repeatedly, glancing at me with tear-filled eyes and glaring.
...At a time like this, it's a bit inappropriate, but a beautiful girl like Erika with tearful eyes looks incredibly sexy.
(Oh man, it's my first time... putting aside that rough way from that night, I want to convey that I've liked Erika for a long time...)
She had entered her "menhera-chan mode," muttering self-deprecating curses under her breath, and I wanted to confess my feelings to her, but I couldn't.
It's all because of this
Right now, I was being somewhat "restricted" in my actions by the power of this detestable collar.
Basically,
・Do not engage in self-harm or suicide.
・When you signal with the magic stone, come to the designated place as quickly as possible.
・Not to disclose that Erika and I are engaged, or anything about the "Collar of Subjugation."
・Do not do anything that would disadvantage Erika or the Jōgasaki family.
・Do not speak or convey any feelings of like or dislike towards Erika at all.
As long as we follow those five "constraints," we were told that everything else could be the same as usual.
"Don't speak or convey what kind of feelings you have towards Erika."
This thing was an incredibly troublesome item for me right now.
She, who is convinced that I hate her, never gave me the chance to speak my true feelings.
Well, putting myself aside, if a normal man in this world were to suddenly face a reverse rape on his first day at his in-laws' house, he would probably resent the other person.
...or rather, if you hate it that much, why did you suddenly start playing so hard, you jerk?
"You probably like girls with that kind of face too, right? All men are like that..."
Erika, with a resentful expression, mutters complaints about me.
Her throwing a tantrum like a child makes me feel a bit exasperated.
However, Erika's expression looked truly painful, and it made me feel unbearable just watching her.
"Hey, Erika. I... about you..."
I almost forgot about the "restrictions" again and was about to unintentionally express my feelings.
However, a sudden surge of magical power began to emanate from my neck, rapidly closing off my vocal cords.
"After talking so happily with Inoue and the others... what a liar..."
Erika's voice was on the verge of breaking down into tears.
She left the room with a sad expression on her face.
I can't even say the words to express my feelings, so I can't stop her.
Only the sound of her closing the door echoed through this space.
"Well, for now, I'll put on some clothes..."
I wiped my sticky groin with a handkerchief, feeling lonely, quickly put on my uniform, and left the room.
◆◆◆◆
(Sigh... I did it again... How worthless of a woman am I...)
Remembering the earlier exchange with Kai, I let out a deep sigh.
The incident with him won't leave my mind for even a moment.
Thoughts swirl around in my head, each one piercing my heart like a shard of glass.
Of course, the content of the class wouldn't be able to get into my head at all.
What occupies my mind is only Kai's surprised face and the contemptuous, childish insults I spat out.
I am thoroughly fed up with myself—this person named Erika Jogasaki.
Kai's expression at that time, filled with surprise and confusion.
It clearly showed how much I had hurt him.
(Ah... I made him suffer even more again.)
To distract myself from deep self-loathing, I end up clenching my teeth without realizing it.
(Why did I throw such selfish and cruel words back then...)
(Why do I always go crazy when Kai is right in front of me...)
The answer to the question is obvious.
Even if I use the
Every time I remembered him, a feeling of disgust towards myself arose simultaneously with a whirlpool of romantic feelings from deep within my chest, relentlessly pounding like a fast clock, ignoring my own will.
(I want Kai to love me. For that, even if it means making a deal with the devil...)
"Jōgasaki... Jōgasaki student! Are you listening?"
"...Huh. My apologies, instructor. What is it?"
"It's not 'What is it?' I've called you to come to the instructor's office repeatedly after class. A person as absent-minded as you cannot serve as an officer."
"I'm sorry..."
Before I knew it, the bell signaling the end of class had rung.
In the classroom where the tension after the lecture had melted away, waves of chuckles began to spread.
As someone sitting in the front row, I can't help but wonder what kind of expression Kai, who is sitting in the back, is making...
However, being hurried by the instructor with "Come here immediately!" and having no time to look back, I had no choice but to follow her out of the room right away.
◆◆◆◆
A corner of the third floor of the military academy building. I was led to the instructor's private room, which stood quietly there.
In the center of the spacious room, a large birch-colored desk is seated.
The documents piled high on the desk were haphazardly placed, seemingly reflecting the instructor's personality.
"So, the thing is... it's about the staff training trip scheduled for next week."
The instructor continued speaking while exhaling cigarette smoke.
Staff exercise trip—this is a unique major event at this military academy.
Since it has "travel" in the name, it seems that people misunderstand it as something like a school trip in a private school, but it's not that easy.
Just before the field trip, students are randomly paired into "buddies" in groups of two.
And each team is given a completely different "tactical challenge," which is like a simulated operational scenario.
Students head to the designated location for their assignment (most of the time, it is often a famous battlefield).
So, over the course of several days, we will confirm the specific geographical conditions on-site and work together to complete the assignment paper... and that's the overview of the field trip.
The submission of assignments during the staff exercise trip will naturally be evaluated as part of the military academy's grades.
But more importantly, building a relationship with your "buddy" is crucial.
The "buddy" assigned here will also work together on future graduation research, so deepening the bond through this field trip was considered the most important thing.
"Originally, the 'buddy' is supposed to be revealed on the day of the training trip. You know this, right?"
"Yes, the aim is to develop the ability to quickly build relationships within the short training trip period by not informing them in advance, right?"
"Ah, that's right. So please keep what I'm about to say to yourself. Your 'buddy'... well, at their request, we've decided on Toudou."
"Huh? Kai... with Toudou? Is that what he wants...?"
Since Kai's name came up, I couldn't help but get flustered and ended up calling him by his first name.
The instructor made a slightly suspicious face, but perhaps she was the type who didn't mind the details too much, as she answered my question while puffing on a cigarette.
"Since Toudou is a man... it's the school's rule to let male officer cadets choose someone they can stay with for several days during the training trip."
In the past, my mother used to say, "Male officers are just being given a leg up behind the scenes," but now I am truly grateful for the military school's policy of protecting men. (Of course, I can't say this because my mother would be outraged if she heard it.)
"I confirmed with him a month ago, and just recently reconfirmed. Jougasaki, it seems he prefers you as her buddy."
"Is that so...?"
"Just so you know, don't get any weird ideas."
I feel like she said something rude at the end, but I don't mind it. (Well, the instructor probably doesn't know, but in reality, I've already developed a "strange feeling" and taken action, so her concern can be considered valid in a way.)
I was on the verge of going crazy from overwhelming joy.
Of course, I'm also happy that I can spend time with him on the field trip.
However, what made my heart race even more was the fact that "he chose me."
Even a month ago, just before, in other words, before he married, even after I forcibly took his chastity, he still hoped for me!
(Maybe... Kai really does care about me... No, that's impossible... But still!)
Desperately trying to stay calm, I left the instructor's office and ran down the hallway, feeling like I wanted to skip with joy.