Vol. 1 Chapter 3 – She Stripped Off With Confidence
by PinkPanther“Hmm, so this is a supermarket?”
On the way home from school, after parting ways with Mina, Lisara entered a nearby supermarket and her eyes sparkled with excitement. It was Mikawaya, a budget-friendly market offering great deals on meat, fish and vegetables. A convenient store indeed. Though Ryousuke, who didn’t cook, had only ever bought bottled drinks there.
“Alright, what should I make for dinner tonight?”
“Eh, isn’t it just gonna be a convenience store bento or something?”
“Excuse me, but that would be a waste of money.”
Lisara fired back with a cold, reality-grounded response.
“Hmm, looks like pork is cheap today…”
She tilted her head while scanning the price tags. Bending down and comparing packages with both hands, she looked almost indistinguishable from a middle-aged housewife.
“Hey.”
“What now? You’re noisy.”
“I just thought… you only just came from the Shinigami Realm. Do you even know what food is like here in the human world?”
“How rude. Even in the Shinigami Realm, we have human-world ingredients. Though they’re luxury items over there.”
“Huh, no kidding. There’s no Shinigami food over here.”
“Well, I’ve heard that if you go to the right places, you can find some. But most Shinigami love human food. Honestly, there are even some who take jobs here just for the food. That’s probably why ingredients from the Shinigami Realm don’t circulate much. Ah, green peppers are cheap. Wow, compared to back home, they’re less than half price. The real deal, indeed.”
“Hey, isn’t it hard for Shinigami to work here? I mean, can you even bring ingredients over safely?”
“You seriously didn’t know that?”
Lisara gave him a look of exasperation, holding a green pepper in one hand.
“Shinigami and humans are spiritually strong beings, so we get pushed back by the world’s resistance. But things with no spiritual energy—like inanimate objects or animals and vegetables with almost none—pass through just fine. Although in Caesar’s case, we’d probably have to use the 《Existence Bond Raise》 spell in the Shinigami Realm.”
“Yeah, yeah, he’s the pride of my household.”
“Well, Ryousuke, you’re so average you might actually be fine too.”
“Ugh… So I’ve got less presence than Caesar now…”
“Exactly. Oh, the meat over here is cheaper per 100 grams.”
Lisara started comparing it to the pork she had already placed in the basket and began to deliberate. Naturally, it was Ryousuke who was carrying said basket.
“If I think about breakfast and lunch tomorrow, this might not be enough… But if I get two packs, that’s too much.”
She was deep in thought now, no longer paying Ryousuke any attention.
“Well, nothing I can do about it.”
Ryousuke resigned himself to silently following Lisara around like a shopping assistant.
As a result, for the first time in months, actual food—something worthy of being called a meal—was laid out on the Kaga family dinner table.
“Well? Looks delicious, right?”
Lisara proudly presented the food, and all Ryousuke could do was nod sincerely.
“Since the green peppers were cheap, I made pork and pepper sauté.”
The salt and pepper were perfectly balanced, making it super well with rice. And how on earth did she get the rice so perfectly fluffy using the beat-up rice cooker in the Kaga household?
“Damn, it’s delicious. There’s nothing to criticize.”
“Of course there isn’t. I am a first-class Shinigami, after all.”
Lisara fufun’d with a smug little snort.
“Does being first-class require cooking skills too?”
“Of course. We’re assigned to provide full support. Cooking, cleaning, laundry—you name it, I’ve mastered all of it.”
Ryousuke had to wonder—wasn’t that basically just a maid? The thought made him uneasy.
“But still, if this is enough to impress you, what kind of food were you eating before?”
“Uh… beef bowls on heavy rotation?”
“You know, if you eat the same thing all the time, your taste buds get messed up. And eating out all the time is a waste of money.”
Hearing that, Ryousuke recalled how thrifty she’d been at the supermarket, and decided to ask—
“Money, huh… Is your family poor or something, Lisara?”
“How rude. What do you think the prestigious Restall family is?”
“Uh, I wouldn’t know.”
“Well, I guess you wouldn’t. We don’t use our name openly in the human world. Listen up—Restall is one of the most powerful organizations in the Shinigami Realm. Way beyond something like today’s Melro Life Insurance.”
“But I’ve never heard of it?”
“That’s because we don’t operate under the Restall name. We oversee companies like Melro—also Ronron Life Insurance, Seseragi Life Insurance, stuff like that.”
Those were names Ryousuke had definitely heard in TV commercials. Which meant… Lisara was basically the daughter of the top company in the group.
“So I thought you were just bossy and snobby… but turns out you’re a real Ojou-sama, huh.”
“Drop the snobby part, but yes. Normally, someone like you wouldn’t even get to speak to me. So? Doesn’t it make you so happy you feel like working yourself to the bone for my sake?”
Man, what a high-handed girl. Though to be fair, she did cook and help out… she wasn’t all bad.
“But hey, if you’re such an Ojou-sama, couldn’t you afford something fancier? Like, not budget pork from a time sale?”
“Wanna see my wallet?”
“Huh?”
“My balance is about 10,000 yen. And I’m not expecting any refills.”
She actually opened her wallet and showed him. Sure enough, there was only one crisp 10,000 yen bill inside. The rest was just 453 yen in loose change…
“I figured I’d find the Singular One right away, so I didn’t bring much. If I went through the currency exchange process, there was a chance they’d find out I was coming to the human world.”
“S-So wait… what about your living expenses now?”
“Support me, please ☆”
Lisara stuck out her tongue perotto with a cute expression.
“Hey! Do I look like someone with that kind of money!?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“Exactly. Outside of summer break, part-time jobs are banned and I rely on the allowance my parents send me!”
“If you stop eating out, we’ll make it work. Besides…”
Smiling sweetly, Lisara rudely pointed her chopsticks toward the television.
“What about the TV?”
“Not that—below it.”
“The DVD player?”
“Yup. If you don’t rent stuff to watch, you’ll have more than enough cash left over.”
What does Ryousuke watch with his DVD player?
Rented works. The kind high schoolers technically aren’t supposed to be watching. Adult entertainment, in other words.
“Noooooooo!”
“Beg all you want, the answer is no, absolutely not. Actually, you were planning to watch that kind of stuff while living with me!?”
“I thought… if I waited for the witching hour when even the plants are asleep, and used headphones… I’d be safe…”
“Fuu…”
Letting out a breath, Lisara relaxed her posture, looking like she understood. Then, with a gentle smile, she said:
“I’ll clean your room for you later.”
“Wait, hold on!”
“Of course, anything that’s bad for your mental health? I’ll gladly throw it all out ☆”
“You’re not my mother!!”
In the end, no amount of crying, begging, or even dogeza could change Lisara’s mind. Ryousuke was forced to handle the after-dinner clean-up and during that time, his room was transformed into a sparkling clean, sterile space.
When he rushed to his room after finishing the dishes, what Ryousuke saw was Lisara—dressed like she was cleaning a toilet—with an apron, plastic gloves, and a mask. In that full-on gear, she was briskly hauling out several cardboard boxes filled with Ryousuke’s precious treasures to the entrance.
“Oh my, looks like we can’t throw this out until next week.”
Glancing at the trash collection schedule, Lisara muttered with clear displeasure. Then, for some reason, she called Caesar.
Caesar tilted his head curiously, but Lisara just patted him and stared into his eyes.
“I’ll have Ryousuke give you a full-body wash tomorrow. For now, this’ll do.”
“Wan?”
“You’re bringing Caesar into the house?”
“Of course. He’s the watchdog.”
“He’s already our watchdog!!”
Completely ignoring Ryousuke’s protest—
“Listen carefully, Caesar.”
Lisara leaned over and peered into the eyes of Caesar, who was sitting obediently.
“This filthy trash, you see, only drags your pathetic master down even further. You, Caesar—who’s popular with the ladies—must understand just how worthless this junk really is, right?”
Caesar let out a loud【Wan!】bark. Could he actually understand what Lisara was saying…?
“Good. If this idiot tries to get it back, eliminate him by force.”
As if shouting【Understood, ma’am】Caesar stood up with perfect posture, tail lifted high—
“Wan!!”
—and barked in a shockingly good voice.
“C-Caesar… don’t tell me you’re betraying me? I’m the one who takes you for walks! Me!”
No response.
“Gh… No. I believe in you. I believe in the bond between us, Caesar!”
Staring deep into Caesar’s eyes, Ryousuke slowly stepped toward the cardboard box to reclaim his stolen treasure—
“GaruUUUUUUUHH!”
Caesar let out a fierce growl. His fur stood on end, his fangs bared. He blocked Ryousuke’s hand with his whole body. No matter how many times Ryousuke tried to tell him to move aside, he wouldn’t listen.
“No waaay! You’ve already been tamed by this woman!? Damn it, you’re Caesar! You weren’t the kind of guy to chase girls—you made them chase you!”
No matter how passionately Ryousuke pleaded, Caesar just turned his head away.
“Fufu, beauty is a curse, isn’t it~?”
“Y-You don’t understand! For a guy like me, watching ecchi DVDs is my only salvation! Waaahhh, Lisara, Caesar—you jerks!!”
Sobbing, Ryousuke ran into his now-purified bedroom and dove into his futon. And then, he made a decision.
“If it’s come to this… the only female form I can see in this house is just one. Kukuku…Lisara, you underestimate the raging fire of my youth.”
Dark and deep, he gave in to the raw emotional urges of youth.
Thirty minutes later, Ryousuke was no longer in his bed—but creeping through the hallway.
“Caesar, listen. Stay quiet, alright? I’m not going near your post.”
“Wan?”
At the front door, Caesar tilted his head about twenty degrees, staring curiously at Ryousuke, who was moving with silent, stealthy steps. It seemed this time, Caesar might actually behave.
“Suu… haa… suu…”
Deep breaths. Slowly, he began to hear sound. A faint light leaked out from behind the sliding door. Ryousuke gently, ever so carefully, turned the doorknob. He pulled it. Opened it. Gii… —a quiet creak echoed.
His body stiffened. He paused for about three seconds, then resumed his operation.
The sound continued steadily from beyond the door. The target hadn’t noticed yet. But from here on out, it was the real challenge.
‘Nice and slow… just a little. Just enough for one eye to peek through.’
He leaned his upper body forward and dropped into a crawl. Gracefully, silently, he lowered himself and moved forward.
He reached out his right hand and placed it along the frame of the sliding door.
His heart pounded. He sharpened his hearing, listening carefully. And from beyond the door—
“Fufuun~♪”
—came a carefree little hum.
‘She’s completely off guard.’
Now was his chance. Ryousuke had every right to claim restitution for what had been taken from him. The only female forms he’d had access to were those on DVDs—and those had been seized by Caesar the watchdog. The only remaining female form he could lay eyes on in the Kaga household was just past this door: the bath.
He wasn’t thrilled about the bust size, but beggars can’t be choosers.
‘That’s right… this is my righteous claim!’
He psychically scolded the part of him that was wavering. If he didn’t even have the courage to peep on a girl’s bath, how could he ever survive his youth painted in grey?
‘No way. I won’t accept that!’
Slowly—truly slowly—he slid the door open. Just as a reminder: peeping is a crime.
One millimeter… five millimeters… one centimeter…
Not enough. With the steam and all, he couldn’t see a damn thing.
Two centimeters… two-point-five… three…
Finally, the bath came into view—
Gara! The door suddenly slid wide open, and Ryousuke lost his balance.
“Ow ow ow…”
He tried to get up—
—Mugyu.
A squishy sensation pressed against the back of his head.
“I never thought Ryousuke had this kind of boldness in him. Honestly… I’m impressed.”
Her face wasn’t visible, but the voice was clearly Lisara’s. It echoed a bit in the bathroom. That said…
“I’ve earned some respect?”
…those words were the last thing he expected.
“Yes, I’ve come to see you in a new light. A far lower estimation, that is!”
She ground her foot into him. At the same time, there was a basari sound — the towel whipped through the air. Lisara had apparently wrapped herself in a bath towel. And throughout that moment, she mercilessly kept grinding her foot in.
“Ouch! Ow ow ow, hey, seriously, that hurts!”
“Oh my, do you really think someone guilty of a sex crime has any right to complain about pain?”
“I-I couldn’t help it, okay!? Look, guys want to see a girl naked at least once a day! You can’t sleep without it!”
“That’s only because you’re a pervert, Ryousuke!”
“It’s not like I can help it! You threw away everything—everything! My DVDs, my books—everything’s gone, cleared out of my room!”
“So you decided to peep instead?”
“Damn right I did! That’s right! I have the right to see you naked, Lisara!”
He shouted from the depths of his soul. Let this libido reach her!
“No, that’s wrong. What I wanted… was to see your naked body, Lisara!”
“Wha—”
In that moment, Lisara’s legs lost their strength. Not letting the opportunity slip away, Ryousuke slipped out from under her foot and stood up. Before him stood Lisara, her wet crimson hair wrapped in a towel, her slender body hidden beneath a bath towel. Her slightly flushed skin… was incredibly cute.
“Fuu…”
A sigh of bliss and satisfaction escaped him.
“W-What’s with that smug smile!?”
“Men—no, humans—smile when they see something beautiful or good. It’s just how we are.”
“Beautiful… wha—wait, that’s…”
For some reason, Lisara seemed flustered.
“If I had to say… your chest could use a bit more volume, though.”
“──!!”
“It’s hard to tell if there’s any curve at all through the bath towel—gahh!”
Crack. His skull screamed. In a flash, Lisara’s right hand had clamped down on Ryousuke’s face.
“I-Iron Claw is not okay! That hurts! It really hurts, my face is getting warped!”
“Fufufufufu… I was too soft on you. From now on, before I take a bath, I’ll make sure to drain it from you… to prevent you from committing any more sins.”
“Drain it!? H-Hey, stop! Don’t take away my life’s purpose—noooooo!”
He could feel the 《Gram》 embedded in his soul pulsing with a dokun. It wasn’t a mechanical sensation — it felt alive, organic. Slowly, steadily, he could feel his soul being drained of energy.
He wanted to resist. But even that urge was slipping away, replaced by creeping resignation.
“That’s enough.”
Muttering, Lisara finally released her right hand from Ryousuke’s face.
“Ugh… uuugh…”
His body wouldn’t respond. His knees gave out. Reaching out for support—
“Eh?”
What he grabbed onto was cloth. Basari — the bath towel fell right in front of him. Lisara scrambled to press it down, but only managed to cover her lower half in time.
What leapt into view was—
“Boobs?”
“Kyaaah!?”
Lisara let out a shriek like a girl and covered her chest.
That desperate motion to protect her modesty was absurdly fetish-inducing.
“U-Uooooooooooooh, praise be to girls!”
Dokun! Wild, raw power surged within him, swelling, rising with full force.
“W-Why…? No way… how can this be…?”
Lisara, flustered, stumbled a step forward, covering her chest as she leaned her forehead against Ryousuke’s chest. The strong scent of shampoo and conditioner. And above all, the warmth of a girl fresh out of the bath—enough to make his nose bleed.
“Could this… could this be an OK signal? I want the world to hear me now! I was born a man and I regret NOTHING!”
“Gram is trembling… No way… I can’t believe this. His spirit power is overflowing…”
“Lisara, your chest may be… underwhelming. But I’m a big-hearted man who can overlook such things. Now come—let’s climb the stairs to adulthood together! Let’s enjoy this!”
Kakiin!
“UGOHH!!”
Lisara’s knee landed a clean hit on Ryousuke’s most important part—currently in full readiness. He crumpled to the ground, twitching, unable to do anything but convulse.
“I don’t believe it. I’ve heard that arousal can temporarily restore spirit power, but to actually overflow with it just from seeing a chest? Or… or is this what all boys are like?”
That muttered question never reached Ryousuke’s ears as he writhed in agony.
※ ※ ※
“Hey, did something happen?”
That morning, on the way to school, Mina asked Ryousuke in a small voice. Ever since Mina joined them about five minutes ago, Lisara hadn’t said a single word to Ryousuke. In fact, she hadn’t said anything to him even back at the house. Whenever Ryousuke tried to talk to her, she just glared coldly at him with a sharp stare.
There was no mistaking it—she was definitely still angry about last night. The only conversation they had that morning went like this:
“『Your lunch.』”
“『Ah, thanks.』”
That was when she handed him the lunchbox he had forgotten to put in his bag. After what happened last night, he didn’t think she’d make him lunch, so it caught him off guard.
‘Though… the contents are kinda worrying…’
“Ryousuke-kun, what’s wrong? Something definitely happened, didn’t it?”
Mina peered at him with a worried look.
“No, I mean, it’s not that big a deal. Just, you know… a little youthful drama?”
“Hm. That was a little drama, huh?”
Lisara turned around and her gaze was ice-cold.
“Lisara-san?”
“Mina-san, if you walk next to a sex offender like him…”
“W-Walk next to him?”
Mina timidly repeated the words.
“You might get pregnant. It’s safer to stay away.”
“R-Really!?”
Startled, Mina turned to look at Ryousuke.
“Like hell that’s true!!”
Ryousuke shouted instinctively, only for Lisara to shoot him another frosty glare.
“Shut it, you sex offender. Mina-san, the pregnancy thing was a joke, but seriously, stay away from him. Walking next to someone like that is like taking a nap in front of a starving lion.”
“Uh, so that means… I’d get eaten?”
“Yes, exactly. Though probably not in the way you’re imagining.”
“T-That’s not true! I-I know that the word【eat】can have, um, you know… that kind of meaning!”
Mina’s face turned bright red as she protested.
“A-And besides, I…”
She started mumbling something else, but—
“Anyway! Let’s walk together, Mina-san, okay?”
Lisara forcefully took her hand and pulled her to walk beside her. Then she waved Ryousuke off with a shoo-shoo gesture, signaling him to go away.
“Ugh… that’s so cruel…”
Mina looked back at him every now and then, worried, but there was no way she could resist the overwhelming stay-away-from-Ryousuke aura radiating from Lisara’s entire body. Rejected and alone, Ryousuke trudged along behind them.
Maybe it was the awkwardness, but the usual time it took to get to school felt way longer than normal. When he finally passed through the school gates—
“Oh my, has she already grown tired of the dull, vulgar boy?”
It was Tamano.
As always, his hair was perfectly styled, and he had a charming smile on his face. With one leg bent, he leaned casually against the wall next to the gate. If Ryousuke were to pose like that, he’d look ridiculous—but with someone like Tamano, the impression was completely different. Girls passing by on their way to school glanced his way and squealed kyaa kyaa as they went. Tamano clearly didn’t mind the attention, smiling slightly in response.
“If you don’t have any business, could you not call out to me?”
“Fufu, there’s no need to be so cold, Lisara-kun.”
“I can’t think of a single reason not to be cold.”
Without even turning to face Tamano, she replied flatly. Despite her attitude, Tamano didn’t look discouraged in the slightest. That only made Lisara’s irritation visibly rise.
Poor Mina, caught between the two of them, looked pale and flustered.
“I admit, I may have been a bit too hasty yesterday. I’m reflecting on that.”
“Oh my, so you do know the word【reflect】.I guess you’re a little smarter than a monkey.”
A faint crack formed in Tamano’s smile. But even then, he swallowed it down and kept smiling.
“I heard, Lisara-kun… that you’re looking for someone.”
“Maybe you’re just imagining things.”
“No, I don’t think so. I heard you went to see Yoshida-kun after school yesterday.”
Yoshida-kun—the ace of the baseball team. True, after school yesterday, Lisara had gone to him, firmly shaken his hand, and used the bracelet to check. His spirit energy level: 60,000.
“And I heard you also met with Hirose-kun from the second year.”
Hirose-kun—the top student in the second-year class. Of course, Lisara had shaken his hand too. His level was 50,000.
As a side note, she’d also shaken hands with Oohira. His spirit energy was 20,000—about 5,000 higher than Ryousuke’s. That result had made Ryousuke cry.
“Don’t you think the people you’ve chosen to greet are a little… biased?”
“Do you?”
“Oh yes. According to my research, only three people have received a visit from you: Yoshida-kun, Hirose-kun, and me.”
“I’ve just been busy adjusting to school life. That’s all.”
“Fufu, there’s no need to lie—I can see right through it.”
Tamano stepped forward, still wearing a gentle smile.
“You’re looking for someone special. Someone extraordinary in this academy.”
“──!”
Lisara’s shoulder twitched. She stared at Tamano with guarded eyes.
“You’re searching for a man worthy of you. And that’s why—naturally—it’s me who suits you best. This appearance, this wealth, my grades, and the physique of a boxing club captain. Every part of me is top-tier. If you date me, I can guarantee you a rose-colored school life.”
Overflowing with confidence. He was completely drunk on his own delusion. And somehow, despite only meeting her yesterday, he’d already convinced himself they were meant to be a couple. Lisara let out a light sigh—haa~.
“I’ll take you to a fine, elegant restaurant. Ah, a beach abroad might be nice too. Of course, I’ll also gift you clothes that accentuate your beauty even more. And right next to you will be me. Just imagine it—it’s the picture of a rich, fulfilling youth, isn’t it?”
Taking Lisara’s silence as a good sign, Tamano kept rambling—whether they were his hopes or just delusions, it was hard to tell.
‘Why isn’t she saying anything? Don’t tell me—even Shinigami are weak to money?’
Ryousuke’s mind recalled Lisara’s current total funds.
A mere 10,453 yen. For someone like her, a pampered Ojou-sama from the Restall family who must’ve lived in luxury, Ryousuke’s life of scraping by on supermarket time-sale discounts must be unbearable.
If that’s the case, maybe Tamano’s offer really is tempting…
“If you want, I could even get you something special for lunch today. I can just order by phone. Anything you want—you name it.”
Without saying a word, Lisara pulled a bento box from her bag.
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know which restaurant you’re talking about, but there’s nothing better than the food made by me, Lisara. Of course, I don’t intend to share it with senpai like you!”
Her nostrils flared with pride.
“W-What!? But this is top-class cuisine made by a top-class chef!”
“I don’t care how top-class it is—when I make it, even pork loin from a time-sale at 90 yen per 100 grams turns into first-rate cuisine!”
She declared boldly. (Incidentally, the bell peppers were also from a time-sale.)
“I see… So that bento is just leftovers from last night’s dinner. Thank god.”
Apparently, it wasn’t a revenge dish for last night’s peeping incident.
“Uuuu… Lisara-san’s handmade bento…”
Mina cast a jealous look at Ryousuke.
“What’s up, Mina? You wanna try some? I mean, it’s true—her cooking’s really good.”
“That’s not true!”
For some reason, she was sulking. Meanwhile, Tamano—
“I… I don’t get it. Why are you being so stubborn? From the way you acted earlier, it looked like you were completely fed up with that dull and vulgar guy over there.”
He was desperately trying to persuade Lisara.
“Yes, I am fed up.”
She answered without a pause, clearly and firmly. Ryousuke deflated from the lack of hesitation.
“But you see, compared to a piece of trash like senpai, this pervert over here is way better.”
“Wha—!”
“Pervert… ero… sniff…”
Sure, he was self-aware—but being told that to his face still hurt.
“F-Fight, Ryousuke-kun!”
Mina’s attempt to cheer him up… wasn’t helpful at all.
“It’s true that this Pervert here is a pervy, lewd sex offender. But at least he doesn’t try to hide his nasty thoughts and trick girls with money like senpai does.”
“T-That’s only because he doesn’t have any money!”
“True. And his intelligence is also questionable when it comes to scheming.”
It was a brutal assessment.
“Ryousuke-kun! I know you once got an 83 on a math test!”
Mina was referring to an event from third grade. Since then, Ryousuke had never scored in the 80s again…
“But even if he did have money and brains, I know he’d never stoop to something like what senpai is doing.”
Lisara turned to look at Ryousuke, a bitter smile on her face.
“Hey, Mina. Honestly, I don’t have much confidence in myself. If I were handsome and rich, I feel like I’d fully exploit it and go on a total peach-colored paradise spree.”
“Fufufu. Mina agrees with Lisara-san. I don’t think Ryousuke-kun would do something like that.”
“Really…?”
Ryousuke had absolutely zero confidence in that statement.
“Totally. You’d still get called Pervert either way.”
“Even Mina’s calling me Pervert now…”
“Ah, s-sorry!”
Mina’s apology couldn’t reach him through the pain of reality—Ryousuke shed a single tear.
“Y-You’re saying that a vulgar pervert like him is better than me!?”
“Yes, I am. If Ryousuke’s vulgar, then senpai is scum. The kind of scum who tricks girls and gets off on it—a total trash of a man.”
Tamano trembled, his body shaking with rage. It seemed his overwhelming self-confidence had finally reached its breaking point.
“And I’ve been so civil until now!”
“Oh please, I’m the one who’s been civil.”
“What did you just say!?”
Tamano clenched his fist in fury. Muscles tensed under his short sleeves.
“Senpai, stop—!”
He moved on instinct. Ryousuke grabbed Lisara’s shoulder, pulling her behind him and stepping forward to shield her.
“Out of the way, you vulgar piece of trash!”
That one yell—brimming with rage—was enough to make his legs tremble. Honestly, it was terrifying. Tamano’s angry face was so scary that Ryousuke’s gaze darted around, unable to look straight.
Still, Ryousuke didn’t move.
“U-Uh, y-you know, people are watching. Someone as high-class as you, senpai, should have… um, a big heart, right? Please show some generosity—?”
“Fufufu, I’ll make it disappear. But first, you should worry about yourself.”
Wearing a savage grin, Tamano grabbed Ryousuke by the collar with both hands and lifted him. He really was the boxing club captain—not just in name—easily lifting Ryousuke off the ground.
“Hii!”
Regret. Immense regret. Why hadn’t he tucked tail and run? Why didn’t he immediately drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness? Maybe it’s still not too late… So with that—
“A-Ah, um, I’m so sorry! I tried to act cool, that’s all!”
He tried apologizing.
“Too late!”
“Ggehh!”
His neck was being tightly squeezed, and a strange screech slipped out of him. Hearing it, Lisara suddenly fufu-ed with laughter—completely out of place.
“D-Don’t laugh while I’m dying over here!”
“There are many kinds of laughter. But I suppose Ryousuke wouldn’t understand them.”
Saying something weird, Lisara gently placed her small hand on Tamano’s arm.
“What’s this?”
Tamano narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Lisara. But Lisara stared right back at him, unflinching.
“Let him go.”
“Huh?”
“I said, let go of Ryousuke.”
Her gaze was cold. But it was fundamentally different from the gaze Ryousuke had been receiving from her all morning. This wasn’t just cold—it was the freezing stare of someone who saw the other as utterly beneath them. A gaze of contempt. A gaze that looked down from far above. That iciness made Tamano groan slightly.
“W-What…”
Ryousuke could tell—because he was the one being grabbed by the collar. Tamano was trembling slightly.
“Let go.”
She didn’t raise her voice. It was quiet, calm.
Tamano resisted—perhaps for less than a second. Then his strength drained as if collapsing inward, and Ryousuke was released. As if to drive the point home, Lisara simply told him【Move aside】. Tamano, already broken, had no will left to oppose her.
“What a waste of time over something so stupid. Now I won’t be able to meet anyone this morning.”
No longer acknowledging Tamano at all, Lisara turned toward the cubby lockers while muttering complaints under her breath.
But Ryousuke couldn’t stop thinking about it.
About how Tamano, humiliated in front of everyone, now stood trembling with rage—glaring at Lisara’s back.
※ ※ ※
“Shinigami are—upp!”
Malbec-san suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and squatted down mid-sentence. Seeing her like that, Ranbashi-sensei hurriedly helped her up in a panic.
“Um, are you alright?”
“S-Sorry, Ranbashi-sensei. I think I’m feeling a little unwell.”
“Oh my, that sounds awful.”
“Ugh… why is it always me…”
Malbec-san shot Ranbashi-sensei a resentful look.
“Haa… haa… sorry, I’ll continue. About the question on whether a single grim reaper handles too many humans—upp… wheeze…”
Clinging to the teacher’s desk as if it were a lifeline, Malbec-san resumed her explanation. She wore the same seductively styled outfit as yesterday—basically, it was pretty revealing. But today, her hair was a bit disheveled, and her makeup seemed to be poorly done. She looked pale and worn out. Even her famously ample bust seemed a bit saggy…
“Grim reapers need spiritual power to exist in the human world. Upp…H-Humans constantly emit spiritual power, but when a contract is formed with a shinigami, that emitted power automatically gets supplied to the reaper. Still, one person’s output alone isn’t enough for a reaper to survive in the human world. Usually, it takes the spiritual energy of over a dozen people. That’s why a single shinigami ends up handling a lot of people. It’s not that they’re slacking off.”
Malbec-san was visibly ragged and, to be honest, not looking very sexy at all. That, to Ryousuke, was unbearably disappointing—because, for once, Lisara hadn’t drained him of his spiritual power today.
In other words: he was fully charged and enjoying checking out girls.
In fact, during first period, he’d thoroughly enjoyed watching the first-year girls in P.E., and Oohira had even given him a new commercial video of Iria-chan, which he watched during class (and got yelled at for it by the teacher).
But even with everything going right, today’s Malbec-san just wasn’t fun to look at.
“Haa~…”
Even a sigh escaped him. Lisara glanced at Ryousuke, looking genuinely surprised.
“You look disappointed. And here I thought you were really looking forward to break time.”
“Well, I mean, look at her. I mean, she’s just…”
“She’s just?”
“She looks… old.”
Thud—Malbec-san slumped to the floor. She probably hadn’t heard what Ryousuke said, though.
“Yeah… In human years, she’s apparently just shy of thirty.”
“Oh? So she’s about the same age as Ranbashi-chan. Maybe that’s why they get along.”
“Seems so. Ranbashi-sensei said they had dinner together last night.”
Minami looked back with a wry smile. Since Malbec-san was struggling to get up using Ranbashi-sensei’s shoulder for support, chatting didn’t seem inappropriate.
“Yeah, I think it was at a place called Shoutouryou near the station.”
“That’s a weird name for a shop.”
“A shop? That’s a izakaya—a pub. Makes sense now. That’s probably why Malbec-san is such a mess today.”
“Haha, probably.”
Minami nodded in agreement, but Lisara, the transfer student, didn’t seem to get it.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s got a hangover. Ranbashi-chan is known as a heavy drinker. There’s even a rumor that she can’t find a marriage partner because she drinks every guy under the table.”
“Oh, and rumor has it she always makes the guy pay the bill once he passes out.”
“That’s pretty cruel.”
While that conversation was happening, Malbec-san finally managed to cling to the desk. Dutiful Mina hurriedly shifted her gaze back to the podium.
“And that’s why each grim reaper ends up with a lot of assigned humans. However, please rest assured—grim reapers strive every day to support you all with utmost sincerity—up, nghh… so please feel confident in forming a contract.”
Hearing that, Lisara let out a short, dismissive snort through her nose.
“What’s with you?”
“It’s not her fault, but… that shinigami just fudged the explanation.”
“Fudged?”
“It’s like the chicken or the egg question. Listen…”
She lowered her voice.
“When a shinigami first comes to the human world, obviously they haven’t formed any contracts yet, right?”
Naturally—they haven’t even met a human yet.
“So, when a shinigami comes here for the first time, they bring stored spiritual energy from the Shinigami Realm. It takes about ten standard life jewels just to transfer here. To maintain existence locally, about one more. That lets them operate for around half a day. Then, with support from the organization they belong to, they rush to form as many contracts as possible. Basically, at the start, they operate on borrowed energy.”
“Like when you formed that temporary contract with me—can’t they do it that way too?”
“Don’t be stupid. That’s a high-level technique only elite shinigami like me can do—by using a powerful intermediary. No average reaper could pull that off, even if they stood on their head.”
“…That was a low-key brag, wasn’t it?”
Lisara brushed off the jab without a flinch.
“And to travel back and forth between the Shinigami Realm and the human world, they need even more contract partners. Plus, they have quotas to repay the energy they borrowed from the organization. That’s why everyone scrambles desperately to boost their contract count. If they don’t, they can’t even take a trip home.”
“Man, that whole system sounds rough.”
“It is. Life jewels are way more precious to us than humans think. That’s why shinigami who borrow but don’t repay end up in a really bad spot.”
Lisara let out a dry laugh, tinged with self-mockery.
“That’s… not exactly someone else’s problem for you, is it?”
“Exactly. I came here on my own without permission. If I don’t find the Special One before I go back, I’ll be a total disgrace.”
“Sounds tough.”
“If you really think that, then you’ll be helping me more than ever, understood?”
“Well, there’s a reward in it for me, after all.”
“Let’s hope it’s a decent request. For both our sakes.”
As she said that, Lisara’s eyes held a hint of resignation. Or rather—
—He’s totally going to wish for something perverted. When that happens, I’ll have to figure out just how badly I should beat the crap out of him.
Or so it seemed, if Ryousuke had read that look right. Maybe.
※ ※ ※
“Alright then, let’s go find someone interesting again today.”
At the same time the after-school chime rang, Lisara stood up while cracking her knuckles. In just the short time from the day before until now, Ryousuke felt like Lisara’s behavior had gotten rougher and rougher.
‘Well, aside from that time in the rain, she’s always been kinda violent. Which means… maybe this is the real her.’
As he looked up at her from his seat, Lisara asked uncomfortably.
“…What?”
“Nah, just thinking you really don’t look like an Ojou-sama.”
“Who cares. It’s not like anyone I know is watching. I can act however I want.”
“So basically, this is the real you?”
“Hmm, who knows? I’ve been playing the part of an Ojou-sama all this time… Maybe this is the real me?”
She threw the question back at him. Naturally, Ryousuke didn’t have an answer.
“I blame you, Ryousuke. Seriously. My very first real conversation in the human world was with a crude guy like you, and it totally corrupted me. My noble elegance is gone now… shiku shiku.”
“Noble elegance, huh… I guess you did kinda seem that way back in the rain… but then you turned violent right after. It’s impossible to imagine you as a noble Ojou-sama. I mean, you’re just… rough. Really rough.”
“Sorry for being rough!”
Lisara pouted with a sulky expression. For some reason, Ryousuke found that gesture kind of cute.
“Well, I think the current Lisara is fine. Seems more comfortable.”
He ended up adding that as a casual follow-up.
“Hmm, is that so.”
Yet Lisara didn’t show a hint of happiness and looked away. What a hard-to-please girl.
“Kusu.”
And yet, for some reason, Mina who had been listening nearby, found it amusing.
“W-Why are you laughing, Mina-san!”
“Fufu, it’s nothing. I just thought Lisara-san was really cute.”
She giggled softly. Ryousuke had no idea what part of Lisara was supposed to be cute. And then, with absolute confidence, Lisara declared:
“Well of course. I’m a bishoujo, after all.”
bishoujo
Though to be fair, her face was slightly red this time.
“I don’t think you’re cute at all…”
“Hmph. I don’t care what you think, Ryousuke.”
The moment Lisara stated that bluntly, Mina began giggling again.
“Mina-san! Why are you grinning like that?”
“Fufu, I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
Muttering complaints at Mina, Lisara let out a sigh and slumped her shoulders. Then, she lightly slapped her own cheek and looked down at the two of them with her usual expression.
“Come on, stand up. Today we’re going to meet the third-year Miss Momozono.”
“Ah, I’ll pass.”
“Excuse me?”
He was glared at with an intense expression.
“No, it’s not that I’m not motivated. It’s just, I’ve got class rep duties today.”
“Class rep? Who?”
“Me.”
“For where? The Loser’s Club or maybe the Gathering of Sex Offenders?”
“What the hell is that!? I’m the class rep for Class B, obviously!”
“Lies… why… Someone like Ryousuke is in a leadership position? I-is this class basically a trash heap or something?”
Lisara dramatically looked up at the ceiling and let out a terribly rude remark.
“Heh, how about that? Made you see me in a new light?”
“I don’t believe it. That’s even more ridiculous than Liú Shàn becoming Emperor.”
[Okay. Although, the novel uses the JP version【劉禅 Ryuuzen】which is 100% understable but it is hard for you(readers) to find about who is ‘Ryuuzen’ if you don’t know the kanji of his name to searched on google for more info, hence I use the simplified chinese【刘禅Liú Shàn】. More info of him and what’s the context is at the end of the chapter.
“Um, actually, Ryousuke-kun wasn’t exactly chosen by popular vote… it was decided by lottery.”
“Mina! Don’t say unnecessary things!”
“So basically, you drew the short straw?”
“Pretty much. No one wanted to do it. A recommendation would’ve caused friction, so, Ranbashi-sensei decided to settle it with a lottery.”
“In the end, Ryousuke was the unlucky one who drew the short straw for a role no one else wanted.”
“I see now. No talent, no luck either. That’s so like you, Ryousuke.”
“Shut up. Anyway, that’s the deal—I’ve got committee stuff, so I can’t come with you today. Got it?”
“Well, can’t be helped. Mina-san, would you mind showing me the way?”
“Sure, of course.”
Incidentally, Mina was in the go-home club and very free.
“Well, since she’s called Miss Momozono, I bet she’s pretty. Maybe it’s better Ryousuke isn’t there after all.”
Muttering a parting jab until the very end, Lisara left the classroom with Mina.
Fifteen minutes after that snide remark…
“It’s tomorrow…”
Ryousuke trudged down the hallway. In the student council room that smelled suspiciously of alcohol were only Ranbashi-sensei and a barely-breathing Malbec-san. When he asked what happened:
“They kicked me out of the infirmary… said I reeked of booze.”
“Ugh… haah… R-Ran, water…”
“Yes yes, Mal-san. Here, some nice cold water.”
Malbec-san, lying sprawled like a lying sprawled[大] on the floor, her large chest heaving with each ragged breath, accepted the bottle from Ranbashi-sensei, who handed it to her with devoted care.
“Ran… I’m sorry, it’s all because of me… ugh…”
“Let’s not talk about blame, Mal-san.”
And somehow, at some point, they’d started calling each other “Ran” and “Mal-san”…
“R-Ran… will you join me again tonight?”
“Of course I will, Mal-san!”
From the pair, Ryousuke learned the meeting was actually scheduled for tomorrow.
“Ugh, forgetting my own schedule…”
He was a little shocked.
“No point chasing after Lisara now either… guess I’ll head home early and take Caesar for a longer walk today. Yeah, that sounds good. If I get on Caesar’s good side…”
He might get permission to open the box of erotic DVDs.
Naturally, that permission would come from Caesar. Don’t laugh—yes, he’s asking a pet dog. But Caesar is popular. Ryousuke is not. The hierarchy of men is painfully clear, right down to the bone. As he made that sad realization—
“Ah, Ryousuke-kun!”
Mina came running down the hall. She was probably giving it her all, but it still looked slow. Even so, she was out of breath by the time she reached him.
“Haa… fuu… I-I’m so glad… I was worried you’d be in the meeting.”
“Did something happen?”
“Yeah, Lisara-san…”
“Did she cause some kind of problem?”
Like claiming she was prettier and pissing off Miss Momozono—that seemed all too likely.
“N-no! It’s Tamano-senpai… he brought some upperclassmen with him!”
“Senpai brought the other senpais? You mean the boxing club guys?”
The guys from the boxing club that Tamano led were infamous as his entourage. They didn’t get into overt trouble, but the rumors about them were endless.
“Yeah, and Lisara-san got surrounded by them and dragged off… Even the third-years pretended not to see anything…”
“I’m going.”
“Going? Where!?”
“The boxing club’s usual hangout, right?”
“B-but… tell a teacher—”
“That’s your job, Mina. Ranbashi-chan’s in the student council room. I’m going to Lisara. Girls are treasures! And violence—violence against them is the enemy of men everywhere!”
Clenching his fists, Ryousuke took off running.
“Uuuh… it’s cool, but kind of complicated…”
Mina watched his back with a conflicted look on her face.
※ ※ ※
Despite being a sports clubroom, it didn’t reek of stale sweat. In fact, it almost seemed like the air was scented with cologne.
The lockers were neatly cleaned and there wasn’t a speck of trash. A sofa and mirror sat at one end of the room, and if not for the boxing ring in the center, one might’ve mistaken the place for some sort of waiting lounge.
“So then, Tamano-senpai. Why did you bring me here?”
Lisara asked bluntly, making no effort to hide her displeasure as she faced Tamano, who was lounging on the sofa.
“Now, now, don’t scowl at me like that. I went out of my way to invite you to my private room.”
“If you expect me to be happy about being escorted by those burly goons, then you clearly need to relearn how to treat a lady from scratch. And even if I wanted to leave, you’re not planning to let me go, are you?”
She glanced behind her. A man as massive as a heavyweight loomed heavily in front of the exit.
“This feels more like a kidnapping than an invitation, don’t you think?”
“Well, I admit things got a little rough.”
Clearly irritated, Tamano snapped his fingers. A small-framed boy quickly scurried over, took a drink out of the fridge, poured it into a glass, and placed it on the table between them.
“Ah, this fridge? I had the school install it just for me.”
Even though Lisara hadn’t asked, Tamano began boasting. How the drink was a brand-name product sold only in Omotesando, how even the teachers tacitly approved, how it held everything from alcohol to other luxury items. Omotesando1
“So, what’s in this juice? Sleeping pills?”
Lisara sat in the chair the boy had pushed forward and picked up the glass. A citrusy scent floated up—clearly an orange-based beverage.
“Of course not. Just a little alcohol, that’s all.”
“A little, huh…”
She took a light sip and let out a dry chuckle. The drink was a Screwdriver—a classic cocktail made with vodka and orange juice. Also known as a【Lady Killer】. Despite the high alcohol content from the vodka, its smooth taste made it easy to get women drunk and… well, you know.
‘Tch, what a basic, textbook move. Then again, for high schoolers, this might be more than enough.’
“So, what do you think? Like it?”
“For a minor, it’s quite a bold welcome. I’m surprised.”
“Well, someone like me’s already graduated from childish high school games, you see.”
“Is that so.”
Gulping down the rest, Lisara crossed her legs. From the not-so-long skirt of Momozono Academy’s uniform, her long, pale legs were revealed, and the surrounding club members swallowed hard.
“So, enough stalling—mind telling me what this is really about?”
“Geez, you really are headstrong. But fine, it’s simple. I want you to act as my woman. That’s all.”
“Oh? Is it the booze talking? Or have your brain cells already disintegrated, causing you to go senile?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I thought I already turned you down this morning.”
“Yeah, you did.”
“So now you’re resorting to force, huh.”
Lisara glanced around at the club members and shrugged.
“Hey, I want a peaceful resolution too. But my pride was wounded and I have to mend it. The best way to do that… is for you to be my woman.”
“Ah, so you’re still holding a grudge from this morning. Got humiliated in front of everyone and now your ego’s bruised?”
“I—I have my pride and my image to maintain!”
“Ugh, what a small, pathetic guy.”
Crack. Tamano’s smile twitched. But after trembling for a few seconds, he reassembled his smirk.
“I don’t care what you think of me. But if you don’t want that vulgar one and Mina-kun to get hurt, then act like my woman”
“Tch. Trash will always act like trash no matter how far they go, huh. So? What should I do? Maybe this will satisfy you.”
Expression vanishing, Lisara stood up smoothly.
Then, without hesitation, she reached around her skirt and unhooked it without resistance.
The entire room held its breath. All eyes were glued to her. No one could say a word—not even Tamano himself.
‘If Ryousuke were watching, he’d probably say I’m lacking in emotion and scold me again. What a pervert, getting so serious only about lewd stuff.’
Lisara let out a tiny smirk before quickly wiping it away.
‘Why the hell am I thinking about that guy now?’
Her expression turned blank again.
“Should I take this off too?”
With a clarity that could be called refreshing, she casually removed her top.
‘If I knew this was going to happen, I’d have worn the custom lingerie I made. I can’t believe someone like me—Lisara—ended up flashing convenience store underwear…’
***
It was quiet.
Even though Ryousuke had crouched and snuck around to the back of the boxing club room, he couldn’t hear anything from inside. Having no choice, he carefully stretched his neck to peek inside.
And in the next moment, he had already flung open the window and leapt in.
He just couldn’t hold himself back. Those classless bastards who didn’t even know how to treat a treasure properly.
“Ryousuke!?”
The first one to notice was Lisara. Well, that’s obvious—he had dived in with such momentum that he flew right over Tamano’s head and tumbled down right in front of her.
He crashed into tables and chairs, scraped across the floor, and pain throbbed all over his body.
But he didn’t care about that kind of pain.
Ryousuke stood up as if to shield Lisara’s underwear-clad form from Tamano and the others, and declared.
“You can’t just strip her out of her whole uniform!”
“What kind of fetishist are you!?”
Without missing a beat, Lisara shot back.
Tamano’s eyes darted left and right in confusion, and the club members were also stunned, frozen on the spot.
In the meantime, Ryousuke picked up the fallen uniform jacket from the floor and gently handed it back to Lisara.
“R-Ryousuke…”
Lisara called his name, a bit surprised, and with a slightly damp tone in her voice, as she slid her arms into the sleeves. Ryousuke gave her a soft smile and said.
“Yeah, yeah, if you’re gonna take off a girl’s uniform, at the very least, leave the jacket on. It’s not about fetishes or anything—it’s just the gentleman’s code.”
He nodded with satisfaction.
“Ryousuke…”
Why did it sound kind of dry this time?
But Ryousuke didn’t care about that right now. Once again, anger welled up within him.
“Not knowing how to handle treasure like this, are you guys even men? You’re supposed to treat girls with care, dammit!”
His head hot with rage, Ryousuke continued yelling.
“Sure, she’s got a nasty personality, and yeah, she’s flat-chested, but she’s got a great face and a killer figure! Just look at this jacket over underwear combo! This is prime treasure! Trying to force yourself on that—gah, I’m so pissed off!”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m pretty pissed too.”
Lisara nodded deeply.
“Right?”
“Uh-huh. I’m super pissed off.”
Suddenly, Lisara twisted his ear hard.
“OW—OWWW!?”
“Who did you say was a nasty, flat-chested【peerless bishoujo】 huh?”
“Ow! Owowow! I was just joking! A light joke! Lisara is a peerless bishoujo with a modest bust and a feisty personality!”
“Peerless!”
“Yes ma’am! A peerless bishoujo!”
Finally, she let go.
“Well, I’ll forgive the【modest】and【feisty】parts, because I’m actually gentle and broad-minded. So? Why did you come here, anyway?”
“I mean, isn’t it obvious? Saving a captured bishoujo is always a hero’s job, right?”
Ryousuke brushed back his unkempt hair with one hand and smirked with a fu. He felt kinda cool just then.
“By the way, are you even aware of the situation? Personally, I’d recommend taking a good look around.”
Obediently, Ryousuke looked around—trying to avoid looking at Lisara’s underwear form (because he’d get smacked), he checked everything else.
The boxing club members. Ten of them. All smiling. With perfect smiles. You could tell even through their uniforms—they were ripped. They definitely had six-packs.
After taking in that situation, Ryousuke gave a small smile.
“Huh, surprising. Even knowing the situation, you still look so calm.”
“Uh, well, seems like I’m not really welcome here. So, yeah, really sorry about this.”
He bowed deeply, at a sharp 45-degree tilted and said:
“Well, anyway, I’ll just be on my way now—sorry to bother you~!”
Ryousuke hurried to leave the room.
Instantly, Lisara twisted his ear again.
“Owowow, seriously, it hurts this time!”
“Hey! Why’d you even come here, huh? Why?”
“I mean, I heard you got taken away by Tamano!”
“You were worried about me?”
“Worried, or more like… pissed off. I got mad. These dumbasses who don’t understand that girls are treasures—I just couldn’t stand it. And then I come here, and you’re in your underwear. And the manners were all wrong! So before I knew it, I’d already jumped in!”
“Ugh… feeling even a little happy was so stupid of me.”
“Huh?”
“S-H-U-T U-P.”
It was an incredibly menacing voice from Lisara. Naturally, Ryousuke was terrified and,
“I’m sorry.”
He apologized immediately without missing a beat.
“Well, if you’re that serious about your stupid beliefs, I suppose I can praise you a little for it,”
Lisara said with a wry smile, quickly shifting into a sly grin.
“Yeah. I really should praise you for one more thing.”
It was the kind of smile that gave off a very bad feeling. Like a carnivorous beast about to lick its lips in front of a feast.
“Uh, um, Lisara-san?”
“Calling forth 《Carnun Pladur》 was fine, but I didn’t have enough spiritual energy to manipulate their memories. So I was wondering what to do… but fufu, you really showed up at the perfect time.”
“Wait. Just wait a sec. Let’s calm down—look, the two of us can work together and maybe—”
“You don’t get it?”
Lisara gave a charming, very sweet smile.
“I want to beat those guys within an inch of their lives.”
She said something extremely alarming.
“Are you serious? Even after looking at me and the rest of the boxing club?”
Tamano interjected. Judging by how he’d been completely dazed until now, maybe he wasn’t very good in sudden crisis situations.
“Fufu, don’t worry. I’ll manipulate their memories so they won’t regret anything. But I’ll make sure they never forget the fear they felt toward me.”
With that, Lisara placed her hand over Ryousuke’s chest.
“It’s overflowing again… don’t tell me, just from seeing me in my underwear? At this level—hah, I could even activate《Binding Attire Disurard》…”
But she started muttering something incomprehensible with a serious look.
“Lisara?”
“Nothing. Okay, here we go, Ryousuke!”
“Even if I say no, you’re gonna do it anyway, right?”
“Fufu, your quick acceptance is admirable.”
Lisara twisted her lips into a smirk and closed her eyes.
“《Gram, Broken Sword of Gram》, awaken in the name of Lisara Restall. Offer me the strength of the soul I have cradled.”
It was a strange sensation. Not his heart, but somewhere that felt like the center of Ryousuke himself pulsed. Thump-thump, it beat violently as something was drained from him.
It was something more vital than blood. He could clearly feel it being pulled away.
“U…ugh…”
His legs lost strength and he fell to his knees. As his body weakened, Lisara gently held his head and stroked his hair.
“Don’t worry, Ryousuke. You’ll recover again by tomorrow.”
Through his blurred vision, Lisara smiled gently. She carefully sat Ryousuke in the chair she had been sitting in, then raised her right hand high.
“《Binding Attire Disurard》”
Dust and debris began swirling around Lisara. Each swirl formed into clumps, which continued to spin. Eventually, they turned into fragments that gleamed like black leather and enveloped Lisara’s body.
It was a form far removed from any image humans might imagine when they think of a shinigami.
There was no cloak—she wore a thin, black outfit that clung tightly, revealing her body’s silhouette.
Her adornments were not bones, but horns sprouting from her head and a twisted collar around her neck.
“《Carnun Pladur》, be a good child and awaken.”
Two flame serpents appeared on her raised right hand and trembled. Then, stretching to either side, they transformed into scythes.
That was the only thing that resembled the typical image of a grim reaper.
As Lisara took a step forward, her red hair swayed with her black outfit—it looked like fire.
“A-a demon?”
Tamano muttered.
“What a rude man. To call Lisara Restall, First-Class Shinigami, a demon. If I weren’t undercover, I’d have already killed you…”
Gripping the handle of her scythe, Lisara lowered her stance and spun.
“Eek!?”
Tamano crouched down, covering his head, and multiple swoosh sounds echoed.
“Well, not that it’s something pleasant to watch.”
Pants had dropped.
From all of Tamano’s club members. Not one of them could move.
Even as Lisara stood back up and hooked her scythe against Tamano’s neck, no one could move. No, they weren’t even allowed the will to resist.
If they defied her, they’d be killed.
Shinigami can’t kill humans without cause. Even knowing that, Lisara radiated enough murderous intent and overwhelming pressure to convince them otherwise.
“What should I do with this idiot, I wonder? Maybe I should cut it off and turn him into a girl—that might be fun.”
“H-hiiiii!”
Tamano, now pale as a sheet, tried to run—but the blade of the scythe touched his neck, and he froze in a panic. Where the blade grazed his skin, a few drops of blood trickled down.
“Careful now. 《Carnun Pladur》 is a good girl, but she’s a bit of a rascal who just loves to slice things up—such a flaw, really.”
As she deliberately sighed, Lisara traced Tamano’s neck with her scythe, leaving thin cuts along his skin.
Even though Tamano wasn’t bleeding that much, he looked ready to faint from anemia.
Sensing their boss’s doom, the massive guy guarding the door suddenly lunged at Lisara from behind.
“U-oooooooh!!”
“Oh? Loyal, aren’t you.”
Even while keeping the blade of 《Carnun Pladur》 at Tamano’s neck, Lisara shifted her left foot back, turning her body sideways. The man’s right fist came crashing down toward her perfect face, roaring as it came.
“No way!?”
With just her left hand, Lisara caught his punch. She gripped the thick, powerful fist and began crushing it with a crackling sound.
“M-my hand—higgh—gaaAAAAAH!”
“Oh dear, that’s no good. Crushing it entirely would be a bit too much, wouldn’t it?”
At the same time she released his fist, Lisara lifted her left leg—
──Kiin.
A sound like metal striking rang out in the mind. Her kick landed cleanly, directly between the man’s legs. The giant collapsed right there on the spot… the pitiful sobbing that followed stirred a wave of sympathy.
“Well then, I guess it’s about time I cut loose.”
“Eh? Now the real show starts?”
Tamano looked up at Lisara, stunned.
“Tamano-senpai, threatening your life once or twice isn’t nearly enough to clear out the irritation I’m feeling. I’m really sorry.”
Putting on a terribly sorrowful face, Lisara twirled 《Carnun Pladur》 high above her head. The scythe spun with a fierce howl. Despite her sad expression, she looked very pleased.
“Ryousuke, give me five minutes, okay?”
‘FIVE minutes!?’
By the time he mentally shouted that, the boxing club room had already descended into a screaming, hellish spectacle…
※ ※ ※
“Ahh, that was refreshing.”
“Ahh, that was scary.”
When the refreshed Lisara and the terrified Ryousuke stepped out of the room, they found Mina and Ranbashi-sensei standing there, pale-faced.
“You two look so pale—did something happen?”
Lisara’s expression showed she had no clue what was going on.
“Ah, um, well, you see, Sensei was called here by Ookura-san…”
“We heard an incredible scream coming from inside.”
Ranbashi-sensei and Mina glanced at each other and nodded.
“Sensei was too scared to go inside.”
The hand holding the key in Ranbashi-sensei’s grip was trembling, clattering slightly as if recalling the event.
That feeling—Ryousuke understood it painfully well. He couldn’t not understand. Watching those domineering men get utterly wrecked by Lisara’s high-pitched laughter was pure terror.
Noticing Ryousuke’s gaze, Lisara looked back at him with a rather displeased expression.
“Got a problem or something?”
“No, not at all, my Queen.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“No, it’s just an honest impression.”
“Hmm.”
Still looking somewhat unconvinced, Lisara backed off reluctantly. Then, in a whisper, she leaned in and spoke softly into his ear.
“Well, fine. But in exchange, make sure you cover for me properly, okay?”
“Me?”
“Yup. Emphasize the part where I’m the pitiful, innocent girl who was just a victim and had no responsibility at all.”
“That’s insane!”
“Well then, go ahead—start covering!”
“Eh, eeeeh!?”
Suddenly thrust in front of Mina and Ranbashi-sensei, Ryousuke was at a loss for words.
To begin with, if he were the type of guy who could think on his feet, he’d have enjoyed a far more flavorful youth.
“Kaga-kun?”
“Ryousuke-kun?”
Being looked at with puzzled faces by both of them was just making things worse. I mean, really—Ryousuke had no idea what he was supposed to say.
When he looked back, Lisara was smiling sweetly. But that smile wasn’t one of complete trust. It was a【You know what’ll happen if you mess this up, right?】kind of smile.
“Damn it, guess there’s no tomorrow for me.”
“Is something wrong?”
Ranbashi-sensei brought a finger to her lips and tilted her head.
“Did something happen?”
Mina stared intently at him…
“Ah, well, if you want to say something happened… uh, i-it was… in the clubroom…”
“「「Yeah?」」”
The two of them nodded at the same time like sisters to Ryousuke’s flustered explanation.
“A lot happened, really.”
“Senpai’s scream… it was scary…”
Mina clenched her fists tightly. Ranbashi-sensei began trembling slightly again.
“Right, right. It wasn’t just any old scream we heard.”
“Ugh… th-that scream…”
Think. Think hard. This is the boxing club. Lisara’s a beautiful girl—if you ignore her personality and chest. And the scream. Now, use those three things to come up with a story.
“W-we were boxing!”
A guy who can’t improvise—that’s Kaga Ryousuke. Behind him, Lisara was holding her head…
“I see, well, this is the boxing club after all. Makes sense, makes sense.”
“Eh?”
For some reason, Ranbashi-sensei nodded in understanding. Of course, everyone else was completely left out of the loop.
“So that’s what happened—a boxing club–hosted, First Lisara-san Battle for Her Hand! A youthful, blood-and-sweat–splattered grand spectacle!”
“Lisara’s battle for her hand?”
Ryousuke voiced his doubt and Ranbashi-sensei nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, yes! Only the one who triumphs in boxing gets the right to confess to Lisara-san! A beautiful tale where youth, pride, friendship and love all intertwine!”
Getting carried away on her own, Ranbashi-sensei clenched her fists, eyes glittering with emotion.
“Is that true, Ryousuke-kun?”
“U-uhm…”
As Ryousuke faltered, Lisara lightly jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow to cut him off.
“Yes, yes, that’s exactly it, Mina-san.”
“Hm. Is that so…”
Mina’s eyes were full of intense suspicion.
“But…I also heard a high-pitched laugh…and something about a Shinigami or whatever.”
“Ugh.”
Lisara took a small step back.
“Plus, I feel like I heard the word【Shinigami】during you two’s little chat in class.”
“Uuugh…”
“Even when I met the person you introduced me to, they seemed… off.”
“Gikuri.”
Lisara purposely vocalized her nervous flinch. She was clearly rattled.
“Hey, Lisara.”
“What, Ryousuke?”
“I think you can tell Mina. She knows a lot about the academy, keeps secrets and I trust her.”
“Ryousuke-kun…”
Mina twisted bashfully in place. Watching her, Lisara muttered:
“You’re right. Mina-san is trustworthy. Especially if Ryousuke is involved.”
She said something utterly baffling.
“L-Lisara-san!”
For some reason, Mina grew flustered, but Lisara paid it no mind, staying perfectly at her own pace.
“Mina-san, are you free tonight?”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. There are a lot of complicated matters, and I want to explain them at my house.”
“That’s my house!”
Ryousuke hurriedly corrected her, and Lisara sighed with a shake of her head.
“You’re such a detail-oriented guy.”
“At Ryousuke-kun’s house… Are you really okay with that, Ryousuke-kun?”
“I don’t mind. I mean, you used to come over all the time, right? Don’t hold back.”
“O-okay…”
“Geez, you really are such a mediocre guy.”
Lisara gave him a tired look. Not understanding why, Ryousuke blinked in confusion. Lisara let out a small sigh and shrugged, then smiled at Mina.
“Oh, and from now on, can I just call you Mina? Since we’re going to be closer and all.”
“Yes! Of course, feel free to call me whatever you like, Lisara-san!”
Mina nodded repeatedly, looking delighted.
“You know, since I’m calling you Mina, you should call me Lisara too.”
“B-but… um…”
“If you want, I’ll even throw in permission to call Ryousuke without honorifics too?”
At those words, Mina looked at Lisara with eyes full of reproach and muttered:
“U-uh… Lisara, you’re mean.”
“Fufu, sorry.”
Apparently, without Ryousuke even realizing, the two of them had become even closer. They continued chatting cheerfully together, with the occasional jab at Ryousuke drifting back as they walked away.
‘Girls are seriously impossible to understand…’
“Ryousuke! Don’t just stand there, come on!”
“She’s right! We’re leaving you behind!”
He still didn’t get it, but it was clear there was no more hierarchy between the two of them—they were already acting like true comrades in arms.
With no choice, Ryousuke let out a weary sigh and began walking.
Incidentally, Ranbashi-sensei was left behind, trembling with emotion, still deeply moved. She supposedly remained in that dreamlike state until Malbec-san arrived.
※ ※ ※
“Hmm, so this is what’s going on.”
At last managing to bear the pain and sit up, Tamano found a girl standing before him. It was someone he had never seen before—or rather, no matter how you looked at her, she didn’t resemble a high school student in the slightest. Her frilly, aristocratic-style outfit looked childish. Still, her chest was far more well-endowed than Lisara’s, and for her petite build, her body was strangely developed.
However, her voice, her face, her height—all of it made her far too small and immature to be called a woman just yet.
“What is it with you? You’ve been staring at me this whole time. It’s disgusting.”
“Tch… mouthing off like that… I’m in a seriously foul mood here, you know.”
He glared sharply at the girl. Wounded as he was, it was still the glare of a man trained in boxing—one who’d just been dragged into violence. It carried enough menace to make anyone tremble.
—Or at least, it should have.
“You look like you could be useful. Seems bringing along that little trick was worth the effort. Fufu, yes, it certainly was.”
The girl stared back at him calmly and stepped forward.
“Say, wouldn’t you like to remember the one who did this to you… and get your revenge?”
As she spoke, in her hand—at some point—was a red short sword, one Tamano had never seen before…
A Certain Monologue Between a Single Shinigami and a Single Teacher – Part 2
~ At the Station Front Izakaya 《Shoutouryou》 ~
“Puhahh! Nothing beats the taste of beer after a two-day hangover!”
“So true, Mal-san.”
“So, what were you doing earlier? Crying and trembling in the hallway like that—totally not normal, you know.”
“No no, it’s just that I happened to witness a battle of love and youth between the youngsters~.”
“Youngsters, huh… Back when I first came here, I thought I’d maybe pick up a lover or two myself.”
“A lover? As in a human one?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Can a Shinigami and a human even be in that kind of relationship?”
“Oh yes, it’s possible. We can even have children. Once we come to this world and exist here, our bodies as Shinigami take on physical human form. Although, because of that, we have to constantly consume spiritual energy.”
“Then, then does that mean humans can survive in the Shinigami realm too?”
“That’s how it works. Apparently, there’ve been a few cases in the past. Some Shinigami ended up settling in the human world, or took a human back with them to the Shinigami world. Though… most of them ended badly. Puhahh! Waiter! Another draft beer, please!”
“Um, why did they end badly?”
“Well that’s obvious. First off, lifespans are completely different. It depends on the Shinigami’s power, but we usually live several times longer than humans.”
“That makes sense~. It’d be sad if the age gap kept growing wider and wider.”
“Exactly. That’s why they even arrange mixers among Shinigami working in the human world to help with that sort of thing… Damn it all, I’m just one of the leftovers now!”
“There there, Mal-san.”
“Haa haa, ugh… a-anyway, a Shinigami falling in love with a human is taboo. It’s the first thing they teach at Shinigami school.”
“School?”
“Yes. Not everyone in the Shinigami realm is a Shinigami, after all. You only become an official Shinigami after you get licensed from a Shinigami school. That’s where you’re also assigned a rank based on your ability.”
“Is that so~. Sounds like even Shinigami have it rough in society.”
“Uuu, exactly! Listen, Ran!”
“Ah, just a sec—Waiter, one hot sake please~. So, what is it?”
“You see… I was five points short on the practical exam. Just five more points and I would’ve been third rank… Ugh, if only I had, I could’ve become a manager! I wouldn’t have to run around doing all this grunt work—I could’ve just lounged around in the Shinigami realm!”
“Oh dear, oh dear~.”
“That year just happened to have a high average score! There were all these idiots getting crazy high scores, and in a normal year I would’ve easily passed as a third-rank Shinigami! Hic, sniffle, ueeeeen, how the hell am I supposed to survive without drinking after that!?”
“Yes yes, let’s drink plenty tonight too~.”
“Damn right I’m drinking! You bet your ass I ammmmmm!”
“Ah—One order of grilled offal and horse sashimi, please~!”
“Bring it all! I want it all! I’ll take hot sake too! Bring me the damn hot sake alreadyyyy!”
And so, once again tonight, a fresh new hangover began brewing for one unfortunate soul…
TRANSLATOR NOTE:
Liu Shan is often mocked in Chinese history as a foolish or passive figure who let his ministers (especially Zhuge Liang) do everything. After Zhuge Liang’s death, Liu Shan’s rule declined even more, and he eventually surrendered peacefully to the rival state Wei, which was considered disgraceful. There’s a famous phrase associated with him: “樂不思蜀 (lè bù sī Shǔ)”, meaning “so happy that he forgot Shu,” referring to how comfortable he became living in enemy territory after surrendering.
Saying Ryousuke becoming class rep is “more ridiculous than Liu Shan becoming Emperor” IE:
“You’re even more unfit for leadership than the historical poster child for incompetence.”