"Skirt... my skirt?"
Hearing those words, Yoru Moonshadow looked at Yukinoshita's expression and couldn't help but feel a laugh creeping up on him.
Ah, he probably was already smiling. No wonder her gaze had turned murderous.
"Beg me." That's what Yoru's mischievous look seemed to say.
Yukinoshita bit her lip, eyebrows furrowing into sharp angles. Her face showed a blend of shame and indignation. She glared at him one last time, then carefully reached her hands toward the source of her unease. Judging from her position, it seemed the suspicious black shape was somewhere near her right thigh, just below the hem of her skirt. As her slender fingers touched the fabric
"Eek!"
A soft, adorable squeal slipped out, followed by a visible shudder that sent goosebumps across her smooth skin.
She was really, truly afraid of that thing. So scared she couldn't even move.
Well then, seeing her like this still cold-faced but on the verge of tears Yoru couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her.
"I'll help you."
"Help me? What, just so you can cop a feel of my smooth, delicate skin?"
She didn't even hesitate to throw that accusation at him.
Yoru made a show of grinning wickedly and pretended he was about to lift her skirt... but of course he didn't go through with it. He wasn't that depraved.
Even though she said she didn't want help, she was glaring at him with eyes that clearly meant "just hurry up already" and also "if you try anything, you're dead."
Without giving her time to protest, he moved in and snatched the dark object in one swift motion.
Rip.
With that sudden tearing sound, the hem of her white skirt split from where the black shadow had been, revealing a dramatic tear and in the process, exposing a pair of flawless pale legs that looked sculpted by an artist.
And yes... panties.
What she wore was… surprisingly innocent. The kind of thing that made Yoru's mind go completely blank not from lust, but disbelief
Yoru was speechless. It was kind of endearing. A little too cute, actually.
He looked down at what he'd pulled out. It was a black hair ornament charm definitely not some kind of monster. It must have gotten caught on her skirt at some point, and after getting spooked earlier, she'd just assumed the worst.
"I'm going home."
Yoru didn't linger. He was already at the door. Staying one more second would probably get him stabbed. Yukinoshita had already picked up a kitchen knife and was smiling at him in the most terrifyingly cheerful way possible.
That's what people call "going yandere," right? He bolted before she could launch an attack.
Back in his own apartment, Yoru had just started tidying the living room when
Ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong!!
The doorbell rang with the urgency of a SWAT raid.
Was Yukinoshita here to finish the job?
He cautiously peered through the peephole. She was fully suited up like she was entering a biohazard zone, wrapped in protective gear from head to toe.
Didn't look like she was holding any sharp weapons though. He cautiously opened the door.
She walked in without a word and began cleaning his apartment.
Out of goodwill? Of course not. She just wanted to make sure the terrifying creature from earlier didn't wander back into her place.
Smack!
Yoru twitched as she annihilated a bug with a slap full of murderous intent. Since it was his home, apparently she didn't mind flattening it right onto the floor.
Still... where had that horror come from?
Ah. That's right. On the day he vanished, he'd forgotten to take out some trash. One slip-up and this happens. But usually, he wasn't the type to let his place get filthy.
"You still in elementary school or what?"
That was Yukinoshita's judgment after spotting a giant, blood-red magic circle drawn in marker on the living room floor. Her expression was pure pity.
Her face clearly said: "You're in high school and still this deep into your chuuni phase? Your brain is beyond saving."
She only cleaned the living room and kitchen. Yoru's bedroom was off-limits a sacred space. Yukinoshita didn't want to go in either. Probably feared she'd see something so gross it would scar her for life.
Later, Yoru was signing a transfer contract.
Seriously? He was just giving her that giant stuffed toy Mr. Pan that had been lying around in his room. Did she have to make it such a formal process?
He'd won it in a lottery once. It was huge and took up too much space. Yukinoshita seemed to like plushies, so he gave it to her as thanks for cleaning.
Apparently not wanting him to take it back later, she insisted on signing a formal transfer agreement.
When he told her he was giving it to her, she'd hesitated briefly, then accepted it but not without making a snide comment.
"You thought I'd refuse, didn't you? Then you'd say something like 'fine, I'll just throw it away' to manipulate me into accepting it, right? Trying to win favor by pretending to retreat? Sorry, but I hate people like that the most."
She looked at him like she'd seen right through every tactic in the book.
Seriously... where did she get all these conspiracy theories? Yukinoshita Yukino was one dramatic woman.
The now-spotless living room still held the faint scent of air freshener... and maybe a hint of a girl's perfume?
Now alone, Yoru sat on the couch, resting his chin in one hand.
"So... what should I try next?"
Even now, he hadn't fully accepted things.
Time passed.
After struggling all night, Yoru finally gave in to reality. This body of his was just a completely normal human body.
His attempts had failed. This world really was a plain, mundane one.
No supernatural powers. No magic. It was all just fantasy here.
There was no point in trying to distort reality.
He should just live out this ordinary life peacefully. And when the time came...
"Yaaaawn..."
He let out a tired yawn and stretched lazily. Sleepiness was setting in.
Huh? A soft glow?
Ah, it was the Demon King's Ring on his left index finger, catching the light and refracting it into eerie reflections.
The design looked like a creature biting its own tail an Ouroboros.
He stared at it absentmindedly.
"Mm..."
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him. Yoru felt his entire spirit drain away, overwhelmed by a wave of drowsiness.
But... something was different.
He'd somehow connected with the Demon King's Ring.
A small, swirling portal appeared in the air, about the size of a bowl. The next second, dozens of tiny perfume-bottle-sized crystal flasks began pouring out of it, pelting him and making stars dance before his eyes.
He collapsed in a heap.
What had just happened?
He'd burned through almost all his mental energy to form a link with the ring. It wasn't enough to fully activate it, but just enough to open a small channel allowing some of its stored items to fall through.
Unfortunately, this sliver of mental strength had only reached the very edge of the ring's internal space where massive quantities of potions were stockpiled. The gate only lasted a few seconds.
What spilled out were essentially blue mana potions like the kind used to restore MP in games.
Unbeknownst to him, nestled deep within that pile of bottles... was a single egg.
If he were still awake and put his ear close to it... he might have heard the faint mewling of a kitten from inside.