The Pain of an Inferior: A Blistering Love Comedy That Begins After a Broken Heart - Chapter 41

I was an excellent person.

I could somehow tell what other people wanted through their words and attitudes.

If I let them hear the words they wanted, they ended up being happy, and they will worship me.

I could even understand what the masses want me to look like.

When I acted as they wanted, they were happy or sad to see me in videos or live broadcasts, and they could not take their eyes off me at all times.

As they kept on watching me, my fans became madly in love with me, and eventually they developed faith in me.

For me, a human being was nothing more than a puppet with visible strings.

The necessary steps varies by individual, but in the end, they can be guided to think and act as I see fit. It is not a matter of making them listen to my commands. I can make them do so spontaneously. I was a wicked woman.

The closer I was to someone who was deeply in love with me, the more they become my puppet without any doubt.

I was terrified of my fearsome ability, and thus my heart was always lonely.

There was one person I could never understand.

Obi Haruka.

My childhood friend and the love of my life.

The boy who used to go to school together with his sister Yuzurika, holding hands.

“Miyako, will you hold hands with me too?”

Haruka asks me to hold his hand. It felt so comfortable, and I remember that it calmed my heart.

My family, relatives, and other adults around me all tried to attract my attention. This was no exception for children who were close to me in age. By the time I was six years old, I was already acting in a way that people liked me, and I was very popular even though I was very young.

However, Haruka only had eyes for Yuzurika.

He had always craved for Yuzurika’s skinship, sometimes asking for a piggyback ride or a cuddle, and was so spoiled by Yuzurika that one might have suspected that he was still an toddler.

For the first time, jealousy and obsession sprouted in my heart.

I began to think that I wanted Haruka for myself.

At first, I tried to gain his favor through words and actions.

Although Haruka treated me well as a friend, he didn’t show his sweet attitude to me as he did to Yuzurika.

When I reached the limit of my jealousy, I took his lips without any hesitation.

At that moment, there was a clear switch in his consciousness.

He looked at me with eyes that recognized me as a woman. I was seven years old then.

It was a  pleasant memory that even now sends shivers down my spine.

I writhed in pleasure that was inappropriate for my age.

I was able to have skin-to-skin contact with Haruka like a lover, but still Haruka did not neglect Yuzurika.

I could not control him, even if I spoke to him the way he wanted to be spoken to and behaved the way he wanted me to behave.

Even if I tried to make him turn only to me, he would return to Yuzurika as if my efforts didn’t matter.

When I was thirteen, around the time when I was about to lose my mind due to jealousy, I finally found a way to control Haruka’s emotions.

By using Shun to fuel Haruka’s jealousy, I was able to make him put me before Yuzurika.

But that’s not all. I was able to make Haruka do whatever I wanted.

Haruka repeatedly asked me out on dates, but I let Shun follow us around causing him to despair, the flames of jealousy burning so much in his eyes was so adorable.

Ignoring even the atmosphere of the place, he was making efforts to attract my interest, even at the risk of being disliked by his classmates.

I couldn’t stop myself anymore, I made Haruka so jealous and just devoured the pleasure.

It felt so good, and I climaxed many times. In due time, I couldn’t even imagine how Haruka felt anymore.

And then I overdid it.

I had given so much priority to my own pleasure that I had neglected Haruka, and now I had to pay the price for it.

He gave up on me.

On the contrary, it seems that Haruka’s body had been defiled by Yuzurika without me knowing.

How ridiculous is that?

I could tell a lie from observing a person’s face and actions.

Yuzurika was definitely not lying.

What I wanted to be a lie was not a lie.

I was shocked as if I had been hit by a blunt instrument. I almost lost consciousness due to anemia, and suffered from nausea, vertigo, and ringing in my ears many times.

I was unable to stand up, feeling depressed, and was finally subjected to a happiness treatment procedure.

Well, it’s a matter of course.

The King would not allow a talented person like me to be unable to produce anything due to mental trauma.

Talented people must be involved in creation and the performing arts as long as they live.

The treatment given to me was Stage IV, the highest level.

My consciousness was immersed in a trance, and I could not think about Haruka or what I would do in the future. All I can do is focus on the warm, happy feeling that overflows inside me.

It is as if I am half dreaming, my consciousness is blurred and hazy.

Yet, I go on about my daily life, saying and doing the things I normally do, in a distorted and inexplicable state.

Since my behavior did not change much, no one notices anything unusual, and therefore, there is no way to stop the happiness treatment.

If someone asks me if I am receiving the happiness treatment, I can easily answer in the affirmative. However, no one suspects me. Neither my parents, friends, nor Haruka, no one noticed.

Therefore, I will not be taken to the hospital, nor will I be treated normally. Once the disease reaches Stage IV, there is no hope for a natural cure.

I am the happiest I can be right now, so I do not despair over the fact that no one will notice that I am undergoing a happiness treatment.

I will live my life as I always have and show the world… I just have to show the King.

When I witnessed the kiss between Haruka and Ise Ria at the forest school, I felt something snapped.

I should say that my consciousness became a little clearer.

I regained even a little bit of clarity of thought and found the path to the happiest world.

I am full of happiness now.

But I want to be happier.

I want to be much, much happier than I am now.

It’s going to be all right.

I’m a very capable girl.

I’m gonna be okay.

Mother, Father. Please take care.

With a wry smile, I moved forward with a spring on my step.

?

It was Sunday. Haruka sent a message to Miyako saying that they should stop walking to school together starting on Monday.

The reason was of course, related to the incident at the forest school.

According to his exhange of messages with Yunika about the situation, it was clear that Haruka’s bad reputation was spreading throughout the school. Considering his presence might affect Miyako negatively, it was only natural for them to stop going to school together.

Miyako, who was usually very perceptive, asked him for the reason why, perhaps not understanding Haruka’s intention.

[Why?]

[Because I went berserk.]

[I understand.]

Miyako was very understanding that Haruka couldn’t help but let out a smile.

The next day, Haruka gets ready as usual, said his farewell to Yuzurika, “I’m off,” and left his house.

Normally, Miyako would be there to greet him, but of course that wasn’t the case anymore.

Feeling a little fresh, Haruka heads for school.

When he entered the classroom, he could clearly feel the tension inside.

With a wry smile on his face, he walked over to his seat where Ria was waiting for him.

“Good morning, Haruka”

“Good morning, Ria.”

Heart marks were visible in Ria’s eyes. Haruka wanted to tell her that she might as well uninstall it since it showed up even though they haven’t done anything yet.

What bothered Haruka more was that Ria’s voice was somehow wet, sticky, and erotic in every casual chat she made.

Ria’s attitude had changed so much that Haruka was worried that a perceptive person might notice.

“Haruka, maybe next time we should go to a place with a big bath, a lotion bath would be fun, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, that sounds nice.”

In the middle of the day, they were already discussing about the next love hotel they would go to.

Haruka became a little nervous, wondering what would happen if Yunika or Shinku would notice.

If they asked him, he would just admit to their relationship, so there shouldn’t be any more problems. However, he felt a little guilty since the first time he held Ria was after they had just played together with Yunika and Shinku.

His intention was to spend a little more time as a lover before moving on to the next step. However, the truth is that the moment he was alone with Ria, he couldn’t resist and asked her out.

Haruka suddenly turned his eyes to the upper caste group where Shun and the others were.

His eyes meet with Miyako’s who is staring at him.

When Haruka waved his hand to her as a greeting, she smiled with her eyes narrowed in return.

Miyako’s face is as divine as ever, he thought.

While he was gazing at Miyako, Yunika suddenly spoke to him.

“Good morning, Obi, Ria.”

“Good morning, Yunika.”

“Good morning, Uni-chan.”

“Who’s an urchin?”

Haruka asked what she wants.

“If you two are free, come hang out with us in our game club after school today.”

“I don’t mind, but Claudia-san says there are only hardcore players there.”

“It’s fine, unless there’s a big tournament coming up, in which case, we’ll all just be randomly running through the ranks.”

“I’ll go then, what about you Ria?”

“Sure, I’ll go. If you’re going.”

“Then, it’s decided then!”

Yunika closes the conversation with a happy expression on her face.

“Later, Yunika-san. I don’t want you to come here too often while you’re at school. Let’s just talk by message.”

“Why?”

Yunika looked doubtful at Haruka’s advice.

“No, you see… After what happened at the forest school, I’m afraid that Yunika-san might get involved…”

Seeing Haruka’s anxious expression, Yunika laughed brightly.

“Oh, I see…”

“That’s… please don’t make light of it.”

“Don’t worry. If anyone would mess around with me, Obi will beat them up, won’t you? Like you did with Ria.”

“I’ll get expelled.”

“Ahaha that’s true.

Well, I was bullied in elementary school, so I’m okay with getting inconvenienced if it’s a little bit. See you then.”

After saying something outrageous, Yunika goes back to her seat.

As Yunika took her seat, she watched Shinku and Akito as the two were having a pleasant conversation. Suddenly, the male student who was seating next to her started talking.

“Shiono-san.”

“Hmm? What is it Suzuki-kun?”

“I don’t think you should get involved with that guy.”

A boy named Suzuki Kazunari reprimands Yunika for talking to Haruka.

Kazunari’s face turned pale as he saw Yunika’s expression change from a smile to a grim one in a blink of an eye.

“Thanks for the warning!”

Yunika then turned away from him, activated her Talisman, and started surfing the web.

Feeling offended, the boy slumped his shoulders while feeling hatred towards Haruka.

After a while, it was time for homeroom, and Kanna, the homeroom teacher, came into the class.

Kanna looks around the class, then turns to Shun, asking him a question.

“Uta-san is not here even though she’s supposed to be present…”

“She was here a few minutes ago… Maybe she went to the restroom?”

When Kanna asks about Miyako’s absence, Shun replies in a calm and nonchalant manner, although he was puzzled.

Yes, she might have gone to the restroom, Haruka thought so too.

As Haruka gazes out the windows because of boredom, he heard the sound of a windowpane breaking from the upper floor.

A black shadow came into his sight.

The black shadow was undoubtedly Miyako.

For a moment, the gazes of Miyako, which was falling headfirst due to gravity, and those of Haruka intertwined.

Miyako, with an arc around her mouth and a happy expression on her face, instantly disappears from the sight of Haruka, and then she falls toward the ground.

A familiar tail follows Miyako, trying to catch her legs. But just before it reaches her, the tail reached its maximum distance and fails to catch her.

“Miyako?!”

The window is thrown open with a force like a slam, and he looks at the ground.

Miyako was lying on the ground, glancing up the sky while looking like a large reddish-black flower.

Haruka left the classroom in a panic.

He still doesn’t fully understand what’s going on. His head was a confused mess. When he thought that his vision was blurred, he burst into tears and could not stop them.

He wiped his tears with his sleeve and went outside without any shoes on.

“Miyako!!”

Sumireko was already standing beside Miyako.

She rushes over to Haruka and looks at him in surprise.

“Do you know her?”

“We’re childhood friends!”

He returned a few words and took the collapsed Miyako in his arms.

Her body is surprisingly cold, and her lightless eyes are staring into the void.

Although it still retained it’s original shape, her head was seriously bleeding.

“She’s already dead….”

She tells Haruka, as if to admonish him.

“W-why….”

“My tail couldn’t reach her in time… Forgive me, my reaction wasn’t fast enough.”

Holding Miyako in his arms, Haruka’s mind went blank. He could only look up listlessly at Sumireko.

There was not a shred of blame in his heart. There was only one question. Why did Miyako jump off the roof?

Tears stream down Haruka’s cheeks and drip down his chin, wetting his face.

Little by little, the school became noisy.

Haruka held Miyako in his arms as she turned cold, unable to move.

“Why…? Miyako… W-why did you do this…?”

Haruka just kept asking to the silent Miyako.

He kept repeating “Why?” like a broken record until Miyako was retrieved by the paramedics.