TRIGGER WARNINGS: Gaslighting, Manipulation, Assault, Ignoring Boundaries
Ch. 7: Pain in the Chest
Inui: “Hey, you…”
He approached me with that low voice dripping with honey.
I came to my senses as his shadow fell over my face and pushed against his chest.
OO: “…! Please stop…!”
Inui: “Why? You don’t have to worry, I’ll treat you right too.”
(‘Too’ he says…)
At those words, I felt a throbbing pain in my chest.
Inui: “Since you’re going to become my wife, we’ll naturally be spending a lot of time together, so it’s not a problem, right? Besides, I’m pretty interested in you.”
OO: “Wife…! You’re saying it like it’s already been decided.”
From within his arms, I frantically turned my head away.
Inui: “Both today and yesterday, you’ve refused me. I guess that kind of consecutive rejection really does sting.”
I heard him laugh, and his hands pull away from my face.
OO: “I’m sorry, please excuse me…!”
Seeing my chance, I ran from the room.
Ch. 8: An Announced Parting
Inui: “Both today and yesterday, you’ve refused me. I guess that kind of consecutive rejection really does sting.”
The next day…-.
(Ah…)
I was walking down the corridor when I saw Inui coming from the opposite direction, accompanied by a servant.
Inui: “Morning.”
OO: “…good morning.”
He smiled as if nothing had happened between us.
Bit…
Inui: “I’m sorry.”
(Eh…?)
Inui: “I got carried away. Forget it even happened.”
It was a bit anticlimactic that he was so quick to apologize.
OO: “It’s fine…”
Inui: “Also I know I said you should attend the prayer ceremony, but you don’t have to force yourself to stay here.”
For some reason, he smiled, and I didn’t know how to respond.
(I guess… that’s true. I’ve already imposed on them for a number of days now…)
Though I was at a loss, I looked up and found him staring fixedly at me.
(Huh…?)
Seeing him smile the way he was gave me a weird sense of déjà vu…
Inui: “See ya.”
OO: “Ah…”
Before I could say anything, Inui left with a gallant gait.
(Why…)
I felt that same dull throbbing in my chest and gently placed my hand over my heart.
Servant: “Lady OO, Lord Inui may have said it like that, but… in my opinion, I truly believe he would like you to hear him play the family shamisen.”
(Well, it’s true I want to see the ceremony….)
I recalled the conversation I’d just had with Inui and my heart sank.
OO: “But I’ve been a nuisance…”
The servant smiled knowingly and spoke to me kindly.
Servant: “I have served Lord Inui for a very long time, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed this.”
OO: “The first time…?”
Servant: “Lord Inui has never concerned himself with worrying like this about a woman before.”
(That’s…)
A faint ray of hope bloomed in my chest.
Servant: “If you truly do leave, Lady OO, I’m certain I will be scolded for it later. For my sake, please consider staying for just a little longer.”
(Is that alright though? But…)
I remembered how Inui had looked practicing alone late at night.
(I don’t want to leave yet either. I want to see him perform at the prayer ceremony with my own eyes.)
Pushed on by the words of the servant, I agreed…-.
…
……
Then, on the day of the prayer ceremony…-.
All those who had come to see the ceremony were naturally drawn to the stage as Inui and the others performed their powerful and brilliant piece.
When the performance was over, the kagura dance hall was filled with applause.
Inui: “…”
(Ah…)
Suddenly our eyes met.
His expression softened, overflowing with his usual confidence…
It wasn’t just that I’d been moved by the wonderful performance, something else caused my face to heat up…-.
…
……
When the prayer ceremony had finished…-.
I hesitantly went to where Inui was.
Inui: “…you came.”
Aware that I was there, Inui’s mouth quirked up into what appeared to be a self-confident grin.
Inui: “It was moving, wasn’t it.”
OO: “Yes. Um, I don’t know how to say this, but…-.”
I tried to express how I felt.
Inui: “I’m sorry for detaining you for so many days. I’ll make some preparations for souvenirs after this. Take them with you when you leave.”
OO: “Eh…”
He said it like we were saying goodbye, and I felt that stabbing pain in my chest.
Inui: “…what’s wrong?”
I couldn’t speak as he turned that questioning gaze towards me…
Inui: “…until we meet again Princess.”
He spoke with a formal tone before leaving.
(Inui…?)
The words I couldn’t get out remained in my heart, and I was overcome with an indescribable wave of loneliness.
Ch. 9: A Shadowed Heart
Unable to sleep that night, I went out into the garden.
Even looking at the beautiful flowers bathed in moonlight, I couldn’t dispel the shadow over my heart.
————————
Inui: “I’m sorry for detaining you for so many days. I’ll make some preparations for souvenirs after this. Take them with you when you leave.”
————————
Thinking of how easily he’d said goodbye made my heart ache again.
(But before, I was the one that rejected Inui… right?)
————————
OO: “…! Please stop…!”
Inui: “Why? You don’t have to worry, I’ll treat you right too.”
Inui: “Both today and yesterday, you’ve refused me. I guess that kind of consecutive rejection really does sting.”
————————
I recalled the words he’d said as if they held little importance.
(Was he really hurt? No way… I mean, this is Inui…)
————————
Inui: “You’re the type of person who would definitely oppose affairs and stuff right? So, I’ll stop.”
————————
Feeling more depressed, I let out a deep sigh.
(There are a lot of women around Inui, right?)
Thinking about that caused my chest to feel like it was in a vice.
(I just don’t understand Inui… but being unable to see him like this…)
I took a deep breath as if trying to keep down the desolation that ruled my heart.
(…alright, I’m going to go see Inui one last time.)
Having made my decision, I headed towards his room.
Ch. 10: Unfair Tactic
I arrived at Inui’s room and he invited me in.
Inui: “To think the Princess of Traumere would visit a man’s room in the middle of the night… what’s wrong?”
OO: “Well…”
Now that we were face-to-face, I didn’t know what to say, so I kept my mouth shut.
Inui: “…”
His deep-colored eyes stared straight at me.
(I can’t get the words out…)
I was aware of the heat growing in my cheeks and as I was about to turn my gaze away…-.
Inui: “You probably hate me, right?”
I shook my head at his unexpected question.
OO: “That’s not true.”
Inui: “Oh? But you don’t like it when I get close to you. And didn’t you say you wouldn’t be my wife?”
OO: “That’s…”
————————
Inui: “I’m sure the women around me can’t cook.”
Inui: “Since you’re going to become my wife, we’ll naturally be spending a lot of time together, so it’s not a problem, right?”
OO: “Wife…! You’re saying it like it’s already been decided.”
————————
(I did say that, but…)
Inui: “OO?”
Inui looked at me as I sunk into silence.
OO: “That’s because it was upsetting to think I’d just be one of your many women… it wasn’t that I hated you, but…”
Inui: “…but?”
(Eh…)
It was the first time I’d ever heard his voice that soft, and it made my heart pound.
Inui: “Then, what is it if you don’t hate me?”
(I…)
For some reason, I was so flustered that I couldn’t get out a single response.
As if encouraged by his calm gaze, I slowly started to speak.
OO: “…I like you.”
I summoned up my courage and said it, and saw an evil glint in his eye.
Then Inui smiled in satisfaction and patted my head.
(Eh…?)
I’d braced myself for a reaction, and in the next instant…-.
OO: “…!”
Inui suddenly placed a kiss on my face and I looked up at him in shock.
Then his face suddenly came in closer, and this time he stole my lips in a kiss…
Inui: “Say it again?”
He spoke with a bewitching smile and I panicked.
OO: “No way…”
Inui: “Why? Once more.”
His lips pulled up into a grin, as if enjoying my reaction…
OO: “…I won’t say it.”
I tried my best to resist, and his smile only grew.
Inui: “Hmmm?”
Suddenly I was forcefully pulled into his arms…
OO: “… Inui…?”
I was pushed down before I’d realized what was happening, and found myself looking up to see a coquettish grin.
Inui: “I’m not going to let you run away today. Well, you’ve shown considerable self-awareness, so I suppose you wouldn’t run.”
OO: “Self-awareness…?”
Inui: “You were lonely and didn’t like that we couldn’t see each other, right?”
OO: “Eh… wait, does that mean…”
(Does that mean he pushed me away on purpose…?)
I frowned, filled with a mixture of emotions realizing that he’d successfully gotten me to confess my feelings.
Inui: “Don’t be mad. It’s because I was desperate.”
(Eh…?)
Inui: “…I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could get you to approach me. It’s the first time I’ve been so desperate for a woman.”
OO: “Um, does that mean…”
I felt a glimmer of hope at his words.
(Does that mean Inui likes me…?)
Inui: “I’m not going to say it. Because you won’t.”
OO: “I already said it.”
Inui: “Then say it again, what you said before.”
Inui smiled, clearly enjoying himself.
OO: “Inui… you’re mean.”
Inui: “Are you only realizing that now? Make sure you remember it. This is the kind of man I am. But regardless of any serious tactics, I…-.”
He didn’t finish telling me the last part…
His breath was hot, and he finally placed his lips over mine.
(He’s so mean…)
As I thought it, I felt my desires set ablaze by his bewitching smile…
At long last, it felt like I was sinking as I gave myself over to him, body and soul.
END
Secret Story: A Serious Scheme
Another yearly prayer ceremony had ended.
While enhancing the strong and special emotions that came with bringing the year to a close, I had played my shamisen.
(…it’s over.)
As I let out a small sigh, OO came over.
Inui: “…you came.”
Her eyes were sparkling and I smiled.
Inui: “It was moving, wasn’t it.”
OO: “Yes. Um, I don’t know how to say this, but…-.”
I interrupted her as she spoke with excitement.
Inui: “I’m sorry for detaining you for so many days. I’ll make some preparations for souvenirs after this. Take them with you when you leave.”
OO: “Eh…”
Seeing her eyes flicker with pain, it wasn’t as if my own heart wasn’t breaking.
(But I can’t.)
For the last few days, I had made a conscious effort to avoid OO.
Though it was clear she held affections for me, she hadn’t yet acknowledged it.
(Forget acknowledging… I don’t think she’s even realized it.)
I looked at OO, only half paying attention.
Inui: “…what’s wrong?”
She looked so sorrowful but refused to speak…
(I guess that’s to be expected.)
Inui: “…until we meet again Princess.”
I said it like pouring salt over an open wound and turned my back on OO.
Though I could feel her eyes on me, I returned to where the other musicians were without looking back…-.
…
……
That evening…-.
I was in my room, thinking back on what had happened.
As I remembered the look of pain on her face, I was filled with regret, and a little sense of superiority.
(That was a pretty heartless thing to do, even for me.)
I smiled to myself, as if praising what I had done, when I heard a strained voice calling to me from the other side of the sliding door.
I opened the door and there was…-.
(…see?)
I tensed up my expression, which had naturally relaxed, and asked her a question.
Inui: “To think the Princess of Traumere would visit a man’s room in the middle of the night… what’s wrong?”
OO: “Well…”
She hesitated as if unable to find the words she ought to say.
(…geez, you sure need a lot of help.)
Inui: “You probably hate me, right?”
I tried asking a malicious question to see what she would do, already knowing the answer…
OO: “That’s not true.”
OO shook her head as if panicked, and I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face.
Inui: “Oh? But you don’t like it when I get close to you. And didn’t you say you wouldn’t be my wife?”
OO: “That’s…”
She looked down as if she’d been hurt again.
Inui: “OO?”
(…if you make that expression, you’re going to start making me worry. Should I honestly apologize?)
It was as I was thinking that.
OO: “That’s because it was upsetting to think I’d just be one of your many women… it wasn’t that I hated you, but…”
Hearing the words I was hoping for, I held back on the apology I was about to say.
Then…
Inui: “…but?”
(Come on… say it.)
Inui: “Then, what is it if you don’t hate me?”
I kept my impatience in check and slowly encouraged her on…
OO: “…I like you.”
Her voice was so quiet I almost didn’t catch it as she spoke.
(…oh, this is bad. I’m happier than I thought I’d be.)
Though I should have been aware of my own feelings for her, I was filled with a sense of security and an even greater sense of joy.
(I like you too.)
I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
OO: “…!”
She looked at me with surprise, and that expression was so adorable I couldn’t stand it.
OO stiffened, her expression one of either shyness or embarrassment, as I stole her lips.
Inui: “Say it again?”
I said it with a smile, and I wondered if she knew I was teasing her as she refused.
OO: “No way…”
Inui: “Why? Once more.”
OO: “…I won’t say it.”
Inui: “Hmmm?”
(In that case…)
OO: “… Inui…?”
I pushed her down.
Inui: “I’m not going to let you run away today. Well, you’ve shown considerable self-awareness, so I suppose you wouldn’t run.”
I smiled, and OO tilted her head.
OO: “Self-awareness…?”
Inui: “You were lonely and didn’t like that we couldn’t see each other, right?”
OO: “Eh… wait, does that mean…”
OO’s expression turned stormy as if realizing that I had pushed her away on purpose.
(Ah, did I make her mad?)
But in that expression, I didn’t sense that same wall she put up when she’d rejected me before.
Inui: “Don’t be mad. It’s because I was desperate. …I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could get you to approach me. It’s the first time I’ve been so desperate for a woman.”
From within my arms, OO just blinked at me.
OO: “Um, does that mean…”
Inui: “I’m not going to say it. Because you won’t.”
OO: “I already said it.”
Inui: “Then say it again, what you said before.”
OO frowned as I teased her.
OO: “Inui… you’re mean.”
(…those are words of praise to a man like me.)
I let out a short laugh and moved in closer so our lips almost touched.
Inui: “Are you only realizing that now? Make sure you remember it. This is the kind of man I am. But regardless of any serious tactics, I…-.”
(…like you.)
I felt embarrassed even thinking those words that I’d never wanted to say to a woman before.
I kissed OO over and over so that she wouldn’t be able to see my expression.
Each time she let out a sweet moan, and it drove me mad.
END