Antecessum

I could try to accuse Kobayashi of using some AI to create that photo, but any tracing tool would show Kaede it was an authentic picture.

I thought about trying to hack Kobayashi's smartwatch, but it’s not like I have the knowledge for that. Besides, she probably sent the photo to some personal drive, one of those you can only access with a unique identifier.

Maybe the only way to get out of this situation would be to try to explain everything calmly to Kaede. But how could I tell her I only got involved in this mess because I agreed to put an end to her?

That could also cause friction between the two. I guess, in Kaede’s eyes, Kobayashi is just another friend from class, like all her other classmates. It was a smart move on her part to go through the trouble of attending the party.

Even if I told Kaede about Kobayashi’s plans, it would just upset her. Kaede wouldn’t get involved in a fight, even if she were alive.

On the other hand, there was a rabid dog always clinging to her that would definitely cause trouble for Kobayashi. Tsuchiya is even more dangerous when she’s not restricted by Kaede’s will.

The only person I trusted who might help me in this situation was Sakura. But she would definitely give me a thorough scolding for getting involved with Kobayashi in the first place.

No matter which way I looked, it seemed like I was completely trapped, just a pawn in that lunatic’s hands.

…

The next day, after school.

I tried to strike up a conversation with Sakura after class, hoping Kobayashi would feel cornered and avoid coming after me—but with no success.

“Kikuchi, I’ll be waiting for you at the same place as yesterday. Don’t be late.”

Sakura intervened.

“Hey, Hikaru, since when did you two become so close?”

“About that…”

“We’re not ‘close’ or anything like that. I’m just making him help me with the student council tasks.”

“And why does it have to be him?”

“Because he ignored the classroom tasks when it was his turn as the person in charge.”

Well, what could I say about that? Even if that’s not the real reason I’m going with her, she’s not lying about that fact.

“He’s just repaying the favor he owes me. Don’t worry; I’m not another competitor, far from it.”

Sakura frowned and then turned away.

“Hmph! Whatever, take him if you want.”

“Sakura…”

I thought about saying, “Please don’t leave me alone with this demon,” but the words dared to jump out of my mouth.

“Remember what I told you,” Sakura whispered.

“Yes, don’t worry.”

No matter what diabolical scheme she tries to use, I won’t let myself be influenced by Kobayashi’s intentions any longer.

I’ve finally made a decision about something, and that something is my burning love for Kaede.

Trying to turn me into a subordinate—that will be her biggest mistake! All she’s doing is putting her enemy behind her back. At the first opportunity, I’ll get rid of that photo and put an end to her plans.

For now, my focus is on sabotaging her as much as possible without being noticed. I don’t intend to let her persuade anyone else into joining her alliance.

…

A little later, in the student council room.

This time, it wasn’t just the two of us.

There was a boy with brown hair. Judging by his stature, he seemed a bit younger—probably one of the freshmen.

Something about him was deeply unsettling. I felt like he was familiar, but even so, I couldn’t remember where I’d seen him before. Maybe I had just noticed him in the school corridors.

More importantly, this boy wasn’t from our class. He must have been one of the freshmen looking for Kobayashi. But his presence in the room was enough to keep the conversation about Kaede off the table.

That’s when Kobayashi started making introductions.

“Oh, you’re already here.”

“Yes…”

“This is Kikuchi Hikaru, the guy I told you about.”

The boy nodded, looking hesitant to start speaking.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Kikuchi…” I did my part as someone polite and tried to introduce myself, even though Kobayashi had already done it for me.

“Kikuchi?... Aren’t you the guy who confessed to my sister?”

“My sister?! Don’t tell me—”

“Oh, yes,” Kobayashi intervened. “Allow me to introduce him. This is Sugimoto Koji, Kaede’s younger brother and also our newest ally.”

“What?!”

This made no sense at all. Tsuchiya aside—the last person in the school I could have imagined Kobayashi convincing was Kaede’s brother!

How could her own brother be against the idea of having his sister around? I understand there can be disagreements and small fights between siblings, but siding with Kobayashi is the same as declaring war on his own sister.

“Wait, why are you doing this? Isn’t she your sister?!”

Sugimoto gave me a dark look before answering.

“And why are you doing this?"
"Are you telling me the confession I heard about was just a lie to hurt my sister?”

Two things came to mind at that moment. The first was that news of my confession had gone so far it had reached Kaede’s family. Could it be that she was the one who told him?

The second, and more important, was the look he gave me. It carried a sense of barely contained fury, as if the idea of me deceiving Kaede and playing with her feelings was utterly unacceptable.

At least in some way, he still cared about her and wouldn’t allow anyone to toy with her heart.

“No, the confession wasn’t a lie.”
“I meant every word of it from the bottom of my soul.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I’m being forced to. I got caught in her trap.”

I discreetly pointed a finger at Kobayashi, whose look clearly said, “If you mention the kiss, I’ll kill you right here.” Well, that was a detail I also wished would just be forgotten.

“Was it the same for you?”

Sugimoto looked away.

“No… I just have my own reasons.”

Kobayashi intervened.

“Remember, Kikuchi, it’s not like I want to get rid of Kaede. I don’t hate her.”
“It’s just that Koji agrees it might be better if she stops coming to school.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, like I said, I have my own reasons for wanting that.”

Maybe it’s some family conflict? Or he just doesn’t feel comfortable bringing his dead sister to school every day? Well, it doesn’t seem like he’s harboring any hatred for her.

“With the formalities out of the way, I think we can wrap up our meeting for today.”

“Huh? You called this meeting just for that?”

“Getting Koji’s support is an important step for our plans. The biggest obstacle we had ahead of us was facing Kaede’s parents.”

“When you say it like that, it feels like I’m starting a civil war at home.”

“Trust me, it’ll be worse than a civil war.” — I replied.

“You two can’t start off with such a negative attitude.”
“No project can move forward without at least a little morale.”

“So now this is a project, is it?”

“Yes, a project.”

Kobayashi is a meticulous person. She chooses her words carefully so that Sugimoto feels like this is lighter than it really is.

“If the meeting’s over, may I go now, senpais? I need to leave soon.”

“What’s the rush?”

“Well, I need to take my sister home…”

It’s true—Kaede can’t roam around freely without a family guardian nearby. So, was he also at Nana’s house on the day of the party?

“See you later.”

Sugimoto said goodbye and then walked past us, heading toward the school corridors.

“You know, he’s actually more reliable than you.”

“I don’t know if that’s something to be proud of in his position.”
“How did you manage this?”

“I think it was something that was bound to happen.”
“His classmates treat him with pity. Without realizing it, they isolate him from conversations and activities, thinking they need to respect his grief.”
“Besides, he can’t go home after having fun with his friends, because he has the obligation to take his sister home.”

“But what’s so wrong about that? Taking a sister home is a normal responsibility for a brother! He can still hang out with his friends afterward.”
“That’s not so different from taking care of a sick sibling.”

“True, you make a good point.”
“But Kaede isn’t sick; she’s dead.”

“Not everyone feels comfortable carrying a corpse around.”
“Not that you’d understand.”
“It’s quite the opposite in your case, isn’t it?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Necro and Philia are two words that come from Greek, meaning corpse and love.”
“The combination of these words is used to describe people who feel attraction to corpses.”

“I’m definitely not like that!”

“Then tell me, what’s the big difference between you and someone like that?”
“You said you love Kaede. I don’t think it’s just a brotherly love.”
“Don’t you want to kiss her? Or maybe even go further with her?”

“Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“To me, you’re no different from garbage like that.”

Kobayashi left the room without saying another word. There was no need; she had already unleashed all her venom on me.

Even if that’s just the twisted view of this lunatic, I can’t deny her words left me a little unsettled.

But this is still absurd! Kaede isn’t a corpse! If she wants to label me with some strange fetish, then at least be consistent and call it robophilia!

… Oh, hell, I was pathetic again.