"..."
Asakusa Tetsu was completely speechless.
No, seriously—what are you even doing on the rooftop?
Do you really think that flimsy little door makes this place absolutely safe?
Damn it, I've been trying my best to avoid direct contact with diary copy holders, and now you just walk right up to me like this?
You're delivering yourself to me on a silver platter. It'd be rude not to take advantage.
If I use this as blackmail, the only thing I can think of making you do is… well, embarrassing stuff.
If I pretend I didn't see anything, you'll cling to me like a sticky snake and never leave me alone.
So what am I supposed to do?
...Say something like "Nice weather today," laugh it off, and close the door?
Well, the weather really is nice today.
The sky was clear and blue, the breeze gentle, the sunlight bright.
It would've been perfect—if Kushida Kikyo wasn't standing there with a deathly pale face.
With her expression dark, she closed the distance in a few quick steps.
She glanced at the empty staircase behind Asakusa, then asked a question that didn't really need asking.
"You heard it, didn't you?"
She wasn't confirming anything.
Even if he said no, she would ignore it.
This was a declaration.
I know you've seen my true self, so I'm not pretending anymore.
"Even if you didn't, it's the same. Close the door."
Without waiting for his answer, Kushida raised her chin and threatened him.
"Don't even think about running. I'll spread rumors that you tried to assault me."
Just as expected.
Whether it was her nature or simply because this was the only card she had left, she went straight for the most cliché threat possible.
"...You know it'd be a rumor, right?" Asakusa sighed.
He didn't keep blocking the doorway. Instead, he stepped aside and let the magnetic door snap shut behind him.
"Don't say things like that without evidence."
Looking up at him, Kushida sneered.
"Who do you think people will believe more? A popular, friendly girl—or a psycho who sells recording pens everywhere?"
"And as for evidence..."
Lowering her head, she suddenly grabbed Asakusa's hand—he didn't resist at all.
Then she forcefully pressed it against herself.
Hard.
At that moment, it felt like an electric current shot through her mind.
The nickname the diary had once given her suddenly surfaced.
"Stamp Girl."
When she pressed his hand to her chest, the warmth and the sensation through her clothes sent strange feelings crawling up her spine.
Only then did she truly understand what that nickname meant.
When her true nature was discovered by a male classmate, when her real self was exposed—
There was only one outcome she would choose.
Use a girl's "innocence," something people would instinctively side with, in exchange for leverage that could seal his mouth.
The most direct way to leave evidence.
Fingerprints.
"Now I have it."
She raised her head again, smiling like a victor.
Human scientific progress had never felt so meaningful.
Praise fingerprint collection—
"—Mmgh?!"
The sudden increase in sensation sent another jolt through her body.
Kushida yelped and stumbled back several steps, hastily putting distance between them.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
She cursed out loud.
She just wanted evidence to threaten him with—why the hell was he rubbing her?!
"Just pressing once won't leave much of a print," Asakusa replied casually, comparing her feel to that of Amazawa Ichika in his head.
"I'm helping you collect better evidence."
Yeah, Kushida had more substance.
But Amazawa's strength was her healthy, well-trained body and great twin-tails.
As for "nursing potential," anything that wasn't a washboard was fine.
Kushida's real advantage was the gap between her image and her true self.
"Who the hell asked you to help me?!" Kushida snapped, almost out of breath—not from embarrassment, but pure rage.
Glaring at him, she said,
"I'm keeping this evidence. If you dare tell anyone, you're dead!"
After that, she adjusted her slightly messed-up collar and turned to leave the rooftop.
But she stopped.
"...Hey. Move."
Asakusa hadn't stepped aside.
After closing the door, he'd stayed right where he was, blocking the only exit.
"I'm serious."
He spoke slowly.
"Do you even understand what you're doing?"
History was unfolding exactly as expected.
Even after all the diary's spoilers, this outcome hadn't changed.
So Asakusa was genuinely confused.
He couldn't understand Kushida's way of thinking.
Horikita's mindset was already hard enough to grasp, but Kushida's obsession with fingerprints was on another level.
"Huh?" Kushida frowned.
What was he talking about?
"I'll ask. You answer."
Asakusa continued calmly.
"Where are we?"
Kushida: "..."
This was weird. Really weird.
But that very weirdness made her calm down a little.
After hesitating, she answered quietly, her expression strange.
"The rooftop?"
"No." Asakusa shook his head.
"A sealed-off rooftop."
Then he asked again.
"What are you planning to use to threaten me?"
"S-Say you assaulted me?" Kushida replied slowly, starting to sense something was wrong.
"Then listen."
Asakusa's hand slowly, gently rested on her shoulder.
"Since you're ready to threaten me with that, since you're aiming to ruin my life, since you're prepared to use rumors and evidence to socially kill me..."
"Why don't I just make it real?"
He bent down and leaned close to her ear.
His voice was soft.
And the moment Kushida finally understood what he meant, cold sweat poured down her back.
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