NOVEL NEXT chapter 15
15. Asagi Sora’s Ability 2
Even within the already spacious base, Dr. Gentian’s research space was quite large, and it took me a while to get there without an appointment. After following the doctor’s instructions over the phone, I finally arrived at a room that looked like a computer control room monitoring the base.
“What’s wrong, Sora-kun? Your face is pale.”
Although it’s called monitoring, it’s not like they can see everything on the base. Private areas such as team member rooms and changing rooms in training rooms don’t seem to be on the screen.
“I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly.”
“No, no, that’s fine. I was about to contact you to come by.”
I guess not showing up for work for five days didn’t look good.
“Um, I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit busy with university…”
“Hm?… Ah, I’m not going to scold you, so don’t worry. Rather, it’s a good amount of time to let their delusions grow.”
“Good amount?”
What does he mean?
“Well, never mind that. Don’t you have something you need to talk to me about?”
“Y-yes, that’s right. Doctor, about what you said before.”
When I stopped talking and looked around, the doctor seemed to notice and said, “Wait a minute,” and started typing something on his tablet. Then, from the far end of the control room, there was a dull thud, and a hidden room entrance appeared in the wall where there had been nothing before. The elaborate gimmicks, like the entrance to the base from Shiyundo, must be the doctor’s hobby.
“Now, come in.”
The hidden room he led me to was considerably smaller than the laboratory, and it was more like a reception room. It was a simple room with a coffee maker, a laptop, and a large projector like the ones you find in university classrooms.
“This is my break room. You’re the first person I’ve let in here besides myself. The lavender wallpaper is relaxing, don’t you think?”
Since the laboratory is mainly designed in white, this room must reflect the doctor’s personal taste.
“Oh, thank you.”
After a while, the hidden door slide back into the wall, creating a completely sealed room. I wouldn’t have to worry about being overheard by other team members here.
“So? What were you talking about before?”
“That… about them… the heroes being yandere.”
It sounded strange even to me when I said it out loud. The word “hero,” which is bright and full of justice, and the word “yandere,” which has a dark, scary, and twisted connotation.
“At that time, I couldn’t believe that they were… strange women like that. But there have been a few times when I thought, ‘Maybe’.”
I briefly explained about Himawari, who had been saying “Wait” all day, Momiji, who was towards hostile the Philance Red doll, the scene this morning where Akane-san and Momiji had a showdown while destroying the entrance to my house, and Mr. . Uguisu’s cut marks. Of course, I was a little vague about Mr. Uguisu’s situation.
“Even the shut-in Yellow did such a thing… and besides, Momo and Akane collided so obviously.”
The doctor seemed more excited than surprised.
“Besides, you didn’t notice Green’s story, you heard it from Nightingale herself, didn’t you?”
“W, why do you know that!… Oh”
“Kukukuku, you’re bad at hiding things, it’s cute.”
“…”
Was I tricked? I’m sorry, Nightingale.
“I’m sorry, but I had prior information about this. I knew even without tricking you.”
Prior information? In other words, he knew about the bullying?
“Did you know, Doctor, and just turn a blind eye?”
I thought it was a mistake that Akane-san, the champion of justice, was bullying her teammates, and that the doctor was just ignoring it, but could it be true?
“Nightingale seemed to be in real pain, if you knew, shouldn’t you have reached out to her?”
“Don’t be so angry… You’re a little mistaken.”
“Mistaken?”
He looked a little troubled, not because he was trying to deceive me, but because he was having a hard time convincing me.
“A, anyway, they’re acting strange. You told me to support the interaction between the team members, including Akane-san, but I don’t think it’s something I can handle… It’s impossible for a normal college boy like me.”
“I see, you’ve explained a lot, but in short, you’re saying you don’t have the confidence to date them.”
“…That’s right, I’m not experienced or a psychologist. I’m just a normal, unpopular college student who aspires to be a hero. It’s too much for me to handle a quirky yandere woman.”
“I understand what you’re saying.”
The doctor’s sigh must have been because he was fed up with my lack of guts.
“As you imagined, they are abnormal. I explained it to you from the beginning, so you must have imagined it?”
“A, abnormal… It’s true that there are some strange parts, but it’s not that abnormal. They’re just a little hot-tempered or have biased thoughts…”
“You’re still defending them even though you’re so scared. Don’t you understand? You can only say that because you’ve only seen a fraction of their madness.”
“….”
I can’t deny it with the same confidence as before. I’m convinced when he says that what I’ve seen is only a glimpse of their madness.
“B, but they haven’t done any major harm to anyone yet… and I don’t think they’re showing any obsession in terms of love.”
Yandere is supposed to refer to someone who is deeply in love. It’s true that the heroes have been acting strangely, but it didn’t seem like an expression of love.
“Love… That’s because you haven’t known them for long. Just as you’re being swayed by the strange existence of a yandere, they’re also in the midst of being confused by you. They’re probably still in a period where they’re trying to figure out how to view you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. From now on, they will fall in love with you, become obsessed with you, and develop a heavy affection for you. They will be swayed by such strong emotions that they can’t control themselves. It’s just the preparation stage now .”
“Why are you saying such…”
It’s baseless, a fantasy.
“Didn’t I tell you before? About your talent.”
I was told when I joined. Apparently I have a special talent that is different from a hero’s.
“You see, you’re a natural-born yandere maker.”