352 I’m Delighted to Have Been of Use (1/2)

Natsuya was shocked Seiji's reaction. The scion stared at him, wide-eyed, for a long while.

Seiji sat up. ”I don't know what you were thinking just now,” he said, ”but your words were so foolish that they astounded me.”

'I'm the one who's astounded!' Natsuya thought, returning to her senses. 'Why are you saying that I'm being foolish? I... I...' The president felt inexplicably aggrieved.

Seiji looked at her with a gentle expression. ”You say that you're a terrible person, but would a truly terrible person be so truthful?”

Natsuya didn't know how to respond to this.

”People with truly evil personalities don't believe they are evil. They will live life, thinking that their actions are natural—or they'll believe that everyone else is wrong, and only they are correct. Barring that, they'll think that everyone else is ordinary, and view one particular person as a special genius... something like that.

”I believe that anyone who's still able to think of themselves as a terrible person still has a normal person's conscience. They're able to recognize the concept of 'evil,' which means that they're still human.

”As for those who are truly able to call themselves terrible… if they do not mean it as a joke or take pride in it, then it means that such a person is capable of reflecting on their actions. Anyone who's capable of self-reflection isn't a truly evil person.”

Seiji looked searchingly at the scion. ”At any rate, your words are the best proof of your true nature: contrary to what you claim, you're not an incredibly terrible person.”

Natsuya didn't understand him very well. 'This... sounds like sophistry? But… it also sounds somewhat logical?'

She fell into an inner conflict that she couldn't comprehend.

Seiji smiled when he saw her confused expression. He reflexively reached out with his hand and patted her on the head.

Natsuya shivered when she felt the warm, comforting sensation from his hand.

”Wah...” Threads of crimson crept into the president's cheeks.

”You felt guilty, right, about having me duel on your behalf? I didn't feel like I was being taken advantage of... or I should say that even if you were taking advantage of me, I chose to allow you to do so of my own volition.

”From the very start, you told me about the risks involved, and I accepted with full knowledge of these. Although I was somewhat surprised at how you accepted Mitarai's bet, that wasn't anything unacceptable based on what you told me.

”That's why you don't need to feel guilty, Natsuya. I'm not complaining, so you shouldn't blame yourself, either.”

”That's not it...” Natsuya protested weakly.

She wanted to disagree with his words, but an indescribable feeling welled up within her heart, leaving her unable to say what she wanted. She was completely unable to come up with a suitable response.

”I never expected the president to say something so silly... it was foolish of you.” Seiji smiled and continued in a teasing voice, ”Now I somewhat understand why Houjou-san is so willing to be your maid, Natsuya. It's because you have the tendency to lose track of your thoughts. You need someone to look after you.”

”No... no way!” Denial was the president's instinctive response.

This sounded like a classical tsundere line to Seiji, and his grin grew even wider.

Natsuya felt her chest tighten when she saw Seiji's smile and flushed even deeper. She felt as if her insides were playing host to a raging bonfire. It grew without being repressed, accumulated without giving vent.

'So annoying! I mustered up every iota of courage to tell you the truth, but you said I was being foolish! You're the one who's an idiot! Even though I was so direct with you, why... why are you still so gentle!? Are you only going to wake up if someone takes advantage and uses you until you die!? You absolute idiot!!'

She wanted to say all that out loud.

But in the end, she heard herself saying, ”Idiot...”

Seiji looked surprised. ”Hm?”

”You're a big idiot!” Natsuya's face was almost dripping blood. It was a classic anime scene: a girl pretending to be furious.

Seiji was rendered speechless; he struggled to withstand the ten-ton cannon shell she had fired at him.

'This is the enemy's main cannon!' he yelled in his head. 'You have to endure the enemy fire, Sergeant Haruta!!'

With unbelievable effort, Seiji spoke as calmly as he possibly could, despite the fact that his heart threatened to burst out of his chest.

”I... perhaps I am indeed an idiot. But even if I'm an idiot, I still have some confidence in my own judgement. Natsuya, you are a beautiful, gentle, and resolute girl, not some girl who's secretly terrible inside.

”Even if you have your shortcomings, and even if I didn't know about them, it'd still the same. You've helped me out a lot and you're my good friend; that's why I want to help you. As long as I can be of assistance, I shall do the best that I can.

”Even if you think you're taking advantage of me, that's fine with me. I'm delighted to have been of use.” Seiji's lips parted in a wide, sincere smile. ”For an idiotic male like me, being useful to a beautiful girl could be considered praiseworthy.”

Natsuya's eyes widened at this. It felt as if something had pierced through her chest. At that moment, the chains inside her shattered, releasing her pent-up feelings.

A mysterious force compelled her to reach out and hug Seiji!

'Ahh, it's so warm, so hot.'

She didn't know if it was her own body heating up or if she was feeling the heat from his body. At any rate, she felt a penetrating warmth, as if she were being baked in a fire.

Her body felt like it was melting. 'Let's just melt, then. I just want to hug him and melt together with him...'

”Er... Natsuya?”

The beautiful scion had suddenly jumped up and hugged him. Her arms showed no signs of relenting, and her embrace was growing tighter and tighter.

Seiji was beginning to panic. 'It's so warm, so soft, so fragrant...'

He couldn't help but think back to after the duel with Okubo Yoshiaki, to the time when they had intimate contact as he carried her to his hospital bed.

That beautiful memory overlapped with what was happening right now. He could clearly feel the sensation of hugging her warm and soft body.

His hands started moving on their own.