"By the way, where's Inori?" Kurumi Tokisaki asked, glancing over her shoulder at one of the maids.
"Miss Inori has been staying in her room and refuses to come out," the tea-haired maid replied respectfully. "Even her lunch was delivered to her room."
"She won't come out?" Kurumi blinked, then immediately realized why. Don't tell me she's still wearing the maid outfit... and it's too embarrassing for her to face anyone? The thought made Kurumi's heart skip. Without another word, she rose from her seat and started walking toward Inori's room. What a miserable day... First, that disgusting thing at the street stall, then getting attacked by that filthy cat. I need my little angel's comfort.
"Kurumi-chan seems happy today," Miku Izayoi remarked, watching her leave.
"Happy? I don't think so," Tsugumi said immediately. "Would someone happy bully a cat and cut off its whiskers?"
"You don't get it," Kotori Itsuka said from where she lay on the couch, twirling a lollipop between her lips. "When Kurumi's in a good mood, she's straightforward and unrestrained—she says whatever comes to mind. Normally, she's calm and elegant, but when she's happy, she acts more freely."
She squinted slightly, her expression thoughtful. "I'd say she's finally done something she's been wanting to do for a long time, but couldn't before."
"Something she's always wanted to do... Wait—did she finally slap Shu Ouma and call him a pervert, degenerate, beast, and Hentai?!" Tsugumi's tone was half-horrified, half-intrigued. Did Angel-sama just reveal her devilish side?
...
At the gate of Kurumi's apartment complex, Shu Ouma paced nervously near the guard station. After being wrongly accused and humiliated by that strange shop lady, he had come to explain himself. But the memory of Kurumi's furious expression still haunted him. He hesitated, unsure if entering was a good idea.
In the end, he decided to go in. A misunderstanding must be cleared up, no matter what.
"Stop right there!" A silver-haired maid stepped forward, brandishing a baton. She blew her whistle, and within seconds, several more maids—each moving like trained operatives—surrounded him.
"Wait! I'm Shu Ouma!" Shu waved his hands frantically. What's going on? Did they all forget who I am overnight?
"Oh, we know who you are," the silver-haired maid said coldly. "But Lady Kurumi gave strict orders—if Shu Ouma tries to enter, beat him senseless and throw him out. Ladies, you heard her. Move!"
The maids twirled their batons expertly, their movements so fluid and precise they could've been professional bodyguards. Within moments, Shu couldn't even scream. He was pummeled mercilessly and tossed out of the gate like a rag doll.
"This is bad... looks like she's really mad this time. But who set me up?" Shu groaned, clutching his bruised ribs. His face was swollen, his body aching. I should probably go home first... and come up with a plan.
...
On the eighth day, Shu was chased out of Kurumi's estate. On the ninth, he managed to contact her through the communicator and asked her out again. This time, however, his goal wasn't romance—it was to uncover the culprit behind his misfortune.
"So, Shu-kun," Kurumi said coolly, her gaze sharp as a blade. "After all your persistent messages, what excuse have you come up with this time?"
Her tone dripped with disdain.
Shu's expression stiffened. "Um... Kurumi, I know nothing I say will convince you right now. But that thing from the other day—it really wasn't my choice. I just—"
"If you mention that again, I'll turn around and leave immediately," Kurumi interrupted coldly, her crimson eyes burning with anger. She had worked hard to erase that memory—she wouldn't let it surface again.
"Sorry, sorry! Kurumi, as an apology, let me make it up to you. Let's go see a movie together!" Shu bowed deeply, deploying the one tactic that always worked—unrelenting sincerity.
"The Legend of the Four Divine Beasts? Isn't that the same movie from the other day?" Kurumi narrowed her eyes at the title. The strange, over-the-top poster triggered an uneasy feeling. This smells like a trap...
"It's super popular right now! They're still showing it all week, so I managed to get tickets again," Shu said with a strained smile. He'd gone to the theater only to be told the tickets were sold out—and ended up buying them from a scalper at an outrageous price. Just thinking about it made him tear up inside.
Kurumi's crimson eyes gleamed as she thought for a moment. "Fine. I am a little curious about it myself. Besides, I have nothing better to do. But let me be clear—you're not allowed to buy any weird food or strange trinkets this time."
"Absolutely not," Shu Ouma said quickly, waving his hands. Inside, he was trembling. Who's the one behind all this? What kind of grudge do they have against me?!
At the entrance to the theater room, Kurumi Tokisaki looked down at the items the staff handed her—a pair of dark glasses and a set of headphones. "I know 3D movies require glasses, but why are mine sunglasses? And why are there earphones?" she asked suspiciously.
"For female viewers, we have special equipment," the ticket clerk replied with an unnervingly polite smile. "The gore level in this movie is beyond what most women can tolerate. The headphones are to filter out... certain sounds, like 'Yamete~' and the like."
Shu froze. Humanity, he realized, had a terrible trait—those who suffer a miserable experience can't resist dragging others into the same hell. Those who had seen The Legend of the Four Divine Beasts had become zealous evangelists of chaos, spreading the trauma far and wide.
"I got tricked into watching it—so how could I not trick others too?" was their shared logic.
"I see..." Kurumi murmured, frowning slightly. She tried on the glasses—only to find she couldn't see anything. They weren't sunglasses at all but vision-blocking goggles. When she tested the headphones, she couldn't hear a thing—they were actually soundproof plugs. They're trying to protect my senses? Is this movie really that horrifying?
"Well then, no problem," she said lightly, removing them and following the crowd into Theater No. 2.
"See? It's packed! That means it must be good," Shu said eagerly. After the disaster last time, he found comfort in the fact that so many people were here. There's no way this many people could all be getting scammed... right?
"If you say so," Kurumi replied, putting on the vision- and sound-blocking gear anyway. The movie began.
"What kind of opening is this? Just plain dialogue... and these so-called 'Four Divine Beasts'? What is this nonsense?" murmured several viewers. Many began quietly grumbling—the film wasn't living up to the hype.
"This is yours. I'm going home," Kurumi said curtly, smacking the sunglasses and earplugs onto Tsugumi's head. The poor cat-eared girl blinked up in confusion, her expression frozen in a nervous smile. Oh no... did she see me acting like a monk just now?
"Y-You're done already, Angel-sama?!" Tsugumi stammered, catching the items clumsily.
"I left as soon as it started. The smell alone was unbearable." Kurumi covered her nose delicately with her folding fan, turning to leave with elegant composure.
Then she paused and turned back. "By the way, what exactly was the plot of The Legend of the Four Divine Beasts? I'm curious."
Tsugumi leaned closer and whispered into her ear.
Kurumi shivered violently, a chill running down her spine. Without another word, she quickened her pace and left, her graceful steps betraying a very real sense of dread.