Not only was Satsuki shocked, so was Shindo. This was the first he heard that Takemi was also psychic.
Turning away from the two, Takemi placed his hand on Alice’s forehead. “I’m going to erase Alice’s memories.”
The space surrounding Alice distorted for a moment. Sensing irregular energy wafting off of Takemi, Satsuki squinted.
“I’m going to erase everything she just saw and felt here. Hell, I’m gonna outright erase the entire memory of her coming to this Student Council Room. If we put her on one of the beds in the nurse’s office, we can make up something along the lines that she passed out while searching for Satsuki,” Takemi said, casting a quick look at Satsuki.
For the first time since they met, he sounded kind as he asked, “I’m gonna return the favor I still owe you from back then, Satsuki. If you want, I’m willing to erase the ‘love’ in Alice that could trigger another outburst.”
Beginning to feel her own foolishness, Satsuki was struck speechless.
“As long as Alice holds onto her love for that retainer of yours, there’s no telling when you’ll go into another jealous rage like a spoiled brat over her inner thoughts and feelings. Don’t you think it’d be best to seal it away so that doesn’t happen?”
Shindo looked down at Satsuki and pulled her head toward his chest with his free hand. Now he knew why she tried to harm Alice.
It was by no means a good thing that Satsuki tried to hurt Alice. Yet Shindo couldn’t deny that somewhere in his heart, it made him happy to know she reacted that way over him.
“...You don’t need to do that...” Satsuki responded in a sad voice. Held in Shindo’s protective embrace, she clutched at his suit with both hands and closed her eyes. “You don’t need to erase that. Please don’t.”
“Don’t blame me if you lose control again,” Takemi replied. He looked at Satsuki clinging to Shindo with her back turned toward him as he whispered with a sigh, “Fine. I’m only going to erase what transpired in here from Alice’s memories. Sound good?”
If he erased the love Alice felt for Shindo, it would probably lighten the emotional burden on Satsuki to a degree. It would reduce the number of girls who looked yearningly at Shindo by one.
But it was simply unacceptable for someone to crush another’s feeling of “love.” No one had the right to intentionally steal the wonderfully warm and gentle emotion that filled a person with euphoria as their heart sought another.
Satsuki was jealous of Alice. She was jealous of how the girl could openly think and express her love. Such actions—and thoughts—were forbidden to her.
How she wished to openly express her love. If only she could split open this shell of a body that constantly encaged those magical words, grab the glass case buried in the depths of her heart where they continually fought to break free, and pull them out... It would be so wonderful. So joyous! But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. That was precisely why Satsuki didn’t want Takemi to erase the love Alice harbored in her heart for Shindo.
Removing his hand from Alice’s forehead, Takemi lifted her up. “I’m taking her to the nurse’s office. I’ll make up some story about how she started to feel sick and passed out when I came to see her.”
Shindo lowered his head in a bow as Kaido headed toward the door. “Thank you, Mr. Kaido.” Already behind the retainer by this point, the words stopped Takemi in his tracks. “I genuinely appreciate all of the assistance you have provided the Miss.” Regardless of how he did it, it was true Takemi helped Satsuki. As her retainer, Shindo was obligated to express his appreciation.
Takemi, on the other hand, didn’t so much as bother to turn around as he told Shindo, “Satsuki will be mine. Don’t you forget it.”
His head still lowered in a bow, Shindo stiffened as he clutched one hand. He accidentally tightened his grip with the hand wrapped around Satsuki, relaying the distress in his heart. Surprised, she looked up at him.
“Later! I’ll see you at the birthday party in two days,” Takemi declared before disappearing from the room while carrying Alice. Rather than keep her eyes transfixed on his back as he strode away, Satsuki couldn’t pull her eyes away from Shindo’s side profile—his pained and frustrated—side profile.
“Shin...do...?” she called, gently touching the side of his face. In all their time together, had she ever seen him make an expression this out of character before? At Satsuki’s touch, Shindo offered a small smile as if reprimanding himself for nearly losing control. Releasing her from his protective arm, he fell to one knee before her and lowered his head.
“I am terribly sorry. It would appear you endured great strife because I was unable to be there for you,” Shindo apologized. It wasn’t his fault. Satsuki was the one who disappeared. Nevertheless, he took all of the blame. “It’s my duty to constantly remain at your side and protect you. It’s a sign of my own incompetence when hardship falls upon you. Although I am prepared to accept any punishment you see fit, please show mercy on me.”
His mind was still repeating Takemi’s parting words, “Satsuki will be mine.”
He was one of Satsuki’s suitors. With a background similar to that of Tsukasa, his talents earned him a place of respect among the rest of the Kaidos. Above all else, he not only possessed the same type of psychic abilities as Satsuki, they were at a magnitude capable of stopping hers when they went out of control.
There was a very strong chance Satsuki would choose Takemi Kaido. She would pull away from Shindo. He would have to see her walk holding hands with another man every day. The day she would smile at another man and give her body to him was—nigh.
“Shindo...” Satsuki fell down to her knees before her retainer as his thoughts grew increasingly dark and frenzied. “I’m sorry...about how I’ve treated you all morning. It felt like you were pushing me away last night... I felt lonely...”
Shindo raised his head. When he did, his chest was filled with such pain, he could barely breathe. He was met with such a forlorn expression on Satsuki, it felt as if her life were ephemeral, doomed to end at any moment.
“I’m sorry...” she apologized in a pained voice that quivered. She sounded like she was about to break into sobs.
With each passing day, Shindo’s love for Satsuki only grew stronger. Each day, he stuffed that love into the depths of his heart. That was how he got through life so far. Could he bear to endure more than he already did? It didn’t help knowing there would soon come a day when she offered her hand to another man, smiled at him, and gave herself to him each night.
“I’m willing to accept my destiny... But I want you to stay at my side, Shindo...” Satsuki continued in a trembling voice with tears forming in her eyes. “Because...I...” she floundered. She yearned to say it. She desperately wanted to force the words out of her mouth.
“Miss...” Shindo cooed as he extended his arms, pulling Satsuki into a strong, yet gentle, embrace.
“Shin...do...” Satsuki clung to Shindo as tears ran down her porcelain-white cheeks.
Shindo’s deep voice reverberated through her body, wrought with such pain and suffering it felt as if her emotions could tear it asunder. “If I could make love with you right here and now...I would happily fall to the depths of hell...”
“Then let’s fall into the depths of hell together… Meet me tonight within the secret confines of the wisteria…” Satsuki invited, creating a forbidden promise between them.
It was outright cruel how sweetly those words rung. Their passions didn’t have long left to wait to be fulfilled.