I didn’t get the result I wanted by consulting Alicia, but I did get a hint.
Dun dun dun!
Shock therapy.
Literally, hitting the mind with a strong shock to wake up Raphne’s memory.
I don’t have any assurances it will work.
But if Alicia says there’s a precedent, then…
It’s definitely worth a shot.
Hmm… the real problem is how to create that situation…
Raphne is the only daughter of the prestigious Martinez family.
To create the situation I’m planning, I first need the academy’s approval.
And to get that approval, I need at least a logical reason…
…A reason, huh…
I was returning to the classroom with my chin resting on my hand, contemplating after finishing my talk with Alicia.
The best solution would be for Raphne to request the academy on her own.
But she’s no fool; she wouldn’t do something like that.
She wouldn’t help me without any benefit for herself.
…Wait, if it’s a benefit…
What if I present something so enticing that Raphne would go crazy enough to do something stupid?
Thinking back to my memories of Raphne, it seemed quite possible.
…
I stopped in my tracks while walking, organizing the ideas that popped into my head and drafting a scenario.
…This might just work!
With a pretty solid image forming in my mind, a smile naturally appeared on my face.
…Alright, let’s do this!
Bam!
I returned to the classroom, organizing today’s plan in my head.
First, the mission: to stir Raphne’s emotions.
Before losing her memory, Raphne was anxious when I wasn’t next to her.
Of course, after breaking the curse, she improved quite a bit, but still, she had the need to be by my side.
If I wasn’t right next to her, she’d be anxious, wouldn’t eat well, and wouldn’t sleep properly.
So, the current Raphne, influenced by those emotions, would likely be the same.
Maybe, if I avoid her as much as possible, it could amplify those feelings even more.
Thus, for today, I tried my best to avoid showing myself to Raphne.
The desired outcome is for Raphne to desperately seek me out.
The method is simple.
When break time comes, I just step out of the classroom to kill time and return at a risky moment.
…As expected, she came looking for me!
While spending time on the rooftop, I turned the corner down the stairs and spotted Raphne loitering near the classroom door.
Looking quite anxious, she was pacing in front of the door, biting her nails, and peeking inside.
Should I go now…?
I shook my head, pondering.
No, not yet. I need to keep Raphne from regaining her composure for as long as possible.
It’s natural for a thirsty person’s desire for water to grow stronger as the thirst increases.
What if the oasis that was right there suddenly disappeared?
The craving for water will escalate.
When she can’t take it anymore, that’s when I’ll hand her the water.
…She left.
I secretly watched her from around the corner for a moment, then confirmed that Raphne had grumpily returned to her classroom.
After that, I went back to class and attended the lesson.
Of course, I was only attending class; I wasn’t really studying at all.
My mind was buzzing with thoughts of the plan.
…What if Raphne barges in during class?
I envisioned the scenario where an impatient Raphne barges in during class.
Running the simulation in my head, I decided that in that case, it would actually be easier to make a reason, so I kept the stealth plan.
Right now, Raphne seems to maintain rational judgment compared to before she lost her memory, so a classroom intrusion hasn’t occurred.
Let’s keep dodging her like this.
Things went smoothly according to plan; I stayed out of Raphne’s sight.
Once, after class ended and I stepped outside, Raphne’s classroom door opened, and I caught a glimpse of her hair.
Thanks to training with Siegfried, I had the ‘Conceal Presence’ skill, so I successfully hid from her.
I continued the plan of staying hidden from her.
Occasionally looking from afar, it seemed Raphne’s anxiety was growing.
Should I keep this up until tomorrow?
I was considering observing her state for another day without being seen.
That was the plan…
But Raphne caught on faster than expected.
As anticipated, she had been ambushing me, waiting so I wouldn’t escape.
“Where have you been hiding every break time━!!”
It was the same after-school time as yesterday.
Today, just like yesterday, I was spending my time in the classroom before stepping into the hallway, where Raphne was waiting.
She spoke to me in an irked tone, obviously angry.
It seemed she was timing after-school just to meet me somehow.
Hmm, could this mean she’s pretty much unable to hold back?
Originally, I had intended to avoid showing my face for another day, but now that I’ve been caught, I guess I’ll have to move forward.
So, I spoke the excuse I had prepared in advance.
…Well, I was just running some errands.
Of course, I had spent most of my break time on the rooftop.
But I just brushed it off like that.
…Running errands?
At my somewhat cryptic statement, Raphne’s expression changed.
Once again, the old glint appeared in her eyes.
Empty, devoid of light.
The look in Raphne’s eyes that showed she was consumed by obsession and had lost her reason.
Seeing that gaze, I judged that I had successfully piqued her imagination according to my plan.
She probably misunderstood my relationship with Emily as “a romantic one.”
That statement was perfect bait for misunderstanding.
Raphne quickly approached and looked up at me.
Her dark, swamp-like gaze was fixed on me.
Staring back into those eyes, cold sweat broke out.
But I shouldn’t show it. I have to act calm and nonchalant as much as possible.
“Hey, you…”
Raphne called me quietly, growling.
Now, unlike before she lost her memory, Raphne was quite aggressive, and just her gaze overwhelmed me.
Looking at me menacingly, she asked, “What have you been doing all over the place?”
Why is it that I feel like I’m somehow in the position of a cheating partner caught red-handed?
Of course, it’s all part of my plan, so I’m not really upset about it.
However, her intense gaze nearly made me reflexively apologize and bow down.
But I need to calm down. The strategy I need to employ right now is to provoke Raphne even more.
“What’s it to you… whatever I’ve been up to?”
I stammered, avoiding her gaze, but I managed to pull it off.
That was quite a provocative statement, if I say so myself.
For sure, Raphne didn’t expect Ken, who had been tormenting her all this time, to say such a thing.
“What, …did you say?”
Seeing Raphne’s fists clenched and trembling, it seems to be effective.
Good, let’s hit her with another blow…!
“By the way, Raphne, aren’t you getting a bit too clingy lately? What’s up, trying new ways to pester me?”
“Wha, what…?”
Raphne stumbled over her words, seemingly flustered by my sudden change in attitude.
Things were going as planned, so I continued to speak.
“Or maybe you’re suddenly interested in me since I lost weight and changed my appearance?”
“Huh?! N-No! That’s not it! I’m not paying attention to your appearance…! Ugh…!”
Raphne trailed off, reddening and stepping back.
Then, trying to hide her embarrassment, she shot me a sly glare through a slight smile.
“…Ken, you’ve gotten really cocky since you started losing weight, huh?”
Seems like after underestimating me for so long, she’s quite irritated at my sudden change in attitude.
Plus, considering she was terribly frustrated that I hadn’t been around…
With her anxieties added up, Raphne appeared to be getting worked up.
I feel like I’m potentially nearing the point I envisioned.
I met her gaze defiantly and said, “I’ve changed… I’m not the same as before.”
“Oh, really got cocky, huh?”
With Raphne preparing to strike with her hands, it looks like a hit is coming soon.
“Good! I’m about to give you a proper education after so long, Ken.”
She then looked at me with a gentle smile.
Of course, one filled with rage.
Alright, this is the moment…!
“Ha, you really think I’m just gonna sit back and take it? Better prepare yourself!”
I provoked her with a slight smug smile.
For a moment, Raphne stared at me blankly.
‘What’s he talking about?’ her face seemed to say.
Then, with a smirk, she replied.
“Hmm, feeling confident, are you?”
“Absolutely. …Or how about we make a bet?”
“…A bet?”
Raphne tilted her head as if confused by my sudden proposal.
Before getting her suspicious, I decided to throw out my bait fast.
I would redirect her attention to the carrot I’m presenting to keep my true intentions hidden.
I put on the most challenging face I could muster and stared Raphne in the eye.
“We’ll settle this by duel. You’re confident, right? If you win, then….”
Pausing for effect, I pretended to ruminate over the conditions I had thought of.
“You can do whatever you want with me.”
…Whatever I want?
This is the carrot I had prepared.
I had kept my distance from her while stimulating her anxieties.
Then when we met, I played the role of someone she couldn’t control.
Next, I present her with the right to have me at her mercy as a condition of the duel.
“…I can do whatever with Ken…!”
Raphne stared at me blankly, the anger she had shown earlier vanishing.
I suppose she’s now imagining what it would mean to have “whatever.”
If that’s the case, I should tell her more about what she might desire.
“Yeah, whatever. Cook you a meal, tame you, or confine you somewhere to keep you by my side forever.”
I feigned provocation as I threw out additional bait.
I thought that was a condition that would definitely catch Raphne’s interest.
…Was it too obvious? I was a bit worried if Raphne might notice something off.
‘Wish Right?’ Don’t mess with me!
I worried about any such response from Raphne, hoping she’d remain entranced by the bait.
“Sure! I’m in! Let’s settle this right now!”
And to my surprise, Raphne agreed to the bet without hesitation.
Isn’t she taking this a little too easily…?
“W-Wait, Raphne! Right now is too hasty!”
“Are you messing with me?! You suggested the duel, right━!”
Raphne seemed to have lost all rationality, probably because my offer looked too sweet.
But we can’t have the duel right now.
We need to prepare properly.
“No! What if I can’t accept the match?!”
If the loser were to walk away saying, ‘Let’s forget this!’… that would be a real problem.
Most of all, I’d be in trouble.
After all, I finally got Raphne in a position to bet, and she can’t be backing out after losing.
Of course, from Raphne’s viewpoint, she would understand my reasons, so I presented a solid approach.
“We’ll make it legally binding. In front of the academy’s faculty.”
“…Legally binding, you mean… the magic signature?”
“That’s right, we’ll write it down clearly: ‘If Ken Feinstein loses to Raphne Bell Martinez, he becomes her possession.’ …like that.”
“S-So, h-he becomes m-m-my property…!!”
Her eyes sparkled as if she had seen Santa Claus on Christmas, with a face full of glee.
Her breath became more ragged, and her eyes were filled with desire.
Seeing her hands fidgeting, unable to keep still, I knew the bait worked wonders.
“Alright! Then, let’s do it! We’ll set the date for right after class tomorrow! I’ll be sure to get the professor!”
“Y-Yeah, I’d appreciate it if you could do that….”
It looks like she hasn’t even thought about the possibility of losing.
Although, to be fair, no one in the second-year can beat Raphne.
What’s more, I was contemplating how to explain and recruit the professor, but it seems Raphne will take care of it herself.
Just how covetous is the ownership right…?
Suddenly, the memory of Raphne confining me popped into my head.
Under the moonlight, that look on her face as she sat on my lap, losing all reason while trying to seduce me.
…I absolutely cannot lose.
If I were to lose this time and Raphne took my ownership, I might really not be able to escape.
There’s a chance I wouldn’t be able to keep the promise of not crossing the line until I can take responsibility.
A situation where just the two of us becomes a trio…
Of course, I have no intention of losing.
But even thinking about it made my shoulders shiver.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow━! Make sure you keep your promise━!”
With the brightest smile I’ve seen on her recently, Raphne dashed down the hallway.
Alright, now I am fully prepared.
Watching Raphne run off, I clenched my fist.
