"Kamidou Chiyo! Explain why you were sleeping in class!"
Ms. Yukimura’s smile remained warm, but I could clearly feel the fury simmering beneath it.
"If Kamidou Chiyo finds my lessons so boring," she said, "please repeat what I just taught the class."
I shook my head helplessly. I’d truly been overwhelmed by an irresistible wave of drowsiness.
"Sorry, sensei. I fell asleep due to... unavoidable circumstances."
A flicker of disbelief crossed Ms. Yukimura’s eyes. She hadn’t expected this boy to justify classroom napping with such shameless grandeur.
"See me in my office after class."
Barely containing her temper, she tapped her textbook against the desk before returning to the podium.
I watched the unnervingly calm teacher. How strange. Normally, I’d be banished to the hallway for this. Why let it slide so easily?
And those scattered chalk fragments on the floor... Something weird must’ve happened while I slept.
"...Interesting..."
Fully awake now, I flipped open my textbook and focused on the lecture.
***
After class, I followed Ms. Yukimura to the staff office. She settled into her swivel chair and turned to face me.
"So... Kamidou Chiyo. Explain why women inexplicably dislike you."
"Huh? That’s why you called me here?"
My stomach dropped. Adults weren’t as easy to fool as schoolgirls. Rational minds would question their own aversion, digging for reasons.
"Uh..." I rubbed my chin. "Even if I tell you, sensei, you won’t believe me."
"Try me. I’ll believe you." She sipped tea from her desk mug, perfectly composed.
"Fine." I shrugged nonchalantly. "There’s something inside me—a curse that makes every woman despise me."
To my surprise, Ms. Yukimura didn’t scoff. She nodded thoughtfully.
"...I’ve actually met a student like you before."
"What?!" My hands shot out to grip her shoulders. Disbelief flooded my face. *Another person like me exists?!*
"Ah—Kamidou-kun, you’re hurting me—" She winced, turning away.
"Sorry!" I yanked my hands back. "I got carried away..."
"*Cough.*" She visibly suppressed a shudder of revulsion. "His situation was merely similar. Yours... is unprecedented."
"So this other person—"
"You mean him? He was cursed with ‘Absolute Choice.’"
"Absolute Choice? What’s that?"
"From what he described... options suddenly appear in his mind. He must choose one, or suffer crippling headaches. And whatever he picks... becomes reality."
"What kind of nonsense is that?" I stared blankly. "That’s nothing like my curse!"
"Well... those choices often forced him to do... unspeakable things."
"How bad could it be? Nothing beats my ‘female aversion aura’!" I clapped a hand over my mouth too late.
"Eh?" Ms. Yukimura’s eyes widened. Above her head, the goodwill display meter instantly jumped from -100 to 0.
I froze. *Revealing the aura nullifies it?* Could this be its weakness?
—No. It couldn’t be that simple. She believed me only because she’d seen supernatural curses before. Random women would slap me for such claims.
But discovering this loophole sent a spark of excitement through me. *If they believe... the aura vanishes?*
*Sigh.* All these years hiding the system... and I missed its fatal flaw.
"Sensei," I asked carefully, "what kind of ‘unspeakable things’ did that boy have to do?"
"Oh, things like stripping in front of girls, shouting weird phrases, or performing bizarre acts." Her smile was genuine now, all traces of disgust gone. "That poor boy suffered terribly. I wonder where he is now..."
A chill ran down my spine. *A kindred spirit.*
"What was his name?"
"...Hmm. Kanzo Kan? A handsome lad. The curse drove him half-mad before he transferred out."
"I see." I stood up. "If that’s all, sensei, may I leave?"
"Mm." She nodded. "No more sleeping in class, understood?"
"Got it."
I waved goodbye and stepped into the hallway. My feet practically floated down the corridor, a silly tune humming on my lips.
