SCIAW: Chapter 559/560

Chapter 559: I'll Talk to Sharon

"Sharon!"

Ran exclaimed the moment she heard the name. She hadn't expected the silver-haired gunman she had encountered back then to be the famous celebrity who had hosted them.

She also hadn't expected that the star's daughter, Chris Vineyard, was actually the same person.

What shocked her even more was that the elegant actress was actually a cadre of the organization.

At this moment, Ran finally began to understand why that famous actress had once said that there were no angels in this world.

Especially when she considered that Sharon had become a test subject for that drug. Even if she had miraculously survived, the cost of that survival must have been immense.

With so many emotions swirling inside her, Ran's expression was filled with questions.

"Ren, why do you say you need my help to make Sharon betray the organization? My relationship with her isn't as close as the one between Sharon and Aunt Yukiko."

In her opinion, the best candidate to persuade Sharon to betray the organization should be Yukiko.

However, Ren simply shook his head with a smile.

"Miss Sharon's bond with Miss Kudo is indeed deep, but in her heart, the one who truly shocked her was you, Ran."

"You just said it yourself. Perhaps you were in a daze back then, but you still tried to save the gunman. Sharon knows that very well."

"But it was precisely that instinctive action, that reflexive response, which revealed your truest self."

This made Ran a little embarrassed.

That incident had happened two years ago, and the shock she experienced then had been intense.

To be honest, even she couldn't clearly remember what she had been thinking at the time.

But hearing Ren explain her true self like this made her feel a bit shy.

"Miss Sharon's existence is fortunate, and yet deeply unfortunate. As a living experimental subject, she is undoubtedly pitiful. As the only one to have survived, she has to endure countless tests. Her fate is like that of a guinea pig in a laboratory."

"But unlike a guinea pig, her value is immeasurable. Even so, she longs for the appearance of an angel, someone who can bring her a feeling she has never experienced."

"Just like those mysterious stories where a demoness yearns for love, yet is ultimately destroyed by love."

Ren's calm tone carried a strange weight as it fell into Ran's heart.

"She's immersed in darkness and constantly entangled with it. She never trusts anyone, and certainly never believes that someone would try to save a criminal pointing a gun at them."

"But then came a kind-hearted girl, who instinctively acted to save another."

"Just like what happened in the Broadway theater, when you saved a murderer, and that person went on to kill again in a later act."

There really was such an incident.

Now that Ren mentioned it, Ran remembered that murder case from two years ago, the one involving the blonde actress who later killed her fellow actor.

She also remembered what that actress, Rose, had said to her at the time—

Thank you, lovely angel. Thanks to you, I was able to fulfill my wish.

Even now, those words still pricked her heart like a thorn.

She lowered her head slightly, then suddenly looked up and stared at Ren, hoping he could give her an answer.

"Ren, when I saved that actress back then, it ended up leading to a tragedy."

"Do you think, maybe I shouldn't have saved her?"

"No."

Ren denied it almost immediately, without any hesitation.

"Saving her was your choice. Her decision to kill was her own. There's no cause-and-effect relationship here. Her crime has nothing to do with you."

"If it were me, I wouldn't care about such things."

"Just like now, even if I know something will happen, I usually choose not to interfere. Their fate, their future, are all their own decisions. As an outsider, I don't want to make decisions for others."

"Because sometimes, my choices don't represent what others want. Maybe they think their choices are right?"

"The only one who can make a decision for yourself, is you. You don't need to consider others when deciding what you want to do."

"Let me share something I once read online."

"My killing you, what does it have to do with you? My saving you, that's also none of your business."

Is that so?

Ran hadn't expected Ren to think like that, nor did she expect him to have read something like that online.

Whether I kill you or save you, it's not about the person being killed or saved, but about me. It's just my choice.

So, in the end, neither action has anything to do with the one on the receiving end. Everything comes down to the one who made the choice.

"It all comes down to one sentence."

"Do what you want to do. There's no need to care what anyone else thinks."

Don't worry about what others think. Just follow your own will.

Because worrying about others' thoughts is tiring and draining, especially in most situations.

Although it's difficult to actually do that, for people in today's world, it's the best way to avoid inner turmoil and mental exhaustion.

This was Ren's answer to Ran.

There's no need to worry about others. Just figure out what you want to do. That's enough.

This answer was different from what Shinichi would've said, but Ran felt that it better explained her instinctive action at the time.

Even she hadn't realized it in the moment. Only later did she reflect on how improper it might have seemed. But back then, she just did it.

She didn't know why. It was simply a reflex.

But now Ran understood that she wasn't the angel Shinichi saw her as. She was more like what Ren described.

Not an angel, just an ordinary girl who acted on instinct.

"So, I'm the best person to talk to Sharon?"

She finally understood why Ren had said she was the one most suited to speak with Sharon about betrayal.

"That's right. Sharon Vineyard's true goal is to bring down the entire organization, but she knows she can't do it alone."

"That's why we can give her the chance, and the strength, to make it possible."

Ren looked over at Ran as he said this.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm. If I get the chance, I'll go talk to Sharon."

Whether it was for Sharon's sake or Ren's, Ran had made up her mind. She would be the one to speak with Sharon.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 560: Scumbag Teacher

Night fell.

The ski resort was still lively. Even after dark, the schools that had come for the trip were just as noisy as during the day. Going to bed early was nearly impossible.

Shujin Private Academy's travel arrangements were quite good. Students stayed three to a room, while teachers were assigned private rooms.

"Phew…"

He had spent almost the entire day teaching students.

However, this kind of life didn't feel fulfilling. He was originally a first-year physical education teacher, but because something had happened to a second-year teacher, he had been temporarily brought in as a replacement.

"Tsk, teaching those male students all day is really troublesome."

If he could, he would much rather teach the girls. Unfortunately, since he had been temporarily assigned to replace the second-year P.E. teacher, he could only be in charge of the boys.

Lying on the bed, a trace of regret appeared in his eyes.

"If the first-year students had been on this trip, that would have been great."

If the first-year students were here, he wouldn't be in this room alone right now.

As he thought about it, Kamoshida's mind involuntarily filled with images of the well-developed second-year girls.

"Kids these days are developing better and better."

He licked his lips unconsciously as he muttered to himself.

He had been focusing on his first-year students and hadn't yet found the right opportunity to approach the second-years.

The volleyball club was already under his control.

Last year, the club had won the city championship, which gave him enough freedom to turn it into his own personal domain.

"I can start acting this year."

He had already set his sights on many of the attractive first-year girls and had made moves before, but he always kept a degree of restraint. After all, on the surface, he still had to maintain the image of a good teacher who cared deeply for his students.

Even in front of the girls he had already manipulated, he made sure to preserve that façade. Everything he did was to build his influence within the school.

Unrestricted authority, that was his goal.

Kamoshida knew that Shujin Private Academy desperately needed results.

Ordinary schools might not be so anxious, but their principal was a different story. He had only reached his position through connections.

If he couldn't produce results to secure his position, the principal would be the first to be removed.

Since the principal had something he needed, it was only natural that he would turn a blind eye to some of Kamoshida's actions.

That was Kamoshida's way of proving his worth.

"Hehehehe…"

As soon as he thought about it, Kamoshida could no longer contain his excitement and let out a quiet, twisted laugh.

After a moment, he quickly calmed himself.

In front of most people, he still needed to maintain his image. He couldn't let anyone see this side of him.

Kamoshida was skilled at acting and equally skilled at controlling his impulses.

That was how he had managed to steadily expand his control within the school.

However, sometimes supernatural abilities defied logic.

In the alternate dimension, in that world tinged with dark gray, a young girl clearly saw the emotions hidden deep within the P.E. teacher's heart.

"Scumbag teacher."

After hearing his thoughts just now, anyone would understand what kind of person he truly was.

A cute, expressionless face showed an unmistakable look of disgust.

"Such a disgusting teacher perfectly fits the image of a bad person."

Indeed, a scumbag teacher who was good at acting was rotten to the core, precisely because he was so skilled at maintaining his appearance.

Hayasaka suppressed her emotions, turned off the camcorder in her hand, checked that all the footage had been recorded, and then opened the door to return to the villa.

Inside, Kaguya was already waiting, reading a book.

When she saw Hayasaka return, Kaguya closed her book.

"How was it?"

"Even worse than what Chika said. He's a complete scumbag."

"When teaching male students, he shows obvious impatience. But when he talks about female students, the expression in his eyes is something any girl would understand. He's skilled at controlling his desires and hiding his thoughts, and he's clearly planning something behind the scenes."

Hayasaka summarized everything she had observed.

In short, he was a scumbag teacher preying on his students.

After finishing her report, Hayasaka placed the camcorder in front of Kaguya.

"Please take a look."

"Okay."

Under Hayasaka's operation, Kaguya began watching the footage.

The recording wasn't long, only about fifteen minutes, but within those fifteen minutes, a lot could be seen.

Previously, Kaguya's understanding of the term "scumbag" was limited to her older brother. But today, she truly saw something different.

"His expressions are too easy to read."

"The intention of using his position to target his students is blatantly obvious. But I have to admit, this teacher really is good at acting."

As she spoke, Kaguya glanced toward Hayasaka.

"Hayasaka…"

"I might be good at acting and controlling emotions, but I've never worn such a disgusting smile. Please don't insult me." Hayasaka knew Kaguya too well. The moment she saw that look, she already understood what her mistress was thinking. So before Kaguya could even finish her sentence, she cut her off with a sharp response.

This matter was closely tied to her reputation.

In the past, she often watched videos of various objects being crushed by hydraulic presses.

But that was before she confessed to Kaguya. Since that confession, she no longer needed such stress relief.

And she would never, under any circumstances, make such a perverted smile.

Kaguya was momentarily speechless, but she knew Hayasaka would never do something so disgusting.

After a pause, she closed the camcorder.

"Ren said the situation at that school is special. Someone there probably possesses supernatural powers, and even we might be affected. We'll need to manage this carefully."

"Hayasaka, don't make any moves in reality for now."

"Wait until Ren's operation is over before we take action."

(To be continued.)