Chapter 1
Sometimes, I find myself drifting back to the days of my childhood in my dreams.
I vividly recall a day during my first year of elementary school when we had an open class session.
It was a Language Arts class, and our task for the day was to present an essay about our parents' professions.
One by one, my classmates stood up proudly, eager to talk about what their parents do for a living.
Among them were tales of a game development designer, a city-protecting police officer, and the owner of a cozy family-run cake shop.
Amidst the flurry of presentations, I also rose to my feet, ready to share my essay about my father's profession.
My dad is a perverted hypnotist.
It was an unheard-of, mysterious profession, leaving the classroom buzzing with curiosity and question marks hanging in the air.
Perverted hypnotism is a surefire technique to control and do pervy stuff towards the ladies you fancy. Living a life of pure desire and pleasure; that's my dad's mantra. Apparently, even my mom fell under his spell.
As the parents whispered amongst themselves, the homeroom teacher seemed to be in a state of panic, while my father just chuckled sheepishly, seemingly unfazed by the commotion.
Sometimes, he'll do it on request, but mostly, he reserves his hypnotic talents for the ones who catch his eye. So, you could say he's a freelance perverted hypnotist. But hey, the cool part about my dad is—
Just like that, I spoke about my father's profession—his work as a perverted hypnotist.
At that moment, I didn't fully comprehend the weight of my words. My father had appeared so proud when I interviewed him for my essay, leaving me to believe he simply held an obscure, behind-the-scenes profession.
The following day marked the beginning of my isolation. Classmates I had considered friends now avoided me, and any attempt to start a conversation was met with cold shoulders and whispers of creepy.
After an ordeal like that, even a pretty clueless kid like me started to catch on.
Being the son of a perverted hypnotist was definitely something I needed to keep under wraps.
Before I knew it, time had flown by, and I found myself entering my sophomore year of high school.
It took me some time, but I finally grasped the true significance of that essay I wrote all those years ago. And now, I understand that my father's profession as a perverted hypnotist isn't just obscure—it's downright scandalous.
Fortunately, nobody in my current life has any inkling of my connection to a perverted hypnotist.
Due to my parents' divorce, he and I had mostly severed ties, giving me the opportunity to keep it all buried deep within me.
And thanks to that, I have been able to lead a quiet, peaceful life.
Indeed, I had . . .
Until the day she stepped into my life.
Matomo Arrives
Apparently, my father had passed away.
It was mid-April.
My parents' divorce reduced the man I had called my father to nothing more than a distant relative.
I learned that my uncle was making arrangements for the funeral.
Saji, will you be attending the funeral?
I thought for a bit before answering my mom's question.
I think I'll pass.
That seemed like the most rational decision, after all.
＊
Time passed.
It was early May, right after Golden Week had passed.
The air was filled with the essence of spring, as cherry blossom petals danced down and the trees burst into vibrant greenery.
Wasn't that seat always empty?
I heard there's a new transfer student joining us.
I caught a glimpse of a new girl in the faculty room.
Seems like an odd time for a new arrival.
Did she skip the opening ceremony?
The classroom of Class 2-1 at Funou High School was buzzing with speculation about the new transfer student.
Ignoring the chatter, I slowly made my way to my seat after the break.
Morning, Saji! It's been a while.
Just as I was getting comfortable, a loud, cheerful voice broke the silence.
I turned to see a striking figure: a muscular kid with tanned skin, a chiseled jawline, and dreadlocks. He was seated to my right in the row in front of mine.
He was known to everyone by his nickname, Taisho, after the Japanese word for general.
We called him Taisho because he had what you might call a commanding presence. His posture was always impeccable, as if a rod supported his back. His uniform fitted him like a glove, and his demeanor exuded a sense of dignity, all reminiscent of a seasoned warrior or soldier.
Taisho and I had been classmates since our first year, often finding ourselves paired together for class or gym activities.
I probably should have done this sooner, but let me introduce myself formally. I'm Saji Saji. Yeah, you heard it right – both my first and last names are Saji. It's a bit of an oddity that makes me feel like I'm being called by my first name, even when someone addresses me by my surname. Quite the quirk, huh?
Good morning, Taisho.
You seem a bit off today. Something wrong?
No, nothing's wrong. Just the usual.
I guess you're always a bit off.
He seemed to accept it without much fuss. I suppose he just saw me as the brooding type.
After a casual exchange of greetings and updates, Taisho changed the subject to something that had seemingly just popped into his mind.
By the way, Saji, have you heard the news?
The new transfer student? Yeah, the whole school seems to be talking about it.
You don’t seem to care much, especially considering that the transfer student will be sitting right next to you.
Come to think of it, there was a new desk placed next to mine, right by the window at the back.
Likely it was for the much-rumored transfer student.
It's not that big of a deal, is it?
You're frigid, dude. As per usual.
Indifferent, unenthusiastic, a typical specimen of the disenchanted generation.
I got that a lot.
But thanks to that, I managed to keep my identity as a perverted hypnotist's son under wraps without anyone digging into my life. It was a survival strategy of mine.
Actually, that's not what I wanted to discuss.
It seemed like he had something else in mind.
Then what’s up?
Have you heard about the 'perverted hypnotist'?
A chill ran down my spine, and my heart pounded.
Nope, never.