"Spread your legs," I commanded.

While pinning Karuizawa on the ship's wall, I see tears flowing through her eyes and just as many emotions expressed on her face.

She is probably terrified of the person in front of her, so different from what I showed myself to be in past months.

'How did it come to this?' I wonder.

The blond-haired girl slowly opened her legs, fully knowing that she was about to be violated. Playing along, I took my hand off of her soft thighs and pretended to rattle my belt.

There was a certain allure to this sight. The seemingly head-strong leader of girls just became the perfect tool for me to use, and there was nothing that could stop me from doing so.

Her body is mine.

Her mind is mine.

Her soul is mine.

'But why? Why am I doing this?'

Why am I going this far when all I ever wanted was a peaceful high-school life...? 

"I'll never bow to you. I won't be bullied by the likes of you. You just want to mess with me! You think you can do whatever you want, you pervert?!" she shouted to my face. This time around, anger was undoubtedly the predominant emotion on display.

Even as I hear of her past, her troubles, her determination...  Even as I unravel her parasitic nature, her fears, her desperation... I keep wondering... About myself.

Am I risking my greatest wish just because I want to help this bullied girl in front of me?

...

No. I've never cared about her. Probably never will.

Is it because of my annoying neighbor? She wishes to go all the way to Class A, and this could be one of the necessary movements to get there.

...They never once deserved my help, however. Not Kushida, not Horikita, nor Hirata... Nor anyone else from Class D. I would never throw away my freedom for any of them.

Perhaps a desire to watch people grow? 

I want to know more about what true merit is... What is equality? 

Except that, deep down, I already know the answer to those questions.

It should be my teacher's fault then, Chabashira Sae. 

She blackmailed me, and I'm only acting so I won't be expelled and lose my freedom.

No... That is not right either.

The truth is that I've been scheming long before her influence.

I've been creating a trap for myself since before crossing the school's gates.

This is all my plan. 

This is who I am.

I tried... but I cannot outrun who I am.

This is my defect.

And it has come the time to stop the pretending.