[081] Yandere Reader [40 PS]

"Yes, Yes, Yesssss!!"

Tanaka let out an excited howl.

"I've wandered aimlessly for half my life without a guiding leader. If you're willing to accept me, I'd like to swear loyalty as your adopted son!"

"Good boy," Shihara amused reply.

"By the way, how's the second volume? Is it good?"

"Good?"

"Heh."

Shihara let out a cold laugh. "Are you doubting love and hope sensei?"

"No, no! It's just a polite question, I swear!"

"Although I hate spoiling things, I can say one thing for sure—this work is god-tier material!" Shihara's gaze grew distant, tinged with meaning.

"God-tier!?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!! Incredible! As expected from sensei!"

Tanaka's faith was unshakable. Like a devoted disciple, he carefully opened the first page of the manga with reverence.

Shihara wiped the grin off his face and stared at Tanaka with a blank expression. Deep down, he added silently:

"Yeah, it's god-tier—but it also goes completely insane."

Two hours flew by.

"Nooooooo!!"

Tanaka's despair echoed through the room. His face twisted into an expression of pure trauma, color draining until he collapsed dramatically onto the tatami floor, mimicking a certain meme-worthy anime character.

Shihara couldn't hold back anymore—he burst out in wild laughter.

"Hahahahaha!!"

After a while, the laughter subsided. A twisted expression appeared on Shihara's face.

"No, no... this won't do!"

"How can such a masterpiece be experienced by just the three of us!?"

"This... this must be shared with more people!"

[TL Note – Damn it this guy is a fucking legend lol]

Shihara whipped out his phone, grinning as he scrolled through his friends list.

.......

Meanwhile, in a luxurious mansion elsewhere...

On a grand bed lay a girl with doll-like features. Her beautiful eyes had lost all their light.

Beside her, Hayasaka Ai anxiously shook the young lady.

But there was no response.

"I can't believe that manga made her look like she'd been emotionally demolished by a dragon," Ai muttered, casting a wary glance at the manga beside Kaguya.

In her imagination, dark energy seemed to coil ominously around the book.

"This thing's cursed," she thought.

Just as Ai was lost in thought, Kaguya suddenly sat up, black hair obscuring her face. Her voice was ghostly:

"Hayasaka..."

"!!"

Ai snapped her head around. "Young Lady?"

"Are the one-ton blades still in storage?"

??

What the-!?

Ai stiffened, forcing herself to reply, "Yes, Young Lady."

"You've already tracked down the Warrior of Love and Hope's address, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Kaguya nodded, her voice icy and bone-chilling. "Send all the blades to him."

Ai's years of stoic training nearly shattered at that moment.

"...Young Lady, are you serious?"

"Mm?"

"I understand."

This beautiful, chaotic woman... Ai's fists clenched involuntarily.

Back online, SNS users were in chaos.

"God, it's all gone... my sanity... hahahahaha..."

"Why did I think Volume 2 would have a happy turn around? I'm such a fool!"

"So this is how Sayaka and Kyoko's story ends!? Damn you, author! Thanks a lot!"

"They were so close to becoming friends... Why did it have to end like that!?"

"Homura! My poor Homura!!"

"In countless timelines, she never gave up—even in despair! This is so heartbreaking!"

"The concept of witches is just mind-blowing!"

"At least some people are talking normally," muttered Minano Matone, scrolling through comments with a satisfied nod.

"9 AM me: Yay! Volume 2 is finally out!"

"1 PM me: I'm done. Just destroy the world already."

"Volume 2 is perfect... except for the part where my heart can't handle it!"

"Why!? Why does it end like this!? My Madoka!!"

"I'm in pain! Literal pain!! Why did I even read Volume 2!?"

"All the plot holes got resolved beautifully, but why can't I stop crying!?"

"Could you guys stop being cryptic? I didn't get Volume 2, and now I'm dying of curiosity!"

"Trust me, it's better if you never know. Authors don't have hearts."

"Wait, what does that have to do with me reading it?"

"You poor, naive soul."

"Hey, author? Can I have your address? No reason—just wanna send some... local delicacies."

[TL Note – I want to do the same thing to the one who write Elysia story form Honkai Impact! The freaking author just had to make her dead in HSR to T-T]

"Have you ever tried slicing flesh with a dull knife? That's how my heart feels right now. You get it, don't you?"

"This is what a true magical girl story is—hope and despair intertwined! I'm devastated, but it's so addictive!"

"I feel depressed now. How did a manga do this to me!?"

"Too heavy... I can't handle it!"

"Can't handle it? Just cry with me."

"Author, please, I'm begging you—change the ending!!"

Minano Matome nodded with satisfaction.

"Looks like everyone loves this story."