Chapter 15 – Threads of Malice

Kirisu Madoka had seen her fair share of manipulative parents, but today's group took the cake. They wore false smiles and begged for forgiveness, but the resentment flashing in their eyes said it all:

It's that orphan's fault our kids got punished.

They had no real remorse. Just wounded pride and bitterness.

And so, Kirisu rendered judgment.

Sagami Minami, as ringleader: suspended from school for one month.

Her accomplices: formally reprimanded and given serious disciplinary warnings.

All participants: a permanent note added to their student records.

Ethan Kane, though he used violence, was deemed to have acted in defense of another. He received a formal warning, with no suspension.

It was fair. Measured. Just.

And so, the bullying incident came to a close.

---

Later that day, Ethan was approached by a poised woman in her twenties. She had long hair, sharp features, and a mature air about her.

"You're Ethan Kane?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you… for protecting Rikka."

Touka Takanashi, older sister and legal guardian to Rikka, studied him closely.

He looked young, but something about him radiated composure and strength. She liked him instantly.

"You're welcome," Ethan said with a warm smile. "Rikka and I are friends. Looking out for each other is just what friends do."

He glanced at Touka in return. Her resemblance to Rikka was clear, though her demeanor was more grounded and collected. There was a quiet confidence about her.

"The bond between the Evil King's True Eye and the wielder of the Sharingan… is eternal!" Rikka proclaimed proudly, placing her fists on her hips.

Smack!

Touka karate-chopped her sister on the head with a sigh.

"I'm sorry about her. Please keep an eye on my ridiculous little sister."

"I don't mind," Ethan chuckled. "You can message me anytime if you want updates on how she's doing at school."

Touka's eyes lit up. "Would that really be okay?"

She accepted the offer and exchanged contact info with him.

Then, unexpectedly, she grabbed his hand and bowed her head slightly. "I'm counting on you, Ethan-kun."

---

Ding!

[Treasure Chest Detected: Touka Takanashi]

Extract?

→ Extracted!

[S-Rank Treasure Chest: Mangekyō Sharingan]

Ethan's eyes lit up. What a jackpot!

Mangekyō Sharingan—a powerful evolution of his existing ocular power. A cornerstone ability in the world of shinobi.

Touka, watching his sudden burst of excitement, smirked inwardly.

He really got excited just from a handshake? Cute…

Still, he did protect Rikka. I suppose a little reward's fine.

---

A few weeks passed.

The school returned to relative peace. Ethan rarely had to use his powers—his Conqueror's Haki was more than enough to keep stray oddities at bay.

Rikka Takanashi's status had quietly risen. She wasn't bullied anymore. In fact, she was even starting to make friends—Megumi Kato, Yui Yuigahama, and others began to talk to her like a normal classmate.

Ethan sent Touka updates regularly, and one day, she responded with… a photo.

A swimsuit photo.

...Really? Ethan stared at the image for a long time before saving it with a blank expression.

I'm not some pervert, okay? I'm just being polite.

---

Meanwhile, something else caught Ethan's attention.

One seat in the classroom remained empty.

"...Sagami Minami still isn't back?"

The one-month suspension had ended, but she hadn't returned. Calls and messages to her family had gone unanswered. Even her parents seemed to have vanished.

"She probably dropped out out of embarrassment," someone scoffed.

"Serves her right."

"Just disappear already."

Kirisu Madoka silenced the class with a sharp clap.

"That's enough. She's already been punished. You don't need to become bullies yourselves."

She meant it.

Despite everything, she still hoped Sagami could change.

You're a real teacher, Ethan thought. The kind that's almost extinct.

---

That afternoon, Madoka decided to check on her student personally.

Following the address in the school file, she arrived at the Sagami residence.

The doorbell rang multiple times. No answer.

Oddly, the door was unlocked.

She hesitated. Then stepped inside.

---

"I'm Kirisu Madoka," she called out. "Teacher from Sobu High School. Is anyone home?"

The lights were off.

The air felt... wrong.

Cold.

Dead.

"Sagami-san?"

She took a few cautious steps inside.

Click!

The door slammed shut behind her.

Darkness swallowed the room.

She whipped out her phone, turning on the flashlight.

"Wh… what the…?"

Her light caught the walls—and revealed strands of thick spider silk crisscrossing the hallway.

Her stomach churned.

She hated insects.

She stepped back—and stumbled, falling hard.

And then she saw them.

Two bodies, hanging from the ceiling.

Wrapped in webbing.

Eyes wide open.

Lifeless.

Sagami's parents.

---

"A-AHHHHHH!"

She screamed, scrambling for her phone to call the police—when a familiar voice echoed behind her.

"Kirisu-sensei? You came?"

It was Sagami Minami's voice.

Cold.

Detached.

Madoka turned.

And froze.

---

Sagami Minami's upper body was human.

But below the waist?

A spider's limbs. Glinting in the dark.

A twisted hybrid of girl and beast.

---

"Why are you running?" Minami hissed.

"You came here to laugh at me, didn't you?!"

"No—I didn't—I came to help you return to school!"

Madoka backed up, heart pounding.

Minami's eyes glowed in the dark.

"Liar."

And then she lunged.

---

[TO BE CONTINUED…]

---

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