It was Friday. For once, Ethan hadn't received a love confession, meaning he didn't have to stand like an idiot under the bare cherry blossom tree. He slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom with ease. Having chosen to temper his heart in the mortal world, he wanted to stay as close as possible to the life of an ordinary high schooler.
The Occult Research Club was clearly far from "ordinary," so he decided to look elsewhere. Club activities are a staple of Japanese school culture, and he wanted to experience them properly. To be honest, aside from a brief scouting trip when his powers first awakened, he knew very little about them.
Unfortunately, with only a few months until his senior year, most clubs wouldn't take a new member—and those that would were mostly interested in his body. Since Kuoh Academy became co-ed two years ago, the gender ratio was still heavily skewed. Finding a "normal" club experience was proving difficult.
However, he realized that "facing the demon" meant accepting his special nature, not forcing himself to be mundane. Thus, Ethan chose to join the Swimming Club. If people were going to ogle him anyway, he might as well let his female classmates get an eyeful.
When Ethan changed into his new swim trunks, his perfect physique caused the girls in the club to swoon, their eyes turning into hearts. A few bold seniors even reached out to stroke his perfectly defined muscles. If he hadn't stopped them, the ones feeling his V-line would have slipped their hands right into his tight, bulging trunks.
With his powers sealed, his self-control was slightly lower. Combined with the high quality of the girls in the swimming club, he realized he could have easily started an orgy right there if he didn't restrain himself.
After a few days of getting to know the girls, Ethan found his desire peaking—especially whenever he faced the "petite with huge tits" silver-haired beauty, Uzaki Hana. He had recognized her immediately; she was a heroine from his memories, and her looks and body hit all his favorite tropes. Due to various circumstances, he hadn't approached her before, but now she was right in front of him.
In this world, Uzaki Hana had only recently met Shinichi Sakurai. She currently had shoulder-length hair, which made her look even more adorable and seductive than the short-haired version he remembered. Sakurai was also in the swimming club, but he was a loner. Ethan observed that no romantic feelings had blossomed between them yet.
Hana seemed outgoing, but she was actually shy and a bit tsundere. Even though she was clearly attracted to Ethan, she would never confess first. In Ethan's memory, she and Sakurai were so dense that they could sleep in the same bed and still not admit their feelings.
Ethan wanted her, but every time he thought about making a move, he felt like an "NTR Bastard" (Netorare/Jerk) stealing her from Sakurai. Even though nothing had happened yet, he felt a strange sense of guilt. He needed a reason—an excuse—to cross that moral line.
After a few days of mental conflict, his interest in Hana was noticed. One day, prodded by the other girls, the silver-haired beauty with massive breasts finally approached him.
"Um... Uesugi-kun..." Hana blushed, poking her index fingers together. "Everyone is saying... that you joined the swimming club just for me..."
Ethan didn't want to make the shy girl suffer. He looked at her tight swimsuit, which hugged every curve of her provocative body. "At first, it wasn't. But now, I definitely have feelings for you."
Instead of being repulsed, Hana's face turned a deep crimson. Her heart raced with overwhelming joy. This was the privilege of being a handsome man with a supernatural allure; even if he was a known playboy, girls were still desperate to be part of his "collection."
Hana's proximity gave Ethan the reason he needed, but her next question caught him off guard. "If that's the case... why haven't you said anything? People say that if you like a woman, you take her regardless of whether she has a boyfriend or a husband..."
Ethan's mouth twitched. He felt offended by the rumors—he was usually the one being pursued! But then he realized something felt strange. He was so caught up in his "Inner Demon" that he couldn't see the obvious: he was overthinking. To an outsider, Ethan was already a legendary "jerk," yet here he was, agonizing over a reason to date a girl who wanted him.
"I understand," Ethan said smoothly, pulling her close. "My personal life is... complicated. So, Hana-chan, now that you know, will you go out with me?"
"Go... go out? Dating?" Hana's head practically steamed. After a few stutters, she nodded shyly. "Uesugi-kun... then, starting now, we're boyfriend and girlfriend."
The words "boyfriend and girlfriend" triggered Ethan's PTSD. Instinctively, he corrected her: "Not boyfriend and girlfriend. Just dating."
Hana looked at him with big, confused eyes. "Isn't dating the same as being boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Ethan was speechless again. He felt the mental blockage, but he couldn't quite break it. Finally, he gave in to his desire to claim the "prey" in front of him. "You're right. We are boyfriend and girlfriend."
The moment he said it, he felt a weight lift from his chest, but the "malice" from the world intensified. Having a "girlfriend" was like adding fuel to the fire of his "Beta" curse. The negative effects were growing stronger, but Ethan wasn't afraid. Without his sealed powers, these "threats" wouldn't even register on his radar.