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EP.155 Akane – Even As You Are, You’re Already Cute Enough 

“What… are you…?” 

Akane’s reddish-brown eyes lost focus, trembling violently as she muttered in disbelief. 

A being exactly like her stood before her. 

How could anything be more chilling than this? 

A fundamental discomfort welled up from deep inside. 

“I told you, I am you.” 

It was as if the thing in the mirror could read Akane’s feelings. 

The reflection twisted its lips into a mocking smile. 

“I’m you, Akane.” 

“Quit spewing nonsense!” 

Rage instantly overwhelmed her rational mind. 

Or perhaps it was just frantic desperation to drown out the sudden fear. 

Regardless, Akane swung her sword reflexively, unleashing fire as if to engulf the doppelganger before her. 

KWAANG ! 

With a roar that split the air, the mirrors lining the sword’s path shattered spectacularly. 

But Akane frowned, disappointed by the lack of satisfying impact. 

“Gone?!” 

“Hehehe.” 

Her confusion was only momentary; each shard of broken mirror now reflected a new “Akane.” 

Dozens, hundreds of pairs of eyes focused on her simultaneously. 

Twisted laughter burrowed into her mind. 

“Damn…” 

“No point in denying it. I’m the girl you desperately want to hide inside that armor  

the soft, lovable girl who wishes to be loved.” 

“Shut up! Don’t hide come out here right now!” 

Her blow struck the shards, grinding them to ash, but  

The nauseating voice wouldn’t stop. 

“Haruto’s awful too, right? Never even notices my feelings. All he does is smile so kindly at Hikari and Mizuki.” 

“I never thought that !” 

A line that pierced her tender insides. 

Akane’s denial was swallowed up by even craftier whispers. 

“In truth, I’ve known him much longer than either of them. If… only I’d been a little cuter, a little more feminine, like those two. Wouldn’t Haruto have looked at me more?” 

With those words, the scene in the unbroken mirrors warped all at once. 

Now the Akane in the mirror was changed  

A flowing, frilly dress she always hated. 

Hands demurely folded. 

A frail face that triggered anyone’s protective instinct. 

All the exact opposites of her own self, gathered into a repulsive, uncanny image. Akane found herself unable to breathe. 

“……” 

“But that can’t really happen, right? ‘Cute me’ just imagining it is embarrassing! Everyone would treat me like a fool!” 

“Akane’s like a boy, isn’t she?” 

“Why’s a girl showing off her strength?” 

Voices heard a thousand times since childhood haunted her ears. 

Then the mirrors changed again, and this time, the face she'd most longed to see appeared. 

“Haruto…” 

But with a gentle smile, Haruto passed Akane by. 

It was as if she didn’t exist, as if she wasn’t even visible. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, he walked straight to the “feminine Akane” and embraced her gently. 

“If being that cute is embarrassing, just leave it to me. I’ll love the adorable Haruto as much as you wish.” 

The “me” in the apparition whispered, tilting her head to kiss Haruto. 

Time froze. 

All sound vanished, and shadows deepened across Akane’s face. 

Just then  

“Hehehe.” 

From among hundreds of illusions, the one the real doppelganger emerged, crackling with murderous intent. 

Right when Akane’s mind was distracted, it was the perfect chance to stab the hero in the back. 

“Akane! Watch out !” 

Kai’s desperate warning echoed through the room, but it was nearly too late. 

A dagger laced with murderous energy darted toward the back of Akane’s head  

“…Ha.” 

Icily mocking laughter melted frozen time. 

And then  

KWAANG ! 

The edge of Akane’s sword erupted, her anger blazing into crimson flames. 

She fed all the humiliation she’d just endured into her swing, slashing backwards at her attacker. 

The searing blade struck dead-on, swallowing the doppelganger behind her. 

“Kraaaaaa!” 

Its scream was hollow, and the boastful monster vanished in an instant, turned to a scatter of ashes. 

In the returned silence of the maze, Akane stood, catching her breath and steadying herself. 

“Mizuki was right. They had some tricks, but they were sloppy.” 

Just before reaching the Central Control Center, Mizuki had told her about fighting monsters. 

This doppelganger used almost the same methods as the one Mizuki had fought before. 

So she was able to deal with it. 

“You okay?” 

Kai rushed up anxiously, and Akane answered with affected nonchalance. 

“…Yeah. All talk, really just some nothing special.” 

Her mood was at absolute rock bottom, but she couldn’t show it. She added, 

No matter how much they’d dug up about her past and personal info  

if she ever found out who was behind it, she’d burn them to the ground Akane promised herself. 

And then  

“Hey.” 

“Huh?” 

“…Just forget about it when we get back.” 

Her low voice wavered with a tremor even she didn’t notice. 

“Forget what?” 

“That stuff about being cute, or whatever that thing said. Just forget all of it.” 

Having her private thoughts exposed, Akane snarled almost instinctively. 

“Oh, that?” 

But Kai gave an unexpected answer, perhaps not even registering her feelings. 

“I think you’re already cute enough just as you are, Akane.” 

“What…!” 

In that moment, a forgotten memory flashed by. 

“So what if you seem like a boy. I like that Akane too.” 

The clumsy but genuine comfort Haruto had given her when she was a wounded child. 

It overlapped with the present, and Akane’s face flushed deeply red. 

To cover her embarrassment, she switched topics sharply. 

“…Did you use lines like that to win over Mizuki and Hikari too?” 

“Hahaha.” 

Kai just laughed unpredictable as ever, which somehow made him all the more frustrating. 

Akane took a deep breath and shook off her confused thoughts. 

“Sigh… Let’s hurry. We don’t know what kind of tricks they’ll pull next.” 

She was about to turn and resume her search for Haruto when  

“Akane!” 

Kai’s urgent shout split the air as a strong impact hit her from behind. 

“Urk?! What are you !” 

Akane’s shout remained unfinished. 

Right where she’d just been pushed away, the dust-like remnants of the vanquished doppelganger erupted in a flash. 

KWAANG ! 

From ground zero billowed smoke, darker and thicker than blood, writhing like a living creature and spreading instantly like mist. 

“…!” 

Akane watched, stunned and helpless, as Kai absorbed the full blast with his body. 

His back became a shield, ready to block any attack. 

“Ugh!” 

With a short moan, Kai’s body lost balance, his hand clutching his chest as his breath grew ragged. 

“Haah. Hah…” 

“Hey, are you okay?!” 

Snapping back to herself, Akane dropped to her knees at his side. 

He had no major wounds, but Kai’s face was pale and sweating, his lips trembling faintly. 

“Is it… some kind of poison…?” 

“I I’m fine. This much… hng!” 

Pretending to be strong, his voice cracked and broke. 

He finally collapsed in exhaustion, falling across Akane’s shoulder with a strained sigh. 

“Ahh… I expected something like this, but it’s harder than I thought…” 

“You idiot! Why do something so reckless?!” 

Akane’s tearful voice echoed in the maze. 

He’d risked his life for her. A powerless civilian throwing himself in front of danger. 

She burned with guilt so bright it almost blinded her. 

‘Damn, if only Hikari were here! With her healing skills…!’ 

But it was pointless to wish for what couldn’t be. 

All that mattered now was doing what she could. 

“Shit… You can’t die here. I won’t stand for you dying to save me!” 

Gnashing her teeth, Akane propped up the half-conscious Kai. 

“Haha… If I die and you think that way about me… it wouldn’t be so bad…” 

“You’re still spouting nonsense guess you’re not dead yet!” 

She slung his arm firmly over her shoulder and, though staggering under his weight, pushed forward step by step. 

The heaviness of his adult frame weighed on her, but despair threatened to weigh her down even more. 

If they were attacked in this state, that would really be the end of everything. 

Just then, a small figure slowly appeared in the darkness ahead. 

“!” 

Akane instinctively readied her sword. 

But when she saw who it was, she couldn’t help but gasp. 

“Lady Lumina…?” 

“Akane?” 

To Akane, having struggled so desperately, that figure was like a ray of salvation. 

Lumina, in turn, spotted Akane in the darkness and smiled radiant as a child finding its mother. 

“Oh, thank goodness! I thought I was going to be lost here forever.” 

But up close, the goddess was clearly not the same as in Akane’s memory. 

Her once divine platinum hair had faded to white, like she’d lost her holy power. 

Her lively emerald eyes now seemed hollow, tinted red-pink. 

Her aura was subtly warped. 

But she was undeniably the goddess Lumina, whom they had risked so much to rescue. 

“How did you get here… Did you escape?” 

“Well, you could say that.” 

Lumina walked with easy steps as if out for a stroll, eyes widening at Kai slumped on Akane’s arm. 

Her innocent expression was unchanged, but Akane couldn’t shake a chill creeping down her spine. 

“Oh my, what happened to him?” 

“He tried to save me…! He’s been poisoned. Lumina, can’t you do something?” 

“Ah~ so that’s it? Just give me a moment.” 

Lumina started checking over Kai’s body. 

Akane swallowed, waiting for her to speak. 

“He’s definitely poisoned. But… it’s not a normal poison. Some wicked, sticky magical energy is mixed in.” 

“Can you cure him…?” 

Lumina shook her head. 

“Sorry. With my power now… I don’t have enough, I’m afraid.” 

“Figures…” 

She was just as weakened as the rest. 

She’d probably suffered cruel torture too. 

Akane’s mind grew complex. 

Should she just get Kai out of here? 

But then, what about Haruto left behind…? 

Almost as if reading her mind, Lumina spoke. 

“You came to rescue Haruto, right?” 

“How do you ?” 

“A little while ago, while I was lost, I saw him being dragged off somewhere by some scary people.” 

At her words, Akane’s failing hope flickered anew. 

“Where where is he!?” 

“Hmm… I think it’s this way. Follow me, it’s not far.” 

Lumina started off, unconcerned. 

Despite her odd vibe, Akane knew she had no choice. 

She smothered her doubts and followed, clutching at straws. 

After walking a while  

Lumina led them to a door unlike any other a cheap, wooden-looking door more like the entrance to a shabby motel room than anything in the mirrored corridors. 

“This is it. Haruto’s inside.” 

Lumina pointed and smiled sweetly. 

Akane carefully settled Kai against the wall. 

“You two stay here. I don’t know what’s inside, so…” 

“…Sorry. I’m just holding you back.” 

Kai’s tortured apology pierced Akane’s heart. 

You shouldn’t be the one apologizing, idiot. 

“Shut up and sit still. You got hurt saving me.” 

She snapped, but beneath it was concern and guilt she couldn’t hide. 

Lastly, she turned to Lumina, watching her with that faint smile. 

Whatever strangeness had affected her, Lumina was now the only person Akane could trust. 

“Lumina, please… look after him.” 

Her earnest plea made Lumina smile prettily, eyes red as a crescent moon. 

Her voice was eerily gentle and sweet. 

“Don’t worry, Akane.” 

“You’ll both be reunited soon. In an even better state.” 

Akane didn’t know the real meaning behind these words, but took strength from Lumina’s encouragement instead. 

She placed her hand on the heavy steel door, trying to shake off her fears. 

Cold metal touched her palm and seemed to reach her heart. 

One deep breath. 

Akane opened the door and stepped into unknown darkness. 

Creeeak  

With a chilling sound, the door closed behind her, and Akane was left enclosed in deep shadow. 

But the darkness didn’t last long. 

Soft ambient lights switched on one by one, illuminating the bizarre space where she now stood. 

“Uh…” 

Expecting a prison or torture chamber, Akane sucked in her breath for a different reason. 

The floor was plush with ruby-red carpet, thick enough to sink into at the ankles. 

One wall was lined with strange leather straps and handcuffs, and cold metal devices arranged as neatly as art exhibits. 

It was a place that defied the words “kidnapping” or “restraint” its very ambiguity made it more ominous. 

At the far end, a section raised like a stage was separated from floor to ceiling by an enormous wall of black mirror. 

“…!” 

Akane approached warily, and then the black glass went transparent. 

And beyond it, she saw Haruto at last. 

He was tied hand and foot to an elegant velvet chair, gagged and writhing in discomfort. 

“Haruto!” 

She drew her sword and charged the clear wall, determined to break through. 

“Wait! I’ll break this thing right !” 

Just before she struck  

“It’s useless, Akane.” 

A chillingly cold voice froze her sword in midair. 

Turning to the voice, she realized on each side of Haruto’s chair, two figures now revealed themselves as the shadows withdrew. 

No longer the radiant smiles of a saint Hikari and Mizuki now wore cruel, ecstatic grins. 

‘Why are you !’ 

Confusion outpaced anger. Akane fought the urge to howl and struggled to understand the situation. 

“You two… How are you here? Mizuki, weren’t you fighting Morgana upstairs?!” 

“Fighting? Ah, that play?” 

Hikari laughed, sounding far too amused. 

“Just move aside! I need to save Haruto !” 

“To save him?” 

Mizuki shot her an icy smile. 

“Why should we save Haruto?” 

“Why…? Because Haruto is… our precious ” 

Akane’s thoughts froze. Her comrades’ altered appearances, the unnatural magic, and now this unreal conversation  

She sensed all the ominous fragments she’d been avoiding click together at last. 

“From here on, Haruto is an essential actor for the show. Of course, so are you, Akane.” 

“And the man you brought so desperately that was all part of the plan for the show, too.” 

Show? Actor? Man? 

Before Akane could process this, a loud noise signaled the door reopening behind her. 

“What are you doing? I said to wait outside !” 

She turned to call out but was cut off. 

Kai stood there, face twisted in pain. 

And behind him, with a chilling smile, Lumina manipulated his body like a puppet with dark tentacles. 

Bang! 

Before Akane could even react, the door slammed shut. 

Now, only three people remained locked in the room. 

And only the spectators remained beyond the glass wall. 

“Well, now all the actors are on stage.” 

Hikari’s hands mimed applause as she murmured. 

Above the closed door, red letters glowed, seeping out like fresh blood. 

A title she hadn’t seen when entering the name of this cruel play. 

[The Room Where You Can’t Save Anyone Without Having Sex]