Satou Matsuzaka knew—
She was just a shell.
A walking corpse.
She had never felt true happiness.
Nor had she ever known the pain of losing something precious.
To her, Living meant mimicking.
Seeing others smile, she would smile back.
Seeing sadness, she would show appropriate sorrow.
She had never genuinely laughed, never cried from true grief.
She didn't even understand what those expressions truly meant.
But everything changed when she met Minami Shouji.
For him, she felt real joy.
And when he ignored her, she felt anxious.
This soulless shell of a girl was changing.
She was beginning to feel a happiness she'd never known.
But to her, that happiness was an addictive poison.
As a blank-slate personality, the more joy she felt from him—
The more anxious she became when he didn't see her.
There's a saying:
"Someone who can make you laugh may not make you cry, but the one who can make you cry will always be able to make you laugh."
Minami's cold indifference made Satou, who had never fought for anything, feel deep anxiety.
Even though she never had him—
She feared losing him.
Maybe this was love.
And for love—
She would do anything, even beyond what others could understand.
So—
As she watched Minami approach, knife in hand—
The pink-haired girl felt nothing but fear for him.
She was worried about Minami Shouji.
Because if he really killed her—
How would he dispose of her body without leaving any evidence?
She was still, after all, a living person.
Killing her would inevitably leave some trace behind.
And with today's advanced forensic technology...
Satou Matsuzaka feared that Minami wouldn't be able to handle her body properly, and would end up being arrested.
If that happened…
Wouldn't that mean she had destroyed the very person she loved with her own hands?
That, she could not accept.
After finally escaping the void of her zombie-like existence—
After finally finding someone she loved—
To think he'd be arrested over something as trivial as her death—
That just wasn't logical.
In fact, why would the police even care about something like this?
If it was Minami Shouji, she was willing, eager to die by his hands.
Just like in Edogawa Ranpo's The Human Chair—
Where a hideous young man crafted himself into a chair just to remain close to the woman he adored.
Yes, exactly!
Her life, hollow and meaningless, was worth nothing.
Compared to a brilliant, promising youth like Minami, she wasn't even worth a single yen.
[She stopped you from approaching with the knife and confessed her concern.]
[She's never feared death.]
[What she fears is after you kill her, how you'd evade the police.]
[So she suggests you find a safer, more secluded place before taking her life.]
[That way, you'd avoid any legal risk, and she could die for you, willingly.]
[Her bizarre logic left you speechless for a moment.]
[After a while, you shook your head and told her—
you never had any intention of killing her.]
[You only took out the knife because the rope binding her was too thick, and the scissors on your desk were useless.]
"What are you even saying, Satou-san?"
Minami stared at her, struggling to process her words.
Satou, equally confused, lifted her head and looked at him, puzzled.
"Minami-senpai… weren't you planning to kill me? I broke into your room and tried to attack you…"
"Tch…"
Her words, so innocent and natural, made Minami visibly flinch.
Her logic was so warped, he couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
"Why would you think that, Satou-san?" he asked.
"Eh? Then why… the knife?"
"The rope tied around you was too tight. My scissors were useless. I figured a knife would work better, that's all."
Minami glanced sideways at her.
"And… Satou-san, you do know that killing is illegal, right?"
Then, he pointed a finger at her.
"And breaking into someone's house, attempting an assault, those are also crimes. You get that, right?"
"I do. But… for love, isn't using those methods normal?"
"…"
Minami stared at her.
Her expression was calm, completely sincere.
Not a hint of deception.
In other words—
As long as it was for love,
She would do anything,
Even things completely against moral and social norms.
Minami frowned deeply.
He'd known Satou Matsuzaka's emotions and sense of normalcy were different from others—
But he'd never expected the gap to be this vast.
[After a brief conversation, you realize the massive chasm between her and normal people in terms of emotion and reason.]
[She's a blank slate.]
[No sense of morality, law, or conscience just an eerily "pure" and "clear" view of the world.]
[Like a still, transparent lake: if the sky above her is dark and dirty, she reflects darkness; if the sky is pure and blue, she reflects purity.]
[If left unchecked, she'll likely continue to act in ways that defy law, ethics, and reason.]
[Faced with this, you decide—]
1. You are her god, her master, her sky—her everything. Let her entire being be painted with your colors.
2. Toy with this blank slate, until you're bored—then toss her aside. That's also an option.
3. Too much trouble. Yamada-san, Gotoh-san… they're way better.
4: Simulate directly.
"…," Minami Shouji stared at the screen.
What kind of wild simulations are these now?
"You are her god? Her master?"
And he's supposed to dye her body and soul with his color?
No… he really hoped that was only about literal colors.
Option One was insane, but Option Two wasn't any better.
Toy with her and throw her away when bored?
Ultimate scumbag route unlocked, huh?
And Option Three? Completely off the rails.
Not only did Yamada-san show up, but Gotoh-san too?
Double route?
All three options were equally unhinged.
Still, if Minami had to pick, he'd probably go with Option One.
Because Option One, beneath its madness, implied influencing Satou Matsuzaka, changing her overly "pure," "clear" personality.
To "dye" her meant to reshape her.
"Alright then…"
Minami reached out and chose Option One.
[Clear water reflects the color of the sky above it.]
[You understand this truth deeply.]
[So your next step is simple.]
[You must become the sky that changes her her color, her soul, her everything.]
[You must become her god, her master, her entire world—until she can no longer live without your influence.]
[You untie her, and firmly declare your intent.]
Simulation memory surfaced.
It didn't take long for Minami to cut the ropes with the sharp edge of the kitchen knife.
Satou's body, weakened by ether, remained limp and unresponsive.
He helped her sit upright.
Then spoke.
"Satou-san, you said it earlier. You like me, right?"
"Yes."
Satou answered without hesitation, nodding firmly.
"But anyone can say they like someone, can't they?"
Minami's eyes narrowed, doubt in his tone.
"I can prove it."
"How?" Minami chuckled. "By what, attacking me and failing? That proves something?"
"I won't do that again."
Satou shook her head.
Minami's… education… had taught her how painful it was to be on the receiving end of an attack.
She wouldn't do that to him again.
But—
"I'm not saying I don't believe you. But words are cheap."
Minami shook his head, his luminous eyes glinting under the light.
Satou, unwavering in her belief in "love," simply lifted her head and asked, "What does Minami-senpai want me to do?"
Perfect.
Minami smiled and leaned closer.
"It's simple, really."
In a steady voice, he said:
"From now on, Satou-san, you will think only of me. Your every thought will prioritize me, my needs, my will. Everything you do will be for me."
He placed a glass of water on the table.
"Even if I'm thirsty, and there's water right here, if I tell you to go buy me some, you won't say no."
His voice turned resolute.
"In other words, from now on, I am your master. Your god. Your everything. Do you understand, Satou-san?"
"...Eh?"
Satou tilted her head slightly, confused by Minami's forceful words, her blank-slate mind struggling to process the intense demand.
But Minami's stance didn't waver.
He pressed the point:
"What's with the hesitation? Don't you love me?"
"But..."
Satou Matsuzaka grew more and more confused.
She wasn't like Minami Shouji, articulate and sharp.
She had no experience expressing emotions.
"There's no 'but.'"
Minami sat up straight, his voice calm.
"If you love someone, if you truly like someone, then this small thing should be nothing, right?"
He didn't give her a chance to hesitate.
"If you're willing, Satou-san, drink this water. If not, then I ask you to never approach or come near me again. Once your strength returns, leave."
He pushed the glass of water toward her, his intent crystal clear.
When someone is given a choice, and Minami is the only option—
Satou's choice was obvious.
Under his gaze—
Her expression still clouded with confusion, but clinging to her belief in love—
Satou Matsuzaka lifted her hand and placed it on the glass.
[Under your persuasive pressure, she made her choice, she didn't want to sever ties with you.]
[In truth, someone as pure and clear as she is didn't notice the gaping flaw in your argument.]
[A relationship can't be severed by one side alone. Even if you refuse to see her, if she continues to cling to you, there's nothing you can do.]
[But your sharp, forceful words made her overlook this.]
[In reality, a yandere—a girl with emotional instability, isn't difficult to handle for someone like you.]
[Their behavior stems from their desires. As long as you grasp their weakness, understand their thoughts, you can control them.]
[For you, this isn't hard.]
[But truthfully, you don't enjoy using such means. It feels twisted.]
[Yet Satou Matsuzaka's case is so unique, your only choice was to respond in kind. Only then could you reach her.]
[And finally, your relationship with her was solidified.]
[From now on, you are her everything.]
[You are her master.]
[Once her strength returned, you walked her to the station, a small gesture for you.]
[But for her, it was an act of immense joy.]
[Though she still felt confused about your bonds, she also felt grateful for the choice you made.]
[As long as you shared even a sliver of "love," it was enough for her.]
[Because she had nothing to begin with.]
[Her love was that humble.]