My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

“…Alright, if you’re not committing a crime, then I can agree.” Shiraishi Chiren pretended to think it over, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly nodded.

Seeing that she agreed, Izumi Kurose breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Actually, I was imprisoned by someone."

Upon hearing this, he felt that Shiraishi Chiren's gaze had become somewhat strange and piercing.

"You... never mind, everyone has their own hobbies."

"No, that's not how it is! You've misunderstood!"

Kurose Izumi panicked immediately; she didn't want to be misunderstood as a pervert with strange fetishes!

“I don’t think I’ve misunderstood, because you weren’t tied up, yet you didn’t run away.”

"..."

Kurose Izumi choked on his words, unsure how to explain it.

As she said, if you're imprisoned, why not escape when the person in charge isn't around and you're not tied up?

Shiraishi Chiren then asked, "Also, why were you imprisoned? Who would want to do such a thing?"

Kurose Izumi pursed her thin lips, hesitating whether she should confess that it was because of her novel that she had attracted a yandere reader.

He wondered, "Shiraishi Chiren seems to be a very serious and rigid person, doesn't she?"

So, telling her that I am the author of "The Abyss of Youth" shouldn't be a problem, right?

Surely she can't be one of his readers too?

Unfortunately, this idea is naive.

Reality is often more fantastical and unbelievable than fiction...

"Actually, I am an author, but I have been imprisoned by readers because of problems with my work."

"What kind of book did you write that would lead to your readers imprisoning you?"

"The Abyss of Youth."

"……what?"

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi Chiren remained silent for a long while before seeming to just understand and becoming stunned.

Then, she extended her slender index finger, pointed at Kurose Izumi, and asked as if to confirm:

"You... are the author of 'The Abyss of Youth'?"

Kurose Izumi's heart skipped a beat.

Damn, that tone...

They must be his readers!

"No, I'm not, I misspoke."

He quickly denied it, but dared not admit it.

He was fairly aware of the extent of his own writing abilities.

Especially since they're going to release a bad ending, they absolutely can't accept it!

"Are you really?!"

Shiraishi Chiren suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Kurose Izumi by the collar, her breathing slightly disordered.

Her agitated state only made Kurose Izumi more frightened.

"No, I didn't, you misheard. Actually, I'm the author of 'The Abyss of Midlife,' which is about the crisis facing middle-aged men."

Kurose Izumi shook his head repeatedly, shaking it like a rattle-drum, stubbornly refusing to admit it.

Seeing this, Shiraishi Chiren pursed her cherry lips and let go of her hand.

Kurose Izumi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had been let off the hook.

But the next moment, he gasped and was completely dumbfounded.

"Actually, I am White Bellflower, and you are Teacher Yongheng, right? We have chatted a lot online."

"what--?!"

Kurose Izumi screamed in disbelief.

He wondered if he was dreaming.

How come after the yandere, cyborg, landmine-wielding girl like "Kushiki Touko", we now have a cold and aloof beautiful girl reader?

Coincidentally, she's also a white bellflower!

Kurose Izumi was completely shocked and wondered if she was dreaming.

"Don't believe me? Didn't you already write the ending? It kept me up for the past few nights, I kept thinking about it. After that, I tried to contact you, but you didn't reply. I thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore."

Shiraishi Chiren lowered her head and said in a tone that was tinged with grievance and resentment.

Now, Izumi Kurose was completely convinced—this person was "White Kikyo"!

But he couldn't be happy.

Unexpectedly, he would meet the real "White Bellflower" in this way!

What's wrong with this world?

Are there really that many coincidences?

However, Izumi Kurose also couldn't connect "Touko Kuchiki" and "Chire Shiraishi".

There was no way around it; she was just too good at disguising herself.

Whether it's tone, words, attitude...

All of her behaviors are completely opposite to those of "Kushiki Touko"!

"So, you're the 'White Bellflower'..."

Kurose Izumi suddenly calmed down.

If Shiraishi Chire is "White Kikyo", then it's fine to tell her everything.

After all, she's the only reader who supports her—it's just a matter of whether she'll support him if the tragic ending comes out.

"So, you are Teacher Eternity?"

"Well, it's me."

"You haven't replied to my messages because you're being held in jail?"

"Yes."

……

Half an hour later, Kurose Izumi told Shiraishi Chirei everything about what had happened over the past few days.

Of course, the ambiguous incidents such as back rubbing, massage, and lap pillows were kept secret.

"So, the person who's been holding you captive is very likely in your house right now!"

Shiraishi Chiren looked angry and then said, "Her heart is so twisted that she actually used imprisonment to force you to change the ending!"

"Actually, she's not that bad, she just has the wrong mindset."

Kurose Izumi scratched his head and weakly defended "Kuchiki Touko".

"Kurose-san, you're still protecting her?!"

"Well, isn't she really good to me? She does my laundry, cooks for me, and takes care of my daily life."

"But she imprisoned you!"

"Although she imprisoned me, she treated me very well."

The implication is: lap pillows, massages, and the feeling of having someone cook for you every day are all wonderful.

"you……"

Chiharu Shiraishi's gaze suddenly turned strange: "Kurose-kun, do you have Stockholm syndrome?"

Stockholm syndrome: refers to a condition in which victims develop feelings for their perpetrators, and may even turn around and help them.

Kurose Izumi's current state perfectly fits this description.

"No, I didn't! I just think she's really good to me!"

"...So you're a masochist?"

"no!"

"Then why are you speaking up for her?"

"because……"

Kurose Izumi couldn't bring herself to say why, and could only stammer.

You can't exactly say that "Kushiki Fuyuko's" lap pillow and massage are really enjoyable, can you?

In that case, his impression on Shiraishi Senren would be shattered instantly!

"Fine, whatever, it's your problem."

Shiraishi Chiren suddenly sighed softly, then said, "What do we do next? Call the police? You can't go back home now, can you?"

"Let's forget about calling the police, I'll just move!" Kurose Izumi quickly said.

"Are you sure everything's alright?" Shiraishi Chiren's gaze turned worried. "After all, she found your home address and even broke in and imprisoned you."

"It should be...no problem, right?"

Kurose Izumi wasn't sure if there was a problem.

To be honest, he was still quite afraid of "Kushiki Touko".

"So where are you staying tonight? You can't exactly go back home, can you?"

Going back is definitely out of the question. The door was kicked down by Shiraishi Chiren three times, how can I possibly go back?!

21. Come stay at my house!