Imaizumi Chooses to Walk Away

A surge of intense impatience welled up from the depths of Imaizumi Keita’s heart.

This emotion came from two sources — first, physical pain, and second, mental irritation.

The stabbing sensation at his temples urged him to distance himself from Yanaimi Anna.

Her behavior further converted his pain into pure disgust toward her.

Yanaimi Anna had, as a matter of course, treated him like a trash bin for dumping her negative emotions, without even asking whether he was willing to listen.

Imaizumi could even foresee that if he allowed this today, she might cling to him with even more troubles in the future.

After all, he was now one of the few people who had witnessed her embarrassing moment — that’s how it always goes in novels…

This development was not something he wanted to accept right now.

So, the best thing would be to make Yanaimi Anna leave directly.

With that thought, Imaizumi Keita set down his fork.

The clinking of the cutlery abruptly cut off Anna’s nonstop rambling.

She looked up in surprise.
“ Imaizumi-kun, I…”

“I don’t want to listen.”

Imaizumi spoke.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it instantly suppressed the atmosphere.

“Eh?”

“I said, I don’t want to listen.”

He repeated himself, staring at her with cold indifference.

“Yanaimi-san, your love triangle with Hakumada Sosuke and that Himiya Karen — no matter how melodramatic — has absolutely nothing to do with me.”

He didn’t consider how well she could handle this; he simply spoke bluntly.

“And also, don’t you think you’re being rude?”

Imaizumi leaned forward slightly, and Anna instinctively shrank back.

“Suddenly sitting in front of someone you barely know, using them as your emotional trash can. Did you ever consider how I feel? You ruined the small amount of good mood I had finally managed to gather.”

Yanaimi Anna’s face flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye, filled with shame and confusion…

Why is he treating me like this…?

She had likely never been reprimanded so bluntly in her life.

“I… I just…”

Anna swallowed the words I just instinctively chose someone I felt close to.

Under these circumstances, saying that would sound ridiculous.

“Just what? Just because you’re sad, the whole world has to make way for you?”

Imaizumi’s tone carried a hint of mockery.
“Who taught you that logic? Your parents? Or those friends who always revolve around you?”

“Even if… even if you don’t want to listen, you don’t have to be this harsh!”

Anna’s eyes watered again as she remembered why she had sat here in the first place.

Sure, she wasn’t entirely in the right…

But couldn’t he at least give her a chance to explain…?

“When a girl is this sad, isn’t it basic manners for a boy to at least comfort her? Isn’t that the least you should do?”

“Manners?”

Imaizumi shook his head, completely disregarding her emotional reasoning.

In truth, sitting here explaining things to Yanaimi Anna was already far more patience than he normally possessed…

He almost regretted not standing up and running away immediately…

Guys in those online clips always sprint away the moment a crazy woman approaches…

“Yanaimi-san, you’re mistaken about one thing. ‘Comfort’ — though not always — is, in many cases, an investment. When a man is kind to a woman, it’s often because he hopes to develop a deeper relationship and obtain some ‘warmth’ in return.”

He watched Anna’s shocked expression, as if her worldview had been turned upside down.

“And I,” he said slowly, word by word, “have absolutely no interest in you, nor in developing any kind of deeper relationship with you. We’re not even friends. We’ve barely ever spoken. So why should I waste my time and energy on an investment with guaranteed zero return?”

Yanaimi Anna was rendered completely speechless.

Her “girl’s privilege” had been smashed to pieces before this man.

Good.
She should give up and run away crying now.

Imaizumi thought, anticipating the return of his peace.

He refused to yield his space just because trouble wandered into it…

But to his surprise, Anna simply sat there blankly, showing no intention of leaving.

She’s not leaving?

Imaizumi’s brow furrowed deeper.

He realized that although his words crushed her defenses, they also might have left her mentally frozen.

She probably didn’t even know what to do anymore…

Ridiculous.

Waiting any longer would only prolong his suffering.

He couldn’t stay here.

“…Even if that’s true… you still didn’t have to… embarrass me like this…”

Anna muttered weakly, still trying to save face but with no strength behind her words.

Imaizumi looked at her defeated posture, feeling nothing but relief at the decision he was about to make.

He was truly done — absolutely done.

He raised his hand and motioned to the nearby waiter.

“Excuse me. The bill.”

The waiter hurried over with a professional smile.

“Certainly, sir. And the vegetable salad and large fries the lady ordered — shall they be added to your bill?”

The last bit of dignity Anna was holding onto cracked instantly.

She scrambled for her wallet, wanting to say she would pay for her own food — only to realize she might not have enough money.

The meal she shared with Sosuke earlier, plus the salad and fries she just ordered…

But Imaizumi didn’t even look at her panic.

He simply told the waiter:

“They have nothing to do with me. That’s her own problem.”

He then stood up, grabbed his bag, paid the bill, and walked out without pausing for even a second.

He stepped out of the restaurant.

The cool evening breeze brushed his face, and the stabbing pain in his temples faded rapidly.

But that wasn’t all.

A warm, soothing sensation — like his mind soaking in hot water — spread from deep within his brain.

His vision cleared, and his thoughts sharpened like never before.

He let out a long breath, feeling the world become peaceful again — even… a little addictive.

Except…

Imaizumi’s steps halted.

He rubbed his temple out of habit — only to find that the lingering pain plaguing him all afternoon had completely vanished.

Before, it merely “subsided.”
Now, it had “disappeared,” replaced by that addictive comfort.

He recalled the moment the pain began to lessen — it was when he started confronting Anna.

Her strong emotions of shame and humiliation…

It felt as if he had unconsciously absorbed them.

Why didn’t it work earlier?

Because Hakumada was still there?

Because all her earlier emotions were directed toward him?

Imaizumi recalled the ability’s name: “Succubus Aura.”

Since it’s a succubus ability… it should evoke desire and then feed on it.

He turned back toward the restaurant, eyes seeming to pierce the window, landing on the still-frozen figure sitting inside.

Understanding this, Imaizumi’s perception of Anna unexpectedly improved.
She no longer felt like trouble.

After all, he actually did like her usual lively, sunny personality quite a bit.

Who isn’t a sucker for a pretty face…