Chapter 2 Nawagami-san, the Masochistic Master

The day after I successfully (maybe?) greeted Nawagami-san for my official appointment. It was Saturday afternoon.

I had arrived at the Nawagami main residence in Shōtō, Shibuya Ward.

...Honestly, I was inexplicably excited by how grand it was. The stone pavement led to massive, thick-trunked pine trees. A school of Nishikigoi swam in the pond. And honestly, the property itself was so vast I thought I might get lost.

After being guided through such an enormous estate, I found myself in a traditional Japanese mansion, sitting on a tatami-matted room.

"Imashino Seishirou. Sixteen years old. Currently enrolled at Tōrin Academy High School. Current residence, Nerima Ward, Tokyo—"

A low, smooth voice was reciting my personal information.

"He dotes on his middle school sister, Imashino Ritsu, an aspiring pianist. He continually strives to improve himself in the hope of being called 'cool' by his sister, though she has not used the term for some time. He fussed over her for the sake of not letting her injure her hands, but recently, this over-involvement was labeled 'creepy'—"

"! You are well-informed. However, yes, that is fine. I do this simply because I want to serve her; ultimately, I need no reward. Though... a point of concern for me is whether I will be able to cope when my sister eventually achieves independence."

"I cut you off, but I didn't ask that much."

"Ah, right. My apologies."

I was embarrassed by my sudden outburst of enthusiasm, but a thought crossed my mind: Wait.

"Speaking of which, did I give you that much detail?"

"No. We simply commissioned several detective agencies for a discreet background check."

Ah, I see... No, that doesn't explain anything. I'm frightened by how deeply you've researched me. Still, I reluctantly tried to reassure myself that this was probably normal for working for a prominent family.

"Now, to conclude once again, Imashino. I reaffirm you as Seren's exclusive butler."

The gaze that had been fixed on the notebook PC on the tatami floor now slowly turned toward me.

"Any objections?"

"No, none. I look forward to serving her...!"

When I replied, the woman in front of me, who was clad in a beautiful kimono, simply said, "Ah."

The eldest of the four Nawagami sisters, she was already deeply involved in the corporate group's executive duties.

Nawagami Sayuki maintained her impeccable seiza posture, and the conversation continued.

"Given the thorough explanation we've provided up to this point, I will skip the minute details. The crucial thing is this: As an exclusive butler, you must dedicate all your efforts to Seren. You must maintain her food, clothing, and shelter, fulfill her demands, and swiftly resolve minor incidents. On the other hand, should an overwhelming major issue arise, you are obligated to contact us immediately."

"Yes. I understand, and I intend to use every ability I have to support Seren-san."

Accepting my response, Sayuki-san took a sip of the expensive-looking tea in her teacup.

"Seren is no longer in the main residence. She has begun living in an apartment owned by the Nawagami family, and you will be moving in there as well. The date, as you know, begins today. You haven't forgotten, I trust?"

"Of course not. I prepared myself mentally and materially from yesterday with that in mind."

"...Good. Now, lastly, do you have any questions for me?"

"Thank you for your consideration, but I am fine. Everything is clear."

Having been given ample explanations until today, I replied with a simple, direct answer.

However, Sayuki-san suddenly rested her hand on her chin, and her gaze sharpened even further.

"...You are too submissive."

"Pardon?"

"When there's not a single complaint, I can't help but be suspicious."

Sayuki-san's default expression was already severe, but now her displeasure had peaked. Being sisters, her face bore a faint resemblance to Nawagami-san's expression that I often saw at school.

"In reality, there should be plenty of questions, shouldn't there? The entire existence of an 'exclusive butler' is unheard of. Shouldn't this be entrusted to an experienced professional? Why did we go through the Academy just to target a mere student like yourself? What is your opinion on that point?"

She's right. If anything, from my perspective, this job appeared out of the blue. I was looking for a new part-time job because my old one was moving with the owner to their hometown.

Suddenly, I was summoned by the Tōrin Chairman. The first thing he said was:

"Yo, Imashino. Something came up for you. An interesting part-time gig."

"Eh? Where is it from, exactly?"

"The Nawagami family. They're asking if you'd like to be a butler."

"?!"

...I didn't even apply for a job posting. I honestly thought it was a prank at first.

"A complaint, or perhaps what I'm thinking, well, I have thoughts..."

"It doesn't matter what it is. Would you care to tell me what is currently on your mind?"

The sudden interrogation startled me. What I'm thinking, huh...

Just then, a light, ka-pon sound from the deer scarer outside cut through the silence, and I started speaking.

"It's not just now; it's always been the case. I want to use my resources as much as possible for my sister. I don't know if your investigation covered this much."

Very concisely, I told her everything in a detached manner.

My sister, Ritsu, the most important person to me, was very frail and often sick as a child.

It was because of that experience that I became so overprotective of her.

I want to support everything my sister wants to do, and I want to put her feelings first.

"My sister is pursuing her dream of becoming a pianist. And as you can imagine, that dream requires considerable financial investment... I am absolutely determined to support that dream, no matter what it takes."

"So, you welcome this unfamiliar job as an exclusive butler if it will benefit your sister?"

"Yes—though there are other motivations mixed in. I wanted my part-time earnings to lessen my parents' financial burden, and I wanted to gain life experience for the future. But the primary driver is definitely my sister."

"Your sister means that much to you?"

"Yes. Doesn't Seren-san mean that to you too, Sayuki-san?"

" ...Who knows."

I asked vaguely, but the reply was ambiguous... Hmm.

Well, since the opportunity arose, I decided to ask her a related question, an extension of my sister's situation.

"By the way. Why did Seren-san say she wanted to live alone?"

"..."

"I assume there may be personal reasons, so only if you are at liberty to share."

Sayuki-san knitted her brow. If it's a serious reason, I'm sorry for asking, but...

"She erupted. Following an argument, she declared that she was leaving this house forever."

Ah, so it was a very ordinary argument and falling out, after all.

"Seren's rebellious attitude is not new, but this time was spectacular. She went on a rampage throughout the main residence, tearing every single shoji screen. She even broke into the storehouse and smashed a precious tea kettle."

"Th-That sounds incredible. Like a monster in a movie, or a level 100 rebellious phase..."

"Speaking of which, the smashed tea kettle was valued at X,XXX ten-thousand yen in today's money."

"—"

Nawagami-san?! That's a sum that would bankrupt an entire house if this wasn't the Nawagami family!

"Since there was actual damage, we have arranged for the separation via single living, as she requested. I cannot afford to simply ignore repeated destruction of property... Now. Mononobe!"

At Sayuki-san's voice, the older butler (likely Mononobe-san) immediately and swiftly appeared.

"Issue Imashino with his suit and butler-grade credit card, then take him to Seren's apartment. Furthermore, while I am out of Japan, you will be the point of contact for emergency communication from Imashino. I have already secured the Head's permission."

"Yes, certainly." Seeing Mononobe-san's respectful bow, Sayuki-san elegantly stood up.

She glanced at me once more. I was looked down upon, but there was no maliciousness at all.

"Imashino."

"Yes."

"...Then, I entrust her to you."

With a sudden coolness, Sayuki-san met my gaze directly for the first time. I couldn't discern any clear emotion. No apparent concern for her youngest sister, no lingering distrust of me. For better or worse, she remained composed, maintaining a steady demeanor.

"...I will approach this sincerely. I intend to dedicate all my efforts for Seren-san."

Sayuki-san nodded briefly after hearing my reply and left the room before us.

"Now, Imashino-sama. Once you are changed, shall we immediately proceed to the apartment?"

"Yes...!"

In a voice filled with calm grace, Mononobe-san offered me a subtle smile.

This is what an ideal butler must be like, I reaffirmed to myself.

"By the way. I was wondering, Imashino-sama. That bag?"

"Ah, this is a forgotten item. It belongs to Nawagami-san... I mean, Ojou-sama."

Wasabi had, of course, gone back to the Chairman's place—but I have to give this to her personally.

Driven by car to Setagaya Ward, I found myself on the 37th floor of the new, luxurious high-rise condominium owned by the Nawagami family.

After setting my luggage down in my own room, I stood before the camera by her apartment's door, which was next to mine.

I completed the facial recognition, followed by the fingerprint authentication. The monitor silently displayed that the lock had been disengaged. I won't admit I thought it was kind of a cool, secret-base kind of feeling.

Then, I checked the time on my phone one more time.

Five more minutes until exactly 2 PM. Since the lock was open, Nawagami-san should be aware that I was scheduled to arrive at this time for my first greeting.

"...But honestly. It really doesn't suit me at all."

I couldn't help but offer a wry smile. I should at least check my tie—make sure the collar of the butler-like suit isn't crooked. Yes, and I've put on my black gloves. Right. All the preparations are complete.

So, I did the final thing—I thought about Nawagami-san.

I was determined to be a Demon of Discretion. After all, someone who wants to leave home and live alone wouldn't welcome an exclusive butler—a.k.a. a designated warden—let alone an inconvenience like that. And since the person is a male classmate, I expected total rejection as a matter of course.

Which is why, given all that forethought... her reaction yesterday was so unexpected.

Instead of being verbally assaulted, Nawagami-san seemed almost positive about it and then hurried off flustered. I wondered if she was okay, having left her bag behind and all.

"............Well, never mind. Time to go."

The moment the clock ticked, I temporarily packed all my various worries deep inside my mind.

Things might be tough, but I was determined to do my best since I had decided to do this.

With an unusual level of resolve, I put my hand on the door, opened it, and walked right in—

"...Oh, my GOD, it's absolutely FILTHY!"

I screamed the brutally honest thought inside my head.

Because the place was a wreck. Uniforms, socks, and plastic bags were all strewn around, of course. Delivery boxes were stacked nearly to the ceiling, and receipts littered the floor.

"And what is this, there's some kind of sheet on the floor... Uwah!?"

I picked up what looked like a pillowcase and saw an anime character printed on it.

And she was practically nude. She was only wearing a string bikini that was itself sliding off.

............But, well, whatever. It's her hobby, right? (Thought process aborted).

A closer look revealed scattered game and anime merchandise. There were even a few figures casually decorating the floor. It was possible Nawagami-san was a fan of this kind of stuff, just like Miran. It was surprising, but also entirely plausible.

In any case, if I want confirmation, I should ask her directly.

"Ahem. Ojou-sama? It is Imashino. I have a few things I need to confirm before beginning the cleaning."

I wanted to avoid accidentally throwing away anything precious, so I spoke toward the back of the room.

But there was no answer. I couldn't hear any footsteps, and I felt completely ignored.

Since I was granted entry, Nawagami-san had to be here. And since I inevitably felt like I was intruding, I really wanted her to at least greet me. After all, I was committed to being the Demon of Discretion.

"...No. On the contrary, I should go to her and give a proper greeting myself."

I walked swiftly down the hall, knocked on the living room door, and opened it.

I'd assumed she was wearing headphones and was engrossed in music or anime.

At least, that's what I thought at that moment.

"....... Nnnnnnn... Haaah... Ungh... Kuuu... Fuuu... Ah, ahh..."

Nawagami-san was there. In the heart of that continued chaos.

And this time—I genuinely could not dismiss this as a mere hobby and brush it aside.

"Ah... fheehee... ♥♥ Fuu, fuu... I-I'm s-sho sorry... /V////"

..................?! ?????? ?????

The bag containing Nawagami-san's forgotten items slipped from my hand and dropped to the floor with a thud.

Because Nawagami-san, sitting there, was in an utterly abnormal state.

She was dressed only in a chemise, wearing an eye mask, and had earbuds in her ears. Her hands... seemed to be tied behind her back with a towel or something, restricting her movement.

Her breathing was ragged. She was sitting on the sofa, with her knees bent, her legs spread wide, and most strikingly, she was writhing in sensual agony. She looked unimaginably weakened compared to the aloof figure I saw at school.

But despite her weakness, her mouth curved into a look of contented bliss, and she looked thoroughly enjoying herself...

"............ !! ..... PHFFFffffft! "

Immediately, I covered both my eyes with my hands, processing the information at a speed that would shame a supercomputer or AI.

Had she been forced into this state by a third party? ...Impossible. The security here is apparently tight enough to stop a fly. If it were a third party, she wouldn't look so blissfully satisfied.

This meant her current state, including the restraints on her wrists, was self-inflicted and desired.

While relieved there was no crime involved... this still triggered another ominous dread.

Why, then, was she doing something like this to herself?

There had to be some meaning to it, and only one hypothesis surfaced along the chain of thought.

The theory that Nawagami-san was the kind of person who enjoys indulging in that sort of thing...

........................

I need to leave. I'll just say I was late and take the scolding from Nawagami-san later. That's the simplest way. I saw nothing. Yes, nothing. A philosophical interpretation states that what one does not perceive does not exist, and concerning things we do not understand, we must remain silent.

Thinking this, the eye mask and earbuds were a stroke of luck. She wouldn't have noticed me. I could just slip away! Oh, thank goodness! (No, it's not good!)

I tried to turn on my heel without being noticed, but I was one step too late.

"Yesss, the real me is a perve exactly as you said, Massa... ♥♥ ......... Eh?"

She was so engrossed in her fantasy that the eye mask she was wearing had slipped off—and in that instant, Nawagami-san's wet, startled eyes met mine.

"—! W-Wh-Wh-Wh... Ngh!? Hah? EH—!!"

Nawagami-san's eyes were wide and blank, as if she couldn't comprehend the situation or her own reality.

I felt cold sweat profusely pouring from my entire body.

"Wh-Why... are you... here... Imashino-kun, k-k-k—"

She was repeating a single syllable, as if suffering an internal error.

"...Konbanwa, Ojou-sama. My apologies, but I will begin the cleaning immediately, so p-l-e-a-s-e disregard me."

"H-How can I possibly dis-r-r-regard you?! AHHHHHHH!"

My attempt at total soul-based circumvention was utterly shattered. Yes, I knew it was impossible!

Nawagami-san's face turned beet red, her eyes were genuinely tearing up, and she bit her lip fiercely.

She might as well have said it directly... but unfortunately, I had a duty.

"...Ojou-sama. I apologize that this question will be difficult to answer, but I must ask."

Averting my eyes clearly from the very sensitive state she was in, I continued.

"Is that condition you are in (thick, heavily veiled reference) one of your own making?"

"I-I can't possibly say that, you idiot! Are you screwing with me?! Why would you even ask that??"

"I understand, but! If your current situation was caused by a malicious third party, I have an obligation to report it. And this is not only a measure for the Nawagami family but a measure for Ojou-sama's safety as well!"

"That... so what, you want me to say it? When it's already humiliating enough!"

Her face was utterly pale, as if she were carrying the weight of all the world's despair.

Just one word, that's all I needed. If it came from her lips, I wouldn't have to report it.

However, saying that word also meant unconditionally confirming what she was doing.

Yes, I was asking for an incredibly embarrassing confession, but even so...

"...... that it was m..."

"Excuse me, I need you to repeat that."

"I said, I caused this! The wrists tied up, and the way I'm dressed, it was all me!"

"....................... F-For what purpose, incidentally?"

"T-That is............ Uuuugh..."

A lengthy moment of inner turmoil passed again, and in the end, Nawagami-san answered.

"............ B-Because... I'm a D.M. woman with an overactive fantasy life..."

—Despite already having had my suspicions, I was utterly speechless.

My thoughts went blank, and in an act of escapism, my mind perceived infinite cosmic space. I'd heard that the structures of the universe and the human brain are similar. Perhaps the reality I am witnessing is an ephemeral dream, born and lost daily in someone's head.

...If only this were truly a dream, how much easier it would be!

"Being practically nude with your wrists tied up, and deriving pleasure from it... I understand that such tastes exist, Ojou-sama, but this also confirms you are an unimaginable pervert."

"Yes, that's right, I'm an unimaginable pervert! Is that a problem?! What, are you looking for a fight?!"

I would welcome a fight if it would resolve the matter for both of us... but it absolutely won't!

"F-First of all, why are you here, Imashino-kun...? You weren't supposed to arrive until next week...!"

"Huh? No, it's scheduled for this week..."

"There's no way that's... Wait, really?"

"Look here."

I showed her today's date on my phone, and the schedule Sayuki-san had given me.

Nawagami-san looked completely bewildered.

"Does that mean I was wrong about the day?"

"That would be the case."

"So, Imashino-kun did nothing wrong, and I simply exposed my pathetic state to you?"

"..."

Her transparently pale skin was slowly turning an even deeper crimson than before, and then, suddenly...

"Uuuuuugh, WAAAAAAAAH! Ahhh!! AHHHHHH! Ehk... ehk! Ugh!"

She burst into heavy, theatrical tears.

"W-Why, Imashino-kun... did you come exactly on the date you were s-s-scheduled to... sniffle..."

"M-My sincere apologies! I am entirely at fault! I will accept any punishment, please just—"

"Just forget everything you saw! sob, snort, WAHHHHH!"

The personality of the Nawagami-san who sobbed like a child was completely destroyed. The sheer awkwardness made me frantically search for a way to erase her memory... which, naturally, doesn't exist. It was truly the end for me.

"...You should have anticipated it even if you came on the right day... You should have known I might be indulging in a fantasy, listening to ASMR and imagining an older, super-pervy JD senpai was training me! That's common knowledge!"

How could I possibly have known that?!

"...Ojou-sama. I know you're distressed, but please try to refrain from sensitive outbursts."

"Stop being discriminatory! And don't tell a high school boy to stop saying something lewd! You're probably thinking about perverted things all the time too, Imashino-kun...!"

Wait, that statement contradicted her previous one! And also, she thinks I'm like that?!

"Why didn't you just pretend you didn't see me! If I was in the same situation and walked in on you jerking off... I'd absolutely keep my mouth shut!"

Hey, don't say that out loud! And above all, such a hellish scenario will never happen!

What should I do? Ah, what on earth should I do...?

Neither of us possesses the kind of emotional resilience to treat this whole incident as if it never happened. On the other hand, I can't propose that we should break ties just to prevent further emotional damage. Ditching my new job on the first day would make me a world-class shirker.

"...Ojou-sama, please listen to me."

"Sniffle... Unh, uuuugh..."

The conclusion I arrived at was to confront her head-on.

"I am here as your exclusive butler. As I said yesterday, isn't that right?"

"I-I shouldn't have given my permission... if I knew it would come to this...!"

Her cruel words stabbed me deep. But accepting the blow, I took out a handkerchief to wipe her tear-stained eyes since her hands were tied—and she quietly allowed it.

"Therefore, yes, precisely, I will—"

After wiping away all her tears, I spoke my true feelings to Nawagami-san.

"I am prepared to accept all of it, even if Ojou-sama is a hopelessly D.M. pervert!"

"............ (Nawagami-san is speechless) (Overwhelming despair) (Face like the end of the world)"

Confronted with such a straightforward declaration, she seemed to finally accept reality.

The girl who had been looking down this whole time now stared at me with vacant eyes.

"Go home."

"P-Please wait."

"Stop lying... You're clearly disgusted by me...!"

Unfortunately, my sincerity failed to transmit. Instead, she seemed to have crashed into the dark side. Her wet eyes were a mess of sadness, despair, and, most potently, anger toward me.

"I was wrong... I'll never trust anyone again... because everything is over!"

"Ojou-sama, regardless, your wrist restraints should be removed. I'll help you with them."

"Don't you dare touch me!"

"...M-My deepest apolo—"

"Worst, worst, WOOORST, AAHHHH!"

From there, Nawagami-san—I realized this must have been what her home-smashing fit was like—became utterly unconstrained. Since her hands were bound, she kicked objects with her feet, stamped her feet in frustration after tripping, and even charged the wall with her body. There was absolutely no chance for me to intervene.

This was all my fault. As she said, I should have been late. I know that's impossible, but the shame she must be feeling is unbearable.

She can curse me all she wants. I deserve it, and I'll accept all of it.

That's what I believed—but...

"I'd be better off dead than like this...!"

That one sentence sent a weird jolt through me, and I blurted out the retort I shouldn't have.

"Ojou-sama. Don't say such things."

"Hah...? Who do you think caused this humiliation... If you weren't here, I would have been having a perfectly peaceful afternoon! If it wasn't for you!"

Even facing her most hateful glare yet, I vigorously shook my head.

"Please do not speak of death, even as a joke... I beg you, on that matter alone."

"Ugh." Met with my stern gaze, she looked faintly ashamed.

"...D-Don't lecture me, you mere hired help! Who do you think you are?!"

Her target of rage completely shifted to me, instead of the inanimate objects.

"And besides, you're only performing this role because it's your job, aren't you? So why are you acting as though you genuinely care about me? It makes me have false hope, and that makes me even angrier...!"

"Ojou-sama..."

"The fact that you're even talking so calmly right now is infuriating! After seeing me like that. You're trying to hide your revulsion, like 'what is wrong with this girl?'... It pisses me off! It's frustrating, I'm irritated! I absolutely never wanted you to see me like this... Just go home!"

Her words of reproach pooled in my mental capacity. They poured down, mercilessly.

"The truth is, Imashino-kun, you secretly think I'm just a nobody, and you don't care! If so, act like it! Don't be nice to me!"

But I was determined to endure. I accepted that I could be cursed endlessly. I was in the wrong, and furthermore, I had a position to maintain. I could not afford to indulge in temporary emotions as her exclusive butler.

That's what I was supposed to think, but...

"No one genuinely cares about me! Not even my own family! And you're the same, Imashino-kun! You think I'm nobody!!"

Her final statement was the absolute limit of my restraint.

"Shut up for once—"

"............ Eh?"

I advanced, kicking aside the scattered items, and sat down on a nearby sofa.

Nawagami-san, in her exposed state, looked like she hadn't understood what I'd just said.

"Don't be nice, you said? Then was it better for me to treat you with contempt? Is that the right answer?"

"Imashino-kun...?"

"You're the kind of girl who likes that kind of rough handling, aren't you? You should have told me earlier! Too damn late now."

I didn't know what expression I was wearing right now.

And I absolutely should not be saying this, but my emotions were overflowing and couldn't be helped.

"Listen—you are clearly at fault for getting caught in your perversion. I showed up exactly on time and date, and I even knocked before entering the living room. How much more careful could I have been?"

I restlessly grabbed and released the eye mask I was holding.

The girl who had been furious at me was now completely silent. She was probably utterly dumbfounded. People often calm down when they see someone else angrier than they are.

"Hey. Given all this, why are you projecting this anger onto me? You're being irrational—and daring to talk about dying? —Are you kidding me? This isn't that big a deal!"

At that point, I was gasping, both emotionally and physically exhausted.

Yet, straining with effort, I spat out the most important thing I wanted to say.

"I don't think you're 'nobody' at all. You and I might be strangers, but even so, you are important to me as a person. Therefore, don't ever be dismissive of your life in front of me again. Got it? Understand that—"

I finished delivering every part of my mandatory-sounding command.

After saying everything I needed to, my mind went completely blank.

CLACK! Like a switch flipping, I suddenly came back to myself.

"—...Ah... Nawagami-san."

"..."

"I-I mean, Ojou-sama... um, that was not right."

I covered my face with trembling hands, an inarticulate shout surging up my throat.

............ W-What the hell have I just said!

I should never have used such an abrasive tone or said things that would upset her. As her exclusive butler and, fundamentally, as a person, it was inexcusable to vent my anger like that.

"I-I'm the worst... I said such cruel things to you... I'm sorry. I truly am!"

I couldn't forgive myself. More than that, I never expected Nawagami-san to forgive me. Why would she want someone so disrespectful who screams obscenities on the very first day to remain in her presence?

"I-I'll talk to Sayuki-san myself... It was all my fault...!"

Cowardly, I averted my eyes from her face and began to weakly stumble toward the door to flee the living room—

"—Ah, that hurt!" My leg was suddenly tripped by a foot, and I fell.

The person who did it was, naturally, Nawagami-san, who was seated on the floor.

"Ah... Yes, I know, I'll make amends. You can beat me to a pulp..."

Still lying on the floor, I resigned myself to my fate.

...However, as a result, that was not what happened.

With her hands still tied behind her back, Nawagami-san slid across the floor, getting closer to me.

"...Eh. N-Nawagami-san...?"

"..."

Tormented by guilt, I tried to gauge her expression.

Nawagami-san now looked... melted, somehow, utterly subdued. Her eyes were red from crying and rage, but the tension had completely drained from her shoulders and face. Her atmosphere wasn't calm exactly, but it was like a nestling bird sweet-talking its parent, utterly weak yet strongly communicating her desire to be indulged. Yes, that's what she was like.

"Imashino-kun..."

"Y-Yes."

"No... my Master... ~~~~~~♥♥♥"

"..................Huh?"

Dread crept over me. Nawagami-san, on the other hand, was ecstatic, declaring in that tone:

"I'm sorry about when I told you to go home. You can totally ignore that now, okay? ///"

"..."

"So... I look forward to spending many years with you, starting today. ♥♥"

"....................................... The pleasure is mine, I suppose."

Why did I so easily accept that? ...I'm not exactly sure myself.

Yes, the only thing that was clear in my currently scrambled head was this:

Nawagami-san, who projects an image of Sadism, was apparently a Masochist underneath it all.