Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

Chapter 81: Farewell To Mari

Mari's heart raced as she bolted toward the rooftop, her footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell.

Butterflies fluttered wildly in her stomach, anticipation and nervousness battling within her.

This was the first time she'd met Haruto after that day—the day he took her virginity. Her cheeks flushed at the memory, heat rising to her ears.

'What if he wants to do it again?'

she wondered, her lips curling into a shy smile.

Her friends had warned her that the first time was supposed to be awkward or painful, but with Haruto, it had been… amazing.

He'd been gentle, and attentive, yet dominant in a way that left her yearning for more.

'Maybe he wants to plan a date?' she giggled softly, pushing the rooftop door open.

But her excitement evaporated the moment she saw him.

Haruto stood near the edge, his back to her. His shoulders were slumped, his head slightly bowed, and a sadness clouded his usually confident aura.

"Haruto?"

Mari's voice wavered as she approached him, her earlier giddiness replaced by a gnawing sense of dread.

He turned to face her slowly, his green eyes avoiding hers. "Mari…" His voice was low, almost a whisper.

"I think we need to break up."

The words hit her like a thunderclap, leaving her frozen in place.

"Wh-what?" Her voice cracked as she forced a weak chuckle, trying to dismiss it as some cruel joke.

"You're joking, right? Don't mess with me like that, Haruto! We just became a couple a few days ago!"

But there was no hint of humor in his expression. Instead, he muttered, "I'm sorry," and leaned his forehead against her shoulder, his hands trembling as they loosely wrapped around her waist.

Mari's heart shattered at his touch. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she raised her fists to his chest, pounding weakly.

'Ah… This again, another relationship failed.' her mind was busy with words that crushed her.

"Why? Why are you doing this to me? I don't want to break up! I don't!"

Her voice broke as sobs wracked her body, her fists losing their strength.

Haruto held her tightly, his embrace warm and comforting despite the turmoil he'd unleashed.

For what felt like an eternity, she clung to him, crying until her throat was raw. Finally, when her sobs subsided, Haruto loosened his hold and stepped back.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. "This…" He handed it to her, his fingers lingering briefly against hers.

"These are all the locations of the hidden cameras. You need to get rid of them, Mari. Please."

Mari's fingers trembled as she unfolded the paper. Her eyes scanned the map, red circles marking intimate areas of her home.

Her breath hitched, and her tears turned to anger.

"This…" Her voice quivered as she clenched the paper in her fists.

"This is because of Kota, isn't it? That bastard! I'll kill him!"

Haruto reached out, cupping her face with a tenderness that only deepened her heartbreak.

"I'm doing this for you, Mari. I love you, but I can't let him hurt you any more than he already has."

He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead, his lips trembling against her skin.

"No!" Mari cried, clutching at his shirt desperately.

"Don't give up on me, Haruto! Please! Don't leave me…"

He pried her hands away gently but firmly, his jaw tightening as if the act physically pained him.

"I can't, Mari. If we stay together, he'll only escalate. This… this is the only way I can protect you."

She wanted to argue, to scream, to beg, but his resolve was unshakable.

They stood in silence, holding each other one last time as the wind howled around them.

When Haruto finally walked away, his figure disappearing through the rooftop door, Mari sank to her knees.

Her body trembled with a storm of emotions—grief, fury, despair—all threatening to consume her.

She clutched the crumpled paper tightly, her nails digging into her palms. This wasn't the first time her relationship was broken because of that asshole, but this time hurt the most.

And now she couldn't stay still, she needed Haruto to be in her life and she would do anything for it to happen.

Her lips quivered as a scream tore through her mind:

'I'll kill that bastard!'

***

Haruto leaned against the cold stairwell wall, his fingers tapping lightly on the screen of his phone as he typed a message to Daiki.

"I need to talk to you about something."

He didn't expect an immediate response, knowing Daiki's usual aloof attitude. Yet, his phone buzzed almost instantly, the reply curt and straightforward:

"Meet me at the usual place after school."

Haruto's brows furrowed as he reread the message. The quick response seemed out of character for Daiki.

His gaze shifted to the profile picture—a photo of Daiki's corgi, Julie.

The memory of his encounter with that hyperactive, feisty little dog flashed in his mind.

"Like master, like pet," Haruto muttered under his breath with a sigh.

Julie was just as stubborn and annoying as her owner.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, his green eyes narrowing slightly as his thoughts unraveled.

The decision to break up with Mari, albeit temporarily, wasn't an easy one.

She wasn't just another pawn in his revenge plan; she was his. She always would be. This includes all of his women since they were his ego.

And his ego would shatter if he lost one of them.

"Still, a little drama won't hurt," he murmured to himself, his lips curling into a sly smile.

Haruto had already crafted the scenario in his mind with meticulous care.

He'd feign heartbreak, act torn apart by circumstance, and show her the incriminating paper.

He'd make sure her anger, her hatred, would burn for Kota and not for him.

"She already despises that creep. This'll just give her more fuel." His voice was low, calculated.

The plan was simple yet devastating. Mari would cry in his arms, heartbroken by his seemingly noble sacrifice.

He would hold her one last time, whispering sweet reassurances as a farewell.

Then, when the time came, he'd let her unleash her fury on Kota, shattering his reputation beyond repair.

'She is kind enough not to tell anybody about that creep. But this time I need to make sure that everybody will know.'

And as for Kota? Haruto had something special in mind. The gears of his mind turned, and his smirk widened, his expression darkening with satisfaction.

As the school bell rang, jolting him from his thoughts, Haruto stood up and dusted off his blazer.

His confidence was unwavering. Everything was falling into place, just as he intended.

With a final glance at his phone, he pocketed it and made his way back to class, the faint trace of a smirk still lingering on his lips.