Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge! Chapter 269: A Doll

As a child, Ayaka had always understood that people looked at her as if she were a doll. Sotis a fragile one, sotis sothing ant to be played with and discarded once it lost its shine.

Her mother, Mira, treated her the sa way. She decided what Ayaka wore, what she ate, how she spoke, how she behaved. Everything had to be perfect. Everything had to be beautiful.

Even so, perfection did nothing to protect her from cruelty, whether it ca from children or adults.

One day, in an empty alley, a girl suddenly shoved Ayaka hard against the wall.

"Your mother is a monster with an ugly face," the girl sneered. "You must be the sa, right? All of this is just makeup, isn’t it?"

She reached out and roughly wiped Ayaka’s face.

It was true that Mira had burn marks on her face. Ayaka never knew why. Her mother had never explained it.

But that imperfection was the reason Mira dressed her like a doll, as if beauty could hide everything else.

"No, Emi. What are you doing? Stop it," Ayaka shouted, pushing her back. Emi lost her balance and fell to the ground.

"Hey," one of the other girls yelled. "Don’t hurt her like that, you monster’s child."

The others rushed to help Emi stand.

"You hurt first," Ayaka said, her voice shaking.

"And I’m not a monster’s child. My mother is human. I’m human too."

"You’re lying," Emi snapped. "My mom said you’re an affair child. You are disgusting!"

She shoved Ayaka again, harder this ti. Ayaka hit the wall and slid down to the ground.

"Eww," Emi said.

The laughter ca all at once. Loud, sharp, rciless.

Ayaka could only tremble where she sat, frozen by fear and confusion. Their mocking faces burned into her mind, sothing she would never forget, even years later.

The next day was worse.

When school ended, her shoes were gone. She had no choice but to walk ho in her indoor slippers. As she stepped outside, sothing suddenly fell from above.

Papers. Books. Everything from her locker rained down around her.

Laughter erupted from the classroom windows. The girls leaned out, pointing at her. So boys joined in, watching like it was entertainnt.

Ayaka did not understand why they were doing this. She only knew that she could not leave her things behind.

She knelt down and scrambled to pick them up. The more she rushed, the louder the laughter beca.

Tears spilled before she could stop them.

She was humiliated, angry, and completely helpless, with no way to fight back.

A hand suddenly appeared in front of her, holding out one of the books that had fallen to the ground.

Ayaka looked up and froze. It was soone she recognized.

The boy from the class next door. The one many girls whispered about, the one half the school had a crush on.

Haruto Hayase.

"Don’t cry," he said calmly. "It’ll only make them happier."

He crouched down and began gathering her scattered things, stacking her books and papers without hesitation. Ayaka stood there, stunned, watching him.

Once they were done, Haruto straightened and turned toward the classroom windows where the girls were still watching.

Their faces twisted in irritation, but the mont Haruto glared at them, the windows shut one by one. The laughter vanished as if it had never existed.

"Thank you so much for helping ," Ayaka said, bowing deeply as she wiped her tears. She still did not understand why he had helped her at all.

"No need," he replied. "Why don’t we go ho together?"

"But your house is the other way," she said hesitantly. "Mine is far from the village."

"Oh?" He raised a brow. "Are you stalking or sothing?"

He turned and started walking away. Ayaka let out a quiet sigh of relief. She felt awkward standing beside him, unsure how to act around soone who had just saved her.

She had never been good at socializing, and it always turned uncomfortable far too quickly.

Then his voice cut through her thoughts.

"What are you standing there for? Co on."

His tone was impatient, almost commanding. Ayaka startled, then hurried after him.

Haruto walked ahead with long strides. Even though she was taller, he sohow felt bigger. There was sothing about him that made her hesitate to walk past his side.

They did not go far before he stopped at an ice cream stall. Ayaka rarely ate sweets. Her mother never allowed them, saying they were unhealthy.

That did not stop Haruto. He bought one and pressed it into her hand without asking. She had no choice but to take it.

They stopped on a bridge overlooking the river below. Water flowed steadily beneath them as cars passed by from ti to ti. Ayaka stared at the view while quietly eating her ice cream.

The world felt vast and beautiful from here. And yet, for so reason, she felt stuck inside it.

"What do you think exists beyond this village?" she asked.

"Buildings, more people, more cars, pollution," Haruto replied lazily. "I don’t care."

"Don’t you want to leave soday?" she asked. "A lot of adults are already doing that."

"This village is perfect for ," he said simply.

She tilted her head, unsure how to continue. He felt distant, hard to read.

Then she rembered sothing. "Ah, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. My na is—"

"Ayaka Yoshida. Class 5-B," he interrupted with a smirk. "I know you."

Her eyes widened. She had not expected him to know soone like her.

"Let’s stop this boring conversation," he continued. "Don’t you want to sit on top of the railing? The view from there is even better."

Ayaka looked at the river far below and realized how high the bridge actually was. Before she could answer, Haruto stepped behind her and grabbed her waist.

She gasped as he lifted her up, not giving her a chance to refuse. He placed her on the railing and climbed up beside her as if it were nothing.

And he was right.

From here, the view was even more beautiful. In the distance, the ocean shimred, reflecting the light like scattered glass.

"Wow," Ayaka said softly. "You’re right. It’s beautiful."

"Do you know what’s even more beautiful?" Haruto said, turning toward her with a crooked smile.

" This."

His hand shoved her.

Ayaka felt the railing vanish beneath her as her body tipped backward, the world dropping away all at once.