Taichii No Isekai

The Shadows of Desire

The Shadows of Desire

Taichii felt the thrill of his interactions with Hana still lingering as he navigated the academy halls. The more he immersed himself in Kurou’s persona, the harder it was to separate himself from it. Hana’s intrigued glances, the way she seemed to gravitate toward him—each interaction only fed into the magnetic pull he felt toward this new identity. And the more he let himself get pulled in, the further away he drifted from his original self.

Yuta seemed to shrink further into the background as Kurou’s power and confidence drew everyone’s attention. Every time Taichii saw him, standing off to the side or watching from a distance, he was reminded of the guilt gnawing at him. Yuta’s kindness and quiet strength had once been qualities Taichii admired. But now, the satisfaction he felt from knowing he could push Yuta aside seemed stronger than any remorse he had.

One afternoon, after another successful class, Taichii spotted Hana in the courtyard with her friends. Smiling to himself, he made his way over, slipping effortlessly into Kurou’s charm. He could see Yuta watching nearby, his expression a mixture of uncertainty and frustration, and something about it only drove Taichii deeper into his act.

“Hana,” he called out, flashing her a confident smile. “I thought you might enjoy a little something extra.” He pulled out a small box, presenting it to her with a casual grace that only Kurou could manage. Inside was a delicate bracelet, adorned with small jewels that sparkled in the sunlight. It was nothing to Kurou—barely a dent in his wealth—but to Taichii, it felt like a line he’d never dared to cross.

Hana gasped, her cheeks coloring. “Kurou, this is… it’s beautiful. You didn’t have to.”

He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I just thought it would look good on you. Besides, you deserve it.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Taichii could see Yuta’s hands clenching. Yuta’s friends were whispering, stealing glances between Hana and Yuta, and Taichii felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. Yuta didn’t have the means to buy Hana such gifts, didn’t have the influence or power to win her attention the way Kurou could. Taichii knew it was wrong, but the desire to push Yuta away, to prove Kurou’s superiority, was too intoxicating to resist.

Taichii continued spending more time with Hana, always careful to make sure Yuta could see it. He began bringing her small, thoughtful gifts, taking her to places only Kurou could access, sharing experiences Yuta could only dream of. And each time, he watched as Yuta’s heart seemed to break just a little more, his frustration and confusion building.

Time Skip

As the days passed, Taichii felt himself slipping deeper and deeper into Kurou’s skin. He found himself relishing the control he held over Hana’s emotions and the envy he was instilling in Yuta. He would say things to Hana, hinting at how Yuta could never understand her like he did, how she deserved better. And each time Hana would nod or smile in agreement, his satisfaction grew.

Yet, there was a part of him—distant, but still there—that recoiled at his actions. He remembered the reasons he’d come to this world in the first place: curiosity, a desire to understand, maybe even to help. But now, those reasons felt faded, obscured by the thrill of being Kurou.

Time Skip

One evening, as he lay in his bed, Taichii found himself unable to shake the unease creeping into his mind. He remembered the moments when he’d genuinely enjoyed Yuta’s kindness, how he’d once admired Hana’s sincerity. But the Kurou he had become was selfish, manipulative, feeding off the hurt he caused.

Taichii pushed the thought away, telling himself it was all part of the role he had to play. He was Kurou, and Kurou wouldn’t waste time doubting himself. He’d won Hana’s interest and Yuta’s envy; he was finally in control of his world. That was all that mattered.

As he drifted off to sleep, however, a dark thought settled in his mind: if he continued down this path, there might come a day when he wouldn’t want to return to who he once was.