Chapter 149: The Loser Must Call the Winner "Master"
In the last monthly exam, Sakurai Saki suffered a miserable defeat.
He didn't lose to Shinomiya Kaguya — he lost to himself. He left quite a few questions blank on the final test, the side effects gave him such a severe headache he couldn't endure it. The ability he used that day was [time stop], one of the extremely dangerous powers that had appeared many times before.
In the previous exam, the limit of "maximum one day of time stop" had been lifted, meaning Sakurai Saki's control over it had increased significantly. But in return, the side effects turned into intense headaches in waves, leading to his failure in the competition.
However, if he encounters this ability again next time, he might use it however he likes, regardless of the purpose.
That's right, for anything at all~( ͡º ꒳ ͡º) hehehe~
For example —
Studying hard!
If you don't study, others will trample you underfoot, and you'll never be able to lift your head again!
Or —
Catching up on sleep.
Long-term insomnia and staying up late will cause irreversible damage to your body!
And also —
Uhm.
That's it, nothing else.
Sakurai Saki couldn't think of a third use.
Maybe the readers Hentai-san would know how to use it better.
( ≖‿ ≖ )
...
After school, Sakurai Saki stepped into the student council room and saw Shinomiya Kaguya reading a book. Ojou-sama Kaguya was holding a hardcover book and looked toward the door with a calm expression.
In terms of appearance alone, the carbon-based lifeform named Shinomiya Kaguya was undoubtedly standing at the pinnacle of humankind. Except for her pitifully flat chest like a helicopter landing pad, she could be considered beautiful.
"Shinomiya-san, reading extracurricular books? How leisurely of you." Sakurai Saki sat down on the sofa, his eyes pausing for a few seconds on the tea table, then took a workbook out of his bag.
He had already completed this workbook once; this time he was reviewing to reinforce his memory.
Why would someone with a superpower still go through the trouble of studying? Sakurai Saki's answer was: because it's fun.
Is there any other reason? Games have rules. Even if you cheat, it can't be too excessive, or it stops being fun.
Using superpowers to instantly absorb knowledge is too boring.
"If it's just last-minute cramming, Sakurai-san, you still won't be able to beat me this time." Shinomiya Kaguya spoke arrogantly.
She had every reason to be proud, since Sakurai Saki had never once beaten her. He was nothing more than someone who'd been defeated at her hands.
"Kaguya-chan, you think I'll lose this time?" Sakurai Saki took out a pen, pinched it between his index finger and thumb, and gently twirled it.
"Kaguya-chan?" Shinomiya Kaguya sneered coldly, saying: "Didn't I already tell you not to call me that?"
<(ꐦㅍ _ㅍ)>
Even when angry, she still looked beautiful.
Sakurai Saki realized something: a beautiful girl, even when angry, is still a beautiful girl. Of course, that statement was completely redundant.
"Not cute?" Sakurai Saki stopped the pen in his hand, then tapped it lightly on the surface of the tea table, producing a crisp sound.
"Alright, let's make a bet, Shinomiya-san." He switched to a more formal address.
"Hm~?"
Ojou-sama Kaguya rested her chin on her smooth, fair hand and smiled: "Let's hear it."
Baka mono ga! On this earth, there are always those who dare to challenge the gods.
"Let's wager on our rankings in the upcoming midterm exam — the loser has to serve the winner for a whole day, come whenever called. As long as the request isn't something that disgraces human dignity, it must be followed without refusal. How's that for a bet?" Sakurai Saki's face displayed confidence.
This time, he would win. Even after losing dozens of points last time, he still ranked third. There's no reason for him to lose again.
"So that means, as long as you lose, you'll agree to do whatever I tell you to?" Shinomiya Kaguya showed clear interest.
Kaguya: (｡✪ω✪｡) omoshiroi~
This bet was very amusing.
Just one win, and she could wash away all the past humiliations!
ALL-in probably won't lose, right?
But what if she lost? Of course, Shinomiya Kaguya wasn't afraid — she was just considering the worst-case scenario.
If the opponent gave her orders, there were actually plenty of ways to dodge them. Besides, her maid was also his girlfriend — at worst, she could ask Dora-saka for help.
'Victory is guaranteed!'
Kaguya: <（￣^￣）>
No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't possibly lose!
"As long as it doesn't humiliate the other person's dignity, then of course it's fine."
"Sakurai-san, I feel like this bet still isn't big enough." Shinomiya Kaguya was ready to go bigger.
"Then what do you think we should do?"
"How about… the loser has to wear a maid outfit." Shinomiya Kaguya figured a boy wearing a maid outfit had to be incredibly humiliating.
"Then let's add one more condition — the loser has to change the way they address the winner. I think calling them [Master] sounds nice." Sakurai Saki said as he pulled out a blank sheet of paper from his bag.
"Fine by me." Shinomiya Kaguya had beaten him over a dozen times in big and small exams, and didn't think she would lose this time.
She even started imagining how she would boss him around after she won.
Kaguya: ⎛⎝( ` ᢍ ´ )⎠⎞ᵐᵘʰᵃʰᵃ
As Sakurai Saki wrote out the terms of the bet, he glanced at her face and reminded her:"Shinomiya-san, you think you're going to devour me whole this time? People who pop champagne in the middle of the game never end up well."
Once the terms were written, Sakurai Saki signed his name, then took out a fingerprint ink pad and pressed his thumb on the paper.
This sight made Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly feel a bit uneasy.
That action of Sakurai Saki's was practically saying straight to her:[I'm fully prepared to bet with you, and I'm very confident.]
"Uhm… maybe we should remove those extra conditions. Making Sakurai-san wear a maid outfit seems like it might borderline on humiliating human dignity."
Sakurai Saki smiled:"How could that be? I love maids the most — wearing a maid outfit is totally fine with me."
"If you say so, then I've got nothing left to be afraid of."Shinomiya Kaguya snatched the pen from his hand and, gritting her teeth, signed her name.
Then very slowly pressed her finger into the ink and stamped her fingerprint.
"Shinomiya-san, your signature is crooked... Huh? Why's your fingerprint so weak? Didn't sleep well last night?"
Once she was done writing, Sakurai Saki put the written agreement into the student council room's storage cabinet.
"We'll take it out after the exam. But even if this bet paper gets destroyed, you'll still keep your word, right, Shinomiya-san?"
"That line, I'll say right back at you." Shinomiya Kaguya sneered.
The Shinomiya family may be full of schemers, but once they make a promise, they don't easily go back on it.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you in a maid outfit, calling me 'Master', Shinomiya-san." Sakurai Saki beamed.
Kaguya:"I'm looking forward to the exam arriving quickly, too."
Sakurai Saki looked around — nearly ten minutes had passed, and still no one had entered the student council room.
But after the sports festival, the weekly workload for the student council had decreased quite a bit.
"Since no one's coming, I'll head home first."
Sakurai Saki slipped the workbook back into his bag.
"Okay. I'll keep reading a bit more, then go home too."Shinomiya Kaguya continued flipping through her hardcover book.
After Sakurai Saki left, Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly let out a deep sigh of relief, then pulled out the exam paper she had folded several times and hidden inside the hardcover book.
She'd nearly been caught!
'Seeing me so relaxed reading, Sakurai-san probably let his guard down...'
————
"Hmph, so you were working on practice tests. Good thing I noticed the eraser shavings on the table, otherwise I'd have known nothing."
Sakurai Saki's face turned cold.
Studying is a battlefield! Just a moment's carelessness can get you killed!
Not a single second of carelessness is allowed!