"Fine, let's play another game of chess. Whoever loses has to take off a piece of clothing."
Kaoru glanced sideways at the girl on the bed, slightly annoyed.
Knowing full well they were alone in this situation, she still dared to provoke him.
"Hehe, that's hardly fair. You're wearing much more than I am." Sakayanagi smiled as she eyed his overcoat, scarf around his neck, and gloves (though removed), still fully bundled up.
Kaoru couldn't grasp her intention—was she teasing him or seducing him?
"Did I interrupt your date with Ichinose-san tonight?" Sakayanagi motioned for him to sit back down.
"Though I meant to use this as leverage, part of it was also because I didn't want you getting too close to Ichinose-san."
"She's my girlfriend," Kaoru reminded her with slight displeasure.
They were already dating—why wouldn't she let him get close?
"Only one girlfriend?" Sakayanagi murmured softly. "It's hard to believe you can date multiple people without any psychological pressure—something even many nobles struggle with."
As the young lady of a prestigious family, she was exposed to things beyond ordinary people's comprehension.
While having multiple wives might seem unimaginable to commoners, it was standard practice among noble families.
Otherwise, certain chaebols wouldn't be embroiled in scandals about illegitimate children.
"Did you ask me to stay just to criticize my morals?" Kaoru appeared reluctant to continue the conversation.
"No, I think it's more about understanding your future plans," Sakayanagi replied with a smile. "For instance, when you asked me to be your maid, should I interpret that as you being interested in me?"
"Everyone has desires—I'm no exception. Being attracted to pretty, cute girls is human nature," Kaoru said.
"But what separates humans from animals is our ability to control instincts, transforming desire into enduring love."
Sakayanagi blinked teasingly. "Is this your Christmas confession to me?"
"Still better than someone threatening mischief," Kaoru retorted, sensing she was deliberately provoking him despite knowing his physical limitations.
"I never said this was a joke." Sakayanagi propped herself up on the bed, slightly raising her bare feet.
As her skirt slid past slender calves, it revealed a glimpse of pale, soft skin.
"Of course, the 'mischief' I mentioned isn't what you imagine. Try it—if you please me, I might grant more of your requests."
The implication was clear: she'd permit minor transgressions, but their nature and extent remained entirely at her discretion for Kaoru to decipher.
Overstep the bounds, and she might take offense.
Kaoru glanced at her toes—was she expecting him to submit to her feet like last time?
Meaning she tacitly permitted him to... lick.
But Kaoru wasn't interested.
Having done it once, repetition seemed tedious.
"Did you just shower?" he suddenly asked.
"Yes, there shouldn't be any odor," Sakayanagi replied with mischievous amusement. "Want to check?"
"In that case, are your clothes in the bathroom now?" Kaoru pressed.
Sakayanagi's expression froze. Surely he didn't mean...
"You're truly depraved—constantly redefining my standards."
She'd thought foot worship was degenerate enough, but now he targeted her clothes? Sakayanagi almost regretted inviting this wolf into her home.
Then again, having endured last time, surrendering clothes—non-contact items—seemed inconsequential.
Provided Kaoru didn't... use them in her presence.
That she couldn't tolerate.
"Don't overthink it. I'm not a fetishist," Kaoru said. "Besides, if this much disgusts you, your future will be far more uncomfortable."
"Who becomes whose maid remains undecided," Sakayanagi smiled, already envisioning Kaoru in maid attire—a fitting retaliation.**
"We can talk about the maid later. What do you want now? Should I go again?" Kaoru grasped her ankle.
The heel bore a delicate flush, and her toes glowed with a tender pink sheen, resembling a row of tiny pearls under the room's light.
An unusual warmth spread from her ankle as his hand nearly enveloped it entirely.
Sakayanagi Arisu pressed her lips together, pausing before turning her face away.
"You've already taken so much from me. It's not like I'm giving this away for free. This is the first time I've lost in chess to someone my age—and to someone who's been putting on an act, no less."
For a moment, Kaoru was taken aback before realizing she genuinely believed he had been feigning incompetence before.
Otherwise, his extraordinary performance tonight would be hard to explain.
Chess was much like mathematics—the gap between an amateur and a professional was vast.
It was only natural that Sakayanagi felt frustrated.
"I don't have any ulterior motives. I just didn't like your attitude earlier," Kaoru said. "Since I couldn't spank you, I had to humble you through chess instead."
Mentioning that again made Sakayanagi's cheeks flush slightly, though her mood improved—perhaps because she could tell he was being sincere.
"You're such a strange person. Sometimes you're lecherous, other times completely indifferent. When you're being perverted, it's disgusting and annoying." Sakayanagi leaned closer, her hands cupping his face.
"But when you're cold, it makes me want to teach you a lesson. You accuse others of being arrogant, yet you're no different."
Their gazes locked.
As she stared into his eyes, fleeting images flashed through Sakayanagi's mind—their earlier chess match, a faint sense of unwillingness rising in her chest, followed by the memory of him saving her.
Her heartbeat gradually quickened.
Just as Kaoru was about to speak, his eyes flickered to her collar.
Earlier, he hadn't noticed, but now he could see the soft swell of her modest chest, even more pliant than usual.
"See something you like?" Sakayanagi hastily covered herself, the tips of her ears tinged pink. "That's your reward. Now that you've seen it, you can leave."
The girl's mood swung unpredictably, making her hard to read.
Yet, even without relying on Emotion Perception, Kaoru could tell she was embarrassed.
"Didn't you say earlier that I could do something bad?"
"Time's up." Sakayanagi belatedly realized. "My goal was just to ruin your Christmas date. Mission accomplished."
It was around 11 PM—Christmas was nearly over, and most people were likely turning in for the night.
"I never said today was my Christmas date with Honami." Kaoru smirked. "Someone like me has time to spare for multiple people."
"Not even sparing me?" Sakayanagi feigned composure. "If you beg, I might still consider fulfilling your request."
For some reason, Kaoru burst into laughter, leaving her baffled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Just thought of something amusing."
"..."
It was interesting—she didn't blush when actively teasing him, but the moment she accidentally exposed herself, she grew flustered.
Sakayanagi shot him a glare, realizing she'd been seen through, and felt a pang of embarrassment.
She had indeed forgotten her own state.
Accustomed to being alone in her room, she suddenly felt an unusual sensation all over her body.
"But if the sheep willingly invites the wolf into the pen, should the wolf just graze on the grass nearby?"
With Kaoru's words, Sakayanagi felt a sudden force beneath her, and she was abruptly pushed onto the bed.
Her calves were still held in Kaoru's hands, raised high over her shoulders.
"Pervert."
The position was too strange, flushing Sakayanagi's delicate face.
"When I was willing, you refused. Now that I'm unwilling, you're interested. Are you deliberately teasing me?"
"Because I was worried it might be a trap. Who knows what you were thinking, being so forward?" Kaoru replied.
"Your shy retreat proves there's no trap."
"So that's how you see me?" Sakayanagi seemed a little angry. "I am still a girl, after all. Do you think I would casually seduce a man?"
It was Kaoru's turn to blink.
Resting Sakayanagi Arisu's legs on his shoulders, he mused, "Could it be that Sakayanagi-san likes me?"
"Is there no option besides liking me?" Sakayanagi let out a coquettish sniff, as if enduring his actions.
"I don't know how you convinced Ichinose, but there's no way I'm joining you."
Kaoru then reached into his pocket and pulled out a wedding ring, holding it before her eyes.
The moment she saw the ring, Sakayanagi's mind blanked for a moment.
Her gaze stiffly shifted to his face as she spoke.
"Are you proposing to me?"
"Though a promise is a promise, I won't treat you as a maid or an enemy. Whatever your initial intentions were, I like you now." Kaoru paused. "As for this, you can consider it a Christmas gift."
"Who gives a ring for Christmas?" Sakayanagi found it somewhat amusing. "And why do you like me?"
"Should I list the reasons?" Kaoru asked.
Sakayanagi thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"If you propose to me, what about Ichinose? Are you planning to give rings to everyone?"
"Is that not allowed?" Kaoru countered.
Sakayanagi was momentarily speechless—so he really had done that.
"I told you, I won't join your harem." The girl's attitude remained firm.
"I won't dwell on what happened before. Even if you do something to me now, I won't acknowledge it."
"Put it on first." Kaoru slid the wedding ring onto her finger. "You're still not well. How could I force things?"
Sakayanagi froze briefly, only to feel her vision darken as warmth pressed against her lips.
"But some things are non-negotiable," someone declared.