Kaoru did not take things any further with Komiya Kaho.
He did not want her to feel as though she had been accepted only because she had offered herself to him.
Even so, the two of them still crossed a few lines while Kaoru remained in Kaho's dorm room for a while.
By the time he returned to his own room, Kushida Kikyō was sprawled across his bed, idly playing with her phone without the slightest trace of ladylike composure.
She wore only a loose short-sleeved shirt and shorts, leaving her pale arms and legs exposed. A silver chain glittered around her ankle.
"You're finally back. What birthday presents did they give you?"
"A lot. Do you want me to explain them one by one?"
"I'm not Kei. I don't care about every little detail. Come here."
Kaoru obediently approached the bed.
Kikyō put down her phone and sat upright with her knees together. She leaned her face toward Kaoru's stomach and sniffed.
"Oh? You didn't clean yourself properly. You smell completely like women."
As if she had discovered something, Kikyō looked at him with open contempt.
"You call me shameless, but apparently you were having your own party."
Kaoru genuinely could not understand the noses Kikyō and Kei possessed.
Were those two secretly dogs?
"There's someone else's scent too."
Kikyō frowned and wrapped her arms around Kaoru's waist, burying her face against his stomach.
"It's a little familiar. Komiya?"
"Even a dog's nose isn't as sharp as yours."
Kaoru was honestly impressed.
Kikyō looked rather proud, though she modestly replied, "Kei is much better than me. She taught me."
"That can be taught?"
Kaoru's expression became complicated. "Do the two of you spend every day studying the scents on my body?"
"Hehe. Try cheating on us when we're the only two you're dating and see what happens."
Kikyō sneered. "Now hurry up and take a shower. Coming back to your girlfriend smelling like other women is insulting."
Kaoru wanted to say he had already cleaned himself before returning. The scent was probably a mixture of Fūka and Kaho lingering on his clothes.
Fortunately, he had not lost enough reason to say that aloud.
When he began removing his outer clothes, Kikyō's face reddened slightly.
Kaoru's body was strong without appearing excessively bulky. The lines of muscle across his chest and abdomen gave him a sense of power without making him seem threatening.
Kikyō's heart began racing, and even her ears grew warm.
No matter how many times she had seen him—or how close they had already been—she still could not stop admiring his body.
Perhaps having personally experienced Kaoru's strength only made her more conscious of it.
"Don't undress in front of me, you perverted foot freak."
Kikyō stretched out one foot and pressed it against Kaoru's waist.
"Show a girl some respect. Don't assume everyone wants your body just because you're handsome. My eyes are going blind."
Her foot was covered by a thin white ankle sock rather than her usual stockings. It felt slightly cool, and she barely used any force. To Kaoru, it felt more like a kitten kneading him.
"You're the first dog I've ever seen insult her own master."
Kaoru turned and caught her foot. His fingers brushed over her warm ankle and the silver chain wrapped around it.
"It's already fairly late. The sun will be setting soon. We might as well shower together."
"Keep dreaming. I didn't come here to do anything with you, perverted foot freak."
Kikyō's cheeks reddened as she tried to pull her foot away, her pale calf kicking several times.
"Call me that one more time."
Kaoru touched the anklet. "Whose name is written here?"
Kikyō fell silent with a red face.
This anklet was actually the custom collar she had ordered for Kaoru's birthday. Wearing it around her neck would be too noticeable, so she usually fastened it around her ankle instead.
A short sentence had been engraved on the inside.
"You still have to read it aloud. Who was the wildest one a few days ago?"
Kaoru slowly toyed with her foot and moved closer.
Kikyō fell back onto the bed as he gently held her legs in place.
Many girls never realized how flexible their bodies were until something forced them into an awkward position. Kikyō's breathing quickened, and even her pale neck gradually turned red.
"Even if I read it... you still won't let me go."
"True."
Kaoru smiled and stroked her cheek.
"Are you going to say it?"
Kikyō bit her lip. Her chest rose and fell.
With nobody else present, the girl who always behaved most boldly finally seemed to rediscover a little of her own shyness.
"K-Kikyō... belongs to Master..."
"Whose pet are you?"
"Yours... Mitoma Kaoru's. I'm your p-pet..."
"And?"
"Guh..."
What else was there?
Kikyō desperately searched her mind.
Was there an even more embarrassing line she was supposed to say?
She tried remembering the romance manga and questionable stories she had read before.
Then, suddenly, she understood.
"I... I want Master to... do something bad to me..."
"That wasn't what I meant."
Kaoru pinched her nose.
"Apart from being my pet, Kikyō is also someone I love very much. What you should have said was that you love me."
Kikyō froze.
Then the redness spread across almost her entire face.
"W-who loves you? Don't flatter yourself..."
"Kikyō always pretends to be the wildest one. It makes me love you, but it also makes me worry about you."
"..."
Kikyō felt as if he had pierced straight through her.
They were so close and so intimate that every breath carried his warmth. Their heartbeats seemed almost synchronized, while her thoughts went completely blank.
Her entire body tingled.
No matter what Kaoru did afterward, she could not imagine hating it. She could not find any explanation for her feelings except that she loved him.
No girl genuinely wanted to be humiliated.
Even more so when she was the one taking the initiative, constantly proposing outrageous games. Did that mean her head was filled with nothing but indecent thoughts?
Kikyō had simply realized that if she were not proactive, the others would never accept those chaotic gatherings.
Kei was willing to participate, but Kikyō knew Kei's enthusiasm came from wanting Kaoru for herself rather than wanting everyone together.
Honami was easier to persuade, but Suzune and Airi would never initiate anything on their own. The same applied to Akane, Nazuna, and the others.
Kikyō was skilled at reading the atmosphere.
She understood what role she needed to play.
As long as there was one shameless girl enthusiastically pushing everyone forward, the others would not feel too embarrassed to relax.
After all, Kikyō was the bad girl who had suggested and encouraged everything. The others were blameless. They only needed to close their eyes and follow along.
But now that Kaoru had said it aloud, Kikyō felt painfully embarrassed.
He had even seen through that part of her.
What was she supposed to do from now on?
Despite those thoughts, warmth swelled inside her chest, as though something had finally filled the deepest part of her heart.
"And whose fault do you think that is?"
Kikyō spoke quietly. "With so many cute girls around you, I get tired too."
She looked away.
"Don't be fooled by how Honami shares you with us. She barely understands any of this. Don't expect her to work hard with us."
Honami was fundamentally a pure and kind girl. To her, everyone being together was enough. Physical intimacy was merely an extra ingredient, not the foundation of their relationship.
Kikyō believed relationships would never truly improve unless people stopped hiding themselves from one another.
She had even wondered whether she could eventually get along with Kaho—and perhaps everyone at 283 Production—in the same way.
"You should relax occasionally too."
Kaoru lightly flicked her nose.
"They'll be coming here. I'm planning to let all of you meet. Probably sometime this summer, after the uninhabited island exam."
Kikyō stared at him for a moment before asking incredulously, "They can enter the school?"
"They can visit temporarily. Staying here for several days shouldn't be a problem."
Kaoru added, "Don't worry. I've already made sure they've calmed down."
"Why do I feel like everyone is going to fight?"
Kikyō blinked.
"They already fought in advance."
Kaoru gave her a teasing pat.
"Several of them, all in one night."
"Pervert!"
Kikyō's cheeks burned.
She naturally understood what Kaoru meant, and her imagination only made it worse.
Kaoru smiled without explaining and finally moved away from her, intending to head for the bathroom.
Then he heard her voice behind him.
"You'd better come back to me. Otherwise, I'll bring our child to the agency and knock on your door every day."
Kaoru nearly stumbled.
Where had this supposed child come from?
Why did she make it sound as though he were a runaway husband?
...
With the uninhabited island exam approaching, two first-year students arrived together at the Student Council office.
The moment the door opened, Utsunomiya Riku saw Kaoru behind the desk.
Nanase Tsubasa stood beside him, causing Riku's eyes to narrow slightly.
"You came, Utsunomiya-kun."
Kaoru stopped working and looked up.
Then he noticed Tsubaki Sakurako standing beside Riku, and a trace of surprise entered his eyes.
"Long time no see, Mitoma-senpai."
Riku was very polite.
"And the person beside you is Tsubaki-san?"
"I'm sorry. She was curious about why Senpai called me here, so I allowed her to come."
After hearing Riku's explanation, Kaoru could not help examining Sakurako.
She did not have her signature lollipop in her mouth today. Perhaps she had finished it or had not found time to buy another.
Riku had brought her merely because she was curious.
That implied Sakurako's opinion held considerable importance to him.
However, she showed no intention of speaking, so Kaoru invited both of them to sit on the sofa.
Tsubasa silently prepared tea.
Although she had not officially become secretary yet, she already looked completely at home in the role. She was practically Kaoru's personal assistant.
"May I ask what Senpai wanted to discuss with me?"
Riku seemed puzzled.
Kaoru had personally summoned him today.
"It's nothing especially important. I only wanted to ask whether you've reconsidered. The Student Council has kept a position open for you."
Riku was the first-year student who had applied to join the Student Council with a friend.
After Kaoru interviewed them, that friend had unfortunately been expelled, causing Riku to lose most of his interest in Student Council work.
When Kaoru brought it up again, Riku fell silent and unconsciously clenched his fist.
After a moment, he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Senpai. Hatano-kun's expulsion left me with no desire to participate in Student Council activities."
"You previously said Hōsen-kun was responsible. Is that correct?"
Kaoru asked.
"It was him. I have enough evidence to prove what he did."
Riku's voice became agitated.
"He's dangerous. Allowing him to remain at this school is too great a risk!"
"Are you planning to take revenge on him?"
Kaoru glanced at Sakurako.
Her expression remained perfectly calm.
"Yes. If possible, I intend to force him out during the uninhabited island exam."
Riku openly admitted his intention.
"He probably doesn't have many private points right now. We may not get another opportunity this good."
"Our class lost one hundred class points in the previous exam because of him."
Sakurako suddenly spoke.
"If we can expel him, everyone will feel a little better."
Kaoru remained silent.
As far as he knew, several of the first-year classes were attempting to form alliances, including Classes 1-C and 1-D.
"Senpai, I admit that I hold a personal grudge, but if Hōsen remains here, more incidents like this may happen."
Riku hesitated briefly before firming his resolve.
"I don't know whether you've heard, but Hōsen is very interested in you. The leaders of several first-year classes met before and discussed joining forces against the upper years."
Kaoru showed a trace of surprise.
"That should be confidential information among the first-years. Are you sure you should tell me?"
"It doesn't matter. Everyone agrees that cooperation is necessary, and the upper years are doing the same."
Riku redirected the subject.
"Hōsen said that if Class D wanted to join the alliance, we had to help him deal with you."
"Deal with me?"
"Yes. He appears especially interested in Senpai. Ishigami from Class A is also interested in you. Unless something changes, those two classes may form groups specifically to target you."
Kaoru understood why Hōsen Kazuomi was interested in him after the incident in the private room.
But what was Ishigami Kyō's reason?
Seeing the faint confusion on Kaoru's face, Tsubasa lowered her head and whispered beside his ear.
"After the last incident, Hōsen-kun asked around about Ayanokōji-kun. It seems Ishigami-kun learned about it."
A reckless man like Hōsen probably would not bother hiding his attempts to investigate Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
It was natural for observant people to notice.
Furthermore, Kiyotaka appeared far too ordinary.
Someone suddenly investigating such an unremarkable student only made the matter more suspicious.
In other words, Ishigami himself had probably already been paying attention to Kiyotaka.
He and Hōsen may have privately met and exchanged information.
"There is also Nagumo-senpai."
Riku showed a faintly apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but Nagumo-senpai attempted to recruit us against you."
"We haven't agreed yet," Sakurako added.
"So my current situation is quite dangerous?"
Kaoru found it rather entertaining.
"Yes. That is why I hope..."
Riku paused and looked earnestly at Kaoru.
"Senpai, would you be willing to join forces with us?"
"Join forces?"
"We can help you deal with Nagumo-senpai and Hōsen. In exchange, Senpai only needs to help us force Hōsen out at the critical moment. What do you think?"
"Was that your intention from the beginning?"
Faced with Kaoru's knowing smile, Riku awkwardly shifted his gaze toward Sakurako.
"Yes, that's essentially it."
Sakurako spoke lazily.
"I was also curious about Mitoma-senpai's relationship with Nanase-san. Could you explain it?"
Tsubasa froze.
She had not expected the conversation to suddenly turn toward her.
"She currently has nothing to do with Hōsen-kun. She's my prospective Student Council secretary."
Kaoru answered.
"No wonder Hōsen-kun became so angry."
Sakurako continued, "I don't know what happened between you, but you should be careful around him, even if only for Nanase-san's sake."
Kaoru looked at her.
She met his eyes without the slightest emotional fluctuation.
"Tsubaki-san, do you have any more lollipops?"
Kaoru suddenly asked.
"Do you want one too?"
Most people would have been confused by the abrupt question, but Sakurako immediately followed the leap in conversation.
"Every time I saw you before, you were eating one. I became curious about the flavor."
"It's nothing unusual."
"Give me one next time."
"You can have one now."
Sakurako reached into her pocket and removed several lollipops before handing them over.
Kaoru selected one.
The moment he unwrapped it, he noticed Sakurako staring at him.
"Thank you."
Kaoru smiled.
Another wish had been fulfilled.
Sakurako shifted her gaze away and handed him all the remaining lollipops as well.
Riku and Tsubasa both watched the exchange with confused expressions.
Were those two somehow much closer than they appeared?