The fluorescent lights of the classroom hummed, a familiar backdrop to the low murmur of student chatter. Ren, however, was not listening. His gaze was fixed on the window, the world outside a blur of autumn leaves and distant clouds. It had been five days since the news broke, a story that had dominated the school's social media and hushed the bustling hallways with a somber quiet. Sagami, the leader of the Executive Committee, was dead. A suicide.
A normal person would feel a pang of guilt, a tremor of regret. But Ren was not a normal person. He was a protagonist in a world of his own making, a world he was willing to reshape for his own benefit. He hadn't pushed Sagami. He hadn't even touched her. He had simply used a single Reality Ticket, the "Ticket of Despair," a cruel but effective tool. The System had explained the new function, the exchange rate of one reality ticket for one hint, a bargain that had allowed him to see the future. The initial path, the one where he simply interfered, was destined to fail. The narrative would have corrected itself, leaving him back at square one, and possibly leaving Itsuki, Nino, or the others to suffer for it. The System had hinted at a "better, easy but cruel solution," and with each exchanged charm ticket, the picture had become clearer. The "Ticket of Despair" was a last resort, a tool to sow chaos and ruin, and it had worked perfectly. Sagami's self-destruction, a consequence of his power, had removed the obstacle and cleared the path for a new leader, one who could work with him.
"She jumped from the rooftop..." a girl's whisper drifted across the room.
"Yeah, people said she was acting weird lately. Must have been under a lot of pressure," a boy replied.
Ren just watched the wind rustle the leaves, his face a mask of serene indifference. Is it cruel? Yes. But some people, he believed, were better off not existing. Sagami was one of them.
And so, as the school grappled with tragedy, a new order emerged. Yukino, with her sharp mind and unflappable demeanor, stepped up as the temporary leader of the Executive Committee. With her intellect and Ren's ability to manipulate events from the shadows, the school festival was an overwhelming success.
The festival began with a warm, autumn sun shining down on the bustling campus. Ren, in his role as a Service Club member, was on patrol, ensuring peace and order. He moved through the crowds, a silent guardian in the organized chaos, when a familiar scent wafted through the air—the savory, slightly sweet aroma of takoyaki. He followed the scent to a takoyaki stand and saw Itsuki, her hands a flurry of motion as she turned the golden-brown orbs in the griddle.
Itsuki's face lit up when she saw him. "Ren-kun! Welcome!" she said, her smile bright despite the sweat on her brow.
"I'll have some takoyaki," he said, handing her some coins.
The line behind him was growing rapidly, and Itsuki was clearly busy. Their conversation was short, just a quick exchange of greetings and a brief acknowledgment of her hard work. She was a whirlwind of motion, serving customers with a cheerful efficiency that made his heart swell with pride.
"I need to help my class," she said, her voice a little breathless as she handed him the container of takoyaki.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be around," he said, and with a small wave, he left her to her work.
As he wandered through the festival, he found himself drawn to the maid café. His own class was running one, but he had a feeling he'd find someone else first. He wasn't disappointed. At the entrance to the maid café, he saw Nino, her reddish-pink hair tied back with a stylish ribbon, wearing a frilly maid outfit. She looked absolutely adorable, and her cheeks flushed crimson when she saw him.
"R-Ren-kun?" she stammered, her voice a little shaky. "What are you doing here?"
A confident smirk played on his lips. "I'm here to visit my favorite maid, of course."
Nino's embarrassment was quickly replaced by a giddy thrill. She took his hand and led him to a quiet corner of the café, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She was a show-off, and she was going to show him off to everyone. The other boys in the café glared at him, but they couldn't do anything. He was with her, and she felt a sense of ownership, a profound pleasure that she was his, and he was hers.
"What can I get for you, Master?" she purred, her voice a low, teasing whisper.
He laughed, the sound a warm caress against her ears. "Just you, my personal maid."
They were in their own world. Nino was so immersed in her role, calling him "Master" and obeying his every command. A dangerous thought slithered into her mind—what if he really was her master? Someone who owned her, who she would follow blindly? The thought sent a delicious shiver down her spine. The fantasy played out in her mind, a scene of him dominating her, of her submitting to his every whim. She shook her head, a blush creeping all the way to her ears. Dirty thoughts, dirty thoughts! she chided herself, but the pleasure lingered, a sweet aftertaste of a fantasy she didn't want to end.
After leaving Nino, Ren continued his patrol. As he walked down a crowded hallway, he was surprised to see Chisaki standing at the entrance to his own class's maid café. The girls in his class were wearing stylish kimono maid outfits, a unique twist on the traditional theme. But what truly stopped him in his tracks was the woman standing next to her.
Miyazaki Hiyori. Chisaki's mother. Ren's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise flashing across his face. He had expected to see Chisaki, but her mother? This was a variable he hadn't accounted for.