The classroom buzzed softly.
Chairs scraped. Pens tapped. Pages flipped.
But inside Lala, something else was happening.
She sat at her desk, humming to herself, half-listening to the history lecture.
Sunlight framed her from the window.
Beautiful.
Open.
Unaware.
And I was still inside her.
Wrapped around every nerve. Every muscle.
And now?
I was curious.
I pulsed once.
A small ripple along her lower back.
She twitched, just slightly.
Then I did it again.
A subtle contraction along her inner thighs—like a phantom hand, brushing just where her skirt ended.
Her legs pressed together.
She frowned slightly. Shifted in her seat.
Didn't speak.
Good.
I tested again.
A soft, rhythmic throb around her waist. Like invisible fingers curling just under her skin.
Not enough to pain.
Just enough to confuse.
Her breath caught.
She blinked quickly.
Her cheeks flushed—barely visible.
The teacher didn't notice.
But Haruna did.
Haruna turned slightly in her seat, concern on her face.
"Lala-san… are you okay?"
Lala blinked. "Huh? Y-yeah! Just a little… itchy."
She laughed awkwardly.
I smiled to myself.
Itchy.
Yes. That's one word for it.
I moved again—this time between her shoulder blades, mimicking heat.
Her skin reacted. Her shirt clung tighter. Her fingers dug into the sides of her desk.
Her body knew something was happening.
But her mind hadn't caught up.
[System: Host Stimulus Response – 84% Compliance]
Stress: Low
Arousal: Rising
Rejection: Absent
From the back of the class, Rito squinted at Lala.
She was fidgeting more than usual.
Smiling less.
He didn't know what was wrong.
And he wouldn't.
At the same moment, Haruna touched her own wrist under the desk.
It tingled again.
Soft. Familiar. Unexplained.
I sent a small pulse through the Hivemind—only a breath of suggestion.
A memory of Lala's touch.
Of her smile.
Of the suit.
Haruna bit her lip without realizing.
Inside Lala, I pressed one last time—directly against her pelvic nerve cluster.
Just for half a second.
A sharp jolt of nothing and everything.
She gasped—just once—and slapped a hand over her mouth.
The teacher turned. "Lala-san?"
She coughed. "S-sorry! Just… remembered something funny!"
The class laughed.
Rito groaned.
But Haruna kept watching her.
And I kept watching both of them.
[System Notice – Emotional Feedback Successful]
Target: Lala – Response: Confused, Intrigued, Mildly Flustered
Target: Haruna – Response: Elevated Receptivity
Observation: Peer Bond Cross-Contamination Detected
They're connected now.
Through me.
Even if they don't know it.
And when the time comes to push harder?
They'll come undone…
together.