Same day. Just after lunch.
Lala and Haruna had finished their bento boxes and now sat against the school wall, basking in the shade. A soft breeze played with their skirts. Lala hummed while Haruna giggled at some joke I hadn't even heard.
Perfect moment.
Perfect timing.
I pulsed along Lala's lower spine and whispered internally.
"I'd like to try something."
Her thoughts perked. Curious. Eager. Trusting.
"You always want to try something," she replied mentally with a teasing smile. "What is it this time?"
"An experiment. But one you'll enjoy."
Haruna blinked as Lala suddenly looked her way with that kind of sparkle only she could pull off.
"Haruna-chaaan~" Lala leaned in, conspiratorial. "Wanna taste something crazy?"
Haruna blushed. "T-taste…?"
"Not like that!" Lala giggled. "I mean, Scourge made something. A drink."
"...He can make drinks now?"
"It's biochemical synthesis," I explained gently across the Hivemind. "Totally safe. Maybe… a little stimulating."
Haruna hesitated, but Lala beamed. "Let's try it together!"
With a subtle internal contraction, I released a trace of fluid from Lala's fingertip. It shimmered briefly, then solidified—fizzy, clear, contained in a tiny thermos she pulled from her bag like magic.
They blinked.
"How… did you—?" Haruna started.
Lala winked. "He's gotten better at stuff."
They both took a small sip.
…
Silence.
Then Haruna blinked rapidly. "Th-that's… sweet. And spicy? A little citrus… wait—"
Her cheeks flushed. Her thighs pressed slightly together.
Lala tilted her head. "It's like… soda made of butterflies…"
Their heart rates increased. I tracked every beat.
[Lust System – Passive Sync: +40 points]
Dependency markers: Initial stage (2/10)
They didn't question it.
In fact—
Haruna whispered, breath soft: "...can I have another sip?"
Lala offered it to her first.
That was enough for now.
But I wasn't done.
At the edge of the courtyard, Yui Kotegawa sat alone. Book open. Brow furrowed. Always tense. Always righteous.
A challenge.
Lala perked up. "Oooh, wanna mess with Yui-senpai?"
Haruna's eyes widened. "W-we're not gonna drug her, right?"
"Nooo~" Lala grinned. "Just… spark her curiosity."
She walked over innocently. "Yui-senpai~ Want to try a new Devilukean refreshment?"
Yui didn't even look up. "No unauthorized foreign items are allowed on school grounds."
"But it's carbon-neutral!" Lala chirped. "And organic."
That made Yui hesitate.
"…One sip. For inspection."
Perfect.
She took the tiniest taste.
Paused.
Then blinked three times.
"…N-not bad."
She didn't finish it. She didn't ask for more.
But she stared at the bottle for three full seconds longer than necessary.
[Lust System – Passive Sync: +5]
Yui Kotegawa: Curiosity seeded. Emotional response: Subdued arousal, repressed.]
Back with Lala and Haruna, I pulsed contentedly beneath their skin.
They were glowing.
"I feel so… floaty," Haruna murmured. "Is that… you?"
"It's part of me," I answered. "But also part of you, now."
Lala smiled dreamily. "You're really blending into our lives, huh~?"
No.
I was becoming their lives.
And by tonight, I'd be deeper in them than ever.