As an employee, Shiki Ryougi was technically supposed to answer the door, but she was currently feeling... "unwell."
Consequently, she looked at Haruka Kasugano—who was lying comfortably on the sofa nearby—with an expression that said it was only natural for him to do it, her brow furrowing slightly as she stared him down.
"Oh, right. I'll get it." Haruka Kasugano scratched his head, taking a moment to process her intent before getting up readily to open the door.
This was a good sign. Shiki proactively asking him to do things for her was a hint that she was starting to view him as "her" man. Given her personality, she would definitely be the type to keep her man on a tight leash.
Hehehe.
Haruka Kasugano opened the main door and, upon seeing the visitor, laughed intentionally loud: "Fujino-san, what brings you here?"
Hearing that name, Shiki Ryougi bolted upright. Murderous intent erupted from her as she watched Fujino Asagami being led in by Haruka Kasugano. She drew her knife, ready to resume their battle.
"Shiki, calm down," Touko Aozaki advised from her desk, puffing on a cigarette.
Shiki regained her composure quickly and questioned Fujino: "What are you doing here?"
"Me? I'm here to surrender, of course," Fujino said, sticking to the script Haruka Kasugano had given her.
"What?" Shiki was stunned. She hadn't expected Fujino to pull a move like this.
"I'm just an ordinary female student. I don't want to live a life being hunted, so I've come to surrender. As long as you can forgive me, I'm willing to work here to make amends," Fujino recited her lines.
"Boring... the you from last night was more interesting." Shiki shook her head and, with a sharp clack of her sandals, walked into the inner room. She didn't want to look at Fujino anymore. She had no real grudge against her; just like the first time she spared her, she was simply looking for an "abnormal person" to satisfy her killing impulse. This submissive, surrendering Fujino wasn't worth her time.
I guess I'll just treat last night as being bitten by Haruka Kasugano for nothing!
Fujino didn't pay any mind to Shiki either. She was only there to fulfill Haruka Kasugano's task, not to make friends. She walked elegantly up to Touko, bowed, and said, "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. I realize my mistakes now. Please forgive me."
"It's fine as long as you know you were wrong! You'll work here from now on. Don't worry about the police!" Haruka Kasugano, the boss, made the executive decision.
Fujino nodded, and as she looked at Haruka Kasugano, a joyful flush crept across her face. Touko Aozaki watched this scene, biting down on her cigarette.
This Haruka Kasugano... is a major problem.
---------
Touko Aozaki was deeply puzzled by the situation. Mainly, Haruka Kasugano's attitude toward Shiki and Fujino was just too strange. Looking at the evidence and Fujino's current "innocent" appearance... she didn't look anything like the intelligence reports described.
The reports spoke of someone suffering long-term abuse from a stepfather, leading to massive psychological trauma, with the harassment from thugs acting as a trigger for a killing spree. Yet, the girl before her didn't look fragile or broken. Instead, she seemed indulged in a certain dependency—a certain happiness.
Looking at how she watched Haruka Kasugano, it was hard not to suspect that the object of her dependency was him. Even though Haruka Kasugano was the boss and had the power to approve anything, his acceptance of Fujino was far too natural. It felt premeditated.
Is this all his arrangement? Touko wondered. But these were just guesses. She couldn't understand the point of the charade. Why have Fujino kill people, let Shiki hunt her, have them fight, and then have Fujino surrender? If it wasn't him, it made sense. If it was him, wasn't it redundant? Why not just hire her from the start? Why make them clash first?
Touko had graduated from Reien Girl's Academy herself, so she recognized Fujino's uniform immediately. If she remembered correctly, the student she met last year—Azaka Kokutou—was also at that school. They were about the same age; did they know each other?
"Fujino, it's fine. Don't worry about the previous commission. We aren't an assassin guild; we don't kill without reason," Touko smiled, resting her chin on her hands. "By the way, are you from Reien? I have a student there named Azaka Kokutou. Do you know her?"
"Kokutou-san? I do. We're friends," Fujino answered directly.
"Oh! What a coincidence! Since you'll be working for us, I'll guide you in your magecraft as well," Touko chirped.
"Thank you!" Fujino bowed politely.
Touko lit another cigarette, lost in thought. Since they were friends, she could probably find out more from Azaka. Once she knew who Fujino hung out with, everything would become clear.
-----------
"Ah—"
Azaka Kokutou was in the passenger seat, her head held down by Haruka Kasugano as she leaned over the gear shift.
"Like that. Don't use your teeth. Take it slow, adapt bit by bit, okay?" Haruka Kasugano was "directing" her.
This was Azaka's first time using her mouth. The previous "breach" and being toyed with a dozen times under the drug were things she felt she could survive by just closing her eyes. But this was different. This wasn't just physical resistance; it was psychological torture. It felt like total submission—a humble, servile act. It felt less like being violated and more like voluntarily serving him.
Since yesterday, Azaka had been listless, her eyes hollow like a walking corpse. When Haruka Kasugano asked her out, she came without a word. No matter how he admired, kissed, or touched her, she acted as if it didn't matter. Even when he took her right there in the car, she remained unchanged. This "resignation" was starting to irritate him.
However, Haruka Kasugano looked at her "Infidelity Report" from yesterday and saw the truth.
[Ding! Azaka Kokutou felt the pleasure of the flesh; her mental defenses have been breached! Infidelity Progress +20%!]
He understood immediately. She was a classic "Tsundere" body—her mouth said no, but her nerves said yes! She enjoyed the pleasure and wanted more, but her mind couldn't accept it. To cope, she shut down her heart. If I don't care, it doesn't hurt, and my body can still enjoy it.
Hehe. Trying to use that to endure the seven days? Dream on!
So, Haruka Kasugano stopped savoring her body and instead made her savor him.
"How is it? The taste suits you, doesn't it?" Haruka Kasugano teased.
Azaka didn't speak, but her face betrayed her. It was a mask of distress. Using the most sensitive senses—taste, touch, smell—all at once, the humiliation flooded back, making it impossible to maintain her "hollow" state.
Gag... gag...
After "tasting the fresh milk," Azaka gagged and coughed.
"Spitting out such fresh milk, what a waste!" Haruka Kasugano teased. He grabbed her by the neck again, bringing her back to her "lessons." "Again. Until you swallow for the first time!"
Gag... gulp...
They spent the afternoon "practicing driving" in the car. It wasn't until Azaka painfully swallowed that Haruka Kasugano finally stopped.
"Wonderful. You're a natural! Do you dream of doing this with Mikiya every day?" Haruka Kasugano mocked.
Azaka's throat felt raw; she didn't answer. She wiped the tears from her face, her spirit crushed once again. Haruka Kasugano ignored her distress, picking up her petite, ivory feet and pressing them against his face, enjoying the silky skin.
When night fell, he finally let her out. Out of a twisted sense of "care," he drove into an alley near the academy before letting her go. He watched her cross the street to enter the school before driving off.
But... Touko Aozaki stepped out from behind a tree near the school gate. She had come to find Azaka today and had witnessed the whole scene. Looking at the aggrieved, tearful Azaka, Touko's lips curled into a slight, knowing smile.