Children were naturally free-spirited and loved to play. To Hanako, a school she couldn't leave was like a cage, and she'd long wanted to escape.
"Hey, shrimp, how do we sign that contract you mentioned?"
Hanako looked up and asked.
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"It's simple. Hold out your hand."
Hanako held out her little hand, puzzled.
"Tsk~"
Amamiya Natsuki gave a soft click of his tongue.
The idol Hanako from that mysterious anime had been delicate and soft, with snow-white skin. The Hanako before him had sharp, pitch-black fingernails. They couldn't have been more different.
Clap.
Amamiya Natsuki held out his right hand and high-fived Ghost Story Hanako to seal their agreement, saying:
"Contract signed."
The next second.
A blue magic circle appeared on the backs of their hands. After glowing for several seconds, it was branded onto their skin, then quietly disappeared.
"What's this?"
Hanako lowered her head and examined the back of her hand, scratching at it curiously.
"It's proof that we've signed a contract," Amamiya Natsuki said casually. "You're my employee now. Your goal from now on is to become an idol... You can try leaving the school now and see if you can."
"If you dare trick me, I'll call you 'shrimp' for the rest of your life!"
Hanako bared her teeth and threatened him, then quickly stood up and crawled along the ceiling. Her tiny figure soon vanished down the hallway.
"We actually did it." Fujiwara Chika breathed a sigh of relief, covering her chest. "I thought Hanako-chan's personality meant she'd never agree to being recruited so easily."
Amamiya Natsuki said casually:
"That's because I spotted Hanako's weakness."
An employee contract had to be equal and voluntary, based on the free will of both parties. Force, threats, deception, and the like were all ineffective. But