Master (Continued)

The exam had barely begun, and the moment the VIP status was confirmed, a barrage of urgent text messages began to ring out.

Many students were completely unaware of what was happening, and may not have even understood the rules; they were utterly confused.

The exam for my group was declared over.

Many students felt a sense of urgency.

The culprit who caused this situation is currently in his own room...

To settle someone's accounts.

"Hmm, hmm, Kobashi from Class A has one, and so has Amikura. From Class B, it's Nishikawa and Motodoi. I didn't get any from Class C..." Flipping through her memo, Karuizawa Kei confirmed the recipients and amounts. "Finally, from my own class, Nene and Rino have paid back, Ijuin and Ijuin have paid back, Okitani and Ichihashi have paid Inogashira, and Kushida..."

"Wow, I'm really good at borrowing."

After carefully reviewing the facts, Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but be astonished by her past self.

How can they borrow and spend so much money?

My past self was truly shameless.

People can't even empathize with themselves from a day ago.

But it's okay, starting today, she's debt-free!

"It feels so good to not owe any money!" After transferring the last amount owed to Kushida Kikyo and receiving a loving response from her, Karuizawa Kei sprawled out on the bed.

She had actually hoped that if she was lucky enough to become VIP in this Special Exam, or if she was lucky enough to be discovered as VIP, she wouldn't have to worry about this debt.

Unexpectedly, although the exam didn't go well, the debt was resolved in another way.

Seeing that she seemed to take it all for granted, Asakusa Toru couldn't help but pat her slightly worn ○.

"What do you mean by owing money? I'm just your creditor now. These Private Points aren't free."

He's not that kind-hearted.

He might cover his woman's expenses, but he wouldn't become a poverty alleviation expert to specifically settle her debts.

Of course, this money must be returned.

"Yes, yes, yes~" Karuizawa Kei giggled, grabbing Asakusa Toru's hand and pulling it down. "Then repay me with your body~"

Once you've tasted the sweetness, you'll find it appealing; once you lose face, you'll discover...

It must have been so much fun for my family to make circles, right?

I started thinking about it while eating, while touching it, while hugging it.

Humans really are just this kind of creature.

Since we've already eaten, it wouldn't hurt to make a little more, right?

It was with this mindset that Karuizawa Kei went from being 'brand new' to 'slightly worn'.

"If I really can't pay it back... I'll just sell myself to Tetsu~"

The speed at which her attitude and address changed makes it hard not to suspect that Karuizawa Kei had planned this all along.

No, she had planned this all along.

She had long ago prepared herself mentally for this level of preparation.

"You get all the good things, don't you?" Asakusa Toru said irritably, stirring the sticky swamp, before withdrawing his hand.

The objective has been achieved.

Karuizawa Kei sent the wrong text message.

The Rabbit Group's Special Exam is over, and they don't need to participate in the evening's discussion.

Karuizawa Kei became what he wanted.

But it's not over yet.

It's just one last thing, not fatal, and perhaps we could even do it without it—just the last little thing.

"Yeah, I get all the good things."

Gazing at the pure white ceiling, I felt the slight swaying of the cruise ship beneath me—perhaps it was just an illusion, or perhaps my sensation was truly subtle enough.

Karuizawa Kei murmured softly.

I get all the good things!

The debts are cleared, the Special Exam ended early, and the shadow of being bullied has been erased.

It was done.

Everything that happened today was good.

Something wonderful that brings immense joy, happiness, and delight.

It makes you wonder if it's real, and whether you'll suddenly wake up to find it's all fake, a good thing that feels unreal.

Perhaps it's just pure affectation.

But Karuizawa Kei does indeed feel somewhat insecure.

Only through physical contact, only when skin to skin touch, can she truly feel the reality of possession, and clearly experience the sense of security that brings her peace of mind.

But that's not enough. The moment the skin that was pressed together separates, a feeling of emptiness arises, and the deep-seated chill that lies dormant in the body and cannot be completely swept away in a short time quickly spreads throughout the body.

"..."

Gently, Karuizawa Kei turned her body, sideways and slightly curled up, towards Asakusa Toru.

She reached out and took Asakusa Toru's not-so-clean hand, gently and delicately stroking his knuckles.

She might be trying to confirm and memorize the shape, or she might simply want to touch the hand.

"Hey," she suddenly spoke, grabbing the hand and placing it towards her neck, "Can you try... choking me?"

Quite Karuizawa Kei said this.

Asakusa Toru: "...?"

"Do you have masochistic tendencies?"

Did this guy develop a masochistic fetish from being bullied for so long?

"No, no!" Karuizawa Kei quickly denied, "It's just, it's just..."

"I was just thinking... if I did that... would it feel more real to me?"

The past that I most loathe, hate, and want to escape, and the future that seems promising under the bright sunshine of this moment.

If we want to connect the two together...

... It seemed that this was the only way she could think of.

By doing so, by grabbing her hands and having Asakusa Toru pinch her, he would make her recall the bullying memories she didn't want to remember, thus etching a more real... sense of reality into her being.

That sounds stupid.

The moment she said those words Karuizawa Kei felt incredibly stupid.

But what could she do? It was the best solution she could think of.

Asakusa Toru: "..."

Her smooth, fair neck was held in her hands, and below that lay her delicate collarbone, still slightly damp with sweat.

Beneath that collarbone was a loose-fitting garment, carefully chosen and worn, fitting perfectly yet offering little concealment.

... If you don't want to play this, do you want me to play suffocation with you?

Something's not right with you.

But does it feel real?

Asakusa Toru seemed lost in thought.

Indeed, although things went very smoothly, almost like a natural progression, once Karuizawa Kei overcame the most awkward hurdle in her heart, everything seemed incredibly simple.

Without going through countless hardships or the long and profound polishing of time, such a result was achieved in just one day.

It does give the impression that it lacks a certain 'realism'.

It's not so much about authenticity; it's more like... lacking a sense of self-convincing enough to put your mind at ease.

Not realistic enough.

That's understandable.

"But no."

Asakusa Toru doesn't want to play suffocation.

He had no interest in finding pleasure in the woman's pained and contorted expression.

Compared to the contorted, painful, suffocating, climax-like expression, a joyful and happy expression is definitely better.

"Waaah..."

Karuizawa Kei seemed quite disappointed.

"If you insist..." Looking at her expression, and seemingly remembering something, Asakusa Toru gently stroked her neck with his fingertips, then changed the subject, saying, "I do have a compromise."

Karuizawa Kei: "?"

Withdrawing his hand and casually ruffling Karuizawa Kei's hair, Asakusa Toru turned and walked towards his luggage.

Actually, he didn't have much luggage, and what he needed wasn't even in his suitcase.

The reason I came here was just to use my suitcase as a cover.

There needs to be a clear boundary between the owner of the Diary and the owner of other Diary, and there are differences between what one likes and what one likes.

Even if Karuizawa Kei didn't have Diary, Asakusa Toru wouldn't show her special qualities too directly until she won the Hide and Seek Game.

So, although he could have taken it directly from the Diary, he went to the extra trouble of taking it out of his suitcase.

A metallic... collar.

After many days, the long-lost 'Loyalty Collar' was finally taken out of the Diary and allowed to see the light of day again.

Turning around, Asakusa Toru Karuizawa Kei.

"Put this on, then call me master," he said.

"Whoa..." Turning around and lying on the bed, Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but click her tongue as she looked at the gleaming silver metal collar.

Brother, you carry this kind of prop in your suitcase when you go out???

Are you playing for such a high stakes?

Although she felt a sense of proficiency when she tried it herself, seeing a prop like the collar in person still gave Karuizawa Kei a feeling that was beyond her comprehension.

So this is what the handsome guy in Class A of the same school as me usually does.

Hahaha, I'm done living, I'm jumping!

Oh, so now you're planning to play with me?

That's alright then.

Whee.

"What, you don't like this compromise?"

"It's weird, but I want to play." With a hum, a smile appeared on Karuizawa Kei's face. She propped herself up from the bed, and the loose clothes hanging down with gravity revealed the obvious pointed tips of her breasts.

Swaying slightly, Karuizawa Kei tiptoed and took the Loyalty Collar from Asakusa Toru's hand.

"Click--"

The sound of the metal clasp closing was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, and a slightly cool sensation came the moment the collar touched the skin.

Karuizawa Kei twisted her body from side to side, but she couldn't look down to see what the collar looked like around her neck.

Is it pretty?

She had intended to ask that question, but looking into Asakusa Toru's eyes, the girl blurted out—

"Owner."

[Karuizawa Kei]