"You only need to follow my instructions and enjoy the thrills I give you. Understand?"
Kamuro Masumi's mind raced.
Having someone hold something over her meant losing her freedom. But accepting this proposal seemed... pretty interesting, too?
At least it was better than being expelled. Besides, this man's methods and abilities clearly far exceeded her imagination.
By following him, perhaps she could see something more exciting?
More importantly, this guy was pretty handsome! Neat short hair, sharp eyes, and an air of composure in his every movement.
[Ding!] [Kamuro Masumi's affection level +20. Current affection level: 20 (curious/confused)] [Note: The target is wavering between fear of the unknown and excitement at the prospect of thrills.]
"Hmph..." She turned her head away, stubbornly refusing to agree immediately. "Sounds boring. Who knows if you're lying to me?"
"You'll find out later." Kitagawa Kai wasted no more words. Instead, he deleted the video of her stealing right in front of her.
Kamuro Masumi fell completely silent.
An intense struggle raged within her. The flame that sought excitement was being fanned by another, more complicated, more dangerous emotion.
Only after a long while did she squeeze out a few words through clenched teeth. Rather than an answer, they sounded more like a resolution she was making to herself.
"...I'll... consider it for now."
"A wise choice." Kitagawa Kai's smile deepened as he casually took the can of beer that served as "evidence" from Kamuro's pocket.
His movements were smooth and unselfconscious, as though he were taking something out of his own bag rather than retrieving it from beneath a girl's skirt.
"Hey, hey, hey, you pervert! What are you doing?!" Like a cat bristling at an invasion of its territory, Kamuro Masumi sprang backward, her cheeks instantly flushing bright red.
Kitagawa Kai deftly opened the beer, tipped his head back, and took a large gulp.
"Well, how about a drink to celebrate reaching our preliminary agreement?"
Celebrate? Who would want to celebrate something this ridiculous with you!
Kamuro Masumi jerked her head away as though a venomous snake had bitten her.
"Don't be so resistant."
Kitagawa Kai's voice held a hint of teasing. "Don't forget, you put this can of beer in your pocket in pursuit of 'thrills.' Now that the opportunity's here, wouldn't it be a waste of all your efforts not to drink it?"
"Minors aren't allowed to drink!!!" Her eyes instantly lit up, and her voice rose several notches.
"So what?"
Since when were there minors on Tomato?
Kitagawa Kai countered nonchalantly, waving the beer can in front of her. "I'm helping you destroy the evidence here. Don't tell me you're afraid to drink it?"
Check.
"Fine, I'll drink it. You think I'm scared of you?" As though someone had stepped on her tail, Kamuro Masumi snatched the can, tipped her head back, and gulped down more than half of it.
She slammed the can onto a nearby stone bench, wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, and glared defiantly at him. "Satisfied? You pervert!"
"Very satisfied." Kitagawa Kai smiled from the heart. "Welcome aboard, my first 'Kitten.'"
"Then could you add me as a contact, Kamuro?"
"I'll get in touch when I need you~"
Kitagawa Kai took his Terminal from his pocket. Its screen lit up, displaying his personal QR code.
Kamuro Masumi hesitated, but eventually took out her own Terminal reluctantly, unlocked it, opened the scanner, and scanned his QR code with a beep.
[Friend request sent] [Note: Class B - Kitagawa Kai]
After accepting the request, Kitagawa Kai saved her profile picture: a purple cartoon kitten with a haughty gaze.
"All right. Remember what you said, Kitten."
He gave her one last look, then turned to leave, presenting Kamuro Masumi with a carefree retreating figure.
Kamuro Masumi stood alone on the tree-lined path, her heart pounding wildly.
The heat of alcohol lingered in her mouth. Her pocket was empty, yet her heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of excitement.
She looked down at her hand, then at the mostly empty beer can. There seemed to be traces of both their lip prints on it.
"See it through to the end, huh..."
The scenes began flashing through Kamuro's mind uncontrollably.
She had crept along...
She had stolen the beer...
She had been caught...
He had opened the beer...
He had taken a big gulp...
And then...
Then she had snatched it away, tipped her head back, and chugged...
Wait, an indirect... kiss?!
[Ding!] [Kamuro Masumi's affection level +5. Current affection level: 25 (confused)] [Kamuro Masumi's affection level +10. Current affection level: 35 (shy)] [Note: Outwardly resistant, inwardly curious.]
The cold notification chime sounded in Kitagawa Kai's mind.
As he reviewed his current progress in winning them over, the smile on his lips grew deeper.
[Personal information] [Name: Kitagawa Kai] [Stamina: 7 (energetic, relatively strong endurance)] [Intelligence: 6 (above average)] [Charm: 8 (eye-catching)] [Items: Universal Video Recorder] [Abilities: Affinity, Master-Level Chess Skill, Narrator] [Beautiful Girl Encyclopedia] [Available target: Yamamura Miki] [Yamamura Miki (40/close friend)] [Sakayanagi Arisu (30/rival)] [Ichinose Honami (30/friend)] [Kamuro Masumi (35/under control/curious)]
Not a bad haul, he muttered to himself.
That evening.
Inside Room 308 of the Boys' Dormitory.
Kitagawa Kai had just returned from running on the track and was wiping the thin sheen of sweat from his forehead with a towel.
The changes brought by that +1 to stamina were becoming increasingly apparent. He felt that his muscles were full of resilience.
His current stamina of "7" had transformed him from an ordinary student into a man with a physical advantage.
"I need to meet more beautiful girls soon." Kitagawa Kai draped the towel over his shoulder and looked out the window at the brightly lit campus.
For now, Yamamura Miki's and Ichinose Honami's affection levels were both fairly stable, but difficult to raise.
Kamuro Masumi had just had her dose of excitement. She needed some time to process it.
Then I choose you, Sakayanagi Arisu.
[Beep beep!]
His phone vibrated, and the screen lit up with a new message.
Sender: Kamuro Masumi.
Kitagawa Kai raised an eyebrow slightly, the curve of his lips instantly deepening.
Kamuro Masumi: Pervert! Don't get so full of yourself! Don't think I'll listen to you!
Kitagawa Kai: What else? Were you joking?
Kamuro Masumi: Who wants to be your kitten?! You hopeless hentai! Stay away from me!
She thought Kitagawa Kai would immediately reply with something infuriating again, just as he had earlier.
But... a minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Five minutes passed.
Kitagawa Kai left her on read.
Kamuro Masumi's smile froze on her face.
What's going on?
"Why isn't he replying to my messages?!!"
Kitagawa Kai: Getting worked up?
"Who's worked up?! Who's worked up?!!" She practically roared as she typed those two sentences.
Damn it, he got me again.
Kamuro Masumi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, the flush on her face lingering for a long time.
[Ding!] [Kamuro Masumi's affection level +5. Current affection level: 40 (confused/preoccupied)]