Kiyohiko Goes on a Mission with Shinobu Kocho

"U-um... Miss Shinobu, if I said that was my second personality talking just now, would you believe me?" Cold sweat instantly beaded on Kiyohiko's forehead and trickled down his cheeks.

"I would. Of course I would." Shinobu Kocho smiled and moved a little closer to Kiyohiko. "To reward you for 'practicing' so hard, Mr. Kiyohiko, I think I should help you rehearse that position where you 'trapped me' before we leave on our mission. Don't you agree, Mr. Kiyohiko?"

"W-wait! A mission? What mission? And that box in your hand..." Kiyohiko tried to change the subject, his gaze falling on the finely crafted redwood box in Shinobu Kocho's left hand.

Standing in front of Kiyohiko, Shinobu Kocho set the box down heavily with a dull thud.

She snapped her head up, her smile turning menacing. "Before we discuss this box, shouldn't I first show you what real domination is, Mr. Kiyohiko?"

"Help! Sunflower Seed! Save me!"

Aoi Kanzaki, who had been in the dojo just moments ago and on whom Kiyohiko had pinned great hopes, had already run to the door and was preparing to slip away.

These two... honestly, there's no helping them...

Aoi Kanzaki grumbled to herself. Before leaving, she gave Kiyohiko a pitying glance, then ran off without looking back.

Inside the dojo, screams and the sound of heavy objects hitting the floor rose and fell one after another.

A few minutes later, Kiyohiko, who had been so insufferably cocky, lay sprawled face down on the floor, while Shinobu Kocho sat gracefully on his back, playing with the little box she had brought.

"How does it feel? How does it feel to 'dominate' me?" Shinobu Kocho tapped Kiyohiko's head lightly with the hilt of her sword.

"Miss Shinobu, I was wrong. I was really wrong." With his face pressed against the cold floor, Kiyohiko begged for mercy in a muffled voice.

Damn it. If I hadn't let you win on purpose, you'd be the one lying down right now.

But... this position... Miss Shinobu is even lighter than I imagined, and the feel of her butt against me...

"Are you thinking something rude?" Shinobu Kocho seemed to notice something strange about the person beneath her, and her tone grew a few degrees colder.

"No! Absolutely not! I was thinking about that wooden box..."

Shinobu Kocho stood up and turned her head away to avoid Kiyohiko's sparkling eyes, unconsciously twirling the ends of her hair around her finger.

"There happened to be some leftover material a few days ago, so I had Aoi find someone to throw one together. After all... if a certain idiot stayed at the Butterfly Mansion all the time, he'd only get in Aoi and the others' way. I might as well take him along as bait or a meat shield or something."

"Threw it together?" Kiyohiko got to his feet and took the box. Looking at the soft padding lining its interior and the straps made specifically to secure his body, he couldn't help smiling.

He seemed to have discovered something.

Watson, you've spotted a blind spot.

"Miss Shinobu, your standards for 'throwing something together' are really high. Even the padding is silk!"

"Cut the nonsense!" A faint blush rose to Shinobu Kocho's cheeks. She suddenly reached out, grabbed Kiyohiko's cheeks, and pulled them hard to either side. "Since you're so energetic, pack your things and get in there right now!"

A mischievous grin appeared on Kiyohiko's face. He couldn't let Shinobu Kocho off so easily; he wanted her to have a taste of embarrassment too.

Blushing, Kiyohiko moved closer to Shinobu Kocho until her long eyelashes cast shadows in his eyes.

"Miss Shinobu, you said it was a hassle before, but you'd already decided to take me along, hadn't you?"

The smile on Shinobu Kocho's face instantly became dazzlingly bright, so bright that the hairs on Kiyohiko's back stood on end.

She slowly raised a finger and pressed it against Kiyohiko's forehead with surprising force.

"Oh my, your delusions seem to have gotten worse. It looks like, besides wisteria poison, I'll also need to prepare some medicine for your brain disease."

As she spoke, she smiled and pressed harder, pushing Kiyohiko until he had to lean backward.

"This box is just a container for experimental material. If you don't want to get in, I don't mind cutting you into pieces and putting you in that way. It would save more space and be easier to carry. What do you think?"

Kiyohiko immediately raised both hands in surrender, the mischievous grin on his face instantly replaced by an obedient expression.

"No, no, no! I'll get in! I'll get in right now!"

He was afraid that if this went on, he really might get stabbed with a needle.

The next moment, a faint bloody glow shimmered around his body. His bones gave a series of soft cracks, and his slender frame rapidly shrank like a piece of paper being folded.

In the blink of an eye, the tall young man had become a chibi version of himself, only as big as a five- or six-year-old child.

His oversized clothes hung loosely around him, and he had to hold up his pants as he clumsily climbed into the wooden box on his short little legs.

The inside of the box was lined with a soft cotton pad. There was even a tiny air hole, positioned so discreetly that it allowed air to circulate without letting sunlight in.

The tiny Kiyohiko let out an exclamation from inside the box and poked half his head out to look up at Shinobu.

"Um... Miss Shinobu, thank you. I really like this box."

Kiyohiko spoke earnestly.

Shinobu Kocho looked at the shrunken fellow in the box, and her previously tense expression finally showed a slight crack.

"You talk too much. Get inside."

She put a hand on Kiyohiko's head and pushed him back into the box a little roughly, then shut the lid with a snap and fastened the latch.

The world went dark, but Kiyohiko could feel the box being lifted securely onto her back.

With Shinobu Kocho's light footsteps, he swayed gently in the darkness to her rhythm.

Through the wooden panel, he seemed to hear her steady heartbeat and catch that faint scent mingled with wisteria.

Of course, it didn't smell all that pleasant to Kiyohiko.

"Hold on tight. Don't blame me if you fall."

Shinobu Kocho's muffled voice came from outside the box. She seemed to be in a good mood.