[Ichinose Residence, Ichinose Ayano's Room]
While Hachiman was eating dinner, Ichinose Ayano, once a lovestruck girl, now awakened by Hachiman's harsh truths. Dragged her best friends, Horigome China and Ichinose Honami, onto her own bed.
"Ay-Ayano... is it really okay if I don't go back...? Won't Mom get scolded by my stepdad...?", Horigome China, dressed in a loose camisole nightgown, sat duck-style on the soft bed. Her straight, snow-white legs extended from the hem, her arms clutching a pillow to cover her blushing shoulders. With a troubled look, she stared at the room's owner, Ichinose Ayano.
After school, Ayano had brought her here. Even after a bath and changing into Ayano's pajamas, the hour was late, and China still couldn't help worrying about her stepfather's reaction and her mother's situation.
Today was the deadline to give her answer. She had thought that rejecting her stepfather's demand to bear his child, following the Service Club's advice would mean facing his wrath. But instead, Ayano had pulled her into the Ichinose estate to stay the night.
"Don't tell me, China, you want to bear your stepfather's child? If that's what you're saying, then I won't help you."
When China worried more for her mother than herself, Ayano shot her a sharp glare, pulling two pink wristbands from her bag.
Even if China's mother hadn't done anything wrong, if Ayano didn't help her friend, it was the same as siding with that stepfather.
"Of course not! But, but still...", China shook her head at once. Her stepfather was already a middle-aged man, someone she only ever saw as a father figure. How could she want to bear his child? But she didn't know how to say it.
When she was little, her stepfather had seemed so gentle and kind after her mother remarried. Who would have thought, after growing up, he'd demand something so absurd?
And her mother, instead of saying anything, had only silently watched.
For days she had been distressed over this, unable to focus on classes. Now at the deadline, Ayano had hidden her away here instead.
It shocked her. She'd always thought Ayano's family life was complicated. Though Ayano was wealthier, her relationship with her father seemed poor, and she rarely invited China over.
"No buts!", Ayano immediately cut her off.
"At worst, you can just live here from now on. I don't think your stepdad, who only bullies your mom and you, would dare cause trouble at my house."
China was like her mother. Weak, dependent, meek. But she was still young, with some resistance left. If she stayed under her stepfather's control, she'd lose herself and become a puppet.
Of course, Ayano hadn't been much better in the past. Just rebelling against her father without realizing it was pointless.
But after constant guidance from the President, she had understood.
Both China's stepfather and her own father held power. Whether financial or political, their household authority came from that power. That's why they could impose their will.
Her father's power came from his position as a member of assembly and his company holdings.
If she became a member one day, with the President's help, the Ichinose family would follow her.
The Elf Princess had already promised. So long as she pleased the President, he would help her, even without saying it.
"Of course, if you want to truly solve your family problem, you can also ask the President for help, like I did," Ayano looked at China meaningfully.
Living here, her stepdad wouldn't dare touch her. But custody still lay in his hands. It was a short-term solution at best.
If China wanted true freedom, not being forced to bear his child, then loyalty to the President was the only real path.
"T-That... let me think about it...", Meeting Ayano's eyes, China flushed bright red, burying her face in the pillow.
Ayano had already explained her own relationship with Hachiman.
When China learned that behind him stood Elf Princesses and other powerful figures, even her father, a member of assembly, had to curry his favor, she had been shaken to the core.
Who could have imagined that Hachiman, who sat in the back row messing around with gyarus and running the Service Club, was so incredible?
But even knowing that... Ayano's suggestion felt outrageous.
She didn't want to bear her stepfather's child, but to pledge herself to Hachiman, like Ayano had, just for that...
"You can take your time. I won't rush you. Until your stepdad comes sniffing at the school, you can stay here. But, try this wristband. Feel the President's power for yourself."
Seeing her friend still wavering, Ayano didn't push. She simply fastened one of the pink wristbands onto China's arm.
She knew how it looked, ridiculous.
But compared to being married off by her father as a trophy bride, pledging loyalty to the President and securing control of the Ichinose house was far better.
The President never interfered too much in her life. He just stopped her from making stupid mistakes.
If anything, she wanted more of his affection.
"Honami, what about you? Have you decided to join us?"
Ayano licked her lips unconsciously, watching China collapse into the bed with a muffled cry as the wristband activated, then turned toward Ichinose Honami.
She did have some selfishness in this. If China refused, she'd ask Honami. If Honami too refused, she'd ask Mizuki.
"Uh... Ayano, can I say no...? I don't think my uncle's that bad. I mean... he's still your father. He wouldn't treat you badly, right?", Honami gave a troubled smile.
She had only transferred at her uncle's request, to get close to the Elf Princess. Now Ayano was dragging her into rebellion against him?
"You really think a man in his prime, hungry for more power, won't arrange my marriage with some corporate heir? Even if afraid of being swallowed, he might force me to take in someone I hate. For all I know, he already has a secret child waiting to be revealed at the right time," Ayano's rebuttal was sharp.
Her father had mistresses. Who knew if he had illegitimate kids?
And if he learned that the Elf Princess approved of her closeness to the President, even delighted in it, he would f*rce her into Hachiman's bed to please them.
But she hadn't told him that. Those benefits she had earned by herself. Why hand them to him?
If he insisted on political marriages, then when she became head of the family, he could go marry off himself. He wasn't that old, he could still contribute.
"T-This...", Hearing words like "marriage alliances, illegitimate children" made Honami's head spin.
Yes, her uncle wasn't a saint. He had ulterior motives sending her here. But he had paid her tuition, supported her family, and promised her mother a good job and her sister a school, if she succeeded.
Her burden lifted, her mother and sister were already living better.
And now Ayano wanted her to betray him? How had it come to this...?
"If you won't join, that's fine. But you still have to wear this," Ayano grabbed the other pink wristband, trying to put it on her.
"N-no way! Absolutely not!", Honami leapt up in panic, bare feet hitting the wooden floor as she backed toward the door, shaking her head furiously.
She had seen what this thing did to Yumiko and the others. It was definitely Hachiman's device. Something was wrong with it.
Already, China was clinging to her pillow, muffling herself, on the verge of breaking.
But Ayano had already locked the door.
Smiling sweetly, she approached slowly, wristband in hand, "Honami... you don't want the President to know you came to him with ulterior motives, do you?"
"...", Honami froze.
"I was happy when he called me over in class. But after he indulged me, he only asked about you, about your family, about why you couldn't sleep."
"China came to him herself. But you? You were his own concern," Ayano sighed dramatically, "If he finds out you only transferred to use him for your uncle's sake... how do you think he'll feel?"
"...", Honami lowered her head, her long hair spilling forward, biting her lip.
Her whole existence here had begun with that dirty purpose.
That was why she avoided calling him by name. She didn't deserve to.
"Angry? Disappointed? Disgusted?", Ayano pressed on, knowing her guilt.
"The President is too kind. He'd probably just worry you were being mistreated. Heh~"
Honami's kindness, her moral sense, was exactly what made her guilt unbearable.
Ayano knew this. She knew exactly where to press.
"...Fine. I'll wear it. Just stop talking, Ayano," Still looking down, Honami reached out, took the wristband, and slowly slid it on.
Ayano was right. She had come to use him. No excuse could erase it.
Better to wear it, accept whatever punishment came.
Once her mother and sister were secure, she would confess. Let him scold her, hit her, whatever. So long as they were safe, she didn't care.
"Honestly, Honami, you're too easy. The President already knew about you. I told him before you even came. He just didn't care, since you weren't forced, only approaching sideways," Ayano suddenly laughed, the gloom gone.
"W-What?", Honami's head snapped up, staring at her.
So he already knew? Then Ayano's words were lies?
"Of course. You think I'd dare threaten you otherwise? I told you, he worries about you. Even your sleepless nights," And with that, Ayano pressed the hidden activation switch.
"Don't worry. The President won't mind me offering him little Honami. Worst case, he'll just punish me hard~"
"Wait—wha?"
Before Honami could react, a surge of indescribable current coursed through her, leaving her knees weak. She collapsed against the door, barely able to cover her mouth, her violet eyes fixed on Ayano's smiling face.
'H-How could this be?'
Hachiman hadn't even blamed her, yet she had put on the wristband herself?
[T/N: BETRAYAL!]
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