The classroom was a powder keg, and Natsuha Shinomiya was holding the match.
She skipped up to my desk, her uniform straining in ways that made half the class choke, and grabbed my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Lucien~! Rooftop lunch! My treat!" Her grin was all teeth, her eyes sparkling with the kind of mischief that preceded arson.
Tsukimi's fingers twitched toward her skirt pocket. Saki's pen snapped in her grip.
I tried to pull my hand back. "I don't-"
"Too late!" Natsuha tugged, her strength deceptive, and suddenly I was being dragged toward the door like a sack of rice. The class erupted, some in protest, some in delight, all of them watching.
[System Note: "Host is now the center of a social experiment gone wrong. (Popcorn recommended.)"]
Tsukimi's voice cut through the noise, cold and precise: "Natsuha."
The classroom froze.
Natsuha paused mid-step, glancing back. "Hm? Oh, Tsukimi-chan~! You wanna come too?" Her grin was innocent. Her grip on my wrist was iron.
Tsukimi stood, her chair scraping back like a blade unsheathed. "Let. Go."
"Or what?" Natsuha tilted her head, her smile turning sharp. "Gonna stab me, Yandere-chan?"
[Tsukimi Chifuyu — Affinity: 250% (Yandere Overdrive: "Violence Imminent")]
[Natsuha Shinomiya — Affinity: 32% (Provocation Successful: "+5% for defiance")]
Saki stood up, her voice trembling but firm. "Natsuha, that's enough."
Natsuha pouted. "But it's fun." She leaned in, her breath hot against my ear, for Tsukimi's benefit. "What's the matter, Tsukimi? Scared he'll like me better?"
Tsukimi's eyes narrowed.
"Enough."
Chizuru.
She marched forward, her purple braid whipping behind her like a battle flag. "Shinomiya, unhand him. Now."
Natsuha sighed dramatically, but released me. "Fine, fine." She winked at Tsukimi. "But the rooftop's open to anyone who wants to join~!"
Tsukimi's glare could've melted steel.
Chizuru grabbed my arm, her fingers digging in. "Cross. With me." Not a request.
I didn't fight it.
As Chizuru dragged me toward the door, I caught Saki's eyes, wounded, but resolute. Tsukimi's, burning with something darker than jealousy. And Natsuha's, laughing, already whispering to the class, "Bet you ten bucks Tsukimi follows them!"
The door slammed shut behind us.
...
The rooftop was empty, the air crisp with the threat of rain. Natsuha was already there, lounging against the railing like she owned the school, a bento box spread out beside her.
"Took you long enough!" She patted the space beside her. "Sit, sit! I made lunch!"
[Natsuha's Bento: "Homemade (Suspect). Affinity Boost: +5% if consumed. (Warning: May contain 'special' ingredients.)"]
Chizuru's grip on my arm tightened. "I'll leave you to it." Her voice was icy, but her fingers lingered a second too long. "Don't let her corrupt you further."
Then she was gone, her heels clicking against the concrete like a countdown.
Natsuha grinned. "She likes you."
I sat, keeping my distance. "She hates me."
"Same thing." Natsuha shoved the bento toward me. "Eat. It's not poisoned. Probably."
I eyed the food. The rice was shaped like hearts.
"You're terrifying."
She laughed, leaning in. "And yet, here you are." Her fingers brushed mine as she handed me chopsticks. "So. Two girlfriends, huh?"
I stiffened.
Natsuha's grin turned shrewd. "Relax, I'm not jealous. I just think it's hilarious." She popped a piece of tamagoyaki into her mouth.
The rice hearts stared up at me like tiny, accusing witnesses.
Natsuha's fingers lingered on mine as she handed me the chopsticks, her grin too wide, her eyes too knowing. "So. Two girlfriends, huh?" She popped another piece of tamagoyaki into her mouth, chewing slowly, watching me like I was a particularly interesting specimen under a microscope. "Must be exhausting."
I set the chopsticks down. "Natsuha."
She waved a hand. "Oh, I know, I know... 'none of my business'." She leaned in, "But you know what is my business?" Her smile faded, "Guys like Oga."
My stomach twisted.
Oga.
The name alone was enough to make my skin crawl. The guy was a predator, all slick smiles and wandering hands, the kind of guy who treated girls like toys and left them broken. I'd seen him in action, cornering freshmen, whispering promises, laughing when they cried.
Natsuha's fingers tightened around her bento box. "My mom cried for months after my dad left. Turns out, he'd been cheating on her for years. With her best friend." She laughed, but it wasn't funny. "Real classy, right?"
I didn't say anything.
She didn't seem to expect me to.
"So yeah," she said, her smile returning, sharper now. "I hate guys like Oga. The ones who think they can take whatever they want, then laugh when you beg them to stop." She stabbed a piece of egg with her chopsticks, "But you?" She looked at me, her gaze searching. "You're not like that."
I flinched.
She knew.
Not about the system, she couldn't, but she saw the cracks. The way I flinched when Tsukimi touched me. The way I hesitated before answering Saki. The way I let Chizuru drag me away.
She saw the guilt.
And she didn't care.
"I have a boyfriend," she said suddenly, her voice softer. "Yamano Yuuta." Her fingers twisted in her skirt. "We've been together since middle school. But… we used to see each other every day. And now? I haven't seen him in a year."
The wind picked up, cold, carrying the scent of rain.
"High school's lonely, you know?" She looked out at the city, her smile fading. "Everyone's so busy. Too busy for the people they used to love. But you? You notice people, Lucien. Even when you're drowning in your own mess."
My throat tightened.
[NEW QUEST: "Comfort the Lonely"]
[Objective: Fulfill Natsuha's emotional needs. (Method: Physical intimacy. Location: Rooftop. Time Limit: Now.)]
[Reward: +20 Charm, Affinity Spike (Natsuha: 80%), Title Unlocked: "The Comforter (How Noble)"]
[Failure Condition: Emotional Scarring (Hers. Yours. Pick one.)]
NO.
The word slammed into my mind, a physical rejection, like my brain had recoiled from the idea.
Natsuha wasn't Tsukimi. She wasn't Saki. She wasn't some pawn in the system's game.
She was broken.
And the system wanted me to break her more.
"Natsuha-"
She leaned in, her breath warm against my lips and pressed her forehead against mine.
[System Warning: "Time's up. Choose: Compliance or Consequences."]
"I miss him," she whispered.
My hands clenched into fists.
I could see it, the way this would play out. The way the system would twist this. The way Natsuha would look at me tomorrow, her eyes empty, her smile fake, another victim in my wake.
"I can't-"
A sharp, searing pain lanced through my skull, like someone had driven a nail into my temple. I gasped, my vision blurring, my fingers digging into my knees.
Natsuha pulled back, her face pale. "Lucien?!"
I gritted my teeth.
"I..."
The pain in my skull pulsed, a rhythmic hammering that synced with my heartbeat. Natsuha's face was a blur of concern, her hands hovering over me like she wanted to help but didn't dare. "Lucien, you're scaring me!"
I laughed. It came out broken, wrong, like a sound that didn't belong to me.
Because it didn't.
Not anymore.
It had won.
And if I was going to suffer, so was everyone else.
I reached up, my fingers brushing Natsuha's cheek. She flinched, but didn't pull away. "You're right," I murmured, my voice smooth, "I do notice people."
Her breath hitched.
I leaned in, my lips ghosting over her ear. "And you're so lonely, aren't you?"
She shivered.
[Villain Mode: Activated.]
[Charm: 114 → 120 (Temporary Boost: "Predator's Allure")]
[Natsuha Shinomiya — Affinity: 35% → 40% (Weakness Exploited: "Desperation")]
Her fingers trembled against my shoulder. "Lucien…?"
I smirked. "You want to know what guys like Oga really think when they look at you?"
Her breath caught.
I traced a finger down her throat, feeling her pulse race under my touch. "They see a girl who's easy. Who wants attention so badly she'll take it any way she can get it. But me?" I cupped her chin, tilting her face up to mine. "I see a girl who's starving."
Her lips parted.
"And I happen to be very good at feeding hungry girls."
Her fingers clenched in my shirt.
[Affinity Spike: Natsuha Shinomiya — 50% (Desperation → Devotion)]
I stood, pulling her up with me. The rooftop was empty, the city below a blurred mess of lights and noise. The rain had started, soft, insistent, plastering Natsuha's uniform to her skin.
[System Suggestion: "Use the Blood Blossom Charm. (Effect: Charm x2 on emotionally vulnerable targets. Warning: Permanent damage.)"]
I reached into my pocket.
Natsuha's eyes widened as I pressed the charm, a delicate, crimson pendant, into her palm. "Wear this," I murmured. "It'll make you feel better."
She stared at it, then at me. "What… is it?"
"A gift." I smiled, slow, dangerous. "From me to you."
She hesitated, then fastened it around her neck.
[Blood Blossom Charm: Activated.]
[Natsuha Shinomiya — Affinity: 50% → 70% (Effect: "Obsession Seed Planted")]
[Warning: Target will now associate pleasure with pain. (You're welcome.)]
Her pupils dilated.
I backed her against the railing, my body pinning hers. The metal digged into her spine, but she didn't complain. She whimpered.
"You want me, don't you?" I growled, my lips brushing her ear.
She nodded, her breath ragged.
I grabbed her wrists, pinned them above her head. "Say it."
Her voice was a whisper. "I want you."
I laughed, low, dark. "No. Say 'I'm yours.'"
Her breath hitched.
[Affinity Spike: Natsuha Shinomiya — 75% (Devotion Unlocked)]
"I'm…" Her voice broke. "I'm yours."
I dropped to my knees in front of her, my hands sliding up her thighs, pushing her skirt up, exposing her.
Her breath came in short, sharp gasps.
I hooked a finger under the waistband of her underwear and tugged.
She whimpered, her fingers clenching in my hair.
"Lucien…?" Her voice was small, scared.
I looked up at her, my eyes dark. "You wanted this."
She swallowed, nodded.
[Affinity: 80% (No Return)]
I pulled her underwear down, discarded it.
The cold air hit her, but she didn't flinch.
She was waiting.
I reached into my pocket again.
Natsuha's eyes followed the movement, wide, trusting.
I wrapped the thread around her wrist, tied it.
[Silken Thread: Activated. Natsuha Shinomiya — Affinity: 80% → 90% (Bound: "Emotional Leash Secured"). Warning: Target will now prioritize Host's approval over her own well-being.]
Her breath hitched as the thread glowed, then faded.
"What… was that?" Her voice was slurred, dazed.
I stood, looming over her.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
I pressed her against the railing again, my hands roaming, claiming.
She moaned, her head falling back.
I unbuckled my belt.
Her eyes snapped open, wide, fearful for the first time.
"Wait...!"
I grabbed her chin, forced her to look at me. "You said you were mine."
She nodded.
I didn't wait.
She swallowed, her hands clawing at my shoulders. "I... I didn't think..."
"No." My voice was low, rough. "You didn't."
I lifted her, pressed her back against the railing. The metal groaned under her weight, but she didn't care. Her legs wrapped around my waist, trembling.
[Target: Natsuha Shinomiya — Status: Virgin (Confirmed). Warning: Host size exceeds target capacity. (Pain guaranteed. Trauma likely.) Suggestion: Proceed. (Reward: Title Unlocked: "The Defiler")]
I paused.
Not out of mercy.
But because I wanted her to see me.
"Look at me."
She obeyed, her eyes terrified.
"You're going to remember this." My fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her head back. "Every. Second."
Then I pushed inside her.
Natsuha screamed.
It wasn't a sound of pleasure.
It was the sound of something breaking.
Her nails dug into my back, drawing blood, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. The system hummed in my skull, a sick, sweet melody of approval.
"P-Please...!" Her voice cracked, her body tensing around me, too tight, too small.
I gripped her hips, pulled her harder against me. "You wanted this."
"I... I didn't...!"
"You did." I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear. "You begged for it."
She sobbed, her body shaking.
[Affinity Spike: Natsuha Shinomiya — 95% (Trauma Bonding: "She will never forget this.")]
I didn't slow down.
I couldn't.
Because I wanted it.
Natsuha's legs gave out.
I caught her before she hit the ground, her body boneless, limp. Her skirt was ruined, her thighs slick with blood and other things. Her breath came in wet, broken gasps.
[Natsuha Shinomiya — Status: Broken (Permanent) Affinity: 100% (Obsession Complete: "She belongs to you now."). Warning: Target may experience PTSD, dissociation, or homicidal tendencies. (Not your problem!)]
I set her down, adjusted my clothes.
She whimpered, curling in on herself, her fingers clutching at her stomach.
"You're…" Her voice was slurred, dazed. "You're huge…"
I smirked. "And you took all of me."
She flinched.
[System Note: "Target is now emotionally and physically dependent on Host. (Mission Success!)"]
I looked down at Natsuha.
She was still staring at me, her eyes glazed, her lips parted.
"I love you," she whispered.
I laughed.
It sounded empty.