"With this... I should be able to..."
Testing the limits, Nemoto reached out with his pudgy, hoof-like hand.
30cm... 20cm... 10cm...
When his fingers were just 10cm from Hyoudou's hand on the desk, her delicate eyebrows began twitching.
BANG!
"Fuck! Why won't this work?!"
With a loud slam on the table, Nemoto Kyousuke's face, who was once all smiles, twisted into a grotesque shade of red, whether from rage or pain was unclear.
'She's wearing the necklace, so the hypnosis should be working nonstop...
Why won't she let me touch her?'
'Is this necklace just that useless?'
Scratching his head in frustration, Nemoto racked his brain for loopholes.
'If I can't touch her... then maybe she can touch herself?*'
Not wanting to waste this opportunity by letting anger cloud his judgment, Nemoto took a deep breath and began testing her limits, one careful step at a time.
"Unbutton your cuffs."
"Unbutton your blazer."
"Now... unbutton your blouse."
"Tch... Still not working?"
'Why not? She's the one doing it herself, so why—"
'Is it because I'm watching? Or just because I'm here?'
As his thick eyebrows knitted together, Nemoto stood up and turned his back to her before repeating. "Unbutton your blouse!"
He counted five seconds in his head.
When he turned back, his face twisted in frustration at the sight of her still-perfectly-buttoned shirt.
'So it's not about me watching... It's about my presence itself.'
'Then what if I'm not here?'
'If I'm gone, would she finally let go and get naked?"
Gritting his teeth, Nemoto tried another angle.
"After I wake you up, your desires will grow stronger... until you can't help but touch yourself secretly. Can you record a video of it?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Hyoudou's brow furrowed and her reaction made Nemoto want to scream.
"Can't touch, can't watch—all I get are these meaningless little commands...
What's even the point of this hypnosis? To make her change my test scores?"
GODDAMMIT!!!
'There has to be a way around her mental barriers... I just haven't found it yet.'
'Take it slow... Keep testing... One day, I'll own her completely!'
Clutching at this thin thread of hope, Nemoto exhaled sharply and issued his final orders. "Come back here tomorrow at noon and report your condition to me."
"Fix your clothes, then... wake up!"
"Oh, and the necklace around your neck is your most precious possession. You must never take it off or show it to anyone."
With that, he snapped his fingers.
*Snap.*
The moment the trigger took effect, the doll-like Hyoudou finally moved.
Methodically rebuttoning her cuffs and blazer, she straightened her posture, and just like that, it was as if she'd awoken from a dream.
The dullness in her eyes faded, replaced by alertness as she blinked and glanced around the room with slightly furrowed brows.
'Where am I?'
This looks like the Student Guidance Office...
Why am I here?
Someone called me in, right?
Who was it...?
Nemoto Kyousuke.
What did he want?
A confession... rejection... red light... eyes?
The memories grew hazier, fading into nothingness. Hyoudou Tomoe pinched the bridge of her nose as if nursing a headache.
Seeing her blank expression, Nemoto relaxed slightly.
Then, with exaggerated concern, he asked. "Sensei? Are you okay? You've been spacing out for a while now."
Only then did Hyoudou realize he was still there.
She opened her mouth to dismiss him, but his feigned worry cut her off.
"Me? I was spacing out?"
She frowned at him.
Gone was his earlier frustration,
At this moment, Nemoto grinned amiably.
"Yeah! After I confessed, you just... froze. Did something come to mind?"
"Spacing out? I remember you taking out a box, and then I... I..."
Her voice trailed off as she once again thought in confusion.
What happened after that? Why couldn't she recall? Had she really just zoned out?
Seizing the moment, Nemoto interjected smoothly.
"A box? I didn't have any box. Hmm... Maybe you should rest in the infirmary?"
"..."
If she couldn't remember, it couldn't have been important.
Exhaling, Hyoudou waved him off.
"Never mind. If that's all, you can leave."
"As for your confession, consider it unheard, and don't bring it up again."
Hearing her words, a perfect shade of dejection crossed his face as Nemoto nodded silently, and walked out of the room.
.
.
.
Once the door clicked shut, Hyoudou gathered her teaching materials—only for last night's dream to ambush her thoughts.
Being held by Sasaki...
Normally, such dreams should've blurred into oblivion by now.
Even if recalled, the details would've faded.
But having just spoken to him, his image, his voice, the way his gaze lingered on her skirt, everything burned vivid in her mind.
At this moment, fair cheeks, usually tinged with healthy pink, flushed scarlet.
'What's wrong with you, Hyoudou?!'
'Even a fever wouldn't hit this fast!'
'Are you really so horny?'
'Get a grip!'
Her chest tightened uncomfortably. Instinctively, her fingers drifted toward her collar—
Then froze.
Horrified by her own impulses, she shook her head violently, snatched her materials, and bolted from the room.
Head down, mind flooded with inappropriate thoughts, Hyoudou barreled straight into someone's back.
Staggering backward, she barely registered the strong arms encircling her waist, or the warmth and lavender scent engulfing her.
"Teacher, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"
The voice that appeared in her dreams every night rang in her ears, making her unable to tell whether she was knocked unconscious or not.
"What happend? Did I knock you silly?"
It wasn't until fingers pinched her cheek playfully did she snap back to reality.
Blinking her seductive eyes, Hyoudou looked at the face so close to her, as if she was burned by a branding iron, and hurriedly tried to get out of his arms.
But before she could flee, a teasing voice cut in:
"Ohhh~ And here I thought you 'weren't interested,' Tomoe. Look at you, already in his arms!"
"Mmm, while the school doesn't forbid it, maybe save the PDA for somewhere less public~?"
She didn't notice the third presence at all.
After Nemoto entered the guidance office, Sasaki had lingered outside, only to be ambushed by Sakashiro Kurumi, who'd been eavesdropping.
So, he turned, startled.
"Sakashiro-sensei."
Unlike the strict dress code for students, teachers had more freedom.
So, Sakashiro's outfit was casual: a beige long-sleeved cardigan over a grass-green tank top.
The cardigan, neither loose nor snug, gaped around her generous curves, failing to conceal the delicate spaghetti straps beneath.
Below, navy-blue culottes showcased legs neither too slender nor too full—just perfect, glowing like polished jade under the sunlight.
Descending the stairs leisurely, she winked at Sasaki.
"Yo~ Living the good life lately, huh?"
'How would you know how I've been?
'And since when do teachers greet students like that?'
Releasing a now-steady Hyoudou, Sasaki scowled.
"You walk way too quietly, Sakashiro-sensei. Nearly gave me a heart attack."
Giggling, the latter steadied Hyoudou with a hand on her arm.
"You two were too wrapped up in each other~ Practically lip-locked—no wonder you didn't notice little ol' me!"
Seeing that her phrasing only suggested she'd only seen them embracing, not how it happened. Sasaki nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
He had indeed been standing in the hallway earlier, preoccupied with how to deal with Nemoto Kyousuke, so it was no surprise he hadn't noticed Sakashiro Kurumi approaching, especially after being suddenly bumped into by Hyoudou Tomoe.
Dismissing his initial surprise, Sasaki suddenly realized Hyoudou was glaring at him, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
...Why are you looking at me like that?
Did I say something wrong?
He'd only asked Sakashiro a question, then... "You two were too wrapped up in each other~ Practically lip-locked..." and then... he'd nodded.
"..."
Um..well..
It wasn't intentional.
Unsure whether to explain, Sasaki pressed his lips together and tilted his head slightly away.
After all, the more you explain, the worse it gets, so it's best to stay quiet.
However, his silence only made Hyoudou's eyes widen further, as if waiting for a denial that never came.
Meanwhile, Sakashiro shook her shoulder teasingly:
"See? Even he admits it! How can you keep denying it now~?"
"?"
"N-No, there's really nothing between us—!"
Sakashiro smirked in disbelief as Hyoudou gritted her teeth, with her face flushed red, snapping at Sasaki:
"You explain it to her! I was just in a hurry, bumped into you, almost fell, and then you—! And you nodded just now because—! Say something!"
However, Sakashiro Kurumi didn't wait for his words, and just grinned, patting her colleague's shoulder.
"Tomoe, bullying him like this isn't nice~ Careful, or he might make sure you can't teach tomorrow~"
After saying this, before Hyoudou could combust from humiliation, she tugged her toward the stairs.
"Alright, alright, I won't tell anyone.
No need to pressure the poor guy~ Young love can't help being affectionate—I get it~"
"Come on, we've got that meeting. And you still owe me a trip to the art room later~"
"Bye, Sasaki~"
"I'll keep an eye on her for you. If she talks to any male teachers, you'll be the first to know~"
"I told you, we're not like that!"
"Sure, sure. You're so bad at being honest."
"..."
Looking at the two of them disappear around the corner, Sasaki suddenly realized that winning over Hyoudou Sensei might be easier than he'd thought.
After all, her attitude toward other men was icy: curt replies, indifferent expressions, barely sparing them a glance.
But with him? She was different.
Remembering the way her eyes had shimmered with flustered anger just now, Sasaki chuckled softly... before his thoughts darkened.
Nemoto Kyousuke. That hypnosis.
Manipulating someone's consciousness... Just those two words were enough to prove how dangerous that necklace was.
And yet, with such power, that guy chose to waste it on perverted fantasies...
Sasaki didn't know whether to call it dedication or sheer idiocy.
Then again... a five-second hypnosis that could be resisted by sheer willpower was pretty useless.
The effects probably wouldn't last long either.
In the grand scheme, it wasn't a major threat.
But right now, with Hyoudou wearing the necklace, the lingering suggestions would keep tormenting her.
Well..it's not like it mattered that much, after all, the hypnosis only amplified her desires and did not cause any harm to her health or true consciousness.
So, there was no need to rush removing it.
Tomorrow noon, after she returned here and slipped back into hypnosis... that'd be the perfect time to take it.
But first... That guy Nemoto had to be dealt with.
Thinking about it, Sasaki pulled out his phone, and sent a message to Nogami.
...