"Natsuki… W-What's wrong?"
Discovering that Amamiya Natsuki had suddenly stopped, Marin opened her eyes, filled with tears, and asked in a soft voice.
As everyone knows, tears are not necessarily a sign of pain and grievance. People also cry when they are happy, which is why there is an idiom called 'crying with joy'.
"Hmm… It's nothing."
Amamiya Natsuki withdrew his gaze from Marin's forehead and continued playing the game.
When passively possessed, Marin can't actually see the skill imprint on her forehead and doesn't know that someone has activated Possession Skill.
But… who could it be?
Today, when swimming at the sea, there were only four girls who had the Possession Skill pasted on them. Currently, he is playing games with Marin, leaving Juju, Shoko, and Sayu. Who could it be?
Currently, Sayu seems to be the most likely.
When they separated in the evening, Sayu said that she was going to come over and stay the night. Amamiya Natsuki replied that he had something to do tonight and wouldn't be going back. Sayu's expression was quite subtle. She could probably guess that he was playing games with Marin.
So… should he play the game again tomorrow?
"Natsuki~"
Marin looked over with teary eyes, calling out again.
Amamiya Natsuki quickly cast his hesitation aside.
It was inexcusable to be distracted while playing a game!
The Skill imprint on Marin's forehead seemed a bit sluggish, taking another dozen seconds before it frantically disappeared.
At the same time.
In a pink-themed room.
Juju had just finished her bath, her pink hair wetly hanging over her shoulders. She wore an oversized white shirt and sat cross-legged at her small low table, looking at her laptop, video chatting with someone.
The girl in the video chat was none other than the the timid girl.
"Shoko, what's wrong?"
Juju asked while drinking milk.
Although her height and chest size were almost set and wouldn't grow anymore, what if?
What if a miracle happened?
No matter what, a glass of milk every morning and evening must be continued!
"That…" Komi had also just finished her bath, her black hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders, her skin fair and smooth as doll-like. She whispered across the screen, "I wanted to watch the anime of tomorrow's cosplay character on TV, but I can't find it."
Juju lightly coughed twice: "It's normal that you can't find it."
Komi tilted her head in confusion: "Why?"
Of course, it was because the anime wasn't proper... not only was it a late-night show, but it was also rated 15+!
Wait… if it was 15+, everyone's age was actually sufficient.
Of course, there had been late-night broadcasts of Redo of Healer, but they were all censored versions. To watch the indescribable version, one needed to pay.
"There are many reasons, and it's too troublesome to explain…" Juju prevaricated, glossing over it, then said, "I have the DVD of Redo of Healer. I'll give it to Shoko tomorrow."
After speaking, Juju suddenly paused.
Wait a minute.
The DVD she collected was the unhealthy version. Was it appropriate to give it to Shoko?
But without giving her a chance to backtrack, Komi had already softly said:
"Thank you, Juju."
"Cough…" Juju held her small fist to her lips and lightly coughed, "It's nothing."
No choice now.
She could only go out tomorrow morning and buy Shoko a healthy version of Redo of Healer. Her image was very important; she couldn't let Shoko suspect she liked that kind of thing!
"Ah…"
A soft gasp came from the other side of the video.
"What's wrong?"
Juju looked at the video upon hearing this, only to see the the timid girl's body tense, her pearly teeth tightly pressed against her lips, her eyes involuntarily glancing upwards in nervousness.
"Is there an evil spirit?" Juju saw it and instantly guessed the reason for Shoko's nervousness, casually saying, "Give it an Evil Spirit Banishing."
"Mhm, mhm."
Komi nodded while nervously opening her Skill panel. Behind her laptop, an evil spirit's pale face suddenly emerged, likely having ascended directly from the first floor.
Even though she had seen countless evil spirits, Shoko was still so scared she almost gasped aloud.
She opened her Skill panel.
She chose to use Evil Spirit Banishing… hey, wait, the pasted Skill seemed to be Possession Skill.
In her nervousness, the the timid girl didn't have time to brake and directly activated the Possession Skill.
The next second.
Her consciousness instantly crossed dozens of kilometers, activating the possession state.
Komi only felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, followed by an indescribable, unexplainable, never-before-experienced sensation that instantly swept over her, making her instinctively gasp.
(W-what happened?)
(Is the Skill broken?)
The the timid girl was about to exit when she suddenly heard 'herself' call out:
"Natsuki… w-what's wrong?"
Komi breathed a sigh of relief.
(So Marin had her eyes closed just now, which is why it was dark… eh?)
(Why is Natsuki here?)
(A-and he's not wearing clothes…)
The the timid girl stared blankly at Amamiya Natsuki before her, feeling dizzy and unable to fully comprehend the situation for a moment.
"Mhm… nothing."
The next second.
The indescribable, unexplainable, never-before-experienced strange sensation once again swept through her entire body. The the timid girl's mind, which was on the verge of turning to mush, finally realized what was happening.
(Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh?!?)
Even if she hadn't eaten pork, she had seen pigs run. As a good, obedient student, Shoko had never missed a single health education class since childhood, and she had even inadvertently watched strange manga with Juju.
After realizing what Amamiya Natsuki and Marin were doing, she hurriedly and frantically exited the possession state.
"Shoko, are you okay?"
On the other end of the video call, Juju asked in confusion.
In just over ten seconds, Shoko's cheeks suddenly turned explosively red, almost dripping blood, and white steam billowed from the top of her head. She looked like a large shrimp just pulled from boiling water.
"…"
Facing Juju's question, the the timid girl couldn't utter a single word. She just clutched her chest, breathing rapidly, shaking her head tearfully.
"Shoko, what exactly is wrong with you?"
Juju became even more confused and asked again.
"I, I'm fine…" Komi calmed down slightly and stammered, "I'm going to take a bath!"
As her voice fell, the video call closed.
"…Didn't you just take a bath?"
Juju asked in surprise, but no one answered.
Strange.
Very strange.
It was just banishing an evil spirit, so why did Shoko have that expression?
It was as if… as if…
Juju interlaced her fingers, supporting her small brow in thought. She felt that Shoko's expression just now was very peculiar, as if she had experienced something incredibly terrifying.
So what exactly happened?
Juju's curiosity was thoroughly piqued, and she began to think seriously.
A moment later.
Juju quickly analyzed the clues.
"After I told Shoko to use Evil Spirit Banishing, her expression changed… Could it be related to Evil Spirit Banishing?"
Juju analyzed while opening her Skill panel.
"Eh?"
"No Evil Spirit Banishing, only Possession Skill?"
Juju quickly realized that she had been too happy playing at the sea during the day and had forgotten to have Natsuki paste Evil Spirit Banishing.
"Shoko should be like me; the pasted Skill should be Possession Skill, not Evil Spirit Banishing…" Juju blinked, quickly recalling, "The target of the Possession Skill imprint should be Marin, that's right."
"Could it be related to Marin?"
"What could Marin be doing that would make Shoko's face turn explosively red?"
Looking at the Possession Skill on the panel, Juju couldn't suppress her curiosity.
"Just try it, just try it."
"Anyway, when passive possession occurs, Marin won't know about my existence…"
Once curiosity surged, it became uncontrollable.
With a desire to investigate, Juju curiously activated the Possession Skill. Her vision went dark, and her consciousness instantly transferred.
"Eh? Eh? Eh? Marin, what is she doing?"
The moment she possessed, Juju felt an indescribable, unexplainable, never-before-experienced strange sensation sweep through her entire body, followed by a light 'hmm?' in her ear.
"Hmm?"
(This is… Stupid Natsuki's voice?)
"W-what's wrong?"
Kitagawa Marin opened her eyes, covered in sweat.
As Marin opened her eyes, Juju, in the possession state, quickly saw Amamiya Natsuki before her.
Compared to the dazed Shoko, this Juju was knowledgeable in many forbidden subjects, a true veteran, though without driving experience. At this moment, just one glance was enough for her to know what Amamiya Natsuki and Marin were doing.
(M-Marin and Stupid Natsuki are actually…!!)
Juju finally understood why Shoko's face had turned explosively red just now.
It was perfectly normal for Shoko, who had never even encountered strange manga, to suddenly experience something like this when possessed and turn into a 'steam girl'!
After realizing, Juju was immediately filled with anger and grievance. A girl's possessiveness is innate; there is no girl in the world who wouldn't be angry or jealous, happily sharing her boyfriend with others.
(D-damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!)
(I thought Stupid Natsuki was only kissing and hugging with everyone, but I didn't expect he's already… with Marin… How many more things are you hiding from me?!?)
But soon, she no longer had the mind to be angry.
"Just now was one thing, but you actually possessed a second time? You're asking for trouble!"
Seeing the Possession imprint on Marin's forehead light up again, Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly. This time, he didn't give Marin a chance to think, but continued to play the game.
(S-so strange…!)
(My head is about to stop thinking…)
(N-no, I have to leave quickly…)
Realizing the situation was bad, Juju immediately wanted to detach from the possession state and return to her own body, but she couldn't.
For some reason, that indescribable, unexplainable, never-before-experienced strange sensation suddenly erupted, many times stronger. Juju only felt her consciousness dizzy, as if she had become a small boat in the sea, her mind completely turned to mush. All the small emotions of anger and grievance, and the thought of escaping, all vanished in the waves stirred up by the sea, leaving her only to drift up and down.
"Ugh… S-stupid, actually used Time Stop…"
No one could hear Juju's dizzy lament in her consciousness.
Only Amamiya Natsuki's expression was subtle; the Possession imprint on Marin's forehead actually remained constantly lit, never dimming.
The night passed without a word…
More precisely, an hour later.
"Click."
In the quiet living room, the door quietly opened a crack. Juju reached out, supporting herself against the wall, her small face explosively red, biting her silver teeth, and stumbled out of the room, feeling dizzy.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Just then, a junior high girl walked out of the restroom. When she saw Juju's appearance, she was startled and quickly went forward to ask.
After her arm was touched by her sister, Juju felt as if countless electric currents surged through her body. Her body trembled slightly, and she subconsciously pulled her arm away, then stammered, "N-nothing... I'm going to take a shower."
"Didn't Sister already take a shower?" Her sister's voice was puzzled and somewhat worried. "Why is Sister sweating so much? Even her clothes are soaked."
Juju gently panted, her gaze flickering, "The air conditioner... broke down."
Her sister asked, puzzled, "If the air conditioner is broken, what about the electric fan in Sister's room?"
"The electric fan is broken too."
"Eh, what a coincidence?"
"...Anyway, I'm going to take a shower first!"
Juju bit her lower lip, lowered her head, and fled into the restroom.
Bang!
The door quickly closed.
"Phew..."
Only then did Juju let out a sigh of relief. She then looked at the mirror above the washbasin. Her small face in the mirror was flushed, almost dripping blood, and there was a faint wisp of steam rising from her head, exactly like Shoko earlier.
After staring at herself in the mirror for two seconds, Juju shyly averted her gaze, but the humiliation she had endured for the past hour involuntarily surged in her mind.
Beast!
Stupid Natsuki is a beast!
Juju shook her head vigorously, wanting to forget the humiliation she had suffered, but unfortunately, she couldn't forget it at all. In the end, she could only grit her teeth and start showering with a splash.
The night passed without a word.
The next day.
Eight o'clock in the morning.
The doorbell rang.
Kitagawa Marin, who was originally still cuddling, suddenly woke up and quickly got up, saying, "Natsuki, hurry up and go for a walk outside. Come back later."
Amamiya Natsuki said softly, "Actually, there's no need to be secretive."
"No, it's very necessary." Kitagawa Marin said while tidying her clothes, "If everyone finds out I snuck out, they'll definitely be very angry, right?"
They might not be angry; they might even enjoy it!
Last night, the possession mark on your forehead never stopped glowing from beginning to end!
"Alright, I'll go out."
Amamiya Natsuki agreed, walked to the balcony, and after confirming no one was below, he lightly leaped down.
Marin's apartment was on the third floor. It would be dangerous for an ordinary person to jump down, but Amamiya Natsuki did it easily, without a care.
The torn stockings were tidied up.
Kitagawa Marin quickly walked to the door, opened it, a bright smile on her face, and her voice slightly hoarse, "Sayu-chan, good morning."
"Ah, good morning."
Sayu smiled in response, her gaze flickering as she looked into the room.
"Come in, come in." Kitagawa Marin waved, "Sayu-chan is the earliest; everyone else hasn't arrived yet."
"Marin-chan, excuse me."
Sayu walked into the house, changed into slippers, and then quietly searched for Amamiya Natsuki.
That's right, last night, it wasn't just Juju and Shoko; there was actually a third person with a hidden identity.
The possession mark was fixed on Marin's forehead. Amamiya Natsuki could only see the mark light up but couldn't see the number of people possessed.
At the same time.
Amamiya Natsuki walked around the vicinity with his hands in his pockets, then headed towards the convenience store.
He casually bought some bread for breakfast at the convenience store and carried some fruit. Just as he was about to return to Marin's place, he suddenly encountered a black-haired, straight-haired girl at the entrance—it was Komi.
"Shoko, good morning."
Amamiya Natsuki greeted casually.
Who knew that upon seeing him, the the timid girl was like a deer startled by a hunter, suddenly stepping back half a step. Immediately after, her fair, tender face flushed crimson, steam billowed from the top of her head, and she quickly lowered her gaze to her toes, turning to flee.
"Hmm?"
Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow, took two quick steps, caught up to the the timid girl, and asked, "What does it mean to run when you see me?"
"..."
The the timid girl said nothing, only shook her head rapidly, her black hair fluttering.
Amamiya Natsuki held Shoko's right hand, his gaze gradually becoming strange.
A crimson face like a ripe tomato, steam rising from her head, ear tips turning into red agate, and a pinkish neck... Amamiya Natsuki was quite familiar with this; it was clearly Shoko's reaction when she was shy.
He remembered the first time he kissed the the timid girl, she had this exact overflowing shyness.
Of course, with the subsequent desensitization exercises from time to time, this the the timid girl gradually adapted to the shame of kissing and would no longer look like this.
But when they parted at the train station yesterday evening, everything was fine. How could you be so shy after just one night?
Amamiya Natsuki's heart suddenly stirred, and he thought of a possibility: Could it be... this little quail last night?
They didn't meet last night, nor did they send messages. Besides the possession, there was no other possibility!
Your sister!
Last night, he suspected Sayu was the one who activated the possession mark, but it turns out it was you?
You're usually so timid, but last night you were exceptionally bold!
"You..."
Amamiya Natsuki was about to ask about what happened last night, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down.
This Shoko was already super shy now and wanted to run away. If he asked her, she might explode with shame and faint directly.
"I just arrived too; we just happened to meet." Amamiya Natsuki said nonchalantly, "Let's go, let's go to Marin's place together."
"..."
Komi tightly pursed her lips, her pretty face flushed like fire, as if she had returned to her communication disorder state from when they first met, not daring to say a word to Amamiya Natsuki.
Amamiya Natsuki didn't care either. He pulled Shoko and walked back. The the timid girl, with her head down, could only let herself be led to Marin's doorstep.
He pressed the doorbell.
The door opened quickly.
"Natsuki, Shoko." Kitagawa Marin stood at the door, her smile as bright as the sun, "Good morning."
"Good morning."
Amamiya Natsuki walked into the entryway as if nothing had happened.
The the timid girl, with her head down and black hair falling, concealing the blush on her face, hesitated and walked in.
"Eh, what's wrong with Shoko?" Marin asked curiously.
"I don't know." Amamiya Natsuki changed into his slippers. "I just met her at the door, and she was already like this."
"Natsuki-sama, good morning~"
Sayu stood in the living room, smiling as she greeted him.
"Hmm?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Sayu, his gaze involuntarily freezing.
Hey, why are you blushing too?
Although this Sayu wasn't as flustered and avoiding eye contact as Shoko, the blush on her face couldn't be faked.
Many times, a girl's blush can say more than a thousand words.
Amamiya Natsuki walked to Sayu's side and lowered his voice, "Last night, you..."
Upon hearing "last night," the crimson on Sayu's face deepened by three points, and she whispered, "I-I was just a little curious."
You didn't end the possession for so long; your curiosity is too strong!
Amamiya Natsuki wasn't actually surprised.
He had already suspected Sayu had activated the possession state last night; this was just confirmation. Shoko was the one who truly surprised him.
"It's past eight o'clock, and Juju still hasn't arrived..." Kitagawa Marin closed the door, sat on the sofa, and picked up her phone. "I'll send a message to ask."
A moment later.
Kitagawa Marin looked up and said, "Juju said she caught a cold from the air conditioner last night and is feeling unwell all over, so she's resting at home today and won't be coming."
Amamiya Natsuki's heart stirred.
Why is it "last night" again?
You're a player whose body has been strengthened many times; you wouldn't just casually catch a cold or fever, would you?
Could it be...
Amamiya Natsuki's expression was subtle, and he couldn't help but think of a possibility.
The possession mark was fixed on Marin's forehead. When it lit up, it meant someone had possessed her, but he didn't know who the possessed person was or the number of people possessed.
Is there a possibility... that all three girls activated the possession mode last night?