"Natsuki, do you want me to try transforming?"
Marin whispered in his ear, her voice alluring.
Amamiya Natsuki: "…"
It must be said, facing the unhesitating Marin, Amamiya Natsuki was truly tempted.
After transforming, taking damage would cancel the skill effect, but playing poker wouldn't cause damage, so it shouldn't cancel the transformation… Probably correct.
It was indeed very necessary to try it.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
Kitagawa Marin stood on her tiptoes and continued to whisper in his ear:
"Who do you want me to become, Natsuki?"
Amamiya Natsuki mused:
"Then become…"
Before he finished speaking, his waist suddenly ached.
Kitagawa Marin furrowed her brows, her cheeks puffed up, and her right hand reached Amamiya Natsuki's waist: "Oh, you really want me to do that kind of thing, you exposed yourself just by a simple test!"
Amamiya Natsuki's mouth twitched slightly: "You tricked me?"
"That's called testing." Marin raised her chin, "Of course, testing doesn't count as tricking."
I didn't realize you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would also do fishing expeditions!
Kitagawa Marin puffed out her cheeks and said with a resentful tone:
"We haven't been dating for long, and you already want me to transform into other girls. Shimizu-nee was right, once a boy gets a girl's body, he'll quickly get tired of it and lose interest, won't he?"
"I'm sorry, I was wrong." Amamiya Natsuki apologized sincerely, taking Marin's right hand and saying earnestly, "Let's go to the hotel now."
"Eh?" Kitagawa Marin was startled, "Go to the hotel?"
Amamiya Natsuki said expressionlessly:
"To prove that I haven't lost interest."
"Not now." Kitagawa Marin's face turned red, "Everyone's still at the comic convention. If we suddenly disappear, they'll get suspicious, right?"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Just say you're not feeling well and went back to rest."
"That reason is so far-fetched…" Kitagawa Marin stammered softly, "Let's talk about it tonight!"
After a pause, Marin hugged Amamiya Natsuki's arm again and whispered flirtatiously:
"I was a bit angry just now. We haven't been dating for long, and you already want me to transform into other girls. Natsuki, you're so mean, but… it feels very exciting. It's okay to try it occasionally. Who do you want me to become, Natsuki?"
Another fishing expedition, huh?
I won't fall for your trick again!
Amamiya Natsuki looked straight ahead and said:
"I can't hear you, absolutely can't hear you."
"Oh, this is the truth now, I'm not tricking you." Marin shook Amamiya Natsuki's arm, her voice sweet and soft, pouting, "It's okay to transform occasionally, but you can't make me transform every time."
Amamiya Natsuki: "I can't hear you, absolutely can't hear you."
"…"
After wandering for a while longer, Amamiya Natsuki suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
He took out his phone and saw that it was a message from my Lady.
"President, are you free tonight?"
"What's wrong?"
"Come to the banquet tonight…"
Shinomiya Kaguya quickly explained the situation on her phone.
The reason she was called home this time was indeed not because Shinomiya Un'yo felt guilty and wanted to compensate her for her recent runaway—the two were decades apart in age and came from a conglomerate background, so there wasn't much sibling affection between them.
Shinomiya Un'yo called her back this time because of one person.
"President, do you still remember that girl we met on the ghost bus, the one wearing sportswear…"
At that time, in the space behind the door, Amamiya Natsuki and Kaguya claimed to be staff members of the Supernatural Investigation Bureau. The girl in sportswear flatly denied it, saying her father was a high-ranking official and there was no such agency in reality.
She wasn't lying. Her father was indeed a high-ranking official. After returning to reality, she somehow confirmed Kaguya's identity in reality and then sought her out. This banquet was initiated by her, and besides gratitude, there should be other purposes.
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for a moment, then agreed:
"I'll come tonight."
After confirming the time and place, Amamiya Natsuki put away his phone and then explained the situation to Marin beside him.
"Eh, tonight…" Kitagawa Marin pursed her lips, disappointment in her voice, "I was planning to try out the poses I learned from the manga with Natsuki."
Those strange poses were already anti-human, even if they tried them, it definitely wouldn't be comfortable!
Amamiya Natsuki whispered:
"I'm just going to a banquet. I'll be back tonight, wait for me."
Marin hugged Amamiya Natsuki's arm, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered flirtatiously:
"I'll wash up and wait for Natsuki."
"…"
In a blink of an eye, it was evening.
Amamiya Natsuki bid farewell to the girls and then headed to my Lady's villa.
The journey was silent.
Arriving outside the villa, Amamiya Natsuki sent a message to Kaguya. Not long after, my Lady, whom he hadn't seen for several days, came out with light steps and joyful anticipation. Her beautiful wine-red eyes sparkled in the setting sun, and the corners of her rosy lips couldn't stop curving upwards. Her voice was clear and sweet as she smiled and said:
"President, good afternoon."
Amamiya Natsuki smiled and said:
"Kaguya, good afternoon."
Half a step behind my Lady, there was also a blonde maid in a maid outfit. Amamiya Natsuki's gaze shifted to her, and he greeted her casually:
"Hasaka, long time no see."
Hayasaka Ai and Amamiya Natsuki exchanged glances. She placed her right hand on her chest, bowed, her face showing no emotion, and her voice calm as she said:
"Natsuki-kun, long time no see."
Amamiya Natsuki handed over the small gift he was carrying and said with a smile:
"It's too hot, so I bought two mung bean ice slushes on the way."
"Thank you, President." Shinomiya Kaguya happily accepted it, her smile reserved and sweet, "I was just feeling a bit thirsty."
The value of a gift doesn't matter, what matters is the thought.
Of course, it also depends on whose thought it is.
Amamiya Natsuki could bring a cup of ice slush directly to her door, but others bringing ten cups of ice slush wouldn't even get a glance from my Lady.
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun."
Hayasaka Ai stepped forward half a step and calmly took the mung bean ice slush.
While Hayasaka was taking the item, Amamiya Natsuki seized the opportunity to scratch the maid's palm.
Hayasaka Ai's movements paused slightly, and she couldn't help but secretly glare at Amamiya Natsuki.
Idiot President, rein it in a little!
You'll be dead if my Lady finds out!
Despite her disdain, she had to admit that evading taxes in front of my Lady felt… quite thrilling.
"It's too hot outside, President, come in quickly." My Lady welcomed him into the villa, then turned and said, "Hasaka, go get the watermelon for the President to eat."
"Yes, my Lady."
Hayasaka Ai bowed slightly and left.
"President, how is Pochi doing?" My Lady took a sip of the mung bean ice slush, sitting close to Amamiya Natsuki, "Chika said Pochi is in love?"
With no one else around, Amamiya Natsuki secretly held my Lady's soft hand, gently caressing her slender, snow-white fingers like green onions, and replied:
"Love is a two-way street. At most, Pochi is experiencing unrequited love."
Shinomiya Kaguya's pretty face flushed slightly, pretending not to notice Amamiya Natsuki's small movements. While drinking the ice slush, she softly said:
"When I go back, I'll take Pochi for walks in the park morning and evening. We'll meet someday."
Clearly, in my Lady's mind, this villa was just a house to live in. The place where Mrs. Shimizu and Amamiya Natsuki were now was home.
After talking for a while, Shinomiya Kaguya finally remembered something she seemed to have forgotten:
"Oh, where's Mom?"
"Ah…"
Amamiya Natsuki silently summoned Mrs. Shimizu.
"Kaguya~" As soon as Mrs. Shimizu appeared, she pounced on my Lady, complaining tearfully, "You haven't been home these past few days, and Natsuki-kun has been taking advantage of me."
She really went and complained.
Amamiya Natsuki had been busy these past few days and, not wanting Shimizu constantly floating around him, had kept her locked away in the'small dark room.' Now, retribution had arrived.
"I know." Kaguya clearly didn't believe the part about him taking advantage of anyone. "Mom, go over there and watch TV."
"H-How awful!" Shimizu clutched her chest, feigning distress. "Mom was taken advantage of, yet Kaguya-chan only cares about cuddling up with a boy. It seems now that you have a boyfriend, Mom isn't important anymore, is she?"
Kaguya's lovely face flushed, and she couldn't help but exclaim:
"Mom, what are you talking about!"
What boyfriend? It only counts if we formally confess and start dating!
As they spoke, the maid Hayasaka approached, carrying a tray of watermelon.
Amamiya Natsuki and Kaguya ate a slice of watermelon together, and Kaguya quickly got busy.
"President, I still have a few things to take care of, so I need to step away for a bit..." Shinomiya Kaguya stood up and said softly, "I'll have Hasaka take you to change outfits. You can tell her if you have any requests."
Hearing this, Amamiya Natsuki glanced at Maid-chan and said calmly:
"Go ahead and handle your business. Having Hasaka here is enough."
Hayasaka Ai bowed slightly, her tone composed:
"Natsuki-kun, the dinner requires formal attire, which Kaguya has already prepared for you... Would you like to change clothes now?"
Because of the hot weather, Amamiya Natsuki was currently only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and jeans, which was indeed unsuitable for a dinner party.
"I've been walking around outside all day and worked up quite a sweat, so..." Amamiya Natsuki looked around, saw that Kaguya was gone, and smiled, "Of course, I'll shower first. Hasaka-chan, help me scrub my back."
Hayasaka Ai lightly bit her lip, whispering:
"Natsuki-kun, please maintain some self-respect."
"What is self-respect?" Amamiya Natsuki stepped half a pace closer. "I only remember that when Kaguya left, she said I could make any request to you."
Hayasaka Ai stiffened her lovely face and replied:
"That only includes normal requests."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"I can't reach my back. It's perfectly normal to ask you to scrub it, right? Or should we let your Kaguya decide?"
"..."
Thump.
Maid-chan, who had maintained a cold expression, finally furrowed her brows, dropping her disguise and revealing her true self. She lifted her leg, stepped on Amamiya Natsuki's right foot, pushed him, pinning him against the wall, and raised her chin, saying:
"You trifling pervert senpai, don't get too cocky."
Amamiya Natsuki raised his hands and said:
"Domestic violence! This is domestic violence."
"Hmph."
Hayasaka Ai adjusted her maid uniform, turned around, and continued leading the way.
A moment later.
Led by Hayasaka, Amamiya Natsuki arrived at a bathroom. It must be said that the life of a capitalist was truly decadent; this single bathroom was larger than the studio apartments rented by many office workers, and this was only the guest bath. Shinomiya Kaguya had her own separate, private bathroom if she wished to bathe.
Amamiya Natsuki stepped into the bathroom, turned his head, and looked at Hayasaka:
"Hurry up and come in to help me scrub my back."
The maid Hayasaka folded her hands over her lower abdomen, tilted her head slightly upon hearing him, and said:
"Ah, I apologize, a sudden buzzing sound of insects has started in my ears, and I can't clearly hear what Natsuki-kun is saying."
Helping him scrub his back was definitely out of the question.
Kaguya might call for her help at any moment, and she had to be available instantly.
Besides, in a place like the bathroom, she might accidentally get her clothes wet. If her clothes got wet, she would certainly have to take them off, and after that, wouldn't they end up bathing together?
And while bathing, what if the pervert President wanted to do that?
True, Amamiya Natsuki wouldn't force anyone; if she firmly refused, he certainly wouldn't push her.
But the problem was... Hayasaka Ai wasn't confident that her own resolve was strong enough.
Some things seem unremarkable until you try them, but once experienced, you understand what it means to toss and turn restlessly, unable to endure. A classic example is drug use: before trying it, one always thinks the people in rehab are weaklings with zero willpower, believing they could quit in minutes. Only after truly trying it do you realize what it means to acquire a taste for it and be unable to return to the way things were.
Hayasaka Ai was exactly like this now.
Therefore, she had to maintain her distance. Sneaking a bite right under Kaguya's nose, and doing so for half an hour, was far too dangerous no matter how she thought about it!
"Goodbye."
The spy maid turned and quickly slipped away.
Amamiya Natsuki had no choice but to shrug and walk into the bathroom to start his shower.
Since he was showering alone, there was naturally nothing to report. After finishing and changing into the white bathrobe that Hayasaka had prepared at some point, Amamiya Natsuki stepped out of the bathroom and saw the maid Hayasaka waiting quietly in the hallway.
"Natsuki-kun, please follow me to the room to change your clothes."
Hayasaka Ai folded her hands over her lower abdomen, turned, and led the way.
Amamiya Natsuki followed behind, smiling faintly:
"Hasaka-chan, can I ask you a question?"
Hayasaka Ai replied:
"I'm sorry, we do not provide question and answer services here."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Hasaka-chan, may I ask if you have a boyfriend?"
The two spoke as they reached the door of the guest room. Hayasaka Ai pushed the door open, entered the room, and said without looking away:
"No, I do not."
"You actually don't?" Amamiya Natsuki closed the door behind him, then grabbed Maid-chan's soft hand, smiling, "Well, now you do."
Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but shoot him a glare, complaining aloud:
"To presume to be my boyfriend upon our first meeting—President is truly a frivolous man."
"That's right, I am." Amamiya Natsuki sighed faintly and whispered, "I was once a pure young man myself, until that day, my first girlfriend took my first time aboard a small boat..."
Thud!
Even in her calm and rational maid persona, hearing Amamiya Natsuki mention the story of his first time, Hayasaka Ai still couldn't maintain her composure. Her lovely face flushed crimson, she clenched her fist, punched Amamiya Natsuki in the abdomen, and gritted her teeth, saying:
"Pervert President, try saying one more word!"
The incident on the small boat in the instance was something that always left Hayasaka Ai feeling exceptionally complicated whenever she thought about it. The experience of tricking herself was something she doubted anyone else could empathize with.
Amamiya Natsuki covered his mouth, signaling his understanding.
"Hurry up and get dressed." Hayasaka Ai pointed a finger and lightly snorted, "The clothes are on the bed. Pervert President, go put them on quickly."
Amamiya Natsuki looked toward the bed. It was a black suit, the material and tailoring quite exquisite. He didn't know the price, but it certainly wasn't cheap.
"I don't know how to put it on." Amamiya Natsuki spread his arms and looked at Hayasaka. "Fine, you won't help scrub my back, but surely you can help me get dressed?"
"Hmph..."
Hayasaka Ai snorted softly and shot him a glare.
Amamiya Natsuki lowered his voice:
"I am already forcing myself to hold back. You won't agree to this, and you won't agree to that. Do you believe me if I stop restraining myself?"
Hayasaka Ai: "..."
If Amamiya Natsuki were allowed to act recklessly, things would indeed get difficult. Kisses and hugs would certainly be unavoidable, and overall, it would waste a lot of time.
Hayasaka Ai hesitated for two seconds. Out of consideration for saving time, she finally walked to the bed, pursed her lips, and helped Amamiya Natsuki get dressed.
"Needing someone to help you put on clothes—President, you really are useless."
Amamiya Natsuki was extremely thick-skinned. Far from being ashamed, he took pride in it, saying:
"My stomach isn't very good, and I really enjoy being a kept man. Rich lady, hungry, feed me."
Hayasaka Ai: "..."
She had never met anyone so utterly shameless!
Despite her disgust, she still had to help him dress. After all, he was the man she had chosen.
The top half was no problem and was quickly put on neatly, but the pants were a bit difficult... She glanced down, the spy maid's lovely face slightly flushed, and she said with disdain:
"Natsuki-kun's head is truly filled with nothing but garbage, isn't it? Put on the rest of the clothes yourself!"
"I can't put them on. I absolutely cannot." Amamiya Natsuki sat on the edge of the bed, giving up. "I'm a good-for-nothing who needs clothes handed to him and food fed to him. I rely entirely on Hasaka's help."
"Shameless!"
The spy maid was so angry she let out a low shout.
Amamiya Natsuki smiled:
"Thank you for the compliment."
Hayasaka Ai gritted her teeth and started helping him put on the clothes, but unfortunately, after trying for a while, she still couldn't manage it; in fact, the difficulty only increased.
Amamiya Natsuki lightly coughed, lowering his voice:
"Hasaka-chan, you could try helping from other angles."
"..."
Hayasaka Ai straightened her lovely face, stood up expressionlessly, and turned to walk toward a drawer.
Amamiya Natsuki asked, puzzled:
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm looking for scissors." The spy maid turned her head, revealing a faint smile. "It seems the best solution is to just cut it off."
Amamiya Natsuki: "..."
After some playful bickering, he finally got dressed, and the rest goes without saying.
Time flew by quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was seven o'clock in the evening.
The dinner party officially began.
Shinomiya Kaguya was wearing a white dress. Ever since the Yandere Kaguya had appeared, Kaguya began favoring white to distinguish herself. After being meticulously dressed, her charm level was extremely high, and her entrance immediately made her the focal point of the dinner party.
Amamiya Natsuki also spotted Shinomiya Un'yo. The middle-aged man saw him too, but showed no intention of approaching to speak.
There were many attendees at the banquet. Aside from Kaguya, Amamiya Natsuki didn't know anyone else, so he was happy to occupy himself by eating alone in a corner. Just as he took two bites, a young woman wearing an evening gown walked over, extended her right hand, and said excitedly:
"Natsuki-kun, we meet again."