（It's
crazy）
In the
first place, it was a kind of hostile action when they came to block the way
for Chihiro and the others to leave.
And it
is impossible to honestly believe that they do not intend to hurt them.
Besides, even if Kaito intended to use his ability to brainwash the three of
them, he would not have "hurt" them.
If they
know they are going to be brainwashed, they can be prepared for it.
Although
they don't know how far it will work, it should be much better than nothing.
Still,
they will take all possible countermeasures and try to make the situation go
away peacefully.
「Why are
you suddenly here?」
Chihiro,
who had settled on a plan in his mind, looked at Kaito intently.
Dammit.
As soon
as their gazes meet, a faint pain runs through his chest. At the same time,
Kaito's emotions flowed into his mind, but they were so hazy and unclear that
he could not understand their meaning.
Involuntarily,
he frowned.
Whether
Kaito noticed Chihiro or not, he chuckled and looked at Kaname and the others
in the back.
**a
「I'm
their chaperone. Tomorrow, there will be an inter-school competition, right?
We're going to be competing with you guys, so we thought we'd say hello」
「...I
see」
In a
sense, it could be called a declaration of war.
They do
not intend to crush Chihiro and the others with the full force of their
organization. However, they will not hesitate to fight fair and square in
accordance with the rule of law in a given situation.
Rather,
this group is willing to use its own pawns against them aggressively.
「We were
told that representatives from each school would arrive in the afternoon」
After
all, they are coming from Hokkaido, Osaka, and Kyushu.
Because
of the long travel time, they will be staying at the school's facilities from
today, the day before the event.
That's
fine, but the students who represent the school will have classes. If they come
after taking the classes, they will not be able to come at this time.
Or
maybe they were excused to prepare for the competition.
「It's
called "anticipation". Kaname there has a lot of time off for work.
Saki... well, I let her take time off for my own reasons」
「Don't
worry about it. Master's business is more important」
Chihiro
glanced back and saw a girl, Saki, smiling at Kaito. If she had a tail, she
would be wagging it.
Kaito
looked at her without any surprise and nodded.
「Good
girl. Well, I'll give you a reward later」
「Whoa. Thank
you so much!」
Perhaps
the "reward" is a sexual act.
Almost
embarrassed by the unusualness of the conversation, Chihiro managed to keep his
composure and asked more questions.
「Um...
Well... Do you want to continue the conversation here?」
「Hmm? Oh,
yes, that's right」
Kaito
finally realized it when he was told.
He
nodded in that tone, and he laughed and told Chihiro.
「Well,
let's talk over a meal or something」
* * *
It is
about a ten-minute walk from the school.
Chihiro
took them to a private soba noodle restaurant based on Kaito's request.
It
might have been the restaurant where Principal Ootori had taken a delivery
service.
If so,
the taste is quite good.
But
still, why soba?
Chihiro
wanted to say something, but he and Kaito were not in that kind of
relationship. So, he only let out a light sigh and followed Kaito who went
through the curtain first.
「Welcome!」
「Yeah.
We'd like to reserve this place for ourselves, is that okay?」
「...Eh?」
Kaito
declared as soon as they entered the restaurant, which had tables, a tatami
room, and several counter seats, and Chihiro stiffened, not understanding what
he was saying.
It was
lunchtime. There are a number of customers seated and eating.
It
would be impossible for anyone but a top entertainer to come out of the blue
and ask to reserve the whole restaurant for himself.
But
what was even more incomprehensible was the owner's reaction.
「Aiyo」
The
owner answered lightly and without a flaw.
The
customers in the restaurant, who must have heard the conversation between the
them, took this as a cue to start eating at a faster pace.
「Oh,
there's no need to panic. Just leave before our order arrives」
Kaito
extended his hand as if he were an influential figure offering generous
treatment.
There
is no doubt.
He had
done something to that people.
After
the six of them had gathered around one of the tatami rooms――Kaname, Kaito, and Saki sat at one
end of the table, and Hana, Chihiro, and Yotsuba sat at the other――Chihiro first asked them to sit
first. Then, he asked what his concerns were.
**b
「Is that
what you were doing earlier?」
「Yes」
Kaito
answered very easily.
「That's
my ability, [Ruler]」
「Ruler」
「It may
have a similar naming to your [Domination], but it's a completely different
ability」
Kaito
smiles proudly.
He
picked up the menu and looked at it happily as he continued.
「Just by
me being there and talking to people. Just by looking into their eyes. It makes
people like me. And they want to do what I want」
「You
mean, control their mind?」
「Yes,
you're right. The effects of the ability get stronger the longer it's in place.
If it's temporary, like with the people in this store, it'll wear off soon, but
if I like someone, it doesn't work that way. I take my time and dye them
thoroughly」
"Like
these girls," Kaito said and grabbed Saki's chin with his free left hand.
He
stroked her chin casually. Then he plays with her mouth and tongue.
He did
all this without looking at her.
Saki,
on the other hand, is not disgusted but ecstatic.
When
Kaito's fingers leave her mouth, he exhales and wipes his fingers with a
handkerchief that he has taken out from somewhere. There was no hesitation in
this action.
「What a
terrible thing to do」
Yotsuba
muttered quietly.
「Terrible?
But that guy there who enslaves you is just like me...」
「No,
he's different. He doesn't play with people's hearts lightly. Never」
「Well.
He's just trying to keep up appearances. If his innermost self is exposed and
he behaves as he pleases, he'll be just like me. Isn't that right, Izumi
Chihiro-kun?」
His
calm eyes shot through Chihiro.
He is
saying the right thing, or at least he believes so, which is why they are so
calm.
And in
a way, he may be right.
Chihiro
thought that if he behaved completely according to his desires, he would be the
same as him.
So,
that is correct.
（But,
Nii-san is different
Chihiro
answered Chisato's voice in his mind, shaking his head and nodding his head.
「I'm not
like you. I don't want to be like you」
「...Hmm.」
Kaito's
eyes narrowed.
He
stares at Chihiro for a moment, then exhales softly.
「Can you
really say that after seeing this?」
Then he
ordered Kaname and Saki to do something unexpected.
Saki's Illustration => here
