"That... that wouldn't be right!" Kamisato Ayaka quickly waved her hands in refusal. "I've already caused enough trouble by staying at your place. How could I let you sleep in the living room? I'll sleep there instead!"
"Alright, if you insist," Lucas didn't argue further and said, "But are you really that comfortable with me? After all, staying at a stranger's house isn't exactly safe."
"Didn't you say it yourself? I... I can trust you!" Kamisato Ayaka nodded firmly. "And I think... you're not a bad person."
"Thank you for your trust," Lucas chuckled inwardly. "By the way, your brother must be quite an exceptional person, right? I've heard about him before. He took over the family business at a young age and has been managing it very well."
"My brother is indeed very capable, and he's always been very good to me, but..." Kamisato Ayaka let out a slight sigh. "Because of that, I always feel this invisible pressure when I'm around him."
"So," Lucas narrowed his eyes, "why haven't you told him about the bullying you've been facing?"
"Because my brother believes that only those who have problems themselves, who can't fit in, are the ones who get bullied..." Kamisato Ayaka bit her lip. "If I told him I was being bullied, he'd probably... be very disappointed."
"Bullies always try to justify their actions by pinning some baseless 'crimes' on their victims," Lucas reached out and patted Kamisato Ayaka's shoulder to comfort her. "You're not at fault, and neither am I. Let's... work together on this."
"Yes!" Kamisato Ayaka nodded firmly.
...
Night fell.
Lucas lay on the bed in the bedroom, but his eyes remained open. He silently counted the seconds on the clock, waiting for the right moment.
It was almost time.
He got up and slowly pushed open the door, only to see Kamisato Ayaka lying on the sofa, already deep in sleep.
"Arf..."
Hina, who was curled up beside Kamisato Ayaka, was startled awake by the sound.
"Shh..." Lucas placed a finger to his lips, and Hina immediately quieted down.
He walked over to Kamisato Ayaka's side. The girl seemed completely unaware that "danger" was approaching. In fact, there was even a faint smile on her lips.
"Sorry," Lucas reached out and gently pressed his hand against Kamisato Ayaka's forehead, whispering, "Thank you for trusting me so much—Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
Mirror Flower, Water Moon wasn't just capable of hypnotizing its target and inducing hallucinations; it could also control their dreams through physical contact.
Of course, this only worked if the target's guard was sufficiently low. However, after the earlier interactions, Kamisato Ayaka's trust in him had likely increased significantly.
Sure enough, Kamisato Ayaka, who had been smiling moments ago, suddenly furrowed her brows. Then, she began to struggle and muttered in her sleep, "No... don't come closer! You... stay away! Save me... someone, please save me..."
Seeing that the timing was right, Lucas gently patted Kamisato Ayaka's cheek and said, "Miss Kamisato? Are you okay?"
"Ah!" Kamisato Ayaka immediately sat up on the sofa, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked at Lucas and immediately threw herself into his arms, trembling like a frightened fawn.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," Lucas softly patted her back and said gently, "Did you have a nightmare?"
Of course, what Kamisato Ayaka couldn't see was the rather sinister smile on Lucas's face.
"I dreamed that... a lot of people were chasing me," Kamisato Ayaka's voice was choked with tears. "No matter how hard I ran, I couldn't escape."
"It seems the bullying has really affected you deeply..." Lucas said with a hint of pity. "Don't overthink it. Just get some rest."
"I... I don't dare to sleep alone..." Kamisato Ayaka gently tugged at Lucas's sleeve, hesitating as she said, "Can I... sleep with you?"
Plan successful.
Indeed, Lucas had used "Mirror Flower, Water Moon" to give Kamisato Ayaka a nightmare precisely so that she would be too afraid to sleep alone.
"I... I really want to help you," Lucas feigned a troubled expression. "But given our circumstances, sleeping together... might not be appropriate."
"No one will know!" Kamisato Ayaka shook her head. "Please, I'm really... scared."
"Miss Kamisato..." Lucas gently stroked the back of her head and whispered, "You're underestimating your charm. If I were to share a bed with you, I'm afraid I might not be able to control myself... After all, I'm still a man."
Kamisato Ayaka's face turned red as she murmured, "I... I didn't think about that. But... no matter what happens, I... I won't blame you."
At this moment, Kamisato Ayaka was like a lone sail in an endless sea, and Lucas was the only lighthouse guiding her. Not only did she unconditionally trust him, but she had also developed a unique sense of dependence on him.
"Come on," Lucas took Kamisato Ayaka's hand and said, "I hope that with me by your side, you'll be able to sleep soundly until morning."
...
And so, Lucas effortlessly "tricked" Kamisato Ayaka into his bed.
Of course, at first, Kamisato Ayaka was still a bit shy. Even though they were sharing the same blanket, she tried to keep some distance from Lucas to avoid physical contact.
However, her hand would occasionally brush against his body, as if only by feeling his warmth could she feel somewhat at ease.
Suddenly, Lucas directly grabbed Kamisato Ayaka's hand. The girl was slightly startled and tried to pull her hand away, but her injured arm had no strength left.
Lucas didn't say anything, and Kamisato Ayaka chose to remain silent as well.
The temperature in the room seemed to be rising.
Lucas knew very well that Kamisato Ayaka was the type of girl who was soft on the outside but strong on the inside. If she truly wanted to reject him, she would never have stayed silent. Her current reaction was likely an implicit consent to his actions.
Understanding this, Lucas's actions became bolder. He turned slightly and directly pulled Kamisato Ayaka into his embrace.
Faced with Lucas's sudden "assault," Kamisato Ayaka's heart was filled with three parts surprise, three parts fear, three parts shyness, and... surprisingly, one part joy.
Her personality was that of a very standard "Yamato Nadeshiko," possessing both a gentle side and a courageous side. After experiencing a series of events today, she had already come to see Lucas as someone she could trust, and even harbored secret feelings of admiration for him in her heart.
However, given her personality, it was unlikely she would take the initiative to express her feelings for Lucas. It was precisely because of this that Lucas chose to make the first move.
To be honest, based on the cautious nature of Lucas in this simulator, he probably wouldn't have taken such a "risky move" so easily. He would likely have spent more time cultivating his relationship with Kamisato Ayaka, waiting for the perfect moment when everything was certain before making his move.
After all, if he failed here, losing Kamisato Ayaka would be the least of his worries. All his years of careful planning could very well be ruined in an instant.
However, Lucas's "Immersive Mode" always followed the principle of "seizing the moment." When something needed to be done, it had to be done immediately.
If he failed...
Well, he'd just have to leave it to the version of himself in the simulator to figure out a solution!
Of course, fortunately, Lucas guessed right this time.
Kamisato Ayaka only struggled symbolically before yielding meekly. Lucas knew that if she truly resisted him from the bottom of her heart, she would have fought tooth and nail to prevent him from succeeding.
And the soft words she whispered next only further confirmed his inner thoughts:
"Please... be gentle."
Everything was going according to Lucas's plan. Except for some initial resistance, things proceeded very smoothly afterward.
Perhaps because she had been bullied for so long, Kamisato Ayaka's heart had unknowingly accumulated a great deal of pressure. And now was the perfect opportunity for her to release that pressure.
Just then, Kamisato Ayaka's phone rang again, and both of them were slightly startled.
"It's... it's my brother," Kamisato Ayaka said with a hint of panic. "Wait... wait a moment, I need to answer it..."
But Lucas held her waist, reached out with his long arm, took the phone from the bedside, and handed it to Kamisato Ayaka, smiling, "This is a special lesson time. You can't take a break halfway through."
Kamisato Ayaka's face turned slightly red, and she immediately understood his meaning, nodding, "But you mustn't make a sound, or... we'll both be in big trouble!"
Lucas nodded, but there was a meaningful smile on his face.
"Hello..." The next second, Kamisato Ayaka had already answered the phone, "Brother, what's the matter?"
"Nothing," Kamisato Ayato's voice came from the other end of the phone. "I was just a bit worried about you. After all, you rarely stay out overnight."
"Yes... that's right," Kamisato Ayaka's breath was a bit uneven. "Don't worry, everything... is normal."
"Really?" Kamisato Ayato asked with some suspicion. "Ayaka, why does it sound like... you're out of breath?"
"Is... is that so?" Kamisato Ayaka quickly explained. "Because I was... just sparring with another club member in kendo, so... that's why I'm out of breath."
Kamisato Ayato's voice sounded somewhat displeased. "That's not acceptable. The Kamisato style of swordsmanship should be more than enough to handle ordinary students."
"Because... because..." Kamisato Ayaka bit her lip and glanced at the smiling Lucas, "My opponent is also very skilled, and his wooden sword is particularly powerful. I'm finding it... a bit difficult to handle."
"That's alright," Kamisato Ayato nodded. "Next time, I'll buy you a set of the highest-grade equipment. Just throw away the old set. We, the Kamisato family, can't afford to be laughed at..."
Just then, a muffled sound came from the other end of the phone, as if someone had covered their mouth.
"Ayaka?" Kamisato Ayato quickly asked. "What happened?"
"It's nothing..." Kamisato Ayaka glared at Lucas, "A mouse... a big mouse just scurried by. It's nothing."
Indeed, it was a very big mouse. As for where it scurried off to, that remains unknown.
"It seems the place you chose for the training camp isn't of the best quality," Kamisato Ayato said with some displeasure. "You should probably participate less in such activities in the future..."
"Understood..." Kamisato Ayaka, afraid that continuing the conversation might give her away, said, "Brother, I'm feeling a bit sleepy. I... I think I'll go to bed now."
"Alright, rest early," Kamisato Ayato finally hung up the phone.
As soon as the call ended, the usually gentle Kamisato Ayaka couldn't help but lightly punch Lucas's chest with her small fist, saying, "You... you almost gave us away, you bad guy."
"I just couldn't help it," Lucas laughed. "After all, you're just too charming."
Kamisato Ayaka's cheeks flushed with a hint of red. A cool breeze from outside flowed through the cracks of the window, lifting the strands of the girl's hair. She whispered, "The night breeze is pleasant. It will be... a fine night."
...
On the other side, still in Kamisato Ayato's office.
After hanging up the phone, his eyes still carried a trace of doubt. Although his dear sister's response didn't seem to have any issues, her reaction was different from usual.
Just then, the black-suited subordinate, Shang, appeared in the office again. This time, he was holding a file in his hand.
"Boss," Shang prepared to hand the file to Kamisato Ayato, "All the information about that counselor is here."
"No need to hand it over," Kamisato Ayato seemed a bit tired, rubbing his temples and closing his eyes. "Just tell me the key points."
"According to the information retrieved from the school's archives, he's just... a very ordinary employee. Before taking on his current position, he seems to have done other jobs," Shang continued. "There's a photo of him in the file. Would you like to take a look?"
"No need. He sounds like scum from the bottom of society. I don't want to waste my time on such a person," Kamisato Ayato waved his hand. "You may leave. Be ready for further orders."
Shang didn't dare to object, quickly bowed, and left the office with the information he had worked so hard to obtain.
"Honestly... they really like to boss people around..."
Shang muttered softly as he took out the intelligence report, glanced at the photo of Lucas, and frowned slightly, "But, it's indeed such an ordinary face. Even if I've seen it, I probably wouldn't remember it."
With that, he crumpled up the report and tossed it into the nearby trash can.
Of course, this intelligence report, which he had retrieved from the school archives, had already been tampered with by Lucas. Both the past records and the photo had been replaced.
For the sake of executing a perfect revenge, Lucas had gone to great lengths. If all this were to be ruined by a single night of "impulse," it would indeed be a great pity.
......
Early the next morning.
After the "battle" last night, Lucas didn't immediately exit the immersive mode. Instead, he drifted off into a hazy sleep. Unexpectedly, when he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find himself still in "his" bedroom.
However, Ayaka, who had shared the bed with him, was nowhere to be seen.
"Good morning."
Just as Lucas was feeling puzzled, a gentle voice came from outside the door. Ayaka, draped in a thin layer of gauze, walked in holding a tray and said softly, "It seems there aren't many ingredients at home, but luckily, I'm quite familiar with this dish. Please, enjoy."
It was a seemingly simple ochazuke. The light brown broth was filled with plump, well-separated grains of rice, making it look incredibly appetizing.
As the saying goes, a one-night stand isn't scary. What's scary is when, after that one-night stand, the other person cooks you a bowl of noodles with an egg in it.
Clearly, for Ayaka, last night wasn't just a momentary impulse. She had truly come to see Lucas as someone she could trust and rely on, which is why she was willing to give him her all.
"Thank you," Lucas said without hesitation, taking the bowl. After a couple of bites, he nodded appreciatively, "It's really good. I didn't expect you, a young lady of such high status, to be such a skilled cook."
"From a very young age, my brother had me undergo various trainings—cooking, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, swordsmanship... all of it," Ayaka said calmly. "Although I've always tried my best to do well in these, the truth is... I never really enjoyed them. But seeing you enjoy my cooking makes me... very happy."
"Thank you..." Lucas nodded, then added, "By the way, about last night..."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. After all, if this were to get out, it wouldn't be good for either of us..." Ayaka gazed at Lucas with affection, "I also... don't expect any kind of status. As long as I can rely on you, I'll be content."
In truth, before Lucas entered Ayaka's life, the person she had always admired the most was her brother. However, as she grew older, her feelings toward her brother began to change.
She didn't like how her brother always set such strict expectations for her, nor did she want to remain under his control.
After being bullied, she had considered seeking help from her family, but for someone as proud as Ayato, the person being bullied was the one with the real problem, not the bully. So, she had kept it to herself.
Lucas's appearance had undoubtedly become a ray of light that saved Ayaka. He was as capable as her brother, but more understanding, more gentle, and more... complete.
Yes, even though the kind-hearted Ayaka had never looked down on her brother for his disability, deep down, no matter how "perfect" Ayato might seem, he was still incomplete.
After last night, Ayaka became even more certain that this incompleteness was absolutely fatal for a man.
Lucas could guess this, of course. But that didn't mean that, in Ayaka's eyes, he was now more important than Ayato. After all, no matter what, Ayato was still her flesh and blood. But Lucas was confident that, step by step, he could pull Ayaka into his own "abyss."
"That's right. At least while you're still in school, our relationship must remain a secret," Lucas gently patted Ayaka's head, "After graduation, I'll make things right."
In response to Lucas's promise, Ayaka could only nod with a bittersweet smile.
After all, her marriage had already been arranged by Ayato. It would either be the eldest son of some noble family or the son of a major shareholder of a corporation. As for this man of humble origins in front of her, her brother would never agree to it.
Still, Ayaka replied, "Okay."
"Also, about the bullying you've been experiencing..." Lucas said with seriousness, "I will absolutely not let it go."
"No need," Ayaka shook her head, "If you interfere, you'll only get into trouble yourself... I'm not afraid of being bullied, as long as there's someone I can rely on, I'll be content."
Ayaka knew very well that the mastermind behind the bullying was Raiden Kunikuzushi. She also knew that Raiden Kunikuzushi's family was too powerful for even her to confront, let alone Lucas.
"I..." Lucas was about to say more, but Ayaka suddenly covered his mouth.
A few minutes later, Ayaka looked up and said calmly, "Alright, it's time for school. To avoid suspicion, we should leave at different times."
As they ate breakfast and chatted, they seemed like a newlywed couple. After finishing the meal, Ayaka got dressed and left first, while Lucas stayed behind for a while.
However, shortly after Ayaka left, the doorbell suddenly rang. Lucas was slightly startled as he went to open the door, asking, "Did you forget something in the room... Wait, why is it you?"
Indeed, standing in front of Lucas was not the Ayaka who had just left, but... Raiden Kunikuzushi!
At this moment, Raiden Kunikuzushi's stunningly beautiful face carried a mischievous, devilish smile.
"What's wrong? Is it me, so you're disappointed?" Raiden Kunikuzushi sneered, "I thought yesterday you were just trying to play the hero. But I never expected... you actually brought her to your place for the night."
It seemed that after Raiden Scaramouche's plan had failed the day before, she hadn't chosen to leave but instead had followed the two of them, thus discovering their "little secret."
In Immersive Mode, Lucas, despite his usual vigilance, had overlooked this detail. He frowned and said, "She just stayed here for one night yesterday."
"Just one night?" Raiden Scaramouche tilted her head and pointed to a bright red mark on Lucas's chest, saying, "Then how did that 'strawberry' get there?"
This girl's observational skills were quite sharp.
Lucas quickly tightened his collar, and Raiden Scaramouche continued, "Let's go inside and talk. If someone sees me standing at your doorstep early in the morning, it might not look too good."
"Come in," Lucas reluctantly agreed, letting this troublesome girl into his home.
Unexpectedly, Raiden Scaramouche didn't stand on ceremony at all. She strode in boldly, fanning her nose as she said, "So this is the rented apartment of a single adult man? Tsk tsk, there's a weird smell in here."
"I clean it thoroughly every day," Lucas replied, slightly furrowing his brow.
Raiden Scaramouche plopped down on the sofa, kicked off her boots, and propped her feet up on the coffee table. She patted the leather surface of the sofa mockingly, saying, "As expected, someone as poor and common as you can only afford to live in such a cheap place. It's probably not even as big as the bathroom in my house."
"Woof woof!"
At that moment, a highly alert bark came from beside Raiden Scaramouche's feet. Hina was glaring fiercely at the uninvited guest, letting out low, threatening growls.
Lucas thought to himself that the dog was indeed clever, able to distinguish between good and bad people. When Kamisato Ayaka had visited yesterday, Hina hadn't been this aggressive.
However, Raiden Scaramouche wasn't the least bit afraid of the Shiba Inu. Instead, she stretched out a foot toward it and said, "You're fierce, huh? Come on, bite me! Bite me!"
This completely threw Hina off. Whether it was because she didn't dare to bite or because she was intimidated by the evil aura emanating from the girl, the little dog immediately lost her earlier ferocity. She whimpered softly, curled her tail, and hid behind Lucas.
"Hmph..." Raiden Scaramouche sneered, "As expected, the dog reflects its owner. Just as spineless as you."
This remark wasn't a veiled insult but a direct jab at Lucas.
"Hina, go play in the bedroom," Lucas said, sending the dog away before sitting down across from Raiden Scaramouche. "What exactly do you want by coming to my place?"
"What?" Raiden Scaramouche crossed her legs and said, "Kamisato Ayaka can come, but I can't?"
"I know you're still upset about what happened yesterday," Lucas shook his head, "but the reason I stepped in to stop it was for the sake of your bullying plan."
"Oh?" Raiden Scaramouche's interest was piqued. "How so?"
"What do you think is the best way to break Kamisato Ayaka?" Lucas shrugged lightly. "Having a few thugs humiliate her? That's all? No, with her personality, she wouldn't be defeated by such setbacks. In fact, it might make her even stronger."
"Hmph, then tell me..." Raiden Scaramouche pressed closer, "How can I completely crush her?"
"The best way to destroy someone isn't to make them despair, but to first give them hope and then take it away," Lucas said coldly. "Right now, I'm gradually becoming her 'hope.' Once she fully trusts me and sees me as the only person she can rely on, I'll abandon her..."
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!" Before Lucas could finish, Raiden Scaramouche clapped her hands enthusiastically. "You're a genius! Why didn't I think of such a brilliant plan?"
Seeing that Raiden Scaramouche was convinced, Lucas smiled inwardly and continued, "So, let's stick to the original plan. You can continue to bully her, but after I intervene, you'll need to lay low for a while, making Ayaka think she's being saved."
"I get it. It's like fishing—you need to alternate between tension and relaxation to exhaust the fish's strength," Raiden Scaramouche said excitedly, rubbing her hands together. "Alright, let's go with your plan!"
"So..." Lucas finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Please leave now."
"No," Raiden Scaramouche replied, lying down on the sofa with a smile. "Even though this place is pretty low-class and smells a bit weird, it'll do as my 'secret base.'"
"Are you even listening to yourself?" Lucas rubbed his forehead. "What student makes their counselor's home their secret base? Does that even make sense?"
This isn't an episode of Crayon Shin-chan. Do you think I'm Miss Yoshinaga or something?
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