The moment Horikita Suzune entered the room, she immediately regretted it.
Because there, sitting in a seiza-like pose on Kaoru's bed, was Kushida Kikyo.
Her short skirt revealed a generous expanse of snow-white thigh, while black thigh-high socks hugged her slender, straight calves.
Her knees pressed against the bed, their faint reddish glow visible through the fabric.
A collar adorned her fair neck, and atop her head sat a pair of pink cat ears.
Her striking eyes stared unblinkingly at Horikita, sending an eerie chill down her spine.
It seemed nothing had happened yet—the girl was still fully dressed in her casual clothes, though the top button or two of her blouse was undone, offering a glimpse of the soft, full curves beneath.
Her smooth, delicate collarbone only drew more attention.
"I wondered who was outside. You talked so big back then, but now here you are, delivering yourself right to his doorstep," Kushida sneered, though the effect was somewhat undermined by her current getup.
Horikita Suzune took a deep breath, doing her best to ignore the cat ears, her expression complicated.
"I know you resent me, but I meant what I said."
"Do as you please. I'm not pretending anymore. I really dislike people like you—acting all high and mighty when you're just someone else's plaything."
However, Kushida didn't leave her with even a shred of dignity.
Horikita decided to ignore her barbs and turned to Kaoru beside her, frowning.
"So now you plan to spend every day toying with girls in your room?"
"When have I not done that?" Kaoru stepped past her and casually sat on the bed, stroking Kushida's head as if petting a kitten.
"If anything, it's you who promised to pay interest but then avoided me for a whole month. Care to explain why?"
A flicker of disgust flashed in Kushida's eyes, but she remained silent, quietly rising from the bed and crouching beside Kaoru's thigh.
The position made it easier for him to pet her—and made her seem even more like a cat.
The scene suddenly made Horikita realize something.
While she had been avoiding Kaoru, it must have been Kushida enduring his unrestrained play.
No wonder the girl resented her, even to the point of mockery.
"Before I answer, I want to ask you something."
Kaoru shot her a glance and coldly replied, "No."
Horikita bit her lip.
Being rejected was only natural—she had broken her promise first, despite agreeing to fulfill Kaoru's demands as much as possible.
"What I want to ask is… have you gotten tired of her yet?"
"Suzune, don't assume people will always cater to your whims. Just because you ask doesn't mean they have to answer."
"You've been doing… bad things to Kushida this whole month, haven't you?"
Kaoru frowned.
It seemed she wasn't taking his words seriously at all.
"I don't know what you two have been up to, but after a month, you'd get bored, wouldn't you?"
Noticing his expression, Horikita quickened her pace.
"I won't deny that Kushida has a great figure—very tempting for a man. But can you really find satisfaction in her?"
Kushida nearly laughed in frustration.
Was she nothing more than a tempting body to them?
Yet Kaoru countered, "Why wouldn't I be satisfied?"
As he spoke, his hand settled on the girl's soft chest, the ample fullness molding perfectly into his palm.
The plush, generous shape seemed to sink under his touch, shifting fluidly with every movement.
Kushida stiffened, a faint blush spreading from her pristine collarbone.
She clenched her teeth, eyes burning with humiliation, but soon a quiet gasp escaped her lips.
Her thighs pressed together unnaturally, her usual innocence vanishing, replaced by something far more lewd.
"A woman like this? I could play with her forever and never get tired."
Horikita met his gaze and finally asked, "Then why didn't you target her from the start instead of me?"
"Couldn't it just be that I met you first?" Kaoru kneaded gently, savoring the girl's trembling.
The fabric dulled the sensation somewhat, but under the effects of his "Erotic Massage Technique," Kushida's acting grew increasingly convincing.
"Because you'd rather play with me." Horikita dropped a bombshell without batting an eye.
"Compared to Kushida-san, you'd prefer to see me making lewd expressions under your control. Destroying something pure and sacred probably gives you greater satisfaction, doesn't it?"
Kaoru was momentarily stunned.
How strange—this girl had suddenly gained some self-awareness.
"Not just lewd expressions. I do want to see more sides of Suzune," he admitted.
Upon hearing this, Kushida, as if unable to endure his teasing any longer, suddenly grabbed his wrist.
Kaoru suppressed her attack.
Horikita Suzune knew exactly what she was saying—she had to.
Just moments ago, she claimed she wouldn't feel jealousy or envy, yet now her grip was painfully tight.
"So, let her go now. I'm confident I can satisfy your tastes better than she can." Horikita concealed her true thoughts.
"Actually, the reason I've been avoiding you is that I didn't want this girl to appear here anymore. She'll never satisfy you, and you'll definitely grow tired of her."
Kushida couldn't hold back any longer.
Suppressing her anger, she retorted, "Do you think you're some kind of saint? Fighting to be a man's pet while looking down on me with that expression—what's your problem?"
"Whether I become a pet or not has nothing to do with you." Horikita was certain Kaoru liked her—his feelings for her were undoubtedly different from those he had for Kushida.
"Or do you think being a man's pet is something to be proud of?"
"That's my line!"
"Because I'm not a pet to begin with. Even if I do bad things, it's entirely of my own will."
"That's hilarious. So you're willingly letting a man play with you, is that it?"
"I'll only let him play with me."
Horikita stepped forward, crouched down in front of Kushida and plucked the cat ears from her head.
Without a change in expression, she placed them on her own, then lifted her gaze to meet Kaoru's.
"Tonight, do you want to collect a month's worth of interest... from me?"
The usually aloof girl now wore pink cat ears, her delicate face mere inches away.
Her slightly upturned nose, glistening lips, the gentle swell of her chest, and the slender legs beneath her skirt—though she wasn't doing anything provocative, the sight was undeniably alluring.
Especially after her bold words, Kaoru found himself holding his breath for an instant.
"Heh, who would've thought the usually untouchable Horikita would turn into a flirtatious girl seducing a man?" Kushida smirked, as if witnessing something absurdly amusing.
"Tell me, did you bring protection tonight? I remember seeing them at the convenience store."
Horikita Suzune hesitated briefly before shaking her head.
"I don't know."
Both Kushida and Kaoru couldn't help but make strange expressions.
If she had known, would she have bought some?