"Senpai, senpai, I've still got banana milk. Want some?"
"Senpai, just call me 'husband' once and I'll treat you to a big sausage."
"Or come to my place already. I'll give you something really nourishing. Hehe."
Constantly harassed by messages from Natsuki Yuu, Yukinoshita Yukino could not help but feel her nerves fray.
"That disgusting guy…"
Yukino took a deep breath and replied.
"Stop messaging me."
The moment she sent it.
Gurgle.
Her stomach growled again.
So hungry.
So hungry it hurt.
Yukino rubbed her belly, forcing herself to endure.
She wanted food so badly.
But there was only water left in her apartment.
She drank several big gulps anyway.
It did nothing to ease the hunger.
If anything, it made her stomach feel worse.
Still, asking that man for help was impossible.
She, Yukinoshita Yukino, would rather starve than bow her head…
Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle.
"…Forget it."
She did not even have the strength to jump.
Yukino pressed her lips together, her throat bobbing as she swallowed.
Another message popped up.
"At noon, Mashiro and I are having golden egg fried rice. Want to come eat with us, senpai?"
That irritating man again.
And this time, he attached a photo.
It was Mashiro Shiina.
In the picture, Mashiro was kneeling and leaning forward, eating egg fried rice from a basin set on the floor.
Like a dog.
Yukino's fist tightened.
"Mashiro… you idiot!"
She hammered the pillow with what little strength she had, then fell limp onto the bed.
"…I need to conserve energy."
But as she stared at the egg fried rice in the photo, saliva flooded her mouth.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Just then, Yuigahama Yui called.
"Hello? Yukino, how are you?"
"No food. I've been starving all day…"
Yukino's voice was weak and breathy.
Compared to Yui's usual liveliness, Yukino sounded like she might collapse at any moment.
"You sound awful. Are you okay? I can't get to you right now, but listen. Tsukino-sensei is gathering food supplies. He's not far from your place. He might be able to help you."
"Tsukino-sensei?"
"Yeah. He's organizing community relief. He'll probably come by your building."
"But there are so many blood corpses outside. How would he even get here?"
"I don't know…"
"I understand."
"Hang in there, Yukino. The disaster will end soon. We'll meet at school again. Ah, I have to go. Bye!"
The call came fast and ended even faster.
But the information Yui gave her became a thin rope for Yukino to cling to.
She gritted her teeth and forced herself to hold on.
…
"No response?"
Natsuki Yuu idly spun his phone in his hand.
"Senpai's willpower is impressive."
He leaned back, unhurried.
"Whatever. She'll come begging sooner or later. Right, Mashiro?"
He gave Mashiro Shiina a light nudge.
Mashiro lifted her head and smiled.
"You're already happier than she is," Natsuki said flatly.
"Thanks to you, husband."
Mashiro's sweet flattery came naturally now.
"Thanks to me?" Natsuki scoffed. "You should be thanking yourself, Mashiro."
He patted her head, speaking in a way she did not quite understand.
"Huh?"
Mashiro blinked, wide-eyed.
Then Natsuki saw the text appear above her head.
Critical Hit Cooldown Ended.
"In a bit, go take a shower," he said. "You're getting treated again."
Again?
Mashiro's knees softened.
Her body had barely recovered and now it was happening again?
She was terrified.
But she did not dare disobey him.
She could only agree softly.
A short while later, after cleaning herself up, Mashiro returned and stood in front of him.
"Husband… you're not going back to the bedroom?"
Natsuki stayed in the living room.
"No. Right here."
"Here?"
Mashiro's eyes widened.
Before she could react, Natsuki began.
The coffee table became his "operating table."
Mashiro was pressed down onto it, trembling like a child waiting for a shot.
Rope tightened.
His calm voice followed.
"Alright. Don't be scared."
Mashiro stared at what he took out, and fear instantly flooded her face.
When the "treatment" began, her pupils shrank, and her muffled cries echoed through the empty living room.
…
Smack. Smack.
Smack. Smack.
The sharp sound of strikes rang out repeatedly, mixed with choking sobs.
Only after a long time did it finally stop.
[Congratulations, you have triggered a Critical Hit. Reward: 100 KFC Mega Packs.]
[Waiting for Development effect activated. Strength permanently increased by 2.]
[Congratulations, you have triggered a Critical Hit. Reward: Maid Outfit Shard x1.]
[Waiting for Development effect activated. Strength permanently increased by 2.]
Natsuki tossed the belt aside.
Looking at the two Critical Hit notifications, the excitement still had not faded before a fresh wave of joy hit him.
A double proc.
Two permanent strength boosts.
Mashiro completely collapsed.
Covered in bruises, she could not even get up, her mouth full of trembling pleas.
But Natsuki did not stop.
Even though the double Critical Hit had already emptied her "HP bar," he still treated her like a boss with three lives.
Sixteen strength.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Mashiro, that "little boss," was beaten into unconsciousness.
"So strong… way too strong."
Natsuki clenched his hand, feeling the power surging through his body.
Then he checked the second reward again.
The first was KFC packs, food, whatever.
The second was a maid outfit shard.
"A shard? If you're giving me a maid outfit, then give me the maid outfit. What's with the shard?"
But when he saw the effect, he finally understood why it was only a shard.
Collect five shards to exchange for the full maid outfit.
The maid outfit would give the heroine major stat boosts and a skill specialization.
At the same time, it would unlock master-servant service and a "special experience."
Natsuki's mind instantly filled with the image of Mashiro wearing it.
Perfect.
"Hehehe…"
"If I get a few sets… I could build a maid army."
He licked his lips, anticipation burning hot in his chest.
…
Elsewhere.
Karen Inukai pressed a hand over Kouta's mouth, not daring to make a sound.
Outside, the steady thud of a baseball bat pounding against something would not stop.
"He… he left, didn't he?" Mrs. Oda whispered.
"He came back suddenly," Karen said, sitting on her knees, her voice so small it nearly vanished. "The blood corpses should've all been killed by him…"
"Yahaha! Inukai! I know you're in there! Stop hiding! Hahaha! I can smell you! Hiding won't save you!"
Honda Ichiro shouted in a crazed voice.
"Did he turn into a blood corpse, or what?" Mrs. Oda's voice shook with terror.
Karen's face went pale.
"I don't know… should we ask Kameda Taro?"
"…Yes. I'll message the group."
Mrs. Oda's hands trembled as she typed, sending a shaky message into the chat.