"Sure." Rin answered immediately.
"Eh…? Ah, I mean, that's wonderful." Hanako's eyes began to well up with tears as she turned to Akane. "You… You s-see? I told you I w… would do it!"
Akane made a wry smile, before turning to Rin. Her face was bright red, as she smiled a bit.
But then she pushed her chest up in pride. "Hey, what are you agreeing to all of a sudden? At least th-think about it more!"
Rin tilted his head. "Hm? I like Akane."
Akane's tears spilled over at the sound of that. Finally, her dream had come tru—
"I like Akane, so going out to get something like ice cream or a movie won't be too bad." Rin sadly finished his statement.
"What?! Ah, yes." Akane wiped her tears furiously with her sleeve, her face scarlet from embarrassment. "That was definitely what I was also thinking!"
"Heh." Hanako smirked mockingly at her, wiping her own tears.
"Ah, and about the invitation… Uhm…" Rin scratched the back of his neck, wondering what her name was.
"H-Hanako!" she suddenly raised a hand, "Kurosawa Hanako is my name."
"Got it. About your invitation, you can talk to my manager here about it."
Suddenly—frightening Akane, Hanako, and the five Occult club members peeking around the corner—Chris was standing there.
The truth is, he had been there the entire time, silent and completely unnoticed.
"Hey, Chris," Rin addressed him casually. "It seems they want me to join their sect or something. I have a battle with Thyúiowre the Void Keeper in the next few minutes, and I've recharged my Lewd Meter with Hanako-chan's super squishy ass, so no need to worry. But can you help me see if the cult thing is worth it?"
"Understood, Rin-sama." Chris adjusted his glasses. "I will thoroughly screen them all to see if they're worthy."
"I leave it to you, then."
Rin waved at the group—including Hanako, who blushed furiously at being called "Hanako-chan" and commended for having a "super squishy ass"—and walked away without another word.
When Rin was out of sight, Chris turned to face the club members, with his ever ethereal smile wavering a little.
"I have a packed schedule," he said calmly with his gender-neutral voice, "so let us make this swift. In short, take off your clothes, all of you."
***
After Rin disappeared around the corner, the hallway outside the Occult Research Society clubroom fell quiet.
Chris stood perfectly still for three seconds, but then the otherworldly smile he had worn in Rin's presence vanished completely.
His blue eyes turned flat and cold behind his thin glasses.
"Take off your clothes, all of you," he ordered.
"H-Huh?!" Akane's voice cracked the silence. "Why the hell do we have to do that?!"
Chris did not give an answer.
Except, with one swift, fluid motion he stepped forward, and gathered the six students—Akane, Hinata, Hanako, Naoya, Shiki, Nagumo—then herded them back into the clubroom, like they were plush dolls.
The door closed with a decisive SNAP, then he turned the lock.
…Only then did he glance over his shoulder slowly.
"Look, humans, I earlier spoke of my packed schedule…" he said, his voice low and even, "don't make me repeat myself again. Undress. NOW."
No one there could explain why… Why did their bodies feel obliged to obey him?
Hypnosis? Compulsion? Or just a primordial fear of an unknown variable?
Their minds comprehended that this was unreasonable, humiliating, and ridiculous. Yet the command settled into them as if ice was in their veins.
"GULP!" the six throats worked at once.
Then six pairs of hands began to move.
Hinata unbuttoned her jeans with trembling fingers, pushed them down her thighs, and stepped out. Her pale blouse slid off her shoulders, revealing dark bra and matching panties that hugged her slim hips.
When she was done, she crossed her arms over her chest.
Akane yanked her T-shirt over her head in one angry motion, her auburn hair tumbling free. Her baggy pants dropped to the floor, revealing cute cotton panties printed with tiny strawberries and a plain white bra.
Hanako moved more sluggishly. She shrugged off the dark jacket, then peeled her red gown over her head. Her crimson lingerie waited underneath; a lace bra that lifted her moderate breasts high, matching thong that disappeared between the curves of her ass, with garter straps clipped to sheer stockings.
Naoya peeled off his green sweater, then the T-shirt beneath, revealing lean muscle. His blue jeans followed, exposing his boxers that clung tightly to his hips and the bulge beneath.
Shiki stripped reluctantly. His shirt came off to show a slender frame with narrow shoulders, and a flat stomach. Only his brown briefs remained.
Nagumo tugged the hoodie over his head without expression, followed by his shirt and jeans. Only his plain gray boxer remained.
It was almost as if they were at gunpoint, being shook down for money.
The six lined up shoulder to shoulder, facing Chris like soldiers at inspection.
The clubroom smelled of old paper and incense, but now the sharp scent of nervous skin joined the frolic.
Hinata scowled, with a small but defiant voice. "Why are you making us do this?"
Chris stepped closer to her. His fingers trailed lightly down her side; over the curve of her ribs, the dip of her waist, and the swell of her hip.
Hinata shivered under his subtle touch.
"My master," Chris answered calmly, "has a problem. He suddenly needs to sexually vent. Without warning, and quite frequently too."
"So your master is a pervert."
"If he is going to spend time away from his followers and with you people," Chris ignored her aside and continued, "I must ensure you can satisfy his needs."
Shiki raised a shaky hand. "Uh, but we're guys!"
"It does not matter the gender," Chris replied without looking at him. "if you have the skill, it is sufficient."
Nagumo then narrowed his eyes on Chris. "You… You're the one who keeps publishing novels about the Dragon Lord Ryū's atrocities… Word for word."
Every head snapped toward Nagumo, then back to Chris.
Chris inclined his head slightly at Nagumo's remark.
"That is correct. I am a fan of his exploits, not a criminal as those organizations deem me." Then his tone flattened. "Though, Incidentally, are any of you part of the 'heroes'? I refuse to allow my master any association with such a grou—"