"Mm…"
Ichinose Honami stared blankly at the ceiling. The bright light seemed to split into overlapping shadows in her eyes, making it impossible to tell which was real. When she suddenly heard Hachiman's voice, she could only respond weakly.
She really couldn't get up anymore. Not just her legs and arms, even other parts of her body felt unbearably sore and numb. Clearly, she had already become a magical girl, and her physical abilities were much stronger than before.
She had always been especially sensitive in these matters, just like Iris and Kaede, and on top of that, Karuizawa Kei had cast a buffing spell on her today.
Just the light brush of a tongue had nearly made her lose control.
No wonder Ayano had gone to such lengths, dragging so many sisters into this just to please Hachiman. If she were constantly in that kind of state, even if Hachiman hit her or scolded her, she'd probably still feel unbelievably happy.
If this happened a few more times, she felt like she'd really turn into some kind of pervert, unable to stop herself from pulling her own little sister in and offering her up to Hachiman.
"Honami, next we can talk a bit more about Chihiro and the others… Master's gone, and you won't even stay to listen to us talk anymore."
Karuizawa Kei walked over to Ichinose Honami and reached out to pull her up, only to suddenly find her figure vanish on the spot.
She froze for a moment, then immediately guessed that Ichinose Honami had run off to the Service Club.
The Service Club had a huge space, far bigger than just that apartment building. Everyone had their own room.
As someone who frequently went in and out of the club, Ichinose Honami naturally set her teleport destination to her own room. Only the first time entering would someone fall straight into the large bath.
Now that Hachiman had already left, she'd have to be an idiot to stay here and keep chatting with Karuizawa Kei and Kushida Kikyo, who had just bullied her. She directly teleported back to her room to hide.
"As expected of Ichinose Ayano's sister. That Ayano is probably just as starved, just more proactive."
Kushida Kikyo watched Ichinose Honami disappear, wearing an "I knew it" expression as she curled her lips in disdain.
In her eyes, Ichinose Honami's act of resisting while inviting was just pretending to be pure. In reality, she wanted it badly. Acting innocent just made it easier to attract more of Hachiman's affection.
But she didn't care. If Ichinose wanted to pretend, then let her. No matter how much affection she got, Kushida didn't feel jealous.
Though she couldn't deny that when Hachiman showed her affection, it felt incredibly, unbelievably good. So good it almost made her question her entire life.
Still, she'd rather let others enjoy that kind of thing.
She was worried she might turn into someone like Ichinose Ayano and the others. She absolutely refused to become some lovestruck pervert with nothing but Hachiman on her mind.
"Forget about the Ichinose sisters. Let's talk about tomorrow. How are you planning to handle the gathering?", Karuizawa Kei glanced at Kushida Kikyo, not intending to give her any hints. Giving too much advice would just make her compete harder.
Things were fine as they were. Kushida Kikyo, driven by money and power, actively brought people in, even more enthusiastic than the others, and even more unscrupulous.
"First, confirm the number of people attending and how many are already on our side. Then let our people actively go along with bold games. The rest will gradually start getting closer to Master under the atmosphere," Kushida Kikyo smiled as she looked at Karuizawa Kei.
"Ebihara Urara is the Yamato Nadeshiko type. Now that she's with Master, she'll naturally think for his sake. Hoshinomiya Chie isn't one of us, but she loves having fun and messing around, so she'll help liven things up."
"Little Mafuyu and Nanami are probably in the middle. They didn't get angry about what happened today, so if something happens again tomorrow, they'll probably go along with the crowd half-willingly."
"I know there are a few others who have special relationships with Master, but I don't know the details, so you'll need to contact them."
"Other than that, we'll join in ourselves during the second half and stir things up. By then, we'll be the ones controlling the atmosphere."
With Hachiman's strength, he could easily just throw a party outright, but she had already figured out his personality.
He wouldn't take the initiative to force anything, but if things were half-pushed along, or if someone in trouble came to him for help, he wouldn't refuse.
"Alright, I'll contact them. It's just a shame they're not like transfer students who can just show up. The new hires starting next week won't be able to join this gathering."
Karuizawa Kei nodded readily. As Master's favorite pet, she felt no pressure contacting those who had intimate relationships with him.
Still, thinking about it carefully, there weren't that many unfamiliar faces at this gathering. The difficulty really wasn't high.
Tachibana Hina, Kashima Risako, Matsubara Miria, Kisaragi Miyuki, they just hadn't interacted much with Master yet. The others like Ebihara Urara, Hanamori Kotomi, Suzune Rione and so on already had unclear relationships with him.
The only real challenge was getting so many people together.
But since many of them already knew about each other's special relationships with Master, once everyone had a bit to drink, loosened up, and the atmosphere heated up, things would probably fall into place naturally.
"Newcomers can just wait for the next gathering."
Kushida Kikyo didn't care. It was better not to satisfy everything at once. If Hachiman had his fill this time, there would still be fresh options for next time.
By then, everyone recruited from Sobu High would count as her contribution.
Looking at it now, having her school shut down and being transferred to Sobu High was actually incredibly lucky. Here, she could fully use her talents, effort brought rewards. She didn't have to stay trapped in school, suffering through studies just to struggle for a decent job after graduation.
Though she still had to endure quite a bit here.
"I'm heading back. You clean up yourself."
Kushida Kikyo subconsciously licked her lips, glanced at the messy room, and ran off.
"…"
Karuizawa Kei stared speechlessly as Kushida Kikyo disappeared.
She hadn't expected Kushida to help clean anyway. It wasn't like she couldn't do housework. And now with cleaning magic, tidying up was effortless.
Still… Kushida Kikyo's attitude annoyed her just a little. Maybe next time she should find a way to mess with her. Since Kushida always wanted to rise to become head maid, maybe she should first let Shion take her through Master's maid training.
———
After leaving Karuizawa Kei's room, Hachiman teleported straight to Shion's side.
Although there were many people at home and in the club he could teleport to, under normal circumstances, he chose the smart, capable, and obedient Shion as his home teleport point.
On one hand, Shion stayed home often, taking care of things. After going out shopping with Komachi after school, she usually stayed in. On the other hand, Shion normally went to school with Komachi and rarely had time alone with him, so teleporting to her gave him a chance to chat.
The promise he made to treat Shion like Komachi wasn't a lie. She wasn't his sister, but she was just as close. Anything Komachi had, Shion should have too.
"Shion, why are you alone? Where's Komachi? Why isn't anyone else home?"
But when Hachiman appeared in the Hikigaya family living room and pulled Shion into his arms, he was surprised to find no one else around.
Only a cool, long black-haired girl in a spaghetti-strap short dress sat on the sofa, knees drawn up, watching TV. She seemed to have just finished bathing, her jet-black hair draped over her fair, slightly flushed shoulders.
"Komachi is at the Service Club. Today, Utena and Haruka got into another fight, and it seems a new magical girl got involved. Komachi is trying to mediate."
Shion skillfully wrapped her slender, jade-like arms around Hachiman's neck, her soft lips brushing against his ear as she quietly spoke about what had happened that day.
"There's a magical girl who looks really cute, but her background seems terrible, very pitiful. I think you'd like her, Hachiman-oniisan."
"But she didn't seem willing to accept our help. She left after having some snacks."
"Right now, Komachi is probably helping Utena and the others prepare tonight's themed activity at the Service Club."
She had already gotten used to Hachiman suddenly teleporting to her, no longer startled like before.
After all, the only man who could appear at home was him.
"Komachi's helping too? What's the theme tonight?"
Hachiman placed his hand on Shion's smooth, shapely thigh, gently stroking it, then kissed her soft lips. Hearing her explanation, he immediately understood why she was alone.
He usually teleported to Shion. If she had gone to the club too, he might've discovered tonight's planned activity before it was ready, ruining the surprise.
Still, aside from the previous elf tavern theme that Komachi could watch, most activities weren't suitable for her to participate in.
"You'll find out soon, Hachiman-oniisan. It's definitely a theme you'll really, really like."
Shion blushed, picked up a long strip of black cloth from the table that didn't let any light through, and bit her lower lip shyly.
"But Iris-oneesan said you have to wear a blindfold when teleporting to the Service Club~"
"A blindfold again?"
Hachiman froze for a moment.
———
Blindfolded games weren't anything unusual in the Hikigaya household.
To experience that indescribable thrill and add some fun, Hachiman had played games like watermelon splitting, "you act, I guess," and musical chairs with Iris and the others before.
Of course, these weren't ordinary versions. They were specially modified "service games" played late at night.
But ever since his parents were sent off on a trip, these games were no longer limited to late nights. They weren't just small, secret games in a room anymore either, now they included themed roleplay activities.
After all, familiarity breeds ease. Surrounded by girls he was close to, Hachiman didn't even need to open his eyes when waking up. A simple touch was enough to roughly tell who it was. Everyone's skin, its shape, elasticity, softness, was slightly different. If he still couldn't tell, a bit more movement and their reactions would give them away.
For him, blindfold games weren't difficult at all. Only at the very beginning, when he wasn't used to it, would he guess wrong.
"Tonight isn't just the usual group. There will also be girls you're not familiar with joining."
Sitting in Hachiman's arms, Shion carefully tied the blindfold over his eyes with her slender hands. Thinking about what might happen at the club later, the blush on her fair face wouldn't fade as she explained softly.
She knew how sharp Hachiman was. Just like her, even if she tried to hold back, the moment she made the slightest sound, he would recognize her.
But they had already taken that into account. Recently, many human and demi-human transfer students had joined Sobu High. The Yukinoshita family had also been bringing in newcomers.
With familiar and unfamiliar people mixed together, even Hachiman wouldn't be able to tell who was who.
"Unfamiliar? Then it'll be hard for me to guess, won't it?"
With his vision completely dark, Hachiman could only feel the soft warmth of Shion in his arms. Hearing her explanation, he paused.
If they weren't people he knew, then it really would be difficult.
Most of the people in the Service Club were Sobu High students, and he could easily identify them. But recently, there had been a lot of new arrivals.
Aside from the ghouls who pledged themselves today, there were also the six sisters of the Kiriya family. He had only been with the eldest, Fumiko. The other five he barely interacted with. As for the snow women who had come, he hadn't even met them.
There were also many human transfer students. He had seen the list, and most names were familiar.
For example, Hayasaka Ai, Shinomiya Kaguya, Iino Miko, Saegusa Mayumi, Shiba Miyuki, Fujiwara Chika, Tenjouin Saki, Charlotte, La Folia, and others, he knew their names.
But just knowing names didn't mean he could identify them through physical reactions without ever meeting them.
Although he thought it unlikely they'd jump straight into such intense activities, he couldn't be sure whether Iris might persuade some of them to join.
After all, this world was different from the original he remembered. Not only did it have supernatural powers, it also had a hidden world.
"Iris-oneesan said last time you guessed too easily and didn't have enough fun, so this time they're adding some difficulty~"
Shion gently took Hachiman's hand, preparing to teleport to the Service Club.
For him, this kind of game worked like this. Either the people were so familiar that it was easy, or so unfamiliar that it was impossible.
But then again, with how many girls he had close relationships with, it would take quite a while just to name them all.
And since many of them were close with each other, those who often played together had good relationships. Only a few didn't fit in well. Adding newcomers wasn't just to satisfy Hachiman's increasing "strength," but also to create new ways to play.
"No hints at all? There should at least be some kind of range, right? Otherwise it's too hard."
Hachiman still felt it was unreliable. It didn't seem like something he could reasonably guess. He couldn't just go through every name, that wouldn't be guessing.
"Don't worry, Hachiman-oniisan. Tonight isn't just blindfold games. There are other special guessing games too. There won't be too many people at once, and there will be some hints. You can enjoy yourself without worrying about not guessing anyone."
"But the hints might be fake, so you'll have to figure out what's real~"
Seeing him hesitate, Shion chuckled softly, feeling much less worried that their plan would be exposed.
In truth, not many newcomers were willing to join such activities right away. But many veteran members would recommend their close friends.
With familiar faces guiding them, some bold, or perhaps slightly perverted, girls might actually join. Others with ulterior motives might enter first to test things out for their companions.
Iris looked pure and elegant, like an innocent princess. But that softness was only shown to Hachiman. When dealing with others, she could be very firm.
Even if someone didn't like Hachiman, as long as they were pure, pretty, and controllable, she didn't mind letting them join and "reforming" them.
With those who liked him, those who didn't, newbies, veterans, and even casual onlookers all mixed together, even Hachiman would get confused.
"The hints can be fake too?"
"Hachiman-oniisan, let's go to the club first. We'll talk while playing."
Before Hachiman could question further, Shion pulled his hand and teleported them to the Service Club.
Holding his hand, she led the blindfolded Hachiman through the club for a while before stopping.
"Hachiman-oniisan, let's bathe first. The maids will wash your body."
"After the bathing time ends, you can choose one maid whose name you correctly guessed to accompany you to the next area. The maid can give you some hints."
"But if you don't guess a single maid's name correctly, you'll have to go to the next area alone."
For now, Shion was acting as the game guide. But she could also participate, so after explaining the rules, someone else would lead Hachiman onward while she prepared for the later stages.
"Maids? Is it Sayo or Akira?"