But she had always maintained the persona in front of everyone of being cheerful, sunny, gentle, and a caring good sister. Rashly bringing up those kinds of things would easily make people lose trust in her, and make it harder to pull people in.
Karuizawa Kei, on the other hand, had built a gal persona, spirited, bold, daring to love and hate, so she could directly speak to her companions about it. If they wanted to join, fine; if not, there were plenty of others who would.
"Good evening, President Hikigaya. We've come uninvited; I hope we haven't interrupted your enjoyment."
In front of the bed, Sakayanagi Arisu held her cane horizontally with both hands in front of the absolute territory between her white stocking garter belts and skirt hem, bowed deeply toward Hachiman, who was surrounded by several girls on the bed. Her peripheral vision glanced at Karuizawa Kei, who had moved to stand beside Hasebe Haruka.
She hadn't expected everyone here to have already been pulled in by Karuizawa Kei. She'd underestimated Karuizawa Kei.
Although Hasebe Haruka was still beside the bed and hadn't taken off her clothes, in Sakayanagi's eyes, Hasebe Haruka was already no different from Sakura Airi and the others on the bed.
Unlike Kushida Kikyo, who hadn't broken through yet and was still alone, Karuizawa Kei's side had basically all gotten close with Hachiman. She could easily pull in anyone whose will wasn't particularly strong.
Even someone with strong resolve would find it hard to maintain their own convictions in this kind of environment.
"Arisu, last time you said you didn't want to join the Service Club games, so why did you come over today? If you try to leave halfway again this time, that won't be acceptable."
Seeing Sakayanagi Arisu, this silver-haired girl with limited mobility yet still wearing white stocking garter belts, take the initiative to come to him, Hachiman gently released Mori Nene from his embrace, letting her and Shinohara Satsuki, their ears flushed with embarrassment, continue kneeling behind him to massage his shoulders.
In front of Hachiman, the three who had just been intimate with him, Sakura Airi, Satou Maya, and Matsushita Chiaki, had their faces buried in the pillow, not daring to look up and meet the eyes of Sakayanagi Arisu and the others.
If it were Karuizawa Kei or Kushida Kikyo, they wouldn't care at all about who came in; they would only serve Hachiman even more diligently. Even Ichinose Honami would pretend to stay calm, raise her hand, and smile to greet them.
But Satou Maya and the others, who had just made a breakthrough, weren't used to it yet. Sakura Airi was especially socially anxious and introverted. Seeing their familiar classmates standing before them fully dressed, they all just wanted to act like ostriches.
Even though they knew that Sakayanagi Arisu and the others being able to come in at this time almost certainly meant they were in the same position as them, about to kneel before Hachiman and serve him.
"President, you misunderstand. I'm not avoiding anything. It's just that my body isn't very good, and I can't do overly intense exercise. I was afraid it would spoil your enjoyment, President."
Sakayanagi Arisu didn't pay attention to the three, Satou Maya and the others, who had their butts in the air and their heads buried like ostriches. She gently stroked the black choker around her neck and explained to Hachiman with a very humble attitude.
"Last time, I had Kamuro bring back some of the rewards you gave, President, to see if they could improve my physical condition. Unfortunately, she didn't bring back a single drop."
Either don't join the Service Club, or join and be proactive and enthusiastic.
Now that she'd already joined the Service Club and knew Hachiman could enhance people's abilities, she actually didn't want to be so out of sync with the others.
But the fact was, few Service Club members had weak bodies, and few disliked Hachiman. She didn't dare join in and play along, and she didn't even dare use the empathy function.
Even knowing Hachiman could train and develop them to awaken their Magical Girl talents, she still had to survive the ceremony first.
She knew Hachiman's capabilities well. It wasn't just about endurance, but that charm that even the Elf Princesses couldn't resist... that stimulation. She was afraid she wouldn't last even a single round.
And last time, when she had Kamuro Masumi stay behind to participate in the Service Club's late-night themed game, Kamuro Masumi still hadn't been able to bring back any spoils for her to try and see the effects.
"Heh! Heh..."
Hearing Sakayanagi bring her up again, Kamuro Masumi, who had been scolded by Sakayanagi many times before, shot her a disdainful look and directly turned her head away, not wanting to deal with Sakayanagi.
Spoils? She was lucky to make it back alive, and she still wanted spoils?
She was just an ordinary high school girl, not even a Magical Girl. How was she supposed to bring anything back for Sakayanagi?
Was she supposed to spit it out on the spot?
If she did something that wasteful, she'd probably get noticed immediately and wouldn't be able to take it out anyway.
Theoretically, if she actively vied for favor with the others, she could transport a bit back through her body, well... before she absorbed it all.
But why should she do that for Sakayanagi?
If she really made it through the Magical Girl Awakening Ceremony, Hachiman could directly teach her himself. Sakayanagi would have no more use for her. Would she still want to order her around like a dog?
Might as well just be Hachiman's dog directly, at least she'd get better rewards.
'Pfft! No! I don't want to be anyone's dog!'
"Don't blame Masumi. Even if she wanted to take it out, she couldn't."
Hachiman glanced at Kamuro Masumi's disdainful expression and smiled.
If Kamuro Masumi really became a Magical Girl, it would still be hard for her to bring anything out for Sakayanagi.
Because in Magical Girl form, their absorption efficiency of his awakened magic elements was extremely high. That was precisely why they didn't need to worry about getting pregnant.
Unless they specifically chose not to transform into Magical Girl form and forcibly maintained it in human form, like when Iris and the others received his aid.
"Can't take it out... I always thought I just wasn't to your taste, that you didn't seem interested in me."
Sakayanagi Arisu blinked. Seeing that Sakura Airi and the others surrounding Hachiman were too shy to continue, she took the initiative to climb beside Hachiman and personally attend to him.
In terms of looks, appearance, and demeanor, she considered herself to be unequivocally in the top tier, even among the many beautiful girls at Soubu High.
Her figure was even as cute as the Elf Princess Iris, the Mermaid Diva Elio, and the others.
But Hachiman paid her no attention; every time she had to be the one to approach him. She couldn't help but wonder if Hachiman just didn't like her frail type.
"Of course not. You're so cute and so smart, Arisu. How could I not like you? It's just that I don't like forcing people, and I'm not too fond of people who are overly aggressive and forward."
Seeing Sakayanagi Arisu lean in, Hachiman didn't focus on how soft her small hands were. He directly lifted her delicate body and set her down on Sakura Airi's backside, gently playing with her slender, exquisite, white-stockinged feet.
Sakayanagi Arisu's body was weak, and she couldn't do many things, but weakness had its advantages.
Her light body was easy to hold now; he felt he could lift her without even using both hands.
Well... provided Sakayanagi Arisu could handle it herself. She was more likely to get nervous and scared and instinctively hold on to him.
"Don't like forcing people, don't like overly aggressive... so you're just waiting for me to crawl to you on my own, lower my head, and beg you to favor me?"
Feeling the intense heat of Hachiman, Sakayanagi Arisu swallowed lightly. Her jade-white arms gently wrapped around his neck, and the tip of her tongue lightly traced his Adam's apple.
"President, you really have a twisted sense of humor..."
"Heh! Heh! I know your physical condition, Arisu. Becoming a Magical Girl and increasing your strength isn't particularly hard, but it's not easy either. It's not just a matter of drinking a little awakened magic essence."
Hachiman unhurriedly held the silver-haired, flawless porcelain doll in his arms, letting her sit on Sakura Airi and gently rub against her.
"To truly become stronger, you still need to personally undergo my training."
He wasn't deliberately making things difficult for Sakayanagi Arisu. If he wanted to have her, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble.
His main point was that having Kamuro Masumi bring his awakened magic essence back for Sakayanagi to drink wouldn't do much good anyway.
Because Sakayanagi wasn't a demi-human or a Magical Girl. The only safe, side-effect-free way to truly improve her abilities and physical fitness was through the Service Aura.
The Service Aura's effect was tied to the degree of service; she had to personally serve him.
It wouldn't work even if Sakayanagi really liked him, because the core of the Service Aura was the act of serving.
Without intimate contact and a certain degree of service, even if her affection for him was through the roof, she couldn't get a power boost.
Besides, Sakayanagi Arisu might not even like him that much.
His charm wasn't that overwhelming. Only a few with special personalities, like Gotou Hitori or Sakura Airi, were extremely prone to developing feelings for him.
Of course, love isn't something you just say. Since they've come to him, he'll take them first, and deepen the feelings gradually later.
"So that's how it is..."
Face to face with Hachiman, clearly feeling his presence and experiencing that life energy as hot as the sun, Sakayanagi Arisu finally understood the questions she hadn't been able to figure out before.
She'd drunk the milk tea and other member-exclusive drinks in the Service Club, but her body had never shown any signs of improvement.
She'd thought it was because the dosage was too small. She hadn't realized the real key was serving Hachiman personally. Relying on others, eating and drinking all she wanted, none of it could improve her body or enhance her physical abilities.
Maybe she was too clever, thought too much. Unlike Karuizawa Kei and the others, who were decisive and offered themselves up to Hachiman, solving the problem in one go.
Thinking of this, Sakayanagi Arisu immediately came up with a good idea.
Even though her body couldn't handle directly receiving Hikigaya's Awakening Ceremony, wouldn't it be fine if she just rubbed against him on the side?
That way, she could participate in the service without taking the full brunt of the impact.
"Kamuro, Kushida, come here. Let me see how you serve the President."
"???"
Hearing Sakayanagi's unceremonious command, Kushida Kikyo hadn't reacted yet, but Kamuro Masumi couldn't hold back anymore.
First, she'd made her go please Hachiman to beg for "medicine."
Now she wanted her to demonstrate right in front of her, to watch how she served Hachiman?
'What does she think I am?'
Although Kamuro Masumi often moved around with Sakayanagi Arisu, she never considered herself Sakayanagi's subordinate.
She just didn't do well academically and needed Sakayanagi's tutoring help for things like scholarships.
Sakayanagi Arisu was arrogant and proud, physically weak and with limited mobility, yet she didn't take Kamuro seriously at all. Who wanted to serve Sakayanagi?
Now that Hachiman was here, she could leave Sakayanagi anytime; she didn't need to listen to her at all.
"Kushida? What are you doing? You're not one of Sakayanagi's people!"
Kamuro Masumi was about to refuse Sakayanagi's unreasonable demand when she suddenly noticed Kushida Kikyo behind her grabbing her wrists and pushing her onto the bed. She glared angrily at Kushida.
"Attend to the master first. You can settle things with Class Rep Sakayanagi later."
Kushida Kikyo glanced at Kamuro Masumi, who had a side ponytail and always wore a disdainful expression, and spoke coldly.
She didn't care about the issues between Kamuro Masumi and Sakayanagi Arisu. All she knew was that Sakayanagi was about to serve Hachiman, and Kamuro Masumi was refusing.
As Hachiman's personal maid, this was the time to step in and make Kamuro Masumi face reality.
It wasn't like she'd never served Hikigaya before. What was she pretending for now?
"Hurry up and start demonstrating. Making the President wait too long might earn you a punishment."
Sakayanagi Arisu got down from Hachiman, knelt beside him, and smiled at Kamuro Masumi.
"Haven't you seen it before? Just serve him yourself!"
Kamuro Masumi didn't want to deal with Sakayanagi at all. But looking at Hachiman, who was now turning to face her with an unspoken authority, she swallowed hard and obediently lay across Sakura Airi's back, raising her hips high like the others.
She wasn't afraid of Sakayanagi; she just didn't want to go against Hachiman's wishes.
Mm... what could she do? She could refuse Sakayanagi, but there was no way she could refuse Hachiman.
But she also knew that the reason she was in this situation was all Sakayanagi's fault.
Once she really became a Magical Girl, she'd get back at Sakayanagi properly.
Poor health? Can't do strenuous exercise? Afraid of the Magical Girl Awakening Ceremony?
'Ha! As long as she doesn't pass out, what is there to be afraid of?'
"Masumi, what are you thinking about now?"
Looking at Kamuro Masumi's slender, soft body trembling involuntarily, Hachiman gave her a firm smack. Though her pale cheeks flushed red, Kamuro Masumi didn't make a sound, just pressed her lips tightly together, until Hachiman slowly pried them apart with his fingers.
Kamuro Masumi probably had a bit of a masochistic streak, or a taste for being dominated.
She looked unwilling, always expressing dissatisfaction, showing disdain for him.
But when it came to moments like this, her body would reveal her truest feelings.
He seriously suspected that even without the "tsundere" ability, Kamuro Masumi would still obediently lie before him, utterly disdainful and utterly excited.
Sakayanagi Arisu watched with great interest, even opening her small mouth to poke out her pink tongue, considering whether to ask Hachiman to buff her so she could properly teach that disobedient Kamuro a lesson.
Her body wasn't great, but that didn't mean Kamuro Masumi could just push her around.
Kamuro, who didn't have much of a brain, should just obediently follow orders.
Hachiman didn't pay much attention to the grudges between Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi. After all, no matter how much they argued, it would still revolve around him.
"Kikyo, Shion has been busy with the Rurikawa family affairs and other outside-school matters lately. There's no one to handle things at school on a daily basis."
Feeling the intensity of the relationship between Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi, Hachiman narrowed his eyes and looked down at Kushida Kikyo, who had come to his side to serve him alongside Sakayanagi.
"Conveniently, Shinomiya Kaguya's maid, Hayasaka Ai, is willing to lend herself to me. Kikyo, you and Hayasaka should get along well from now on."
"?"
After hearing Hachiman's words, Kushida Kikyo's face, which had just brightened with joy, instantly darkened.
She had been toiling away, working hard and without complaint, pushing for Hachiman, what was she even doing it for?
She'd finally waited for the position of Head Maid to open up, and now some maid was just parachuting in from nowhere.
"However, Hayasaka Ai is, after all, Shinomiya Kaguya's maid. Let her handle the miscellaneous chores; some things aren't really suitable for her to deal with."
Seeing Kushida Kikyo, who clearly looked like she wanted to devour him alive, yet seemed to have something stuck in her throat, her mouth like she was holding a jujube, whimpering and staring at him, Hachiman smiled. He gently threaded his fingers through both Kushida Kikyo's and Sakayanagi Arisu's smooth short hair, feeling the texture of their silver and brown locks.
"Recently, Soubu High is expanding enrollment, isn't it? Shizuka-chan has a friend who's also a teacher and wants to introduce her to work at Soubu High."