Bang.
The door gently closed.
Natsuki walked out of Juju's room, feeling refreshed.
As for how Juju and Shoko would get along next, he didn't need to worry about it; anyway, with Shoko's personality, she would definitely keep the secret in the end.
"Skin Card can wait until tomorrow, I can get a good night's sleep tonight."
Natsuki casually grabbed a bottle of Meiji Milk, rehydrating as he walked back to his own room.
Not only did Juju need to rehydrate, but he was also quite thirsty.
Back in his room.
After taking another quick shower, Natsuki hadn't even had time to lie down when his phone received a message.
Marin: "Natsuki, I can't sleep~"
Marin sent an invitation.
"Sleep or go play?"
Natsuki thought for a second, then decisively made his decision.
"Wait for me."
"…"
An older man might cultivate inner peace and feel willing but unable in such a situation, but Natsuki was a high school student, and the word 'restraint' simply wasn't in his dictionary.
Sleep?
How could a young person of this age possibly sleep!
Natsuki picked up his phone and decisively left the room.
A moment later.
Thump, thump, thump.
Natsuki raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.
The door quickly opened a crack, a slender hand reached out and swiftly pulled Natsuki inside.
Bang.
The door closed.
The hallway quickly returned to calm.
The lights in the room were soft, Marin was wearing a white bathrobe, her golden hair cascaded to her waist, and her eyes were filled with anticipation as she said:
"Natsuki, hug me!"
Natsuki had just opened his arms when Marin let out a 'Heh-shoo' and actively jumped up, clinging tightly to Natsuki like a koala, then, like a dog, rubbed against Natsuki's neck.
"I like Natsuki! I super like him!"
Marin expressed her affection without reservation, constantly acting spoiled.
Natsuki gently patted Marin's back and said softly:
"I super like Marin too."
"Humph~"
Marin continued to rub against him, and after feeling satisfied, she pouted her rosy cheeks and said:
"On the way over earlier, Chika told me what happened, and only then did I realize so much had occurred afterwards… Ugh, it's so annoying!"
"I didn't help at all, instead I became a burden, how embarrassing!"
Natsuki said softly:
"It's alright, it's all over now, you're not a burden at all."
Marin looked up, still clinging to Natsuki like a koala, unwilling to get down:
"Natsuki really didn't dislike me and Sayu?"
Natsuki said seriously:
"Of course not."
Marin blinked: "Really?"
"Marin, you've understood the situation of other players, right?" Natsuki said softly, "Because of fear and despair, many players will become self-indulgent, give up on themselves, completely lie flat and rot, or even indulge in gambling, drugs, and prostitution… But I won't."
"Because…" Natsuki stroked Marin's head and said softly, "You are the navigation beacons that will never get lost in my inner world, so please, don't say things like being a burden anymore, you don't even know how important you are."
"Eh heh~" Marin's big eyes had already curved into crescents, she wanted to hold back her laughter, but couldn't at all, wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck, she could only lean in and give him a strong kiss, "Natsuki is getting better and better at coaxing people!"
Natsuki said:
"Then I won't say it anymore?"
"No, keep saying it!" Marin's eyes were glistening, and she kissed Natsuki all over, "I want to hear it every day!"
Natsuki felt a surge of passion and carried Marin towards the bed.
Although he had teased Juju earlier, he couldn't fully indulge because of Shoko, but now there was absolutely no problem.
Marin also didn't refuse, wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck, she rubbed against him and said:
"Chika told me that when Sayu and I turned into dolls, Natsuki's eyes turned red?"
Natsuki denied it:
"Not at all."
"Hmph~ There's nothing to be ashamed of if your eyes turned red." Marin gently wrinkled her delicate nose, leaned close to Natsuki's ear, and breathed out like an orchid, "As long as Natsuki admits his eyes turned red, I can give you a brand new, unforgettable experience tonight, you know."
Natsuki paused his steps and looked at Marin, saying:
"Brand new experience?"
If he remembered correctly, he had already experienced everything there was to experience, right?
"That's right." Marin lifted her chin, revealing her fair, blushing neck, her pretty face flushed as she said, "I guarantee it's a brand new experience Natsuki hasn't had before."
"Alright." Natsuki thought for two seconds, then decisively said, "My eyes did turn red back then."
Marin's beautiful eyes widened, and she couldn't help but retort:
"Eh, eh, Natsuki admitted it too quickly!"
"A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm." Natsuki said earnestly, "Compared to a brand new experience, face is not important at all."
Marin: "..."
How shameless!
But I still like it so much!
"Natsuki, put me down first." Marin broke free from Natsuki's embrace, picked up a pillow, took out a black object from underneath it, handed it to Natsuki, placed her right hand on her hip, and said in a clear voice, "Natsuki, put it on."
"Huh?" Natsuki took it and looked, "This is... a blindfold?"
"That's right, it's a blindfold." Marin lifted her chin, extended a slender finger, and explained, "When a person can't see, their body becomes more sensitive."
Natsuki: "..."
I understand the reasoning, but aren't the roles mistaken?
The one who should be wearing the blindfold is you, why would you make me wear it!
"Natsuki, quickly put on the blindfold." Marin urged.
"...Alright."
Natsuki thought for a moment, then put on the blindfold, anticipating a brand new experience from Marin.
"Natsuki, wait a moment."
Marin softly instructed, then with a flushed face, turned and walked to the bathroom door, quietly pushing it open.
"Sayu, come out."
Marin silently mouthed the words.
In the dim bathroom, Sayu, wearing a white bathrobe, with bare feet, covering her chest, walked to the bathroom door with a shy face and bashful eyes:
"Um... do we really have to... together..."
"We already discussed it, don't back out now." Marin put her hands on her hips, "Besides, Sayu doesn't dislike it, right?"
Sayu glanced at Natsuki lying on the bed, then moved her gaze away as if shocked, her pretty face flushed crimson:
"Th-then alright..."
Sayu clenched her right fist, covering her chest, and followed behind Marin, walking out of the bathroom with a red face.
After learning from Chika during the day about the aftermath of them turning into dolls, especially Natsuki's eye changes and almost going berserk, Marin decided to give a special reward.
So later, when she was alone with Sayu, she asked for Sayu's thoughts, and after confirming that Sayu didn't object, they came up with the current blindfold game.
As for Sayu.
If it were any other girl besides Marin suggesting it, Sayu might not agree, but when Marin suggested playing a game together, Sayu wouldn't refuse at all.
The reason was simple: it was Marin and Natsuki who went to Hokkaido together to help her resolve the emotional knot with her good friend, and their relationship had always been the closest.
Let alone playing a game with three people, even if they didn't include her and just asked her to help with a back massage afterwards, it would be no problem.
"Thump thump thump..."
Marin and Sayu quietly walked to the bed.
The two girls sat down, one on the left and one on the right, looking at each other, their pretty faces already flushed crimson, as if on fire.
Discussion is one thing.
Although they were both willing to play the game together, when they actually came to the battlefield, they still felt embarrassed.
"Hoo..."
Marin took a deep breath, deciding to lead by example; as the initiator, she naturally had to lead the charge.
"Sayu, let's begin."
Marin winked at Sayu opposite her, then picked up the bottle that had been prepared earlier, and began preparations for the three-person game.
"Hiss~"
An unknown, cool liquid dripped onto his body, causing Natsuki to take a slight breath, instinctively wanting to remove the blindfold.
Slap.
Marin raised her hand and slapped him, commanding:
"Natsuki, don't move around, lie still. Don't take off the blindfold without my command."
"Yes, yes." Natsuki said speechlessly, "But what are you dripping?"
Marin: "Don't worry, it's [beep] for massage."
"..."
The sound reached Natsuki's ears, instantly turning into an indescribable muffled word.
After the initial tension, Natsuki quickly relaxed, soothing his body, allowing Marin to help with the massage.
But not long after, Natsuki realized something was wrong.
"One, two, three, four..."
If he hadn't miscounted, it seemed like there were four hands on his body?
Marin was only one person, how could there be four hands?
Natsuki couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"You guys..."
Slap!
Marin slapped him again, her pretty face flushed like fire, and she ordered in a low voice:
"Don't ask anything, and don't take off the blindfold, otherwise, this will be the end. Do you hear me?"
Natsuki decisively said:
"Yes, please do continue."
Actually, there was no need to ask; Natsuki could completely guess who the owner of the other pair of hands was.
So far, he had teased four people: Hayasaka, Marin, Sayu, and Juju.
Hayasaka definitely wouldn't agree to such an absurd game, and Juju was with Shoko, so it was obvious who was left.
"Humph~"
Marin let out a soft hum, glanced at Sayu opposite her, and both of them, with flushed faces, continued to help with the massage.
"..."
In short, the night passed without a word.
The next morning.
Natsuki woke from a deep sleep, feeling soft and warm touches on both sides of his body. He opened his eyes, casually embraced one side, and a girl with messy black hair came into view.
It was Sayu.
Although they said not to take off the blindfold at first, Marin herself forgot about it later, and the blindfold naturally disappeared somewhere.
Natsuki leaned over and gently kissed Sayu.
"Mmm..."
Gamers usually have high alertness. Sayu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she quickly woke up. After seeing Natsuki's face, her pretty face quickly flushed red, and then she hurriedly closed her eyes, trying to pretend to be asleep.
"The morning is the best time of the day."
Seeing Sayu wake up, Natsuki naturally wouldn't be polite and prepared to tease her again.
"N-no..."
Sayu quickly begged for mercy with a red face.
"Sayu wasn't so amazing last night?" Natsuki whispered, "Why are you begging for mercy now?"
Sayu's pretty face was crimson, and she stammered:
"Marin-chan is still beside us..."
Natsuki teased Sayu while saying:
"It's okay, Marin hasn't woken up yet."
Marin's faint voice came from the other side:
"I'm sorry, you guys already woke me up."
Natsuki turned to look at Marin:
"Since you're awake, then come join us."
"No way." Marin lightly snorted, "We agreed it was only for last night..."
But before she could finish speaking, Natsuki pulled her into his arms, and her voice quickly turned into soft whimpers.
An hour later.
Morning exercise ended.
In the world, there is only a first time and countless times; there is no such thing as 'this once, never again.'
"...You can leave!"
After showering, Natsuki was kicked out of the room by Marin.
"This special gift was truly satisfying."
Natsuki walked out of the room contentedly.
The hallway was empty and exceptionally quiet.
Although he woke up early for morning exercise, it was only half past seven in the morning, which was still very early for high school students on summer vacation.
But before he even returned to his room, Natsuki met a blonde maid at the corner of the hallway.
"Ai-chan, good morning."
Natsuki raised his right hand and greeted her as if nothing had happened.
"Hehe..."
Hayasaka folded her arms across her chest, her pretty face full of undisguised disdain.
"The morning is the best time of the day." Natsuki said as if nothing was wrong, "After exercising in the morning, I truly feel refreshed all over."
Hayasaka couldn't help but complain:
"So you went for a run and ran until your hair was soaked?"
Natsuki said:
"It's normal to sweat when running, right?"
Hayasaka's eyes showed disdain: "Then why isn't your clothes sweaty?"
"That's a long story." Natsuki gave up, "Come to my room, and I'll explain it to you slowly."
"Pfft!"
Hayasaka spat in annoyance, so angry that she kicked Natsuki.
Having just come out of someone else's room, with wet hair, it was obvious he had just taken a shower. Anyone with half a brain would know what good deeds he had done.
Now he actually wanted to tease her too; he really wanted to get beaten!
"Perverted president, don't touch me again."
Hayasaka straightened her pretty face, turned, and walked away.
When Sin Mushroom, this Hayasaka usually grew jealousy mushroom, it was clear that her possessiveness was actually stronger than Kaguya's, so it would be strange if she wasn't angry.
However, as Hayasaka passed him, Natsuki suddenly reached out and hugged Hayasaka.
"Let go of me!"
Hayasaka became even angrier.
"No." Natsuki was extremely thick-skinned. He picked up Hayasaka and returned to his room, "It's been a long time since I hugged Ai-chan. I promise I'll only hug you for a while and won't do anything else."
"Pfft~"
"..."
If Hayasaka were to leave just like that, she would definitely get angrier the more she thought about it afterward. Only an idiot would let Hayasaka leave fuming.
Of course, whether he could coax her into a good mood was one thing; whether he bothered to coax her was a matter of attitude.
Back in the room.
Natsuki kept his promise, starting with just a simple hug, but before long, he couldn't help but want to get handsy.
"Perverted president, don't push your luck!" Hayasaka's voice was filled with Shame.
Natsuki lowered his voice and threatened:
"Keep your voice down, Kaguya's room is right next door. You don't want Kaguya to hear, do you?"
Hayasaka: "..."
A moment later.
"Do you think I'm Shoko, to be taken advantage of by you?"
Hayasaka clenched her small fists, found an opportunity to break free from Natsuki's embrace, and threw a punch.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong." Natsuki parried while sincerely apologizing, "Please forgive me."
"It's too late to apologize now!"
Hayasaka gave him a good beating, feeling that she had vented her anger, and then left contentedly.
"...It wasn't a loss to take a beating."
Natsuki secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
If Hayasaka knew that he had taken advantage of not only Marin yesterday, but also Juju and Sayu, she would definitely beat him severely.
Around eight o'clock.
The girls woke up one after another and went to the restaurant for breakfast together.
Breakfast was still a buffet. As the Strange Tales Management Bureau, established to deal with emergencies, it was exceptionally wealthy and extravagant.
Natsuki finished washing up, changed his clothes, and came to the restaurant, where he happened to meet Juju and Shoko.
The moment their eyes met, Komi's pretty face quickly flushed, and she lowered her head in a fluster.
Juju's small face also flushed red, but she didn't lower her head; instead, she glared at Natsuki in annoyance.
"Shoko, Juju, good morning." Natsuki greeted them without changing his expression.
"Not good at all!" Juju couldn't help but want to complain, "Do you know how I spent last night?"
You just turned around and slipped away, leaving Shoko and me so awkward that we almost wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. We didn't sleep a wink all night.
"Go away." Juju bit her silver teeth and said with a straight face, "Don't talk to me."
Natsuki looked at Shoko and said:
"Then shall I talk to Shoko for a bit?"
"Huh?!"
Juju's eyes widened, so angry she almost jumped up and bit him.
You actually want to take advantage of Shoko right in front of me?
"Don't even think about it!" Juju gritted her silver teeth, pulled the the timid girl, and left, "Shoko, let's go, ignore him."
"Mhm, mhm."
The the timid girl, as if granted a great pardon, quickly followed behind Juju and fled.
Natsuki sighed helplessly. So, he just wanted to give them a Skin Card, there's no need for you to be so wary, right?
He walked into the restaurant.
"Natsuki, good morning."
Marin raised her right hand, her voice clear as she greeted him.
Unlike Shoko, whose skin was super thin, Marin not only played games openly but also showed no signs of abnormality at the moment. It had to be said, she truly was a gyaru.
In comparison, Sayu's skin was still a bit thinner. After seeing Natsuki approach, her pretty face quickly flushed red, and she weakly greeted him before hurriedly sitting in a corner to eat.
After breakfast, staff from the Strange Tales Management Bureau arrived and began to inquire about the details of eliminating the anomaly in the hotel to establish corresponding Strange Tale files.
After the inquiry, everyone received another psychological counseling session and another physical examination. The process needs no further mention.
During this time, they also met Mitsui and asked her if she had found any players who could treat mental breakdowns. Unfortunately, there was no news yet.
By the time all the trivial matters were finished, it was already afternoon. Everyone was eager to go home, so they left the hotel and went their separate ways.