After seven consecutive matches, dusk gradually approached.
Kaoru saw Sakayanagi Arisu sitting on a bench, a sliver of sunlight slanting across her calves, her white suspender socks thick and textured.
He sat beside the girl, quietly watching as the campus slowly enveloped itself in twilight.
A faint, elusive fragrance drifted from the girl, reminiscent of a child's milky scent—something he had hardly ever noticed on anyone else, as if it were a scent unique to her.
After waiting a while, Sakayanagi Arisu spoke, "As you wished, I lost."
She had won five matches in a row but lost the last two.
For Texas Hold'em, she had chosen Morishita Ai.
Morishita Ai had a peculiar personality and an unconventional thought process, ordinary people rarely guessed what she was thinking, making her the perfect choice.
But she lost.
Ichinose Honami sent out Amikura Mako—a girl who usually panicked easily, yet under Ichinose's direction, she performed beyond her usual ability, keeping an almost stern expression throughout, her acting superb.
Sakayanagi Arisu thought her Cold Reading Technique would work, but even the best situation couldn't compete with sheer luck.
Fate truly is a mysterious thing.
"Are you going to mock me for overestimating myself?"
Sakayanagi said, "Thinking I could achieve a grand slam, only to overestimate my abilities and underestimate my opponents, ending up like this—I brought it upon myself."
"You sent out Masumi because you wanted to believe she could do it too, right?"
Sakayanagi paused slightly, her gaze flickering toward him with an inexplicable light, swirling briefly before she quickly revealed a self-deprecating smile.
"How difficult it must be for you to even notice that angle of approach."
The girl sat up straight, "It's a pity, though—I'm not Ichinose-san."
"So, are you going to keep wallowing in self-pity here?"
Kaoru said, "The Arisu I know isn't like this. She'd be laughing lightly while calmly saying, 'Heh, what an interesting fellow. I'll look forward to your next performance.'"
Sakayanagi Arisu was silent at first, then her expression cooled.
"A bet is a bet. I'll be your maid."
"Is that so?"
Kaoru grabbed her small hand, feeling her whole body tense up instantly.
"Does Arisu know what a maid has to do?"
"Isn't it just doing bad things?" Sakayanagi Arisu was still stubborn, "If you don't mind my physical condition, you can do whatever you want with me. You have that kind of medicine anyway, don't you?"
The medicine she referred to was the [Nano Regeneration Fluid] that had saved her last time.
Kaoru had used one dose on her and currently had one remaining.
However, Kaoru noticed the girl's body trembling slightly.
Her eyes were narrowed, long eyelashes fluttering faintly.
No matter how stubborn her words were, the little princess had never experienced such a devastating defeat. Any young girl would instinctively feel fear.
Kaoru pressed further, pushing the girl down onto the chair. Her white hat fell off, revealing cascading silver-white hair.
Her shoulders were extremely slender, with barely budding chest still carrying a youthful innocence.
Beneath her skirt lay smooth, delicate thighs, while white thigh-high socks enveloped her entire calves, the straps disappearing deep under her skirt, arousing curiosity.
His fingertips traced her delicate face, observing her eyes shifting slightly.
Her cute nose seemed to quicken its rhythm, and faint panting sounds could barely be heard.
Though the girl remained silent, her eyes clearly questioned: "Are you really going to do it here?"
"You're my trophy now."
Kaoru looked down at her from above. "Even if you regret it now, thinking you should have dealt with me earlier... you'd better abandon those thoughts. Losing means losing."
Sakayanagi Arisu bit her lip.
Was losing really just losing?
But how could she possibly accept such a casual dismissal?
"Ichinose... did you really not interfere?"
Unaware she was using hopeful eyes, Sakayanagi asked, "You did something to make her like this, didn't you?"
"No, I did nothing."
Kaoru crushed her expectations. "You simply lost two matches to her fair and square."
Though she'd considered this possibility, Sakayanagi felt a dull ache in her chest, as if something were twisting her heart and stomach.
A sour taste spread through her mouth, making her expression contort slightly in pain.
She had lost to someone she looked down upon.
"Are you jealous of Honami?"
Kaoru's palm rested on her thigh, stroking like soft silk, gently teasing the girl's sensitive nerves.
"Jealous?"
Sakayanagi's emotions surged, as if hearing something unbelievable. "What do you think I'm jealous of? Envious of her voluptuous figure? Or her foolish simplicity?"
Kaoru merely smiled faintly, his fingertips tracing the girl's exceptionally soft, warm skin, making her instinctively tighten her legs.
Perhaps due to previous experiences, Sakayanagi vaguely understood matters between men and women.
Her breathing quickened as she pushed against Kaoru with both hands, trying to stop his movements.
Even if this lecher was impatient, couldn't he at least not do it here?
The girl's body was so soft - her smooth skin, barely developed breasts, gradually reddening face, and tightly pressed lips - everything was filled with temptation.
The next moment, Sakayanagi's pushing hands turned into grasping ones.
Just as a whimper escaped her throat, Kaoru captured her lips.
As numbing sweetness spread throughout her body, Sakayanagi's heartbeat accelerated, like ragged cloth wrapping around thunderous drumbeats that threatened to tear her fragile being apart at any moment.
At that moment, Kaoru gently grasped the sound of her heartbeat, the warmth of a man's body heat transmitting through her chest.
"I will cure your illness, then give you two choices."
Kaoru whispered softly, "First, become my maid, dedicate everything of yourself to me, always be prepared to be used by me, just like now."
His fingers traced a path, and Sakayanagi Arisu felt a surge of electricity pass through her, her entire body going limp.
Compared to last time, this seemed even more intense.
"Second, you endure the humiliation for now."
Kaoru revealed a faint smile, "Someday in the future, defeat me, and then redefine the relationship between us."
Sakayanagi Arisu panted slightly, redefining her relationship with him?
"Do you want to be on top, or underneath? The choice is yours now."
Kaoru withdrew his finger, placing it before her, "If you agree, give it a lick."
A flicker of anger flashed in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes.
How could she possibly willingly accept this guy's humiliation!
"You don't—mmph..."
Before she could refuse, Kaoru had already forcibly sealed her lips, touching a petal-like tip of her tongue, and then she bit down on Kaoru's finger.
"Arisu."
Kaoru seemed completely unfazed, instead smiling at her, "I'll look forward to your performance, in every sense."
Sakayanagi Arisu disdainfully spat out his finger, spitting a few times.
Looking at his expression, she originally wanted to get angry, but found herself unable to speak.
Even if he wanted to lift her spirits, did he have to go this far?
Any girl would hate this kind of guy. Sakayanagi Arisu kept a stern face, of course, she was no exception.
But, do it all over again?