Sakayanagi Arisu gave the impression of a girl who feared nothing, someone without weaknesses, making it hard to imagine what her vulnerabilities might be.
Not only that, it was rare to see her display reactions typical of a normal girl.
It seemed even when discussing risqué topics, she would show more interest than the person involved rather than embarrassment.
However, Kaoru knew she wasn't an impeccable saint.
When he spanked her, he clearly felt her shock and humiliated anger—emotional responses any girl would have.
Without a doubt, once her layers of disguise were broken through, her feminine side would emerge, revealing her truest self.
Understanding this, Kaoru methodically shattered her mask.
The more emotional fluctuations she showed, the harder it became for her to maintain her composure and stubbornness.
First, Kaoru needed to strip away her exterior.
Sakayanagi Arisu's fingers trembled slightly.
Being as intelligent as she was, she could easily guess what Kaoru intended to do to her. But what could she do even if she guessed?
As each button came undone, a faint sense of humiliation welled up in Sakayanagi Arisu's heart. When had she ever done something like this?
Knowing full well the other person was humiliating her, yet having to cooperate so they could humiliate her more effectively.
His actions were one thing, but what Sakayanagi Arisu cared about more was Ichinose Honami.
Would she have to reveal her wretched side in front of her as well?
Would it always be like this from now on?
Sakayanagi Arisu gradually lost control of her emotions.
The more she thought about it, the more stifled she felt.
She refused to sink to the level of those other girls!
"Continue."
Kaoru watched her.
Her underdeveloped chest offered little to see—too youthful, giving off the impression of a little girl, more like an exquisite porcelain doll that made one instinctively want to cherish her.
Sakayanagi Arisu pursed her lips tightly, her slender and smooth shoulders already exposed before his eyes.
Her delicate collarbones framed a patch of snow-white skin, and though petite, she possessed all the curves a young girl should have—subtly outlined in a breathtaking silhouette, like little red beans bursting from their pods.
She appeared tender and adorable, glowing with a faint blush born of shyness.
Ichinose Honami hesitated, unsure whether she should intervene.
Kaoru hooked his finger under Sakayanagi Arisu's chin.
She obediently raised her eyes, lightly biting her lip as she murmured, "My master is my everything. My master's words are my commands. My only master is Kaoru."
What must Sakayanagi Arisu be feeling at this moment, speaking such words before him and revealing this posture under Ichinose Honami's watchful gaze?
"Not bad."
Kaoru's fingers trailed downward, his fingertips grazing her skin and sending shivers across her body.
"As a reward, you may now freely express your feelings. What does it feel like to be cherished by me?"
She had thought Kaoru wouldn't dare do much to her—at most, something like last time.
But then Sakayanagi Arisu remembered: the medicine that had restored her then might still be in his possession now.
Kaoru began to knead gently, and her breathing gradually grew uneven.
Her eyes closed as she spoke, her voice slightly hurried, "I will repay you double in the future."
It seemed she believed Kaoru was forcing her to make a choice, so she chose to endure for now, intending to challenge him again later to reclaim her dignity.
"I wasn't asking about that."
Kaoru increased the pressure slightly. "When your master grants you a blessing, what should you say?"
His technique was skillful; even someone as emotionally restrained as Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation coursing through her.
Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't comprehend this feeling.
She struggled to control her reactions, but Kaoru's fingers pried her teeth apart somewhat roughly.
"It seems our understanding of a maid differs slightly."
Kaoru remarked, "To me, a maid is merely a convenient tool, whose sole purpose is to please me. It appears you're failing at that."
Sakayanagi Arisu felt deeply uncomfortable. His tone held no fluctuation; even if she tried to leave now, he wouldn't stop her.
Yet, this only fueled Sakayanagi Arisu's competitive spirit.
"It's… it's very pleasurable… Master's hands…"
Even if these were insincere words, speaking such lines for the first time filled Sakayanagi Arisu with intense shame.
She no longer dared to look at Ichinose Honami, her voice breaking intermittently, "If this is enough to please my master… please continue with me…"
"Be more detailed."
With every slight movement Kaoru made, her body would reflexively tremble.
"What does this feel like?"
As if under some irresistible spell, Sakayanagi Arisu felt her rationality slipping away bit by bit.
She hadn't known her body could react this way—like a tuner adjusting the tones of an instrument, each touch elicited an instinctive response.
Her body moved in sync with his actions on its own, as if eager to become something that belonged solely to him.
"It's… a bit unbearable… My body feels inexplicably hot…"Sakayanagi Arisu held onto his thigh, gradually beginning to pant, "It feels... a bit strange... ah..."
She forcibly held back, not letting out any embarrassing sounds.
Just as she was growing increasingly uncomfortable, Kaoru stopped his movements.
The blazing flames that were about to surge up and burn her crimson suddenly extinguished, leaving her alone staring at Kaoru in utter bewilderment.
"There's a collar over there. Put it on yourself."
Kaoru pointed to the box in the corner. "By the way, wear the cat ears too."
Sakayanagi Arisu widened her eyes—he had even prepared a collar? Was he really planning to treat her like a pet?
"I understand."
Sakayanagi Arisu still carried an air of composure, as if she were in a superior position.
"It seems the master enjoys this kind of Game quite a lot. Did you prepare this in advance?"
"No, it's Kikyo's."
Kaoru denied it. "I want to see how you're different from Kikyo."
Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent.
She couldn't tell whether Kaoru was trying to provoke her or not, but his indifferent attitude irritated her.
"Hehe, there might be fewer things I can do compared to her."
The girl grabbed Kaoru's hand and placed it against her cheek, looking into his eyes. "But you want me, and I've been waiting for you to conquer me."
Kaoru didn't respond. Sakayanagi Arisu smiled faintly, feeling as though she had regained the upper hand.
She was clever enough to realize that Kaoru was Conditioning her.
If the one being Conditioned was fully aware of it, could the Conditioning still succeed?
"Before that, I'm more than happy to cooperate with you."
A trace of a smile appeared on Sakayanagi Arisu's face. "But, can you really conquer me?"
Ichinose Honami swallowed nervously.
Her worries seemed unnecessary—the two of them appeared to be engaged in a battle of wits, far from the scenario she had imagined.
Kaoru withdrew his hand, and Sakayanagi Arisu didn't mind.
She stood up decisively and began rummaging through the box in the corner for the items he had mentioned.
It was natural for her to think this way, as it was the result of Kaoru's deliberate guidance.
While Sakayanagi Arisu thought he was using reverse psychology, Kaoru had already hinted that she could withdraw at any time—this so-called Conditioning was nothing more than a [Game].
A [Game] she could quit anytime—naturally, Sakayanagi Arisu would assume she was one of the players, even if her role was somewhat humiliating.
Combined with what he had said to her earlier, Sakayanagi Arisu would interpret the meaning of Conditioning on her own and conclude that Kaoru was letting her make the decision.
Thus, Sakayanagi Arisu decided to challenge Kaoru once again.
This Conditioning Game was also seen by her as one of her challenges to Kaoru.
Kaoru knew very well that mere Conditioning wouldn't spark much interest in her.
She only felt frustrated and wasn't necessarily willing to cooperate deep down.
However, if she took the initiative to participate, the situation would be different.
The more unwilling she was, the more she wanted to turn the tables and become the master, the more easily she would immerse herself in it and become consumed by it.
Kaoru only needed to slowly implant hints and suggestions deep into her heart, engraving them onto her soul.
A targeted PUA tailored specifically for her would likely succeed.
Like the repeated hints just now—if he recited them hundreds of times every day, even if she could see through their meaning, her brain wouldn't listen to her.
Habit is a terrifying disease.
Humans are also animals.
To tame a person, whether through simple or complex techniques, all must be employed.
Phenomena like Pavlov's experiments and Stockholm Syndrome prove that humans can also be domesticated.
Kaoru watched her back—the girl's perky buttocks and slightly flushed earlobes.