Marin's pretty face was slightly flushed, and she raised a hand to cover her lips, softly saying, "Let's play King's game first..."
The game Marin proposed was simple.
The three of them would first draw cards, and the winner could issue a King's command to the loser.
To make the game more interesting, Marin and Sayu had prepared the King's command punishments in advance, putting them in a sealed plastic box, and the King would randomly draw a command from it.
"Sayu-chan."
Marin turned her head and said, "Bring out the box."
"Got it."
Sayu responded, blushing as she opened her backpack and took out a sealed cookie box.
Hey, hey, they're so well-prepared, you two clearly came ready!
Natsuki looked at the cookie box and asked curiously, "What kind of punishment commands are inside?"
"It's a secret, it wouldn't be fun if I told you!"
Marin put her hands on her hips, raised her chin, and said, "There's a ten-minute arbitrary chore voucher inside. If Natsuki is lucky and draws the arbitrary chore voucher, we can do anything you want."
Natsuki pondered for a few seconds, then suddenly said seriously, "That's not fair."
"Eh?"
Marin looked over in shock, "Natsuki doesn't want to play?"
"Of course I want to play."
Natsuki corrected, "But if all the commands are written by you, it's too unfair. I also want to write some King's commands. This request is very reasonable and legitimate, isn't it?"
Sayu: "..."
Marin: "..."
"Indeed... there's some truth to that."
Marin and Sayu whispered and discussed for a while, finally agreeing to add Natsuki's written King's commands to the cookie tin.
"But you're only allowed to write five. If there are too many, it'll all be Natsuki's King's commands."
Marin extended a slender, fair finger, laying down the law, "Also, you can't write commands that are too excessive."
Natsuki tilted his head and looked over, pretending not to understand:
"What do you mean by excessive commands?"
Marin bit her silver teeth: "...You know perfectly well!"
Natsuki looked at Sayu and instructed, "Sayu, bring a pen."
"Yes, Master."
Sayu responded and trotted upstairs, her cat ears and tail accessory gently swaying with her movements, looking especially adorable.
Thump, thump, thump.
Soon, Sayu came downstairs with a pen and a notepad.
Natsuki took the pen, ready to write the King's commands.
"Staring—"
Marin stood on her tiptoes, pretending to watch TV, but secretly peeking over here.
"Don't look."
Natsuki blocked the notepad, "This is a secret."
"Hmph."
Marin put her hands on her hips and snorted lightly, "If you don't look, you don't look."
"..."
A moment later.
"I'm done writing, exactly five King's commands."
Natsuki had already crumpled the note paper into small paper balls, had Sayu and Marin count them to make sure, then threw them into the cookie box, rubbing his hands together, "Let's start now."
"Eh?"
Marin was startled, "Aren't you bathing?"
"Of course not."
Natsuki said matter-of-factly, "Of course I'll wait until I draw an arbitrary chore voucher and have you two bathe with me."
"Pfft~"
Marin lightly spat, raised her chin, and said, "One arbitrary chore voucher can only be used on one person."
"We'll talk about that later."
Natsuki urged, "Hurry and draw cards, I can't wait."
"..."
Marin and Sayu exchanged glances, both girls blushing as they picked up the playing cards, ready to play the King and Maid game.
"Wait, I just remembered something."
Marin suddenly sat up straight and looked at Natsuki, "When playing the game, it must be fair; you can't cheat with Time Stop."
Natsuki: "..."
Seeing Natsuki remain silent, Marin immediately puffed out her pink cheeks and couldn't help but retort, "You're not saying anything, Natsuki, you really want to cheat, don't you?"
"I'm not, I didn't."
Natsuki vehemently denied, then asked, "What happens if I cheat?"
Marin's pretty face hardened and she said, "Of course Sayu-chan and I will turn around and leave!"
Sayu: "Th-that..."
Sorry, Marin, I actually want to stay.
"Alright, I promise."
Natsuki raised his right hand, "I'll definitely play fair, no cheating, or else I'll gain ten pounds."
Marin: "You're not a girl, you won't care about your weight!"
"..."
The game quickly began.
There's nothing much to say about the rules of drawing cards, everyone knows them. In short, it didn't take long for the three of them to determine a winner.
"Slap."
Natsuki threw down the Joker in his hand and couldn't help but complain, "I protest! We have to add another rule: you two can't gang up on me."
"Protest denied."
Marin clenched her right fist and gently tapped the small low table, saying seriously, "The Joker game inherently involves alliances and strategies, it's part of the reasonable rules."
"Marin-chan is right."
Sayu showed a sweet smile, and said expectantly, "Master, can you accept the King's command now?"
Natsuki sighed helplessly and said, "Choose a command."
"Hehe~ Then I won't be polite."
Sayu picked up the cookie box and began to shake it. There was a small vent hole on top of the cookie box, and soon, a paper ball dropped from the hole.
"Let me see..."
Sayu picked up the paper slip, and after unfolding it, her pretty face quickly flushed. She cleared her throat twice and said, "The King's command on the paper is... that... the President will, will use his mouth to help Marin-chan take off her stockings."
Natsuki: "..."
You two actually wrote such a command on paper, I didn't realize you were so playful!
Natsuki turned to look at Marin, then suddenly took out his phone, his tone subtle:
"Can the King's command be revoked?"
"Of course it cannot be revoked."
Marin sat on the sofa, raised her right foot, her black over-the-knee stockings gleaming faintly under the light, the curve from her knee to her toes especially alluring, "One must be true to their word, and do as they say."
Natsuki said, "Really?"
Marin raised her chin, revealing her fair, slender neck:
"A word once uttered cannot be overtaken by a team of four horses."
"Then I'm relieved."
Natsuki smiled and put away his phone.
"How strange..."
Marin felt something was off and cautiously asked, "What are you doing with your phone, Natsuki?"
"Nothing."
Natsuki put away his phone and came before Marin, "Let's begin."
He would honor his bet.
Natsuki never reneged on a debt.
It was just taking off stockings with his mouth, so he would naturally do as he said.
When the moment arrived, Marin's pretty face involuntarily flushed, and she covered her skirt with her hands, clearing her throat twice:
"Le-let's begin."
It wasn't a big deal playing with Natsuki alone, but with Sayu also present, it was indeed very embarrassing.
However, besides the shame, there was also an indescribable thrill.
"W-wait a minute… Don't just randomly kiss! The King's Order only told you to take off my stockings!"
"I am taking off your stockings."
"My stockings aren't there… Ugh!"
...
After a while, Natsuki successfully took off one of Marin's stockings.
Unfortunately, he only managed to take off one; she absolutely refused to let him take off the other.
"Taking off stockings is indeed a bit difficult…" Natsuki sat back down, saying nonchalantly, "The game continues."
Marin's pretty face was flushed, her eyes misty, and she carefully sat back down.
"Continue, continue."
Sayu hurriedly started shuffling the cards.
Natsuki asked curiously:
"Who came up with this King's Order about taking off stockings?"
Marin and Sayu exchanged glances and said in unison:
"That's a secret."
"That's right, Natsuki, don't ask so many questions."
...
A moment later.
The second round of the King game ended, and this time Marin won.
Marin followed suit, shaking a paper ball out of the cookie box. When she unfolded it, this time the King's Order was very simple.
"Natsuki, you and Sayu-chan eat a chocolate stick together."
Natsuki said:
"Is it that party game way of eating a chocolate stick?"
"That's right." Marin put her hands on her hips and said, "That's the way."
Suddenly, such a simple King's Order came up. You guys should have made it a bit more challenging!
The party game way of eating a chocolate stick is actually very simple: two people each bite one end of the chocolate stick and then eat towards each other. For boys and girls in an ambiguous period with each other, it would be very exciting and stimulating.
But Natsuki had already had a deep interaction with Sayu, so this way of eating was super simple, with no challenge at all.
He turned to look at Sayu, who had already picked up a chocolate stick with her mouth.
"Then I'll start."
Natsuki leaned closer and started eating, munching away. Then Natsuki realized he had misjudged.
He had a thick skin and didn't mind eating the chocolate stick together, but Sayu's skin was clearly a bit thin. Next to them, Marin was watching the live broadcast with wide, eager eyes. As the two got closer and closer, a blush rapidly spread across Sayu's face.
In the end, she closed her eyes in a fluster, only her pink, moist lips slightly parted, exhaling a sweet scent.
Natsuki couldn't resist and leaned in to kiss Sayu.
Sayu was very shy at first, but after a short while, she couldn't help but respond.
"Stop! Hurry up and stop!" Marin puffed out her cheeks. "The chocolate stick is all gone, so you two stop!"
"S-sorry…"
Sayu's pretty face was flushed like fire, and she covered her cheeks in shame.
Natsuki, on the other hand, sat back down, wiped his lips, and then said:
"Continue, continue."
...
The third round of the King game began again.
As expected, Natsuki lost again, accepted Marin's King's Order, and then looked at Sayu for help with pleading eyes.
Under Natsuki's pleading gaze, Sayu finally chose to be a traitor, quietly dissolving her anti-Natsuki alliance with Marin, and secretly providing help to Natsuki.
Thus, in the fourth round of the King game, Natsuki finally secured a victory.
"Good luck." Natsuki shook the cookie box, and a paper ball fell out. He unfolded it and showed it to Marin and Sayu. "It's a free household chore voucher."
"To think I'd draw that so quickly…" Marin crossed her arms over her chest, her pretty face slightly red, and said, "Let's make it clear first, one free voucher can only be used for one person to help scrub your back."
"Who should I choose?"
Natsuki's gaze swept over Marin and Sayu.
Marin and Sayu's pretty faces quickly turned red. Sayu lowered her head, while Marin nonchalantly turned her head to look out the window. The two girls silently awaited Natsuki's decision.
A moment later.
"I've thought about it…" Natsuki said seriously, "I won't choose anyone."
"Eh?"
"I'll save the free household chore voucher for now and use it together later."
...
Only an idiot would be so eager to make a choice now.
There isn't a girl in the world who wouldn't get jealous. The reason Marin called Sayu to play today was also because she was worried about her voice getting hoarse.
A free household chore voucher could only choose one person. No matter who was chosen, the other person would have to stay outside, watching enviously, which wouldn't make them happy even if you thought about it with your toes.
People definitely can't treat everyone exactly equally, but they absolutely cannot favor one person exclusively. The consequences of differential treatment are very serious—not to mention people, even kittens and puppies get jealous.
"Hmph…"
Hearing Natsuki's decision, Marin and Sayu simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. The two girls exchanged glances, then quickly averted their eyes.
It must be said that Natsuki's decision could be described as killing two birds with one stone.
If he had really chosen one, the other would certainly not have been happy.
"Continue, continue." Marin lifted her chin and said, "Anyway, the free household chore voucher can only be used today and will expire, so you decide."
...
The King game continued.
After a few more rounds, the King's Order written by Natsuki himself was finally drawn.
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Sayu unfolded the paper slip, and after seeing its content, steam immediately billowed from the top of her head.
"What does the slip say?" Marin's curiosity was instantly piqued. "Let me see."
She reached out and took the paper slip, then Marin's eyes widened as she looked:
"King's Order, the park at night… the park?!"
Marin's pretty face quickly flushed red. She looked at Natsuki in shame, leaning back and saying:
"Natsuki, you, you, you, you… you actually want to go to the park?!"
Natsuki said solemnly:
"It's half past nine now, there won't be anyone in the park."
"No! No, no, no!" Marin covered her chest with her hands. "What if, what if a passerby comes by?"
Natsuki was prepared and said:
"We still have cloaks we can use."
"But, but there must be a lot of mosquitoes in a place like the park, right?"
"Mosquito repellent, check it out."
"Still no!" Marin shook her head again. "That kind of thing is too terrible!"
...
Natsuki silently took out his phone and played what Marin had said not long ago.
"Can the King's Order be regretted?"
"Of course it can't be regretted. One must be trustworthy and do what one says."
"Really?"
"A word once uttered cannot be overtaken by a team of four horses."
Listening to the recording on his phone, Marin realized she had been tricked.
It turned out that from the very beginning, this guy had ill intentions, wanting to trick her and Sayu into going to the park!
"Marin, these are your own words." Natsuki smiled. "You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"
...
Marin bit her lip with her pearly teeth, her pretty face flushed, and she turned her head away, saying nothing.
"Marin, I choose you." Natsuki smiled. "Come with me to the park."
He paused, then Natsuki took out the free household chore voucher again, turned to look at the blushing Sayu next to him, and said:
"I'll use another free exchange voucher to replicate the previous King's Order… Sayu-chan, you have to come too."
Sayu: "…"
A bet is a bet.
The King's Order must be fulfilled no matter what.
Sayu and Marin had no choice but to silently get up, their pretty faces flushed, and agree to Natsuki's absurd request.
"Spray mosquito repellent first." Natsuki brought over the mosquito repellent. "There are a lot of mosquitoes in the park."
Marin complained with a red face:
"If you know there are a lot of mosquitoes, then don't go to the park."
Natsuki spread his hands and said:
"It's the King's Order, so I can't help it."
Marin puffed out her cheeks in anger, reached out and pinched Natsuki's waist, and said in shame:
"You're the one who wrote the King's Order!"
Compared to the huffing Marin, Sayu was much quieter. Although her face was completely red, she kept her head down and said nothing, doing whatever she was told.
...
A moment later.
The three of them finished tidying up. Natsuki walked out of the house first, Marin followed behind, and Sayu, with her pretty face flushed, walked last like a little tail.
It was already half past nine in the evening. As Natsuki had said, the residential area had quieted down, and there were almost no pedestrians on the road.
Marin and Sayu were still wearing maid outfits, following behind Natsuki, and arrived at the park with trepidation.
As expected, the park at night was exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of insects and not a single person in sight. Of course, there were also many wandering evil spirits.
Natsuki decisively activated his Evil Spirit Aura, circled the park, and eliminated all the evil spirits.
It was a rare night run in the park, so he certainly couldn't let these guys ruin the mood.
"Done." Natsuki took out his phone and looked at Sayu and Marin. "You two sit down first. Let me take a few photos. After all, it's the first time, very memorable."
"It's not memorable at all!"
Marin's pretty face was flushed, and she retorted, but she still sat on the bench with Sayu.
Click, click.
Natsuki took several photos in a row, then said contentedly:
"The moonlight is beautiful tonight."
"Bah~"
This time, not only Marin, but even Sayu couldn't help but spit lightly.
There was indeed a moon tonight, but 'the moonlight is beautiful' only appears in pure romance manga. How could you say that!
Natsuki sat between the two girls, hugging Marin with his left hand and Sayu with his right, then said,
"I'm going to dig in."
"Bah~" Marin couldn't help but spit at him again, her pretty face flushed like fire. Even for a gyaru, the embarrassment was a bit too much. "No, no, I'm going back."
Natsuki looked over: "Marin is going to back out?"
"That's right, I'm going to back out… Mmph!"
Marin hadn't finished speaking when her voice was muffled.
Sayu turned her head to glance, her vision seemingly scorched, quickly looking away with a red face, holding her breath nervously, but her heart couldn't help but start to race.
And then…
The night passed without a word.
The next day.
Because her dad was coming home today, Marin didn't lie in bed. She got up early to wash up, and before leaving, she didn't forget to pull Sayu along, so Sayu wouldn't suffer alone.
Natsuki sat on the sofa. He didn't want to go out today, just wanted to laze around all day. Suddenly, his phone received a text message.
"Natsuki-kun, something bad has happened~"