Consciousness could be possessed infinitely.
That meant Yuuya could jump from the pigeon to the salaryman… and then from the salaryman to someone else.
The range had no limit.
Even if the target boarded a plane, Yuuya would remain in control until the time expired.
Targets under possession retained no memory of the experience.
To them, it was only a brief instant.
Of course, if someone moved from one place to another, even the dullest person would notice something was off.
Yuuya spent ten minutes figuring out the exact mechanics of consciousness possession.
Then he returned to the pigeon's perspective, flying to the Yukinoshita villa.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was in the living room, reviewing documents.
Consciousness Possession, activate!
The next moment, Mrs. Yukinoshita put down her papers and looked at the maid beside her.
"Follow me to the study," she said.
"Yes, ma'am."
The two ascended the stairs together and entered the study.
Mrs. Yukinoshita closed the door and sat behind the desk, gazing at the maid.
Consciousness Possession, activate!
From the maid's perspective, Mrs. Yukinoshita regained full awareness.
She realized she was sitting in the study chair, slightly startled.
What was going on?
Wasn't she just looking at the documents?
"Mrs. Yukinoshita," the maid said.
"Hm?"
The woman looked at the maid.
"I am Takumi Yuuya's senior. I moved you from the living room here. My ability is mind control—I can command anyone's actions," the maid explained slowly.
"Mind control?" Mrs. Yukinoshita's face went pale.
"The explanation is complicated, so I'll keep it short."
"Please, go on."
Mrs. Yukinoshita knew the maid wouldn't lie. There was no way she had walked here on her own.
"Yuuya is the heir to our sect, our master's descendant. He is still very weak. Our sect has been monitoring him. I came down from the mountains to help him form alliances, and your family is suitable."
Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned.
"You mean… have the Yukinoshita family pledge allegiance?"
"Yes."
"Don't you think that's… excessive?"
"Excessive? Do you know how rare the elixirs you consumed are?"
"Those were gifts from Takumi-kun."
"Heh. You should be grateful I came, not another senior. Otherwise, you could have become nothing more than a tool for cultivation. Yuuya might have mentioned the elixirs' historical uses, but he doesn't know—besides his own techniques, all our methods can absorb their power," the maid said, her tone meaningful.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes widened.
"What… what are you saying?"
"I am a skilled practitioner. My seniors care about living longer and getting stronger. They might not kill you, but they could absorb the elixirs' power in other ways. You, an ordinary human, cannot refuse them."
"My daughter and Takumi-kun…"
"Yuuya hasn't inherited the sect yet. As long as he isn't harmed, the master won't intervene."
"…"
"If you pledge allegiance, you will be Yuuya's subordinate. I will be the direct overseer, so no other senior will interfere. You help me complete this task, and I can reward you. Anyone you want dealt with, I can handle it."
"The Yukinoshita family currently has no enemies."
"To advance politically, those in front of you need to step aside, right? I can control them completely. You decide the script."
Mrs. Yukinoshita fell silent.
If the people in front of her could be moved aside, Yukino's father could advance. This was an opportunity.
The maid continued:
"Alternatively, if you refuse to pledge allegiance, I can control you and manage the Yukinoshita Construction Company on your behalf. Or… improve your relationship with Takumi-kun."
"Also, I wonder how your daughter would react. That would be… interesting, wouldn't it?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita straightened and bent slightly.
"The Yukinoshita family pledges allegiance."
"Good. Prepare the documents carefully, then take this maid to Soubu High's gates. The more complete the prep, the higher the chance of success."
"Understood."
"As for Yuuya, wait until he graduates. No need for him to know yet about your family's pledge."
"Yes."
"Then I'll leave now."
Mrs. Yukinoshita straightened.
The maid's consciousness returned, confused.
"Go fetch the documents. I want to continue reviewing them here."
"Yes, ma'am," the maid said, bowing before leaving the study.
Mrs. Yukinoshita watched the closed door.
Soubu High.
Lunch break.
Yukino Yukinoshita walked into Takumi Yuuya's classroom.
The students weren't surprised to see her.
Yukino approached Yuuya and set down her bento, glancing at her friends.
Yui Yuigahama, holding her own bento, asked:
"Yukino, are you eating with Takumi-kun today?"
"I…"
"Sorry, Yukino, I already asked another girl to join me. You all can go ahead and eat," Yuuya said, standing and taking his bento.
As he left, he planted a quick kiss on Yukino's cheek.
The boys in the classroom were jealous and envious.
The girls just muttered:
"No wonder he's Takumi Yuuya."
Yukino blushed slightly and looked at Yui and Miura Yumiko.
"Let's go," she said.
The three girls nodded and followed her quietly.
In a quiet hallway:
"Takumi-kun is so terrible! Yukino, aren't you going to stop him?" Ebina Hina asked.
"I… I can't stop him," Yukino replied, glancing at Yui and Yumiko.
Hina pushed up her glasses.
If even the "Ice Princess" could be made to accept other girls, Takumi-kun was truly formidable.
Yui and Yumiko lowered their heads sheepishly.
On the rooftop.
Takumi pushed the door open and saw Megumi Katou.
He had summoned her via message.
"Takumi-kun, why didn't you ask Yukino or another girl?" Megumi asked.
"Yukino went with the others for lunch. I happened to have your contact, so I called you here," he replied.
"You're saying I had no choice? That the consequences would have been serious if I refused?"
"If you didn't come, I would have had to confess in front of the school building after class."
"Weren't you worried they'd hear and get mad?"
"They all know I'm… involved with multiple girls," Yuuya said, sitting beside her.
Megumi looked at him.
"I'm just a normal girl. Why do I attract someone like Takumi-kun?"
"Normal girls don't ask me questions like that, calmly, and with such curiosity," he replied, opening his bento.