It was like looking through a layer of frosted window paper... she couldn't see clearly, but could faintly sense something unsettling behind it.
Money, power, beautiful girls...
When these words combined, they usually only led to one dirty, realistic answer that ordinary people didn't want to think deeply about.
She shook her head, not daring to think further.
But in any case, one thought had firmly taken root in her heart... that man called Seiji, and the current Ryo Yamada, must be approached with caution, kept at a distance!
...
...
The next morning.
Kikuri Hiroi woke up in severe headache.
She clutched her head, groggily sitting up from the sofa, looking around at this unfamiliar and absurdly luxurious living room.
"Ugh... my head hurts so much..." She muttered to herself. "Where... am I...?"
She struggled to recall what happened last night, but only broken, bizarre fragments remained in her mind.
Seemed like... she drank very expensive sake...
Seemed like... she saw a naked man with an amazing body...
And then... seemed like she experienced some... incredible scenes...
She could feel that those were very bad memories, but specifically what they were, she couldn't remember no matter how hard she tried.
That feeling was like having a wet dream, only remembering the excitement but forgetting the danger.
"Forget it, can't remember..." She irritably scratched her already messy pink hair.
"You're awake?"
A flat voice came from the kitchen.
Ryo walked over carrying two plates of simple breakfast—toast and fried eggs.
She'd already changed into her usual outfit, looking no different from normal, but between her brows carried a trace of languid charm from being thoroughly satisfied.
Kikuri saw her and immediately showed a grateful smile: "Ryo-chan! Good morning! Thank you so much for last night!"
"Eat." Ryo pushed a plate of breakfast in front of her.
Kikuri was starving and couldn't care about anything else, wolfing down the breakfast.
While eating, she sincerely sighed: "Ryo-chan you're such a good person! Not like Seika-chan, so stingy!"
After finishing breakfast, she remembered the important matter and hurriedly took out her phone, dialing Eliza Shimizu's number.
The call had just connected when Eliza Shimizu's voice, full of anger and worry, exploded from the receiver.
"Kikuri Hiroi!!! You still know how to call?! You hopeless alcoholic! Idiot! Scum!"
"I'm sorry... Eliza..."
Kikuri skillfully held the phone away from her ear, grinning foolishly while apologizing, accepting this "education of love" from her teammate.
Through ten minutes of scolding, she obediently apologized, reported her current location, then hung up and waited for the other party to drive over to pick her up.
—
Soon, a small Suzuki car stopped in front of the Yamada residence.
Eliza Shimizu got out from the driver's seat. She first walked to Ryo and bowed deeply.
"Yamada-san, thank you so much! I've caused you so much trouble!"
"It's nothing." Ryo's expression remained that indifferent look.
While thanking her, Eliza discreetly observed Ryo.
She discovered that today's Ryo seemed somewhat different from the solitary girl in her impression.
Although her expression was still cold, those eyes held something belonging to adults.
Eliza didn't intend to investigate further.
After confirming Kikuri was just hungover, she grabbed Kikuri's ear and, cursing all the while, dragged her toward the car.
"Let's go! You trouble-making machine! I'll settle accounts with you when we get back!"
"Ow ow ow! Eliza be gentle! Thanks Ryo-chan! I'll come play again next time!"
Kikuri grinned foolishly as she was stuffed into the car.
The car started, slowly driving away.
"Goodbye." Ryo calmly waved farewell.
...
On the way back, Kikuri got hit by the cold wind from the car window, and her clever brain came back online.
Something's wrong.
Something is definitely wrong!
Last night's events couldn't have been that simple! That girl Ryo definitely did something while I was drunk!
Kikuri touched her chin, expression thoughtful.
She had very full self-awareness.
She was an alcoholic, a troublemaker—almost everyone who knew her avoided her. But last night, Ryo's attitude accepting her was way too straightforward!
So straightforward it was like she'd been expecting her to come!
There must be some unspeakable purpose behind this!
Kikuri narrowed her eyes, hesitating whether to figure out what really happened.
As a top-tier alcoholic, she was equally skilled at pretending to be drunk.
Perhaps tonight, using the "fake drunk" trick, go to Ryo's house one more time?
"Kikuri! Are you listening to me!" Next to her, Eliza's scolding continued. "I'm telling you, don't go bothering Yamada-san anymore! You hear me?!"
"I hear you, I hear you..." Kikuri responded absentmindedly.
Eliza looked at her perfunctory attitude and sighed helplessly.
She hesitated a moment, then couldn't help saying: "Kikuri... I'm not joking. From now on, even if you're drunk sleeping on the street, don't bother Yamada-san anymore. If you really have nowhere to go, come find me."
Intuition told her that the Yamada household was now a dangerous vortex.
She had to protect this friend whose brain wasn't clear.
"Hm?" Hearing this, Kikuri looked thoughtfully at her good friend.
She discovered Eliza's face carried an expression of seriousness she'd never seen before.
So it's not just me. Even Eliza noticed something wrong?
This instead strengthened her determination to investigate the secret behind it all!
"Okay—! I got it Eliza!" She obediently agreed on the surface, but inside had already planned out tonight's entire scheme.
...
...
Nightfall. Yamada residence.
Seiji was skillfully massaging the waist of Ryo, who lay prone on the bed.
"Mm... ah... Seiji... lighter..."
Ryo let out comfortable yet slightly pained moans.
Last night, they'd played way too hard. Especially stimulated by Kikuri as an "audience," she'd completely let herself go, resulting in her waist feeling like it was about to break all day today, with no way to recover combat ability.
"Now you know to beg for mercy?" Seiji said amusedly while massaging. "Who was so excited last night?"
"Isn't it because you're a stamina monster..." Ryo sighed. "Fortunately... you have others. Otherwise, relying on me alone, sooner or later I'd really get fucked to death in bed."
"Haha," Seiji laughed. "Don't worry, you'll meet them soon."
He thought of the project report for "Puella Magi Madoka Magica."
"That animation project I invested in will soon enter the final stage. Then the production team will come to Tokyo to negotiate with TV stations about broadcasting and follow-up cooperation. Those two are on the team."
"Mm." Ryo was mentally prepared for this.
...
...
Same time, in a dark alley in Shimokitazawa.
Kikuri was heartbroken as she roughly poured an entire box of cheap shochu on her face and body.
The cold alcohol slid down her cheeks and neck, soaking her T-shirt, making her shiver in the cool night breeze.
"Wuu... my alcohol... what a waste..."
While pouring it on herself, she was so heartbroken tears nearly fell.
This was bought with several days' worth of saved change, originally meant to savor slowly.
But to uncover the truth, this sacrifice was worth it!
This was like a rock musician smashing their beloved guitar on stage—a necessary sacrifice!
After finishing, she still reluctantly brought the empty box to her mouth, forcefully sucking out the last drop of alcohol remaining at the bottom, then reluctantly threw the box in the trash.
She took a deep breath, feeling the rich "drunkenness" emanating from her entire body, then staggered forward with fake steps toward Setagaya Ward.
Today, she had no money left to take a taxi.
While walking, Kikuri worked hard to recall last night's blurry scenes.
She barely managed to piece together an image from those bizarre fragments—
She seemed to really see a shirtless man in Ryo's living room.
"But how is that possible?" She immediately shook her head, dismissing this absurd thought.
"Ryo-chan is still so young... although she always says 'rock and roll is about playing women,' she's actually more conservative than anyone. How could she bring a man home... and a naked one at that..."
"Unless it's... that famous Fujiwara-sensei? Hahahaha..."
She talked to herself, making a joke even she thought impossible, then stopped thinking about it.
...
...
Soon, after walking for nearly an hour, Kikuri finally arrived at the Yamada residence again.
She adjusted her "appearance" to look more "drunk," then reached out and pressed the doorbell.
"Ding-dong—"
"Ryo-chan—! I'm here again—! Open up—!"
Inside, Ryo and Seiji, who were enjoying the massage, both froze, then looked at each other.
Both their eyes showed identical playful expressions.
"This audience... comes with an encore feature?" Seiji said with a low laugh.
"Didn't expect she'd actually dare come." Ryo's lips curved in a cold arc. "Although tonight can't do a 'full performance,' an 'unplugged mini live' is still possible."
"Can't miss this." Seiji nodded in agreement.
Just like last night, Ryo straightened her clothes and walked to the door.
"Click."
The door opened.
Kikuri immediately showed that signature ingratiating smile, hands together, starting to beg for shelter.
And Ryo, just like last night, readily agreed and warmly invited her in.
Upon entering, Kikuri immediately looked toward the living room.
Then her brain crashed.
Sitting on the living room sofa was a man.
Shirtless, only a bath towel around his waist, exposing powerful chest and abs.
And that face...
Was none other than the "genius author" who'd recently dominated TV and internet—
Seiji Fujiwara!
BOOM—!
Kikuri's brain, like being directly hit by a nuclear bomb, instantly went blank, almost unable to maintain her fake drunk act.
She stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
"Careful."
Ryo timely caught her, half-dragging half-supporting her onto the sofa.
"Seiji," Ryo's tone was as casual as discussing weather, "look, our audience delivered herself. Seems she can't get enough of the show."
"Is that so?" Seiji smiled. "Then we can't disappoint the audience. But you got your 'back door' worked so hard last night, can you still go today?"
Back... back door?!
Kikuri heard these two words like being struck by lightning!
She stared in shock, eyes wide.
Last night's terrible memories were actually real?!
She... she was actually part of these two people's forbidden play?!
She felt her worldview being mercilessly crushed to pieces in this moment.
"Full performance might not work," Ryo's voice carried provocation, "but a spectacular foreplay session is more than enough."
Saying this, like last night, she took out that bottle of "Juyondai Ryusen" from the liquor cabinet and handed it to Kikuri.
"Come, Kikuri-senpai, drink up."
Kikuri looked at that sake she'd dreamed of, but now felt it was like Pandora's box.
She stiffly took the bottle and drank with difficulty.
She seemed to live a dissolute life, but in her bones was actually quite conservative.
Right now, having stumbled into this situation straight out of hentai, she just wanted to escape immediately!
Ryo and Seiji naturally saw the stiffness and unnaturalness in her movements. The two exchanged glances, both showing knowing smiles.
Soon, under their "enthusiastic urging," Kikuri was forced to drink large amounts of sake.
Her fake drunkenness gradually became real half-drunk state.
And Ryo repositioned her softened body, making her face toward herself.
Then, she knelt before Seiji, raised her head, and began her "service."
Seiji enjoyed it while looking down at Ryo's delicate, cold face, now flushed with arousal.
He couldn't help letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Worthy of being my Ryo, this mouth and tongue are even more nimble than your bass-playing fingers... feels so good."
Hearing praise, Ryo worked even harder, straightening her back, eagerly swallowing toward deeper depths, like a princess actively opening the castle gates to welcome the invader.
Kikuri listened to those obscene praises, watched that lewd scene before her eyes, feeling like she was about to combust.
She just wanted to immediately find a crack to crawl into, or be numbed by alcohol and completely pass out.
Before long, Seiji seemed to feel it wasn't enough. He turned Ryo around, making her face away from him.
"Ah... Seiji... right there..." Ryo's actively demanding appearance, and that attitude completely opposite her usual cold expression, left Kikuri disbelieving.
Is this still that aloof, solitary Ryo-chan?
She quietly opened one eye a crack.
Seeing the two people's primitive, wild scene, her face "whoosh" turned red like dripping blood, her heart betraying her by pounding wildly.
Fortunately, the two soon moved positions, turning their backs to her, walking toward the other side of the living room.
Chance!
Kikuri breathed a sigh of relief. She supported her weakened body, tiptoed slowly toward the entrance.
One step, two steps...
She successfully reached the entrance.
Freedom was right before her eyes!
Kikuri's face showed a smile of narrow escape.
However, just as she prepared to pull open the door and flee—
Two hands, left and right, soundlessly landed on her shoulders.
A cold female voice and a laughing male voice, like surround sound, simultaneously rang in her ears.
"Where are you going?"
"Ahh—!!!"
Terrified out of her wits, Kikuri let out a scream piercing the night sky.
But her voice only got halfway out before a strong hand firmly covered her mouth.
Seiji from behind restrained her entire body, easily dragging her back to the living room and tossing her on the sofa.
Kikuri shrank into the sofa corner, trembling.
Seiji and Ryo, left and right, sat beside her.