Kendo Club—
"HA!!!"
Sakura Miyajima, dressed in her kendo uniform, maintained an expressionless face. The white jacket and skirt-like trousers gave her an austere, fresh look. The taut waist of the uniform emphasized her already ample bosom.
However, the mood of the charming Kendo Club President did not seem good. She didn't even wear a face guard as she sparred with a fully-armored male club member using wooden shinai.
The crisp shouts and the clashing of weapons echoed through the dojo.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"I surrender! President, I give up!"
The male student across from her surrendered without dignity, groaning loudly. As a club member, he clearly recognized the gap in skill between himself and the President. Even as a male, he stood almost no chance against her.
No one needed to feel ashamed; she was simply that good.
"Thank you for the instruction," Sakura said, bowing, then frowned. "You gave up too quickly. You could have continued. Why didn't you try harder?"
"President, you're too strong. There's no point in continuing, right? Let's just stop."
Seeing several kendo members wave their hands in refusal, Sakura sighed, said no more, and began gathering her gear, her spirits noticeably low.
She looked around at the club members. The senior student sighed softly. These club members, with whom she had spent so much time, were gathered together, laughing and chatting, seemingly normal, with nothing outwardly odd about them.
But Sakura knew the truth. These seemingly normal members were still affected by that strange hypnosis. Whenever the topic of sex or the 'Erotic Instruction' club came up, they became wildly fanatical.
Instead of rejecting it, they enthusiastically endorsed it.
She felt like the only normal person in the entire Kendo Club—the feeling of being the only sober person in a world of drunks—and it left her emotionally conflicted.
"Senpai, you seem to be in a bad mood today?" Masafumi Kase noticed his girlfriend's abnormality. "Let's take a break."
"Yes, alright."
Seeing Masafumi Kase, Sakura managed a small smile, feeling slightly better. But soon she frowned again, her heart heavy, because her boyfriend, Masafumi Kase, was also one of those affected.
Thinking about the ridiculous things Masafumi Kase had said to her yesterday only made Sakura more agitated. Yet, she couldn't get angry with him, because... Kase was under the influence of a supernatural power.
"Senpai, if you're not feeling energetic, how about we go out for a walk or do some shopping to clear your head? Maybe your mood will improve," Masafumi Kase suggested.
"A walk... okay, Kase. Just wait for me to change my clothes."
Sakura looked down at her kendo uniform and agreed. Sakura didn't seem to notice the sly sneer that crossed Masafumi Kase's face the moment she turned away.
Inside the Kendo Club changing room, as she changed, she glanced down at a sensitive spot on her abdomen. There, imprinted on her skin, was a pink heart mark, blatantly lewd and obscene.
"This must be Alex's doing? Honestly..."
Sakura's face flushed. She had tried washing it off last night, but it wouldn't budge. However, since this mark was the reason she had returned to normal, she would be uneasy if she could wash it off.
But... this embarrassing mark made her hesitant to change in front of the other girls. If they saw it, she'd definitely be teased.
Changing back into her school uniform, Sakura said goodbye to the Kendo Club members and left with Masafumi Kase. The male club members watched them leave with envious eyes.
"I'm so jealous. Kase is actually dating Sakura Senpai," one boy grumbled. "He's totally winning at life."
"I heard he and Senpai went to the Erotic Instruction Room yesterday. He probably got his 'instruction' and they must have done lewd things. Ugh."
The discussion continued, but none of them could possibly guess that yesterday's 'Erotic Instruction' not only failed but actually caused a slight rift between Sakura and Masafumi Kase.
As for "lewd things," ha... those two hadn't even touched.
——————
Sakura Miyajima, dressed in her school uniform and carrying her bookbag, possessed a tall, curvaceous figure that was comparable to an adult woman's, and her beautiful, refined looks were still pure. The kendo bag slung over her shoulder added a touch of elegant coolness.
She was an absolute head-turner, yet Masafumi Kase, walking beside her, maintained a respectful distance of one body length. They were a couple, but they looked nothing like lovers.
Despite this, Masafumi Kase showed no sign of disappointment or frustration. Instead, he looked enthusiastic, as if something delighted him greatly.
"Senpai, how about we go grab some coffee?" Masafumi Kase suggested.
"Sounds good," Sakura didn't refuse. She covertly glanced at Kase. He was pretty considerate; an outing like this made Sakura feel better, and much of yesterday's awkwardness dissipated.
"I know a really good place, Senpai. Follow me," Masafumi Kase invited her with a cheerful wave and a smile. Sakura followed him, turning left and right, eventually stepping into a narrow alley.
"Over here, over here—"
Sakura and Masafumi Kase stood outside the coffee shop, looking around. "This place is certainly secluded..."
"This coffee shop is excellent. Most people don't know about this hidden gem," Masafumi Kase smiled mysteriously. "I only found it recently myself."
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Following Masafumi Kase into the coffee shop, Sakura found the lighting was dim, the decor quite plain, and the atmosphere wasn't romantic at all—it was actually somewhat chilly and dark.
It didn't look like a coffee shop for lovers; it was more like a haunted house.
The manager/waiter standing at the counter was an older man. There were a few other older men serving as staff, and their expressions looked subtly sinister.
"Welcome—"
Seeing the young couple enter, they smiled.
Shifty-eyed and sly-looking. To be honest, if it weren't for Kase, Sakura would have immediately turned around and walked out.
She had a very bad feeling about this coffee shop.
"Kase..."
"Senpai, just try the coffee here first. It's really good~ It'll surprise you."
"..."
Finally, Sakura sat down on a sofa. Well, I'm already here. I might as well try the surprise Kase mentioned.
Soon, a cup of coffee was brought over. The man with the sneaky face didn't walk far, instead standing behind Sakura, looking down at her graceful figure with undisguised lust in his eyes.
The few older men nearby also watched Sakura with strange looks. When they saw her drink the coffee, they all broke into simultaneous, identical smiles—a sinister grin that added a deep sense of dread to the gloomy coffee shop.
Sakura, unaware, drank the coffee and frowned. "Kase, the coffee here tastes quite ordinary. Is there anything special about it? I can't feel it."
"Senpai, you'll feel the special quality right away."
As his words fell, Sakura suddenly had a terrible premonition. Her body began to feel wrong—a hot current rushed through her chest, followed by an indescribably horrible sensation. Her pupils contracted, and she abruptly tried to stand up.
But she collapsed back onto the sofa.
"Kase! You—!"
"Senpai, I'm sorry," Masafumi Kase said, his face full of feigned apology. "But, this is all for us, for our future!"