Ch 347: Help me turn this school into Hell.

"I'll be going. See you later, Ruo Ruo, Bunny." smiled Noah after kissing them.

"Good luck, My Lord." smiled Liliana.

"Have a good day, Sir." grinned Shuiruo, once again dressed as a latex maid. Liliana wore a black leather bunny suit with white cuffs around her wrists and fishnet stockings.

The girls had done their daily rolls. From now on, Liliana would have to wear wrist and ankle leather cuffs connected by 30cm chains as she slept, and Shuiruo now could only refer to Noah as Sir or Master, even in public.

Noah left the house and headed toward the academy. As he walked down the streets, he used Promise to check his surroundings and almost smirked for an instant as he spotted two young, blonde women wearing leather jackets, peering at his back from a side street. Both were gorgeous, although the taller one had a scar on her right cheek.

They were likely Nei and Margo, members of Yuzuki-sensei's inner circle. Both had tragic pasts, and, if Lilith had decided to follow the original script, Nei was to this day hiding from a very dangerous psychopath.

He looked forward to meeting them properly.

Noah reached the academy without interruptions and entered his classroom. He individually greeted each of his classmates, except Endou that he ignored completely.

Noah could see from his tightened lips that he was angry about the deliberate snob, especially since a few other classmates noticed and gave Noah a second look, wondering about it.

Noah simply sat down, engaging in casual chatting with anyone talking to him, and greeted Mary, Yukino Shirasaka and Yumeko when they arrived.

Mary was sullen from her loss the previous day, and from the glances and snickers coming from other classmates, Noah could tell her reputation had taken a severe hit. He was the only one who spoke to Yumeko behind the basic greeting, as it seemed her stunt yesterday had caused others to feel intimidated. And Yukino was just acting normally, chatting with three other girls and Endo.

Then Endou must have said something, as Yukino displayed an angry expression and marched on him, flanked by her friends.

"Nagano-kun, my boyfriend told me that you didn't greet him this morning, while you greeted everyone else. That is quite rude, don't you think?"

"That is correct. So what?" asked Noah with a polite tone, ignoring Endo's glare coming form the other side of the room.

"So what? What do you mean, so what?" exclaimed Yukino. "You should apologize to him."

"I do not think so." shrugged Noah. "You remember that he led me away for a while yesterday, right?"

Yukino and her friends nodded after a short hesitation.

"He was quite rude then, and I am not interested in ever pretending we'll be friends." shrugged Noah. "So I will ignore him from now on, and that is more than he deserves."

"What did he do?" asked Yukino.

"That is between him and me." replied Noah.

Yukino was obviously unused to not getting her way, and she was about to ask again when Minaho Yuzuki entered the room, and the students hurried over to their seats.

The class started, and Noah resumed his game of glancing at Yukino just often enough for Endou and Minaho Yuzuki to notice.

Several times, Minaho asked him questions about her lesson, and he answered perfectly as if she had his full attention the whole time.

As soon as lunch break started, Endou came to him.

"You, follow me for a moment."

"I think not. Go away." replied Noah.

For a moment, it seemed like Endou was going to punch him right in front of every student who hadn't left the classroom yet. Minaho was still present, watching with an unreadable expression.

"You!"

"If you want to challenge me to some gambling, I'll consider it. If not, I'm going to get lunch."

"Gambling with you?" frowned Endou, considering. Noah could tell from his expression that the idea was growing on him. He was probably imagining all the humiliating things he would be able to do to Noah if he became his housepet.

Endou snorted and looked at him with disdain. "Do you even have money to gamble? Your family is a bunch of nobodies."

Noah took from his back five stacks of banknotes and placed them on his desk. The students around looked earnestly. They were few things they loved more than watching someone lose a gambling match.

"Five million. Do you dare gamble, Kenji Endou?" flatly asked Noah.

"Why wouldn't I dare? My family has accumulated wealth for generations! Five million is nothing!" boasted Endou. He took from his inner pocket a case full of chips.

"Let's gamble. Last number standing!"

"What are the rules? Asked Noah as he looked around.

"You both throw a single die. The loser owes the winner an amount of money proportional to the difference." explained a male student. "For example, if you both agree on hundred thousand stakes, and Kenji-kun rolls a five while you roll a two, you will owe him three hundred thousand."

"I see. That's simple enough." nodded Noah as he challenged Endou with his gaze. "But I don't want to spend the whole lunch break gambling, so let's go with one million stakes."

the gambling add… err, the students looked at each other as they made noise about Noah's craziness, err, boldness, and Endou suddenly felt uncertain. But peer pressure cut off his retreat, and he shook himself as he grabbed the nearest chair to sit in front of Noah.

One of Endo's friends walked to the back of the classroom, opening a closet, and took two dice and two cups from it. He handed one of each to Noah and Endo.

Noah barely glanced at them before putting the die inside the cup, blocking it with his palm, and shaking it like he was a barman. After a few shakes, he laned the cup on the desk while removing his hand, ensuring that no one could see the die.

Endou did the same. For a moment, they glared at each other. Mary Saotome, declaring herself as the referee, lifted a hand, then lowered it.

"Alright, lift the cups!"

Noah did, revealing a four. Endou had a five. Without a word, he slid one of the banknote piles toward Endo. He seized it with a triumphant grin.

The next round went in Noah's favor, with him recovering what he had lost the previous time as well as one of Endo's chips.

Unbeknown to the onlookers, they were both cheating. Endo, using his friend as an accomplice, has switched the die he was using. His die was slightly weighted using a metal pellet inside the plastic, significantly skewing the odds of landing a five or six.

And Noah was using Promise to examine the dice before the cups were lifted, and occasionally form a tiny hand of hardened light inside them to change the results.

Noah was smart enough to lose often and even lose big a few times, but when he decided to stop after about fifteen rounds, he had doubled his initial stash of cash. Kenji Endou was glaring at him, but also glanced at his own dice with a confused expression.

"Why are you looking at your die like this, Endo?" asked Noah. "Is there anything special about it?"

Endou flinched.

"No." exclaimed Endou. "Do another round with me, you coward!"

"Not interested." shrugged Noah as he stood. "Knowing to stop when you're ahead Is a good skill to have."

The watching students parted before him, and Noah left the classroom to get lunch.

…

When Noah left the restroom during the afternoon break, he was surprised to see his teacher in a corner of the hallway, gesturing for him to come.

Noah hesitated for an instant before obeying.

"Is there anything, Yuzuki-sensei?" asked Noah.

"I have seen how you look at Shirasaka, Nagano-kun."

Noah made a show of hesitating, as if thinking of denying it, then nodded slowly. "I am not doing anything against the school's rules, Yuzuki-sensei."

"Do you think so? It may be construed as harassment, you know?" smiled Minaho.

"…I will be more careful." nodded Noah.

"That would be good, but is that really what you want?" asked Minaho with a knowing smile.

"…what I want?" asked Noah.

"Tell me, Nagano-kun. Would you like to have Shirasaka for yourself? I can make it happen."

"…What is your goal, Yuzuki-sensei? Why would you help me with that?" said Noah as he tried to project hesitation and temptation in equal measures.

"I want to plunge this school into Hell."

"Hell?"

"I am offering you Shirasaka on a platter. What is there to hesitate? Just do as I say, and she will be yours. Refuse, and I will find someone else." said Minaho with a cold voice.

"…What would you have me do?" asked Noah with a nod, and Minaho smiled.

It was the smile of a demon.

…

Noah returned to class when the break was over, and Minaho Yuzuki didn't waste time.

"Everyone, let's speak about a matter that bothered me for a while. I would like for those who have lost their virginity to lift their hand."

"Please wait a moment!" exclaimed Megumi Yamamine, the class representative.

Noah knew that she was Yukino's cousin, despite having a different last name. Something about being from a branch family, if he remembered correctly. Megumi was attractive in a neat sort of way. She had brown eyes, short black hair whose bangs ended at her jaw line, and was a member of the track and field club.

"What? You have something to ask?" frowned Minaho.

"Why are you asking about such a thing?" hesitated Megumi, feeling intimidated by Minaho's intense gaze.

"Isn't that a breach of privacy?" blurted out Yukino.

"I guess you could see it like that. I'm asking anyway." nodded Minaho.

"That's not something we can just tell Sensei… furthermore, raising your hand in front of everyone?"

"So that's how it is." snorted Minaho. "In short, you're no longer a virgin?"

Yukino's face flushed red.

"I-I'm a virgin!"

"Really?" asked Minaho.

"…Yes."

"Well, fine. What about the others? Lift your hand if you're not a virgin like Shirasaka here."

Noah lifted his right hand, and was surprised when no one else did.

"What? None of you guys have any experience?" asked Noah with a raised eyebrow.

"Nagano-kun, are you currently in a relationship?" asked Minaho.

"Yes."

"With someone in the Academy?"

"No."

"Then it can't be helped." nodded Minaho. "Listen, everyone. I forbid you all from having any sexual relationship from now on. Relationships hinder your studies. If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend within the academy's ground, break up with them. Do you understand?"

"I can't agree with that!" exclaimed Yukino as she stood suddenly.

"You again? What? You want to have sex that much?"

"That's not it!" shouted Yukino.

"Then what?"

"I think that love doesn't necessarily hinder our studies!"

Noah knew what Minaho was doing. By singling out Yukino and Endou in front of the class, she was setting Yukino up for the blackmail that would soon follow. At the same time, she was erecting a barrier between them.

"That's an interesting opinion. You're going out with someone right now?"

"…Yes."

"He's here?"

"Yes."

"Then raise your hand, whoever is Shirasaka's boyfriend."

Kenji Endou raised his hand timidly.

"T-that's me."

"So you're trying to tell me that love and studies can go together, is that right?"

"Yes! That's right!" nodded Yukino.

"That's not what looking at your grades seems to show, however. You both have slipped up recently. That's why, I want you both to promise that from now on, you will not touch each other until your grades are back up."

"That's…"

"I won't tolerate objections." cut in Minaho, staring at them with such intensity that they felt the pressure. "Take a pledge, in front of me and your classmates, that you won't touch each other until you have proven to me that you can manage a relationship without neglecting your studies."

Yukino and Keni looked at each other, and Yukino sighed.

"Fine, I promise."

"M-Me too, I swear." reluctantly agreed Endou.

"Good. With this matter settled, let's resume class." nodded Minaho.

…

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, most students left the classroom, but Shirasaka and Noah remained behind. Noah had been asked by Minaho to stay, and Shirasaka obviously wanted to protest or something. Kenji Endou left for his baseball club practice.

"Sensei, I…" started Yukino, stopping when Minaho raised a hand, looking at Noah.

"Nagano-kun, it's good that you're here too. Both of you, follow me. There is something we need to discuss."

Shirasaka glanced at Noah, who shrugged before following Minaho. She led them into the administrative section of the academy, into a room with a handful of monitors.

She sat in front of one of them, and played a video. The video of Kenji Endou punching Noah on the rooftop. The audio had either not been recorded, or Minaho had removed it, and Shirasaka put her hands on her mouth as she gasped in shock.

"Eh, now you know why I didn't say hello to your boyfriend." said Noah.

"W-Wha… why?" gasped Yukino, having a hard time believing what she had just seen.

"That guy saw me as competition for some reason, and he ordered me, using quite rude language, to not even look in your direction. When I basically told him that I didn't take orders from him, well, you've seen the result." said Noah, gesturing toward the screen.

"That's… Nagano-kun, I'm sorry! I'll get him to apologize to you!"

"It's a bit late for that." flatly said Minaho. "Hyakkaou Private Academy has a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying and violence. That video alone is grounds for immediate and permanent expulsion. Furthermore, Endou already has several black marks on his file due to his arrogant and conceited behavior. He has been reported a few times by his seniors in the baseball club."

"If he's expelled, he will have a hard time finding a place in another Academy. Hyakkaou carries a lot of prestige, and those we expel for violent behavior are generally blacklisted by the other academies. No one wants bullies."

"Please, Sensei! Please do not destroy Kenji's future." cried Shirasaka.

"Well, there may be something you could do, Shirasaka." smiled Minaho. It wasn't a friendly smile.

"Please, I'll do anything!"

"We'll see about that. Currently, only three people have seen that video, Shirasaka. You, me, and Nagano-kun. I can delete that video, and Nagano-kun can stay silent on this matter… if you agree to placate us."

"I will. H-How much will it cost? I will…" started Shirasaka, feeling relieved. It was natural for her to assume the teacher and the victim wanted money as compensation. For her whole life, money and influence had been there to deal with any messy situation. Her parents had seen to that, smoothing out any difficulty on her path. Which was why it took her five full seconds to even start processing Minaho's next words.

"Surrender yourself to me for a night."

"…What?

"You see, I'm a lesbian. I want to tease cute girls like you to my heart's content at least once. Don't worry, I won't do anything cruel, and I won't take your virginity. I'm only going to hug and kiss you all night long."

"W-What are you saying, Sensei?" trembled Shirasaka.

"Oh? Am I not clear enough? I am forcing you, Shirasaka. I am blackmailing you. I want to delight myself with your youthful body."

"N-No way! I...!!!"

"Oh? That's unfortunate. It cannot be helped, then. I will report Endou-kun and submit that video to the school board. I might even spread it on the internet. Who would have thought that you would abandon Endou-kun so easily, after your declaration earlier…"

"Sensei's unfair!" exclaimed Shirasaka.

"Right. I'm unfair. But that's how it is. So, what will you do, Shirasaka? Will you abandon your lover and silently watch him perish?"

Shirasaka looked desperately at Noah, silently begging him to intervene, but Noah shook his head slightly.

"It's useless to ask him." snorted Minaho. "He's already under my control. In the first place, he's the victim here. Why would he want to help Endou escape expulsion?"

"Yuzuki-sensei gave you a choice, Shirasaka-san." shrugged Noah. "He deserves consequences. If you want to avoid that, you are basically asking Sensei for a favor. And it is only fair that you repay that favor personally, not by relying on your family's money. If your family settled your favor with money, it would by like you didn't pay any price at all."

"It's good that you understand how it is, Nagano-kun." nodded Minaho with approval in her eyes. She was pleasantly surprised that Ren didn't seem to just passively go along with her instructions but was also quietly supporting her.

Yukino opened and closed her mouth repeatedly as her gaze shifted between Minaho and Noah, and after a few seconds, her shoulders hunched.

"You're going to keep your promise?"

"Of course. I promise." nodded Minaho.

Noah didn't need his ability to know that Minaho didn't mean a word, but he didn't say anything.

"I…I will do it." said Yukino with a deflated air.

"Good. Then you should text your little sister and tell her that you will spend the night at your cousin's place." nodded Minaho.

"Eh?" exclaimed Yukino, surprised.

"Your mother is on a trip to Osaka for her cooking job, isn't she? And your father is on a three-weeks overseas business trip to Australia. So your sister should be the only one at home."

"How do you know it?"

"I'm your homeroom teacher. I have access to the questionnaire you filled out when the school year began. And your parents are documenting their careers on social medias. I didn't have to dig deep."

"But… Why Yamamine-san's house?" asked Yukino.

"Isn't Megumi Yamamine your relative?"

"I never wrote about that in the questionnaire. I never even told anyone in class."

"Yamamine-san mentioned your relationship in her own questionnaire. Anyway, just message your sister already. We're wasting time."

Yukino reluctantly nodded and typed a text on her smartphone.

"I sent it."

"Good. Let's get moving, then. Nagano-kun, you come with us."

"Eh? Nagano-kun too?" blinked Yukino.

"Of course. The agreement we just made is between me and you. But you need to bribe him to make sure he doesn't talk, don't you? That's why you will let him watch while I embrace you."

"No way!" denied Yukino.

"Are you going back on your word, Shirasaka?" frowned Minaho.

"No, but…"

"How do you propose to buy his silence, then? Nagano-kun won't accept money."

Noah nodded once to confirm.

"That's…" started Shirasaka, but Minaho didn't intend to give her time to think.

"That's enough. Just come already." declared Minaho as she started walking.

As she left the room, Yukino sent a pleading glance at Noah, who sighed.

"Just do as she says, Shirasaka-san. This is the least bad option for you."

Yukino didn't understand. She couldn't. But she seemed to see something in his eyes, and nodded before they hurried after Minaho.

They followed her to the parking reserved to the academy's staff, and Minaho climbed into her car, a large black sedan with tinted windows.

Yukino took the front passenger seat and Noah sat behind. Minaho started driving.

"You do not need to warn anyone, Nagano-kun? You will spend the night in my home as well."

"I am going to send a message." replied Noah, taking his smartphone.

"Oh? I remember reading from your file that your parents are traveling for a year. I expected you to live alone."

"I did lift my hand earlier, Sensei." smiled Noah. "My two lovers are living with me."

Since he knew that Minaho was already aware of Liliana and Shuiruo, he wanted to explain their presence before she decided to investigate them.

"T-Two lovers?" exclaimed Shirasaka, greatly shocked as she turned her head to look back at him. "Do you have two girlfriends?"

"What can I say? Monogamy doesn't work for me, so it was a choice between remaining single, or finding girls loving me enough that they were willing to share. I know such girls are very rare, but I got lucky meeting them, and they get along well with each other."

"They do not see you having a polyamorous relationship as cheating?" asked Minaho with a raised eyebrow.

"It's only cheating if you try to hide it." shrugged Noah. "We do not, and I was clear with them from the start that if they wanted a romantic relationship with me, they wouldn't be the only ones. It works somehow, and we are happy with things as they are. You do not need to worry, Sensei. It won't affect my studies."

"I hope so. If you do not maintain good grades, I will have to do something about it."

"Understood, Sensei." nodded Noah. He wasn't worried. With his high attributes, he could memorize the lessons without really paying attention, and aside from this world's history, he already knew the vast majority of the curriculum.

There was also the minor perk of being able to read the answers on other students' test sheets without his eyes leaving his own test, if it came down to that.

"They must have no self-respect to accept sharing a boyfriend." frowned Yukino. "And no offense, but you do not really look that great. I can't see why they would want to share you."

"…Yuzuki-sensei, can I spank her?" asked Noah, his tone making clear that he was joking.

"What?!" angrily exclaimed Shirasaka. She went rigid in her seat and glared malevolently at him.

"You can't." replied Minaho, her eyes on the road. But Noah could hear a smile in her voice. "But Shirasaka, you should be careful with your words. You are trying to buy his silence, remember?"

"To be clear, Shirasaka-san, you can call me names all you want, and I will not really care. I have a thick skin." nodded Noah. "But leave my girlfriends out of it. You do not know them, and they are better than you in many aspects."

If anything, Yukino seemed even more offended by his last remark than by the spanking threat.

"You jerk!"

Noah wasn't interested in continuing this conversation and looked outside.

The Kuromori estate was fairly close to the Academy, and it only took a few minutes to reach it.

"Is this where you live, Sensei?" asked Yukino.

"Yes. Are you surprised?" smiled Minaho.

"I didn't know teaching at the academy could earn that kind of salary."

"I inherited this mansion."

"Oh. I see…" nodded Yukino.

Noah's memories were a bit fuzzy about it, but if he remembered correctly, there was more to it than what Minaho let on. This mansion was where she and so many others had been 'working'. And she had somehow gotten control over it and freed herself from Yukino's father with the support of a number of wealthy customers who didn't appreciate that man's violence and instability.

Minaho stopped the car in front of the mansion's entrance.

"Leave your bags in the car. We'll go to the school tomorrow anyway." said Minaho, and Noah nodded. Yukino looked like she was about to protest, but a flat stare from Minaho made her relent.

Before they reached the door, it opened, and the gorgeous woman who had spied on Noah the day before stepped out, dressed in a neat maid outfit.

"Welcome home, Ojou-sama."

"Thank you, Katsuko." nodded Minaho. "Those are two of my students, Ren Nagano, and Yukino Shirasaka. They will spend the night here. Please ask Morishita to prepare dinner for three."

"I understand."

Noah displayed a polite smile, waiting for Minaho to introduce Katsuko before greeting her, but she didn't and walked inside.

"Pleased to meet you, Katsuko-san." said Noah with a nod instead as she gestured for him and Yukino to enter, and Katsuko smiled in acknowledgement.

"Likewise. Please follow Ojou-sama inside."

The inside of the mansion was quite unique, a study of monochromatic design. The floor and walls were covered with black wood, while some elements like the curtains and tablecloths were white.

Minaho led them into the living room and pointed to a white leather sofa before she sat in an armchair, facing it.

Noah sat down, glancing at the large, white piano in a corner, and Yukino sat on the other end, over one meter separating them. Katsuko returned from what Noah knew was the kitchen and stood quietly in another corner.

"You have aroused my curiosity, Nagano-kun." said Minaho with a thin smile. "How did you meet your two girlfriends? How did you get them to accept sharing you?"

"Well, Lily found herself indebted to me because of reasons I will not talk about, and she agreed to work off that debt by being my maid for a few years. As the weeks went by, we gradually grew closer." said Noah.

He deliberately didn't use Liliana's actual name as he didn't want to make it easy for her to investigate his girls. He knew he would have to come clean at some point, and he wanted to avoid lying as much as possible until then. He was trying to achieve a good balance between being honest and maintaining his cover.

"And Ruo Ruo was in a sticky situation when we met. One I will not talk about either. I did some great service to her and her family, and partly because of this, she somehow fell all over heels with me. To the point that she was fine with sharing. Now, Lily and Ruo Ruo are close friends, almost like sisters, and we all sleep in the same bed."

"…I see." nodded Minaho. She clearly wasn't satisfied with Noah withholding some important details but didn't want to push. She needed his cooperation for what was about to happen. And for the following few weeks, at least.

"And your parents? Do they know about your… peculiar situation?" asked Minaho.

"They approve of it." smoothly lied Noah. "They know that Lily and Ruo Ruo are kind, good people."

"But you can only marry one of them." nodded Minaho.

"That's an issue, yes." shrugged Noah. "Marriage isn't something we are really thinking about right now. We have time. Who knows what the situation will be like in a few years."

Minaho nodded again and turned her attention to Yukino, asking about her studies and her family.

It lasted for a while, until Katsuko left the room, then returned and invited them to sit for dinner. Minaho took the seat at the head of the long table, and Noah and Yukino faced each other.

Katsuko returned with a tray, and started by serving them all Soupe à l'oignon, a French specialty.

"It's delicious." praised Noah after tasting it. "Katsuko-san, please tell Morishita-san that I am thankful."

Katsuko blinked, surprised, then nodded with a small smile. "I will."

Minaho stared at Noah with a curious expression, and Yukino frowned.

"Why are you thanking the cook? They're just doing what they are paid for."

It was Noah's turn to frown.

"Isn't it natural to thank them for their efforts? That's basic manners. And I noticed earlier that you didn't say hello to Katsuko-san earlier."

"Why should I?" asked Yukino after a glance at Yukino, standing behind Minaho. "She's a maid."

"Yes, she's a maid. Do you think that's a license to be rude to her?"

Yukino opened and closed her mouth. She seemed to be genuinely confused.

"Why should I be polite with her just for doing her job?"

"Because it costs you nothing to be? Because it helps nurture good relationships, and it reduces the chances that the maid might vent her displeasure at your rudeness in nasty ways, like, I don't know, spitting in your food? Or use your toothbrush to clean the toilets?"

Yukino gasped and stared down at her plate in suspicion.

"No, I do not think she did." snorted Noah. "But my point stand. and if you cannot see the difference between someone working for you because they actually like and respect you, compared to one who only does the minimum to earn their pay, you're a genuine idiot."

"You're the idiot!" retorted Yukino by sheer reflex.

"Ahem." coughed Katsuko. "I appreciate your position, Nagano-kun, but I am not offended by Shirasaka-san's behavior..."

That was a lie, she was just hiding it.

"…and I would not stoop so low as to do such vulgar things. I would also prefer for Ojou-sama's dinner not to be disrupted."

"Alright, I understand, sorry." nodded Noah, dropping the matter.

As he resumed eating, he used Promise to check on Minaho's and Katsuko's reactions.

And it looked like he might have overdone things a little.

Noah didn't like how passive the original protagonist of the fiction Minaho and Katsuko came from was. For hundreds of chapters, he did virtually nothing but follow Minaho or other members of her inner circle around and have sex with whoever they designated. His existence was that of a living dildo.

Noah wanted to be more proactive, to nurture his relationships with those young women faster.

But if he read her correctly, Minaho was getting suspicious.

…

Noah was right. It took Minaho a minute to figure out what was bothering her, but when she did, she wondered why it took her so long.

Ren's behavior was at odds with his decision to help her.

When Minaho had told Ren that she would help him obtain Shirasaka's body, but that he would never have her heart, he seemed to consider it for only a few seconds before accepting.

But now, he did not display any particular obsession with Yukino Shirasaka. So why was he willing to risk ruining his life if Yukino talked to the police?

Knowing what she now knew, Minaho would not have considered making Ren Nagano her seventh 'Toy'. But the die was cast now, and it was to late to use Yoshida.

No, maybe she could use Yoshida still, if Nagano messed things up tonight. But she would have to neutralize Nagano, keep him confined until her vengeance was over.

…

"Where's the restroom?" asked Shirasaka after she finished her main dish, a Steak au Poivre.

Noah had to hand it over to him, Morishita was an excellent cook.

"Katsuko will accompany you." answered Minaho.

Katsuko nodded and gestured to Yukino, and they both left the living room.

As soon as they were gone, Minaho stood, walked to a switch on the wall, and flipped it. A panel on the ceiling slid away, revealing a projector on a retractable arm.

Minaho took a remote from a drawer and turned the projector on. It displayed a view of a restroom just as Shirasaka was entering it.

"You can come closer to watch, if you wish." said Minaho as she glanced at Noah.

Noah nodded and stood, leaving the table to stand behind her, and stared at the image of Yukino removing her skirt and her white satin panties.

Yukino's face was flushed. She felt the effects of the aphrodisiacs Noah had detected in the sauce and their drinks.

Noah watched Yukino pee without a word, and didn't react when Yukino started touching herself.

"This confirms it, there is something wrong with you." said Minaho with a cold tone.

"Something wrong?" asked Noah.

"Only a perverted kid would accept risking social ruin and prison to get their hands on an unwilling girl. But you aren't. You watch this, and you seem almost bored. You aren't even hard."

Noah hesitated for an instant, mentally cursing in inability to act while searching for an explanation. He knew from the start that he wasn't good at acting, and someone like Minaho with years of interacting with the dark side of the Japanese nobility wasn't the kind of woman who could be fooled easily.

"I am a pervert, Yuzuki-sensei." sighed Noah. "It is just that my perversions are more about control, and women wearing skintight clothes."

A door opened and Katsuko entered. She didn't seem surprised by the footage that the projector was displaying and simply stood beside Minaho, observing Noah.

"Who are you, Nagano-kun?" asked Minaho with cold eyes, stressing his name in a clear sign that she doubted it was his real one. "And do not lie to us. This story about your parents being away is too convenient."

Noah saw Katsuko nod to herself. She clearly was suspicious as well.

Noah used Promise for an instant, scanning the entire mansion, and saw that Nei and Margo were moving down another hallway with grim expressions, clearly intending to support Minaho and Katsuko if Noah tried anything physical.

Instead, he scratched his chin for an instant, thinking about the exact wording of his quests. Breaking cover would be an instant fail of the sixth one. So he could not admit to not being Ren Nagano, no matter how transparent he was.

He sighed again.

"I am sorry, but I cannot answer this question at this time. All I can do is give you my word that I sincerely wish to help you."

…

On the wall projection, Yukino was cleaning up. With an irritated gesture, Minaho turned the projector off and retracted it inside the ceiling.

She glared at 'Ren' for a long moment. If he refused to tell her who he really was, she would investigate him in excruciating detail. She would find out and determine if he was a danger to her plan.

At this point, she really regretted not approaching Yoshida instead. But it was too late. Yukino Shirasaka had to be raped tonight, and Kyoko was already moving against her father in Australia.

"…If you say you want to help me, I will give you a chance." finally said Minaho. "But I will find out who you are. And if you turn out to be an enemy, you and whoever you work for will pay the price."

"I understand, Sensei." nodded Noah.

…

When Minaho returned to sit at the table, Noah did the same, and they finished their steak.

Yukino returned, and Katsuko brought from the kitchen the dessert, a peeled pear with hot chocolate sauce.

Yukino barely touched it, her anxiety increasing by the minute.

When they were done, Minaho exchanged a glance with Katsuko, who nodded.

"Shirasaka-san, Nagano-kun, please follow me." said Katsuko with a pleasant voice.

Noah nodded and stood.

Katsuko led them to the second floor, to a large room that was furnished like a dance studio. On one side was what looked like a small photography studio, full of professional lighting equipment and a white background, and beside it were a few large devices that would not look out of place in a gym.

From what he remembered from the fiction, Noah knew that there were more hidden cameras, and that what was about to happen would be witnessed live by just about every woman who had been victimized by Sousuke Shirasaka, Yukino's father.

"We are going to take a few photos of you, Shirasaka." smiled Minaho as she closed the door behind them. "Take off your shoes, and stand in front of the camera."

"Eh? Uhm…" hesitated Yukino.

"I am just going to take a few shots as souvenirs. Don't worry, it's okay if you are still dressed."

"Shirasaka-san, please go this way." added Katsuko.

Understanding that she didn't have a choice, Shirasaka removed her shoes and stood in front of the camera. Katsuko started taking a few photos, while Minaho instructed Yukino to adopt a few poses. Then she asked Yukino to sit on the closest gym machine and grab the handles as if she was using them.

Katsuko walked closer, smiling.

"Here, this will help so that you do not slip, Shirasaka-san." said Katsuko as she unfolded a Velcro strap from a hidden recess and fastened it around Yukino's right wrist.

Yukino stared in confusion for two seconds, and that was a delay long enough for Katsuko to do the same with her left wrist.

"Eh? What is… this?" asked Yukino.

"They are just straps. We do not want you to slip." smiled Katsuko as she fastened another strap around Yukino's left ankle.

"Wait, I don't want this!" exclaimed Yukino. She started to struggle, but Katsuko already had a firm grip on her right ankle and completed her task.

"Well done, Katsuko." coldly smiled Minaho.

"Thank you, Ojou-sama." grinned Katsuko.

"Let me go! I didn't agree to this!" shouted Yukino.

Katsuko bent to one side on the gym machine and pressed a button. With a whirring sound, the device changed shape, and Yukino found herself lying on her back, her arms and legs spread in a X-shape.

Katsuko walked to a nearby closet and took from it a red ball gag. Yukino saw it coming and would have jumped out of the cross-shaped device if not for the straps.

"Wait, no! Don't put that thing on mmpphi!!!"

Katsuko gagged her with great timing.

Taking a pair of scissors from a pocket, she unbuttoned Yukino's shirt, rolled up her skirt, and cut away the panties and bra.

Satisfied, she stepped away, took the camera off its tripod, and changed its settings to record video.

Minaho turned to Noah with a neutral expression.

"We will film as you take her virginity."

Noah nodded, and started removing his clothes. He kept in gaze on Yukino's terrified eyes. If he was going to do this, he would not look away.