Chapter 6: Manipulation

“Wuu…”

Liu Xia clutched the hem of her skirt and let out a tiny, broken whimper. Her lashes trembled like butterfly wings; soft, pitiful, fragile.

H-human specimen?

She lifted her head a little, blankly facing the direction of Aizen Sou Hazuki’s voice. Of course she saw nothing; only a veil of mist in her dim pupils.

W-what is this woman saying?

Is she joking?

The girl couldn’t help but hope so, but the icy, threatening aura rolling off Aizen Sou Hazuki told her clearly: this was no joke.

“N-no, please…”

Another muffled murmur. Like a cornered cub seeking comfort, she shrank back.

This only pressed her closer to Kanzaki Sumire.

So close that, under the bright sunlight, through the pale-blue blouse and thin skin, she could hear Kanzaki Sumire’s low, steady heartbeat. The gold and silver accessories on her wrist and chest occasionally brushed against her. Someya Sara dimly remembered: the person behind her wasn’t going to protect her either…

QAQ.

She wanted to cry.

Aizen Sou Hazuki’s words made both Kanzaki Sumire and Jakui Rinrincho turn their heads.

Didn’t Hazuki-nee say she was just coming along for fun?

Why…

Why did she suddenly look so interested?

Kanzaki Sumire noticed Aizen Sou Hazuki staring fixedly at the girl; her cheeks, brows, lips all twitching slightly as if feverish, an excitement written across her face that matched her own.

It made sense. They were friends for a reason.

Beyond knowing each other since childhood, they were all outliers, sharing the same incomprehensible “hobby” deep in their bones. Only Hazuki-nee, like Rinrincho, usually suppressed her true self very deeply and rarely showed any other emotions.

So why now?

Was it because the girl’s weaknesses and emotions were laid bare so obviously that it effortlessly ignited the twisted, sick desire inside Hazuki-nee?

As if every part of the girl (organs, muscles, bones) belonged to her.

All of it hers. She wanted to mark it.

Wanted those misty blue eyes to stay forever clouded with tears, looking only at her.

Only at her.

Only her.

…

Jakui Rinrincho broke the silence first.

She unfastened the belt of her trench coat, stepped forward, seized the girl’s wrist with one hand, and began winding the belt around it, loop after loop.

“All you know how to do is cry.” Catching a glimpse of the red corners of the girl’s eyes and the fresh tears about to fall, Jakui Rinrincho spoke flatly. “Did you really think acting pitiful would work every time?”

Yesterday she and Kanzaki Sumire had inexplicably let her go because she’d cried so miserably. This time, no way.

Hearing this, the girl curled her toes inside her shoes and socks, sniffled, and decided she wasn’t escaping a beating today. Might as well go all out. She lifted her tear-streaked, messy, adorable little face and yelled at the top of her lungs:

“I’m not acting pitiful! I—”

Halfway through, she paused, let out a tiny, untimely hiccup-sob. The fierce accusation instantly turned comical.

The girl seemed to realize it too; her pale, childish cheeks flushed pink. Even though it was a little embarrassing, she pretended nothing happened and forced herself to finish.

“I… I know you won’t feel sorry for me anyway.”

“Do… do whatever you want!”

After declaring that, to make the inevitable beating more comfortable, she tugged at the belt around her wrists. One second, two, three; she couldn’t get free. Giving up, she turned her head and tried negotiating with Kanzaki Sumire.

“Um… Sumire-nee, could you loosen your hold a bit? You’re hugging too tight. I won’t run anymore. Really.”

As she spoke, she tilted her head up, long lashes fluttering, deliberately showing off how cute she was; something Xiao Nuosang had taught her while watching galgames. If she ever got in trouble, act cute; the other person might soften.

But Kanzaki Sumire didn’t soften. She only tightened her arms and said coldly, “Don’t move.”

“Wuu…” The girl curled her toes harder, thighs rubbing together uneasily. She mumbled, “B-but… Sumire-nee, I’m just a little uncomfortable. You’re holding too tight and… it’s pressing on my bladder…”

Probably out of shame, her voice was almost entirely nasal, soft and utterly pitiful.

But…

Someya Sara couldn’t help it!

Who could hold it in under these circumstances?

She’d been busy all day: wake up → rooftop → home → out again → kidnapped. She never had time to use the bathroom.

She’d been too embarrassed to say it, but her panties were already a little damp… a tiny leak…

If she didn’t speak up now, it would only get more humiliating later.

The moment the words left her mouth, the entire car went dead silent. Only the faint rustle of fabric as the girl squirmed in Kanzaki Sumire’s arms and the soft scrape of her ankles against the seat could be heard.

Kanzaki Sumire had already been restless; now she nearly blurted, Then go ahead and do it on me.

No, what kind of pervert would say that?

Her breathing grew heavier. She forced the words down. But from the corner of her eye she caught the girl’s flushed face and increasingly dazed, misty eyes, and suddenly grew curious about the scene.

Jakui Rinrincho watched the girl sandwiched between Kanzaki Sumire and Aizen Sou Hazuki and frowned slightly.

How did things turn out like this?

The second young lady of the Kanzaki family, the first-in-line heir of the Aizen clan, and herself, Jakui Rinrincho.

In this city of steel and desire, they weren’t exactly world-shakers, but they were still prominent, feared figures who could summon wind and rain.

Yet here they were, impeccably dressed, personally driving a luxury car to discipline a blind girl. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss? And they hadn’t even done anything yet; instead, one soft sentence from Someya Sara had left them all at a loss.

Was…

Was this right?

And they’d agreed not to go soft; why was everyone silent now?

Jakui Rinrincho was puzzled.

Jakui Rinrincho didn’t understand.

“Um… Rinrincho, Hazuki-nee.” Suddenly Kanzaki Sumire let go with her right hand, took a deep breath, and said, “How about we call it a day? I have something later… We can teach her a lesson another time.”

Aizen Sou Hazuki looked up, narrowed her eyes with a smile, and agreed gently, “Sure, little Sumire.”

She had long noticed the girl’s clothes riding up, exposing a strip of pale waist, and the slight, trembling swell of her soft, snow-white belly. Originally she’d wanted to slice right there with a scalpel and watch the blood flow, but after hearing the girl’s words, that desire quietly vanished.

Jakui Rinrincho: “…”