"Well... Yuki-nee, I can't do that. You should find someone else."
Hearing Yuki Rei's request, Sasaki Fuyumi's eyes first went wide with surprise, making himself look thoroughly shocked. Then, his face filled with reluctance as he gently refused her.
Of course, Sasaki Fuyumi wasn't actually turning her down. He was just staying in character. In Yuki Rei's eyes, he was just an innocent student, and maintaining this image aligned perfectly with Route One.
While speaking, Sasaki Fuyumi glanced at the two options and silently selected Route One.
Seeing him refuse her request, Yuki Rei actually felt more at ease with him. Her voice softened. "Fuyumi-kun, it's just pretend. It's not real. If you don't help me, Tanaka Yu will force me to seduce his boss, or even his friends. He's hinted at it before. It's only because you appeared that he changed his target."
Speaking of this painful truth, Yuki Rei's eyes reddened slightly. She looked at Sasaki Fuyumi with a pitiful expression that tugged at his heartstrings. Still, he couldn't agree too quickly.
"But... there's someone I like."
Sasaki Fuyumi pretended to be embarrassed as he said this. His identity as a student undoubtedly made his act more convincing, and it also lowered Yuki Rei's guard, since she was an adult.
Yuki Rei broke into a smile. "Ah, so that's what Fuyumi-kun is worried about. I can tell you really like that girl."
Here she was, a beautiful woman making what seemed like an intimate request, yet Sasaki Fuyumi was still thinking about the girl he liked. Yuki Rei couldn't help but feel even more favorably toward him. She thought he was a good guy, and cooperating with him should be safe.
Sasaki Fuyumi nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, I really like her. If she found out about... me and you... she'd get mad. She might never talk to me again."
Yuki Rei looked at him with a warm smile, then suddenly sighed. "Ahh... I'm a little jealous of that girl now. To have Fuyumi-kun like her so much. Unlike me... my husband's a cuckold who keeps trying to give me away to others."
Pain flickered across Yuki Rei's beautiful face as she spoke of her sorrow.
Sasaki Fuyumi looked apologetic. "I really want to help you, Yuki-nee, but I'm scared the girl I like might find out..."
Seeing his troubled expression, Yuki Rei thought, 'What a sweet kid.' She didn't want to put him in a difficult spot either, but she was out of options. She needed him to agree.
Yuki Rei thought for a moment, then asked, "Fuyumi-kun, if we made sure the girl you like never found out about our arrangement, would you be willing to help me then?"
Sasaki Fuyumi hesitated, then nodded.
Yuki Rei said earnestly, "Then I promise you, I won't tell anyone about this. It won't affect your chances with your girlfriend. It would just mean occasionally having you play along with me in front of Tanaka Yu. Can you agree to that now?"
Sasaki Fuyumi still hesitated.
Yuki Rei's eyes slowly welled up. She looked at him pitifully. "If Fuyumi-kun won't help me, then I'll have no choice but to let that pervert Tanaka Yu hand me over to someone else. Fuyumi-kun, can you really bear to see your big sister end up like that?"
Sasaki Fuyumi's heart trembled. Even though he was acting, Yuki Rei's sorrow stirred genuine sympathy within him. He figured this was enough. Clenching his teeth, he said, "Yuki-nee, don't say anymore. I agree to help. Yu-san is truly despicable!"
Yuki Rei felt a surge of joy. All her effort playing the pitiful role before this student had finally paid off. He'd agreed to help.
At the same time, she felt a twinge of shame. Deceiving such an innocent kid like this... she was truly awful. But what choice did she have? Cooperating with Sasaki Fuyumi was the only way to fool that pervert Tanaka Yu.
Yuki Rei looked at Sasaki Fuyumi with immense gratitude. "Thank you, Fuyumi-kun. Don't worry, I promise this won't affect you. And since you want to pursue your crush, if there's anything you're unsure about, you can ask me. I am a woman, after all. I probably understand how girls think a little better."
"Really? Thank you, Yuki-nee!" Sasaki Fuyumi's face lit up with delight. Then he asked, "Oh, right, Yuki-nee, what do we actually do? Since Yu-san is forcing you into this, he'll definitely check up on you when you get back, right? If he finds out we're just pretending, won't that put you in danger?"
As he spoke, Sasaki Fuyumi put on a worried expression.
Yuki Rei felt warmth in her heart. She nodded. "You're right, that is a problem. We absolutely can't let Tanaka Yu find out we're faking it. Let me think..."
She paused, considering. "Since we only just started interacting today, Tanaka Yu probably won't do anything to me yet. Getting... familiar... takes time. But I did come here with a mission. Tanaka Yu wants me to... seduce you."
A blush crept onto her face at the thought, but she pushed through the awkwardness and asked Sasaki Fuyumi, "Fuyumi-kun, if I go back and tell him I failed to seduce you, do you think Tanaka Yu would believe it?"
Sasaki Fuyumi blinked, looking uncertain. "Well... probably not."
"Why not?" Yuki Rei asked.
Sasaki Fuyumi's face reddened. He looked embarrassed. "Because Yuki-nee is too beautiful, and your figure is amazing. And I'm just a horny teenager. Yu-san probably wouldn't believe I had that much self-control. He'd just think you didn't actually try to seduce me."
Yuki Rei was momentarily stunned, then her face flushed deeply. She felt incredibly embarrassed, but reminded herself she was the adult here. Forcing herself to stay calm, she nodded. "You're right. Tanaka Yu would probably think exactly that."
Sasaki Fuyumi looked at her worriedly. "Then what do we do, Yuki-nee?"
Yuki Rei's face reddened further. She struggled internally for a moment before speaking softly. "Fuyumi-kun... you need to find a way to leave some marks on me."
Sasaki Fuyumi played dumb. "What kind of marks?"
Yuki Rei grew even more flustered. "You know... marks on my neck... like hickeys or something."
"Hickeys?" Sasaki Fuyumi looked stunned, staring blankly at her for a moment. Then, as if suddenly realizing what she meant, he stumbled back a few steps in panic, waving his hands frantically. "I can't do that! I've never even kissed a girl before! And how could I kiss Yuki-nee? We said it was just pretend! Since when does pretending involve kissing?!"
Yuki Rei felt like she might die of embarrassment, but the person in front of her was just an innocent, good-natured student. He'd never make a move on his own. If she didn't take the initiative, she'd have to go back untouched.
So Yuki Rei steadied her gaze and put on a serious expression. "Fuyumi-kun, what are you thinking? Of course kissing can be part of pretending! Haven't you seen kiss scenes in dramas? And if we don't do this, your big sister here will be in real trouble when she gets home."
With that, her eyes reddened again, and she looked on the verge of tears.
Sasaki Fuyumi stared at her blankly. After a long moment of hesitation, he sighed. "Yuki-nee, please don't be sad. I'll do it."
Yuki Rei inwardly rejoiced. 'Students really are so easy to persuade,' she thought.