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Morning.
Soft sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, forming streaks of gold across the sea-blue bedsheets in the master bedroom.
Yukino Yukinoshita's long, feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly before her deep blue eyes slowly opened.
The moment her awareness returned, she instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
After taking a moment to check her condition, she was surprised. Her body still felt sore and weak from overexertion, but that unbearable, scorching heat that had nearly burned away her sanity… was completely gone.
Last night's three rounds of "detox" had been embarrassingly intense, but the results were immediate.
Click.
The bedroom door opened gently. Lucian walked in carrying a glass of warm water, along with two pieces of black undergarments in his other hand.
"You're awake? Have some water, it'll help your throat."
He set the glass on the bedside table, then handed her the set of black lace underwear that used a very economical amount of fabric.
"There wasn't much wind last night, so I was worried it didn't dry completely on the balcony. I used a hair dryer to finish drying it this morning. It's fully dry now, shouldn't feel cold when you wear it."
Yukino reached out instinctively to take it.
The moment her fingers touched the soft lace, a clear warmth spread into her palm.
It was the heat left behind by the dryer… and his hands.
Boom.
Her brain instantly short-circuited. That cool, beautiful face flushed red at a visible speed, even her delicate collarbones turning pink.
Just imagining him early in the morning, holding a hair dryer and carefully drying her private underwear…
"Th-thank you, Teacher Lucian… I—I need to change now!"
She stammered as she issued a dismissal, yanking the underwear under the blanket and ducking her head like a startled ostrich.
Seeing how shy and flustered she looked, Lucian chuckled, shrugged, and tactfully left the room, closing the door behind him.
Only after confirming he was gone did Yukino lift the blanket with trembling hands.
As she lowered her head to get dressed, her gaze accidentally fell on her own pale, smooth skin.
From her slender neck and elegant collarbones to her flat abdomen and long legs… there were red marks everywhere.
All evidence of last night.
"That idiot teacher… he's basically a dog…"
Her eyes reddened with embarrassment. Enduring the lingering soreness and strange sensations, she struggled to put on the still-warm underwear, then slipped into the brand-new dress delivered the night before, carefully covering every trace.
When she pushed open the bedroom door, a rich aroma of food greeted her.
On the dining table in the open kitchen, Lucian had already prepared breakfast: golden fried eggs, crispy toast, tender bacon, and two steaming glasses of milk.
"I left new toiletries by the sink. Go freshen up and come eat. We've got half an hour before class," he said, taking off his apron.
Yukino nodded obediently and headed toward the bathroom—only to suddenly feel a gaze from the living room.
A gaze filled with resentment… and killing intent.
She turned her head.
Kasugano Sora was standing by the entrance.
Unlike yesterday's gothic outfit, Sora was now wearing a proper elementary school uniform, with a very noticeable Japanese-style backpack on her back.
As a miserable elementary schooler, her school required her to arrive half an hour earlier than the high schoolers at Sobu High.
Which meant that while Lucian and Yukino could sit and enjoy a warm breakfast together, she had to carry her heavy bag and rush off alone to catch the early school bus.
"Hmph!"
Sora glared at Yukino, then shifted her murderous gaze to Lucian. She stomped her little shoe on the floor and snapped through gritted teeth:
"You pervert of a brother! Hope your instant noodles come without seasoning and your water gets stuck between your teeth!"
With that, she yanked open the door and stormed out, slamming it shut with a loud bang.
Lucian awkwardly scratched his nose. "Ahem… elementary schoolers tend to be grumpy in the morning. Ignore her. Go wash up."
Ten minutes later.
After breakfast, the two of them left the apartment side by side, heading toward Sobu High.
The morning streets were bright and breezy. A light wind brushed through Yukino's black hair, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance.
They walked next to each other, deliberately keeping half a meter of distance. The atmosphere was a bit quiet.
"Um, Yukinoshita…"
Lucian broke the silence. After a brief hesitation, he brought up what Himan had warned about last night.
"About the aphrodisiac poison still in your body. You heard what Himan said. This kind of toxin has already merged with your constitution. If it's not dealt with regularly, a backlash could be disastrous."
At the words "aphrodisiac poison" and "treatment," Yukino's steps faltered slightly.
How could she forget last night's verdict?
That meant those shameful, sanity-destroying experiences… would have to happen again. Many times.
Yukino took a deep breath, forcing down the frantic pounding in her chest.
She lowered her head, staring at her toes, clutching her skirt tightly. Her voice was soft, but carried a hint of stubborn resolve.
"I understand… since it's treatment, I won't avoid it."
She paused, her voice growing even quieter, as if squeezing out the words with all her strength.
"As for the schedule… once a week… preferably… on weekends…"
Once a week?
Lucian glanced at the girl beside him, whose ears were already red. He suppressed a smile and nodded seriously.
"Alright. We'll do it your way."
…
Sobu High, teachers' office.
"Luu, Teacer Lucian. Morning. Sleep well last night?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka, wearing a white lab coat and holding an unlit cigarette, walked over and casually patted his shoulder.
"Yeah, not bad. Pretty… fulfilling," Lucian replied, recalling last night's three rounds of "physical labor," his lips twitching slightly.
Hiratsuka didn't catch the hidden meaning. She pulled over a chair and sat down.
"It's normal to need time to adjust. Today's Wednesday, then Thursday, and soon it's the weekend…"
"You only briefly showed up in Class 1-B yesterday. Today you'll officially start as the homeroom teacher. Have you checked the roster? There are quite a few troublemakers."
"Was just about to."
Lucian took a sip of hot tea and opened the thick Class 1-B roster on his desk.
Big mistake.
After scanning through the thirty-plus names at lightning speed, his eyes widened slightly.
[Yukino Yukinoshita] — Familiar. Very familiar. Just had some… in-depth interaction last night. Currently his student and regular "patient."
[Sawamura Spencer Eriri] — The blonde twin-tailed tsundere known for drawing doujinshi? She's in his class too?
[Mouri Ran] — Class rep. Excellent in both academics and character. Supposedly capable of smashing telephone poles with one punch. A true human Gundam.
[Kato Megumi] — If not for the photo on the roster, he might've overlooked her name entirely. That level of background presence… terrifying.
[Takanashi Rikka] — Oh, he knows her. The "Wielder of the Wicked Eye" with the eyepatch.
If it were just these slice-of-life heroines, Lucian could accept it. A mixed anime world was normal enough.
But then he saw the next name.
[Xia Mi]!
His eyelid twitched hard.
That's a primordial dragon king with dominion over earth and mountains! If she ever snapped and unleashed her power in class, would the school building even survive?!
Taking a breath to steady himself, he kept reading.
"Hm?"
On the last page, two more familiar names appeared.
[Chihaya Anon]
[Gotoh Hitori]
"....."