The Witch sat curled on the floor, swathed in the oversized short-sleeved shirt. With every slight movement, the collar would slide askew, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white shoulder.
Hayashi Shuichi's Adam's apple bobbed instinctively. He quickly averted his gaze from Akane Koizumi.
"I really came here because I have something important to ask of you. A girl has gone missing, and I want you to help me divine her whereabouts."
"No!"
Akane snapped her head to the side, using Shuichi's shirt to wipe away her tears before adding spitefully, "I won't help you!"
"Are you sure?" Shuichi frowned, his gaze sharpening.
Staring into those eyes, Akane suddenly lost her nerve. Her voice involuntarily dropped a few octaves. "...Of—of course I'm sure!"
"...It seems I was mistaken," Shuichi sighed with disappointment. "Despite our past grievances, I always believed that you were not only beautiful but a kind-hearted girl..."
"I don't need you to tell me that; I already know I'm a beautiful, kind girl," Akane huffed. Though she tried to hide it, she couldn't quite mask the smug curl at the corner of her lips.
"And yet, knowing a girl is in danger, you refuse to lift a finger to save her," Shuichi said, his face full of condemnation. "Are all witches this cold-hearted?"
"I—I am not cold-hearted!" Akane shot back instinctively, her cheeks flushing bright red under the accusation.
Seeing Shuichi look at her with disdain, the Witch muttered guiltily under her breath, "If anyone else asked, I'd definitely help. But it had to be an annoying brat like you! You even ruined my witch attire—that took so much effort to craft with magic!"
The more Akane spoke, the more agitated and angry she became. "I just won't help you!"
"You really won't help?" Shuichi confirmed one last time.
"No!" Akane crossed her arms over her chest. "I will never help—"
The Witch's voice cut off abruptly as she saw Shuichi suddenly step toward her.
Akane was startled, her crimson pupils shrinking. She scrambled to back away on all fours, but Shuichi immediately seized her slender wrist.
"Wh-what do you think you're doing?" Akane stammered, trembling. "Assaulting a woman is against the law!"
"Don't worry, I have no intention of breaking the law."
Shuichi looked at her expressionlessly. Since the soft approach wasn't working, it was time for the hard way. "I just want to teach you a lesson! When a brat is disobedient, a good thrashing fixes everything!"
With that, Shuichi pulled the Witch toward him and flipped her face-down across the floor.
Before Akane could even react, the world spun around. By the time she came to her senses, she was pinned to the ground in an utterly humiliating position.
Before the Witch could start screaming, Shuichi's palm came down with a sharp SMACK right on her backside.
The crisp sound echoed clearly through the silent hallway.
"...You—you actually hit me!" Akane gritted her teeth and struggled violently, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Even my mother never hit me! Hayashi Shuichi, I'm not done with you—"
"Don't move," Shuichi warned, his gaze meaningfully sweeping over the hem of the shirt, which was riding up due to her struggling.
He offered a "kind" reminder: "You're only wearing my shirt right now. If you keep thrashing around and I see something I shouldn't, don't go regretting it later."
The Witch suddenly remembered her current state and froze mid-struggle, her hands desperately clutching the hem of the shirt.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Shuichi showed no hesitation, raising his palm and repeatedly striking her through the fabric of the shirt.
After a dozen or so swats, the Witch's backside was glowing a bright red. Unable to move, she could only sob piteously, her tears falling silently onto the floor to form a small puddle.
Though the sensation was... interesting... Shuichi's hand was starting to feel numb.
He shook his reddened palm. "Now then? Are you willing to help?"
"Who... who asks for help... like this!" Akane sobbed out.
"I asked nicely just a moment ago; you're the one who refused," Shuichi said, raising his hand again as if to continue.
"Stop... don't hit me anymore!" Akane shrank back. "I—I'll help you, okay?"
"Really?" Shuichi confirmed with a serious expression. "This concerns a girl's safety; it's no joke."
"I know!" Akane broke free from his grip and rolled over to sit up.
Her eyes were bloodshot and the tip of her nose was pink, making her look both pitiful and adorable.
"I can help you find the missing girl, but you have to agree to a few conditions."
The Witch stubbornly tilted her chin up, trying to regain the initiative despite her disadvantage. "If you don't agree, no matter what you do to me today, I won't help you!"
"Let's hear them. What are the conditions?" Shuichi arched an eyebrow.
"You just hit me fourteen times," Akane said, her face flushing as she gnashed her teeth. "I have to hit you back!"
"Fine, I agree," Shuichi nodded, making a motion as if to undo his belt. "You can do it right now. Do I need to take my pants off?"
"No!" Akane lunged to cover her eyes.
After a few seconds of silence, she realized she had fallen for his trick again.
"You're messing with me again!" The Witch kicked her feet out in a childish tantrum.
"Just a joke," Shuichi said with a chuckle, rubbing his aching wrist. "Alright, I've agreed to the spanking. Get on with the divination."
"You've bullied me so many times, how could there be only one condition?" Akane bit her nail irritably. "Besides that, you have to promise never to bully me again, never to enter my house without permission, you have to listen to me at school, and..."
The Witch began counting on her fingers, getting more enthusiastic as she went.
"Hey, don't push it," Shuichi glared at her, his gaze turning dangerous again. "Including the spanking, I'll agree to three conditions at most. If you agree, start the divination now. If not..."
His gaze drifted toward her lap, and he meaningfully flexed his wrist.
"Don't! I agree!" Akane nodded frantically like a frightened rabbit. "But I haven't thought of the other two conditions yet. I'll tell you once I've figured them out!"
I will definitely get revenge for today's humiliation!
"Fine, but the conditions can't be too outrageous," Shuichi said gruffly. Dealing with this Witch was honestly more exhausting than an actual fight.
"...Understood," Akane pouted resentfully.
"Get up," Shuichi said, extending a hand.
Akane didn't want to take it, intending to stand up on her own, but then she remembered she was still only wearing his shirt. If she stood up carelessly and accidentally exposed herself to him again, she'd be at an even greater loss...
(End of Chapter)
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