How is this possible?
No matter how you look at it, that's just the behavior of a total lecher, isn't it?
Is... is it possible that my perspective is just too narrow?
"Can you really awaken her Origin?" Souren Araya asked, seeking confirmation.
"I can, but it has to be done very slowly. After all, it takes many times of 'going in and out' to finally produce a crystallized result, right?" Haruka Kasugano laughed.
Under the effects of [Disguise Work] and [Espionage], Araya suddenly felt that Haruka Kasugano was a kindred spirit. He didn't mind having an accomplice, especially since there was value in cooperation. Furthermore, under the influence of [Incitement], he actually bought into Haruka Kasugano's logic.
Two years of failure had left Araya with very little confidence. Faced with Haruka Kasugano's sudden appearance, he actually felt a surge of renewed hope.
He smiled slightly. "How about this? We can cooperate. I am very interested in your method. After all, our goals are identical—we both simply wish to reach the Root!"
"Heh, sure thing!" Haruka Kasugano saw no reason to refuse him.
First, he didn't want to fight the man, Araya was quite powerful. Second... he hadn't originally thought of a concrete way to conquer Shiki Ryougi. But the moment he met Araya, he had a sudden stroke of inspiration. His [Mathematical Thinking] immediately calculated a brand-new strategy: cooperate with Araya... and then slowly win over Shiki.
He could protect Shiki while finding opportunities to conquer her. Compared to using "love" to influence her, he much preferred the villainous approach!
Hahahaha!
"Then you use your method first. If it fails, I'll use mine. How about we coordinate with each other?" Haruka Kasugano proposed.
Araya thought this made sense, the kid seemed very confident. "Hm, fine. I need assistants anyway, so you can help me out."
"You got it!" Haruka Kasugano laughed.
And so, the two of them became partners.
Thus, Haruka Kasugano began his routine of returning to classes on weekdays. After school, he spent his days teasing Circe, Irisviel, Saber Alter, and Maiya Hisau. Of course, there were also the twice-weekly "home visits" to the Tohsaka household.
But as soon as the weekend hit, Haruka Kasugano would head to Misaki City to "assist" Souren Araya's Origin Awakening plan. Since Shiki would be in a coma for another two years, Haruka Kasugano was quite perfunctory about this cooperation.
One day, Araya pulled out a set of architectural blueprints.
"Haruka Kasugano, this is a massive project I've prepared to reach the Root," Araya said proudly.
Haruka Kasugano leaned in and looked at the drawings. Written clearly on the top was: "Architectural Blueprints for the Ogawa Apartment Complex."
Ah, isn't this the famous Ogawa Apartments from Kara no Kyoukai? The place that almost caused Shiki to flip her boat.
"Look at how perfect this design is!" Araya boasted. "I even specially invited my classmate from the Clock Tower, Touko Aozaki, to help design it!"
"Oh~! Her~!" Haruka Kasugano scratched his head and played along.
Touko didn't report this to me? Whether it was a private gig or a workshop commission, as an employee, she should have mentioned it to her boss. Damn it, I'm docking her pay when I get back!
"My Ogawa Apartment complex utilizes the theory of Taiji Yin and Yang, dividing the floors into a 'realm of the living' and a 'realm of the dead.' By utilizing a spiral, twisting elevator ascent, I create an illusion. On the first floor, the elevator faces East. On the second, it faces West. On the third, East again! And so on! In the beginning, the elevator faces the 'Living Side'!"
The living side would have normal tenants move in and live their lives. But this apartment complex—with its uneven corridors and gloomy design—would make people increasingly irritable and mentally unstable. Eventually, the living tenants would kill each other or end their own lives due to their rage.
At that point, due to their deaths, the "Living Side" would transform into the "Dead Side." After they died, the elevator's rotation would shift—the second floor that used to face West would face East, and so on. The elevator would then face the new "Living Side," where a vast number of puppets mimicking the original tenants would be placed. These puppets would be programmed with the tenants' memories, mimicking their final day of life and dying once every day.
Because puppets replaced the original residents, they would go to school, buy groceries, and greet relatives as usual. The world would have no idea they were already dead. Thus, the East and West sides of the building—the "Death" of the corpses and the "Life" of the puppets—would merge Yin and Yang. Within this spiraling, ascending structure, the fusion of life and death following the principle of "Two Forms (Shiki) dying into Taiji"...
"—I will finally arrive at the Root!" Araya proclaimed.
"Impressive. Even without Shiki Ryougi, you can reach the Root with this!" Haruka Kasugano praised.
"For this, I've also contacted another classmate, Cornelius Alba. He comes every year to help!"
Watching his confident display, Haruka Kasugano couldn't help but laugh. He said, "Since you don't need Shiki Ryougi right now, I'll go ahead and try my method on her, then?"
"Wait!" Araya hurriedly interjected, looking a bit embarrassed. "Actually, my confidence in this isn't 100%. If it fails, I'll still need her. Don't go 'breaking' her prematurely!"
"It'll take at least a year to build this place. Can't I try my method during that year?" Haruka Kasugano laughed.
Araya thought about it and conceded. "Fine. But don't go too far. You can do 'preliminary preparations,' but you can't officially start the final process!"
"Deal~!" Haruka Kasugano grinned.
At the very least, Araya wouldn't stop him from getting "cozy" with Shiki anymore. Since Shiki hadn't woken up yet, there was no need to explore "depths" with her, but cuddling, smelling, and licking were definitely on the menu!
"I'll invest a sum of money into your plan as well!" Haruka Kasugano added.
"Oh~! Fantastic!" Araya was even more delighted.
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After saying goodbye to Araya, Haruka Kasugano returned to Garan no Dou.
"Hey, did you take a commission from Souren Araya?" Haruka Kasugano demanded.
Touko Aozaki was so startled her cigarette dropped to the floor. "Heh... Boss... how did you know..." she stammered.
"First, tell me: how much did you charge him?"
"Not much... just a few hundred thousand..." she said awkwardly.
"You're collecting a salary from me, yet you take private commissions without reporting it? You're quite something! What does the contract say?" Haruka Kasugano teased.
"Ugh..." Touko looked utterly wronged.
And so, she was forced to cough up the money she earned from Araya. Haruka Kasugano then took that exact same money and used it to "sponsor" Araya.
Perfect! He didn't spend a single cent, and he even earned Araya's gratitude!
-----------
That night, Haruka Kasugano slipped quietly into Shiki's hospital room. Because of the agreement with Araya, he was no longer interrupted. He could admire her beauty in peace.
It had been nearly two months since his last visit. Her hair had grown quite a bit. Haruka Kasugano climbed onto her bed and removed her hospital gown to admire her body. As the saying goes, breasts can be massaged to grow larger. Shiki's only minor flaw was that she was a bit too small. Thus, Haruka Kasugano began to apply his "Old Chinese Doctor" skills, giving her a massage.
Shiki wasn't completely flat, like Artoria, she had very pretty, well-shaped "clove-like" breasts. "So soft... so fragrant..." Haruka Kasugano couldn't help but marvel. After over an hour of massage, her skin became rosy and tender. Feeling he shouldn't overdo it, he moved his attention elsewhere.
He looked down at her "rabbit lips" (vulva). They were beautiful—the true entrance and exit to the Root! Haruka Kasugano couldn't help but kiss them. Even if he couldn't consummate with her yet, she was his property, and he had to leave his mark. Especially there—he wanted to shape the "outside" into his own mold first!
Half an hour later, he focused on her exquisitely crafted "jade hooves." Her feet were top-tier, because she had been raised in luxury since childhood, there wasn't a single callus. They were smooth, tender, and absolutely gorgeous. Haruka Kasugano began to kiss them. Her toes, like little Bodhi seeds, were soft and delicate. Her body scent was intoxicating, making him linger.
Around 4:00 AM, Haruka Kasugano felt it was time to leave. Though reluctant, he knew there was plenty of time. This night, he hadn't just sampled her skin, he had also carved numerous Runes all over her body. This was a precaution—if a fight broke out after she woke up, he could use these pre-set marks to deal with her.
Hehehe!
Haruka Kasugano slipped out of the window. One minute after he left, Shiki Ryougi—who had been lying silently—suddenly opened her eyes. She sat up like a zombie, her head turning slowly and stiffly to look out the window.
Void Shiki was awake.
Or rather, she had been awake the whole time. She had woken up the moment Haruka Kasugano began secretly kissing her. Thus, she had silently accompanied him through the entire hours-long, ambiguous process.
She looked down at the damp sheets, her "rabbit lips," her wet feet, and her slightly swollen chest.
Void Shiki fell into deep thought.
—Why am I interested in this hooligan?
As the personality of the physical body, she originally felt nothing for the world. After touching the Root and perceiving all truths and knowledge—like being spoiled for a TV show—she had become even less interested. Yet, this "hooligan" had managed to pique her curiosity.