The moment Koga received his own respective collar from Shuuhei, he chucked it to the floor and shook his head. "Wha— You guys are sick! A collar?"

His shouts resounded within me. "Right, right?" I chimed in.

Koga swerved to me and nodded rapidly. "Sh-she even had a whip, right?"

"It was definitely a whip!"

"They're treating us like dogs—not even. Wild animals!" Koga gaped. We were on the wavelength. Finally, somebody I could rant to! "Okabe said he was keeping me on a leash b-but..."

Tears stung the corners of my eyes. "Right! I was shook, too! It was a literal one! They gave us a literal leash!"

I was about to storm up to him to tell him we had to have each other's backs at times like these, but I was stopped by an amused chuckle and a palm to my forehead.

Kakeru Horie bent forward so we were eye level.

"We'll seriously give you two a leash to go along with your fabulous collars if you don't stop fooling around." I went mute at once, stiff as a board. Kakeru's smile hadn't wavered the slightest. "Good."

Seriously, how could all of them smile like angels and yet be so frightening? A chill ran up my spine. They were true evil I tell you. Evil.

Something heavy collapsed into my hands. My jaw plummeted to find a huge stack of papers in its place.

"Why don't you go ahead and file those for us?" Kakeru patted my shoulder as he withdrew. "Since you'll be here with us every day, your boredom needs to be killed, right?"

I gaped at the thick stack of sheets. With the little to no brain cells I possessed, the daunting work was already giving me a headache. Still, forming a rebuttal was near impossible. These assholes were so—

"Already putting them to work?" Shuuhei tsked. To my shock, he grabbed the papers from me with ease. "You should be finishing your own."

Kakeru awkwardly laughed. "Darn it. I thought I could get away with it."

"We are to teach them discipline. How are we supposed to do that if we're not setting a proper example?"

My heart stirred in disbelief. Wait, don't tell me this sadist was having a change of heart...!

Shuuhei spared me one last glance, and his words automatically caught in his throat. His eyebrows spiked on his forehead while his cheeks tinged to a redder hue. I blinked, scrunching my eyebrows, but Shuuhei's odd reaction didn't falter. Until, it finally did.

Upon gathering himself, he preformed the last thing I believed he would: dropped the entire stack and scattered it across the floor.

Chin jutted, contempt contorted every feature of his face. "Oops," he said. "Pick those up for me will you?"

My mouth plummeted, head whipping across the ground before scowling at him. "You asshole—"

"No swearing in the sanctuary," he enunciated. "And despite my advice yesterday you are still in the same scruffy outfit. To make interior alterations, we must first start from the exterior."

Juuna interjected with a gasp, "Oh gosh, do you mean—"

Shuuhei smirked. "You and Koga will be getting a makeover."

All colour left my face, opposite to a giddy Juuna who erupted into a squeal.

"Ooh, girl time!"

"No!" I heard Koga shout before the same word could leave me. Likewise, he'd reached his limit. Fists clenched, nostrils flaring in anger. Even his voice was at a loud enough decibel. "Makeover? There's no way in hell I'm getting that! First you dragged me in here, then confined and threatened me with crazy weapons and sentences. Just what kind of place is this?"

Kakeru doubled over in laughter. "He's so scared! I love it! It's hilarious!"

"Lunatics," Koga cursed. "All of you! I'm leaving!"

Securing his bag over his shoulder, I extended my hand to him. "Wait, take me with you—"

"If you don't want punishment, why'd you go and get into trouble?" Juuna had reverted to her dark self. "We only want the best for you and Kasumi—our fellow students—and you're always disobeying us. Always."

Kakeru, Shuuhei and I went as white as snow. Juuna's voice had sunk to a dangerous low. Wateru shivered with that same adoration in his eye as she stepped forward. Koga had succumbed to a frightening series of trembles, especially when Juuna broke into her signature smile.

"Somebody needs a time out I guess," she cooed, dropping her index finger to the floor. "Sit."

Koga's teeth were clattering. "I-I-I will not—"

She licked her lips, raising the whip to his cheek with a freaky sparkle in her eye. "I said sit."

Koga was on his hands and knees in a matter of seconds. I offered him a sympathetic glance, though quivering in my respective area. Maybe against Shuuhei I had a chance to argue but with all four members assembled there was little to no room for rebuttal.

"So, Kasumi, Koga, we will begin this Sunday," Shuuhei declared.

Juuna perked at the news, swivelling to flash me a wave. I swallowed hard and remained silent.

It hit me in a few seconds.

Sunday.

"This Sunday?" I demand from Shuuhei, praying that I'd misheard him.

"Yes," he answered. "Why? Is there an issue?"

Junto and I were going to go on a date then! There was no way I could ditch that! Not for these lunatics.

They waited patiently as I flapped my mouth dumbly for a while. Juuna's whip in plain sight; the collars—I was shaking with apprehension.

"Cat got your tongue?" Kakeru asked. "Or are you that excited? I'll pick out the perfect outfit—"

The snap of Juuna's whip silenced Kakeru. "You are not allowed to have fantasies about Kasumi's precious body!" She turned to me. "Leave it to your master to choose the most comfortable ropes for you."

Ropes? This damn lunatic said ropes!

"Tch. You always try to take them," said Kakeru.

"Master," interjected Wateru. "Use my ropes to—"

"K-Kasumi. Business Sunday. Can't go!" I choked out.

"Business?" Shuuhei echoed.

My vision darted back and forth; anywhere but them. "Date. Movie. Must not miss."

Holy crappity. Why did I succumb to pressure so easily? If only I was a better liar! And more prone to the fear of whips!

"You have a date?" Shuuhei demanded, eyelids rising a fraction. "With whom?"

"Somebody asked our innocent Kasumi out?" Juuna chimed in, hand over her mouth. "And considering she agreed..."

"You have a crush, Kasumi?" Kakeru drawled. Their accuracy was undeniably painful. Then again, these were the Student Council officers I was talking about—they were the smartest people in the school for a reason. Grin in place, Kakeru poked his head towards mine. "You're so sheepish and obedient now, too. No way!"

"Love is a very effective way of getting disciplined," Wateru added and hopefully looked at Juuna. "I love you, Master."

She didn't even bat an eyelash. "Shut your disgusting mouth, Wateru."

"Y-yes, ma'am...!"

Each and every comment had made me blush more and more each time. Koga was curiously listening in as well, causing the patter of my heart against my ribcage to grow more violent.

"I just can't make it okay!" I snapped, extending a finger. "A-and my appearance is fine! I don't need a makeover!"

Juuna bounded to my side, clasping her fingers over my outstretched hand. "Kasumi, who is he? Does he go to this school?"

Stars were in her eyes, making my gut wrench with more mortification. Sure I wanted to yell into the hills that it was no other than the amazing Junto Anzai, but I couldn't do that in front of them. It'd be hella embarrassing!

Stupid Hikari. If only she were a proper friend and tried to give me leeway from this group of demons!

"It's nobody!" I asserted.

"Come on, tell us!" Kakeru pleaded, appearing to my right. His eyes lit up. "Or do we have to force it out of you because I wouldn't mind!"

"Why does Yonamine always have to receive everyone's attention..." Wateru gritted his teeth, aiming a heavy scowl my way.

Koga turned his head. "Can I get up—"

"Silence, Koga." Juuna shut the delinquent right up. Her glimmering eyes remained fixed on me, tone as silky as ever. "Tell your masters the truth, Kasumi."

'Masters.' These pompous asses.

"Now, now," Shuuhei—my unexpected saving grace—broke them away from me, taking a position with his back to me. "Let Kasumi breathe. If she has a... date she cannot postpone, I guess we'll just have to push the makeovers to a later day."

"Aw, just a little information?" begged Juuna over his shoulder.

"Don't fail to remember Kasumi's life isn't ours to pry into," he scolded. "It shouldn't have to concern us. Now let's get started with our work for today."

My breath hitched in my throat. Albeit sluggishly, they returned to their respective seats and work prior to my arrival. No way. Was Shuuhei covering for me, or was it another farce?

My swarm of questions were answered when Shuuhei twisted his head, his gaze carrying a means of anger I hadn't quite anticipated. I'd seen Shuuhei in many lights since our encounter but never once had I seen him look like this. Despite not knowing why, it left an uncomfortable tremor in my heart.

He was right. Whatever I did with my life didn't concern them—him.

And if he understood that, why did he still look as if his entire world had just fallen apart?