The crisis was approaching.
Unaware of the danger closing in, Sakurakami Natsumi hadn't come here to use the restroom—she simply wanted a moment alone. Opening the window to feel the night breeze and gazing up at the silver moon above, her disoriented mind slowly began to calm.
No matter the argument earlier, no matter how tense things were between her and her childhood friend, escaping this place was still the most important goal. With her mood somewhat settled, Natsumi lightly touched her chest, where her heart lay. Just as peace returned to her, a strange sound came from outside.
What was that?
"Kabayashi-kun?"
A sudden sense of unease crept into her heart. After all, this beautiful, spirited ponytailed girl had encountered her fair share of tentacled monsters by now—she was experienced. Realizing something was wrong, she immediately tried to dash out of the girls' restroom. Unfortunately, she was a step too late.
A dark figure blocked her only escape route. Before Natsumi could react, her hands were tightly bound and hoisted high into the air, her body slammed back against the window as she was pulled off her feet.
Bang—!
"Ugh…"
Tentacles?
She was done for… she'd been caught.
"Kabayashi?!"
The dark silhouette became clearer under the moonlight. When Natsumi saw the face of her assailant, she couldn't believe her eyes, her voice trembling in shock.
"You… You turned into a monster?!"
"What? Is it that disgusting?" Kabayashi Daisuke replied as he displayed the tentacles sprouting from his body, no longer suppressing his desires or true nature, his face twisted into a defiant sneer.
The moment he caught the disgust and revulsion flickering in Natsumi's beautiful blue eyes, a fire of rage inexplicably ignited within him. But seeing the gorgeous girl now helplessly in his grasp, unable to resist, he couldn't help but grin maniacally.
"To someone like you, I've always been invisible, haven't I? Just another nobody to turn your nose up at. But too bad—no matter how much you loathe me now, you can't resist me! I'm actually looking forward to it—what face will you make when a guy you find disgusting has his way with you? Will you suffer in silence? Or cry and beg?"
!!!
"Kabayashi! What are you even saying?!"
Natsumi really did feel a surge of nausea. No normal girl would be okay with these slimy, grotesque tentacles—her disgust was natural. And yet… it confused her that she didn't feel nearly as repulsed by Muxiaoxiao's tentacles.
Still, Kabayashi had been her friend. Even if she was uncomfortable, she wouldn't normally show it so clearly. But the words now spilling out of Kabayashi Daisuke's mouth—so vile, so depraved—left Natsumi completely stunned.
"What I'm saying? Didn't you understand, Natsumi?" His tentacles writhed eagerly as he let his gaze roam over her restrained body, trembling with excitement as he stared at the helpless girl before him.
"You're mine now, Natsumi. My woman—soon, I'll make you feel pleasure like never before. Sure, the tentacles are ugly, but as long as it feels good, does it even matter what's doing it? You'll be moaning so sweetly you won't even care."
"As soon as you're melting in bliss, too overwhelmed to think straight, you won't mind the tentacles one bit."
Kabayashi opened his mouth wide, grinning with a perverse smile.
Natsumi bit down hard on her lip and struggled with all her strength, but she couldn't break free from the tentacles binding her arms. Seeing Kabayashi's lecherous, twisted expression and hearing his filth-laced words, her heart sank into ice-cold despair.
She couldn't believe it—was this really Kabayashi-kun? Had he really turned into this? Like Donghua, his personality had completely changed. Did turning into a monster twist someone's morals this much?
But then… why did Muxiaoxiao help humans? Why did it help me?
Her long lashes fluttered slightly as moisture glimmered at the corners of her eyes. For once, she showed a rare, fragile side.
Only now, in contrast, did she realize how precious Muxiaoxiao was—how truly special. Maybe it really was one of a kind. She was grateful to have met it. But now…
Natsumi forcibly pushed down her vulnerability, gritted her teeth, and resisted with all her might. But the strength of the tentacles completely overwhelmed her.
She couldn't escape.
"It's no use. Don't bother resisting. No one's coming to save you," Kabayashi sneered. "Even if Matsubara Fuuichi showed up, what could he do? He can't save you, Natsumi… But I do hope he comes."
"Watching his beloved childhood friend writhe beneath my tentacles, begging and moaning—just imagining it is thrilling! I can't wait…"
"You sick freak! Kabayashi Daisuke, you're disgusting—!!!"
Natsumi shouted in fury.
"I am a freak. In your eyes, I've never been anything compared to Fuuichi, right? So why not embrace it? You like Fuuichi. You've always had a crush on him. You never even noticed my feelings…"
Donghua had been right. Kabayashi Daisuke did like Sakurakami Natsumi. But as Fuuichi's best friend, he couldn't bring himself to make a move on his buddy's childhood sweetheart—especially knowing that Natsumi only had eyes for Fuuichi.
So he kept his feelings buried deep.
But now that he'd become a monster, they all burst out at once. Ambition, lust, desire—he would take whatever he wanted.
Wait…
He liked me?
This was the first time Natsumi had heard this, and she froze in disbelief.
"But none of that matters now. You're my captive—and soon, my plaything. I'll violate you in front of the one you love, make you give birth to little monsters for me. Turn you into my breeding tool. To see you used like that, right in front of Fuuichi—just thinking about your expression then makes me excited—"
Disgusting!
Sickening!
Natsumi no longer hid her fierce loathing.
Looking at this Kabayashi Daisuke now, she felt only revulsion. As for his so-called love for her—Natsumi felt no guilt, no pity. She would never consider him a friend again. But…
Was this… really the end for her?
Furious and desperate, tears welled in her eyes. Her lips pressed into a tight line, her face ashen. Her heart filled with bitter despair.
She wasn't the kind of girl who crumbled easily. Deep down, she was strong and tenacious—she always fought back, no matter the odds. But now, faced with such hopelessness and horror, she felt so small. So powerless.
To think… she might really be used by this grotesque monster… reduced to a womb for his offspring?
She would rather die!
The sorrow in her heart grew heavier, her nose tingled, and she fought back the tears with all her might.
As Kabayashi Daisuke drew nearer, his disgusting tentacles reaching out to touch her, the girl instinctively shut her eyes. Even as she tried to keep control, fear and dread surged through every part of her body.
And then—
A vision flashed through her mind: a round, tentacled creature—Muxiaoxiao.
In this moment of utter despair, the one who came to mind wasn't her childhood friend Matsubara Fuuichi…
But Muxiaoxiao.
Why him? Why it?
Would… he come save me?
Bang—!
"What the—?!!"
The window shattered. Amid the falling shards of glass, two tentacles sliced down from above at lightning speed. Kabayashi Daisuke, caught off guard, could only cry out in shock. The tentacles binding Natsumi were severed.
Clean cuts. Blood sprayed.
"AAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH——!!!!"
It hurt. It really hurt.
The severed stumps gushed blood as his miserable screams echoed through the building.
Freed and falling to the floor, Sakurakami Natsumi looked up in a daze—only to see the figure outside the window.
Its form had changed, as if enhanced by a beautifying filter. But even then, her tear-filled eyes sparkled with joy, relief, and exhilaration—as if sunlight had pierced through the darkest clouds.
"You really came…"
Holding her chest, the girl clutched her trembling heart, tears rolling down her cheeks—but a radiant smile bloomed on her face. She wiped her eyes and let out a faint hum.
"Hmph… you even got cuter somehow…"
Even though his appearance had changed, she recognized Muxiaoxiao at first glance.
Yes… meeting him really had been a blessing.
Wait—why did I call him "him"…?
Startled, Natsumi clutched her chest tighter, a faint blush blooming across her pale, delicate face.