Chapter 36: Ko-chan’s New Power (2)
When I woke up, I found myself face to face with Matsuko, who was lying next to me on the bed staring at me.
"Morning, Ko-chan, how did you sleep?" She smiled when I opened my eyes.
I reflexively let out a gasp of surprise before I even realized it "M-My Lady! When did you--- Ahh!"
"Oooh, it looks like my little Ko-chan has been a bit naughty while I was away. Weren't you supposed to keep that cute little muzzle in your mouth while I was gone?" She looked like a cat that had caught a mouse and was just playing with it.
"Oh.. um... Hinari-chan said it wouldn't hurt to have a night off.." I looked down, extremely guilty for breaking my promise.
"She said that, did she? Well, then. I'll deal with her later, but first, how should I deal with you?" She never stopped smiling, seeming like she was having a great time watching me squirm.
"I-I'm sorry, My Lady. I won't skip out on training again." I felt my eyes water, and my emotions started to well up.
"Oh, Ko-chan, don't cry~ You don't have to worry. You won't be able to skip out on training again." She wiped my eyes and cuddled a bit closer.
"I won't?" The way she said it was a bit confusing, but I trusted her decisions.
"Now then, shall we get up? It's a busy day today." She got out of the bed and lifted me out as well, placing me on the floor. With an arm, she led me downstairs.
"Morning, Ko-chan. You cried?" Naruyo looked up from the book she was reading.
"Ko-chan is very sorry for skipping out on her training, so I'm helping her out. Have you finished that thing I asked you about earlier?" Matsuko pulled me a little closer and rubbed my side.
"Ready any time. Need thirty minutes." Naruyo closed her book and stood up.
"Of course, give me one minute. Ko-chan, how would you like a break? Since you already started one, you might as well go all the way." Matsuko turned me around and started unlocking my tutu.
"Wait, is that okay? I thought I wasn't supposed to stop for any reason?" I questioned why this break was suddenly okay after the one I took was wrong.
"This is a special exception. I need your tutu for a little while. Why don't you go take a shower?" Matsuko moved on to the laces, and soon my arms were released from the armbinder, revealing the mittens underneath.
"Multiple layers. Much more secure." Naruyo admired her own craftsmanship as I was slowly unraveled from my restraints.
Some minutes later I stood in the foyer completely naked. Matsuko turned me around and pushed my hair out of the way. "So you've already progressed this far. Your elbows are almost all the way together even with no external force. Maybe, soon, you'll find that feeling you are looking for?" She gave me a little slap on the ass to push me towards the stairs, which caused me to give a little yelp.
I ran up the stairs to the bathroom and took a good, long, hot shower. It had been a while, after all, and I felt all my stress releasing into the steam.
* * *
Some time later, Matsuko found me in the bathtub, with my head resting on my arms on the side of the bathtub, peacefully asleep. She sighed softly as she lifted me out of the bath, dried me off with a bit of fire magic, and then placed me on the bed. "Sleep well, Ko-chan, it's going to get a lot harder. You've already drawn attention to yourself from the outside world, so it's a fight for survival from now on."
She left the room and went back to the foyer to tell Naruyo there would be a delay, then headed to the kitchen to get something to drink. There, she saw Hinari eating a muffin at the table.
"Ah, just the person I wanted to talk to." Matsuko came over and sat down next to her.
"Ma-chan, what's up?" Hinari looked over non-chalantly
"Not much, you wouldn't be the one who released Ko-chan's training and told her a break wouldn't hurt, even after I told you specifically not to remove her muzzle, would you?" Matsuko picked up a muffin and slowly peeled the liner off of it.
Hinari shuddered as she heard what Matsuko said "Wait, she told you all this? She should be mistaken, right?"
"Hinari, do you think that girl can lie to me? She folds immediately if you just glare at her. We both know it was you so let's drop the pretense." Matsuko dropped her casual tone
"She looked so sad and pathetic trying to talk all the time, I felt bad for her." Hinari confessed.
"It wasn't my choice to increase her training. She insisted that she had to do this, even after I initially refused. I think she's chasing something, but I don't know what it is, and I intend to let her find out." Matsuko seemed proud as she explained the backstory.
"She's... going this far... for what?" Hinari frowned.
"To catch up, she says. I think she's realized the difference between her and us. To cross the line between mortal and immortal, how could there be any easy paths. I'm sure her persistence will pay off though. I believe in her." Matsuko's smile widened as she recalled that night's conversation.
"She's trying so hard to cross a million mile gap, but what about you? You are falling further behind by the day, you know." Matsuko turned the conversation back to Hinari.
"What can I do? I'm not talented like you and Naruyo. Even if I tried, I would keep falling further behind. No matter what I try, I never see any results... You've never been in my situation, Ma-chan, everything is easy for you." Hinari spilled her frustrations out finally.
Matsuko started to lecture Hinari. "So you are going to just give up? When you are passed by by everyone you know, you'll just lay down? What will you do when you are even passed up by Ko-chan? Six months ago, the only thing on her mind was getting every pretty girl she saw to play dress up for her."
Hinari was shocked. "Wait. You think Ko-chan is going to pass me? That's impossible right? She doesn't even have a shred of magic power, how could that happen?"
Matsuko smirked. "Just wait and see. I can't wait to see your face when she blossoms in front of your eyes."
Hinari grit her teeth. "You know I can't let that provocation pass, right?"
Matsuko laughed. "Oh, I'm so scared. What are you going to do, glare me to death? I've known you since before we could even speak, and you still haven't changed. Well, I suppose, as your oldest and best friend, I can't just let you languish into obscurity. I promise, I'll let you have your revenge on Sakari within two months, how about it?"
Hinari blushed immediately when she heard Matsuko's offer "Wait, how do you know about that?!"
"Hinari-chan, she's been telling that story to anyone who would listen~ According to her, you had the cutest orgasm she'd ever seen, she even imitated the sounds you made." Matsuko did a little imitative moan.
Hinari grit her teeth and made up her mind. "Argh, fine. Show me your training program. You're sure it will work?"
"Oh yes, I'm positive your power will grow significantly in no time. But first, we have to settle our own debt. You interrupted Ko-chan's training when I specifically said not to." Matsuko now smiled mischievously. "As such, you need to pay the price. And that price is these~" She held up the vibrating panties from the convention.
Hinari shot up from her chair and backed halfway across the kitchen. "Oh no, you aren't getting those on me again, not after last time."
"You. don't. have. a. choice, Hinari-chan~" Matsuko said each word with a tone that sent shivers down her spine. In one step, she was in front of Hinari, and with the flash of her hands, the satin panties she was holding turned into cotton panties, which she twirled around her finger. "Nice doing business with you, Hinari-chan~"
Hinari stifled a moan and put one arm on the counter to stabilize herself. "D-d-do you think I have no way to resist..." She held up her hand and a magic circle appeared and spun in her palm. She reached under her skirt and seconds later, let out a sigh of relief.
Matsuko smiled and clapped her hands. "Using your subspace to escape from the locked panties, I'm impressed. Truly, adversity is our greatest teacher. Only, if this is the best you can do, how do you plan to deal with this?"
Matsuko held up a finger and a small magic circle appeared at the tip. It glowed brighter and brighter until Matsuko disappeared from her spot and reappeared in front of Hinari, with her finger already on her forehead. The magic circle was pushed inside Hinari's forehead and her face contorted with pain. It only lasted a few seconds before her face relaxed, but she immediately looked down, finding symbols glowing through her clothing.
"Ah...you...what did you do..." Hinari hurriedly pulled up her shirt and saw that there were small rune circles surrounding her nipples, and a larger rune symbol on her stomach.
"I found this particular law on Asami a while back. It seemed useful, so I memorized its structure. Its vibrators are made out of law, so there is no physical object for you to send into subspace. With this, you won't be able to escape your punishment~" Matsuko explained what she did, proudly.
Hinari's face turned scarlet as the vibrators expanded inside her and turned on for the first time. Her nipples were visibly vibrating and she instinctively pressed her thighs together.
"This is the first step of your training, Hinari-chan. You always give up the second anything gets a little difficult. You won't be able to give up on this training, so please try a bit harder for me, won't you?" Matsuko got close and gave her a hug. "I look forward to the day when my fearless general rides into battle alongside me. Don't you, Hinari-chan?"
Hinari grit her teeth and forced a smile "...I won't let you down, Ma-chan.."
Matsuko smiled and left the kitchen with a little wave. Hinari trembled in place, holding her hands over her crotch while trying to stifle a moan.
