Heroine Distribution Episode (1)

"......This can't go on."

Ska Rate muttered anxiously atop the luxurious bed, slathered with all sorts of beneficial effects. At the emergency meeting for the seventh fake Hypnosis App ploy—where she'd been utterly confident she wouldn't lose—she'd crumbled under the extreme measures of fellatio and kissing. There was no way she could stay composed anymore.

"I got his first kiss, so that's fine...... but losing his first blowjob is a big deal."

Before the two of them joined Liar's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Trap, Paster had worked half-forced at Ska Rate's family home for three years while she learned the Rate family's secret arts. Back then, her greatest pleasure after daily training was sneaking into his room late at night when everyone else was asleep to watch him.

One day, as usual, she slipped into his room and found his lips looking especially tasty that night. Forgetting her own promise to herself—My first kiss should be when we're both conscious!—she gave in to instinct and stole a kiss from his sleeping lips.

The next day, feeling inexplicably guilty, Ska Rate probed him: "P-Paster. Have you, uh, ever kissed anyone?"

Thrown by the random question, Paster thought, Is this bitch messing with me again? and warily snapped, "No. Why?"

Hearing the answer she'd desperately wanted, Ska Rate felt like she was flying. For a whole week, she didn't pick fights with him and treated him really nicely.

Then she overheard him muttering alone in his room: "Did she eat something weird? They say people change suddenly and then die...... Hmm...... Whatever, she'll get bored and stop. Oh, Maid Lian said we should go shopping together, but didn't say when. Should I ask?"

The next day, she "honorably retired" the maid with severance pay so massive she couldn't complain, then went back to tormenting him as usual.

Anyway, that first-kiss memory was still one of Ska Rate's most cherished side dishes, used more than any other. With that thrill in mind, she'd been eagerly anticipating how exciting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it would be to give his dick its first kiss—only for another woman to steal it first.

The fact infuriated her to no end, boiled her blood, and made her desperately impatient.

"I won't give up his virginity. No, I won't. I vowed ten years ago I'd pop it with my own virginity......!"

Igniting her rivalry against Lapis Julie—whom she'd always seen as her arch-nemesis—Ska Rate agonized over how to claim Paster's virginity. It was a sleepless night.

2. It was a day off—Saturday. I woke up in my small, cramped dorm and turned on the TV to some very intriguing news.

Engagements between heirs of noble families were common in this era, but hearing someone I knew was getting engaged felt pretty surreal.

"Fiancé's name is Ul Blond...... Ul Blond—definitely Silk Blond's half-brother, right?"

I didn't know the Blond family tree inside out, but Ul Blond was hugely famous in the awakener world. An S-rank who shone bright without being overshadowed by the world's top tamer, Silk Blond—that alone proved how capable he was.

"Blond family eldest son, stupidly handsome like all Blonds, and his skills are top-tier. Isn't he exactly Lapis Julie's ideal type she yaps about nonstop?"

Lapis Julie starts every day by chewing me out. She barges into the Scout Leader's Room first thing, says, "Good morning, Senior. Though seeing you right after clocking in makes it a bad morning for me," with that shitty greeting.

Then, for some reason, instead of going to her desk, she plops on the sofa by mine, stares at me coldly, and spouts crap like: "You should be grateful to me, Senior. To chat privately with someone of my caliber, you need to match a certain rank—but you're not even close. F-rank in reality. So be always thankful that I'm lowering myself to talk to a nobody like you. Got it?"

I put up with variations of the same bullshit daily until I finally snapped: "So what is the minimum rank to chat with you, Team Leader?"

She scoffed: "At least A-rank. Super competent, great personality, solid backing, handsome face? Huh, that's the total opposite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of you, Senior."

Then: "So you should be grateful I deign to talk to you..." I cut off her worthless drivel: "Then go hang with rank-appropriate guys instead of wasting time on me. Why bother?"

She puffed her cheeks, yelled, "Be grateful, you idiot moron!" and stormed out. Didn't talk to me for three days.

"Those were the best days ever. Could focus on work in peace."

Of course, on day four she burst in with red eyes and shredded my mood with ten times the venom—but whatever.

Anyway, this Ul Blond, engaged to Lapis Julie, was exactly the "rank-appropriate" match she'd drilled into my ears endlessly.

Lapis Julie—who'd sucked my dick so deliciously just yesterday—suddenly announcing an engagement was surprising, but one less headache in my life felt great. No apology? Bummer, but hey, one worry down.

"Even my life gets some sunlight."

Still three layers of storm clouds left...... fuck.

"Wish the other bitches would find their own rank-mates and fuck off."

If this were a webnovel, it'd be "heroine giveaway" pandemonium, but luckily it's reality. No readers to fear.

"Mood's lifted. Long time since I shopped? Might grab some clothes too."

My old ones went up with the penthouse, so I needed new anyway. Low on cash—hit the market for cheap stuff. Gotta pinch pennies till payday.

As I prepped to head out, my phone buzzed by the TV. Lapis Julie calling. Face soured instantly.

"What now."

Doesn't she know not to call subordinates on days off? Frowned, debating picking up.

Work's done perfectly—no emergencies warranting a call. Not business...... personal, then.

"Engaged and still calling me privately? Rude as hell to her fiancé."

I'm a guy. One she kissed and blew—very risky. Only we know, but she does, so no calls.

Even for a slut.

"Perfect chance for clean break. Tell her calling strange men privately post-engagement is a huge faux pas. How's that for a noble upholding family prestige? Then: 'Please don't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠call personally anymore.' Line drawn."

"Yes...... perfect."

Genius idea, even from me. Perfect excuse to ditch the mentally draining headache.

I hit accept, brought it to my ear.

CRASH!!!

For some reason, Lapis Julie sounded weak—and simultaneously, my dorm door was ripped off its hinges as my redheaded childhood friend barged in.

"Paster! Nothing to do, right? Come shopping with me!"

Does this psycho not know "knock"?

Saw Ska holding the door by the knob. For a split second, debated protesting or hanging up and playing dumb.

Quick decision: Fuck it.

Hung up, pocketed the phone naturally. Ska was busy pondering where to put the door—didn't notice.

Good call. Complaining to Ska? In one ear, out the other. But caught on a personal holiday call with Lapis Julie? Starts with "What'd you talk about?" escalates to "What's your deal with that bitch, chatting so chummy on a weekend morning? Huh? Paster? Huh?" Ends with "Can't have this. I'm moving in now. One glance elsewhere..." Forced cohabitation.

Ugh, nightmare just thinking. Could collar her with yesterday's dog collar, ravage like before, and she'd flee begging—but holiday. No wasting energy on bullshit.

"Uh, just leave it here? Fix the door yourself, Paster!"

Ska, tired of debating, propped it against the opposite dorm door and entered.

She'd clearly dressed for shopping: no usual ass-hugging latex and long coat—instead, a white two-piece baring her navel. Casual Ska...... rare sight.

After stripping her bare yesterday and the day before, she didn't scare me anymore. Normally I'd think, Monster in human skin dressing normal...... world's doomed and tremble. Now? Purely appreciating her outfit.

"......W-Why stare like that? Am I that pretty?"

"Honestly? Yeah."

If Ska Rate wasn't pretty, only Silk Blond would be in this world. Had to admit her looks.

But I never said it before—her face flushed, flustered.

"W-What?"

Her twitching smile felt comfy, so I added unnecessary salt.

"If your personality wasn't dogshit."

"......What?"

Air grew heavy instantly—her red hair flickered like flames. Angry signal.

Instinct flinched, but Collar her, suck her nape, she'll tremble and beg—back to chill. Prepped to go. Shopping it is.

"Hey, Paster. What'd you just......"

"Ska, that matter now? Shopping. Let's go."

"Uh, huh?"

Cut her growl, headed to the door where she stood. My nonchalance stunned her—she followed blankly, forgetting her rage.

"Oh, buy me clothes while shopping? Yours flew off 'cause of you."

"Huh? Oh...... yeah. Sure......"

Unusual me had her side-eyeing, wondering Is this my Paster?

Whatever, it'll pass. Free clothes? Score. Ask for expensive ones.