Maybe I’m just being desperate. 

Maybe I just want someone to love me and crave me for real.

It’s a sad thought when I stop to consider it… heh. Maybe I’ve always been a bit of a sad person.

But still… it wouldn’t hurt to ask her directly, would it?

Shizuka is bold and cheerful, she doesn’t shy away from anything.

She’s the type who always faces things head on, so… maybe she’d actually answer me honestly.

…Okay.

But how do you even ask something like this in the middle of this kind of situation…?

I don’t want to appear needy—

HNNGH!

“Uhm… You’re going a little too hard on the nipples…” I muttered, bumping her head lightly with my hand.

“Sorry, I’m just excited,” she breathed, smiling against me. “I finally got what I wanted.”

And what is that supposed to mean, young lady?! My body, huh?!

…Ah, wait! Hold up!

She just said she finally got what she wanted. Doesn’t that mean she’s been aiming for me for a while now?

Like, even back before I was transformed into a cyborg?

Or… is it possible her kinks are just on steroids, and she actually had some bizarre robot fetish all along?

Eventually, I gathered up enough courage to ask;

“Hey, Shizuka…” I called out softly.

She pulled back from her sucking and looked at me, her lips glistening with drool, but embodying the happiest smile.

It was in that moment I confirmed, once again, that Shizuka was a truly amazing Nadeshiko.

“Shizuka, do you like me? I mean… do you see me as more than a friend?”

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, and then—Ack! Then she immediately looked away!

Ah… was I right all along?

“Not exactly,” she said, her fingers tracing slow circles on my stomach. “I like you, but nothing too complicated like that. I’m happy with us being just friends…”

Figured.

Now I kind of feel like a dork for even asking.

She did say clearly back there that she doesn’t do love.

“…Oh… I just wanted to know,” I murmured. “Didn’t want to end up hurting you or something.”

Her fingers suddenly slid further down my stomach, creeping lower and lower until they reached the forbidden realm.

I instantly tried to grab her hands to stop her, but strands of her web shot out and wrapped my wrists, sticking me firmly to the bed.

Shit! I was careless.

Was this the actual reason she begged the gods for webs?!

She began to rub me gently at first, then steadily increased the pressure.

“Why? Do you already like someone else?” she whispered against my ear, her finger moving faster.

“Wai—hold on. You’re too rough with it, please—”

“Answer me, and perhaps I’ll stop here for the night.”

The look on her face told me everything. She was enjoying this. Enjoying my suffering.

But… did I piss her off somehow?

Crap, this is bad. M-My body wants to… it wants to orgasm, but… I just can’t…

SHHHHHHH!

“Aha-ha-ha!” Shizuka laughed as waves of pleasure shot out from me. “Sugoi! You came so much from just my finger. Were you really that sexually starved?”

Eh…?

I… don’t get it…

(...Netherbyte...?)

{Explanation: Master once expressed sadness over lack of copulation and reproduction… While reproduction is still a hurdle, as long as Master’s body is prepared, the necessary organs for sexual interaction will manifest.}

(...)

So… should I be saying thank you now? Or…?

No, I want to say thank you… in fact—

(Thank you, Netherbyte.)

{I exist to serve, Master.}

—but this situation is very ironic.

I mean, Netherbyte, you literally fucked me up big time. Like, I’m dead meat now!

Before I could even process the fact that my crotch had suddenly shifted into a biological form, Shizuka had already tugged off my short skirt and kinky underwear.

I barely had time to resist before she pressed her lips to mine again.

This kiss was different, though… Less passionate, and more aggressive.

Seriously… did I piss her off somehow?

“Shizuka, please, be gentle,” I cried.

“So…? Is it that nerd?” she hissed, biting down on my ear.

“Wh-what nerd?! You mean Kiyoshi? What about him?”

“Is he the one you like now?”

And then I noticed it. An object in her hand.

Judging from the strands of web stuck to it, she must have just fished it from her stripped short’s pocket.

Not too large, but still big enough to cause me a whole lot of problems.

“Hey! We didn’t have this kind of agreement!” I snapped, glaring at the toy in her hand.

“What do you mean? You said your body was mine for an hour.”

Crap! That really was exactly what I said!

Left with no other choice, I dropped my pride and resorted to begging, my eyes already wet with tears.

“P… Please, let us leave it at this,” I whimpered, trying my best puppy-dog look. “I was confused when I made that vow… so… please…”

Her expression softened, though I had a sneaking suspicion it wasn’t out of mercy.

More like she just thought I looked cute that way.

“Answer me seriously,” she said, the toy buzzing with a sharp vrrr in her hand. “Do you like anyone currently?”

What’s with the complicated questions, Shizuka?!

I thought you hated complicated stuff!

Now, depending on my answer, I could be in some deep trouble here. (Don’t mind the pun.)

“Uhm…” My eyes darted away nervously. “I d-do like Rei, and the others—”

“You know what I mean, Nagisa-chan…” Shizuka warned, pressing the vibrating weapon of doom against my daughter.

“O-Okay, I’ll talk!” I begged. “Just don’t do anything rash.”

Think, think, think!

Do I even like anyone right now?

What exactly does it mean to like someone romantically again?!

{Answer: To romantically like an individual, you are not only sexually attracted to them, but you also find yourself thinking of them frequently, and you may even go so far as to make sacrifices on their behalf.}

Eh?! Was it really something that complicated?! This feels like math!

Wait… didn’t I like Sophia and Yasuna?

No… that wasn’t just liking. I loved them.

I thought about them all the time. I didn’t want them to leave me, and I wanted to stay by their side forever.

I see now.

That was different from the love I had for Nakamura-sensei.

I can’t explain it perfectly, but it felt like this: I liked Yasuna and Sophia in a way where I could kiss them day and night, and even imagine marrying them.

But I liked Nakamura-sensei the way you’d love a long-lost father: you want him to watch you grow, succeed, and give you a proud pat on the head.

With that in mind… there’s really only one person who fits that romantic box right now.

“…Ki...yoshi…” I breathed without realizing it.

And I regretted it immediately.

Shizuka’s lips were still curved into a smile, but her eyes had gone completely dark and shadowy. So much that her animation style changed!

Oh, wait, this is a novel...

Anyway! The toy surged inside with full force, and it felt like my entire body was a switch being flicked on and off at hyperspeed.

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Authors note:

Hello readers, I hope you're enjoying the... uh, journey so far.

And I swear I'm trying to NOT be explicit, so I won't be called a hopeless pervert.

Nevertheless, I've gone and gotten sick. My center of gravity is off when I stand. And my eyes hurt. It's probably just the flu, but I'll have it checked soon ?

So it explains the late update for today. It might be late tomorrow too. But please don't abandon us!

Thanks.