"You seem really afraid of me."
Shin looked at Ai Hayasaka's defeated expression and laughed softly.
It was understandable, after all. Ai Hayasaka couldn't see the Stand, and suddenly being pinned against a wall by something invisible was understandably frightening.
If Shin had simply pinned her against the wall with his own hands, she might not have been so scared—she would've just thought he was unusually strong.
"But you don't need to be afraid. Didn't you want to know more about Stand users? How about experiencing it firsthand?"
Shin smiled, removed an arrowhead pendant from around his neck, and pointed it at Ai Hayasaka.
Yes, he was preparing to turn Ai Hayasaka into a Stand user.
Since Oko Shinomiya wanted Ai Hayasaka to investigate Stand users, Shin thought he might as well turn the investigator into a Stand user herself and see how she'd handle it.
After all, Ai Hayasaka knew Oko Shinomiya was not a kind person, so Shin was curious about what choice she'd make.
As for any potential mishaps…
If the Shinomiya family could somehow cause a Saiyan with a battle power over 4000 to fail, they would have conquered the universe by now.
"Firsthand experience? What do you mean...?"
Ai Hayasaka hadn't expected Shin to suggest something like this so suddenly.
"The people with special abilities you mentioned should actually be called Stand users."
Shin smiled, flicked his finger, and the black-gold arrowhead shot straight into Ai Hayasaka's neck.
"Now you can experience what a Stand's power is like for yourself."
"Guh…!"
As the arrowhead pierced her neck, Ai Hayasaka gasped, her face turning pale as if she might faint any second.
But soon enough, just like Kiryu and his followers before her, the wound on Ai Hayasaka's neck started to heal rapidly, and fresh skin pushed the arrowhead out.
At the same time, Ai Hayasaka noticed something changing in her vision.
Black mist was faintly appearing around her wrists and ankles, like hands pinning her against the wall.
And this black mist was emanating from behind Shin. When Ai Hayasaka looked up, she finally saw a black figure standing behind him.
"So, this is a Stand user. The special ability you mentioned comes from this."
Shin's lips curled into a smirk.
"Welcome to the world of Stand users. And…"
The next moment, the surface of the black figure began to release mist again, forming small black ravens that separated from its body.
Under Ai Hayasaka's horrified gaze, the black raven flew straight at her and quickly entered her ear.
Though Shin hadn't explained, Ai Hayasaka instinctively felt that something was now lurking in her brain.
Clearly, that small black raven had invaded her brain, and if she did anything against Shin's interests, he could destroy her mind instantly.
Only now did Ai Hayasaka realize that Kiryu Group's real leader wasn't Kiryu, the Stand user, but this somewhat handsome high school boy standing before her.
Kiryu's Stand was probably created by Shin in the same way, and, like her, Kiryu's brain was likely under Shin's control via "Blackbird.Lover."
"It looks like you understand your situation."
Seeing Ai Hayasaka's conflicted expression, Shin retracted Black Bird's mist-like hands and let her down from the wall.
Ai Hayasaka felt a swirl of emotions; though Shin had released her physically, her mind was now entirely under his control.
What could she do about it? She gave a bitter smile.
"Who would've thought it would end up like this…"
"What's so bad about becoming a Stand user? Many people want to, but lack the qualifications."
Shin recalled yesterday when he tested Kiryu's subordinates for Stand compatibility. Each one had looked so tense.
Stand compatibility was a one-in-a-million thing. Ai Hayasaka should be grateful to have it.
"Summon your Stand. Let's see what it looks like."
"I understand."
If she couldn't resist, she might as well go along with it. Ai Hayasaka, generally laid-back by nature, decided to follow Shin's suggestion and summoned her Stand.
In the next instant, she realized her outfit had changed.
Originally dressed in her usual flashy style, she now wore a maid uniform, very similar to the one she usually wore at the Shinomiya mansion.
"…What's this? Why does it look different from your Stand?"
Seeing her sudden outfit change, Ai Hayasaka was baffled and instinctively looked at Shin's Black Bird.
Unlike Black Bird's humanoid appearance, her Stand… was a maid uniform?
"I see, so it's a wearable Stand…"
Shin understood. This type of Stand was rare, but a few examples existed.
In Part 5 of the original work, there were Stands like "White Album" and "Oasis" that were similar.
As he spoke, Shin had Black Bird reach out and tear off a piece of fabric from Ai Hayasaka's maid uniform, which it then consumed.
"Mmph…!"
Because injuries to a Stand affect the user, Ai Hayasaka let out a groan as the piece was torn from her uniform.
After Black Bird devoured the piece of fabric, Shin understood Ai Hayasaka's Stand ability.
"It can create attractive and repulsive forces centered on the user… almost like the Deva Path Pain."
Yes, Ai Hayasaka's Stand could create attraction and repulsion centered on the maid uniform.
It was somewhat reminiscent of the Deva Path's Shinra Tensei and Bansho Ten'in abilities from Naruto, though obviously not on the same scale.
Additionally, while wearing her Stand's maid uniform, Ai Hayasaka's physical abilities were significantly enhanced.
Roughly at a "B" in strength and speed, well above ordinary human capabilities.
Shin's Black Bird now possessed this ability as well, though it wasn't particularly useful for him.
He couldn't exactly expect this repulsive force to blast Frieza away.
Although Black Bird could synchronize with Shin's base power, its abilities wouldn't be amplified, which left Shin feeling a bit frustrated.
He wondered if there'd be a chance for Black Bird to evolve further someday.
"Not a bad ability. How does it feel?"
Now understanding Ai Hayasaka's ability, Shin looked at her complex expression.
"It… feels fine. Nothing uncomfortable."
Experiencing a Stand for the first time, Ai Hayasaka's expression was peculiar. She looked up at Shin, meeting his amused gaze.
She froze, seemingly understanding, and finally lowered her head, murmuring:
"Master…"
With her brain under Black Bird's control, Ai Hayasaka knew that her life was now tied to Shin's.
Fortunately, she was already a maid to Kaguya Shinomiya, so calling him "Master" didn't feel unnatural.
But her feelings were mixed—she'd only intended to investigate the Kiryu Group, and now she'd found herself a new master.
To be continued…
Zuke uses Ionioi Hetairoi?!?!?
Suddenly, the air turns ominous!
Something is severely wrong with Irisviel!!
The rewards this time are something everyone wants!!!
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