Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Jiujo Renji spoke, his voice deliberately kept calm.

"Why do you think I want you to dress like this?"

Yutenji Wakamu's cheeks turned even redder, she lowered her head, and her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible:

"I...I thought..."

"What do you think?" Jiujo Renji leaned forward slightly and said calmly, "Tell me."

"I thought...you wanted to continue what happened that night..."

Yutenji Wakamu's voice became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared completely in her throat.

Kujo Renji nodded with satisfaction.

The humiliation and fear he inflicted on Yutenji Wakamu that night at the Ginza Hotel had obviously been deeply imprinted in her heart.

Now it's time to change strategy - after shattering a person's self-esteem, give her a glimmer of hope. This contrast will create a stronger psychological attachment.

"Come here and sit down."

He pointed to the sofa opposite and his tone became much softer.

Yutenji Wakamu walked over hesitantly and sat cautiously on the edge of the sofa, his body tense as if ready to run away at any time.

Kujo Renji didn't rush to speak, but just looked at her quietly, letting the silence spread between the two.

This tactic can increase the other person's insecurity and make her more eager for instructions or approval.

Sure enough, Yutenji Wakamu began to fidget, her eyes wandering and her fingers clutching the hem of her skirt tightly.

"Relax..." Kujo Renji finally spoke, his voice filled with relief: "I called you here just to talk about... the future."

Yutenji Wakamu raised his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

“Ave mujica is about to go on tour.”

Kujo Renji continued:

"This is our best chance to shine. I've been thinking about your earlier suggestion."

"My... suggestion?" Yutenji Wakamu opened his eyes wide in surprise.

"About the mask."

Kujo Renji smiled slightly. "I think your idea makes sense. The audience is indeed eager to see the real face behind the mask."

Yutenji Wakamu's expression instantly lit up, like a light bulb being turned on.

This spark of hope was exactly what Kujo Renji wanted to see—her ambition had been reignited.

When someone is completely devastated, any glimmer of hope is magnified infinitely. This is known as the "expectation contrast effect": a tiny sliver of hope gained after extreme disappointment has a far stronger psychological impact than receiving the same amount of hope directly.

In Skinner's behavioral psychology experiments, intermittent rewards are more effective in reinforcing behavior than continuous rewards - this is exactly the strategy that Kujo Renji is using at this moment.

"really?"

There was an incredible joy in Yutenji Wakamu's voice.

This sentence means that the success achieved by Ave Mujica will be transformed into part of her personal resources.

Jiujo Liansi slowly shook his head:

"Not all of us. At least, not at the same time."

Yutenji Wakamugi's expression was a little confused.

"I'm thinking..."

Kujo Renji patiently coaxed, "What if we arrange a special segment for the last show of the tour? Let one of the members... let's say you, take off your mask and serve as the climax of the entire tour."

Yutenji Wakamai's eyes lit up instantly, and the desire almost overflowed from her eyes.

"just me?"

Yutenji Wakamu asked cautiously, with a mixture of surprise and doubt in her voice.

"Yes..."

Kujo Renji nodded. "As a test. If the results are good, we can consider gradually changing the strategy in the future."

He paused deliberately, then added in a tone almost of admiration:

"I admire your courage, Ms. Yutenji. The courage to express different opinions is a very valuable quality in a team."

This sudden praise almost made Yutenji Wakami breathless.

Of course, she also felt a little resentful.

——That’s not what you said when you tortured me.

She had become accustomed to Kujo Renji's indifference and threats, and the sudden praise made her feel a strange sense of joy and satisfaction.

Kujo Renji calls this "intermittent reinforcement"—irregular rewards reinforce behavior better than continuous rewards.

When a person is unsure when they will receive a reward, they tend to seek recognition more diligently.

More importantly, this pattern creates a psychological dependence, causing the recipient to constantly seek the next affirmation.

Praise is particularly effective after negation, and the "contrast" makes the value of the praise subjectively greatly magnified.

Yutenji Wakamu lowered his head, a hint of uncertainty in his voice, "But I thought you didn't like this idea..."

"I'm the leader of the band..." Kujo Renji explained calmly, "I have to consider all possible development directions, even if they don't completely align with my personal preferences."

He looked into Yutenji Wakamaki's eyes:

"Ave mujica needs to grow and change. Perhaps your suggestion is the breakthrough we need."

Yutenji Wakamu felt a strange excitement spreading throughout his body.

Toyokawa Shoko - the person who made her despair a few days ago, is now seriously considering her proposal and is even willing to let her be the first member to take off the mask.

what does this mean?

It means exposure, it means attention, it means she can regain everything she lost.

Just when Yutenji Wakamu was immersed in fantasy again.

The words of "Toyokawa Shoko" suddenly rang out:

"But there's a condition."

Yutenji Wakamu immediately sat up straight: "What are the conditions?"

"I need to make sure that you will follow my instructions exactly and will not take any unauthorized actions."

He approached Yutenji Wakame and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look directly into his eyes:

"Only obedient dogs get rewards. Do you understand?"

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing Yutenji Wakami's heart.

But strangely, this feeling of humiliation did not make her retreat, but instead aroused a strange desire to obey.

"I understand." She replied softly, with absolute obedience in her eyes.

In human psychology, when a person has experienced extreme denial and humiliation, any bit of recognition will be infinitely magnified.

American psychologist Abraham Maslow mentioned in "A Theory of Human Motivation" that when basic needs are deprived, people will show extreme desire for opportunities to meet these needs.

The deeper level of manipulation lies in the fact that while Kujo Renji gives Yutenji Wakamu hope, he is also cultivating her ambition.

This dual strategy is known in psychology as the "double-hook technique"—on the one hand, it satisfies certain needs of the manipulated person, while on the other hand, it guides them to pursue greater goals.

When a person's ambition is ignited, they tend to self-rationalize their actions, even if these actions may violate their original moral code.

As for why I wanted to arouse her ambition...?

Because by first making Yutenji Wakamushi experience despair, then giving her hope, and finally making her despair again in the future, Kujo Renji can create a more powerful psychological control cycle.

This repeated emotional disconnect can lead to an attachment similar to Stockholm syndrome—the person being manipulated begins to see the manipulator as their sole source of survival and happiness.

Kujo Renji released his hand, took a step back, and his tone became gentle again: "Then, it's our agreement. Keep a low profile and wait for instructions. Then you will become the first 'real face' of Ave mujica."

Yutenji Wakamai nodded, her heart filled with anticipation and excitement. She was completely unaware that she was falling deeper and deeper into a carefully laid psychological trap.

"Now, you can go back, Miss Yutenji."

Kujo Renji returned to the sofa and picked up the book again, as if the previous conversation was just an insignificant episode.

Yutenji Wakamai stood up and walked towards the door. Before leaving, she hesitated and asked softly, "Then this...should I take it off?"

She pointed to the collar around her neck.

Jiujo Renji raised his eyes, smiled and said, "That's up to you."

Yutenji Wakamai felt a subtle psychological fluctuation. She said nothing more and turned and left the room.

Toyokawa Shoko's voice sounded in his mind, with obvious dissatisfaction and confusion.

"What did you mean by that?"

Kujo Renji answered softly, his eyes still fixed on the page:

“Human ambition is a double-edged sword; it can inspire us to move forward, but it can also be the instrument of our own destruction.”

"Are you teasing her...?" Toyokawa Shoko was a little unsure.

"I'm saving her."

Kujo Renji did not explain.

.......

Yutenji Wakamai walked briskly in the hotel corridor, with unprecedented excitement and anticipation surging in his heart.

Her fingers unconsciously touched the collar around her neck, and the feeling reminded her of what Kujo Renji had just said.

——"Only obedient dogs can be rewarded."

This sentence should have humiliated her, but at this moment it brought her a strange sense of satisfaction.

Because she knew that she was about to get the long-awaited "reward" - to become the first member of Ave mujica to take off the mask and regain attention and exposure.

Her mind was already racing with possibilities: the final show of the tour, the moment she took off her mask, the cheers and screams from the audience, the flashes of the media, even possible endorsement offers...

She could almost see the fans and opportunities that had once left her flooding back.

"We must seize the opportunity this time."

Yutenji Wakamugi said to himself silently, with a spark of ambition flashing in his eyes:

"I absolutely cannot lose it again."

.......

Sanjiao Chuhua stood at the corner of the corridor, holding a drink he had just bought from the vending machine.

She was just thirsty and wanted to drink something before going to bed.

Who knew that as soon as I turned the corner, I saw this scene

——Yutenji Wakami walked out of Toyokawa Shoko’s room.

If that were all, perhaps she wouldn't be shocked. But Yutenji Wakamu's outfit made her freeze in her tracks—she wore a black leather collar around her neck and a pair of cat ears on her head.

Late at night. In Toyokawa Shoko's room. Dressed like this.

Sanjiao Chuhua felt dizzy and the bottle of drink in his hand almost slipped.

She couldn't believe her eyes, but the scene before her was so real.

Sankaku Hatsuka always thought that Toyokawa Shoko kept the same distance from everyone, especially after forming Ave mujica, the other party seemed to put all his thoughts on music and the band.

But now, this person she deeply admires seems to have a secret close relationship with Yutenji Wakami.

Judging from Yutenji Wakami's attire, the nature of that relationship seemed much more complicated than she had imagined.

The initial shock gradually turned into a bitter pain that spread across her chest. She recalled the countless times she had tried to get close to Toyokawa Shoko, those cautious probing attempts, those hints of care, but she always received only polite and distant responses.

And Yutenji Wakami, the member who recently joined Ave mujica, the person she always thought was not close to Toyokawa Shoko, was able to enter her room late at night and wear such...intimate clothes.

Sanjiao Chuhua gripped the drink bottle tightly, and the plastic made a slight twisting sound in her hand.

She shook her head, interrupting her fantasy.

——No, no, no, maybe I’m overthinking it.