"Four blocks away, toss those panties you're wearing down a storm drain."

(Chapter originally by faith at writing.com)

"E-Ex-Excuse me??" Makoto asked.

"You heard me, Miss Makoto. Four blocks down, drop the panties." Mr. Words said, instructing her the way a bored tech support operator might tell her to switch her device on and off.

"There's no way I can just-"

"You will if you want to keep those pictures from surfacing. Going commando is a small price to pay, isn't it?" Mr. Words kept his tone casual. "Your choice, of course."

".....Mr. Words, just how many of these 'tasks' involve me losing articles of clothing? Because if you plan to..to strip me completely...if you think I'll agree to that for the sake of some pictures..then...then..." Makoto began, her face turning red.

"Why don't we back up, Miss Makoto. You start imagining all the twists and turns of this ordeal you'll work yourself into a frenzy. No, not all of our tasks are gonna be about losing your clothes. But some will be. And no surprise, an upstanding young lady like yourself is concerned about her poor dignity. Now, I'm not saying we do plan to get you naked out in the open, and I'm not saying we do. But let's say, hypothetically, you are right and the worst case scenario occurs. What happens if you get caught naked in public?"

"I...I...I would make an excuse! I was robbed and **** to take off everything! Or I did it for the sake of a student. Or as part of a hazing at school." Makoto paused. "But that's not-"

"How about the police? What would they do?" Words persisted.

"Most likely, charge a minor fine. Possibly make me spend a day in jail."

"Will it affect your career? Will you be expelled? Will it be on your criminal record?" Words hammered home his point.

"No." Makoto whispered, utterly appalled.

"How about if those pics get sent around?"

".....I would probably be suspended. Maybe kicked out of school. I wouldn't be able to take my college entrance exams, and it would likely prevent me from entering a good school. It would be on my record and would impact what jobs I could find in the future." Makoto whispered.

"Glad we're on the same page. So get your ass four blocks to the East, then get your ass out of your underwear. I'll give you 25 minutes to do that since I'm a nice guy. Fail to show up within that timeframe, I'll assume you've changed your mind and are willing to accept the consequences of those pictures going viral. Your choice, Miss Makoto."

The phone went dead.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: If anyone cares, I totally made everything you just read up for the sake of the story. Any relation to actual Japanese law and how severely minors being caught in a barroom vs public indecency is in that country are purely coincidental. Usually I like to be accurate about this stuff, but in this case reality is less important than Makoto (who is definitely smart enough to see where this is heading) being convinced that it would still be in her best interest to comply with their demands even if it means a public striptease. So once more for emphasis- actual social and legal consequences for breaking the law in Japan are probably way different from what I describe here, so remember its all fiction and don't do something silly like go naked in a tourist group in Tokyo or something. Anyway...]