"Like you know everything!" Shichen gave her a light chop on the head.
"Mm… Did I hit a nerve, Sensei? Are you mad because I'm right?" Himeragi Yukina frowned adorably.
"Of course not!" Shichen raised his hand as if to chop again.
Yukina took a step back, just out of range, looking a little smug.
"…How did it fit?" Shichen wasn't actually going to hit her; he lowered his hand and asked.
"Sensei does care about that…" Yukina's blush deepened; she didn't dare take out what she was hiding behind her back. "I-it's… fine…"
She had to admit—his taste was solid. On her, it really did look good and suit her well. Makes sense: what women think looks good is one thing; what men think looks good usually reads good.
"Then buy it?"
"Um…"
"Don't hesitate. Let me gift it to you, okay? You're not planning to leave something you've already tried on here, are you? It's got your scent on it."
"Sensei, that's a pervy thing to say!" Yukina huffed, cheeks blazing.
"I'm just stating facts."
"Please stop with the dangerous talk! And don't overthink it." She glared, voice turning cool.
"Overthink what?"
"Th—the way I smell… Sensei, what are you making me say!" She caught herself, nearly pouncing in embarrassment.
"…Weren't you the one who brought it up?"
"Anyway, you're not allowed to think about it anymore!"
"Fine, fine. So are you buying it or not?"
"I—I'll buy it… but I'll pay myself."
Though she lived alone, Yukina wasn't short on funds; the Lion King Agency had given her a 20 million yen mission stipend. She even paid Shichen for meals—she wasn't freeloading. With that much, unless she wrecked buildings in a fight, she could last a long time, and she wasn't a spender.
"Nope. I'm picking up the tab today. I insist," Shichen said.
"Why… Is it because it's this kind of thing that you want to give it to me?" she asked, suspicious.
"You got me. I want you wearing something I bought."
"Pervert!" Yukina snapped.
"Sure, call me that. What's wrong with a man being a little pervy?" he said, grinning.
"…You're hopeless, Sensei."
"What do you mean, hopeless?"
Just then Aiba Asagi came out of the fitting room, cheeks still pink and eyes dewy. The instant she saw Shichen, she pressed her lips together, looking… pleased.
"Asagi-senpai… did you finish trying them?"
"Mhm. They're all great—I'm buying the lot. No surprise with Sensei's eye for things." Asagi's gaze lingered on him.
"…" Yukina frowned. Something felt… off.
"As long as you like them. I'm paying," Shichen said.
"Mm!"
"Wait—let me pay. She helped me," Yukina said quickly.
"No need. You don't have to pay for this," Asagi refused bluntly.
"Is Sensei… okay with that? I mean, this kind of thing…"
"What's the problem?" Asagi shot back.
"…Nothing."
"Alright, what's the difference who pays? I'll just cover everything today. After this, I'm taking you all to a big lunch."
"Deal! You said it," Asagi beamed.
"Yeah, I can afford it," Shichen said.
He took all three to the register. To his surprise, the cashier even gave him a discount and politely asked him to come again. With his appearance today, the place had drawn a crowd and sold far more than usual; the owner had given orders.
Shichen agreed with a nod. The discount wasn't the point—lingerie sells steadily. Avrora and the others would get used to it and buy often; Yukina and Asagi were still in their growth years and would need frequent size changes. And lingerie wears out—or might "accidentally" get torn. And it wouldn't just be the two of them—he might bring others in the future.
They left the shop and went to lunch. Shichen had planned on a Western restaurant, but passing a yakiniku place, Avrora lit up—and the others didn't mind—so barbecue it was.
After an hour of grilling and stuffing themselves, he took them to the arcade to walk it off. Yukina had never done any of this; he showed her every game. They finished by winning a few claw-machine prizes and called it a day.
Back home, Yukina realized she'd had so much fun she'd completely forgotten about going after Gardos. Tomorrow, she told herself. Tomorrow would be business.
Shichen and Avrora returned with their haul and handed things out.
"These are bras, right?" Enatos was first to pull one out.
"Mm. Since Avrora wanted some, I picked up sets for everyone. It's time you all started wearing them," Shichen said.
"Then… want to see me try it on?" Enatos held a white top piece against herself.
"Uh…"
Of course he wanted to, but Minamiya Natsuki was home.
"Enatos, you're on dinner tonight," Natsuki said mildly over her tea. Astarte, in a maid outfit, stood by to serve.
"Ehhh—" Enatos groaned.
"Hehe~ serves you right," Avrora teased.
"Hmph! You're awfully pleased with yourself. Natsuki, Avrora spent all day out playing with Shichen," Enatos tattled.
"I know," Natsuki nodded.
"And?"
"And what?"
"That's it?"
"What did you expect?"
"Ugh…"
"See? Senseis don't like snitches," Avrora said, smug.
"Avrora, you've been out all day. Time to do your homework," Natsuki said coolly.
"Eh?"
Avrora froze. "Natsuki, you—"
"What about me? Move it. Tritos and the others finished ages ago. Look at you."
"Uuugh…" Avrora whimpered and slunk off to her room to study. The others took their sets to their rooms to try on.
"I picked them all specifically. If you don't like something, I'll swap it tomorrow," Shichen said.
"No—we love them," Prote said softly from the doorway.
"Good…"
"You just bought for them?" Natsuki asked suddenly.
"Hm?" He looked over.
"Natsuki, do you want some?"
"No."
"Then why ask?"
"Just wondering. Is that a problem?" she said evenly.
"…No problem."
"'Shichen-nii,' Natsuki means they have them and she doesn't…" Astarte began.
"Astarte. Quiet," Natsuki ordered at once.
"Yes—order received," Astarte replied, face calm.
"Haha, I figured," Shichen laughed.
"Figured my foot. What kind of Sensei drags students to a lingerie shop?" Natsuki scolded.
"I was thanking Asagi."
"Asagi? Thanking her for what?" Natsuki frowned.
"Natsuki, do you know Gardos?"
"I do… How do you know?" she shot back. He'd just named the man who'd been keeping her busy.
"Vatler told me."
"The snake charmer? He's that friendly with you?"
"Don't start. He's like a walking BL trope—he just wants a Primogenitor's bloodline."
"That guy devoured his own kind. Be careful," Natsuki warned.
"Relax. He's no threat to me," Shichen said with a smile.
"Fine… So? What about Gardos? What did the snake charmer say?"
"Gardos might be after something that can destroy a Primogenitor, to take revenge on the First."
"I see… Doesn't that endanger you?"
"So you are worried about me." He moved behind her and massaged her shoulders.
"Quit it."
"Relax. No one in this world can endanger me."
"Don't get cocky."
"Mhm. You can trust me."
"Alright, then explain why you're thanking that girl Asagi," Natsuki said, steering back on topic.
"Because Himeragi wants to go after Gardos."
"What does she have to do with it now?"
"Vatler killed a lot of Black Death members before. He's here to bait Gardos into coming after him—and then 'defending himself' by leveling Itogami."
"So he's provoking you into acting," Natsuki said at once.
"As expected of you—sharp."
"Spare me. That kid wants to stop Gardos early to prevent it—for you?" Natsuki squinted at him.
"Something like that…"
"You work fast—got a Lion King Agency girl ready to risk her life for you already," she said, eyes narrowing.
"Ahem. It's not like that—she just doesn't want the island destroyed," he protested.
"Do I look like I believe you?" Natsuki rolled her eyes. "Still, it's fine. The Agency's a pain; if you can 'lure' their little darling away, good for us."
"'Lure'… seriously?"
"But keep it in check. Don't you dare lay a hand on her—she's still a kid," Natsuki warned.
"As if. I'm not that kind of man," Shichen said righteously.
"I almost believed you. You've already made moves on Avrora and the rest—what isn't possible?"
"Uh…"
"Rumor mill got it right. You lolicon."
"…"
~~~
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