A few hours later.
Hayashi Maki gently set Airi—who had come midway to check on Marina—down beside her sister so the two of them could lie under the covers and rest.
Then he left the Akizuki home, gathered the Shiina Mahiru into his arms, and drifted off to sleep with her.
Mahiru's nose twitched.
Another unfamiliar perfume… actually two different scents?
This shameless flirt…
She grumbled inwardly, then instinctively snuggled closer to him. Whatever the case, he'd come back to her side. That was enough. And really, it couldn't be helped—Maki-kun wasn't ordinary. Neither she nor Asada could handle him head-on; they could only surrender. Sharing the load wasn't the worst idea.
All for a harmonious home.
With that thought, Mahiru relaxed and fell asleep again.
Hayashi Maki didn't know that after he left, Airi opened her eyes and looked at her sister with a hint of reproach.
"Neechan, you're sneaky. Maki-kun came and you didn't tell me—you hogged him for yourself!"
"I—I didn't," Marina protested, cheeks flushed.
"Hmph, yes you did! If my hearing hadn't gotten better lately, I wouldn't have noticed at all."
Airi said it with a grin, then threw herself into Marina's arms, rubbing her cheek against her sister's chest. "Kidding, kidding. It's good you took the initiative—that's how you attract Maki-kun. Keep it up."
"Ugh… Airi, honestly."
Marina stroked her sister's hair, half relieved and half conflicted. "So you don't mind? That Maki-kun is such a flirt? And after all that… he still didn't stay over."
Airi pouted. "Exactly. Which is why you need to try harder—so next time he does stay. But… Sis, I'm still a bit scared. Living in this house feels weird."
After all, that scumbag Akizuki Kouzou had died here.
Marina felt a twinge of fear too, but smiled to reassure her. "Don't overthink it. Maki-kun said he won't be back. Let's just live our lives."
"Besides… is what we're doing really that strange?"
"What's strange about it? Maki-kun's a demon—he's not limited to one partner. I like him a lot, anyway."
Before they knew it, morning came.
While Mahiru went to make breakfast, time-manager extraordinaire Hayashi Maki teleported to the Akizuki home. Marina seemed to be up cooking already. Only the blonde Airi was still sleeping soundly.
Seeing the cute, sleeping face of the golden-haired beauty, Hayashi Maki couldn't help a mischievous smile. He slipped under the covers, moved close, and gently took her fair calf in hand. He placed a warm, light kiss on her skin.
Airi blinked awake, then shot him a mock-annoyed look. "Meanie, Maki-kun—teasing me first thing in the morning."
He chuckled and kissed her flat stomach, then slowly trailed upward. As Marina's sister and very much a leading-lady type herself, Airi's figure was nothing short of stunning—she was the very image of "adorably feminine." It looked like little Yukino would need to step up her game.
Watching his tender teasing, Airi's heart raced; her tiny grievance over him not staying last night vanished. When his lips reached her white neck, she couldn't help threading her fingers through his hair, and then their mouths met in a kiss—mutual, unhurried.
Hayashi Maki, pleased, gently caressed her calf, then—without overstepping—reaffirmed his bond with her. Against an "adult-series heroine" type, his charm was deadly.
Before long, Airi was curled contentedly in his arms. He stroked her golden hair, whispered a few words in her ear; her heart skipped.
She shot him a reproachful glance, then slowly ducked under the covers. Hayashi Maki sucked in a breath, kept petting her head gently in encouragement.
Yes, Airi was the more open one. As for Marina—he looked forward to her growing closer in her own time.
Airi herself was mortified. The "new lesson" Maki-kun had taught her felt terribly wicked. That insufferable demon! And yet… she was very curious and very willing.
…
"Airi, breakfast is—ah! Maki-kun, you… what are you doing?"
Marina, coming to call her sister to eat, saw Hayashi Maki sitting at the bedside and turned scarlet. Hayashi Maki smirked and beckoned. With a startled yelp, Marina felt a force lift her off her feet and into his arms; he slipped an arm around her waist—and kissed her before she could speak.
If you're going to "consolidate a contract," you strike while the iron is hot. Morning and evening were ideal.
Marina's eyes misted; she pushed at him half-heartedly, then accepted his closeness.
A little later.
Seeing leftovers still on the table, Marina frowned. "Airi, no wasting food. Is my cooking getting worse? How did you not finish?"
Airi patted her tummy and shook her head fast. "No way—Sis's cooking is amazing. I just… had too many 'snacks' today. Um, Sis—you know."
Marina blinked, confused—then the hint landed, and a certain scene flashed in her mind. Her cheeks went pink and she turned her head. "…Got it. Then just leave it."
Catching her sister's rosy cheeks, Airi grinned. "Hehe, I beat you to it again, Sis. Better step it up—or Maki-kun's affection will belong to me alone!"
Marina shot her an embarrassed look. "How am I supposed to 'step it up'? You're always trying to lead me astray!"
"I am not! You're the one who tried to 'sneak a bite' without inviting me."
Marina covered her face. "Because it still feels too strange."
Airi hugged her sister's arm and rubbed her cheek against it. "It's not strange at all. I don't want to be apart from you—this way is best."
Their mom had always been busy; the father in France had long since divorced and didn't care about his daughter.
In Airi's eyes, her sister Marina meant the world. Marina had raised her from childhood, so Airi both respected and relied on her.
And if not for Sis bringing Hayashi Maki into their lives, that scumbag would have hurt her. Long live Neechan!
Seeing Airi so lively, Marina let the worry go. They left a portion of breakfast for their mother and headed to school together.