Back at the Electronic Network Communications Club, Akane Segawa, Kyoh Goshoin, and Ako Tamaki all looked over at once.
"Hubby, let's start today's run! Mm… why do you smell like another woman?"
Ako zipped over, grabbed Hayashi Maki's arm, and sniffed him like a puppy, a jealous look creeping onto her face.
"Did you forget I stopped Kirisu-sensei earlier? I must've picked up her perfume by accident."
Hayashi Maki answered calmly, and Ako's suspicion melted away.
"Oh, that's it. Then let's play—I can't wait!"
She tugged him happily into a seat.
"Hmph, time to show you my real skill. Before, my setup sucked—but now… this is my home turf!"
Akane chimed in with a spirited declaration. With gear this high-end, she'd been dying to try some games.
"Oh? Then I've gotta see Schwein's firepower," Hayashi Maki teased.
Akane's face went red. "I told you not to call me that!"
Because "Schwein" means "pig," just hearing the name makes her die of embarrassment.
"Haha, Schwein-chan, nothing to be shy about—and you haven't changed it anyway," Kyoh said with a grin as she logged in too.
Today's target was a brand-new dungeon.
"Perfect. New dungeon means I bring out my limited gear!"
"No way!" Akane shot Kyoh a glare.
"President, no pay-to-win items! That's cheating. Using normal gear is the best experience!"
"Eeh… why? If I can't use cash-shop items, I've got no loadout."
Kyoh pouted.
"What! Let me see!" Akane leaned in to peek at her screen—and her eyes nearly popped with envy.
"It's all cash gear? President, that's against the rules. Absolutely banned!"
With no choice, Kyoh switched to normal equipment. Then, unused to it, she rushed ahead, failed to kill the mobs, and got herself KO'd.
At the same time, our designated healer Ako dropped the ball. The three of them checked her gear and went speechless—she'd equipped only what looked cute, some pieces under-leveled for the dungeon, no wonder her heals were nonexistent.
Well, it's just a game; having fun matters most.
Eyeing Kyoh's mountain of premium items, Hayashi Maki thought that if he ever made a game, he could design some cash-only items himself. For example, he could borrow the old mobile-game tricks. Some devs are truly predatory—whoever started those grindy, paywalled battle passes did players dirty… and yet they're weirdly irresistible to paying users.
After an afternoon of runs, Akane shut down the PC, still buzzing. "Top-tier rigs really are something. That was awesome!"
She's a total normie, yet refuses to date guys because she likes gaming—rare breed.
"Okay, that's it for today. See you tomorrow," Kyoh said, waving the club off.
"See you, President!"
Hayashi Maki also left the clubroom—naturally with Ako glued to his side.
At the school gate, he spotted that familiar bunny girl. He gave her a quick smile, said nothing, and left with Ako.
The bunny girl—Mai Sakurajima—frowned, staring after Hayashi Maki with complicated feelings. A well-known child actress, she'd entered showbiz under her mother's lead.
Then in middle school she abruptly announced an indefinite hiatus and vanished. Not just from the spotlight—her existence began to fade. People couldn't see her; even her mother forgot she had a daughter.
Thinking no one could see her, she started wandering around in a bunny suit, hoping someone would notice. A year passed—no one did. Today, by chance, she'd met a special guy.
Too bad he was a creep—he even slapped her butt. Total pervert.
Sighing, Mai took the train back to her apartment. But things seemed worse today. Standing at the entrance, she found she couldn't get in. Her keycard didn't work anymore.
So… what now? Sleep on the street?
Leaving her building, Mai drifted aimlessly through the city. No one could see her. Like a ghost—alone and lonely.
As she walked, a familiar figure appeared ahead.
That pervert.
It was Hayashi Maki. He'd walked Ako to her building and was about to head home. Ako clung to his arm, begging him to come in.
"Hubby, just come in for a bit, okay?"
"Uh… I…"
He hesitated—when the door suddenly opened. A pale-skinned, stunning beauty with long black hair appeared. She looked 90% like Ako—like Ako all grown up. Basically Ako's older-sister double—and even curvier.
"Well, well. Ako, this must be your hubby," the woman said.
"Yes, Mother!" Ako nodded vigorously, a proud smile on her face.
"Hello, I'm Hayashi Maki—Ako's… friend," he said.
Mrs. Tamaki looked him over with a smile and gestured inside. "Since you're here, come in and sit a while."
"Sure."
"Eh? How come you agree the second my mother invites you?" Ako pouted, shooting him a wounded look.
Keeping a straight face, Hayashi Maki followed her in without answering.
"Sorry to intrude," he said politely in the entryway.
"Hee-hee, not at all. Hubby, come to my room," Ako beamed, tugging his hand.
Her room was fairly neat—none of the scattered-panties chaos he'd imagined. The desk was close to the bed; the overall vibe was pink, and the air carried a girlish scent.
"Hubby, have a seat. Feel free to look around—Ako's room is your room! I'll go get you a drink!"