The next morning.
Hayashi Maki was fast asleep, cradling a blonde girl in his arms.
The Eriri in his arms had let her twin-tails down—sleeping with them tied was uncomfortable, after all. Hardly anyone ever saw her without her signature hairstyle. She might have lost a bit of her "look," but to Hayashi Maki it felt even cozier. A girl wouldn't show him her off-guard, private side unless she trusted him.
Suddenly, the door cracked open.
A dopey-cute girl tiptoed in and slipped straight under the covers.
Hayashi Maki couldn't help drawing a sharp breath.
Mashiro!
This little minx had come to "steal a bite" again. He hadn't included her when he was with Eriri last night, so he couldn't exactly turn her away now.
A moment later, Mashiro wriggled into his arms; only once he was holding her did she look at ease.
Before long, early-rising Mahiru finished cooking and asked Sakurajima Mai to wake Hayashi Maki for breakfast. Mai knocked; when there was no response, she pushed the door open.
The sight that greeted her made the corner of her mouth twitch.
"Perverted scumbag!"
She cursed him inwardly, but still walked to the bedside and called, "Up for breakfast, scumbag kouhai!"
Hayashi Maki opened his eyes helplessly. "I don't think I've 'scummed' you, Mai-senpai. Call me that and I might actually get mad."
Mai's eyes flickered; playing dumb, she said, "No idea what you're talking about. I'm just here to get you up—Mahiru's waiting. Move it!" Then she beat a hasty retreat, as if something ferocious were on her heels.
At breakfast, Eriri kept her face red and her head down, not daring to meet Mahiru's eyes. Mahiru almost laughed. She could tell Eriri was shy, so instead of teasing she served her some dishes and gently told her to eat up and replenish her strength.
Replenish it for what? To make Maki-kun happy, of course. As a girlfriend, pampering her boyfriend was only natural.
Eriri snuck a glance at Mahiru and whispered a thank you, relaxing a little. Mai, meanwhile, kept shooting Hayashi Maki looks of contempt—but held her tongue. He'd taken her in like a stray; she didn't even dare go out yet, afraid that if she left, Mahiru and Hayashi Maki would forget her—and then she might starve. Living under someone else's roof, she knew to behave.
As they ate, the TV played the latest news:
[Breaking: A hospital project overseen by prefectural assemblyman Hiroyuki Sugō has been exposed by reporters as shoddy construction. Two workers were severely injured during construction due to materials issues and are currently in critical care…]
[Assemblyman Sugō has been removed from his post and is under investigation…]
Sugō taken down?
Hayashi Maki raised an eyebrow. Mention "Sugō" and he thought of the infamous cuckold Sugō Nobuyuki. Coincidence?
After breakfast, Hayashi Maki headed out with three blonde beauties.
"Mai-senpai, if you're not going out, I'm leaving the place in your hands."
"Mm, leave it to me," Mai nodded obediently, seeing them off.
At school, Hayashi Maki noticed Ako Tamaki hadn't shown up. He couldn't help being puzzled. With how clingy she was, how could she skip? Did something happen?
He messaged the group to ask Akane Segawa and Kyoh Goshoin.
Hayashi Maki: "What's up with Ako? She actually didn't come to school today?"
Kyoh Goshoin: "No idea. Innocent-kun, why not go check on her at home?"
Hayashi Maki: "Alright, I'll swing by at noon."
If it was his "wife," only he should take care of it.
Seeing Ako absent, classmates started whispering that Hayashi Maki must've crashed and burned. Some even gloated—especially Tobe, who wore it on his face. He even sauntered over, dripping sarcasm, to ask if Hayashi Maki had fallen out with his "wife."
Hayashi Maki arched a brow, looked the flashy long-haired guy up and down, and replied coolly, "No need to worry, Tobe. At least I have a wife; you only have a boyfriend."
"Hey, what do you mean I 'only have a boyfriend'?! I'm not gay!"
Seeing everyone's odd looks, Tobe turned green—but the attention had already shifted. Even Ōoka—normally in Hayama's circle—chimed in with a teasing laugh: "Tobe, I kinda think you're clingier with your boyfriend, too."
The "boyfriend," of course, being Hayato Hayama. Tobe loved hanging around him, which made Ōoka, also a friend of Hayama but not close to Tobe, a bit jealous—on weekends Hayama would take Tobe out and not him.
Tobe and Ōoka started arguing. Hayama shot Hayashi Maki a speechless look and had to step in to mediate. Hayashi Maki just shrugged. If even that could start a fight, Hayama sure was in karmic debt. The vibe around him looked harmonious, but it was only skin-deep. That kind of fake friendship would be exposed eventually. A friend's friend isn't always a friend—sometimes it's an enemy!
All Hayashi Maki had to do was nudge and Tobe and Ōoka were fighting—proof of the undercurrents among Hayama's crowd. For Hayama's sake they dropped it, but both held a grudge. It was a rift even Hayama couldn't smooth over.
After first period, Satania shuffled over pitifully, eyes full of grievance.
"Hayashi Maki-senpai, did you give Vignette special training? Ugh—she's stronger than Satania now!"
Her resentful look made his fingers itch. He chuckled and patted her head.
"I didn't give Vigne any special sessions—that's her own effort. But since you say so, I'll give you some proper pointers today. How about it?"
"Yay, yay! It's a promise!"
Beaming, Satania got the answer she wanted and went back to her seat satisfied—then puffed herself up at Vignette: "The great demon lord Satania will surpass you in no time!"
Vignette looked helpless, but when her eyes fell on Hayashi Maki, they were full of gratitude. With his coaching—and their last mana resonance—her power had leapt forward. A senpai is a senpai, after all. She couldn't help feeling a touch of admiration.
~~~
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