Sitting at the bedside.
Hayashi Maki watched the woman bandaging him with a squinting smile, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting.
Right now, Mafuyu Kirisu had opened her home first-aid kit and was disinfecting the bite mark on his arm with alcohol, then carefully covering it with a bandage. Since she'd made the wound with her bite, she naturally had to deal with it.
But noticing the lecherous gleam in his eyes, Mafuyu still felt a bit annoyed. She shot him a glare and snapped the kit shut.
"Alright. Don't let the wound get wet for the next few days. Be careful when you shower."
Hayashi Maki slid an arm around her slim waist. "Got it. I'll be careful."
"Hands off! Who said you could paw at me?"
Flushing with anger and embarrassment, Mafuyu smacked his hand away, huffed, and left the room.
When she came back, she handed him a glass of water. "Here. Drink it—then get out!"
As for why she brought him water—probably because after that kiss just now, she felt a little parched too.
"Thanks. Kirisu-sensei, you're really so gentle… what am I supposed to do if I like you even more?"
"Hmph. Zip it. Don't say that to your teacher. Drink up and go."
Arms folded, swallowing her embarrassment, Mafuyu deliberately avoided meeting his eyes.
Hayashi Maki stood, then suddenly hugged her from behind.
"Ah… w-what are you doing now?"
Her breath caught. Thinking of what had just happened, her cheeks burned again; her body trembled, betraying her nerves.
Hayashi Maki took a slow breath, savoring her faint fragrance. "Nothing. Just holding you."
"And I want to ask you something."
"W-what? Ask."
She tried to sound calm, though her body felt a little weak.
"I want to know—Kirisu-sensei, you're my girlfriend now, right?"
"I am not! I'm your teacher; how could I date you?"
She denied it at once—but after denying it, a stab of pain pricked her heart, a heaviness settling in her chest that felt miserable.
To her, Hayashi Maki was undeniably a special man. Shameless, indecent, a total rogue—yet he had pursued her so fiercely she didn't know what to do anymore.
"Fine. You say you're not, then you're not. But I'm not giving up. Until you agree to be my girlfriend, you're not allowed to date any other man."
He spoke possessively, hugging her a little tighter.
Mafuyu bonked him on the chest with the back of her head. "Do you live by the sea? Why are you trying to manage the whole 'shoreline'?"
"Why should I listen to you and keep my distance from other men? You're not my boyfriend!"
Hayashi Maki leaned in to peck her cheek. "Because if you dated someone else I'd lose my mind. Either way, you can only be mine."
"Y-you… rogue!"
Blushing, she turned in his arms to glare at him and gave his chest a little punch—but didn't leave his embrace.
He held her tighter and gently stroked her cherry-colored hair. "Then it's settled. It's late—I really should go. And cut down on the takeout."
He released her, walked out of the room, and disappeared from sight.
Mafuyu flopped back onto the bed, pouting. "If I don't eat takeout, am I supposed to starve? Jerk. Always making unreasonable demands."
"Uu… so embarrassing… I actually did that with him…"
Thinking of how she had responded just now, her cheeks burned; she wished she could crawl into a hole. And besides—he now knew her most humiliating side, plus the flaw of letting household trash pile up.
What now?
It felt like she could never put on her teacherly air and lecture him again. And… he was so domineering.
Does he really like her that much?
The more she thought about it, the redder her face got. She was doomed to be sleepless tonight.
…
Back home, Hayashi Maki was in high spirits. His relationship with Mafuyu Kirisu had made a major breakthrough—it felt great.
Even he admitted to himself he was shameless, indecent, and a rogue. But he didn't want to lose Mafuyu, or hand her to anyone else. So if he had to be domineering, so be it. As long as he could keep her and make her his retainer, it would all be worth it.
At dinner, Mahiru Shiina noticed the bandage on his arm and gave him a complicated look.
After they ate and rested a bit, a freshly bathed Mashiro Shiina plopped into his lap with damp hair. Hayashi Maki lifted a palm and used magic to gently dry it. The girl's face showed pure enjoyment. Once her hair was dry, she didn't think about drawing; she zipped straight under the covers and took over his bed. Hayashi Maki raised an eyebrow but said nothing; if anything, he felt pleased. If a pet-like girl would warm his bed of her own accord—and serve as a body pillow—why not?
Before long, Mahiru also came over with wet hair. Smiling, Hayashi Maki took her hand, sat her on the little stool in front of him, and dried her hair the same way. Mahiru narrowed her eyes, savoring his practiced motions, lips pursed in a tiny pout.
A few minutes later, he patted her head and said softly, "Okay, all dry. Mahiru, time to rest."
"Mm."
She slipped naturally into his arms and climbed into bed with him. Snuggled against his chest, Mahiru didn't mind Mashiro pressed against him as well. She poked his chin with a finger and asked curiously, "Naughty boy, what did you get up to this time? Who bit you?"
Hayashi Maki cleared his throat and didn't hide it. "Mafuyu-sensei."
Meeting her aggrieved gaze, he felt a twinge of guilt—but quickly steadied and kissed her. Mahiru wrapped her arms around his neck and answered with enthusiasm. When their lips parted, she gave him a mock-annoyed punch. "Bad boy. Hands on Kirisu-sensei too? Fess up—tell me everything. I want to hear it!"
"Uh… can we not?"
He worried Mahiru might awaken some odd kink if he recounted all his encounters with other beauties. Was that really a good idea?
Mahiru just stared silently. "Alright, alright—I'll tell you. Here's what happened."
He quickly laid it all out, including posing as a delivery guy and Kirisu-sensei's weak point—being bad at housekeeping. When he finished, Mahiru covered her mouth in surprise. "Hard to believe… That icy beauty, Kirisu-sensei, is like that in private? Mm… Maki-kun, why don't you invite her to live here? Isn't there an empty room on the third floor?"
"Uh… maybe you should invite her. If I say it, she definitely won't like it."
Mahiru rolled her eyes. "Then I'll say it."
She wanted to create a harmonious home. Since he'd already made a move on Kirisu-sensei, it was only natural for her to extend goodwill. Takeout every day is bad for the body; as family-to-be, Mahiru decided Kirisu-sensei should taste her cooking!
Looking at the virtuous Mahiru, Hayashi Maki was deeply moved. His hand slid onto her slender calf. "Mahiru, the night is long—too early to sleep. Let's study."
Blushing, Mahiru shot him a sideways look—but didn't refuse. "Okay!"
~~~
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