"Sigh. Didn't you say you needed to find a new place to rent? I already picked one out for you. It's here."
Takumi used his phone's screen-share to show the video feed, letting Senjougahara see the place.
When she saw the lavish decor and the rows of villa-like houses on screen, Senjougahara's brow twitched hard.
"Th–There's no way I can afford a place like that~"
"These are all my properties. You don't have to pay."
At those words, Senjougahara's expression immediately turned suggestive.
"Oh hooo~ Could it be that Pervert-kun is planning to keep me as a pampered little canary?"
"Just say if you're coming or not."
Takumi replied, exasperated, and Senjougahara's voice came right back through the speaker.
"I'm coming, of course I'm coming. As a slave, I could never refuse my master's invitation, you know~~"
"It's not like you were ever planning to refuse. Don't make it sound like I'm forcing you."
Takumi fired back without mercy.
On the other end, all he heard was Senjougahara's bell-like laughter, like she was silently saying, "You're mad, aren't you?"
Takumi's irritation shot straight up. Right now he wanted nothing more than to drag Senjougahara over and punish her on the spot.
As if sensing where his thoughts were going, Senjougahara quickly added. "Then after I move in, Pervert-kun, you have to come celebrate with me in person. You have to come alone, okay? I want to give you a little surprise."
"Mm!?" Takumi's eyes widened; his interest skyrocketed.
What kind of surprise? Lace or black silk? Before he could ask, Senjougahara hung up.
It felt like she'd timed it perfectly just to crank his anticipation to the max.
At this point, Takumi was just as excited as he was about seeing Yukino in that catgirl outfit.
Forcing down the heat in his chest, Takumi handed his exorcist office phone to Asia.
"Asia, help me watch this for a bit. If Hitagi shows up later, just arrange a room for her. The keys are all in the drawer. Also, if my phone rings, answer it for me, then call me back afterward."
Feeling she'd just been entrusted with a critical mission, Asia immediately bobbed her head. "Mm, Takumi-san, I'll definitely get it done! But where are you going in such a hurry? Do you need my help?"
She looked at him with worried eyes, clearly wanting to be of use.
Facing such a pure, adorable nun, Takumi almost blurted out something wildly inappropriate but considering that going that far this early might wreck the impression she had of him, he shook his head.
He forced a smile onto his face. "It's fine, Asia. This is… something you can't really help with right now. I'm going to find someone else to deal with it."
With that, he turned and left without looking back. Watching him go, Asia could only blame herself.
"Mm~ I'm still not good enough… I still can't help Takumi-san. What should I do…" Wearing a troubled expression, Asia finally decided to call Maria.
Maria was basically her "mentor," after all. Asia remembered that the last time she followed Maria's advice, Takumi had been very happy.
Takumi, meanwhile, had no idea his pure little nun was calling a succubus for guidance.
He headed straight to the Akizuki household, openly taking out the key and letting himself in. The key had been given to him by Kayoko, saying it was a "symbol of the family head."
The familiar living room was empty. From his senses, Kayoko was not home—she'd gone to work today.
"It's pretty impressive that Kayoko is still managing to go to work. I should just buy out the company she's at and give her a promotion and raise. She has earned a free ride up the corporate ladder."
Muttering to himself, Takumi went upstairs and gently opened Marina's bedroom door.
Creak~
At the soft sound, Marina—who had been doing her homework—spoke automatically. "Airi? Weren't you going to rest?"
She remembered how badly Airi had been wrecked last night and unlike herself, Airi hadn't received one of Takumi's demon chess pieces.
Logically speaking, Airi should still be sleeping in.
"Marina, it's me." Takumi closed the door, answering her softly.
Marina shot to her feet from the chair. The moment she saw him, a blush spread over her porcelain-white skin. Her hands flew to her chest, clutching at her casual shirt and pulling it tight.
For a moment, it looked like her full curves might spill right out of the collar—and just that brief glimpse of him was enough to make her whole body go weak.
"T-Takumi-kun, why are you… here~" Marina ducked her head shyly, as if she didn't dare meet his eyes.
When she risked a quick peek and her gaze swept downward, her voice cut off at once. The obvious outline already told her why Takumi had come—Marina instantly understood.
"U-Um… Takumi-kun, why are you… again…"
Before she could finish, Takumi stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Her soft body pressed flush against him, sending a wave of tingling sensation through them both.
He lowered his head, meeting Marina's damp, wavering gaze with a faint smile. His fingertips traced lightly across her flushed cheek as he murmured. "Marina, weren't you the one who said you'd shoulder everything?"
"…"
Marina's face turned scarlet, but after a moment of silence, her eyes grew firm. "Right. I'll shoulder everything… Takumi-kun, I'll do my best to satisfy you."
"Oh ho, that's the spirit I like to see."
His smile deepened. Then he had Marina brace her hands on the desk, glancing at the homework spread out there.
"So this is your schoolwork, huh? You've been working hard, Marina."
"I only just started…" She answered shyly.
Takumi leaned in closer. "Right, we just had the opening ceremony, didn't we? I've fallen behind on my studies a bit. Think you could tutor me?"
"T–Tutor…?" Marina's voice trembled.
"With conviction," he replied, "Yeah. Tutor me."
"You're two grades above me, right? That makes you my senpai."
At the word senpai, Marina's heart skipped, a strange little joy welling up inside. "Don't… don't call me senpai like that, Takumi-kun…"
Sensing how flustered she was, Takumi's smile took on a teasing edge. His fingers slid along the flushed line of her neck. "Sounds to me like you really like it when I call you senpai. Marina-senpai~"
"Mm~~~"
A soft, mortified whimper slipped out of Marina, clearly unable to withstand the embarrassment.
....
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