Spending time with Sakurajima Mai was always easy and pleasant.
Maybe that's just how people in love are.
On the outside, Mai had the poise of a mature, confident woman, but inside, she was pure at heart—sweet and sincere.
Whenever she was with Ryuichi, her boyfriend, she loved to tease him… only to end up flustered when he playfully turned the tables on her.
In the end, Ryuichi would always laugh, find some excuse to soften things, and coax her back into smiling—leaving Mai basking in the warmth of his gentle affection.
And sometimes, just a few stray words would drag their casual chatter into more risqué territory—making Mai's face flush bright red as she stubbornly tried to pretend nothing had happened.
When they reached the station and boarded the train, there were no empty seats left. So Ryuichi held Mai close, the two of them standing against the wall as the train swayed gently with each motion of the tracks.
Maybe it was because she knew he'd already used his Common Sense Rewrite to make sure no one paid them any attention, but Mai rested easily against him, her arms wrapped around his broad back.
After standing for a while, she shifted slightly, bending forward to rub her ankle with a soft wince.
"Does it hurt?" Ryuichi asked.
"Mmm… a little," she murmured.
He glanced down—and saw the culprit: a pair of glossy black high heels, the narrow, pointed kind that looked painful just to look at.
They'd walked quite a distance to get here, and she'd been wearing those shoes at work earlier, too.
"You should've changed before coming out. Those things are murder on your feet," he said, studying her long, slender legs. The sheer black stockings made the shape of her calves seem even more graceful, her posture elegant and taut from the heels.
"I forgot," Mai sighed.
She'd been so happy after hearing Ryuichi was coming to meet her that she'd rushed out of the office, realizing only halfway through their walk that she still hadn't switched shoes. By then, her feet already ached.
Ryuichi looked around the train car. "Want me to make someone give up a seat for you?"
Of course, by "make," he meant using his Common Sense Rewrite. Realistically, no ordinary commuter would offer their seat to a young couple like them.
Mai shook her head. "Forget it. It's only two stops anyway."
Her human sense of ethics wouldn't let her use magic so selfishly.
Ryuichi understood her feelings and simply smiled, leaning down to press a light kiss to her cheek.
She blinked in surprise, her face coloring. "What was that for all of a sudden…?"
"A reward for being such a good person," he said with a grin.
"I don't need some random reward," she huffed, trying to look indifferent. "You just wanted to kiss me, didn't you?"
Her cheeks flushed even deeper, though she fought to keep her expression calm.
Ryuichi didn't argue. He simply wrapped his arm around her waist again and held her close until the train reached their stop.
When the doors opened, he crouched slightly and patted his shoulder. "Hop on. I'll carry you."
Mai blinked. "Eh? That's not necessary. I'm not that spoiled."
"I know you're not," he said with a small laugh. "I just want to pamper my girlfriend a little."
Around them, people instinctively stepped aside, unconsciously influenced by Ryuichi's power.
"Come on," he urged softly. "You're blocking the way."
Mai sighed with a helpless smile. Finally, she leaned forward and climbed onto his back.
He lifted her easily, steady and sure, her arms circling his neck as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
The evening breeze brushed past them as they walked. Watching the scenery slide by, Mai felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.
Moments like this, she thought, really are happiness itself.
Her apartment wasn't far from the station. Ryuichi carried her the whole way, gently setting her down on the couch when they arrived.
Then he headed back to the entryway and brought her a pair of house slippers.
"Thanks," Mai said gratefully.
Finally free from the torture of those heels, she slipped them off and sighed in relief, rubbing her sore ankles.
"Here," Ryuichi said.
He sat down beside her, took her legs gently into his lap, and began to massage her ankles and calves.
Mai's face turned pink almost instantly.
"You… you don't have to go that far," she stammered.
"How could this be a bother?" he replied calmly. "Think of it as another reward."
"…Reward?" she echoed, blinking.
He just smiled silently, and that made her overactive imagination spin into overdrive.
Wait… reward? Does he mean… something weird?
Her thoughts went in questionable directions.
"You're so weird," she muttered, cheeks still flushed. "I just walked here, and I haven't even washed my feet yet…"
Ryuichi's lips curved upward. "All the better."
Mai: "...???"
Even knowing his mischievous streak, she couldn't help bursting into a laugh, half annoyed, half amused.
"…Idiot," she said fondly under her breath.
Deciding to let it go, Mai relaxed and allowed herself to enjoy his touch.
His massage was surprisingly skilled. The dull ache and swelling in her feet soon faded, replaced by a gentle warmth.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," she murmured softly, face still red.
"Good," he said—and didn't move her legs away. Instead, he absentmindedly traced his fingers along the sheer fabric of her stockings.
Mai arched a brow. "Haven't had enough yet?"
"They're too perfect to stop touching," he said without missing a beat.
"Stop, it tickles," she protested, suppressing a giggle.
"Then maybe I should just take the stockings off…"
Mai stared at him flatly, though the corners of her lips twitched.
"Unbelievable," she muttered, leaning forward to pinch his cheek playfully. "Why do you even like playing with my feet?"
Ryuichi tilted his head in the direction of her tug and replied with perfect seriousness, "Because you won't let me play with anything else."
Mai: "…"
It took her a full second to process that—and then her entire face flared crimson.
"P-pervert!"
She snatched her legs back, quickly slipping into the slippers he'd brought. "I'm taking a shower."
"Want me to join?" he teased lightly.
"No."
The flat rejection came instantly.
Gathering her clothes, Mai marched into the bathroom and shut the door with a firm click.
Ryuichi chuckled quietly. In an instant, his teasing mood faded, replaced by calm serenity. His ability to switch between playfulness and composure so easily was remarkable.
He closed his eyes and sensed the contract that linked him to her. The stronger their love grew, the more powerful the emotional energy he received through their Devil's pact.
And to his surprise, that energy was nearly overflowing now—warm, pure, and endlessly deep.
Ryuichi couldn't help but glance toward the bathroom door, a gentle smile spreading across his lips.
He'd never expected that falling in love with Mai would bring such incredible strength.
Having a girlfriend like her… he really was absurdly lucky.
The kind of luck even a Devil can't help but cherish.