Although it wasn't the first ki*s for either him or Bocchi-chan, seeing Bocchi-chan so shy she could barely breathe still struck him as very amusing.
Bocchi-chan was just too cute. So cute you kind of wanted to tease her.
Next time he visited Bocchi-chan's house, he'd sneak up behind her while Nijika and the others weren't looking and ki*s her. Would she get that nervous and shy too?
He could even do it in front of Nijika; Nijika already knew their relationship wasn't ordinary, and even did more for Bocchi than Bocchi did, but secretly doing it behind Nijika's back felt like it would be more fun.
"Mm… good night…", Gotou Hitori and Hachiman exchanged looks in which their attractive eyes seemed to be smiling; the lack of oxygen and their overtaxed brains left the usually tongue-tied Hitori at a loss for words.
Only the pounding of her heart grew louder and faster, like it was urging her on. She could only press one more ki*s to Hachiman's face, then clutch her guitar case and bolt for the house.
Her mind had gone blank just now. She didn't know how long they had ki*sed, but she knew you could breathe through your nose when ki*sing.
Still, she couldn't control herself; the things she had planned before the ki*s evaporated the moment it happened, and her body seemed beyond her control.
Not to mention such an intimate good-night ki*s, something only lovers do. Just being looked at by Hachiman, touched on the cheek, praised by him made her chest swell with indescribable joy.
———
"Mom! I'm going to invite Hachiman and Nijika-san and the others to our house! I'll invite them next week!"
"???"
Michiyo Gotou, sitting on the living room sofa holding a short-haired pink-tuffed li*tle girl while watching the magical girl show, was stunned and turned her head at the sight of Hitori rushing upstairs, eyes full of puzzlement.
'Could it be Hitori really made friends?'
'She actually wants to invite those friends over?'
'Hmm… Hitori wouldn't pay actors to pretend to be friends, would she? Is her social anxiety really that bad?'
Hearing Hitori say she'd invite friends over made Michiyo more worried.
After all, her daughter had a history of making up ridiculous things online to pretend she had a lively social life.
Although being a socially anxious daughter with zero real social life, her fabrications were easy to see through.
———
[In The Car]
"President, why didn't you pull Bocchi-chan in? Bocchi-chan clearly likes you, right?"
As the senior who'd brought her besties along to curry favor with the serving club President, Hayase Saki had already eaten her fill and climbed up to sit beside Hachiman, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
Narahashi Miki also looked up silently at Hachiman.
She found it odd. Yuigahama not being pulled in was one thing; Yui wasn't that close to them and was often near the aloof Vice-President Yukinoshita, so it wasn't surprising the President hadn't pulled Yui in. But Hitori was different, she was even more dependent on the President than they were.
They were shy too and introverted, but not as severely; they could still chat with other club members and had friends in class. Hitori, by contrast, was more socially anxious.
"You two have such strong stamina, how much could Bocchi-chan eat with you? You can't just have her lying there while you eat, right?"
Seeing Saki and Miki suddenly remember Bocchi only as they were getting full, Hachiman shot them a look and pinched their rounded cheeks, Narahashi and Saki, firmly.
Putting Bocchi in a trio with Saki and Miki would be a bad experience.
Physically weak Bocchi should pair with the similarly low-stamina Nijika and the others for multiplayer runs.
Of course, that's just for the first time. First impressions matter.
Once Bocchi, Nijika, and the others improve their coordination and master multi-person ensemble play, performing with the athletically absurd demi-humans like Ellio and the rest would be fine.
"Uh…", Saki blushed and hung her head, understanding the hint in Hachiman's words and not knowing what to say.
Narahashi also lowered her head shyly, licking her lips and remaining silent.
It was obvious: while Bocchi might look physically similar to them, Hitori usually hid how li*tle she trained. Compared to their often-trained, competition-ready physiques, her stamina was on a completely different level.
If Bocchi joined them, the President would end up spending most of his attention on them; the first experience would indeed be poor.
Thankfully, Bocchi's first time was with Saki and the political heiress Ayano, not with the elf princesses and other demi-humans. The outcome would have been worse with those.
Saki said she was first brought along by Elf Princess Iris, and compared to demi-humans their stamina was even more inferior. Often they had to wait until both elf princesses were exhausted before Saki got a turn. Only after getting the empathy bracelets did things improve.
Because of that, she also wanted to pull in Bocchi, and even shy Yuigahama, to grow their numbers.
The more people they had, the more likely the President's attention, and favor, would be showered on them.
When the President doted on Saki, Bocchi and she could share; when he doted on Bocchi, Saki could share, everyone should help each other, after all.
"We'll talk about Bocchi later. Tonight, do you want to go home or come to my place?"
Watching the two introverted, shy athletic girls become more obedient with time, Hachiman breathed a soft sigh of relief and stroked their heads as he asked.
He wasn't sure which passive ability was at work, taming or dependency affinity, since these weren't active skills you could use, but more subtle, gradual effects.
For now he was satisfied: Saki, who had been nearly impossible to handle earlier, had become obedient and sensible and even helped bring her close friend Miki over to be trained.
Love-struck Ichinose Ayano had improved her intelligence too; pity Yukinoshita showed no change. He'd have to bring her to the serving club more.
"Going to the President's house! I already told my mom I'd be sleeping over at Miki's!"
Without hesitation, Saki answered when Hachiman asked.
Usually she only saw the President during club activities; he was busy with both the women's swim team and the serving club, so she treasured the attention. Even if tonight's share of favoritism was enough, she wanted more. She wanted to keep enjoying the President's affection with Princess Iris and the others.
Narahashi, who had no time to speak, answered with action.
Saki, who shared clubs with the President, stared eagerly for more affection; as a volleyball club member she could also tell her club captain the President could improve training results and ask for his help. But then she'd have to compete with many for his attention. Better to recruit within the serving club.
Apart from the physically gifted demi-humans they wouldn't pull in, they could recruit the even more timid Bocchi, the quiet Sakurase Shino, the indecisive Yuigahama… Actually, not just within the serving club, second and third years could join too.
Anyone timid, cowardly, and unwilling to compete for the President's favor could join their social-anxiety mutual support group and receive the President's guidance together.
———
[At the Hikigaya House]
The girls who hadn't gone to the celebration, Ellio, Nijika, Vignette, and others, were busy preparing tonight's games and arranging the living room.
Lala had a gadget called "Wide Bath Time-kun" that, when attached to the bathroom door, could turn an ordinary bath into a large public bath. Using the same principle, she applied a similar spatial device to expand the living room considerably, so they wouldn't all be crowded together.
But the device had to remain in place; remove it and the space reverted. Plus this house had been Komachi and Hachiman's home for over a decade, filled with Komachi's childhood memories.
Although Lala and Vignette were obedient for now, the number of people had grown so much that even an expanded living room couldn't let Hachiman care for everyone simultaneously.
Vignette, Gabriel, and the others lived in the neighboring apartments; Sakurase Shino moved to the adjacent building; later Kamijou Maki would move in too, so Hachiman wanted to chat with the li*tle landlord next door.
With so many rooms in the apartment building, they could reserve spaces for Keiko Karuizawa, Gotou Hitori, Yuina, and others to stay, letting them participate in serving club activities anytime without worrying about being late home.
"Phew! Then the Savior can enjoy a music performance at my place too. I hope the Savior likes it…"
Melaise, slender and frail, with flawless pale skin but an extra bit of chest that didn't fit elf aesthetics, stepped out of the Hikigaya house and hung a small wooden sign on the door that read "Elf Forest Tavern," nodding in satisfaction but then looking a bit wistful.
Tonight she had followed Princess Iris and the others, masked and hooded, hiding in the crowd to watch the band.
She didn't really understand why the Savior preferred those ordinary human girls. The music and atmosphere were okay, but many singers there couldn't compare to the merfolk songstresses at home, why not have a mermaid sing for him instead?
The mermaid singers were so eager to please the Savior; surely they'd sing for him gladly.
Thinking it over, she suspected the Savior simply liked those particular human girls. Not there for the music.
Especially the sm*ll blond girl he held during the performance. Ti*ny and very slender, she made Melaise green with envy.
Thinking about the gap between herself and that tiny, cute human girl, Melaise worried the Savior might dislike her.
Although she knew the Savior treated them kindly and didn't show a hint of disdain, she would receive what rewards she deserved and believed the Savior would, like with the aid princesses, impregnate her. She couldn't deny she was the weakest among the elves: no talent for magic, combat, hunting, or potion-making. Lacking ordinary power would be one thing, but she even needed Princess Iris to personally demonstrate how to serve the Savior.
"Melaise, what are you doing at the door?", Lost in thought, Melaise hadn't noticed footsteps behind her until someone hugged her.
Startled at first, she stiffened, but feeling the life-force wrapping warmly around her waist soothed her tense body.
"Savior, you're back? I thought you'd be back a bit later. The princesses are all home; they had me go hang this tavern sign to wait for you."
Melaise turned to the elf Savior and explained why she'd been by the door.
Her eyes couldn't help but glance at two human girls standing behind the Savior. Still flushed, their auras giving off something, and with figures even more plump and heavy than hers.
No mistake, the aura was one she'd been savoring all afternoon, the same one Princess Iris often gave off.
She felt slightly reassured: if the Savior accepted even girls with less graceful figures than hers, he probably wouldn't dislike her.
If she could be as cute as the princess, and make the Savior happy to aid her, that would be ideal.
"Elf Forest Tavern? Did Iris-sama want to recreate elf culture here so I could get a taste? I'd still like to visit the Elf Forest someday."
Hachiman looked at the tavern sign on the door and wondered. Did Iris think of this after seeing his interest in elf themes during the cosplay earlier? He felt utterly charmed by Iris, like he couldn't get away from such a gentle, attentive helpmate.
Content as he was, he also wondered if Iris's gesture would make him lose interest in visiting the Elf Forest. If he could experience it at home, would he still want to go?
Many things about the other world were fascinating, but for someone with his lazy personality he preferred familiar places.
"Princess Iris only copied the Elf Forest décor for now. There are many places in the Elf Forest worth your personal visit, Savior."
Hearing a hint he might not want to visit the Elf Forest, Melaise hurried to clarify.
"But Savior, your safety is most important; it's not suitable to go there until everything is perfectly arranged."
"Perhaps Iris-sama only wanted you to get a slight impression of our customs. She didn't tell us that explicitly, this is just my guess."
Tonight they could at most decorate the living room a bit, bring some fruit wines and elf food; with only seven elves including the elf princesses, they couldn't recreate the authentic Elf Forest atmosphere.
If the Savior wanted the full experience and the privilege of the Elf Forest, he'd have to go there and face the passionate elves in person.
As to why the princess chose to bring them to this world to receive his aid instead of inviting the Savior to the Elf Forest and letting his glory shine over the whole elf race. That was likely because they feared other races learning of the Savior's presence and attempting to seize or harm him.
Strong races often struggle to repopulate; only those with strong reproductive ability can recover after the last great war, or like the merfolk stay at sea and not fight.
Although most elves hid in the Elf Forest and only a few tribes remained elsewhere behind wards, the Elf Forest wasn't totally isolated. Nearby towns traded with humans and other races, and adventurous elves sometimes formed parties to hunt demon lords.
The princess's journey to seek the Savior in this world wasn't a secret. If the Savior appeared in the Elf Forest, other races would learn and flock there. Races desperate to repopulate would try to seize the Savior.
Bringing the Savior to this world to aid them was much safer.
Other races didn't rely on mana the way elves did; this world was full of non-magical humans and demi-humans with unawakened power, nearly devoid of mana. Other races wouldn't come easily. If they spent their mana here, they'd be ruined.
Mana concentration in this world was high; elf power would be greatly enhanced. Only dragons could match them.
If migration weren't such a monumental, cautious decision, the elf queen might gather all scattered elf tribes to move this world and avoid the uncertainty of future wars.
"No need to worry. I'm just touched by Iris's thoughtfulness; I really do want to go to the Elf Forest more."
Watching Melaise hastily explain herself, worry written plainly across her face, Hachiman reached out and stroked her golden hair that fell over her shoulders and pinched her long, pale, elf ears playfully, ears that elves were sensitive about, while soothing her with a smile.
"Melaise, you're such a cute, pretty elf, I'd love to see more of the Elf Forest."
Including Sylpha and others he'd met earlier, he didn't know much about the four new elves, but they seemed genuine. No double faces or hidden agendas.
Compared with the pessimistic spring swimmer Ayano, who always expected the worst, Melaise's body-image anxieties made her much easier to handle.
"Savior, you really think I'm cute and pretty? I feel… Princess Iris is cuter…"
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