After third period, Nibutani Shinka was back to her usual self—easygoing, cute, and perfectly at ease with everyone.
Only, whenever her eyes accidentally met Hayashi Maki's, she'd blush in an instant and whip her gaze away.
That made Hayashi Maki grin. So she'd been faking it—pretending nothing had happened just to calm herself down. But the moment she looked at this rascal, that calm shattered.
Sitting at her desk, Shinka was annoyed at herself. This was his fault—so why was she the one dodging his eyes? But if she didn't look away, she'd instantly think of that break-time kiss. His face… that shameless, wicked little smile… it all popped up in her head, no matter how she tried to shake it off.
Did he have any idea how much a kiss like that could rattle a girl who'd never dated?
She tried to forget; it was useless. And there he was, acting like nothing had happened, letting his lecherous eyes roam over the other pretty girls.
Unable to stand it, Shinka shot him a text:
"Scumbag, rein in those eyeballs. Quit ogling Yuigahama-san and the others."
Hayashi Maki's lips curled as he replied:
"Actually, the one I'm staring at is you."
Her heart skipped—then she rolled her eyes and fired back:
"As if. Jerk."
Being labeled a "jerk" didn't bother Hayashi Maki. Being a jerk was useful. How else do you gather more followers? Better to be upfront now than lie to everyone and end up in a harem war later. He was a flirt—so what? If girls still chose to be with him, that was its own kind of proof.
After fourth period, it was lunch break—the time when every little clique displayed its social pecking order. Popularity is obvious at noon: if no one eats with you, odds are you're a lone wolf. Like Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hayashi Maki, as usual, headed to the rooftop to enjoy his meal alone—or rather, his "angel bento." Mahiru's cooking suited him perfectly.
He was just about to open it when—"Oh~!"—a disdainful click of the tongue came from a corner. He turned and spotted the fair-skinned, pretty Yukinoshita's Second Heiress sitting there with her own neatly balanced bento.
So why was her, uh, development still so slow?
His gaze flicked over the modest rise beneath her uniform—nothing like Mahiru's—and he sighed. "Give it time, Yukino-chan. Theoretically, your mom's like this, your Onee-san's like this—yours will come too."
Yukino noticed his eyes, glanced down, and exploded. She felt insulted.
"Where exactly are you looking, pervert?!"
He glanced at the tidy bow at her chest, shook his head, sighed again. He didn't even speak, but the humiliation burned hotter. She set her bento down and strode over.
He raised an eyebrow, letting his heated gaze rest on her criminally cute face—lingering on her rosy lips—then on her immaculate uniform and those long legs in black over-knee socks. Tempting.
"What's this—coming this close? Not afraid of me, Yukino-chan?"
She flushed. Only then, stoked by anger, did she remember he was a massive scoundrel who'd make a move the moment he had a chance. But the memory of his look a moment ago made her anger win out.
"Why should I be? You don't eat people. Also, explain your little glance at my chest—and that weirdo comment!"
What did he mean by "your sister's like this, your mother's like this, you'll get there"? It wasn't like she didn't want to "grow." She'd always been a bit frail and couldn't keep up with sports—how was that her fault?
And she hadn't forgotten—when he'd held and kissed her, his hands hadn't exactly behaved. He obviously liked it, yet still had the nerve to look pitying. Infuriating.
"No hidden meaning. I just think you look even prettier today. May I kiss you?"
He said it dead serious—and didn't wait for an answer.
"What? You agree? Then excuse me."
Yukino's eyes blew wide. When did I agree? Before she could say a word, he had already kissed her. She beat at him with her little fists, to no effect.
In Hayashi Maki's mind, she'd come to the rooftop, "happened" to bump into him, then stood right in front of him—provocation. And he didn't resist temptation.
Maybe he really was born to be a kissing fiend.
When struggling got her nowhere, she blushed and gave in. Two pale arms quietly slid around his neck. She didn't even know why she'd come—claiming the classroom was noisy, retreating to the place she'd been "bullied" yesterday; hiding when she saw him; speaking up just to draw his attention; then letting her anger over his "body-shaming" push her to confront him. And just like she'd predicted, he kissed her.
So what was wrong with her? Why provoke him when she knew the consequences?
Since they still had to eat, Hayashi Maki didn't go overboard. He just "tasted" Yukino and let her go. Then he answered her earlier question with a smile:
"No other meaning—just that your future's promising. And… haven't I been helping you grow all along? Don't feel frustrated. Sooner or later, you'll catch up to Haruno."
She bit her lip, said nothing, and lowered her head to retie the bow he'd undone. Seeing her quiet, Hayashi Maki simply scooped her up and set her on his lap again.
"…I know I'm bad. So—let's just eat lunch like this today. No arguing. Or I'll kiss you again. And let me try your cooking, too—I've wanted to for ages."
Yukino shielded her bento, lips puffing into a tiny pout.
"You already have a great lunch. Why are you stealing mine?"
She'd noticed—his bento was perfectly balanced and beautifully made. Clearly made by a girl. He caught the tiny hint of jealousy and stifled a laugh.
"Ahem. Just a taste. Not even one bite?"
"No."
"No?" He arched a brow at the sparky second heiress. "Alright then—I'll steal a bite."
What followed flustered her completely. Unwilling to let him "eat" anything improper, she ended up feeding him herself with her chopsticks, face set in reluctant lines as she did exactly what he asked.
Watching him eat so happily, a strange feeling rose in her chest—and her cheeks grew hotter and hotter.
At the stairwell, Kawasaki Saki, having just arrived, took one look at the scene and decided she was the extra wheel. She turned away with her rice balls to eat elsewhere.
Back with Hayashi Maki—once they'd finished, he shamelessly pulled Yukino back into his arms, settling her on his lap. He leaned to her ear and blew, just to tease; her slender body trembled, and her blush deepened.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, rested his chin on her fragrant shoulder, and brushed a kiss against her pale cheek.
"Yukino-chan, you don't actually hate me… do you?"
"I… don't know." Her voice drifted, full of confusion. By now, she truly didn't know how she felt about him.
Earlier, she'd been furious. She had been ready to pay any price—even her body—to set her sister free.
And then he'd "tricked" her back. Fine—given the information gap, she'd drawn her own conclusions. She still ground her teeth at him.
But when he held her and kissed her, her heart raced and her strength vanished. He was also her and her sister's savior; she had no intent to harm him.
And here, in his arms, she wasn't trying to break free. She really didn't know what to do.
Looking at her dazed expression, Hayashi Maki flashed a wicked smile.
"If your mind doesn't know—why not let your body decide?"
~~~
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